I arrived to the Daycare center by bus even though I ran for a while until I was able to get to a bus stop with a bus that would get me to the Daycare center. When I got inside, the person I saw was Edward and I immediately ran to him, wrapping an arm around him in a hug and catching him by surprise.

“What the…Eunjung? What are you doing here? What’s wrong?”

“Oppa~” I only ever called Edward ‘oppa’ when I was upset which has only happened a few times within the three years we’ve known each other.

“Shhh” He rubbed my back comfortingly as I cried.

“I’m about to clock out. Wait for me right here and then we’ll go to a café and you can tell me what’s wrong, okay?” I nodded my head, wiping my tears away with the sleeve of my uniform’s blazer.

I waited for Edward to clock out and when he came back, he put an arm over my shoulders, hugging me close as he lead me out of the Daycare center and to a café him and I liked to go to. When we got to the café, Edward told me to get a table while he ordered drinks for us. I found a table by a window but somewhat hidden from everyone else in the café. I sat down, hugging the bag close to me.

Edward returned to the table with a buzzer to let us know when our order would be ready for pick up.

“Okay Eunjung, what happened? And what happened to that outfit you were wearing earlier?” I lifted the bag a little before hugging it close to me again.

“Why aren’t you wearing it? It looked so good on you in the picture. You know what, no, tell me about the outfit later. Right now, I want to know what happened to have made you cry.” Edward seemed genuinely upset about me crying and it warmed my heart knowing he cared about me. I didn’t feel so alone anymore.

I told him about the dinner, my parents, the arranged marriage, and my fears for my dreams. I was crying again halfway through and because we hadn’t gone immediately to get our drinks when the buzzer went off, they were brought to us so Edward didn’t make me stop. Well, he had me stop when my crying had turned into sobbing because he didn’t want me getting sick but I was finally able to tell him everything that had happened. He ended up bringing his chair next to mine so he could pull me into a hug during my retelling.

“Don’t cry Eunjung. I can’t say everything will be fine because I don’t want to lie to you, but it must be hard on you.” Edward sighed. He seemed lost for words but I didn’t care, his presence and hugs were enough for me.

“It’s okay oppa. I’m just happy to know I’m not alone. I don’t know if this is the last time I’ll see you though. I don’t even know if I’ll be going to school Monday.” I tried holding in my tears, not wanting to cry anymore.

Edward and I stayed like that for a while, him trying his best to get me to smile and laugh again. It worked eventually as he told me different stories of him and his other friends, many of them Youtubers just like him. We were laughing when a familiar voice got my attention.

“Eunjungie? Is that you?” I looked and saw Junhyuk oppa approaching our table. His face broke into a wide grin when he saw that it was indeed me.

“Eunjungie! I thought I heard your laughter! Is this a friend of yours? Hello! I’m Choi Junhyuk, it’s nice to meet you.” Junhyuk oppa bowed to Edward who bowed back, still hugging me.

“I’m Edward. It’s nice to meet you.” Edward smiled back, a bit awkwardly.

“Eunjungie,” Whatever Junhyuk oppa was about to tell me, went to the back of his mind when anger and worry replaced his happy expression.

“Yah, who made you cry?” I felt my face, feeling dry tear streaks and it was a no brainer that my eyes were still puffy.

“Don’t worry about it oppa, I’m better now. Edward helped me a lot.” Junhyuk gave me an unsure look. It seemed like he wanted to question me more, but he didn’t. He smiled again, not as bright as before but it was still a smile.

“Okay, as long as you’re okay. I have to go now, Eunjungie. I’ll see you later. It was nice meeting you, Edward.” Junhyuk waved to us before walking away.

“He was cute.” Edward said once we saw Junhyuk leave the café. I giggled, rolling my eyes.

Later, Edward and I went back to his apartment. He said he was going to take me out, dressed up. He usually doesn’t like going out much, so I was touched by this. He had me change into the outfit, nearly throwing a fit when he saw me in it.

“Why the hell did he say it didn’t fit?! It’s almost like that dress was made specifically for you! Is your brother blind? Do I need to knock some sense into him and your mother?! Because believe me, I will.” I laughed, shaking my head.

“Don’t worry about it Edward. You saying it looks good on me is enough for me to know that it does.” I assured him, sitting down so he could do my hair and makeup.

We laughed and shared stories. He told me about some ridiculous comments he’s seen on his Youtube channel and I laughed at the absurdity of them. When he was done with my hair and makeup, he changed into a different outfit then did his own hair and makeup since I wasn’t exactly confident with doing other’s. He’s taught me how to do makeup, and it’s helped me out a lot but I always got scared when doing other’s so I tended to keep from doing other people’s makeup.

“Alright Eunjung, let’s go up.” I laughed, taking his offered arm as the two of us left his apartment, dressed to the T.

We walked around to different shops, buying things we liked. I spent most of the time shopping for Edward, as a way to thank him for all that he’s done. I did buy a few things for myself, using the credit card my parents gave me for my 16^th birthday. I hardly used it so there was a lot of money in it from the monthly allowance that has accumulated over the past two years. Using the card, it reminded me that my parents must still love me, regardless of the marriage and their cold demeanor. I mean, they wouldn’t of gifted me with nice things if they didn’t, obviously. That doesn’t mean that I wasn’t scared of going back home. But, I forgot about it all, not wanting to dampen the happy mood that Edward created just for me.

~Author’s Point of View~

Moonkyu sat on the couch, listening to his four younger friends, goof around and laugh. He held the still full bottle of beer in his hands as he sat deep in thought. Well, not necessarily deep in thought, but he was trying hard to forget the dinner him and Yoonsan just came from. He saw the look Eunjung gave him when she was looking for help but he had her think he wasn’t even bothered by the entire thing. He continuously told himself that he wasn’t, but even he knew that was a lie. Moonkyu looked at Yoonsan who laughed at something Taehyun said, wondering if his carefree act was genuine or just that, an act.

“Hey Timo, what’s up?” Moonkyu didn’t even hear Junhyuk come in or sit next to him.

“Hey hyung. Thought you would’ve been here already.” Junhyuk laughed, but it seemed a bit odd to Moonkyu.

“I stopped by at a café on my way here. I finally got my car back from the shop and thought to celebrate it with something cold. You wouldn’t believe who I saw though.” Moonkyu wasn’t in the mood to play guessing games so he just shrugged.

“I saw Eunjungie. She was with a friend but” Junhyuk paused, sneaking a peak of Moonkyu who had been lifting his beer to his mouth, stopping with Junhyuk’s pause. It had been the reaction Junhyuk was looking for before continuing.

“She looked like she had been crying. I asked her if everything was fine, and she told me it was, but I don’t believe her. Her friend had been hugging her the entire time so I’m guessing he knows but-“ Moonkyu spat out the beer and Yoonsan, who had been listening as soon as he heard Eunjung’s name, turned his head so fast, it was a wonder he didn’t get whiplash.

“He?!” Sungwoon, Taehyun, and Hojeong jumped from shock, looking at both boys who yelled out of nowhere. Junhyuk remained calm, examining the design on the cup from the café that held his smoothie.

“What do you mean ‘he’?” Yoonsan questioned. Even though he didn’t want the marriage, it was going to happen and he didn’t like the idea of his future wife going to a guy that wasn’t him or Moonkyu for comfort in her time of need. He knew it was silly to think like that since he hasn’t know Eunjung enough for her to go to him and it was obvious Moonkyu wasn’t an option for Eunjung either. But, she obviously knew Junhyuk, Yoonsan wouldn’t mind him either since Yoonsan knew him.

Junhyuk shrugged his shoulders. It was obvious he knew what was going on between Eunjung and Yoonsan, how he knew, Yoonsan didn’t know, but Junhyuk knew.

“I mean what I said. Eunjungie has a guy friend who was comforting her in her time of need. I’m glad though he was able to make her laugh again. I remember how difficult it could be to even get a smile from her after she has cried. Timo, you must know Edward. I mean, she is your sister and as her brother, you know who she hangs out with, right?” Junhyuk wondered.

“Hyungs…what’s going on?” Hojeong innocently asked. It was obvious that tension was brewing between Junhyuk and Moonkyu, the closest from the entire group. They’ve known each other the longest and had been through a lot together, the two of them. The rest of Hotshot wasn’t sure what exactly, but just that it had a lot.

“Everything’s fine Hojeongie. Your mom is just upset but as his husband and your dad, I’ll make sure everything get’s better.” Junhyuk smiled softly. Moonkyu rolled his eyes but couldn’t stay angry at his friend. His bestfriend. Moonkyu knew Junhyuk had a point and he was more angry at himself than anything, something Junhyuk knew.

“Do they go to the same school?” Junhyuk shook his head at Yoonsan’s question.

“He looked too old to be in school. Not that he was extremely old. He looked the same age as me but they more than likely didn’t meet in school. He seemed nice though. A bit awkward.” Junhyuk’s tone was very nonchalant, but the look in his eyes was different. He seemed to be egging Yoonsan to do something.

“Where?” Yoonsan put his drink down, standing up from his seat.

“I doubt they’re at the café still and I don’t have Eunjung’s number. Why do you care so much San? He was just a friend.” Junhyuk laughed.

Yoonsan shook his head, leaving without saying goodbye.

“How are you going to find her without a car?” Yoonsan waved away Junhyuk’s comment, walking out the room.

“Yah, did you have to do that?” Moonkyu asked once him and Junhyuk assured the other three that everything was fine. They had no idea about the marriage.

Junhyuk smiled a wistful smile, taking Moonkyu’s beer from him and taking a sip. “I promised your sister.”