When Byulyi wakes up, her nose is immediately assaulted by the fragrance of Hyejin's cooking.

(How is she sure that it’s Hyejin instead of Wheein?

Simple. The fire alarm's not ringing.

Up to this day Byulyi still wonders how the did Wheein perform a miracle and start a fire through boiling water.)

Byulyi sits up and tidies the bed, before going out of the bedroom. She sees Wheein perched on the kitchen counter, smiling above her mug of hot chocolate. Hyejin, meanwhile, is flipping pancakes expertly, shooting the older girl fond looks here and there.

They look domesticated.

 Comfortable. 

It sends her heart hammering in her chest, and Byulyi smiles wistfully, a little envious, yes, but happy for her little sisters. 

(That scene is so painfully, painfully familiar. She thinks she might have been in Wheein's place before, only that the one she had been staring at never quite looked at her the same way.

She is reminded of the things she has tried to forget over and over again.

She's back to square one.)

She quietly exits the kitchen and goes towards her living room. She sees her phone on the coffee table, fully charged.

(Thank you, Wheein!)

She unlocks it and sees an unread message from her friend, Seulgi.

Seulbear: Did you get home safely, unnie?

A smile graces Byulyi's lips.
(Genuine. Real. True.)

Moonstar: Yeah. Did you?

Her text gets an immediate reply.

Seulbear: If I didn’t I wouldn’t have been texting you, silly.

‘What a ing smartass.’ Byulyi mutters in amusement, typing a response back. She welcomes Seulgi's refreshing banter, it makes her forget.

Moonstar: Well, if I didn’t get home safely too, Wheein and Hyejin would’ve grinded you into dust by now.

Seulbear: Same. Only that Joohyun unnie would be the one doing that to you. 

Byulyi laughs and rolls her eyes.

Moonstar: So you just texted even though you knew I’m fine. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were missing me… 

The reply is instantaneous.

Seulbear: thank God you know better, then.

Byulyi bursts out laughing, ‘This girl!’ 

Seulbear: I just texted because I wanted to tell you that we would be going out later.

Moonstar: Who’s ‘we’?

Seulbear: Me, my granny, and you. sake unnie just trust me on this. Did I ever let you down? Know what? Don’t answer that. I’ll be outside your apartment at 4:30 pm. Wear comfortable clothes!

With that, Byulyi grins and turns her phone off. She is about to rise from her position but Wheein and Hyejin appear with trays. Byulyi salivates at the food presented to her.

Byulyi says, ‘Did I ever tell you how ing lucky I am to have you guys?’

Wheein sets the tray down, handing Byulyi a cup of hot chocolate. She places the other mugs on the table and helps Hyejin with the plates of pancakes on her tray. They place it