Areum had just left her classroom when someone called out to her, “ah, you’ve dropped this..”

Looking up she shyly thanked him, “ah. Thank you..”

The boy was startled to get a response from her, as well as the other students around them.

They were whispering among each other at the event that just happened.

Song Areum just spoke.

The boy who helped Areum spoke to his group of friends, “Areum spoke!?” 

Another one said while glancing at Areum who was walking away,“Wait..isn’t she kind of cute?!”

“Why haven’t we really noticed it until now?”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen her talk!”

The girls in the corridor took notice and called out to her, “hey Areum, do you have a minute?”

After school Areum went over to see Jaehyun, like she had been doing lately.

“Really?! The girls from your class wants to hold a birthday party?!

“Yeah..tomorrow is my birthday and they said they wanted to celebrate.”

Showing a bright smile, Jaehyun couldn’t help but be excited for the girl ,"Daebak! That’s a huge step!! When they see the real you, I’m sure you’ll be able to make friends quickly!”

Areum couldn’t help but be dazzled by his smile, ‘Jaehyun’s words are like magic’

“Ah, that’s right. There’s something I’ve forgotten to say after living this life..,” Jaehyun paused his celebration for a moment to look at the girl with a serious face.

“Something you forgot to say?”

“In order to not take the feelings of love for granted, you have to promise me
..
..
to not..fall in love with me, no matter what.”

Startled, Areum’s face turned back to being expressionless, ‘the feelings of..love? Does that mean I can’t fall in love with Jaehyun..but..I’ve never fallen in love before..so I don’t really understand..'

Clasping the cup of tea in her hand, her train of thoughts overtook her, ‘I mean..I have fun and feel at ease when I’m with Jaehyun..
..
..but..this is probably the feeling of ‘family’
..
..but..
..
..isn't this the feeling having of a brother?’

“Areum?”

A long elegant piece of fabric appears in front of her.

Jaehyun had brought a dress to display in front of her,.

The dress was a delicate quarter sleeve pale pink midi dress that cut off a bit past her knees, garned with lace ts and pearl details on the hem.  

slightly hugging her back he smiled at her gently, “a dress, for tomorrow. Do you like it?”

‘That’s right. This is just like a family’

“It definitely suits you”

His face was next to hers that the words almost came out like a whisper.

‘Like a family..
..
..
Right?’