Autumn is always the best season for sentimentality.

It was the last summer vacation break for Eunseo, even though she did not really get to enjoy her holidays. Very soon, it is time to welcome her final semester and also her graduation.

She did not have the time to be sentimental, in Eunseo's opinion.

Too many things to catch up. The ongoing final year project and employment problem after graduate. She wishes she has someone to guide her about her troubles, but except her seniors, she has no one to voice out her inner thoughts.

She hopes to work in Seola's company. Of course, this is only her little wish. Not to mention the difficulties to be offered in such huge company,  by only disclosing her idea to Seola, Eunseo can tell how unhappy Seola would be.

Must they clearly separate their own personal interests from business interests? Is her company an inviolable area for a workaholic like Seola?
Eunseo knows that was not the case. Bona and Seola were colleagues before Bona left for the States.

The problem is about the "people" involved, more towards "who" in particularly.

The leaves of the maidenhair trees in the campus gradually changes into yellowish. They looked refreshing and lively under the blue sky.

Eunseo looked up at those tender leaves and the bright sky. She felt upset thinking of she is going to leave this wonderful place in few months.

She is no longer a student in the future. She has to become more mature and act like an adult. The emotional feelings raised when Eunseo took a look at the university buildings that have accompanied her for several years.

"Eunseo!"

Eunseo wondered if she misheard and turned to the direction of that voice. A special guest appeared.

"Eunseo!" Noticing Eunseo was still stunning, Bona called her name once more and waved at her with beaming face.

"Eonnie!" Eunseo got herself back. She was so surprised that she sprinted to Bona happily, lifting her up and circling in rounds.

Bona giggled and dotingly looked at Eunseo. She does not mind seeing Eunseo act childishly and presenting such eye-catching behavior.

"You lost weight. I can hold you and make ten rounds in one breath." Eunseo carefully put Bona down and hugged her.

"You're the one who grows strength. How could I slim down with high-cholesterol foods everyday?" Bona lovingly streaked Eunseo's nose, trying to figure out if her sister has grown taller again. She was in her heels but still at least two inches shorter than Eunseo.

"When did you come back? Why didn't you let me know?"

"Seems like someone is worse than me in checking her phone messages." Bona jokingly rebuked.

"Ah..." Eunseo immediately took out her phone from her backpack. Of course, there was a message from Bona. "I set it to silent mode this morning...But you could have told me days before!"

"It's not a sudden surprise if I told you earlier." Bona hold Eunseo's hand. "I haven't eaten hot pot for centuries. The hot pot there ."

"Sure. Let's go and eat whatever we can."

11

"So you'll be staying for only three days?" Eunseo put the chicken feet into Bona's bowl. She has been listening to Bona's ongoing in the States for the whole journey, but once she heard that her sister would be leaving that soon, she felt emotional even when they were not bidding farewell yet.

"Yeah, after filming that scene, I'll be going back." Bona also placed some mushrooms on Eunseo's plate. "We have to be grateful the movie sponsorship is generous, letting me come back to visit you."

"Anyone else you'll be seeing?" Eunseo pried.

"You mean Exy? She's not around, joining  a competition. But even if she's here, I can't spare any other time. I'm only available for tonight."

"How about Seola eonnie?" Eunseo asked carefully.

Unlike the guilty haste of Eunseo, Bona remained calm hearing that name. "Why should I meet up with someone boring like her? I definitely should keep my precious time for you."

"Perhaps...she wants to meet you."

"Forget about her, you're more important than anyone else." Bona lifted her smile, took some meats for Eunseo. "Eat it, you look thin, should eat more."

12

"I'm back." Eunseo saw Seola has been sitting in front of her desk from the porch, intently looking at the papers. Those scattered files on the table were probably the documents she has to go through.

It was in Eunseo's expectation that Seola did not react much on her tardy return, what Eunseo got was a short hum without raising eyes.

However, since Eunseo has informed Seola she would reach home late, it was normal for Seola not to be surprised, wasn't it? At least it was what Eunseo thought.

She slowly walked to Seola, picked up the pen on the ground and hugged her.

"Tulip..."

Eunseo froze, it was absolutely a fool mistake to outskirt Seola without getting a bath or getting her clothes changed.

Seola put down the documents in her hand and looked at Eunseo furrowedly. "And hot pot smell..."

Eunseo loosened her arms unnaturally, awkwardly scratched her hair and smirked. "I had hot pot with my friend for dinner."

"Friend?" Seola narrowed her eyes and studied Eunseo. From what she remembers, Eunseo's friends are not perfume lovers. "Is Bona back?"

"Yes, she's back." Eunseo smiled. Seola is too sensitive. She is too keen in sensing everything about Bona. No one can hide anything about Bona from her.

Seola stood up agitatedly and clutched Eunseo's arms tightly. "Where's she now? Her home? Or which hotel?"

Eunseo pursed her lips and hardly asked, "You want to meet her now?"

"Yeah... It's late now. I'll find her tomorrow.." Seola looked lost, but looked up within a flash and asked, "So where she stays?"

"I didn't ask but I guess she's staying with the drama crew." Eunseo jerked her head away from Seola's blazing eyes. It was too searing to her.

"So it's for work..." Seola bowed her head, pondered for a while before asking another question. "When is she leaving?"

"I don't know. She won't stay long though."

Seola muted herself, but her disappointment was unconcealable.

Eunseo lightly brushed Seola's grip and lowered her voice, "Ask her yourself if you really want to know. I'm tired now."

Eunseo entered the room. She felt a stinging pain in her chest. Now she knows how hurt it is when the truth is disclosed ly just in front of one's eyes...

13

After some moments of contemplation, Eunseo pressed the "send" icon. "Eonnie, which flight are you taking tomorrow? I send you off." 

"KE086, noon time. You don't have to come if you have classes." Bona always stays unguarded towards Eunseo.

Eunseo wrote down the flight on a paper and handed it to Seola, whose mind seemed to be distraught the moment she knew Bona came back.

"Her flight. She will fly back to New York tomorrow noon."

"Thank you!" Seola's expression notably lighten up. After taking the note over, she instantly walked away and made a phone call for leave.

Seola has been on her phone for a long time. Probably her leader did not agree her sudden leave. Eunseo heard Seola repeating her request in a stern tone, "Mrs Ahn, I've stressed for times that this matter is really important. I must take my time off. With or without your approval. That's it."

Seola portrays a polite and decent image all the time. Others barely can see her completely losing her temper. A person who behaves docilely in usual days is now going against her superior. And unfortunately, Eunseo is not the main trigger for this discourtesy.

14

Bona waited for Eunseo in front of the airline security gate meanwhile Eunseo with her luggages too, was watching silently from the second floor, she did not show herself up.

Eunseo held a small hope, perhaps till the last moment, Bona did not meet anyone and enter the gate. At most, she would be blamed by Bona for bailing on her but deep down, she sincerely pleaded that no one else came for Bona.

The final call was announced, Bona was ready to enter the gate. The final straw appeared eventually, Eunseo looked at the two figures at the gate and smiled helplessly.

"They're still the perfect match after all..."

Seola left the house early in the morning. Eunseo took the chances when Seola did not appear, thinking that perhaps Seola chose her works over than Bona.

Eunseo could not tell if she was disappointed with herself, or Seola. However, she felt glad Bona came back this time to let her finally face herself honestly and stop deceiving herself.

"Bona!" Seola called out  Bona who was stepping into the gate. Due to her nervousness, she smiled stiffly. " It's been quite a while, how are you?"

Bona put on an unbelievable expression, "Why are you here?"

"Eunseo told me.."

"Eunseo? Where is she?  You didn't come with her?" Bona glanced left and right. The one she hoped to see did not show up, but an uninvited guest came instead.

"She has classes." Seola lowered her voice.

Bona changed to a straight face. "You shouldn't be here."

Seola crossed her fingers behind her, the back of the hand, and timidly explained, "We haven't met for some time, I wonder..."

"Are you a fool or an idiot? How can you come here? Even if Eunseo told you, you shouldn't come here without her!" Bona intervened Seola angrily, almost gave Seola a slap to wake her up.

"I just want to know.. know how you're doing now...." Seola's voice getting smaller, acting like a child who did something wrong.

Bona smothered her boiling anger. "Kim Seola, do you even remember who is your girlfriend now? I never mention to Eunseo that you confessed to me, but even the blinds can tell you have feelings for me back then. Do you think it's a right thing to come for me on your own?"

"I have no other intention..." Seola felt a little wronged. It was not she is going to confess or what, but just to meet someone whom she has not met for a long time. "If I miss this chance, next time..."

"No more next time!" Bona cut off Seola's words once again. "Let me tell you, Kim Seola! Eunseo is my closest sister since young. If you ever hurt her, I swear I'll make things very difficult for you!"

Seola frowned. She did not know Bona was so unwilling to see her. "You don't have to be so harsh when we meet..."

"This is the last time I tell you. The reason I reject you, not because Eunseo likes you, but I only see you as a friend all the time. I don't like you! No matter in the past, now or in the future! Wipe your eyes clearly and put your mind on the right person. Be nice to Eunseo, can you?"

"I'm treating her well..." Returning home immediately after work, informing her own whereabouts, staying by her side during holidays... Disconnected with people other than her colleagues or clients, helping Eunseo with house chores even if she does not perform well at this part, finishing all the dishes Eunseo cooks and fulfilling most of Eunseo's requests.

"Oh, really? But why I feel her smiles are lesser than she used to has?" Bona clenched her fist and bit her lips tightly,  glaring at Seola. This would be her last warning for Seola. "Kim Seola, this moment, I still see you as my friend. Don't ever let me hate you." After that sentence, Bona walked into the gate without looking back.

If two people can still be friends after a failed confession, it has two meanings. It is either one has never liked another, or one is still having feels for another one.

If Bona is the first type, how about Seola?

To be continued...