19

Seola looked up at the heavily clouded sky, as if predicting the upcoming would not go smooth.

Once again, Seola did not return to work after meeting with client. Ms. Ahn has been noticing that Seola was blowing off work recently. However, her superior torelated that, probably for the last time.

Seola sighed. If she could not meet with Eunseo this time, she really does not know what to do next.

She waited beside Eunseo's campus and saw Meiqi together with her friend who presented previously, but without Eunseo, again.

"Hello." Seola smiled and appeared in front of Meiqi.

Shocked by Seola's sudden appearance, Meiqi was about to swear. She patted her chest and said impatiently, "Why are you here again?"

"Where is Eunseo? I thought she's taking this class?"

"This subject doesn't take attendance so she..." went to work. Meiqi promptly shut up, almost split out Eunseo's secret.

"Can you tell me where she is, please." Seola stuck her palms together devoutly, making a 90 degree bow.

Meiqi furrowed her brows, even if Seola looked sincere, she insisted in protecting Eunseo. "Nice try, but I'm not the one you should look for. Ask someone else, I don't know."

"Eunseo is your best friend, there's no way you don't know."

"She has a lot of friends, but you can't tell who they are, can you? Well, since you never care for her."

Meiqi's answer deeply stabbed Seola. She had to admit her neglectfulness on Eunseo was the main cause which led to today's situation.

"I'm sorry." Seola repeatedly bowed.

Meiqi squinted her eyes, staring at Seola's expressionless face, feeling dissatisfied. "Do you know you still look arrogant even when you're apologizing? Who gives you this sense of superiority?"

"I didn't..." Seola frowned. She was just bad at apologizing and expressing her inner feelings but feeling hopeless in making any self-defense so she swallowed her pride once again. "I'm really sorry for making you feel this way. I didn't mean to do so. Meiqi, I really want to talk to Eunseo..."

"Do you have anything to talk with her? What common topic both of you can share? Do you realize what she is busying over this semester?"

"I know that she has been busy with her graduation project recently..."

"Okay, then do you know what's the theme for our project?" Meiqi lifted her chin and glanced at Seola. The latter looked embarrassed with no answer given. "Look, you don't know anything at all. So what's the point you look for her?"

"Please tell me where she is, I'm begging you..." Seola lowered her head and her voice sounded more hoarsely..

"No, I'm the one who should plead you. If you don't like her, please don't waste her time. She isn't someone for you to trample on."

"I do like her."

"But not as much as she does, isn't it? Do you remember the things she likes? The food she loves? The color she likes? Her favorite singer? Her movie preference? Or even her birthday?" Seola could not catch up with the continuous questions Meiqi fired at her. In fact, she was not clear about the answer to those questions as well.

Meiqi suddenly recalled something and rebuked. "Speaking of birthday...You even forgot about her birthday...Don't you think that is too much?!"

"I remember her birthday, I celebrated with her. The day I went to pick her up, you were there too." Seola looked at Meiqi innocently. She admitted to other accusations but she clearly remembered she had celebrated Eunseo's birthday with her.

"Which day?" Meiqi gave a careful thought for some time before she finally realized the day Seola mentioned. A surprised and incomprehensible expression was hung on her face. "Oh my goodness...Wow! Since when Eunseo turns to an August baby? You're really ridiculous. I wonder how Eunseo could bear with you for so long! This is really hilarious!"

"What?" Seola was completely stunned. Isn't it August? Eunseo did not deny it...

Meiqi looked at Seola, she was not angry anymore as she found out everything was funny and was speechless over it. "If you really like her, you can definitely guess where she is. Don't look for me anymore. Of course it'd be the best if you stop finding her again. Let her go if you don't love her. There are bunch of people lining up to love her." Meiqi walked away after that, leaving Seola behind.

Luda, who has watched the whole conversation, patted Seola's shoulder and whispered, "If you really love Eunseo, stop making use of her. I suggest that you get to know her again and find out more about her. Understand everything about her, that'd be the final answer."

"Lee Luda, are you going home?" Meiqi was not in a good mood now, not a good idea to provoke her at this moment.

Luda quickly kept up with Meiqi's footsteps. When she passed by Seola, she said to her again, "Fighting!"

"Get to know her..."

The sky was raining and the rain drops hit on Seola's face. She leaned against the wall and squatted down, covering her face with both hands. The growing rain covered her whimper.

20

When we feel sad, we tend to talk to our friend. Sadly, Seola realized the people who she can call as friends could be counted using her fingers of only one hand.

Most of the names of her contact numbers in the phone are those related to her job. She could not help but to question herself what she has been doing for the past few years.

Her life seems to contain only work, but in fact she does not love her work that much.

A temporary anesthesia will turn out to be a habit and the continuous anesthesia will eventually become worse. Habit, is really scary thing.

Trying to use working to anesthetize negative emotions and feelings, but it ended up losing more happiness.

Seola was showered by the rain, moreover, the night of late autumn was really chilly. Seola shivered, but she did not avoid the rain, walking slowly back to home.

Seola stopped walking once she reached the beneath of her apartment canopy. She took out her phone and dialed a number with her shaking hands.

"So what kind of wind blows you to me?" The voice from the other end of the phone sounded brightful, the type of heart warming and reliable voice.

"Sojung ah..." After uttering the name, Seola realized how trembling her voice was.

"Is it raining over there? The rain is too loud. You're not at home?" Exy was keenly aware that something was wrong with Seola.

"I did something wrong, I lost Eunseo."

"What? Can you say clearly?"

Seola leaned at the wall and explained everything slowly. Vapor steaming out of , her face was cold and bloodless, she did not plan to enter the house, even though it was only a few steps away from the entrance.

After listening to Seola, Exy sighed and said calmly, "Can I say you deserve that?"

Seola hold her forehead. "You know how to get her home..."

"I had a video call with Bona few days ago. She told me the things between you two at the airport. If you still have the feelings for Bona, just let Eunseo go. Breaking up isn't necessarily a shameful solution."

Seola was not 100% sure if she still likes that person, but for sure, she cannot leave Eunseo. "After Eunseo left, I found out every single thing in my life is about her." All her happy memories include Eunseo's involvement. Every corner of her house contains the trace of Eunseo's existence.

"I can help you make an appointment of Kim Jiwoon."

"Who?"

"The housekeeper you need."

"No, I don't mean this. I mean..."

"Listen." Exy cut off Seola. "You're just being used to be taken care by Eunseo. Change someone else to take care of you and let Eunseo go."

"Why must all of you say so..." Seola sealed her lips tightly. Meiqi said so, Exy said that too.

"Because no one is blind except you."

"I know she is Eunseo. I know she is totally different with Bona. But I can't stop confusing them..."

"Only now you realize about this?" Exy could not bear to criticized Seola, changing to a softer tone and said, "Eunseo has been tolerated with you again and again. She knows you can't get out easily from this slump so she tries very hard to lead you out. Now she gave up, and you just figured out you're trapped?"

"Whenever I confused them, Eunseo didn't remind me of that...." Thinking Meiqi's remarks, Seola felt shameful.

"Kim Seola! That's enough of you! Are you saying it's all Eunseo's fault now? Why can't you put the blame on yourself!? Think of what have you done for her? Nothing! You are simply making use of her love for you all this time!"

"It's me...It's me who can't see things clearly..." Seola could not control her tears, biting her hand hardly, not letting herself cry.

"Since Eunseo has chosen to give up,do what she wants, stop insisting. She must have taken a lot of courage and hardly be mentally prepared before making this decision. Eonnie, stop being selfish. Let her go if you don't love her."

Hearing those words, Seola could not hold it back anymore. She held her phone and burst into tears, crying her heart out.

"Hey...Are you crying?" Seola did not hear the sound from her phone, leaving Exy panicking at the other end. "Ahhhhhh!!! Stop...stop crying!!!"

To be continued...