【6】
After her quick shower, Peony got dressed in an oversized black MA*RS sheer mesh comic-print sweater dress, white cotton knee socks and black EMODA triple buckle-strap platforms.

Her pastel pink hair that hang down her shoulders nearly to her waist was curled due to her braiding it before she’d gone to sleep last night.

She wore a black wool J. W. Anderson sailor beret that she purchased at Galleria yesterday.

The Ginza silver and pearl chained triple-finger ring was on her right hand.

For makeup she put on Anna Sui rose pink rouge, strawberry tint gloss and clear mascara.

Her face appeared to be bare though it wasn’t.

However, she maintained her “dolly’ look thanks to the circle lenses and false lashes she wore.

Once she was satisfied with her look—she returned to Jaejoong’s bedroom.

She had to cram all of her things into her scant luggage bags.

There were bags from the shopping she’d done the day before with Naomi and Jada.

She’d purchased more than she originally thought.

Naomi came into the room to check on her.

“Need some help?” she asked.

Peony shook her head, zipping up the backpack.

“No thanks, I’ve got it” she said.

She went over to the bedside table to retrieve her small Chanel 2.55 quilted tote.

She put it on cross-body then grabbed her cellphone off Jaejoong’s bed.

The time on her phone said that it was 7:48.

“We should be going now” Naomi spoke the words before she could.

Peony nodded, taking the handle of her rolling suitcase.

Naomi held her bookbag as she led the way out of the bedroom.

Jaejoong was in the kitchen feeding Hiro and Jiji when they came out.

He stopped his actions when he saw that they were leaving.

His eyes locked with Peony’s as she went over to him.

Naomi noticed the unmistakable sulking look on her friend’s face.

When she looked at Jaejoong, he didn’t seem eager for her departure either.

Apparently the two had created a bond since the night before.

It was odd since she’d never seen Jaejoong nor Peony like that before.

“I’ll just—leave you two alone to say goodbye” Naomi said, going over to the front door.

She stepped into her oxfords before going to wait just outside in the hallway.

Peony and Jaejoong stared for a bit without saying anything.

She didn’t know why she felt sad about leaving him but she did.

It was unexpected for Jaejoong as well.

“Osewani narimaa (thank you) —you’ve been really good to me” Peony said.

Her big doe eyes told him she was most grateful for him coming to her rescue at the club.

Jaejoong shook his head. “Don’t mention it.”

Peony stretched up to wrap her arms around his neck and hugged him.

He had an arm at her slender waist.

His brain registered how good she felt in his arms but he ignored it.

At least he tried to.

Peony rested her head against his sturdy chest for a few minutes then pulled back.

“We should exchange numbers and keep in touch” she suggested.

She looked at him to see if he would agree.

Jaejoong nodded. “I’d like that.”

She smiled, happy that he wanted to maintain contact with her.

After they put one another’s number into each other’s phones, they went quiet again.

Their gazes were locked but they didn’t say a word.

Without her telling him to Jaejoong bent to plant a brief kiss on .

When he pulled back and stared down at her—there was a big smile on her face.

That was exactly what she’d wanted him to do.

But Peony was too shy to ask him for a good-bye kiss.

Jaejoong chuckled, pinching her blushing cheek.

He thought she was so cute at that moment.

“Sayonara—mata atode aimashou! (Goodbye, see you later!)” Peony waved to him and his pets.

Jaejoong made Hiro and Jiji wave back to her before she left his apartment.

She thought that was really sweet of him.

When she joined Naomi in the corridor a bright smile was on her face.

That made her friend suspicious.

“Doua no? (What happened?)” she was curious.

Well, she wanted to be a bit nosey.

She couldn’t help it since both Peony and Jaejoong had been acting so out of the ordinary.

But Peony wanted to keep it to herself.

She continued to smile, shrugging as they headed towards the elevator.

“Nothing much. We just said g