Noise of the bustling city greeted Hyewon as she walks past the exit of Gimpo International Airport. She had recently arrived from her week-long field work in Jeju, and never had thought that missing the restless city would be one of her reactions. Looking at the time— it says 10:00 am, and if her very accurate memory isn't wrong, Eunbi should be around the corner waiting for her. Tapping her foot, the editor-in-chief tried to pass her time by counting the people walking past her. Thankfully, she didn’t have to count over 20.

A loud and familiar call came and in an instant; she's now inside Eunbi's car. Seating at the passenger seat. Listening to her best friend's whines about her work. Welcome home, indeed.

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"Yah! Boss! No need to head straight here! Get some rest." Nako reprimanded through the phone.

She knew Hyewon would try and head straight to their office even with all the solo work in Jeju. That’s just how their boss is; your typical workaholic who needs to rest every now and then. So, their team decided that they want their beautiful head to take a few days off from work to recharge. That may be one of the reasons because in truth, aside from letting Hyewon rest, Minjoo and Nako also wanted more time before they present their work. Due to their previous mess, the two decided to give their best (not that they don't. They always do.) and present a better work to their meticulous boss so making Hyewon take a day or two off, is a great advantage for them to execute a better work.

After a little more pleading and begging which fell on deaf ears, Nako, using their last resort, sent Hyewon a message from their executive director. Nako knew her boss would never contest the higher ups, and as expected she gives up, hearing Hyewon talking to Eunbi to drive her straight home.

After a few more whines, Hyewon decided to bid her goodbye for the mean time, and Nako gives out a relieved sigh as the other line goes quiet. As soon as she puta her phone down, she smiles and began working on the photos Lights had provided them.

"Time to see if Lights needs my magic touch." The photo editor snickered, putting on her glasses.

Meanwhile in 8D Cafe...

"This is new. Sakura treating us coffee." Yena quips as Sakura places a circular tray that was filled with their orders on the table.

Lights had an emergency meeting and unfortunately, their studio wasn't available for the day; the air conditioning of the building they were renting space, acted up, which is why; The four of them who made up Lights Studio, had to continue in a nearby café. 

Their topic wasn't of importance. Rather, it was more of who wants to take on the job. Seeing only four people running the said business. Chaeyeon laid out her reasons of not having time to handle the new client. Sakura also gave out her reasons, and Yena— well their friend isn't a photographer to begin with, so she was never a choice for the job they agreed to place on hold. Yujin was the only one left and being a newbie. She has doubts.

She doesn't know what to feel. Of course, she wanted to make a name, and Lights had given her more opportunities than any other studios she had ever wasted her time on. Lights had always been supportive of her. But her head just couldn't stop the thoughts of failure and dissatisfaction on the part of their client. In any other day, she would laugh and agree to it, but the recent contract with Wiz Publication is making her think otherwise.

She is anxious to take on the job because she is scared that she might underperform, and the negative feedback would reflect on Lights as a whole. She of all people, doesn't want to compromise her senior's hard work. Even so, her photographer part in her is also trying its best to convince her to take the job and let the world know how talented she is. Chaeyeon had assured her that her talents are impeccable. If she's also being honest. Chaeyeon might have said that more than her own mother did and thinking deeper, she owes Chaeyeon and Lights what she has today.

"B-but is it really okay, unnie?" Yujin mumbles, and a faint chuckle suddenly became her answer. I guess that's a yes.

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"Okay! Now that you're back, how about another D.." Eunbi exclaimed after entering Hyewon's apartment. Yet the younger cut her off.

Hyewon smiled and shook her head at her best friend's little idea. She then put her luggage down and headed straight into the pantry. Eunbi only watches. Her eyes following Hyewon's every move until the younger signaled her to come closer and present her a glass of wine.

"You should stop setting me up." Hyewon snickered.

Eunbi knew the look in her friend's eyes. She saw how Hyewon's eyes became brighter than it was. She even saw how Hyewon became a bit more talkative. It was never not interesting to pry on her friend's life but this time, it looks like the date she prepared would be put on hold.

The Next Day...

"Come on Chae. Ever since that time you went back from buying Chaeri's food. You started acting suspicious." Sakura whines from the back seat.

After Yujin had taken on the job with their new client, Chaeyeon was tasked to take Sakura to the airport.

This was the reason why Sakura couldn't take on the job. She had been called by her parents for a special gathering. At first, she declined the offer, but their persuasion led to her sitting at the back of Chaeyeon's car; whining about her friend's sudden changes.

Chaeyeon couldn't answer Sakura for she doesn't want constant teasing, but she knows hiding it from the girl isn't also a good idea especially, since the two of them had known each other forever. 

"Come on. I already told you. It was because of a sudden meeting that I have to attend to." Chaeyeon answered, taking a right turn.

Sakura scoffs at her friend. In other occasions, Sakura would have believed that reason, but at times like this, where Chaeyeon is using her personally owned car and is dressed up nicely? She begs to differ. She had known Chaeyeon from the tips of her hair down to her toes, and the way her friend is acting, doesn't make sense with her reasons.

"Chae! We have been friends since forever, and you’re using your own car means something." Sakura pouts. “I know we’re best friends, but I’m pretty sure you aren’t doing it for the sake of taking me to the airport.”

Chaeyeon knew it was futile to lie towards the Japanese but trying wouldn't hurt, right? Even so, Sakura had seen past it and Chaeyeon could only chuckle at Sakura's sharp instincts and attention. Nonetheless, Chaeyeon kept the real reason to herself and stood with her half-assed excuse towards Sakura.

Seeing that it was fruitless to squeeze Chaeyeon out for answers. She kept mum and sulk at the back seat until they reached their destination.

"Take care, Kkura. Don't hit on people okay, also don't argue with your parents. I’m sure they have a reason why they called you." Chaeyeon reminds as she took Sakura's luggages out.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyhow. When I get back, we need to talk. I will squeeze whatever reasons you have! Coz nothing gets past me! I’m Miyawaki Sakura!!"  The Japanese insinuates.

Chaeyeon chuckles and so does Sakura. The both of them shared another exchange of goodbyes and reminders before Chaeyeon gave her friend a wave.

"Hey, dummy. Call when you land, okay!" Chaeyeon shouted for one last time before Sakura nodded and threw her head back, laughing.

"Well, then. I still have a little bit of time, so a little detour wouldn't hurt." Chaeyeon snickered, looking at her watch.

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"Should I go for red? or black?" Hyewon asked herself in the mirror.

She had been having a hard time picking a dress that fits the occasion and looking at the mirror made it 2x harder. She had been doing the fitting for almost an hour now and almost her whole closet is out on the bed, yet she still couldn't decide what to wear.

Eunbi would have been a great help, but sadly her best friend has work right now and the only people she knows other than Eunbi who has great sense of fashion is Minjoo and perhaps, Nako. It's a known fact that Hyewon has a limited number of friends but at these needy times, she wished that her circle isn't as small as 3 people. 

Sighing has been a part of her day ever since she woke up, and feeling that she couldn't find anything to wear, Hyewon took her phone and decided to send out a last minute cancel on her little date but fate has other plans.

She receives a message with an attached photo, just before she could send her cancellation.

Looking into it. The young editor-in-chief couldn't help but smile, and perhaps pick a more casual approach on her fit.

Meanwhile in a store in Gangnam...

"So, what do you think, sir? Is it good enough?" The clerk asks, presenting a few items to Chaeyeon.

Since Chaeyeon is dressed up dandy, no one suspected her as a woman. Knowing how she had fooled a clerk of a high-end store. Chaeyeon snickered and nodded at the question.

The clerk happily bagged her purchases.

After the transaction, Chaeyeon smirks at the paper bag she was holding and headed straight to her car. 

Looking at her watch, again. Her move to suppress her excitement failed miserably, ending; with her showing the widest grin she had ever had in all her life. Buckling up on the driver's seat. Chaeyeon took one last glance on the paper bag at the passenger's and sped off to her supposed location.

Meanwhile at SNU...

"Hello, there. I’m Shin Yuna. I work for Life Magazines." A jolly young woman greeted Yujin, as she walks towards Yena's truck.

This was the work Chaeyeon had asked her to do and fear and nervousness is evident on her face, that Yena had to elbow her to get her attention and greet their client.

An apologetic look, came passing by Yujin's face and immediately bow in a 90° angle. Yena snickered and so does the young lass named Yuna.

After going back on the guidelines set by their client. Yujin began working.

From a nervous wreck, the junior photographer suddenly transformed into a calm and serious professional. Pointing her camera, eagerly at her model, Yuna— their client, couldn't help but smile and ask Yena about the latter's background. 

Yena finding curiosity into Yuna's eyes. A snicker came out of her. She then wrote something on a paper and gave Yuna a mischievous wink while Yujin had no such clue of the good things that are about to happen after.

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Chaeyeon sits on a bench near a little café. She had just arrived from her little detour and is now waiting for someone she needed to meet for the day. Feeling anxious of her looks, she couldn't help but peak every minute at her phone's front camera; using it as a mirror. Styling her bangs, patting her shirt and pants straight, even so; the nervousness that wasn't present earlier began creeping. Her heart thumping hard while her gaze averts everywhere. Counting people, trying to calm her shaking hands but it doesn't seem to work. Even the breathing exercises she usually uses before a shoot, can't be of help as of the moment.

Looking at the time in her phone, not only does her gazes gone restless, even her legs cannot stop from swinging in an up and down motion and her unconscious nail biting also adds up to the numbers of mannerism she has when she can't keep still.

"Jaeyeonie!" A shout from across the street took Chaeyeon's attention. 

Her already speedy, thumping heart from earlier, accelerated like a monstrous engine, hitting a speed of 0-180 km/h in just a split second. Her eyes glued at the person from the opposite sidewalk, waiting for the lights to turn green; and when it did. Chaeyeon couldn't hold her smile, no more. She stands from her seat, giddy to approach the latter, yet her feet seem to be glued on the floor. No matter how hard she tries, she can't move a single muscle, albeit the fading nerves, her brain could not function properly.

It was as if she was having a short circuit, and the only thing she can do is smile and stand like a pup, lost in the sea of passing strangers.

As the latter steps onto her space; her lungs felt like they were bereaved of air, yet she couldn't gasp, for people might think ill of her. Instead, she only stood there, waiting. Trying to breathe in as much, through her nose making her look like she's suffering from a mild lung condition; when in fact, it is because of the beautiful critter that was already standing in front of her. Eyes full of worry, because of her state.

Waking up from her little unhealthy daydream. Chaeyeon shook her head, sniggering at her foolishness. She then slapped her cheeks; forgetting that her date was already in front of her. Witnessing her silliness, frame by frame.

Amidst the bustling crowd and noise polluted street. Chaeyeon could never miss the sweet chuckle from the woman in front of her. 

Lips lightly parted as she threw her head back, a little. Her eyes glistening with delight, while some strands of her hair flows with the wind. A paradigm of beauty and grace forge into one single vessel named, Kang Hyewon.

Yes, her date is Kang Hyewon, and this is the reason why she couldn't take on the client that was scheduled today. Why she had to make up excuses about being busy. The reason she wouldn't tell to a single soul, a secret she has to keep.

"Are you alright?" Hyewon asks.

Chaeyeon almost fell off her feet at the sweet succulent voice of the latter, reverberating inside her head. It was gentle and warm; It made her feel protected and cared for, something she never felt from other people except her mother.

"Ah...y-yeah. I’m fine." Chaeyeon stutters.

Hyewon gave another sweet chuckle and gave her date a pat on the shoulder. Smiling sweetly at Chaeyeon. The editor-in-chief held Chaeyeon by the wrist