A week had passed since Yewon had taken the stray puppy home to live with her. Normally, she would take her time walking home from campus but ever since she had found Yuju, she would run home as fast as she possibly could. Being separated from the puppy every day was hard. All she wanted to do during class was play tug of war with Yuju or let the puppy take a nap on her lap while she watched TV. Her grades hadn't slipped at all, surprisingly, but the change in behavior was very noticeable. Especially to Yewon's friends. Eunbi and Sojung had waited in front of Yewon's last class of the day to plan out what they would all do together during the upcoming weekend. Neither of them had expected Yewon to be one of the first ones out of the door, the younger girl walking out of the lecture hall as fast as she could.

"Yewon? Hey-" Eunbi had attempted to catch Yewon's attention, Sojung standing next to her with a surprised expression.

"Sorry!" Yewon apologetically smiled, her steps quickening as she waved to the two. "I'll talk to you later!"

"Oh, okay. I'll text you!" Eunbi responded, the short haired girl watching Yewon practically run down the path that led to her apartment complex.

"Don't forget about Friday!" Sojung called out to Yewon, taking Eunbi's hand in her own. Yewon only responded with another wave, turning back around as fast as she had turned to respond to her. Sojung and Eunbi could only watch as the figure of the younger girl faded into the distance, a baffled look on each of their faces. Yewon felt bad about not stopping to talk but she couldn't help it. Being away from her puppy for several long hours always left her feeling antsy. If Sojung and Eunbi knew about her new 'roommate', Yewon was certain they would understand. 

Yewon fumbled frantically with her keys when she had reached her place, hearing Yuju's faint barking through the door. The second she successfully entered her apartment, Yuju was already jumping and trying to get Yewon to sit down on the floor, small whines exiting the pup's mouth while her tail wagged. The pup was persistent, refusing to stop her actions until she got the attention she wanted.

"I'm home. I'm home." Yewon chuckled, leading the black lab puppy over to the couch so they could both sit down. Yuju was in Yewon's lap within moments, at her chin and face energetically. Yewon wrapped her arms around the small dog, smiling and giggling as Yuju continued her mission of 'kissing' her face. What a nice welcome home greeting. Yewon kissed the pup's head, earning a small happy whine from Yuju. How cute. Yuju was truly an angel of a dog. How had she gotten so lucky? 

Her phone vibrating in her pocket drew Yewon's attention away from the excited puppy. The text was from Eunbi, the contact name flashing up on Yewon's screen as she unlocked it. Yewon immediately felt guilty. She kinda had brushed Eunbi and Sojung off today without an explanation, hadn't she? 

[eunbi]: hey!
[eunbi]: is everything okay? you seemed like you were in a hurry

Yewon bit her lip, the black lab puppy settling down and making herself comfy on her lap. Her behavior at college had been suspicious, now that Yewon thought more about it. She couldn't blame Eunbi for being worried.

[yewon]: im fine eunbi please dont worry
[yewon]: i just have some things to do today that i forgot to do yesterday
[yewon]: im sorry for worrying you  

Yewon's chest tightened again. She had never liked lying, always remaining truthful with everyone in her life. But here she was, lying to some of her closest friends. Could she really keep doing this? Another text flashed on screen a few minutes after she had sent her response, the notification covering up Yewon's phone wallpaper of her black lab puppy, Yuju, sitting cutely and posing for the camera. 

[eunbi]: oh okay i understand! im glad it wasnt anything bad! 
[eunbi]: if you ever need help with anything me and sojung can always come over!
[eunbi]: i love you!<3

A small smile slipped onto Yewon's face, the words that Eunbi had sent warming her heart. Her friends were always so quick to say 'I love you' to each other. It was hard to get used to at first but once she had, it quickly became something Yewon loved to hear from each of them. 

[yewon]: thank you eunbi i can handle it today but ill tell you the next time i need help
[yewon]: i love you too<3

Yewon sighed, placing her phone back in her pocket once the messages had sent. Glancing down at Yuju, Yewon watched the pup at her hand. This was wrong. Finding Yuju was one of the best things that had happened to her aside from meeting Eunbi, Sojung, SinB and Yerin. Why was she lying and hiding something so important from the people in her life that she treasured the most? The black lab puppy had bonded to her and only her. She wasn't going to want someone else. Thinking that way was silly. 

Yewon scratched behind the pup's ears, earning a small happy bark from Yuju. Her fears were ridiculous. She needed to let her friends into her life more and this was the perfect way to do that. Enough lying. Yewon didn't want to do it anymore. But when would be the best time for her to introduce Yuju to everyone? The group's hangout was in a few days, the weekend approaching fast for once. Should she do it then? Or should she do it today? Eunbi and Sojung didn't seem busy, since they had waited outside her classroom to talk to her. Maybe Yerin and SinB were free too.

Yewon was only broken out of her thoughts when Yuju softly barked at her, nibbling on her thumb with her semi sharp canines. 

"What do you think? Do you want to meet my friends?" Yewon asked out loud, talking to the pup without thinking much about it. Yuju didn't respond, continuing to nip at Yewon's fingers softly. The action hurt slightly but Yewon didn't mind, laughing as Yuju lunged at her wiggling fingers playfully. 

"Let's get you cleaned up first." Yewon said as she picked up the pup from her lap, cradling Yuju in her arms lovingly. "I want you looking your best when you meet them."

The black lab pup let out a tiny bark, her tail wagging as she was carried from the living room to the apartment's small bathroom. Closing the door and setting Yuju down on the floor, Yewon the water, filling up the one person tub with lukewarm water so that she could bathe the puppy and get her soft and clean before contacting her friends to come over. Yuju was curiously sniffing the ground and exploring the bathroom, barking at Yewon and running around her happily a few times before going back to sniffing a bar of soap resting on the bathtub ledge. The black lab pup opened to at the fruity smelling soap but Yewon was quick to pull her away. 

"Don't eat that." Yewon said firmly, unable to keep from smiling as Yuju whined and squirmed in her grip, placing the pup behind her before moving the soap out of reach. Shutting off the water, Yewon tested the bath water temperature, making sure it wasn't too warm in case it would bother the puppy's skin and fur. Carefully, Yewon took off Yuju's collar and placed it next to where she was sitting on the floor, picking up the pup and setting her down in the water. The black lab puppy didn't seem to mind being in water, her tail wagging eagerly and splashing some water onto Yewon. Yewon laughed, petting Yuju's head with a smile before starting to wet the puppy's black fur. Yuju was surprisingly well behaved, her tail being the only thing moving as the process continued. Once she had finished rubbing the water into the pup's fur, Yewon turned around to search for the dog safe shampoo she had bought a few days ago. Where had it gone? Had she left it in the bag and forgotten to take it out? It was looking like that was the case.

"Can you sit here by yourself for me for a bit?" Yewon asked the pup, feeling calm as Yuju seemed to respond to her question with a bark and another happy tail wag. 

Standing up, Yewon gave the black lab puppy an encouraging and thankful smile before leaving on