Jisoo held her hands together as she sat on the couch.

Why does she feel like she did something wrong when she knows she didn’t?

Why did he have to come back early from dinner?

It was going all well until he arrived!

 

And why did she have to fall out of balance and land on him?

And.. she even sneezed loudly making him laugh!

 

“Have this..” said Taehyung putting a cup of hot coffee on the table. “You drink coffee, don’t you?”

 

Jisoo bowed her head in gratitude.

Of course she loves coffee.. but.. she’s too nervous right now that she doesn’t think she can drink even a sip of it..

 

What should she tell him? And.. why did he not just let her go immediately?

Maybe he’s thinking that she hid this from him and she has other intentions?

 

Oh no.. he must have misunderstood her!

 

“You know.. I.. I think.. you.. kinda.. misunderstood.. I didn’t know that the part time job the landlady was telling me was your-..”

 

“I know..” said Taehyung making her stop. 

 

Jisoo’s brows furrowed.

 

“You.. know?” she asked softly.

 

Taehyung nodded.

 

“I met the landlady before coming into my apartment.. she told me that.. the student living in the attic is cleaning my apartment..”

 

Jisoo pouted.

 

“Then.. why did you look surprised to see me inside?”

 

“I just.. didn’t expect to see you on top of my desk.. and.. you were falling down so I.. was kinda surprised as well..” said Taehyung looking at her quickly. “I’m sorry.. I must have startled you.. I should have knocked at least..”

 

“Why would you knock on your own house?” said Jisoo to herself as she continued pouting her lips.

 

Taehyung noticed she hasn’t taken a sip of the coffee.

 

“Your coffee is getting cold..” he said scratching the back of his head.

 

Jisoo quickly grabbed the cup and gulped some.

 

But it wasn’t cold at all!

 

It was boiling!

 

She stuck her tongue out as she fanned herself.

 

Taehyung was flustered.

 

“Careful.. why did you drink it-..?”

 

Jisoo glared at him.

 

“You told me to drink it because it was getting cold!” she said raising her tone. “How could you-..?”

 

Then she realized she was in no position to scold him..

 

First, he offered her that cup of coffee..

 

Second, she worked for him just now so he is supposed to be her employer..

 

Third, he is her history professor!

 

“Sorry..” she said in a small voice as her cheeks turned red from embarrassment.

 

Taehyung went silent making Jisoo nervous.

He didn’t get mad at her for raising her voice, did he?

 

Then a laugh came out of Taehyung’s mouth.

 

Jisoo blinked a few times.

Did he just laugh at her again? Was she funny to him?

Why does he keep laughing out of the blue?

 

“I’m sorry.. did I offend you?” asked Taehyung clearing his throat.

 

It’s just.. he didn’t expect her to be like this.. he had imagined her to be the opposite..

 

She seemed an adult a month ago but she’s actually a child..

 

Jisoo nodded her head.

 

“A little..” she said pursing her lips.

 

This time, it was Taehyung who was flustered.

 

Jisoo saw him turning red from embarrassment and immediately smiled.

 

“I was just kidding..” she said looking at him.

 

Taehyung also smiled.

He felt relieved.. he thought he had offended her for real.

 

There was another long moment of silence before Jisoo spoke again.

 

“So.. are we.. okay now?”

 

Taehyung was looking straight into her eyes.

By being okay.. does she mean.. that they have become friends now?

 

He nodded his head.

 

And as soon as he did, he noticed her lips curling up.

Is she that happy that they’re okay now? What makes her smile beautifully like that?

 

“That’s a relief..” said Jisoo to herself.

 

Now.. she doesn’t need to avoid him anymore.. she can stay attentive during his classes and she won’t have to that mindful of him anymore!

 

Jisoo quickly finished her then cold coffee and Taehyung went to see her at his door.

 

“Thank you.. for cleaning my apartment..” said Taehyung clearing his throat.

 

Jisoo smiled.

It isn’t like she did it for free.. why is he thanking her like this?

 

“Me too.. I’m thankful..” she said looking into his eyes.

 

Taehyung raised his brows.

What for?

 

“200 dollars..” Jisoo continued. “It was you, right?”

 

Taehyung’s cheeks flushed red.

Did she see that? How did she know about it? 

He was able to slip the money into her jacket before he went out of the hotel room that night..

He felt bad because she cried desperately in front of him..

It seemed she really needed money..

 

And before he could say a word to her, he heard her speak once more..

 

“Can’t we.. just forget what happened just like what you said? Can’t we just start over again and pretend to have met here for the first time instead?”

 

Taehyung smiled onesidedly.

 

Jisoo seemed confused by his reaction.

Is he mocking her? Is he making fun of her? What does that little smile mean?

Why is he so confusing?

 

Then she saw him reaching his hand to her..

 

“Kim Taehyung..” he said as he opened his hand while looking at her. “Your neighbor.. and history professor..”

 

Jisoo smiled widely.

That’s a relief.. it seems like he has fully agreed..

 

He didn’t even want to shake her hand a month ago.. 

She honestly felt offended that time.. she thought that he was disgusted with her and didn’t want to have anything to do with her..

But now he’s offering his hand as he introduces himself to her..

 

Jisoo grabbed his hand and shook it gently.

 

“Kim Jisoo.. your neighbor.. student.. and sometimes.. I can be a housekeeper..”

 

Taehyung chuckled.

 

“It’s my pleasure to meet you..”

 

Jisoo smiled again.

 

“Me too..”

 

 

————————

 

 

 

The following days were very peaceful to Jisoo..

 

She attended her classes well.. she had good interaction with everyone.. she was able to go home without being mindful of Mr. 200 dollars.. oops.. she meant to say Professor Kim..

 

Anyway.. it was all going well in general until Saturday came..

 

She has just paid respect to her late father and was on her way to visit her mom at the hospital..

 

She can’t believe it has been exactly 10 years today.. that her father died..

 

She didn’t know she could endure that long time without a father..

 

How was she able to survive all those years?

The heavens must be helping her in some way.. although she used to curse them at the start..

 

She wiped the tear she had in her eyes.

She always gets emotional whenever it passes her mind.. and maybe she’s more sensitive today because it’s her father’s death anniversary..

 

She wishes she could talk to someone about it..

She hopes she could tell someone about all of her worries and anxieties..

 

But the only friend she has ran away with her money.. and her mother.. has been in coma all these years..

 

She sighed as she stared at the flowers she was holding.

Will her mom like them?

She used to love gardening.. she loves flowers.. specially sunflowers.. 

 

Jisoo remembered her dad used to buy her flowers everyday..

 

They were happy back then..

 

Why did their happiness have to be stopped?

 

She was looking around while waiting for the bus when she noticed an ahjumma she knew.

 

It was a friend of Jhope’s mother..

 

Should she greet her? It might be rude to pretend not to have seen her..

 

“Good afternoon aunt..” she said politely as she approached her in the middle of the crowd.

 

The woman turned to her and immediately changed her facial expression.

 

Jisoo gulped.

 

Why.. does she look so mad at her?

 

“Aren’t you Jhope’s friend?” the woman asked raising her voice already.

 

Jisoo nodded her head.

 

And as soon as she did, the woman pointed her finger at her..

 

“If you ever see him again, tell me right away! How could all of his family not be found anywhere?” she said before turning her back against her and leaving her immediately.

 

Jisoo’s brows furrowed.

 

By saying that his family isn’t found anywhere, does she mean that his parents can’t be contacted either?

What happened to them? Is there something she doesn’t know?

 

She was still thinking inside her head when someone who seemed in a hurry to get on the bus pushed her aside.

 

The bouquet of flowers she was holding fell onto the ground.

 

And just when she was about to pick them up, another bus stopped just in front of her and the passengers who have just gotten off stepped on the flowers ruining them.

 

All she could do was sigh as she stared at the petals of the flowers on the ground.

How could they just bump into her without apologizing? And they even stepped on her beautiful flowers?

Is she invisible or what? What’s their problem?

She already feels miserable today and they even had to do this to her?

 

And to add to her misery, she noticed that the bus which has just passed by was the bus she has been waiting for for more than 30 minutes already!

 

She ran after the bus as she carried some of the flowers she was able to save but it just went away leaving her.

 

“What should I do?” she said to herself as she sighed loudly.

 

Why is today not going her way? Why does she feel unlucky today? 

 

She took a deep breath as she returned to the bus stop slowly.

She shouldn’t feel down.. 

she’s going to visit her mom later and she wants to seem happy..

 

What if her mom wakes up today? She wouldn’t want to see her daughter sad the first time she opens her eyes, right?

 

And this is why she tries to be cheerful everyday.. she always looks for the joy in everything she does.. it can be a little thing.. or a greater one.. as long as there’s a reason to be happy, she wants to be happy..

 

She was walking towards the bus stop when a car suddenly parked just in front of her.

 

She stopped on her feet.

 

The windows rolled down slowly and then she saw a familiar face from the passenger seat.

 

Professor Kim.

 

What is he doing here? Why did he stop here?

 

He went out of the car and stood before her.

 

“W-what are you-..?” she was confused as she looked at him.

 

“I know this is sudden but.. would you like a lift?” asked Taehyung awkwardly.

 

Jisoo blinked a few times.

That was indeed very sudden.

 

Wait.. where did he even come from? 

Was he here all the time? Did he see everything that happened? 

 

“I mean.. I thought maybe you wanted a lift.. since today is Saturday and the buses are fewer on the weekend..” Taehyung continued as sweat ran on his forehead.

 

Of course she would be confused and flustered but he couldn’t just pass by and close an eye when he saw what happened to her in a span of a minute..

 

Yes.. he saw everything..

 

From that woman who suddenly pointed her finger at her and shouted at her.. to that scene where her flowers fell down and got ruined.. and even the bus left her!

 

He had to ask RM to stop the car after witnessing all of that!

 

They had just finished their lunch and were going to a library together when he noticed her at the bus stop.

She looked lovely as she caressed those beautiful flowers and then it all happened..

 

 

“Oh.. you don’t have to..” said Jisoo politely refusing.

 

She can just wait for the next bus.. she isn’t in a hurry..

 

“Just come.. you don’t know what time the next bus will come..” said Taehyung worriedly.

 

Jisoo looked at the car.

Professor Kim came down from the passenger’s seat so that means the car isn’t his.. but why is he so determined to get her on the car?

 

“Just come or my friend will kill me if he gets fined for parking here..” Taehyung continued.

 

Jisoo sighed.

Is this a threat? 

Should she just agree?

 

“Well.. then I’d appreciate if you brought me to S Hospital..” she said bowing her head.

 

Taehyung smiled a little.

Good thing she agreed..

But wait.. a hospital? Why? Is she sick?

 

Jisoo greeted RM as she sat on the backseat.

It was still pretty awkward with Professor Kim and she even had to get on his friend’s car now!

 

What kind of situation is this? What is wrong with today? 

 

The hospital wasn’t very far from where they were.

It took them just 15 minutes to get there.

 

But it was quite a long ride for Jisoo..

No one was saying anything during those 15 minutes!

Couldn’t they have spoken to each other at least? Why did t