Chapter Four

It's not bad to like you, right?

           "There," Dahyun overheard the doctor remark as she repaired the oxygen tank beside her bed. "Are you feeling better?" the woman consulted once again. Dahyun barely nodded her head once in response since she was wearing an oxygen mask. "That's great news, sweetie. Now I'll go meet your mother outside; she's worried."

Dahyun closed her eyes since she had nothing else to say. She hopes to get more rest because her body is still restless. The doctor, on the other hand, observed the pale girl for a few more seconds before returning her eyes to the door.

She was about to reach for the doorknob when she heard a faint voice. It belonged to Dahyun. The girl had removed her mask for a moment only to ask this disheartening question.

"Am I allowed to fall in love?"

And it shouldn't be too difficult to respond. Nevertheless, it felt that way.

"Am I allowed to fall in love even when I'm this sick?" Dahyun asks once again. Her eyes were filled with hope, which eventually turned to tears.

The woman smiled and nodded her head without hesitation. "You are free to feel anything you choose to feel, and nothing should stop you," she said. "You know, I'd like to see you in love."

"How?"

"In whatever way you come across that feeling."

Dahyun was puzzled for a while. The doctor then looked around the room. And so, her eyes followed the woman's gaze, and she noticed her paintings, which were hung around. On one side of the room, there was a table with a miniature of a cottage she had created nearly a year before.

Those are the things she used to enjoy. Dahyun lost interest in them the instant she realized she wasn't making progress in her health.

The woman repeated, "In whatever way you come across that feeling. You should chase it."

∙ ∙ ∙

           "Thank goodness!" Taehyung shouted as he entered Dahyun's room.

The sleeping girl gasped and opened her eyes as a consequence. She couldn't help but remove her oxygen mask just to hiss at her brother. "Why do you have to be so loud?!" If she could only stand up and kick the man in the kneecaps or something, she sure would have. "I was already at the entrance of my dream, and then you'll come in here and yell like it's not past midnight?"

"Hey, Kim Dahyun," Taehyung said as he drew an armchair to sit by his sister's bed. "Don't you know how frightened I was? No, we were all terrified! Even dad was planning to fly from America to here when he found out what had happened," he explained.

"Why are you freaking out? I'm not dying."

"I'll die first if this continues happening to you."

"Tch!"

Taehyung sighed and leaned back on the chair, completely at ease. He's feeling a lot better now. "But what happened? Why did you suddenly get a fever?" he wanted to know.

"I made a mistake," Dahyun said, a bit embarrassed. She had no idea this would happen. She hasn't had a fever as severe as this in a long time. "It must be really bad for me to do that," she speculated.

"What exactly is it? What have you done?"

Dahyun responded to her brother with a guilty look on her face. "I had a small amount of alcohol."

"What did you just say?!" Taehyung's eyes widened when he heard that. "Hey!"

"Keep it down!" Dahyun told in a hushed manner.

"Why would you do that? Are you crazy?"

"I assumed it would be okay."

Taehyung could only murmur, "I suppose I'll have to babysit you from now on."

Dahyun grumbled and rolled her eyes. She despises being treated like a baby, although she is aware that she sometimes acts like one. "And I couldn't take my medicines because Sana's friend advised me not to since I drank alcohol," she went on.

"You're such an idiot."

"I was being polite to them! They were city guests; therefore, I should join them in happenings like that, otherwise, they wouldn't be comfortable."

Taehyung narrowed his eyes, sensing that there was more to it than merely being polite. "You wanted to impress Sana-ssi," he said in the end.

"What are you talking about?" Dahyun shook her head, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Why would I want to impress her?"

"Because you have a crush on her."

"What even is a crush? Yuck!"

"Exactly that! Being overly in denial is one of its signs; trust me, I'm an expert in this area."

"You're making up; go out! I'm going to sleep!"

Taehyung chuckled as he recognized his younger sister looking so cute whenever she is irritated like this. "Seriously, Dahyun," he said, his voice serious. "You don't have to strive so hard to impress anyone; you're awesome just the way you are," he explained.

"Awesome my ," Dahyun said quietly. "What was I meant to do? Have a yogurt drink while they drank grown-up beverages?"

"I don't see anything wrong with it. Some adults dislike drinking," Taehyung explained, and Dahyun chooses not to add anything further. "Be genuine, Dahyun."

"I'll just see you tomorrow."

"Does that mean I won't be able to hang around at the shop tomorrow?" Dahyun said, prompting Taehyung to frown.

"So, you weren't paying attention?"

"What was it?"

He scratched his neck and said, "never mind," and Dahyun merely gazed at him, not recalling what he said last. "And yes, you can't go out tomorrow; simply put, stay here and recuperate."

"That ."

"Yeah, but it is you who brought this upon yourself." Taehyung is right. It is all her fault that she will be forced to stay and spend days lying down. "Don't fear, my dear sister, I'll tell your girlfriend you're feeling unwell," he teased, only to be met with a scowl from Dahyun. "I'll also tell her not to worry."

"Better."

"So, you're not upset that I referred to her as your girlfriend?"

"Good night, and please put out the light." Dahyun smiled before putting her mask back on.

∙ ∙ ∙

Three days had passed, and Sana had always seemed to be waiting for someone particular to enter whenever the bells chime. Taehyung, the shop owner, was well aware of this. And he smiles and shakes his head every time he sees the girl raise her head to the side to look at whoever has come in.

Taehyung spoke to himself in reverent whispers while dusting off the front counter. "I wonder how happy she would be today." Since Dahyun is finally doing well. That means she'd be here anytime soon.

A newcomer had stepped in exactly after he completed that sentence. Well, I wouldn't call her a newcomer. "Hello," the pale girl, Dahyun, said as she stood there, still holding the door open.

I couldn't put into words how perfectly content Sana was when she spotted the other girl. Her eyes gleamed as her lips turned up to a toothy smile. To her, it was as if the entire universe had suddenly sprung to light.

"Dahyun!" Sana could finally say something after a prolonged period of silence. She rushed over to greet the girl with a warm embrace. Perhaps hugging is her way of expressing how delighted she is.

Dahyun is stuck in her position as a result of this. First and foremost, she had not anticipated this reaction from Sana. Second, she had no idea what to do. "H-hey," she could only murmur before awkwardly placing her hands on Sana's back and softly patting it. What's irritating is that Taehyung could be seen teasingly smirking at her from the side of her eyes.

It's a good thing Sana decided to break away from the embrace and examine Dahyun from head to toe. Only by doing so could one perceive Sana's concern after knowing that the other had been ill for several days. "I felt so bad you became sick after our day together; it must have been because you were exhausted. I'm sorry," she muttered.

"No, no, that's not your fault; it just happens," Dahyun said. "I should be the one who apologizes," she stated before hesitantly smiling. "I couldn't meet you the next day."

Taehyung, unbeknownst to them, was overhearing their talk. "That's true. She was so worried about not seeing you," he added, causing Dahyun to furrow her brows as if instructing her brother to shut up. "You were more concerned with it than with getting better quickly."

"You were?" Sana asked, intrigued. She couldn't tell if Taehyung was joking or not. This is because she is aware that this man is attempting to get Dahyun to like her. It was pretty obvious.

"It's because I agreed to see you!" Dahyun defended herself, puckering her lips.

"But it's alright if you don't; when it comes to taking care of yourself first, you can always say no to everything else."

Taehyung was astounded as Dahyun only nodded her head silently. He didn't really believe his younger sister would give up so simply. This girl is always adamant in her stance.

Sana had turned her head to look at Dahyun around eight times already. She, on the other hand, never approached the girl. Something is simply preventing her from doing so, and I believe it is her cautious little heart. But she has to act quickly before the clock strikes four o'clock.

Dahyun sensed someone approaching her side as she was occupied playing with the Rubik's cube (she was striving to beat her thirteen-second time). She didn't want to be disturbed right now, so she didn't glance at whoever it was. Not until that person said something.

"Hey," she says in a sweet tiny voice. Who could possibly resist that?

Dahyun came to an abrupt end in a heartbeat, lifting her head and focusing her gaze on Sana's face. But she didn't say anything.

"Uhm," the other girl said, biting her bottom lip before finally asking. "Are you preoccupied?"

Dahyun at her finest. She enjoys irritating others. "Well," she said as she lifted her cube and acted to dismiss Sana.

"Hmph!" sulked Sana, folding her arms over her chest.

That made Dahyun giggle and divert her focus back to the girl. "I'm kidding," she said, "what is it?"

"I was just wondering..." Sana appeared to be at a loss for where to place her hands. She clutched them together on her back, then on her front. But then she was fidgeting her index fingers together as she spoke, "...if you could come with me after work."

"To where?" Dahyun asked casually.

"I've heard there's an amusement park nearby."

"Yeah, there is."

Sana bobbed her head, her focus fixed on Dahyun. "So?" she asked, voice trembling a little

"Why are you looking so nervous?" the pale girl smirked. "Does that have anything to do with the fact that you've asked me out on a date?"

"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT."

"Geez. I'm joking," Dahyun said, her eyes widening as her hands raised in utter shock.

Sana sighed; her brow wrinkled. "It's because you're making fun of me."

"Well, somebody told me," Dahyun folded her arms before leaning back in her seat. "Being overly in denial is one of the signs that you have a crush on someone."

"Whoever told you that is clearly making things up."

"That's what I was thinking," Dahyun said. "Anyway, Your Majesty," she responded, "it's a yes. I'm going out with you."

"You just made it sound weird."

"What? Going out with you?" Dahyun taunted, making Sana roll her eyes.

"Whatever."

"Is your friend coming?"

Sana blinked, pondering the question Dahyun had just posed. To be honest, going to the carnival was Mina's idea. "No," Sana replied. Jealousy, perhaps. "She said that she will be busy."

"Ah, yes, I see..."

Sana didn't expect Dahyun to be all chatter. That's because this girl had just boasted about being the greatest in amusement parks. She claimed to have won a lot of goods in the mini-games, which piqued Sana's interest.

Dahyun was, in fact, bluffing.

"At least you gave me this locket; I have no idea what to put in here," Sana stated as she wore the heart-shaped locket necklace around her neck. Dahyun pursed her lips, a little disappointed with herself. She even considered whether Taehyung was correct about her aiming to impress this other girl.

"What do you mean at least?" she grumbled. "That's preferable to huge bears, which are intended for children."

"But I like them too," Sana said softly, which Dahyun didn't hear.

"Besides, I've got you something else other than that, right?" the pale girl added as she came to a halt in front of Sana. It caused the latter to pause in her steps as well.

"Huh? Isn't this the only one?"

She was cut short instantly by Dahyun's expectant gaze. The young lady is even posing with her hands in her pockets. By doing so, she appears to be attempting to convey a message to Sana.

"What are you doing?"

"Sana, come on."

Finally, she realizes. Dahyun was talking about herself. The 'other object' she was trying to refer to is the person standing in front of Sana. The latter couldn't help but blush as a result of the former's modest gesture. And it is something Dahyun will not overlook.

"I assume you liked this one better than the locket," she said, pointing to herself.

"Well, absolutely," Sana said. "The problem is..."

"What?"

"I'd have to talk to my mother about getting this thing," Sana had to halt in order to grasp her arm on Dahyun's first. "...coming home with me first."

Dahyun hadn't expected Sana to joke around with her, but she wasn't going to back down. "Are we there yet?" she asked. "Aren't we going a little too fast? 'Meeting the parents' is somewhat..."

Sana couldn't help but giggle as she said, "You're unbelievable."

"I made you smile," Dahyun said, gazing adoringly at Sana's face from the side.

They spoke about various stuff as they ate their corndog snacks. Basically, they might just say whatever comes to mind.

Taehyung had previously informed Dahyun that Sana had opted to fully care for Ahri — the time she became acutely unwell. That was great news for Dahyun.

"Ahri is doing well," Sana began to speak while still holding food in . Dahyun almost didn't get it, but they both laughed it off. After swallowing, Sana said again, "Ahri is doing well; he's become comfortable." Her countenance was warm and welcoming as she told Dahyun this. "He's so comfortable that he occasionally destroys objects around the house."

The other girl laughed and shook her head in astonishment. "I'm not sure if I should be happy about it," she replied, making Sana laugh. "But I'm pleased he's got you. Now I won't have to worry about leaving him behind if I have to."

"You sound like you're on your way somewhere."

"No, I mean..."

"I know, you told me your parents wouldn't let you have him," Sana responded.

"Right," Dahyun mumbled.

"Oh! That's the girl who lives next door," Sana exclaimed, and Dahyun's gaze followed to wherever the other pointed.

"Ah, Chaeyoung, Son Chaeyoung."

"Are you acquainted with her?"

"Sure," Dahyun said, without moving her gaze away from the person they were discussing. "She was an 8th-grade classmate."

"Oh."

"So, what about her?"

Sana giggled, debating whether or not to tell Dahyun about it. In the end, she did it anyhow. "Mina has tried to befriend her, but she just doesn't seem interested."

"Yeah," Dahyun acknowledged, a toothy grin on his face. "Chaeyoung dislikes being among people; the only reason she travels to overcrowded settings like this one is to photograph, to locate things that could be a subject for her art. Anything she finds intriguing, she takes a snapshot of it and paints it in a canvas when she gets home," she explained.

"How do you know all of this?"

"She mentioned it to the class once."

Their chat was cut short as a blinding flash of camera dazzled them. They were too preoccupied with one other. They had no idea Chaeyoung was getting closer to them and photographing them.

Sana was startled and unable to speak.

While Dahyun was urging, "Take one more. We'll pose better—wait—where are you going—why..." she is now seeing Chaeyoung walk away hastily.

"I think she didn't realize the flash was set on," Sana eventually spoke.

"Well, I hope I look okay on that one," Dahyun rubbed her brow. "As I previously stated, she will be painting the subjects of her shots."

"Are we ever going to see it?" Sana pondered aloud, and Dahyun's response was simply a shrug. She then heaved a sigh, "it's getting dark already."

"Yes, should we go home?"

"Beautiful idea."

"Do you feel that?" Dahyun inquired, glancing at her arm and then up at the sky.

"What?" Sana was perplexed, not understanding what was going on.

"That."

"Oh, is it raining?" Sana said, having finally felt it on her skin.

"Yeah? In the middle of summer?" Dahyun said, perplexed. "We need to move faster."

"Don't worry," Sana said, pulling an umbrella from her little backpack.

Momentarily, the rain became more intense. Dahyun and Sana's shoulders were already damp from not being able to fit beneath the cover. It's too bad they can't get a ride, so they'll have to walk back home in the cold.

"I think we should start worrying," Sana stated, raising her voice to somehow be heard over the din of the rain. "Ah!" she yelled as their umbrella has been almost blown away by a sharp gust of wind.

She may simply be unlucky. Sana was walking on the side of the road when a vehicle went by. "Oh, my..." she said, frozen in place after feeling the cold splash of water all over her body.

Dahyun was surprised as well, so she took a moment to say, "Good lord! Are you okay?" The answer is apparent. Sana wasn't looking okay. It's not fair for all of the things she wore to be soaked.

Sana gritted her teeth as she looked at Dahyun. "Some went inside my mouth," she made clear.

"Gross," Dahyun could only say, and she started laughing even though she didn't want to.

"Ugh! This is annoying!" complained Sana, trying to pull the garment from her skin.

Dahyun had an insane notion when she saw the girl's frustration. So, when she noticed another car approaching, she dashed out of the umbrella, perplexing Sana. "Where are you going?" she asked while watching the pale one approaching the incoming vehicle.

"STOP!" Dahyun yelled, waving her hands in the air to signal the automobile to come to a halt in the distance.

When the car eventually stops and the driver rolled down the window, he asked her a question, "Do you need a ride?"

"No, sir," Dahyun responded politely. "However, I have a favor to ask."

"Dahyun, get out of there," Sana urged, clutching the hem of Dahyun's shirt.

The pale girl stands still by the side of the road, arms outstretched, smiling with her eyes closed. She stayed there and waited for something to happen.

A splash.

A splash caused by the automobile Dahyun had just asked to set aside. It was the favor she requested from the driver. She wanted Sana to be relieved of her stress over what had happened to her.

"You're insane," Sana said as she watched Dahyun enjoy the downpours. "What?" she queried as the girl turned her head to smirk with a dubious look on the face.

"Come here," Dahyun intoned, extending her arms as if she were demanding a hug. The other girl shook her head and ran away, cautiously because the path was slippery. "Gotcha!" exclaimed Dahyun after grabbing the other's wrist. She offered Sana a playful embrace from behind, heedless to the girl's squeal.

"Dahyun, it's cold!"

"Of course! It's raining."

She pulled the umbrella from Sana's grip with all the power she had left in her body after running and playing about. "What's this for?" she said, later tossing it aside. They were already drenched, after all.

"That's actually my mom's," Sana grumbled.

Dahyun quickly released go of Sana and picked up the umbrella again. "I'm sorry," she apologized before checking whether it was all right. "I didn't break it or anything, did I?"

Sana, unknowing to her, was looking at her with a small smile on her face. And, when the rain subsided slowly, she asked Dahyun, "It's not bad to like you, right?"

Dahyun held the umbrella handle, somewhat taken by surprise. She wasn't sure if she had heard Sana correctly, but after seeing the look in the girl's eyes, she was certain. "Well, if you believe it is... you shouldn't," she went on to say.