His health is declining day by day.

He would randomly faint, get more frequent nosebleeds than before, his joints began hurting more than it ever did, and soon enough, Yoona can only expect for what is expected—the old man's end. But as his lawyer, after also managing his career for the past fifteen years, if there's anyone that musn't show an ounce of weakness, it's none other than her. However, Yoona's only human, you see. She can't help but feel for the man and care helplessly in secret while busy hiding under her strong façade. Lucky enough, the old man sees perfectly right through her. She's become like his daughter after all; she's become more like family than his own brothers ever were.

And if anyone, out of everyone he knew in his lifetime and not even his granddaughter, he knew better to be certain that Yoona would be the one to stay behind his grave the longest, and the thought pained him more than anything else in the world.

"You've stopped asking..." the old man uttered quietly as they escalated to the third floor of the department store, wondering if Yoona had any plans to try and convince him to live longer. But the latter only assisted him off the escalator before responding, "Well, I've accepted it already." she released a faint laugh, sadness seeping through her eyes. "And it's not like I'll change your mind if I asked again," she paused, "I think finding Minjeong was what solidified my acceptance...did you really think I was going to let you have an empty funeral?" she meant that sarcastically but the old man didn't laugh.

He smiled instead, "Yoona, you must be forgetting that I have a lot of friends. And even if I didn't, you're enough to fill up the empty space which you've been doing since I hired you."  hearing that made it a lot harder for Yoona.

"Correction—you didn't hire me. Your brothers did," she carefully said, "I promised to take care of you so thanks for letting me know I've been doing just that."

 "What about my Minjeongie?"

"Harabeoji," Yoona began by giving him a warm smile, hoping to assure him for the millionth time, "I promise to take care of her too. Now let's go buy her the best Christmas gift!"

The old man scratched his head, "Yoona-yah, I don't even know what she wants. We might as well just wrap a ribbon around Jimin and give her instead!" Yoona laughed at that.

"We'll figure it out, don't worry."

"I also want to get Jimin and Andrew gifts...what do you think we should get them?" Yoona hummed, thinking while looking around for cute stuff that Minjeong might like, "Oh, and her other friends too! You remember Aeri and the Jeno guy?" the old man asked as he spoke again.

Yoona nodded, "Don't forget about their other friends. One's Chinese. I think they said her name was Ningning? And then they mentioned two more but I forgot their names. Let's get them all gifts."

"Oh! Maja! But Yoona, this is hard. We barely know what they like and we haven't even met them. Why don't we ask Jimin? I can text her now."

"Aish. You're just finding ways to bother her! And don't you want it to be a surprise?"

The old man clicked his tongue, rubbing a hand on his chin as he tries to think, "Aigoo, let's just eat first. I'm getting hungry..."

"Okay, let's just shop later, I'm also hungry. What do you want? There is a food court here. I heard it's very big!" The old man frowned, craving something else.

"Yoona, I kind of miss home. Can we have something Korean?"

"You miss home? But we're going back tomorrow," Yoona says.

"I know, but we didn't get to try their Korean food here."

"Hmm...well, I saw a samgyeopsal restaurant at the second floor earlier but the food is too unhealthy for you-"

"Yah, I'm dying and already unhealthy. Take us there now. I want meat!" the old man sulked like a cute little boy.

"But you have a small appetite, harabeoji..."

"And you have a big one so go make yourself full—because look at you, you look so thin!" He scolded her, giving her arm a light slap.

"Okay, okay!" Yoona chuckled while squeezing the old man's shoulders to try and relax him. Outside of work, she liked annoying the old man. But at the same time, it would only make her miss him more eventually. "Let's go eat meat!" 

-

"Hey, thanks for coming with me," Pinasalamatan ni Aeri ang kaniyang kasama. Maraming paper bags ang nakasabit sa kaniyang braso. Puro nakabalot na regalo ang laman ng mga ito para sa kaniyang mga kaibigan at pamilyang uuwian. Yung ibang paper bags naman, dahil marami siyang binili, ay hawak ng kasama niya. "Sorry talaga last minute...but don't worry, I'll pay for your gas."

"Baliw, okay lang!" sabi ng kasama niya. "Buti talaga binigay ko number ko sa'yo. Tsaka minsan ko lang naman gamitin kotse ko. So ano, tara na ba? Drive na din kita papuntang apartment nila para 'di ka na gumastos ng grab. Mahal pa naman mag book dito."

"Hey, no. Sa Las Piñas ka uuwi, diba? I'll be out of the way. Plus, I don't really mind the gastos...and before I go, let me treat you to lunch muna. Where do you want to eat?"

"Luh, pwede namang sa dorm muna ako umuwi. Lapit lapit lang no'n sa kanila. Pero sige, kain muna tayo...'di kasi ako nag breakfast eh." Hindi na nag-pakipot pa ang kasama at nag-isip ng pwede nilang makain, "Siguro kahit saan basta sa mura?" hindi siya sure at nahihiyang mag-suggest.

Buti nalang, decisive si Aeri. "Okay, let's eat sa samgyup. I've been craving!"

"Hoy, anong samgyup? Mahal do'n! 'Wag do'n!"

"But sabi mo kahit saan? And it's on me naman. 'Wag mong intindihin 'yung gastos."

Napabuntong hininga lang ang kasama while Aeri led their way to the second floor where Jin Joo Korean Grill is located, "Oo nga pala, I almost forgot to update them!" biglang kinuha ni Aeri ang selpon niya mula sa purse, "Sabihan ko sila na dito tayo maglu-lunch."

"Hala, sasabihin mo sa kanila?"

"Na kasama kita?" tumango ang kasama, "Of course! I tell them nga about sa mga sinesend mong memes sa akin...Minjeong thinks you're lame!"

"Alam pala ni boss? Gagi teka, kinabahan ako bigla."

"Huh? W-why naman?" takang tanong ni Aeri at pinanood ang kasamang mag-type sa sarili nitong selpon. "Uh, Jeno?"

Jeno: Boss, kasama ko nga pala si bff aeri hehe sorry now lang nagsabi 😅

Kinabahan lalo si Jeno nang mag-seen ito agad.

MJ: Bff mo ha? Bff mo?

Naki-basa naman si Aeri at natawa, "Hay nako, don't tell me kinakabahan ka sa kaniya?" hindi sumagot ang kasama, "Minjeong's just too cute to scare off anyone! Growing up, Jimin's usually the one scaring off guys for us..."

"Huy, 'wag ka nga! Mas nakakatakot si boss kaysa kay Rina!" Jeno sulked as he worked on his reply. Tinabi na ni Aeri ang selpon niya at hinayaan nang si Jeno na lang mag-update.

Jeno: Nyenyeee anw, kain lang kami lunch. Dito kami moa hehe treat niya daw ako!!! 😋

MJ: Heh. Anong oras kayo matatapos? Iuwi mo siya sa amin agad nang buhay. Ingat. 

Biglang napatingin si Jeno kay Aeri na binasa agad ang message. Kinuha niya ang selpon nito at naki-type.

Jeno: I will just book grab papunta jan! Don't make him drive na bc it's out of the way sa kanilaaa - aeri

Sabay na inabangan ni Aeri at Jeno ang reply ni Minjeong.

MJ: HOY IUWI MO YANG JENO NA YAN DITO 1V1 KAMI 

MJ: AT IKAW, NAKIKIPAGDATE KA TAS DI MO PINAPAALAM SA AKIN?!!!

MJ: UWAG MKO KKUSAPEN

"Gagi, si boss nag-all caps?!" Hindi makapaniwalang pag-react ni Jeno.

Napailing lang si Aeri at napangiti, "That wasn't Minjeong—I believe that was Ning, the one I go to Kwangya with," she faintly laughed while typing some more, "and please don't mind her, she's just being dramatic. Siya pinakamakulit sa amin by the way."

Jeno: Ang oa mo ning my ghaaaad ka! And balakayojan we're gonna eat na so dnd pls? Update ko kayo pag papunta na ako jan!! 🙄🥰 - aeri  

MJ: Aeri my babyyy, wag ka daw mag grab sabi ni minjeong. Jeno idrive mo yan dito tapos join ka na rin sa ladies night namin tonight! The more the merrier hehe - rina ito #wagkangkabahan 😉 

"Oh, ayan! Si boss rina na nagsabing ihatid kita," sambit ni Jeno.

"Hay nako sila...bahala na mamaya. Eat muna us." Tumango lang ang kasama at tumuloy na sila sa paglalakad papunta sa kakainang samgyup.

-

Eunbi's strolling around the mall to spend the day outside with her one year old daughter, Maya, who's peacefully sleeping inside the stroller. Ramdam niya ang pagkulo ng kaniyang tyan, ibig sabihin nito ay nagugutom na siya.

Usually, sa fast food lang siya kumakain—o sa karenderya kung saan mura ang mga pagkain—tapos Gerber, Cerelac, at Promil Gold naman ang pinapakain at pinapainom niya sa anak niya. It's the bare minimum of a mother, to give its child the best food and the best milk that there is kahit sabihin pa nating mahal ito. Para kay Eunbi, okay lang din sa kaniya na hindi siya makakain, basta yung kailangan ng anak niya ay mabibigay niya.

Pero dahil pay day naman at nakuha niya na ang bonus niya from her part-time job, feel niyang kumain sa sosyalan ngayon. Gawa rin ng nag-enjoy siya sa pag-kain sa samgyup nung nakasama niya ang student council noong katapusan ng foundation week, parang bet niyang kumain doon ulit. 

Deserve ko 'to, isip niya, at tinanong agad sa guard kung saan ang pinakamalapit na samgyup-an sa kanila para hindi na sila lumayo.

"Akyat po kayo sa second floor, ma'am. May samgyup po do'n sa south wing," pagturo sa kaniya nung guard sa entrance nung mall, "Bale pagpasok niyo po, akyat po kayo sa may second floor tapos makikita niyo na po yung Jin Joo grill."

"S-sige po, kuya. Salamat po!" nginitian niya 'yung guard at umalis na papasok ng mall.

...

"Ma'am, pasensya na po. Two person minimum po kailangan para makakain kayo dito," pagsimangot ng server kay Eunbi.

"Hindi po ba counted ang anak ko, ate?" Eunbi frowned but the server frowned back.

"Sorry po talaga, ma'am. Pero hindi po counted si baby. Wala po ba kayong kasama, ma'am? 'Yung asawa niyo po?"

Eunbi tried to smile, shaking her head. "No po, it's just me-"

"Ate Eunbi, ikaw ba 'yan?" Napalingon naman si Eunbi sa nagsalitang lalaki, lumaki ang mga mata niya nang makita si Jeno. "Hala, ikaw nga!"

She was speechless, trying to say something. Kinakabahan siya kasi kasama niya ang anak niya at agad niyang binaba ang takip nito para hindi makita. Saka niya naman napansin ang kasama ni Jeno. Nakita na niya ito noong foundation week, kilalang kilala na niya rin ang mukha dahil napakita na siya ni Minjeong dati gamit ang pictures nilang magkakaibigan.

"Ito nga po pala si Aeri. Kaibigan nila Rina at Win," Nagsalita ulit si Jeno, introducing them to each other. "Ri, ito naman si ate Eunbi namin. President ng SC, kasama nila Rina."

"Hello po!" Masiglang bati ni Aeri sa kaniya, "Jimi- I mean, Rina, sorry. Rina. Nasanay na po ako sa Jimin!" natawa siya sa sarili niya. "Anyway, Rina's mentioned you before po, ate. Heard a lot of great things po. Actually, nagkita tayo saglit when I visited SMU kaso busy po kayo sa duty niyo, I think? And pati na din 'yung isa! Chaewon's her name, yes?"

"Ay, oo! Si makulit! Jusko, sayang...hindi mo ba siya na-meet nung foundation?" tanong ni Eunbi.

"Not personally pero she was the one hosting the auction, diba po? And yeah, ang kulit niya nga! She had Rina stressed out that day!" nagtatawanan na 'yung dalawang babae.

"Dito ka rin po ba kakain, ate Eunbi? Sabay na tayong tatlo!" pag-aya ni Jeno, "Wait, sa'yo ba 'yang stroller? Pwede po ba aso sa loob?"

Paiyak na 'yung diwa ni Eunbi at hindi na alam kung paano matatakasan ang sitwasyon.

"Uhm, Jeno...it's a baby stroller." Aeri corrected, slightly laughing at him. Sumilip agad 'yung dalawa and Eunbi surrendered with the truth, opening up the cover to let them see her baby Maya who was sleeping. "Oh my gosh, ang cute! It's a her right? Ano po name nila?" Aeri asked, looking at the baby softly. Jeno slouched down a bit to place his index on the baby's palm which the baby unconsciously took with its small and tiny hand.

"Maya," Eunbi revealed, "Her name's Maya." They're both in awe.

"Grabe ka na, ate Eunbi! May kapatid pala kayo? In fairness, very mommy material ka ngayon!" Jeno says with an approval look, making Eunbi hold her breath at the mistaken thought.

"Jeno, I think wifey material sounds more appropriate, don't you think?" Aeri commented.

"Ay, sorry..." Napakamot na lang si Jeno ng ulo at tumingin na muli kay Eunbi, "Anyway, final na ba dito? They won't charge baby Maya naman, diba?" Eunbi shook her head in response. "Okay, buti naman. Tara, tawagin na natin 'yung server!"

...

Eunbi: SOS

Napa-message agad si Eunbi kay Minjeong nang makaupo sila sa Jin Joo grill. Buti nalang, busy mag-usap 'yung dalawa niyang kasama.

MJ: Ate Eunbi? Okay ka lang po?

MJ: May emergency ba?

Eunbi sighed in relief when Minjeong replied immediately.

Eunbi: Nasa samgyup kami ng nakshie ko huhu

MJ: Oh? Mausok po diyan. Bad kay baby, ate. :((

Agad naman nag-send si Eunbi ng picture nila Jeno at Aeri na katapat niya. Patago niya itong kinuha.

MJ: Gago kasama mo sila?????

MJ: Nasa moa ka din?

MJ: Paano po si maya?

Napahinga ng malalim si Eunbi sa pagtadtad ng kausap.

Eunbi: Exactly.

Pansin ni Eunbi ang typing bubble ni Minjeong at kung paano ito biglang mawawala. Kinabahan tuloy siya lalo sa sitwasyon. 

MJ: So bale alam na nila?

Eunbi: Akala nila kapatid ko. Hindi pa nila ako tinatanong ulit.

MJ: How can i help po? Puntahan po ba kita diyan?

Eunbi: HAHAHA parang mas kinakabahan ka pa sa akin! Pero no need. Mga kaibigan mo ito. Can i trust them ba?

It took about five minutes of waiting before Minjeong sent her reply.

MJ: Oo naman po. Safe ka kay aeri, tsaka hindi naman siya taga-smu. Si jeno naman, may alam siya sa mga nangyari sa akin nung first year actually. Promise, good boy yan kahit siraulo minsan. They both can keep a secret po!! 😇

MJ: Slr din pala hehe pumasok akong cr kasi baka mabasa ito ni jimin.

Eunbi: Ikaw ha, nagtatago ka sa girlfriend mo. Baka isipin may kabit ka!!

MJ: Baliw huhuhu eh hindi niya din alam about kay maya, diba po?

Kita ni Eunbi ang pag-type ulit ng kausap.

MJ: At kung sasabihin mo pala kila jeno at aeri, mukhang dapat lang din malaman ni