Author’s note: I’m back with this chapter again! I’m sorry again for taking too long for the update, been busy with work TT

I opened my eyes as the light was cutting off my sleep and was blocking my sight. Slowly getting up from my bed, fixing my messy hair while I checked the time. I could clearly hear my Mama’s soft voice calling my name – indicating for me to come down and have my breakfast. My yawn’s noise could only be heard in my silent room, and a tone from my phone interrupted my attention as I quickly grab it within a second.

Of course, it’s a message from someone I know that could start my day with a smile.

From: Jiyeon

Good morning, my Sunshine!

Did you sleep well?

Noise from tapping those letters on my phone were very quick. I don’t really mind replying her in an instant just to make sure she knows I am awake and was wishing the same thing for her.

To: Jiyeon

Good morning!

Yup, I did. I hope you do too ^^

I sat on my bed for a while to have a morning conversation with her. Right after a couple of minutes, I went down and saw my mom preparing our breakfast. She was wearing a very comfy apron and her hair tied with a red ribbon. I am way too happy, today. I am so much happy seeing her smiling genuinely as she says ‘Good morning’ to me. I’ve been hoping this would happen one day, and it did. I’m contented of what we have now, because this was all the things I wanted to do with her. Having a warm meal, a warm talk and do exchanges to each for what we feel and what’s been bothering for us lately.

I love it this way. It felt refreshing.

Oh, I forgot to mention. I and Jiyeon just passed the entrance exam in Seoul University, and we just graduated in high school – time just flew so fast that I couldn’t believe we’ll be chasing our dreams soon. Speaking of going to college at the same university, starting on that day, we will be living together onwards. I’m way too much excited, that I could see her and be with her every weekdays. I could make her meal, and do take care of her, as what her parents told me to. Even though they wouldn’t request such thing, I’m more willing to do so. For Jiyeon, I just love this girl that growing old with her would mean so much to me.

“You going out today?” my mama asked, serving me the side dishes she made.

“U-huh,” I nodded, “will going to go out with Jiyeon.” and continued,

“You two sure loved to hang out a lot,” mom gave me a lovely stare as she was sipping on her favorite drink, “I haven’t met her before though.”

I giggled. I did not know all this time she was curious about Jiyeon. I remembered I mentioned her to my mom before. It was when I passed the exam and was with her during the review.

“Soon you will. Do you want to meet her sometime around?” I asked, started to dig my chopsticks onto my meal,

“Well, sure!” She responded quickly, “I would love to meet that friend who made my daughter like this.”

I smiled while continuing my meal. When Jiyeon told me things to not abandon her, I reflected it with myself since my mom needed me the most. I thought of her saying words like, I shouldn’t do that, and I should be with her with all these bad things happened with my family. I should be there, instead of not saying anything and making her feel like I already did left, making her feel left alone without anyone to be by her side.

Now that I’m with her again, with the things I wanted to happen, I couldn’t help myself but to be happy. It was such a nice chapter of my life knowing Jiyeon – the one who made me come home and be with my mom again.

Once I came back, I became the cheerful and lovable Hyomin I was back then. I talk to my mom a lot and even discussing things with her very detailed about what had happened during my elementary days and that I had such a hard time adjusting things when I transferred to different schools for almost every year. My mom was sorry for it, but it’s not her fault.

“I have to go now.” I say, while checking my look on the small mirror,

“Take care! Be sure to not spend much time outside. The weather’s pretty cold these days, you might catch a cold.” She reminded.

I smile and nodded. Heading my way towards the main door after but suddenly felt something is lacking.

Ah, I turn around back to my mom and would like to remind her something,

“Mama,” I stated, though nervous and shy, “I love you.”

I could clearly see her shock expression and her cheeks turning to red. I know, I didn’t get a chance to say that I love her a lot. I already did this years ago but it felt really weird saying this to her at present. Her eyes were prickling and I wasn’t expecting that. She slowly went her way towards me and gave me a warm hug, she was sobbing – and I feel like she wasn’t expecting that I would say such thing.

“Mama loves you too,” then she continued, “more than anything else.”

That’s one of the things I wanted to tell her. I already told her everything I wanted to say except for one thing.

I have a relationship with Jiyeon. No one knows beside us.

I went to a coffee shop where we decided to meet. I ordered two hot chocolate drink since Jiyeon told me she’s on her way. I was near on the glass window, looking at busy people passing by. Well, I know for sure we would be busy as well when school starts – because college is different, mom just told me that. The start of our dreams, the day when we would chase what we wanted to be in the near future. I do hope we will make ourselves as inspiration to pursue – aside from our parents.

I bowed down and took a sip on my drink. My phone rings, and I know who it would be.

“I just ordered two drinks,” I started,

“Ah, I’m sorry I took too long. I passed by some shop but I am already here.”

I giggled, “Why are you sorry? I just got here too though,”

I glimpse at the right side from my position. I notice a man who’s wearing a black cap suspiciously looking at me. He’s wearing all black and was drinking some coffee too. I couldn’t recognize his facial because he was looking down. I did ignore him when finally Jiyeon came in and waved her hands on me.

“Here!”

Jiyeon came straight towards me where I sat at. I accidentally glimpse again at the man who was glaring back at me – I look at his eyes and was very curious. His sharp stares could make him kill someone – and I am here wondering why I feel really nervous thinking about it.

[END OF HYOMIN’S POV]

[JIYEON’S POV]

Today is just another day with Hyomin again. We planned on going out and maybe have some movies together since we haven’t seen each other for a while because of the vacation just started. I was in my way to the coffee shop we just talked to but then again got intruded when I passed by some dog shop that I couldn’t help but stop for a while since hearing their voices melted my heart.

I love dogs so much.

“Welcome to my shop, young lady!” the owner welcomed me with his smile,

I bowed and smiled to him too. I look around and saw puppies were playing and some were on a cage, barking as I came in.

“What type of dog do you want?”

“Hmm..” I say, “I’m just looking around for now but a loving, caring dog?” then continued.

“Oh, we do have different types of puppies here with that attitude,” he said, putting the cute Maltese puppy on its cage, “this puppy is one of them, do you want to look around other types as well?”

“Sure!”

It took me like 10 minutes to go around and look for different puppies. They’re all so lovely, I could tell. There’s this shy type one and a very noisy one as I passed by. I thought of Hyomin, which I remembered that one night when she saved a poor injured puppy and even made her way to some vet nearby. I thought of giving her one as a present since I know she love puppies though she hasn’t mentioned it before. Well, it was obvious.

I said my goodbyes to the owner and told him that I would come back sometime around. I couldn’t choose one since looking at them makes me want to adopt them all. Anyways, I’ve been thinking of maybe telling her and get some help to what breed we would choose. I want to raise one with her, and count it as part of our family.

Its 5 more minutes tell I could get into that coffee shop. I was having these fast steps for I don’t want her to wait longer. I called her and apologize for I would be late for a minute, glad she just giggled and said she just came in.

Hyomin waved her hands telling me where she’s sitting at. I came closer as soon as I saw her and even did apologize again for the second time.

“Nah, I said you don’t need to.” She said, “Now let’s drink these so we could start roaming around.”

I started to drink my chocolate drink and witnessed the brunette in front was side eyeing someone at the side. I check on where she looks at to find out but I could only see people chattering while drinking their coffee. I look back at her again and wondered a thing, so I wanted to ask.

“Is something wrong?”

The girl lifted up her face on me as she shook her head lightly. She continued her drink and so do I, and I don’t want to start this day with some burden thoughts so I came up with an idea to tell her about what I did earlier.

“I just passed some dog shop by recently, ” I stated, curving my lips, “and I thought of adopting one.”

“You do? Why?”

“Why not?” I asked back, wanted to convince her.

“Well, I’m okay with it.” Hyomin replied with that charming little smile, “so, where do you want to go first?”

I thought of some places that are good to be at. I wanted to do something interesting other than eating some fancy foods at a restaurant or eat some desserts we usually do.

“How about ice skating?” she suggested, “I kind of wanted to play with that..”

Then it was settled. We played ice skating for like an hour and went to a cinema after to watch some movies. It’s kind of a usual and warm date – though it feels like we have done these things for a countless times now, I didn’t feel like getting bored of it since being by someone like Hyomin, makes me a happy young gal.

We did played dart too, and spending my precious time with her makes me feel that we’re in our own world yet time flies so fast. Ah, they say when you’re spending your time with someone important and that you are happy together, you couldn’t help but complain for as if the time wanted to end the day too fast. It feels like we spent our time together for an hour now, and I don’t want to say my goodbyes yet since I still wanted to be with her. I hope time pauses, and I’m not being greedy right now.

“Ahh it was fun!” I shouted, we were sitting on a bench while looking at the stars tonight.

“So,” Hyomin cleared , “what should we do next?”

The young lady was giving me this shy yet lovely look. As if she was waiting for something that I can’t think of what it would be. We were both alone at this park though, so I quickly grab her hand and smiled from ear to ear since we liked this feeling so much.

We love to hold our hands together.

“I’m thirsty. I got to buy some water real quick,”

“Okay. Don’t take too long.” Hyomin responded.

“Do you want me to buy ice cream too?”

“No, water is fine.”

I made a sign saying ‘okay!’ to her as I immediately went to a convenience store in front.

Again, this day would end like the other dates we had. It would always end with a warm hugs and kisses. I haven’t mentioned that we did fought before because of the misunderstandings but Hyomin handled it so well that she even confronted me since she doesn’t want us to be like that for too long. I couldn’t help but laugh at those times, we were so quiet while we went home that night and not even allowing ourselves to talk first to say sorry, but we did in the end anyway.

I took two bottled water and paid my bills at the cashier. I don’t want her to wait longer since it was very cold outside and so I took my quick steps so we could go home.

I was so happy that I never thought something tragic would come out tonight. We were so happy, that we couldn’t take off our smiles whenever we look at each other’s eyes but these thoughts stop when suddenly Hyomin stood up to come closer to me but this furious car was on my sight that made me drop the bottles and run away –

“Hyomin!” I shouted, panting, tried my best to give all my strength to push her so she wouldn’t get hit by that car.

The screeching of the brakes echoed the entire street and I couldn’t see the driver’s facial because of its shiny lights.

And…

And I think my body gets numb for that force – that I couldn’t even move an inch or even say a thing. That all I could hear was Hyomin’s voice calling my name, that all I could see is, my love, crying unstoppably with her trembled voice and all.

“J-jiyeon…”, she said, very weak, “Jiyeon!”

“Please say a thing, Jiyeon..Jiyeon!”

Those words were the last ones I heard before everything else turn to dark.

~~~