Mae put her laptop on her lap as her eyes scanned the codes she had written so far, her brows knit together in exasperation.

One of the waiters in red uniform walked up and handed an iPad to Caroline for her to select the items she wants to order. He didn't even bother to ask Mae as she was deeply immersed in her own world of coding and endless frustration.

Caroline chose two of the seasonings and eyed Mae, who fixed her gaze on the screen of her laptop.

Feeling Caroline's stare, Mae replied without even looking up, "Just order whatever you want to, I don't mind eating anything, as long as it doesn't give me a stomachache later."

Caroline nodded and picked everything she wants on the pot.

After the waiter left, Caroline turned to look at Mae.

"What?" Mae groaned, clearly irritated.

"I talked to my mother today," Caroline said, still eyeing Mae.

Mae typed in for another minute before she took notice of the silence that filled the void between them. She looked up to Caroline and asked, "And?"

"Well, everyone wants us back in Guangzhou on National day," Caroline continued.

"Now that I am in Korea, they are frequently going to call me back, aren't they?" Mae complained as she closed the laptop.

"The holiday overlaps in both Korea and China, so it's not exactly a bad thing if you think of it."

"How will I finish the shit ton of assignments I have and get my study back in line if I spend all my time in family gatherings?" Mae fretted as she closed her laptop and pushed it to the side.

"Well, we have 3 more days of holiday than they do, so I guess you can study during Chuseok," chirped Caroline.

"Just kill me already," Mae complained, thumping the table softly with her head, causing Caroline to let out a slight chuckle.

......

Caroline dropped Mae off at her campus after they were done eating. With assignments that had deadlines approaching, Mae planned to go straight to the study room, yet she slowed down her pace, surprised to see a few students sitting in the corner of the lounge at this hour, chatting with each other. There was one person among them who made Mae feel like she had seen her somewhere else. She narrowed her eyes, forcing herself to match up that face with a name until one of them uttered her name.

"Jo Hee."

Mae instantly recalled where she had seen her. It's the twenty-first century and the best way to get to know a person is to stalk her on social media. Just like the others who live in the modern society, Mae stalked her in secrecy.

The conversation she had with Dang Sikyeong about Jo Hee was still fresh.

"What if she is his new found love interest? What are you going to do then?" Dang Si Kyeong asked her that day after letting her know the existence of Jo Hee.

"As if that will ruin my plan," she replied.

"I should have known you better, Yeomrim. You always act like you are the softest and kindest person on Earth, hiding that devil underneath your skin." She remembers him commenting, unaware of how her eyes were gleaming in green.

Mae changed her plan to study in the study room and turned her heels to sit two tables away from Jo Hee and her friends.

She opened her laptop and pretended to be working but, in all honesty, she was listening in on their conversation.

"Hey, you over there," one of the girls suddenly called out from the other table.

Mae's finger stagnated. She slowly raised her head to look at them and asked, "Are you calling me?"

"Yes," the girl nodded, Mae could feel that she was genuine, "Aren't you disturbed we are talking here? You should go to the study room. You won't be able to concentrate on your studies here."

"I might actually go out later, I am just here to pass time," Mae replied, a soft smile playing on her lips. Her eyes, though, were stuck on Jo Hee, who sat right beside the girl who had called out, stealing her chance to actually observe her carefully.

"Ah, okay," the girl nodded and turned back to her friends to continue their conversation.

Jo Hee had also been stealing glances at Mae, who seemed oddly familiar to her. Feeling her stare, Mae also glanced back at her, this time, with no expression on her face. Her eyes didn't have any temperature for a split second but then she curled her lips and bowed her head towards Jo Hee.

Jo Hee, slightly startled, bowed back at her and turned her face away. The coldness she had received from Mae's eyes seemed like a hallucination she had yet it, weirdly, felt so real.

Mae would never call herself a saint, yet she instantly regretted the way she looked at Jo Hee subconsciously. After all, Jo Hee did not do her any wrong.

Jo Hee took a glance at the clock hanging on the wall, then turned to bid her friends goodbye. They hugged her and saw her off at the gate.

Mae slightly turned to look at the way she went then turned to check her phone. Dang Si Kyeong had sent a text to her 13 minutes ago, telling her that his practice was over. She shut her laptop down and put it in her backpack.

Jo Hee's friends already came back and pressed the button of the elevator while chatting with each other.

Mae called Dang Sikyeong as she pressed the device to her left cheek.

"Hello?" Dang Sikyeong picked up seconds after.

"Where do we meet?" Mae asked as she walked towards the door.

"How about the park in front of our dorm?"

"Okay," Mae nodded, pulling open the glass door.

She put her phone back inside her bag and advanced down the hill.

Jo Hee didn't go far. Mae saw her midway, which caused her to slow down.

Jo Hee, however, didn't realize Mae's presence as she was looking down her phone. She stared at Min Cheol's number, contemplating as to whether she should call him or not. He asked for some time and space, yet it has been way too long since they had last talked and she couldn't help but miss him. She didn't want to admit it but it's true that she missed him. She missed how he always sent her the music he composed and the lyrics he had written; she missed how they always talked to each other about their struggles while drinking a can of beer; she missed how they used to just sit together without doing anything and just enjoy each other's company. She couldn't believe how she ruined the perfect friendship because of alcohol, a confession, and a drunken kiss. Funny how alcohol always encourages stupid decisions yet people continue to devour it.

Jo Hee pressed on Min Cheol's number and put the phone beside her ear.

It rang for a while before a hoarse voice responded

"Hello," he uttered, waking up and answering before having the chance to glance at his phone.

Jo Hee was suddenly at a loss of word, her lips slightly parted but nothing came out as she felt a lump in her throat.

"Hello?" Min Cheol repeated, this time with a clearer voice.

"Cheol," she uttered after a brief second, this time, causing Mae to come to a halt as her pupils dilated.