I went down the stairs and saw Yoongi reading an old magazine from the rack placed next to the couch. "Good morning," I greeted as to announce my presence as well.

He looked up to me with his small crystal eyes and muttered the word, "Morning," Without much dedication. Placing the medium on the center table, he sits down properly in his place while I take a seat next to him.

"You could've slept in the guest room. It's not even locked." I initiated first to brighten up the atmosphere of my own living room.

"I was waiting for you." He said. His words got me tongue-tied as I thought of an answer to keep the conversation going. "So, how are you feeling?" He inquired,  instead of me asking him that question. Of course, the all mighty Yoongi I know cares so much for the people around him.

"I'm doing better than I've expected," I sighed. "You?"

"Just casually missing Little Meow and Holly." His humor is back. Thank goodness. I thought I'd have to endure this awkwardness for a longer period of time.

"Are you and Jimin really back to normal now?" He was about to nod his head, but I added another question before he can do that. "Like there's no tension between you two anymore? Or any hatred inside of you that you don't want to tell him?"

He shakes his head no with a gentle smile, and I curl my lips upward, forming a genuine smile. "That's really great." It's not that I don't trust Jimin's words. I just want to know each party's side. Now that Yoongi confirmed that everything is well, I can now heave a sigh of relief.

"My turn. How are you and Jimin now?" He looks so eager for information, and it feels like I should give him the correct answer to what he's asking for.

"We've sorted things out. Our arrangements thankfully worked." Arrangements? What am I even talking about? "And yeah, I think we've forgiven each other already and that we're ready to move on."

"You think?" He squints his eyes at me as if he's sensing something wrong with how I described how things with Jimin and me are going. "You're not sure?"

"Yes."

"Huh?"

"I mean, he told me he already forgives me for what I did to him before." I wanted to slap my mouth for being so damn stupid and for doing a terrible job.

"Genuinely?"

"Yeah, I thin-, yes. Genuinely." I forced a smile as I mentally scolded my subconscious for acting this way. I wasn't sure if Jimin is true to himself when he accepted me again in his life. But so far, through his recent gestures towards me, he proves that he does, and that's all that matters to me. "Hey, Yoongi. I was hoping that we're still friends?"

He chuckled before asking, "Of course. Do you think I'd unfriend you so easily like how people on Facebook do that?"

"Honestly speaking, I feel like I'm the reason or one of the reasons why you and Jimin misunderstood each other. So that kinda makes it my fault too. I'm sorry about your fight."

"No, it's not your fault, so keep your apology to yourself. It was Jimin who crossed the line. You two are both precious to me. And as a friend, it hurts me to see you break each other."

He has given me a very reassuring smile in which I returned. Sadly, Yoongi told me that he would stay with Taehyung. Thinking that Jimin will kick his ass if he continues to stay here. I disagreed with his idea, but he insisted and said, "Besides, I'll go home in a few days."

"Already?" He hummed 'yes' to my question. Carrying Little Meow and caressing it with love, I stare at him as I frown.

"What?"

"You know, you should find someone who likes cats and dogs too." I absentmindedly mutter. Yoongi laughed at my suggestion, which made me feel worse about it. As I've recalled, he never had any relationship for years already. And for some reason, you want to blame that girl named Cora for it.

"Nope, I should just adopt more cats and dogs instead." He shakes his head slowly and. I laugh at his alternative.

=====

I arrive at the Andersons' house quicker than I expected. Jimin was kind enough to let me off the hook from work until lunchtime after knowing the situation. And he's that considerate from not asking too many questions about it even though it's Ryan's house that I'm going to. Perhaps, he was just busy with work that he chose to ignore it.

I pressed the doorbell just once; I can already hear footsteps running in my direction. After that, I can hear a lot of things getting unlocked from the other side of the door. Once the door swings, Ryan welcomed me and hugged me tightly in his arms. "Thanks for coming."

"Sure, no problem." I tapped his back to comfort him. He looks tired and sad. So sad. "Where is she?" I asked after he broke away from the hug.

"In her room," He answered fast. Walking past their living rooms, I saw their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson (who just recovered months ago), looking all gloomy and out of hope. They saw me, and I gave them a warm smile in which they returned out of kindness.

Their house has been home to me for a few years. I'm very familiar with everything in it. I turn to my left because that is the direction of Ria's room. Instantaneously, I knocked on the door, and I immediately heard my best friend's voice. "I'm not hungry!"

"Neither do I!" I retort. She must've noticed me from my voice's tone and rush towards her door to unlock it. A hand pulls me by the wrist and drags me inside the room. "Why are you here?" She smiles warily, and I appreciate how she puts it on for me.

I pulled her in for a tight embrace, and a second later, she was all in tears. "Tell me. What happened?" I mumbled through her thick blonde hair.

She continued to cry, and I let her use my shoulder as long as she needs.

Bit by bit, she began to tell her story. From how she accidentally heard her parents talking about her being adopted to how she managed to run away without them knowing. She wandered along the streets of Lakewood after taking a bus. She stayed with a very dear friend, and I believe she was pertaining to Preston.

Preston was her boyfriend, and then they became good friends. He's the only friend Ria has in Lakewood, and I'm sure of it. "When I caught Mom and Dad talking about my real... parents, they were discussing about a case." Base on her action, she still thinks that all of these are not real. That's she is still truly an Anderson.

"Case? What case?" I ask, wanting more details.

"I don't know. Maybe my biological parents want me back? I don't know! What if they do? Should I leave Mom and Dad behind?" She sounded frustrated.

"Ria, you're old enough to decide on who you will choose. It's up to you. Don't think too much and take your time. I'm sure that Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and your, uhm, real... parents would understand whatever decision you'll come up with." I made sure that I was careful with my choice of words. I don't want her to be burdened. Ria is the type of person who thinks too much about a situation and panics about it. She wants everything to be perfect in her eyes. And this one shattered the level of perfection she set for herself. "Have you perhaps found them?"

She looked at me with fear after hearing my question, and I think I already know the answer. "It's fine if you don't want to tell me who they are. But are they at least nice people?"

"I... I think s-o..." She was hesitant, and I wouldn't blame her. "Preston's parents have a lot of connections, and they were kind enough to help me with it."

"Are you mad at them?" The words unexpectedly came out of my mouth. It is not my intention to stir hatred towards her birth parents; I just want to know what she's feeling. But to be honest, I think my question was too specific.

"Not mad. I'm disappointed, hurt, confused, and many more but surely not mad." As expected, she isn't. Ria might be a lot of things, but she's not one to loathe. She's the true epitome of rainbows and flowers. She'd rather ignore people she doesn't feel good about than fight with them.

Our talk went on for almost an hour and a half. I also talked her into facing her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. She told me the reason she ran away was that she suddenly felt like a stranger. She's been living in a house of three people who aren't related to her at all. I'm not in her shoes to tell her what to feel and what to not feel, so I just assured her with comforting words.

"Promise me you'll go out of this room and talk to them, hm?" It was time for me to go. We both stood up from her bed, and she frowned at me.

"I will. Can't you stay?" She asks, using her baby voice. Yes, that's the Ria I know.

"I have work to do, and my new boss is not particularly fond of latecomers," I honestly stated.

"Ryan told me you and that boy are together again." This time, she smirked at me, which caught me off guard.

"Yeah, we did." I embarrassingly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"When will you ever tell me about him?" She whined.

There are reasons why I never told her about Jimin. Number one, how can I tell her about him because apparently, the first time I met Jimin, I was with her brother. Number two, I cheated on her brother, and it'll be awkward for me to tell her my problems with Jimin. Lastly, most of the time, it just slips my mind to bother telling everything about him to her. I know it's unfair, she's my dearest friend, and she doesn't have any clue, but I think I have my right to consider it due to some circumstances.

"I'll tell you once everything's all sort out for you." I winked at her, and she didn't like it. Pouting, she hugged me. Surprisingly, she walked me outside her room, which made her family jump in relief. Mrs. Anderson immediately rushed to her daughter.

"You made me worry so much. Why are you locking yourself in your room?" Her mom is on the verge of crying. My friend didn't answer her, but instead, she just cheekily beamed. "Are you hungry?" Her mom asked.

With enthusiasm in her voice, Ria answered, "Very." They were now all smiles, and I saw Ryan trying to hide his tears while he stands at a corner. The Andersons' asked me to join them for lunch, but I'll be very late if I accept their humble gratitude. I politely declined and zoomed my way towards PRKR.

=====

Without knocking, I entered Jimin's office, and fortunately, he wasn't meeting with anyone. He's deep in his thoughts the moment I step foot inside. Staring blankly from afar, my sudden presence wakes him back to reality. "Hey, are you okay?" I ask.

He shakes his head and focuses his eyes on me. "Yeah, I am." His smile didn't reach his eyes, and at that moment, I know he isn't okay.

"No more lies, remember?" I put down my bag on a chair and pose with my hands crossed in front of my chest.

Sighing, he got out from his swivel chair and walked towards me. "It's just work. Some old dude is trying to piss me off again." He admits.

"Then, just kick him out." I snaked my arms around his waist, and so did he, pulling me closer to him.

"I so wish I could, but I need his money to keep this company intact." He took a deep breath. "By the way..." He trailed.

"Hm?"

"You're late," He smirked, and I suddenly feel shivers all over me. "Very late..."

"So?" My tone was challenging him, and I can see amusement building in his eyes.

He leaned and whispered into my ear. "You know I hate latecomers."

"So?" I repeat, trying to feign innocence.

"Don't play games with me, Ms. Austin. You know what will happen next." His eyebrow arched.

"Are you going to punish me, Mr. Park?" I move my face away from his, teasing him.

"I'd love to." He laughs.

"Damn, I hate salary deductions," I sulked. He chuckled beautifully at my statement. Bemused, he shakes his head.

"Not that, I bet you'll love this one."

"You bet?"

"Oh, yes, you will." With that, he leaned in for a mighty kiss. And what will happen next is something I know and I don't know at the same time.

But just like what he said, I think I'll love it.