"Hello?" I nervously said to the other line. "Uhm, who's this?" I added. No one is answering. But it isn't a silent background either. There are voices speaking, and I can't decipher what they're talking about.

"Hello?" I repeated. Instead of someone answering me this time, the call dropped. With furrowed eyebrows, I stared at my phone and then silently laughed at myself for the next second.

Why? Because I just looked and sounded so desperate and ridiculous. It's probably a wrong number. I guess so.

Returning back to my seat, I mustered up a stoic look on my face. Andrea is watching me the whole time, and I don't want her to give a disappointed expression after I jumped all giddy just because of a mysterious phone call.

Fortunately, Andrea cheered me up by telling me funny stories about her. After a few minutes, she told me she's finished, and her work on me is impressive. Once I was done paying for her service fee, she made me promise to visit her salon again if ever I needed another makeover. And of course, I couldn't say no. Besides, I see no harm from saying yes.

Looking at the time, I definitely need to be at home right now, or else Yoongi comes earlier, and he'll worry. I've disregarded his rules for me. Such as always staying at home, call him if I need anything, just shop online if I need more groceries, but I rarely practice those. I can't just sit around and watch TV.

So, I sneak out whenever I can, just like what I did today.

Yoongi's house isn't that far from here. And I'm pretty sure I'd make it just in time.

The moment I'm back, Holly welcomed me cheerfully, as usual, while Little Meow is busy sleeping on the couch. I head straight to the kitchen and prepare my ingredients so that I can cook a new recipe that I found online. It's called "Zosui", and from the photo it seems really appetizing. I hope I can successfully make one.

=====

"Woah, this tastes incredible," Yoongi muttered after slurping a spoonful of my dish's soup.

"Thank goodness you liked it. I made a big mess earlier, creating it and saying that makes it worth it," I heaved a sigh of relief.

"What happened to your hair?" He quickly changed the topic. I looked around as I think of an excuse.

"I cut it," I lied. "The heat is annoying the hell out of me."

"Elise..." He called.

"Hm?"

"It's winter," Yoongi deadpanned, and I mentally slapped myself. "No worries, at least your lying skills are going back to zero."

"Geez, then I guess it's an improvement," I shrugged and picked up my spoon.

"Uh, uh," He shook his head. "It just means that you finally have a conscience," He brutally said, and I glared at him. "Did the unknown number call again?"

I almost gagged on my food upon hearing his question. "They did," He assumed since my face already tells the answer to it. "What did they say?"

"Nothing," I moved my shoulders up and down. "I think it's a wrong number."

"You think?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Well, I answered it, but no one is talking on the phone to me. Although, I heard people talking about something in the background. Other than that, there was no conversation at all," I explained.

After that, air surrounded the atmosphere, and we both focused on having our last meal of the day. Not until I heard my ringtone booming from the living room. Yoongi was about to stand up and get it, but I stopped him. "What?" He asked.

"Don't answer it; I bet it's the number," I rolled my eyes.

"I bet it's your mother," He contradicted and left his seat for my phone. Seconds later, he came back with it, and he showed me my screen.

"See?" I proudly stated. "Can you answer it? Tell them they must be calling a wrong number."

"Hello?" He answered quickly. "Hello?" He repeated in a few seconds.

"Told you, no one's answe—"

"Yeah, she's here." I stopped from saying what I was about to once Yoongi seemed to have a conversation with someone on the phone. "Hold on; I'll give it to her."

Immediately, I wipe my hands on a clean towel before reaching for my phone from Yoongi. Once I have it, I said, "Hello?" While trembling.

"Thank god!" A familiar voice exclaimed. I don't know if I should feel relief or disappointment because it's Ria. "I saw you answered my call earlier, but I was interrupted. Now I have all the time to talk to you..."

Running out of words to reply, my mouth remained shut. "Elise?" She called once more.

"Yeah, I'm here," I tried to sound all cheery. "I'm glad you called."

"I'm the gladdest that you finally answered," She sighed. I bet she's rolling her eyes right now. "I was calling your old phone number, and the call was always not directed. If I hadn't heard from Ryan that he heard from your parents that you moved in Japan ages ago, I would call the police for a search and rescue."

I managed to laugh at the last part of her sentence. "How are you? And why didn't you call me?" She whined. "I know we haven't been in touch since I moved universities before, I travelled, and unless I was a mess, but we're still best friends, right?"

"Yes, we are," I can't help but smile. "It just slipped my mind, sorry about that." From my plate, my eyes looked up to Yoongi, who is watching me closely.

"Girl, no worries," I frowned at Yoongi, but he didn't budge. "So, how is Japan?" From the way she talks, I picture Ria getting better. I guess everything went great between the sides of both of her biological and foster parents.

"It's great here, more advanced, nice people, disciplined..." I enumerated. "Peaceful..." Then I added.

"Aren't those other terms for boring?" She deadpanned.

"No, silly, I'm enjoying it here," I retaliated.

She hummed before whisper-yelling the words, "Because of the guy who answered your phone?"

"He's just a friend," I awkwardly caressed the back of my neck when Yoongi gave me an odd smile upon hearing my answer.

"I don't think so..." She cooed. "Is that the guy that Ryan would never tell me about?"

"No..." Is all I managed to say. She's pertaining to Jimin.

"Oh, he's different," She mumbled wickedly, and it's my turn to roll my eyes at her. "By the way, when are you coming back? I'm bored here. I don't know why Ryan had to leave for work in Greece when I'm already functioning properly," She informed.

"Oh, that sounds great for him," I muttered.

"So, when?" I internally face-palmed when she didn't take the bait of my diversion.

"A maximum of a year..."

"Hmm... It means you still have six or seven months there?"

"Yep," I answered.

"Okay, I think I can wait that long," She talked to herself. "Hey, Elise?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we continue our talk on email? We can like to exchange Skype or FaceTime ID's there. You know international calls have... expensive bills," She hesitated. "Only if you don't mind."

"Yeah, cool. I'll message you my email address."

"Thanks! Bye for now. Email me back A.S.A.P., okay?"

"Of course," I replied.

"Who was it?" Yoongi asked once he saw putting down the phone.

"Ryan's sister. A friend of mine," I continue my dish.

"You don't look so pleased," He sat back on his chair again. I ignored his comment and put all my attention to my food to get myself cleaned up after. "You were expecting someone else, didn't you?"

I stopped midway from what I'm about to do. Yoongi just hit me right on the spot. "I was hoping it was him," I honestly said and gave him a bitter smile.