It had been almost a week since she had moved into Jiwoo's apartment.

It was rather spacious but not to the point of being extravagant or luxurious. The way the elder girl had decorated it with hues of off white and pastel colors with a hint of flowers around, made it seem cozy and warm rather than cold and unfeeling box that was Sae's home.

Through the week she had learned that the girl had her own successful clothing line that she wasn't bashful about gloating around in and that Jiwoo loved her brother and all the other members and constantly visited them.

Sae also had learned that, she herself preferred Jungkook's soft hums and other men's lively chatter other than this blank silence that filled the apartment everytime Jiwoo left for work.

Slowly, she had been trying out the stuff she liked, going out in the warm winter sunshine to finally splurge on her hard earned money.

While she was with Chae, she had to constantly asked for permission everytime, even when it was her own money. Also, there was the added fact that Chaesuk's job barely paid him any and she was the one who paid for their entire rent and daily needs along with his luxurious demands.

She hadn't been angry at the fact considering she grew up that way. The first time she'd made money out of her selling her artworks her parents had taken it all to themselves and she hadn't asked it back or bother protesting. She always liked to watch the bewildering joy on other's faces that would be caused by her than have her insides squirm with guilt by depending on other's money.

Only now as her fists uncurled as if tasting the freedom in the chilly evening air, she realized what freedom felt like.

There was a time she'd craved for freedom more than oxygen. While other girls had craved romance and kisses, she wanted to taste freedom. What it would feel like to leave the house anytime she wanted with warm kisses on her brow instead of the yells and threatening closed doors she was met with. What it felt like to do what she wanted, what she wanted to study, to eat, to drink, to fucking see.

Her opinion with her parents or with Chae weren't validated or even considered as opinion the rare times she'd voiced it out.

But right now, her heart felt at ease even with the hovering inevitable danger from her ex.

The brisk walk to the picturesque café near Jiwoo's building made her ankles strain from lack of exercise and her heart sing. Warm smell of coffee and vanilla wrapped around her like a fancy furry wrapper, the soft tinkling music like a bow on top of her, a lulling sense of comfort wiggling into her heart as she took a seat in a window booth after placing her order.

Her fingers slowly fluttered towards her bag as she felt the surge to draw, falling into it immediately as she pulled out a moleskin sketchpad she had purchased the day before when she had gone to the nearby grocery to get stuff after settling into Jiwoo's house.

"This. It's really good for sketching." Jungkook had pushed the book abruptly in her face as she was browsing through the vegetable aisle.

"Nice paper. I draw too." Jungkook mumbled out as an explanation to her confused face. "I saw your paintings the other day while helping you move in." he concluded suddenly booping her nose out of nowhere before he speed walked to the next aisle.

Sae touched the tip of her nose at the memory before giggling to herself.

He really was something else.

"Here your chocolate Frappuccino." A sweet voice chimed as the drink was placed before her and she did a startled bow as the waitress nodded in acknowledgment and went her way.

Breathing in the wafting aroma of her drink, her fingers curved the paper in a satisfyingly fluid stroke. Hard lines and soft curves bled out from her pencil, her heart making the way across the page before her mind could completely process it.

"Sae!" a voice suddenly called out and she startled in her seat.

A woman with gorgeous brown hair, familiar red lipstick and an unfamiliar bundle of cloth in her right hand waved at her. Sae smiled nervously as she waved back, nervous as the woman began approaching her.

"Sae Ra Ryu! Long time no see!" the woman exclaimed brightly clasping her hand.

"Yeah..." Sae's reply was as unenthusiastic as the woman's was enthusiastic yet the woman took no notice of it.

"How have you been? Its been so long since we parted! You look thinner now, aish I'm so envious of you, you just got prettier, me on the other hand.."The woman rambled off a mile a minute with nonsensical things as Sae scrambled around in her brain trying to remember who the hell she was.

Then there it was. The familiar lilt of her lips, the manicured hand and the red lipstick. She finally found as to why she looked so familiar.

"Song Areum?" Sae gasped stunned as memories came flashing back. Song Areum and her friends had been part of the rare happy memories she had during her teenage years. She had been skinny and absolutely glowing back then, much opposite to Sae's plump and sleepy persona, but then somehow they had fell together like puzzle pieces, bonding over books and movies and funnily enough how opposite they were.

Back then Sae wouldn't get attached to people, was afraid to But Areum had stayed beside her, given her more than she could ever give, tried her best and their friendship was one where Areum considered them to be best of friends but to Sae, she was just a friend.

Because bestfriends were people who knew everything about you and whom you talked everything but no matter how much Sae tried she could never open up to the girl entirely and she could never bring herself to completely lean upon her either. It wasn't the fact that she didn't trust her, no she did trust Areum, she knew that but it was more the fact that she couldn't bring herself to talk about her life and problems to her like the latter was able to so freely. Back then, even now, she had more words on her mind than on her mouth.

"You remember!" the woman exclaimed happily with a certain twinkle in her eyes that told her that she knew how Sae felt but wouldn't push her for more than what she could give. Thinking about it, Areum always had that understanding in her eyes. The thought made her heart shrivel in guilt but her smile and nod were simultaneously vigorous.

"How are you Ari?" Sae asked sincerely, words tasting like a sweet melody as her friend's smile grew wider.

"I-" Areum started but her attention diverted as the cloth bundle-a baby, Sae realized in awe, squirmed tiny fists pushing out. Areum cooed, finger soothing over her child's hair as Sae felt stunned to the core.

"You've a kid?" shocked almost insulting surprise fell from Sae's lips but Areum didn't seem to be affected by the tone.

"Meet Lee Isuel Hee, my daughter." Areum smiled, adjusting her baby so Sae could have a proper view.

Rosy cheeks, slightly tan skin and the most adorable pair of big doll eyes and pouty lips blessed her and Sae's reaction was instantaneous.

"Can I hold her?" Sae was already reaching forward. Areum handed her daughter over, chuckling.

"She has your eyes." Sae mumbled only half conscious of her words as tiny fingers wrapped around hers, not even completely meeting her girth as the suspect gazed up at her blinking.

"That's weird." Areum mumbled, frowned and smiled at the same time, "She usually cries when she meets other people?"

"Magic." Sae giggled, already lost in the baby's eyes. "How old is she?"

"Ten months." Areum replied rocking back and forth on her toes as Sae looked up at her,s till stunned.

"I'm Jung Areum now by the way." The girl giggled, wiggling a finger fitted with a glittering ring around it, shocking Sae further.

"Why so young?" Sae asked softly even though she could already see her answer in Ari's warmth filled eyes as she looked at her daughter. "Didn't you say you wanted to become somebody first?"

"I did, Sae. I became a mother." Ari smiled at her then, knocking the breath out of her. "It cant get more special than that."

Sae nodded, not understanding how a common almost tiring thing could be so special. Then again, she wasn't a mom and her's never actually knew the beauty in motherhood, thus spoiling her ideas about it. So she wasn't one who should be talking about this.

Ping!

The sudden pinging of her mobile called her attention and she reached for it, swiftly opening it to see a new message.

Unknown number:

Sae where are you?

Fingers trembling and heart in throat she typed out a reply, praying it for it to not be the person she was expecting.

Sae;

Who is this?

Unknown number:

Noona its me Jungkook.

Tell me your location fast.

Sae:

Why kookie?

Unknown number;

Just send it to me. I want to see you.

Stay where you are.

Frowning at Jungkook's weird behavior, she quickly did as he asked and saved his contact on her phone before clicking it off.

"Who was that Sae?" Ari asked and Sae shook her head.

"Just this person. Do you mind excusing me? somebody visits me for a second." Sae asked politely and Ari shook her smiling.

"Nah. I was about to leave anyways." She chuckled standing up and Sae followed suit, walking the woman to the door after packing up her sketching book.

"I'll call you." Ari assured after they had exchanged numbers outside the café. "Or you can call me. Anytime. Or come over. We need to catch up."

"Sure." Sae nodded. "I'll need to meet your family too."

"By the way, you don't have somebody you like?" Ari hesitated before asking and Sae bit her lip.

I used to. Sae wanted to say but then she was slowly realizing what she has wasn't technically a relationship. Not one that involved love anyways.

"No-"

"Noona!" A yell cut her off as a figure in black hurtled towards her from behind Ari in top speed.

"Koo-omphf" Sae gasped as Jungkook was suddenly in front of her pressing her body to hers.

"I told you to fucking stay where you are." Jungkook snarled, forcibly pushing her head onto his shoulder, arms enclosing hers like a cage as if to completely conceal her form.

"Jungkoo-Jungkook!" Sae yelled tried to push the younger away to no avail. It was only after a scrape of brakes and rush of wheels had passed them that Jungkook had finally relaxed.

He pulled away immediately, letting Sae breath but his hands were running worriedly across her face. "You ok? Did somebody see you? Did they ask for you name-"

"Kook what is it?" Sae asked, the curse words that she had intended at the younger ceasing from her tongue as she took in the younger's words and ruffled and sweat drenched form.

Jungkook's eyes flickered and caught on Ari's confused and stunned frame, and straightened out as nothing had happened.

"Sae!" footsteps pounded behind Jungkook and she looked behind the younger to see Namjoon coming to a stop panting equally ruffled as Jungkook.

"Oh she's fine." Namjoon breathed out just as Yoongi and Jimin Joined the relieved leader, hardened glares softening as they saw Sae.

"Guys what happened?" Sae asked and four pairs of eyes evaded her gaze.

"Who are they Sae?" Ari asked, eyes enlarged and mouth drawing out a slow whistle as it roved Namjoon's form.

Sae laughed in disbelief at Ari's appreciative whistle, and together they burst into giggles just like old times, both of them forgetting the situation at hand.

"I'll be going then." Ari smiled after they had recovered. "They look like they need you." Ari commented winking knowingly at a flustered Jungkook.

"Bye." Sae hugged her in goodbye, albeit a bit mortified and confused at the girl's behavior. Ari hugged back and left with a quiery, not waiting for Sae's confirmation as she went on her way.

"The eyes you drew were his, right?"