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W H I T E

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"So you haven't eaten anything but ramen for a whole week?? " Taehyung asked in concern, a glint of a joke brushing over his shocked face.

Ha-eun rolled her eyes as her gaze shifted towards the cars driving by, unable to hold back the small smile forcing itself through her cracked lips; Taehyung was one of the few people who she couldn't help but smile and laugh with. And she cherished it, really. But she never showed it.

Taehyung knew it all, though. Her gleaming eyes said it all.

Don't take that wrong, they were merely childhood friends who would do anything for each other. But it wasn't a romantic love shared between them, it was merely a brotherly love.

"Well, I've been really busy with college these days. You know exams are next week, Taehyung."

"But still, that doesn't mean you should live on ramen cups, that's purely unhealthy." He said as his eyes remained glued to the road ahead as he drove. She sighed at him dramatically, not even bothering now to hide her smile that admired how he cared for her that much. Only he cared for her like that. Well, he was the only one alive who cared anyways.

Taenhyung let out a small laugh once he saw her wide smile, but it soon faded as he spoke up in all seriousness, "So,  um, I know it must be hard for you to meet a doctor. But I'm there for you, okay? I'll never let anything happen to you, Eun."

Ha-Eun's smile faltered as well, his words throwing her back to reality as she held in the burning tears.

"Stop."

"Huh?"

She turned to Taehyung in rage now as she repeated,"stop the car right now, Tae!"

He immediately stopped the car in front of a small market as he looked her in the eye, worry washing over his face. "Ha-Eun, I'm—"

"I just wanna buy some snack. I'm hungry," she said as her eyes darted towards the shop in sight, masking away the fear that managed to shake her voice a bit.

He knew she was hiding her emotions again but didn't argue. Instead, he sighed and said,"well, bring for me some coke with you, will you?"

She gave him a small assuring smile as she nodded briefly before opening the car door and dashing towards the store.

Sighing, Ha-Eun closed her eyes as she leaned against some pasta and rice shelves inside the store.

How would she manage? How could she force herself to face her fears like that? It was.. Impossible. She knew she had already promised Taehyung but the thought itself suffocated her.

Among all the chaos happening in Ha-Eun's head, a muffled raspy cough managed it's way towards her ears. She looked up to be met by an old woman's pair of dull eyes.

The woman kindly smiled at her as she spoke,"Young lady, you're blocking the way to my pasta."

"Oh, sorry, ma'am," she apologized, walking away from the shelves and standing there awkwardly. She was about to find her way to the coke fridge when the woman spoke again,"you're seeking for a Psychotherapist, aren't you, young lady?"

"H-huh?" She asked in confusion as she stood there. And again, she  tried to walk away, thinking she must've heard that wrong. But yet again the woman spoke,"Don't deny, it, young lady. I know when I see someone who needs mental aid. I've.. Had that problem before."

She turned to her, interested in what that woman might say, now. "You.. Had an illness?"

She shook her head in denial,"not me, but my son, actually. It was years ago, though. But we luckily managed to find a really good therapist. He had helped him so much. And soon enough my son was healed, all thanks to that doctor." She smiled.

"Uhuh, but.. Why are you telling me this?" Ha-Eun asked hesitantly.

"Because, my dear, I know how difficult it is. And I'd like to help you as well."

The woman suddenly took out what looked like a card from her purse, handing it to Ha-Eun, "this is the therapist my son used to see. He's quite great with what he does."

"T-Thank you," she smiled kindly at the elder woman, bowing briefly to her before the woman smiled back and went towards the counter with her pasta bag.

Ha-Eun looked down at the card and read the information imprinted on the small white card, reading the therapist's name aloud, already liking the sound of it.

"Dr. Kim Seokjin?"