GROWING OLDER also means carrying a lot more responsibilities on your shoulders. Which is also the reason why Mina wasn't able to hang out a lot with her beloved cousin anymore, unlike before when they were still young.

If you compare how Mina lives her life, Hershey does have it easier and have a way more comfortable lifestyle. She could have anything she wants in a snap of a finger without working hard on it. But Mina does not hold any bitterness on it. She would never dare to compare her own life to Hershey. She knows that Hershey also have her own difficult times especially being the sacrifice for their family.

In everyone's eyes, including Hershey's best friend, Mina, sees Hershey who does not desire anything that much even if she could spend their family's money on her heart contents. She keep her spending in a bare minimum, wherein she only gets what she needs. Although, there are some times she does buy some expensive stuffs. That's why she feels sad and regretful for her.

Hershey is a very kind and understanding person. Mina could attest to that. But despite of her nice personality towards others, Hershey did not make a lot of friends.

For Hershey, making friends on this lifetime would be pointless. It was pointless at her case. She does not want to hope that she'll be happy with a friend for a long time. If anything else, she would rather be alone. After all, it would also be hard to make up an excuses and give a fake reason with others if asked about her health or situation.

That is why, over 24 years of living, Hershey only have one trusted friend. It was Mina.

Hershey would like to sulk about how Mina was not having enough time for her, but she did not dare to.

Glyde was able to fill up her friend's lack of presence, thus she didn't even noticed how long it was since the last time that Mina and Hershey saw and talked to each other.

"These past few months were really difficult for me. A lot happened with our family and with work. Adulting is really hard," Mina rant out to Hershey.

Hershey listened to all of Mina's stories. She didn't neither gave an advice nor interrupted her. She just listened. Hershey knows that all that Mina could ask for was her listening.

When Mina finished talking, Hershey just simply asked, "Are you okay now?"

Mina stopped reaching a cookie on the plate. She looked at Hershey, where Mina only found her staring back at her. Mina gave a small sad smile at her as she nodded.

"I was able to survive it, Fortunately" Mina laughed. "So if you could also just survive yours----"

"Mina," Hershey cuts her off. She doesn't want her friend to be hopeful with her own life. Because, Hershey herself, wasn't hopeful about it. So, Mina should also not.

Mina's eyes started to tear up. Hershey noticed this so she rolled her eyes. "You're being dramatic, Mina. Stop it."

"But, Shey... You only have a year left," Mina's voice was trembling. She was clearly afraid to even utter those harsh truth.

Hershey smirked to reassure Mina, "Yeah. I still have a year left. That's still a lot of time. What are you so worried about for?"

Mina surveyed Hershey for a while. She sighed, knowing that Hershey was not a least worried about it.

Or was she?

"Are you happy?" Mina asked.

Hershey gave Mina a sincere smile and nodded. She remembers all the time she spent for the past year. It was incredibly amazing and was really memorable.

"I am happy. I'm with Glyde after all," she proudly answered.

She knows that the next few days and for the rest of the year, she would still be happy. She will be happy with him. Her days will be filled with only significant and wonderful experiences.

Mina smiled back as she saw how happy her best friend was.

"Do you love him?" Mina teasingly asked.

Hershey quickly answered, "I like spending every minute and seconds with him"

Mina's brows raised in amusement. "Are you two dating already? Spill the tea, sis" she asked.

"Yeah, we are dating," Hershey admitted as she giggled.

"Oh my!" Mina hold her mouth in shock. "Since when?"

Hershey went silent. Mina looked at her confusingly when Hershey was thinking so hard about it.

"I... don't really know when? It all just happened naturally. All we know is that we are just dating" Hershey answered as she shrugged.

"Eh? What's that? You really don't know when?"

Hershey thought about it again. But she can't really recall when. She doesn't know whether it was when she visited him on his office just to confess how selfish she was, or was it already way earlier when he was being sweet and nice with her, or was it later when he also starts to admit that he was hers.

All she knows is that they are indeed dating already. If not, she doesn't know what they are. Of course, she wouldn't let Glyde tell that they aren't dating after all what they've already did.

"What's so special about him that you see?" Mina asked curiously.

"It's because its him," Hershey easily answered. "It's because he is Glyde" she repeated.

Mina looked at her weirdly as if she didn't expect Hershey to say that. Hershey laughed at her friend's reaction.

"When I saw Hidden Light and got attracted to it, I don't know the reason why it became special for me as well. You are well aware that I don't understand arts and I am really not interested with it, but it just caught my eye. I guess it just happened the same with Glyde. He have the same warmth and charm that the painting I really admire have," Hershey explained.

Mina nodded, even if she doesn't really buy her reason that well. That is when Mina got reminded of something.

"Oh right, do you have any news about the artist?"

Hershey's gasped as she just recall how much she wants to see the artist. She got too preoccupied with Glyde that she totally forgot about it. She wasn't able to do a thorough investigation about it.

"Oh gosh, I forgot" she whispered.