Jessica stepped onto the chair and waited for Tiffany to hand her a painting. The new paintings they had ordered to replace the old, boring oil paintings in the hotel's lobby had just arrived today.

Earlier, Yuri had offered Jessica her help to take off the old and putting on the new paintings, but Jessica unhesitatingly refused. She called Tiffany instead and sent Yuri to do her shift at the reception, much to the tanned girl's disappointment. But the cold treatment had been going on for a few days already; Jessica believed Yuri would have to get used to it soon. That was, if Yuri never changed her behavior. Because Jessica had decided she had had enough.

"Her eyes are glued at you," Tiffany remarked while handing Jessica a nail.

"I know."

Jessica didn't turn around once, but Yuri's stares were so obvious that she needn't do it. She could literally feel the gaze shooting across the entire lobby and hitting on her body. She had never felt being more checked out in her whole life.

"It's your fault, too," Tiffany mumbled, handing Jessica the hammer. "Oh, the painting is crooked. Left side needs to be lifted up a little."

Jessica complied before taking the hammer. "What are you saying?" she protested. "Why is it my fault?"

Tiffany waited for Jessica to pound the nail into the wall before answering. She glanced at Yuri, who was still resting her head on her propped-up arm, taking Jessica's clothes off with her eyes and looking like a silly, love-struck fool.

"Look at you," Tiffany looked at Jessica's legs reproachfully. "What's with these short shorts and that midriff teaser? It's not even summer anymore. You're totally making her swoon over you senselessly on purpose."

Jessica didn't reply to that, for it was partly true. But not in a million years would she admit to Tiffany that she was just pretending she was annoyed, when in truth, she enjoyed every second of Yuri eating her up with her eyes. It was a cruel and satisfying way to punish Kwon Yuri. You want, but you can't have – exactly this could easily drive Yuri crazy. Besides, this was the only game Jessica was able to be in complete control.

"Should I talk to her?" Tiffany asked again. "I can… you know, give her some advice. Telling her she's been a jerk and needs to change. If I encourage her enough, then maybe—"

"No," Jessica cut her friend off, sounding impatient. "For the n-th time, Fany, no. She's most certainly smart enough to know what to do. If she thinks reappearing out of nowhere and pretending like nothing has happened would make me come back to her, she'll have to bear with the consequences on her own." Jessica stuck her hand out. "Give me another nail."

Tiffany sighed as she did what Jessica said. "But… just look at her."

"I don't care!" Jessica hissed before pounding the nail into the wall excessively, creating a little more noise than needed. Even when there was only the nailhead visible, she kept hammering on it.

Tiffany heaved a small resigned sigh as Jessica stepped off the chair and pulled it to the next painting.

"Don't sigh," Jessica told her friend. "It feels like as if you want us back together badly."

"Well, I just want the best for you."

"You know," Jessica slowly continued. "When she first came back, I didn't know what I wanted. I didn't know if I wanted her to stay or to go away."

The pause Jessica made took a little too long, so Tiffany prodded "What about now?"

Jessica didn't reply right away. She silently took off the old painting and handed it to Tiffany. As she waited for Tiffany to give her a new one, her eyes threw Yuri a brief glance. The tanned girl was still looking at her, as expected. Upon seeing her eyes, Yuri flashed a smile. Jessica rolled her eyes visibly for Yuri to see before turning around again. It wasn't until she was sure her face was out of Yuri's sight that Jessica became pensive.

"Now… she's reminded me often enough that I am still very much in love with her." Jessica pondered on her next words as she adjusted the new painting. "But that doesn't help. If she thinks using advantage of my feelings is enough to make me go back to her, she's wrong. I have to show her that it's not working. I might have given in if she had tried that without Sooyoung around, without Taeyeon around, without you around, without Krystal calling every second day and reminding me of what she did. But you guys are around, and mom lying in hospital is a truth I can't deny, so there is no way I can go weak just by what she does now. She hasn't even said sorry! Can you imagine that?"

Tiffany didn't reply to that but just looked at Jessica.

"And she hasn't really talked to me either."

"Talk about what?"

"She still hasn't explained why she's here. I don't believe she's seriously thinking I would just 'get it' by myself, based on how she acts around me. That is just not right, Fany."

"It isn't," Tiffany agreed. "Not enough sincerity."

"Exactly."

The conversation was put on hold as Jessica pinned the painting on the wall with nails and hammer in her hands. She didn't say it, but she knew Tiffany understood. She needed more assurance. She wanted Yuri to say she was sorry, to say that she loved her, to say that she wanted to be here with her, was here for her, because of her. She needed to hear it, to see it in Yuri's eyes, and then she would be convinced.

"I haven't given up on her yet," Jessica said as she stepped off the chair. They were finished. She picked up the stack of old paintings before looking into Tiffany's eyes. "I don't want you to talk to her because I want her to understand it on her own. If she really loves me and truly is here to make it up to me… she won't make me wait too long."

She smiled at Tiffany – a smile that assured her best friend she was willing to wait, for now.

"And what if she tells you she loves you?" Tiffany asked. "Will you just forgive her?"

Jessica shook her head. "At least that'd be a start. I hope she's here because she regrets what she's done. But to regain my full trust for her… I think that would take quite some time."

Tiffany nodded. She understood now. "You want to have something to go on with before making too high hopes."

Jessica nodded and shifted her gaze to Yuri when the reception phone started to play a melody, indicating an incoming call. Yuri's eyes were still fixed on her. It didn't look like the tanned girl had any intention of picking up the phone.

"KWON YURI!" Tiffany screamed across the lobby.

Yuri broke the eye contact with Jessica as the sudden shout startled her. It wasn't until then that she realized the phone was ringing. She clumsily fumbled with the receiver to pick up the call, only to drop it and having to hastily bend down to pick it up again. Jessica and Tiffany turned back to look at each other.

"It's the little things like that," Jessica whispered to her friend. "If she really has left her family to be here with me, I—I don't want to lose her to Jiyong again."

Jessica kept her gaze on Tiffany to let her friend take in her words before walking away with the stack of old paintings in her arms. Tiffany watched after the blonde, a small smile on her lips. Not a month ago, Jessica was still blaming herself for being too naïve. If Tiffany didn't know any better, she would think Jessica had already hated on Yuri around that time, even though the girl never mentioned any of the Kwons again. But Tiffany knew better. She had always known that whatever hate or contempt there was inside Jessica, the love never died. And somewhere deep down, Jessica still believed Yuri truly loved her, too. Even Tiffany, as an outsider of their relationship, had refused to believe that Yuri had no feelings for Jessica at all. Tiffany had seen it, every time they looked at each other back in the days when they were still together. Jessica must have seen it even better, must have felt it even more.

Tiffany didn't think Jessica had completely bought it when Yuri said their love wasn't real. Because, whatever Yuri's lips had forced out, her eyes were saying something else every time they lay on Jessica.

And it's the same in-love look Tiffany was seeing now on Yuri's face, as the girl was speaking on the phone but watching Jessica in the front yard attentively.

"Kwon Yuri… you're so stupid."

She went straight to the reception bar when Yuri hung up the call and packed the tanned girl's shoulders, looking her in the eyes.

"Listen to me, Yuri."

----------

Jessica wringed the cloth until it stopped dripping water, folded it and put it on the forehead of the girl lying on the bed. Sooyoung let out a soft moan as the cold made contact with her burning forehead. Just then, beeping noises filled the room. Jessica waited for the beeping to stop before lifting Sooyoung's left arm and reached inside her shirt. She took out a thermometer and furrowed her eyebrows as she read Sooyoung's temperature.

"Thirty-nine comma eight. That's it, Soo. You're having a fever and will not leave your bed, at least for the rest of the day."

Sooyoung gave a groan in response.

"Do you feel very tired?" Jessica concernedly asked.

"No, not really. The headache is gone. I actually can get up right now, you know, and—"

"Nuh-uh," Jessica wagged a finger, her voice stern. "Don't argue with me. You're staying in bed. I'll take care of everything."

"But I have to go fix the electricity in House 030. Our guests are coming later, I have to—"

"Yah, are you saying I and the others are incompetent? You're not the only one who can fix the electricity."

Sooyoung bit her lip, not knowing how to counter.

"Listen to me," Jessica's voice turned soft again as she patted Sooyoung's hair. "You've been overworking yourself. Your body deserves a few days rest. We can take care of everything for a few days without you, alright?"

Jessica didn't give Sooyoung the chance to answer as she stood up and tucked Sooyoung into the thin blanket. Sooyoung's only protest was the pursed lips, but it had no effect on Jessica.

"Rest well," the blonde said and walked out through the door.

Jessica carefully closed the door to their room and turned around, only to see Yuri leaning against the wall on the other side of the hallway, apparently waiting for her. Jessica's eyes met Yuri's for a brief moment, but she decided to disregard the tanned girl's presence and proceeded to walk away.

"Sica!" Yuri hurriedly chased after Jessica, blocking her way. "How's Sooyoung?"

Jessica, having no other choice, looked at Yuri's face. It took her moment to bring herself together to actually talk to Yuri. "She's fine. It's just a fever."

She took advantage of the second Yuri needed to comprehend her whisper to move pass the tanned girl and walk toward the lobby. Yuri immediately turned around and followed her close on her heels. Annoyed, Jessica suddenly stopped in her tracks. Yuri's breath hit her neck as the girl almost crashed into her, but managed to keep balance. Jessica unexpectedly started walking again, satisfied with the space she had just gained between her and Yuri. But the other girl's long legs solved the problem easily, and Yuri was right behind her again before she could exit the hallway.

Jessica spun around, looking straight at her follower.

"What do you want?!"

Yuri seemed to be startled at the question.

"I—"

But the voice died down. Jessica waited. Yuri said nothing more.

Losing her patience, Jessica let out a frustrated sigh before turning around. She went behind the reception counter to start her shift, trying to ignore Yuri, who was standing at the other end, obviously still following Jessica with her eyes. Jessica opened the notebook on the counter and read Tiffany's notes, briefing herself on the amount of guests checking in and out today. Then, she opened another notebook and read Sooyoung's notes, getting a hold of all information about the houses that needed to be checked during the week. She noticed two addresses that were circled by Sooyoung with a red pen, expressing urgency. House 030 – electricity, House 016 – food.

She turned around and looked for the two spots representing House 030 and House 016 on the map on the wall. She found House 030 to be the closest to the hotel, while House 016 was one of the houses deep inside the forest. Maybe she should ask Yuri to deliver the food to House 016. That way, she didn't have to drive far and at the same time could get rid of Yuri for a while.

Jessica turned around, searching for Yuri. But Yuri was nowhere to be seen. She couldn't help but to feel a twinge of disappointment in her heart. Did Yuri really give up that easily? Just because she appeared to not want to talk, Yuri would go away that fast? She had expected a little more fighting from Yuri, a little more effort, a little more patience, a little more—

"Ahh!"

Jessica shrieked as she realized Yuri was right behind her.

"You creep!" She hit Yuri on the shoulder. "You're seriously—"

"Sica, I love you."

Jessica's hand froze in midair, her mouth hung open.

----------

Hyoyeon knocked on Yuri's door, but no one opened. She shrugged and approached the lobby, just when she heard Jessica's strident shriek. Instinctively, she ran to the end of the hallway, but stopped in time as she caught a glimpse of Yuri and Jessica standing behind the counter. Hyoyeon took a step back, peeking around the corner. She could see Jessica's face and only Yuri's back, but the two of them were obviously staring at each other. Neither was making a move, and Hyoyeon couldn't help but to wonder what had happened.

The phone on the reception counter rang, startling both Yuri and Jessica. Hyoyeon watched as both their heads turned to look at the noise-emitting object before turning back to look at each other again. It looked like Jessica was waiting for Yuri to do something, because she just stood there, an uninterpretable expression on her face. Unfortunately, Hyoyeon couldn't see Yuri's face.

The phone kept ringing until Yuri decided to lean over and pick up the call.

"Good afternoon, here's the North Forest Hotel. May I help you?"

Yuri listened to the person on the phone while both Jessica and Hyoyeon were watching her keenly. When Yuri's hand went up to her hair and scratched her head, Hyoyeon could tell Yuri was confused.

"Err... shorreh," Yuri surprisingly replied in English, but quickly switched back to Korean as she continued. "Please hold on a second, I'll get you someone else to speak with."

She then cupped the speaker, leaning over to Jessica.

"He's a foreign guests, speaks English. I don't know what he's talking about. Can you talk to him?"

Jessica's confusion was hard to miss. She gave Yuri a suspicious look.

"Why? You can't speak English? But you were in the USA for a year before, weren't you?"

"A year," Yuri said, and Hyoyeon could imagine her friend's sheepish smile. "A year is nothing. It's been a long time too, I don't remember any English."

Jessica gave Yuri a last glare before snatching the phone away. She began to babble away in English with the guest on the phone, and Hyoyeon was sure Yuri was having the same headache as her just by trying to understand all the un-understandable things Jessica was saying.

Eventually, Jessica hung up and turned around to Yuri.

"You have to drive to House 016," she pointed on a dot on the map next to them. "And fill the fridge there. A couple is going to move in this evening, and they have ordered it."

Jessica walked passed Yuri to get to her work, but the tanned girl stopped her by grabbing her arm. Jessica was showing Hyoyeon her back, while Hyoyeon was now able to see Yuri's face.

"Where are you going?" Yuri asked.

"Fixing the electricity in House 030 and paying the English guest a visit at his house," Jessica replied drily and pulled her arm away.

"Sica, I—" Yuri quickly reacted before the blonde could walk away again. "—We need to talk."

Jessica stopped, looking at Yuri. Hyoyeon held her breath, thousand questions shooting through her head. What did Yuri want to say? What was she doing?

"Not now," Jessica said after the long break and turned around before Yuri could come up with anything. Hyoyeon backed away from the corner as Jessica walked by. She waited until the blonde exited the hotel before coming out from her hiding place, approaching Yuri.

"Hyo," Yuri was surprised to see her. The tanned girl's eyes moved to the hallway before moving back to look at Hyoyeon. "Did you…"

"Yeah, I was there for a while," Hyoyeon admitted. She then got straight to the point. "What was that all about?"

Yuri hesitated a little. "I… told her I love her."

"You what?!" Hyoyeon's eyes went wide. She lowered her voice immediately. "Does that mean…?"

Yuri nodded. "I've been here for over two weeks. They will call me back soon."

Worry filled Hyoyeon's eyes. She looked at her friend skeptically, hesitated a second before asking "But you and Sica are still… Are you sure we can make it?"

"I have to. I need her back. I need her to come back to the city with me. I just can't without her." Yuri sighed, putting a hand on Hyoyeon's shoulder. "You are right. Maybe I really have waited a little too long to tell her. But I won't wait any longer. I am going to get her back."

"Tonight?"

"As soon as possible."

Hyoyeon nodded. "Okay. That's good," she said, smiling. "You know, I feel uncomfortable seeing Jessica being all emo over the situation with you. I really have tried my best to push her hopes up. I don't know how it would have turned out if Jessica hadn't had me and Tiffany around."

"I know. I know that she's been through a hard time…"

"Let's hope we can make it in time. You still have to deliver the food, though. Gotta listen to your girl first if you want to win her back, right?"

"Right," Yuri smiled at her friend's attempt to ease the tension. "I should go now." She tapped Hyoyeon's shoulder briefly before making her way out.

"Oh but," Hyoyeon called after her. "Hurry and come back soon, okay? There'll be a huge thunderstorm tonight."

"What?!" Yuri stopped dead in her tracks, turning back to look at Hyoyeon with fright.

"What's wrong?"

"Everything!" Yuri croaked. "Jessica isn't taking a car! She took the bike just now!"

A loud, powerful thunder sound came as a reply just when Yuri ended her sentence, startling them both. Hyoyeon saw the worry on Yuri's face grew exponentially within seconds.

"Oh no…" Yuri muttered.

The tanned girl stormed out of the hotel, got into a car and sped off.