"How are you today, sir?" Ashley asked Mr. Kim looking at the charts in her hands.

"Better," smiled Mr. Kim.

Ashley took out the torch and held her index up,
"look at my finger."

He looked at it and Ashley moved the pointed lights on his pupils one after another.
She finished and wrote something down on the chart, " You are a strong individual, sir."

"My family and I will remain eternally grateful to you young lady."

Ashley smiled lightly, "Please don't make me flustered. It was my job," she quickly changed the topic, "it has been a week, but your progression indicates we can release you very soon."

"I would like that very much," Mr. Kim smiled.

"My shift ended already, I don't have shifts tomorrow, if you are released by then, I guess it a goodbye," Ashley handed the chart to the nurse and bowed to Mr. Kim. "Have a good day, sir. Be careful and take care of yourself."

"You too, dear," he smiled sweetly.

Taehyung entered just when she was about to leave.

" Hey." He smiled at her.
Ashley nodded a little and smiled back and went out.

Taehyung bowed towards the nurse as she went out too. Mr. Kim was already transferred to the cabin. He went to the side of the bed. He was sitting in a reclined position. He had his reading glasses on with a book in his hand.

"Since when did you start reading books?" Taehyung chuckled sitting on the chair beside the bed.

"It's that doctor lady's fault," He closed the book and took off the glasses.
"She gave me this one." He handed the book to Taehyung. "Told me reading something helps recover cognitive functions quickly," he stopped for a moment trying to remember if he'd said the word "Cognitive function" right.

Taehyung looked at the book, a famous Korean classic, The cloud dream of the nine.

Taehyung smiled at the sight, she probably just bought the most famous one out there for him.

"How are you?"

"They said I can go home soon. Probably tomorrow. I ruined your vacation, kiddo," Mr. Kim ruffled Taehyung's hairs, "we were supposed to go overseas this time, no?"

"No need for that anymore," Taehyung smiled sweetly, "Just get well soon."

"Seokjin and Jimin stopped by yesterday."

"I know. I talked with them," Taehyung held his hands, "Eun Jin and Jeong Gyu are so panicked still now. You can't do this to us abeoji."

"Were you scared, kiddo?" Mr. Kim smiled affectionately.

"Why would I be? Who are you to me? " Pouted Taehyung.

Mr. Kim laughed, "It's not bad you know, a lot of relaxed time, the best thing is, your mother is giving me attention finally. Feeling like VIP."

"I am jealous!" smiled Taehyung.

"So, you said you like someone while on tour. We didn't catch up later." Mr. Kim wiggled his brows.
"Did I miss the story fest already?"

"No!!" Taehyung turned a bit red,
"you know you are the one to know first if anything happens."

It was true. His father was his friend, he could say anything with him, share anything whenever he wanted.

"Abeoji, it's a crazy story. You won't believe it."

"Try me," Mr. Kim winked a little.

Taehyung spent the next hour telling him everything.
When he finished, Mr. Kim was on his edge, "let me see her."

"I don't have any picture," Smiled Taehyung and he was surprised himself afterward. No, he does have one, Jungkook gave him that, their selfie on the cruise.

"I should have known, you can't do anything properly. When I met your mother..."

" You have told it a millionth time already!" Taehyung rolled his eyes.

"Ask her for a picture, will ya? I want to see her."

"Well, about that..." Taehyung scratched his back of the head.

"What?"

"You've seen her. Already."

"Huh?" Mr. Kim frowned at him in suspicion.

"Ummm.....I mean.."

"Spill it, boy!"

"It's that doctor lady you are so fond of. Ashley. She was here a few moments ago," Taehyung gave him a mischievous smile.

Mr. Kim's eyes widened. His mind was joining the puzzle pieces together. He was silent.

"Well, abeoji?" Taehyung called him with insecurities taking over his voice.

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. She is the one."

"She is a wonderful human being, kiddo," Mr. Kim smiled all of a sudden. "So beautiful in heart."

"I know," Taehyung smiled, flustered.

"Why she is here?" Mr. Kim asked curiously.

"It was a surprise for me too when I saw her that day. She is doing her P.hD in SNU."

" Loves makes people cross the galaxy, kiddo. I am not surprised!" He smiled encouragingly.

"Abeoji.. it's...."

"It's love, Tae. You do love her. It's written all over your face. Believe me, when I met your mother....."

" Ughhhh Abeoji...!!" Taehyung groaned, " Not again."

"Ok, being serious now," Mr. Kim pulled on his serious dad face again,
"I am happy for you son. You've met a nice person. I bet your mother will love her too."

Taehyung smiled shyly, "You think so?"

"Let's invite her one day when she is free. Bet she is lonely here away from her family."

"Abeoji," Taehyung called him calmly.

"Yes?"

"Is family a big deal? Will it be a big issue if she didn't have any family?"

"No. It's ok. Not everyone has a family. Some people just don't have the privilege to have them around,"
he answered calmly.

"What If I told you that she didn't have the luxury to have one in the first place? What if she was abandoned, undesired?"

Mr. Kim paused for a moment.

"Will it prove that she is unworthy of everything? "

" It will just prove how strong of a person she is." Mr. Kim pulled him in a hug,
"Don't worry kiddo, you made a good choice, we'll never drag mere things in between as long as you are happy. Trust me."

"I trust you," Taehyung sighed. "I trust you."

"Hey," Taehyung called Ashley as soon as he went out of the hospital after his younger sister, Eun jin took his place.

"Hey," Ashley greeted back. "How is your father?"

"Great! What are you doing?"

"Study!" chuckled Ashley.

"Do you have class today?"

"No. I don't have class on the days I have a duty at the hospital. And I didn't take any night shift for study," Ashley yawned.

"Seems like you are sleepy."

"Study is boring," groaned Ashley.
"Next day, you will find a headline stating Dr. Ashley Ruth has been killed by boredom. "

"That bad, huh?" chuckled Taehyung.

"Very."

"Let's go out."

"You are kidding, right?" Ashley laughed.

"I never actually got to take you somewhere. Please?"

"As much as I loved to go out with you, But I really need to get these papers in my head by tomorrow's test too," sighed Ashley. "And, I don't want your crazy fans upon my throat if we get spotted together."

"They will not. I am a caring guy." Taehyung assured her, "please?"

"Well, one hour. Just because you are so tempting," chuckled Ashley. "But that's exactly how much I can give you. Going and coming back included," Ashley laughed mildly.

"Thats not fair."

"It's a take it or leave it offer."

"I'll take it," Taehyung replied hurriedly. "Get ready, I'll be there in ten minutes. Got my car with me."

"Ticktock, ticktock." Ashley sang smiling.

Ashley came down as soon as Taehyung called her. He was waiting in the car and Ashley sprinted and hopped straight into the passenger's seat,
"let's go, its time to buzz the tower, goose."

Taehyung smiled. She just quoted from his favorite movie.

"There's one problem though, "He smiled mischievously.

"What?"

"I don't know where to go."

Ashley laughed, "Let's just go. Randomly, anywhere."

"I have got an idea," Taehyung pressed on the accelerator.

Taehyung stopped the car after another fifteen minutes near Hanghang park.

It was quite late and the place was enough quiet. Taehyung put his mask on, pulled in his hoodie as Ashley pulled her hoodie on too. They got down and walked in.

The night breeze was chilly with the fresh wind coming from the Han river. The bridge was illuminated with thousands of lights reflecting the golden rays on the water surface tinting it with liquid gold.

Taehyung held her hand and intertwined the fingers together as they walked the narrow walkway beside the river.

"Still got thirty minutes left," Taehyung smiled, "well fifteen if we still count the riding back time."

"I like it here," Ashley mumbled.

"It was the place we used to come to a lot when we were trainees. It's so nostalgic," Taehyung took a familiar breath in. It has been a while since he came here last.

"Let's sit," Ashley tugged Taehyung towards a bench with no streetlight nearby. "I don't wanna take a risk to people actually recognize you."

"By the way, You miss your home?"

"It would sound absurd, but no, not much," Ashley replied as they both took a seat.

"I didn't tell you how happy I am that you are here," Taehyung traced his fingers around her knuckles.

"Figured you've chased me enough. Now it's my turn." Ashley joked.

"I'll be always busy, you know? I won't be around that much. What if I disappoint you?

"I know those. But I may get to see you in person once in a while rather than in video calls. No?"

"Yeah."

"That's more than enough for me," Ashley leaned her head on his shoulder. "You know, the thoughts of being this clingy once cringed me, it still does. But I don't know why am I doing these either."

"Clingy??? Have you any idea what being clingy is? I can guarantee you, you are not even close to that."

"I was afraid," Mumbled Ashley.
"If I come here showing all desperate, I'll scare you away. Thinking of being too clingy or needy, needy to see you outside of that screen."

"Why'd you think like that?" Taehyung frowned.

"I don't know! I just thought that you might find it excess for me to come here." Sighed Ashley. "Probably I thought I am taking things a bit too fast."

"Not as fast as it should be," Taehyung kissed her before she could finish it.
"We have been seeing each other for almost six months. Tell me how many times I got to see you in person??"

Ashley smiled through the kiss,
"You'd be doomed if someone sees you now. Better go incognito again."

"I don't care," Taehyung rolled his eyes.

Ashley pulled up his mask again. "Maybe you are unaware, but I love my life by the way."

Taehyung sighed and Ashley again rested her head on his shoulder.
"I just wish to be like this. I want every day to be like this."

Taehyung pulled her closer again.