Taehyung's POV:

We were walking in the mall. Ash already made a call to the airport. They retrieved my bags. So our next destination was the airport.

We didn't rush as both of us were enjoying our relaxed time.

Ash was walking slowly, making friends with probably every kid in the block. She must love kids.

I do too.

I had covered my face with a mask and let the hoodie cover my surroundings. Can't tell if somebody out there probably knows me.

While passing the arcade, I suddenly stopped. It has been a while I've been in an arcade. And who doesn't know I love games??? Especially the classics one with which I had grown up.

Seeing me paused, Ash stopped too. Following my gaze, she looked into the arcade. A childish smile slowly appeared on her face,

"You love games, don't you?"

"Yes!!! they are my everything!!!!" I said excitedly.

"Why don't we go inside? Though I'd never done this once in my life," she said excitedly.

"Yes!" I exclaimed happily.

We both ran inside making a small competition with each other.
She was amazed, excitedly looking around at everything.

"God!! These seem fun!" she whistled.

"You were a real nerd in your early days I bet, can't believe you'd never gave yourself a taste of these!!" I joked.

"Nah." She was excited as before, "Just didn't have enough money to go around and do things."

It hit me.
I paused for a moment. I didn't have the slightest idea about this girl. She didn't seem to notice.

"Come on Tae, show me how to do these things!!" she was excited like a child.
I went towards her.

When we came out of the arcade, it was almost midday.

"The match remained unfinished!!"
Ash complained about our mini hockey game in which she continuously accused me of cheating.

"I'll have to come back here to have another round with you!!" I replied.

We decided to buy my phone now. It took us some time to decide what to pick, but I went for the model I owned before. It was the latest and to be honest, quite expensive. When I was at the counter for the payment, the salesman smiled, "It's already been taken care of, sir."

I was dumbfounded for some time.

"Dr. Ruth already paid for it." He confirmed smiling.
Seemed like they knew her well.

I was too surprised to say anything. I came out.

She was over her phone, "look into the lab reports I asked for and send them to me before tomorrow. Give them a heads up about the PCR machine at faults too. Report to me when you are done. Got it?"

she was a completely different persona. A strong, confident woman with an aura of being something she has a clear idea of pulling off.

She finished.

"It's not fair, Ash!!!! I can't let you do that!!" I exclaimed pointing at the shopping bag I was holding onto.

She smiled calmly, "It's a gift Tae." Ignoring my complaints.

I was trying to say something, she slapped my arm, cheerfully saying, "Didn't anybody teach you to accept the gifts given to you cordially?"

"But Ash, money..." I started.

" Isn't a problem for you? God, I know that already!!" She finished off my sentence.

I was again dumbfounded.

"You seriously need to work on those," she pointed at my temple teasingly.
"You are a brand shop, top to bottom, Tae. It isn't anything surprising that you might be hella rich!!"

"But again...I can't let you spend so much on me!" I protested.

She suddenly leaned forward, looking at me intimidatingly,
" Money? Do you know how much I make, dear?"

I stuttered on my words and she started to laugh like she saw the funniest view around, "you should see your face, boy."

I laughed, "But..." I started but was cut off by her,

"Maybe you can pay me back with a treat. Lunch is on you."

I sighed and decided to let go. There was no way she was gonna listen to me.

I was thinking of a good restaurant on the way to our airport, but she dragged me to a small cafe. We sat on the small table beside the pavement outside.
The afternoon sun was delicate and mild. The weather was nice and there was the smell of pastry and daisy in the air.

It was so heartwarming, it felt like I could spend my whole day just sitting right outside this cafe, listening to the guitar the man was playing playfully, in the submerging humming of chit chats around, and smell of baking and Daisy in the peace of the small alley.

I let go of the hoodie.

I turned on the phone. There it comes!!!......rushes of notifications started coming instantly. Lots and lots of messages from the members and my family.

She was looking curiously, "Wow! You've made a lot of people tensed during your short disappearance!"

I smiled.

"It's just the hyungs. These guys constantly worry about me. Especially Jin hyung."

"Hyung?" she asked, confused.

"like an elder brother? I have a bunch of them," I explained.

"They are your real brothers?" she was still confused.

"No, and yes," I nodded.
" They are my co-workers. But they are more than family."

"I can see that." She pointed at my phone.
"You are a very lucky guy indeed." She smiled.

She asked me about my works while we were eating. I told her about them.
During our conversation, Jin hyung called and there goes his enormous bickering!!
Gosh his scolding for not to call him or receiving them!!!

Before hopping onto the metro, I bought us ice creams from the street vendor. She was excited and happy.

"So, Ash, you said it's not your country. But it's obvious that you are not Asian."

She nodded at my point, "New Zealand."

"So, your family is there?"

"Don't know. Never knew them,"
she said taking a mouthful of ice cream.

I looked at her. Is there a glimmer of shadow in her ever bright smile?

She looked at me, "it's ok, I was raised in an orphanage. Those thoughts were painful as a kid, but things are different now." She smiled.

There was an unfamiliar emotion in her smile, "guess we grow up with time, don't we?"

We collected my luggage from the airport in the evening. I traced out my booked hotel and on the way back, we grabbed dinner together.

Goodbye was sad, I would miss Ashley for sure. She was one of the most wonderful persons I've rarely encountered.
She gave me some advice like a strict teacher and said goodbye before hopping into her way back metro.