A/N:

Long and sentiment chapter ahead. This is my fav chap in the whole series as a writer, the best I've ever written. It doesn't mean it's perfect, so don't judge me by seeing this as the peak of my capabilities. It's just the best I've ever written(as in better than the other chaps and satisfying to me) but not my best(know what I mean, I can do much more is what I'm saying).

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The Wise Monkey's POV:

Park Seonghwa can't sleep. He woke up from a nightmare and tried to get back to the dreamland, hopefully, to see something less revolting this time, but his body couldn't just spare him another opportunity. Deciding to lie down to induce sleep didn't just only not work but also made his mind corrupt with uncomfortable, tedious thoughts that he promised to not ponder on often.

At last, he decides it's morning for him and steps out from his lonely room which ironically is shared with someone( a certain someone who's barely home though; you know who). The first one he sees as walks to the kitchen is the early-riser of the dorms, Kang Yeosang.

"Oh, you're early!" the younger boy says. He offers the bottle of cold water to his hyung that he was drinking from.

"You okay?" Yeosang asks. "Is it because of a nightmare or something?"

"It was just a lame nightmare," Seonghwa meekly says before continuing to take sips of the water.

"What was it? Was it bad?"

"No, nothing to worry about. I already forgot it."

He's actually just hesitant to speak to the boy about what's making him so restless within. Especially since what it entails is what the younger pulled aside Seonghwa last night to give him a lecture on. Yeosang is a bit scary when he's serious. When Soojin left their house yesterday, Seonghwa spent the rest of the day doing live and then in work with his dongsaengs. The only time Yeosang could get to have the talk with him was when they returned home at night. From what Seonghwa heard from the boy, everyone in the house wasn't of great opinions of how distant and discomforting he was towards Soojin the last day.

Yeosang leaves Seonghwa be in the kitchen and goes back to his room, and before the latter can let his mind involved in thoughts, he hears the front door opening. He leaves the kitchen to see a zombily walking Hongjoong approaching their room.

"You're up early," Hongjoong lazily comments and Seonghwa follows him to their shared room.

"Woke up from a nightmare and couldn't sleep again."

"But you look sleepy. Sleepier than me," the short boy reasons.

"My brain preferred to bombard me with thoughts," Seonghwa tiredly says.

"Are you alright?" Hongjoong says, scrutinizing his friend's every feature to catch any leads. The both of them seat themselves on their beds.

"I don't know why this is bothering me so much."

"What is?"

"I dreamt about Soojin again. And then I couldn't sleep again 'cause I was thinking about her. What am I supposed to do?"

Hongjoong nods. "I heard about how you didn't talk to her yesterday. Did you think about that a lot before you went to sleep? Were you maybe guilty?"

"Yes, I was guilty even while being like that to her. And I did think about it. But that's not it. I just think about her a bit too much in general, even before she showed up yesterday. I mean I'm even having the dreams."

"Hwa, you don't want to do this, do you? The avoidance game. Why do you do it then? You can be friends with her. That is not unethical and wrong at all. You're obviously not a couple anymore. And she never insinuated that she was wanting to be with you again. I just think she wants you to be her friend. It took her so much time to see us all as her friends again. It was just yesterday that she came through. And I missed it," Hongjoong frowns at the last part.

"So why are you so afraid?" he continues.

"It feels wrong to be around her when I kno—"

"Why is it wrong? You can be friends with anyone. A lot of people are friends with their ex."

"No, Hongjoong, you don't understand."

"But I do!"

Seonghwa makes eye contact with the team leader.

"It's not wrong to be friends but it's wrong to be friends and have feelings for your ex, it's wrong to tend to wish for a future with her. Either you like her or you think you will eventually like her again if you hang out with her. Isn't that what you're thinking?" 

Seonghwa answers with silence. It's hard to hide things from Hongjoong. He and Yunho are the ones in their team who are the most observant and the best at catching up with others' emotions. Not only that, Seonghwa and Hongjoong are really close friends who only confide in each other in their time of need. Although the younger is an ace at understanding the working of Seonghwa's mind, Seonghwa can't completely say that he can do that for the other just as well. It takes more to understand the leader of Ateez.

"Hmm," Hongjoong begins. "Seonghwa, I thought time will heal you but it doesn't seem to be working. I have to say this now. You—" he points at his friend.

"—can't control who you fall for. If you like someone, you just like them, Hwa. Please understand that."

"By that logic, incest would be valid," Seonghwa lamely retorts. Hmm, interesting point right there.

"Don't reason with me. It's time you should listen. You can decide on whatever you want to but listen before you come to confirmation. We all just never forced this truth on you, sure we told you that you did nothing wrong, but we knew you were in a state that made you listen from one ear and discard from the other, so we let it be, thinking you'll realize on your own. So now listen to the truth, it's not empty words of comfort but the truth. YOU DID NOTHING WRONG, PARK SEONGHWA! It wasn't in your control. And loving someone, you can't control that."

"Cheating is wrong, Hongjoong!" Seonghwa adamantly argues back.

"You did not cheat! If you happen to fall for someone when you're committed to someone else, that is not cheating unless you deliberately tried to do things like going on dates and initiating stuff that leads to the intention of romance with that someone. And when you fall for that person and still not come clean to your girlfriend and intentionally hide it, then you are cheating."

Seonghwa doesn't speak. He's defenceless. 

"You became guilty as soon as you realized you liked another person and you chose the correct way, you called things off, Seonghwa. And you are still guilty, even though you don't need to be at all and are just being an idiot. You're a good man, Seonghwa." He really is.

Seonghwa nods. "I will believe you, Hongjoong."

"Don't just do it for my sake. Take time and question the rationality of what you believe, question mine. Clear off that cloud in your head and you'll realize."

"Joong," Seonghwa meekly whispers and the other hums.

"Can I ask you something? And I want an honest answer," Seonghwa says.

Hongjoong looks at him unsure. "I guess?"

"Do you like Soojin? I mean you liked Daisy, and now she's back. Did the feelings come back for you? Or was it already there? How was it for you to face her again? Please tell me. We already know how it's for Jongho. You, I have no idea about."

"I don't know. I've never wondered about it," Hongjoong says, eyes fixated on the ground. He looks deep lost in his thoughts. He looks like he's looking for an answer, like he's figuring it out himself for the first time. And Seonghwa gives him that time.

After a few moments, Hongjoong suddenly speaks again, gaining Seonghwa's attention.

"You know this, we had all prepared ourselves to never see her again. She wasn't real to us until the day she showed up. Until that day, we had forced ourselves to forget her. So when she did show up, we were all in a state of confusion. 'Should we accept her or let it be?' But I guess none of us really worked ourselves enough to not feel a thing at all when we saw her. After a brief moment of confusion, all of us wanted to reconnect with her. Those who felt friendly feelings for her once wanted to pursue that, those who liked her more than friends started to feel that again. Jongho's like that; you were busy battling your own issues with her revival and I knew if that wasn't the case, you'd be like Jongho too."

"But I don't think I'm like either of you," he continues. "Of course, it still feels weird around her. But I think —I'm not entirely sure— that it's just self-consciousness. When you meet the crush you once had in school again after many years, you still find them beautiful and lovable and feel conscious about yourself but it's only because you remember you were once totally into them. I think it's like that for me. I don't have a crush anymore but I still find her someone of potential. But I'm a different version of how I was in that magic world; lifestyle affects. And you know that I have never once had a crush since you met me, ignoring the magic world, of course."

Seonghwa nods in understanding when Hongjoong finishes. He spends the next minute confined in his thoughts, eyes fixed on the wall and all zoned out. When he finally looks back towards Hongjoong's bed, he finds the younger cutely sleeping, leaning against the wall instead of laying down. He walks up to help his friend lie down and pulls out his socks and cap. And he does so with a small smile. He's thankful for having a friend like Hongjoong.

And outside in the living room, in the silence of the otherwise sleeping dorm, Yeosang who could hear the duo's whole conversation, after confirming there isn't going to be any more of it sighs before he goes back to using his phone.

.

.

.

"It was already so awkward back then. Three people crushed on her, three, that's a fairly large number. It was painful and uncomfortable to see all three being so hurt or awkward," Wooyoung says, as a matter of fact, shaking his head in disbelief at the turn of events.

"So now Seonghwa hyung is planning to talk to her?" San who entered Wooyoung's room just a few moments ago, nescient of the conversation that was preceding, says. "It should be a good thing, I still don't know why you both fretting over it."

"Aren't you understanding?" Yeosang says. "Wooyoung just said it. Imagine everything going back to how it was back then, San. The three of them still crushing on the same person. It'd more problematic now than then."

"We'd have done drugs back then and nobody would care. It's not the same now. There has to be peace in the team. If the history repeats..." Wooyoung pauses. "Daisy would have a hard time too. She just came back to us, I don't want her to run away because of those three."

"I don't think we'd have to worry about the awkwardness, I don't think she'd be willing to date any of them. She'll probably reject all, and they'll all be equally hurt. But that's better than seeing the girl you like choose someone else over you, right? It'll die down soon then." Yeosang reasons.

"I still don't understand," the clueless San says. "Why'd the history repeat? Jongho's flirty with her, but it's only him this time. Why are you assuming Seonghwa hyung's stance just based on the fact that he's wanting to confess and befriend her again."

"I overheard the hyungs talking today," Yeosang says. "And even though I can't say for sure, I think there may already be or there could be feelings involved in the future. I'm already sure about Jongho though, the hyungs were too. Come on, everyone knows he's crushing on her, probably Soojin too."

Jongho sleepily groans and opens his eyes, gaining the attention of the rest three. "You're talking as if I'm not here. This is my room too, you know," he says in his deep, boyish bed voice.

"What all did you listen to?" San asks.

"I woke up when you barged into this room so loudly, hyung. You guys are annoying," the maknae complains and gets up to leave the room.

After his morning routine, Jongho goes to see Seonghwa.

"I heard that you finally decided to tell noona," he tells the oldest.

"Ahh," Seonghwa sighs. "It was a decision on impulse, and now everyone is speaking about it in the house. Should I not? I'm nervous."

"What are you talking about? Of course, you have to tell her someday or the other, unless you're planning to just let go of the friendship and completely ignore her forever."

"So you think we should be back to friends too?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I?" Jongho firmly establishes. He's oddly way too calm about all this, not gonna lie. I'm curious about what's going on in his head but I can't be bothered to go inside it and check.

Seonghwa looks into the other's eyes, testing to look for an ounce of disapproval on his face, but there's none.

"Okay, then I'm doing it. Today, if possible."

Jongho smiles. "Don't worry about that. I'll take care of it," he says and leaves, leaving the older behind in confusion.

.

.

.

Soojin's POV:

"You don't have any friends, do you?" eomma barges into the restaurant kitchen with a phone in her hands startling me and the head cook with her angry tone. 

"Wha..What?" I say.

"Of course, she has. Joshua oppa," Sooyoung answers for me.

I hate when my family can't stop dragging and talking about my private life in the restaurant full of people, and it sucks more that they can't make it less loud. What am I saying? All the regular customers already know everything about my life now, thanks to these two.

"SHE HAS NO FRIENDS, SO YOU BETTER STOP STALKING MY CHILD OR I'LL REPORT IT TO THE POLICE!" eomma screams into the phone resting on her ear.

"Drama again, ugh!" Donghyuck says rolling his eyes.

STOP SCREAMING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

"Eomma, stop screaming," I calmly say, biting my lip. "The customers can hear you. Again! Gimme that phone." I don't bother to wait and snatch it immediately.

"Who is this?" I calmly ask the other person on the line that dared to make my mother mad.

"Soojin-ah, this guy says he only wants you to deliver for him. He knew everything about you. What a stalker pervert? Report him now," eomma furiously says in one go. "You're my only precious child."

"Oof!" Hyuck goes. "Eomma!" complains Youngie.

"I asked who is this," I say again, my voice lacking patience. By now, the whole restaurant is discussing this, making up theories and scaring eomma. I can hear the person on the phone breathing.

"I- I- I-....sorry," comes from the person and I freeze. Oh my God! "Jongho?"

He hums. "Yeah, it's me."

"Idiot!" I say. "You have my personal number, could have called me in that. Anyway, I'm hanging up. Will call you back in a moment."

"Eomma, it was my friend! Now you scared him off!" I furiously say.

"What? Really? What? How?... That is why I asked you if you had any friends! Oh my God, I was harsh on that kid!" she yells. "Let me apologize."

"Relax, I'm calling him, wait."

"Unnie, who is it?" Youngie asks.

"Yeah, who?" asks Hyuck, raising his brows.

"Jongho," I mouth to my sister and Hyuck asks, "Who?" I just ignore him and dials for Jongho.

"You've got some explaining, boy," I say as the call connects.

"Now, don't be harsh on him," I hear Wooyoung speaking instead. "He didn't personally order from you thinking you might reject to deliver for us. We want to meet you, do you have time?"

"We also want the chicken we ordered," I hear the faint voice of Yeosang in the background.

"Give the phone to Jongho, my eomma wants to apologize to him."

And then I get back to work, preparing their order as eomma seems to smile and laugh and enjoy all the time talking with Jongho and prying information from him. I guess he didn't mention he was an idol, she would be screaming that information all over the restaurant otherwise. I sigh, I guess I have to apologize to Jongho for this.

When I ring the doorbell of the precious Ateez dorms this time, the door doesn't take much time to answer. It's Yunho who greets me this time. "Annyeong, Soojin-ah," he says with a big, goofy smile. "Come in, Ms delivery girl."

"Sure, sir," I say playing my part while entering in. "It would be 3,500 Won."

"Sir?" he asks.

"Or would you prefer puppy?"

"3,500 Won?" San complains. "Yah, we already did the cashless payment for it!"

"It's the delivery charges for the special delivery by me," I say and hand over the food to San, inviting Yunho for a hug. He happily gives me one. I pull back to see that all the boys are here. Even Mingi and Captain.

"Yo, glasses," I say.

"Yo, glasses no. 2," Mingi greets me back. He comes and greets me with a hug, and Captain follows.

"I really can't believe it," he says with a big smile. "You're really back to how you were."

"Aww, Captain. You're still short up close."

"Yah, you're shorter than me!" he says.

"Gimme my chicken," Yeosang snatches the bag of food from San and runs to the kitchen.

"I still don't know if we've to pay you the 3,500 or not?" San says.

"I was kidding, you dummy," I reply. "Now, I'm a hardworking youth now, I don't have much time, tell me why I was asked to be here." I look at Jongho. "I am sorry if my eomma bored you, sweetie, but you brought it upon yourself."

"Oh, no no. Trust us, Daisy," Wooyoung says. "It was fun hearing from your mother, she told us many things about you," he smirks.

Ahh, well. Shit!

"I bet she has embarrassed me in all the ways she can. That's how my mother is. Just do not tell me what all she told you, for God's sake. What I do not know can't hurt me."

They all laugh.

I clear my throat. "Captain, why am I here?"

"Ahh, right..." he says and they all look at Park Seonghwa, drawing my eyes awkwardly to him as well. And then eye contact. Why God, why?

"I have something to talk to you, Soojin," he trails off. HE wants to talk to ME? What in the world?

"That's why we called you. Don't worry, I'll make sure to hurry it as much as I can. Sorry if it's too sudden," he says. 

"Don't worry about that? Eomma was happy I have more friends now, she wouldn't mind me being late. And I personally don't mind wandering off outside to avoid as much work as I can in the restaurant," I laugh and they all do too. Well except for Seonghwa who just smiles softly.

"Okay then, let them talk in the room," Captain announces. "Everyone else, come, let's eat in the meanwhile."

"Who said there's any left for y'all in the first place!" We all hear Yeosang's voice from somewhere in the house and I can't help but crack up.

I see the others dispersing. Jongho gives me a quick encouraging smile that leaves me quirking a brow. What is happening!

"Come on," Seonghwa-ssi(?), Seonghwa(?) says.

I look around the room when we enter it. Holy Shit! I'm in my biases' room. Yeah, I still stan this dude in front of me as a fan, even though there's this weird cold war thingy going on between us.

"Woah!" I exclaim.

"You like the room?" he asks. Am I imagining it or his conduct suddenly become all friendly unlike ever since we met in real life?

"Just as I expected. Squeaky clean."

"Of course, our room was clean back there in that house too."

"Yeah, of course, I know," I say with the fakest smile. And his is more nervous than fake.

"You can sit," he says seating himself on one bed as I sit on the opposite, and by the colour and aesthetics of the beds, I know I'm sitting on Captain's.

"Why are you smiling?" he asks. 

Wow! Didn't even realize I was.

"This is his bed," I say. "Cute." That's creepy of me. "I'm sorry, am I being like an obsessive fan, invading too much privacy."

I don't know if I'm imagining but his face kinda, sorta falls, a very subtle change.

"You didn't care about all these back then. I know you were and clearly are still a fan, but you're also a friend. It's okay though, you're new to this. I hope you'll ease into this." He pauses for a few seconds. "Mmm...  And you got that correct, that's his bed. Impressive that you could recognize his bed."

"Why is that impressive? Just like you said, we're so close and didn't care about privacy then, I can obviously recognize the beds and more, I recognized both the beds and I can tell who most of the things in this room belong to."

"Really?" his eyes regain the light. Such a child! 

Wait! Why is being so friendly towards me? It's like he never ignored me in the first place.

I clear my throat. "Umm... You said that I'm a friend?" I ask and he nods with knitted brows, expecting me to go on. "Well, then... Am I your friend too?"

"Ohh..." he lets out. Not the type of answer I was expecting.

"It's okay, you are free to say no. I will unders—"

"Soojin," he says, firm enough to stop me but his tone, gentle. Don't say my name like that, Seonghwa oppa. I'm trying to get used to all the avoidance.

"I owe you an apology," he continues. "I have been distant towards you since we met here in this world. You might have been wondering why, you might have been uncomfortable with me. And for all that I have to apologize. I'm sorry, Soojin. Please forgive me. I wasn't thinking straight, but now I'm back to better. And yeah, you are my friend now, I've decided on that. Now it's upon you if you want me back as your friend too."

"Of course, I do," I say that almost immediately, getting up. I think I raised my volume just a bit too much.

"You are my friend. I'm glad that you consider me that too. So I can call you informally now, right?" I ask, toning down the enthusiasm.

"Umm, yes," he says with a sudden bright smile, but then it withers away soon. "But we haven't discussed the elephant in the room yet," he quietly says.

"Yes, that," I say, sitting down again. "Don't think I'm exercising any right upon you to know what exactly happened. I just happen to know from the others that there is a particular reason behind your whole, you know, change? Avoidance? Whatever. So there seems to be a serious enough reason. Now I can see what was the urgency in calling me here. You want to tell me, right? You can. But whenever you're ready, even though you've invited me, you don't necessarily have to do it now. I can see that you're nervous. For now, I'm just content knowing we're back to friends."

"No, Soojin," he says, his voice rising a bit. "This has to be done now. It's not fair on you at all. You always joke around saying you're selfish and you prioritize yourself and whatnot, and you actually believe that, you make humour out of it, but you're not that. You're very selfless and kind."

"Y-You..sound mad."

"Oh, I'm so so sorry," he gets up rapidly and it looks like he's approaching for a hug or to comfort me, like back in those times. But he suddenly halts and gets back to his seat. "My tone came out like that unintentionally. I'm sor—"

"Yeah, stop apologizing, I get it."

"Soojin," he speaks again, looking me dead in the eyes. In real life, he's a bit more confident and influential in his speech than how he was back then, still gentle though. Gentle, yet firm. Maybe this is how he's like when he not joking around, the serious side of him. "You keep saying you're happy that we're friends, you're throwing that word around a lot. Friends. When you know that the last time we were all together, we weren't just friends. Don't you feel the need to at least ask what we are now?"

"I- Isn't it common knowledge? We broke up?" I say unsure.

"Technically didn't," he corrects.

"Yeah, we didn't get to break up, but we're exes now, right? It was confusing in the beginning, when I realized you all remember me, but then, through time, we implied it to each other through actions and distance, we established that, right? We did not get to break up, but it's an equivalent. We're exes and as of now we are friends."

"So you broke up with me in your mind?" he asks.

"And you didn't?" I dare to ask.

He averts my eyes. "Can I know why?" he asks.

"The obvious reason, which I initially thought was yours too. We weren't completely ourselves in there and it was in a parallel world and we had parallel minds. Now we are back here in this world and everything from the parallel world is just memories. We were together there because circumstances and environment allowed it. It's really not the case here. I was just a fan here, now upgraded to a friend."

"What about the feelings?" he asks.

"Rule no.1 of dealing with exes: don't ask awkward questions like these.... Well, at least, not so soon, maybe if we'll become best friends in the future, this could be talked about when we are drunk and carefree."

"Okay," he mutters. "Sorry."

"Well," he goes again, voice a bit hesitant. "Wouldn't you want to know my reason then?" He asks.

No!

Oh God, I really need time. Maybe I wouldn't have come here if I knew what it was leading me to.

"I...umm... I'm actually really thirsty," I say. "Let me go have some water and come back quick. Summarize whatever you have to tell me in your mind by then 'cause I have to leave soon." I then walk out of the room as fast as I can.

The guys in the kitchen look at me like I'm a test subject. "What?" I ask. "Gimme some water. I'm parched."

"That happened fast," Yeosang says.

"Did you really have the talk, noona?" Jongho asks worriedly.

"Why? Why? Why are you all looking at me pitifully? Just gimme the water, we're back to friends now, that's all we talked about so far, I've to get back to him after this."

"Oh, okay, okay," Yunho says. "Here." I drink the water and ask if I can use the bathroom.

I look at my face in the mirror as soon as I get inside the bathroom. I don't wanna cry today, I really don't. 

I know the answer Seonghwa oppa is gonna give me, I know and I accept it. But I don't have enough strength to hear it from him. I don't want him to directly tell me how different I am from Daisy. I don't own expensive, beautiful clothes, I don't look as beautiful, I am not even beautiful, I'm not as cool, I'm not the same at all, maybe the polar opposite. I don't want to hear it. But I can't control or curb him from speaking. I can only endure. I let out a few stray tears before I wash my face and head out to his room.

"I'm back," I say as I seat myself on Captain's bed. "Continue, and make it quick please."

My tone is plain and outrightly cold, and I know that is the reason he's staring at me nervously right now, but I've gotta be selfish here. I want nothing more than to get away with this as fast as possible.

"Please, speak up," I stress.

"Ahh, yes. You're busy. Should we do this later? Not because of me but—"

"No, now!" I almost yell. "I'm sorry for that. Now tell me, what was your reason?"

"Soojin," he begins, eyes moistening up. Is it because of my stupid behaviour? I feel bad. "You know, when I, or when we all, started dreaming, during that time I..."

"It's alright, you can say it. And yeah, you can take your time too. I'm not that busy."

"Okay," he meekly responds and clears his throat. After taking a deep breath, he goes, "I...I had a crush on this girl when I was in school, Shim Hyunji. I really crushed on her for many years, couldn't confess to her during that while. And before I knew it, I was caught in all this trainee life and then idol. I still liked her very much, even though now we didn't see each other every day like in school. We would just text each other, and one day I confessed to her. And let's just say, after that, on one day a few three months before you and I and everyone else started having the dreams, she agreed to be my girlfriend."

I cover my mouth stopping my inaudible gasp. And he just nods at me in confirmation.

"Yeah," he sadly says. "I was committed during the time of the dreams."

"Oh my God," I exclaim. "I'm sorry that it happened to you."

"What for? It's no one's fault. Not yours and as I recently realized, not mine. I was on cloud nine when we started dating. It was the best moments of my life. But then, I discovered that the me in the other dimension had officially liked you. Earlier, I wish I could control the dream 'cause no matter how much we would all justify saying it was just a dream and it was just another version of us in there and not us, we knew that it wasn't quite like that. Everything in that world influenced us here. We were friends with you back in there, we thought of you as a friend in here as well, we'd talk about you, we looked forward to reaching that world through our dreams as much as possible. So I knew it'd mess my mind here if I started dating you there. But again, it was all out of control. You and I dated, and I would wake up here having feelings for both you and Hyunji. It was a disaster."

"But, it was all still fine until my relationship with you started getting more advanced than that with Hyunji," he continues. "Hyunji and I only ever shared few innocent kisses, while you and I were far advanced than that both mentally and physically. I realized I liked you a bit more than her and that felt like cheating. I couldn't continue being with her even though I wanted to. So I broke up with her, gave her the vaguest of reasons, she deserved a better reason but I couldn't exactly tell her what exactly was going on, that'd only make her feel like I'm a ridiculous jerk who thought this was all a joke, bringing magic as an excuse and justifying it with that." And he stops.

"I-I don't know what to say to you," I say. "Only you know how it is for you. You're probably the only one in the whole world who has faced something like this. I feel bad."

"It's okay, what's happened has happened. I couldn't realize it sooner. I already lost Hyunji as a friend, cannot lose you too."

"You are never losing me as a friend, I'll tell you that." I get up. He does too.

"Reunition hug?" he asks opening his arms. And I don't hesitate. We hug tight and it still lasts. It's been a long time after all. I can feel him squeezing my shoulders as he rests his face on them. 

"It's been so long," he says in a shaky voice. "I missed you, Daisy." 

"I missed you too, oppa." We pull back and I see he's crying. I'm a bit teary myself.

I wipe down the tears from his face. "Happy thoughts only, okay? I'm back as your friend now, so celebrate that. Happy thoughts only,"

We both see Jongho outside the room, watching us with a blank face. He suddenly gives us a smile and a thumbs up when he realizes our eyes on him.

"So, this is it, right? Anything more you gotta tell me, angry bird?" I ask oppa.

"No, now go before your mother calls Jongho and complains of holding you captive," he laughs.

"She already called once, by the way," Jongho says.

"What? Oh my God—"

"Relax, I handled it well. Your eomma likes me now."

"You didn't tell her you were the Ateez's Choi Jongho, did you?"

"No, but would she believe if I did?"

I shrug and while I walk past the boy, I put my palm on his forehead. "Oh, good, you've recovered from the fever."

"Yeah, I took the meds as soon as you left yesterday. And maybe your sweet presence and soup also helped."

"Good," I say pinching his cheeks, earning a smile that I swear I can probably watch forever. I prepare to depart saying all the byes to all the Atee— all of my friends.

Yes, I have more friends now! But how am I gonna explain this all to my mother? Bet she only called Jongho 'cause she was eager to get answers from me.

And I was right! When I reach back to the restaurant, with a list of queries to bombard me with, stands my eomma; And as a plus one, my dear annoying cousin, Donghyuck joining.

Good luck to me!

A/N:

Hoping this chapter wasn't too exhausting. See you soon with another chapter.