"Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart"

 ~Washington Irving

I woke up feeling the sweet-warm rays of the sun and a sweet smell, smell of fresh lavenders, I love lavenders, it reminded me of spring. I opened my eyes and found myself cuddled up with Kookie on our living room couch. I stared at his angelic face, he looked so beautiful, even while sleeping. His hair was messed up. It took me a few moments to realize what actually happened. Last night we were watching 'Finding Nemo' and then we just slept here. I looked around and saw everyone sleeping there, cuddled up against each other. Simmi was missing, where's she? The TV is switched off. She must have done it then. I was going to get up, but then I realized that Kookie is still holding my hand...and the memory from last night came back to my mind. He said...share the warmth.....with him.

I tried removing his fingers one by one from my hand. His fingers are long. I succeeded finally without waking him up. I got up from the couch. But then I bent down and whispered...

"Good Morning Kookie"....softly in his ear.

I took my hoodie, wore it and went out to look for Simmi. There she is...roaming in the woods all by herself. I caught up to her....

"Hey Simmi! Wait up..." She looked back at me. Her eyes were shining as the morning sun rays hit her eyes. On a closure approach I noticed that she is crying.

"Simmi, why are you crying? What happened?" I asked worriedly. 

"Nothing....." She didn't want to tell me as usual. 

"Come on Simmi, tell me, you know you can't hide it for long..." I said encouragingly.

After a moment of thought and silence she started.....

"I am going to miss you. Why don't you stay a little longer? We feel so alone without you. We feel incomplete Cherry, you just came for 2 days. It's not enough for us..." So, that's the reason....

"Simmi I too want to stay...but...you know I have my job there. Even I don't like staying there. I am all alone there, I have no friends. Not even in the library. I feel lonely there, but there's nothing I can do...." I trailed off...my eyes filled with fresh tears....We sat in silence, trying to absorb my departure and the distance increasing between ourselves. Nishi came there and sat beside me joining us and understanding what we are up to.

"I'll miss both of you"...I said hugging both of them. We smiled at each other walking back to our home. 

As we reached home we saw, BTS was up and they were getting refreshed. We three went to the kitchen to make coffee for all of us. They all showered quickly and got dressed, like they were just going to start a photo shoot here. Oh yeah, photos....we didn't take a single photo from the time they arrived. Let's do it today then.

"Noor, when do you have your flight today?" Nishi asked me.

"At 9, in the morning" I said.

"At 9? Today? We also have the same flight. Why don't you go with us? It'll be awesome..." Jimin hyung said entering the kitchen.

"But hyung..." He cut me off before I could say anything. 

"Ah~ don't call me hyung, I am still so young, just call me Jimin. And no buts...we'll upgrade you to the business class don't worry. So that's final, you are going with us" Jiminie hyung...I mean Jimin said without caring about my opinion.

"Yes Noor, you should go with them. They would take good care of you, after all it is a long journey, long journies are better with friends. Go for it" Nishi said encouraging me.

"Fine, I am going with BTS then" I said giving up, but I was happy. 

"The coffee is here everyone" Simmi announced in the living room.

Everyone grabbed their coffee and enjoyed it. BTS was discussing their schedules for tomorrow. The three of us were silent. This happens every time I leave them. On the day of my departure, we are too silent, because we feel very sad for being separated again.

"Simmi. Nishi. I have brought the books you two needed from the library. Wait..." I got up to bring the books. 

"Here" I handed them their books.

"You need to return them in a month. Make sure you do it" I said. They looked at me with a ray of hope. Returning the book meant they have to go to Seoul to return it. And in Seoul they knew no one except me. That means they will live with me for a few days. 

"We would make sure we return it" Simmi said smiling at me and Nishi.

"We haven't taken any pictures together, what do you all say about a family photo. Since, we are kinda a family now?" Tae hyung said. He must also have felt weird that we didn't take a single photo.

"Sure" Everyone echoed at the same time and then started laughing.

We did many poses, while Kookie was clicking us. Then Rapmon hyung told him to be in the photo and took the camera from him and clicked a few pictures. Then the three of us clicked BTS with our phones. We never wanted to forget this time.

 Everyone moved out and separated. I was going to pack my bags again leaving the room. But Jiminie caught my hand. I turned to look at him.

"Come with me" He dragged me back to the living room again.

"What's the matter Jiminie?" I had no idea, what he was up to.

"Stand next to Jungkookie...I am going to click both of you together" I had nothing to say. Why me and Kookie separately and no one else? Is something cooking in his mind? Did Nishi told him to do this? It must be she then. But right now I had no choice. I went to stand next to Jungkook, glad that he didn't mind. 

"Come closer a bit...a bit more...." Jimin instructed us. 

"Now, JK, hold her shoulder...and Noor wrap your hands around his back" I gave him a death glare, but he ignored me. What is he doing? I felt so awkward. Anyway I just followed him.

Click.

"Ah~ such a cute photo. Tae~ " He ran to Tae to show our picture to him. Me and Jungkook parted and smiled at his silliness.

"He's like that. Don't mind him" He said being embarrassed by his hyung.

"Not a big deal" I said. He is cute.

"Aww...they look so cute together..." We could hear them giggle like kids.

I packed my bags. Nishi and Simmi packed some apple donuts and cookies for me and handed me.

"I know these cookies are nothing as compared to your Kookie, but you can eat them. They are tasty" Nishi said teasing me.

"He is not 'My' Kookie" I felt uncomfortable while saying that, but that is the truth..."Is there anything cooking between you and Jiminie?" I asked her, finally getting the chance.

"Uhh....Me and Jimin? Nope. Why?" She asked innocently. But I didn't trust her with these matters. I knew it's her. But let it be. It was not so bad, having a single picture with him.

We were all ready to leave. I gave Nishi and Simmi a tight and long hug. I love my friends. They are the best people in the world. I didn't made eye contact with anyone, as I knew if I do that I'll start crying. On the journey to Auckland airport...BTS was loud as usual. But I was silent. Silently missing my friends from now on. Kookie side-hugged me.

"It's okay" He whispered in my ear. I nodded. How can he understand me so well? He knows when I am happy, when I am sad. He is great. 

In the flight, all the BTS members stick to me. Maybe they too understand now. But I didn't wanted them to worry for me. So, I started interacting again and talked to them. They started to ease up a bit. They care for me so much. I really feel like they are my family.

"Suga hyung, can I call you sugar? I think that is really cute" I said smiling cutely at him. He tried to keep his poker face but ended up smiling at me. I knew it's a yes. 

Jiminie showed me the picture he took of me and Kookie and also the other pictures they took. We started looking at them and making fun of each other. I felt a bit lighter than before. BTS is just like Nishi and Simmi. They know how to make my mood better, even when we met only a few days ago. Then, I was talking about books with Rapmon hyung, since he also loved reading. After that Kookie came to me and we were talking about this and that. He asked me where I live in Seoul. Kookie remembered something and went to Taehyung who was sitting with Jiminie. The maknaes are cute. Jin hyung came to me...

"Huh~ finally he left you. Now, can you tell me your secret Hot-Chocolate recipe...?" Jin hyung asked me being a bit annoyed by Kookie.

"Were you waiting for him to go? You could just have joined us. And that's not my secret recipe. Here it is" I said showing him the recipe on my phone. He read it carefully. I think he read it twice.

"It's so easy. Thanks for sharing" He said, thankful to me.

"Yeah it is very easy and tasty. Oh, no formalities please" I said.

In the car:

The whole time in the flight we talked and laughed. We didn't knew when the 11 hours passed by. Now, we sit in the car. They were first going to drop me at my home and then go home themselves. I said it was not needed, that I can go home by myself. But they didn't just allowed me. We were still laughing and chatting happily. All of us exchanged numbers and they said whenever I need them I can call them, they will be there for me. It was really sweet of them. I think I won't feel lonely in Seoul anymore. They parked the car in front of my home. I waved good bye to all of them and wished a good night.

In room:

I am back home in Seoul. Suddenly I feel so empty, so sad for some reason. Just a moment ago I was so happy, but now I am left alone again. I got a message....It's from Jimin...

It's our photo....Mine and Kookie's picture. We really look cute in this picture. We were smiling like little kids showing all our teeth, holding each other. Jimin and Tae were right. Now, I believe them...he has wrote something.

"Noor, you two are perfect for each other" That's what he wrote. It made me blush. I was all smiley-smiley. I shook my head at his childishness. 

I unpacked my bags, took out things one by one and kept them at their respective places. I almost finished unpacking when I saw a beautiful scarf lying there...I don't remember buying it or even owning it. There was a note under it. I unfolded the note...

"It's not that you are not beautiful,

But this scarf around your neck will make you even more beautiful.

I hope you like your Christmas present.

Merry Christmas Cherry

~From Kookie"

It's from Kookie. Wow...this scarf is really beautiful. I love wearing scarfs and this is the best one I've ever seen. But it was the note that I was more happy about. It was in his handwriting. He has a beautiful handwriting. He said I am beautiful, I never believed it when Elliot said that. But I believe Kookie. I feel beautiful from inside when Kookie says so. And to add cherry on top of the cake, he wrote my name 'Cherry' instead of Noor. I think he loves the name 'Cherry'.

I should call him....but it's late now. What if he is asleep, I don't want to disturb him like last day. I'll call him tomorrow and thank him. He is so sweet. They already gave me a gift. Why this special gift from Kookie then? Don't overthink Noor, just be grateful for your gift. I scolded myself. I kept the note inside the diary Nishi gifted me. I wanted to take a bath to wash of some tiredness.

The light-warm water felt too good against my skin. I was so comfortable. I can just sleep in the bathtub, but I won't. As I let the water wash my tiredness, I started thinking about all the events that took place one after the other without giving me a moment for analyzing it. Now that, there was no hurry, I was free to analyze everything.....

Author's Note:

The 12th chapter's here. Unfortunately Noor had to leave her friends but BTS is here to take care of her.  Noor and Kookie slept together the whole night cuddled up together. Isn't that so cute. Jiminie brought them closer. He is being the cupid for Jungkook and Noor.

And did you read that? Jungkookie gave Noor a separate gift for Christmas. He is so sweet. I feel jealous of my own character now. How can that girl be so lucky?

Let's see what happens when she calls him tomorrow. Please comment and review. They matter a lot to me. I read each and every comment and try to reply them. 

Happy Reading.