AT04 started following you. Follow back.

Amina wasn't sure how many minutes she spent simply staring at the Instagram notification that came in just as she was done packing her stuff for the weekend in a bag and keeping it aside. She simply decided to check her social media while waiting for the time for her to leave, when she saw the notification.

She hadn't gotten the chance to check her likes page on Instagram, and failed to realized that the following came over 7 hours prior. It had been there, waiting for her to open up and see it.

A part of her, a small part wanted to discard it, that perhaps, it really isn't him. However, that verified badge, staring right back at her spoke volumes even if pretty much everyone is verified on the streets of Instagram these days.

The profile picture, although she was yet to tap and check out his page pretty much confirmed her suspicions. She still had her questions, but she refused to let it get the best of her. Instead, she discarded the thought and logged out, keeping the phone back on the bed.

It didn't matter why and how it showed up in her page. She didn't care, and wouldn't bother to even check out the page to verify it. She's always been aware of its existence, just choose to not give it any thought.

Picking up her essentials, she headed to the bathroom to take a shower as she'd already planned on taking. When she came out, she briskly got dressed, effortlessly looking chic as always. It seemed her fashion sense only improved upon spending that much time in Korea, she merged well with the women you'd see on the streets of Seoul.

The decent looking ones that is.

Nevertheless, by the time she flicked one end of her veil over her shoulder, she stared at her reflection then allowed the corners of her lips to tilt upwards—deeming herself representable.

Realizing she'd miss her ride if she continues to stand like that, she hastily turned around and rushed to her bed to pick up her phone, taking along the small suitcase she decided to bring along with her. It's just a two days' trip, but she's packed so much. It has always been a bad habit of hers, over packing.

She didn't dwell on it. Instead, she dragged it over to where Ella was still seated in the exact position she was in since Amina returned from class. She seemed to be watching a football match this time around, seeming too engrossed in it. Outstretching her hand, she tapped the woman's shoulder, and when she turned around to face her, she offered her a small wave and a grin.

Amina slung a bag over her shoulder, the finishing touch of her look. "I got to go. See you later."

Ella offered her a wave back, her expression mirroring Amina's. "Have fun...but not too much."

"No promises." Amina flashed her one of her famous mischievous smile as she turned around, steering her suitcase towards the door with one hand, the other holding her phone safely.

"Have a good time with Hamoud then!" Ella screamed, her words following the lady whom had already closed the door, but still heard her anyways.

Amina could only shake her head, unbothered to make a remark about that when she's out already. People bustled about, ladies trooping in and out of the dormitories. Amina couldn't help but feel her heart swell. There was something about actually appreciating your surroundings.

She wasn't certain if it's just her, but there are random moments where she stops to actually appreciate her environment, only to realize there's a lot that she simply sees rather than understand how it works.

It was one of those moments, even if she was walking out of the dormitory and taking note of her surroundings all as well. Eventually, she reached the bus stop where she would take a ride to her destination. Luckily for her, the bus was already there so she didn't have to wait for it.

She simply got in, grateful that only about half the bus was occupied. After scanning her payment, she spotted an empty seat by the window which she instantly wished to occupy. She walked in its direction, and just as she was about to reach it, someone was quick to side step her, bumping her shoulder in the process before occupying it.

Amina's eyes widened slightly, lips parted and face scrunched as she watched the guy seeming to be in his late twenties or thirties occupy the seat she was hoping to occupy. He didn't even seem remorseful for bumping into her like that, he simply made himself comfortable, placing his suitcase on the empty seat beside him as if there isn't a place to drop it instead.

She could only scoff, and shake her head in the process, reminding herself that he isn't worth it. Deciding to just randomly settle on the seat behind him, which was already occupied by someone, she deemed the empty seat beside him okay enough for her.

Dragging her suitcase with slightly slumped shoulders this time around, she reached the seat, and dropped the suitcase handle. Tilting her head up, she stared at the overhead luggage compartment, then at her suitcase that she knows without a doubt is heavy.

How is she supposed to get that up there? Not to mention her short height wasn't of any help. She can try, but she can already picture the epic fail and her becoming a laughing stock.

As if knowing her inner turmoil, a gruff voice came, putting a halt to it.

"Need any help, shorty?"

Amina's gaze flicked up upon hearing a familiar voice that she hasn't heard in a while. Her gaze fell on the figure she was planning to sit beside, whom by all accounts seems to be a guy. He had his arms crossed over his shoulders, with his head leaned on the window. A bucket hat laid on top of his face, shielding his face from anyone's sight.

Despite not seeing his face, she could swear she recognized whom the owner of that voice is.

Her stomach was instantly in knots, as she gaped like a fish. "Seolma; no way..." She shook her head, as if trying to convince herself otherwise. "Geuleol liga eobsayo; it can't be."

"I see your Korean has improved decently." One of his hands reached out to take off the bucket hat, revealing his face to her. When his eyes met hers, he offered her a warm smile that never failed to make her feel all fuzzy inside. "It's been a while, shorty."

"Dean!" She has no idea when her lips slanted upwards into a wide grin upon seeing him. She felt warm inside, her heart swelling with happiness. It felt like forever since she saw him, it's like he just disappeared off the face of the planet.

Sure, she hears of him occasionally from Ella who is a fan of their club in general, but still. Hearing about him from someone is different from actually seeing him. Her relationship with him runs deeper than that.

Simply hearing 'he's become a better football player', 'he seemed to have lost weight a bit', 'is it me, or does Dean Tafida seem different' wouldn't end her curiosity for what he was up to.

Given, she could still recall what happened when she last saw him, but that has nothing to do with her. It's a family issue, it has nothing to do with her and not once has she stopped worrying about him, wondering where he was and whether he was alright.

He was the first to be kind to her since she moved, he was the first one that made her feel as though it'll all be alright. He was the first to help her stand on her two feet again, how could she forget him just like that?

And yet, there he was, unexpectedly clashing with her yet again. Of all the scenarios she's thought of how she'd reunite with him, that moment was none of it. Not even close to her imagination.

She wanted to believe it's a dream. But, when that smile of his widened slightly, she was a hundred percent certain he is the one. Getting on his feet, he stepped forward, lifting her suitcase effortlessly and placing it inside the overhead compartment securely, before stepping aside and gesturing for her to get in.

"Ladies first." As always, like the gentleman he has always been.

Amina could only shake her head, occupying his former seat while he took that beside her. She still couldn't help but turn around to look at him, that smile impossible to wipe off. She felt like a giddy teenager seeing her crush up close for the first time.

Only, she wasn't a teenager anymore, nor did she have a crush on him anymore.

Her happiness knew no bounds still. It was hard to contain and keep it all bottled up.

He settled on the seat she was supposed to take, keeping the hat on his thigh while he ran a hand down his face. The action was followed by his amused, gravy voice that she missed oh so much. "I know you missed me, but if you keep staring at me like that, I'll become ugly in your eyes." It was impossible to miss the lark in his tone.

She rolled her eyes, like a dramatic mother when her kids claim to be grownups and no longer need her help. She was quick to wave him off, her grin blinding. "Oh, shush. Let me stare. It's been a while. I've almost forgotten what you look like." She turned around completely in her seat to look at him, even to the extent on placing both her arms on the armrest and resting her head on her palms, admiring him.

He threw her a side glance, feigning a serious expression. "Ouch. That hurts more than I expected it to." He shook his head, tutting while he turned around to face her completely as well. "How could you forget me that easily, shorty?" He inquired, sounding hurt.

She shook her head, aware that he was only feigning the sad face and all. "I said, 'almost', not 'I've forgotten about you'. Don't miss the keyword there." She corrected before he could translate her words somehow else.

He quirked a brow, an action that seemed so familiar to her, she nearly outstretched her hand to soothe the brow back in place. She didn't.

"Are you sure you haven't forgotten me, shorty? I don't recall you even asking around for me, or checking up on me anyway. You have my number, don't you?"

Her lips formed a small pout, while she blinked and pulled a serious look. "You have mine, as well, don't you? Why didn't you check up on me?" She intentionally redirected his words back at him.

He shrugged, his lips straightening into a firm line. His gaze held hers. "I thought you hated me or something. Couldn't bring myself to ever send the text." By that, he meant the actual text he'd found himself typing, and trying to send to her only to back out at the last minute.

He chickens out and quit, always resorting to tossing his phone aside, upon accepting it will be of no help to him.

He'd still try again the next day, and every single day that has passed since they were apart and yet, he couldn't bring himself to tap the send button. What if she gets the wrong impression? What if he gets on her bad side? What if she ends up never speaking to him again? What is he to do then?

And it's all because he couldn't help but wonder whether she's upset with him because of what happened last time. He knew she was there, he saw her with Aahil when he flicked his head up that day, and saw Aahil speaking to her.

He didn't just see them speaking though, he saw the way Aahil looked at her.

"I'd never hate you." She stated earnestly, holding onto his gaze so he can see every bit of honesty displayed across her features. She saw his resolve cracking, so, she continued. "I mean, unless you decided to leave me in the name of 'becoming a better man' just when something started to brew between us, then, I'd hate you." She intentionally brought in that reference, not because she was in need of talking about it, but because she couldn't think of a better way to soothe his guilt.

He's guilty because of what happened between him and a certain someone, and he believes she's upset when it has got nothing to do with her. She wasn't the one he offended, it was a family issue and she has no hand in it.

It wasn't him that did something to upset her. There's someone that's supposed to be the one apologizing rather, but she hasn't seen him anywhere—not that she was hoping he'd show up.

She stopped that wishful thinking long ago.

So, that was the best way she could think of letting him ease his guilt.

He couldn't but smile at her reference, because even he understood what she was speaking of, how could he not? They all know. There was a whole case that followed amongst the guys when they returned to Manchester to meet the guy who made her cry. Safe to say, they gave the guy a piece of their minds.

They may seem chill, but they genuinely care about her. There's no denying that.

And though they knew him first and understood his reasons, to them, it doesn't change the fact that he hurt her. They still believed he could've done it in a better way—one that didn't involve breaking her heart.

Amina continued her statement. She rambled on without giving it much care.

"--In fact, I was worried sick about you when I couldn't see you for a while. I mean, I even followed you in Instagram just to snoop around." Perhaps, if it was a year ago, she would've been embarrassed to admit that to him, as she had feelings for him.

But, not anymore. Instead, she deemed him a close friend she could share virtually everything with. It seemed he's always found himself that spot in the corner of her heart, and occupied it all to himself. A friend, a close one.

His mouth hung open, surprise lurking in his expression. "You followed me on IG?" He attempted to fish out his phone to check it out almost immediately, as if he would miraculously be able to fish out her account of the millions following him. "How come I didn't know." He has never bothered to check those following him.

"Of course you wouldn't know." She stated earnestly, already aware of that. Her lips were slanted into a cheeky grin. "You have what? Last I checked over 37 million followers? How can you tell who is following you exactly and who isn't?" Surely, he must have thousands of followers in a day.

She was aware of that fact, hence why she followed him in the first place. She knew he wouldn't be able to tell her out. It's not like he will sit down and go through all his followers list.

Dean's shoulders slumped, his fingers halting midway as he tapped the followers tab on his account. She was right, as much as he hates to admit it. There is no way he would be able to know. Plus, it's not like he knows her account handle.

Just how and where will he start from?

He sighed, resulting to dropping his hands by his side, resigning. Still, he pulled a remorseful look. "Still--"

"Still, nothing." She waved him off, straightening her spine as she leaned back on her seat. "There's no need for apologies between us." She stated earnestly, because she truly holds no form of resentment towards him.

Never once did.

"Besides," She continued, "I'm just glad we've crossed paths again. I thought we would never be able to meet again." She knows she still has a good relationship with the guys, but she having spent a year away from them, and seeing them through the lens of the world, she truly understood that they are far from her.

They are two worlds apart, each living in their own, never to cross paths again.

"—same with the others. You guys are truly such big deals, it's a miracle we even crossed paths." She was okay with that though. After all, it's not like she knew them before.

She's just grateful to them for leaving an indelible effect in her life, they touched it in a way that can never be erased.

Dean's brows furrowed, and it was then his turn to give her a look that screamed inquiring whether she's crazy. "How can you say that? Can you even hear yourself?" His tone held every ounce of seriousness. "You'd get an earful from them for saying that. I'm telling you, they'd give you a piece of their mind for that. Do you think when we told you you're one of us, that those are empty words?"

She shrugged, not knowing what to say. It wasn't about believing it's empty words or something. It's her simply stating facts. "It's the truth though." She was different from the woman whom had to ask him to clarify what he meant when he said he's a football player. Though, not a huge fan of it at the moment, still understood the logic behind it.

"And it's also the truth when we told you that we're family, really. I speak on behalf of us all when I say this, every single one of us."

Every single one of you? She wanted to ask, but refrained from doing so, not wanting to come off in the wrong way.

Instead, she allowed her lips to slant into a small smile, fully intending to switch the topic. "So, tell me. What are you doing in Busan? On this bus for that matter."

"Well..."