April, South Korea.

Changing her dress from the locker room and grabbing the backpack from her locker, Arya finally came out of the cafe.

It's already night. She managed to get the job of the cafe along with a restaurant across the street which was quite famous in the game just because she agreed on the long night shifts.

Luck was playing along with her these days she senses. She made a list in her mind for her clear chances.
First, no girl agreed to stay late as a waitress in the shift at the restaurant which demanded the shift up to almost the middle of the night with a very slight difference in the paycheck of daytime waitresses.

Second, the part-time jobs were all under the fists of the younger generations. Compared to them, she was almost a boomer let alone having no experience in the field.

People of her age should have already got a steady job or gotten married or start up their career rather than hunting down two to three part-time jobs

Two part-time jobs weren't enough to rent an apartment and carry on in the heart of seuol, but good for her, she was very well adapted to live in mass boardings or practical hells of a living place.

In comparison to her long list of crashing places, the compact and suffocating apartment in Libya was like a penthouse.

She would have to go for an apartment hunt- more like a place to lay down soon. She can't stay in Jin's place all of her life.

Her Job didn't require much of her abilities or strength. She could pull off another two jobs just like that. But according to her observation, the job market was scarily competitive.

She'll have to take time to find another job just to stay afloat and live. She is not tense at all. Rather it was quite an excitement for her, trying out a life she never imagined having.

What's next?
Hunting down a boyfriend and getting married? She almost laughed out loud at her own thought. She may be good at teasing and flirting and tormentingly annoying others, but she knew she was as amateur as a clueless girl who never dated before.

Late-night shifts? It was nothing to her. Very well she knew she was more than capable of protecting herself if something happens. Rather she would be worried for the persons who would try to persuade her with bad intentions.

She could easily make more money on which income she depended while she was on run.

Internet. Computer.

But she thought of considering this option only if other opportunities come out as a failure.

It was quite generous of NIS to dismiss her as per her request. She doesn't want to get in trouble with them by getting involved with cybercrime or anything related to the internet.

Damn, there were so many options for her to choose from when she was the queen in this game.

Unfortunately, none of her expertise had values in normal people's life.

The hacking, dark web, information exchange, keeping watch over lives of people for tracing the culprits for bigger issues- these were only the tips of the iceberg, and definitely were not in the breakfast table of normal people.

Getting out people's credit card numbers or draining the bank account is a child's play for her. But with skills comes reputation, and with reputation comes suspicion which the NIS cheif already made sure she knows that she'd be on their usual suspect list if something bigger crime happens regarding her skills.

It doesn't matter if she does it or not.

Arya looked at her dress.
Fairly enough, it was her comfort zone other than the uniform of the cafe which was a white full-sleeved buttoned-up shirt and dark brown knee-length skirt with a matching brown tie and beanie to go with along with a short black apron.

Arya can't remember when was the last time she wore such a girlie dress to be precise. Her style was always in the gray area between being a tomboy or just a disaster.

She released a sigh of relief after putting on her worn-out trainers instead of the heels that came with the uniform.

Changing clothes-
It felt like she returned to her own skin.

She survived the day. Her very first day.
If you call it surviving.

The work wasn't something she can't do or the environment wasn't something she can't fit in. It was the opposite to be exact.

She worked as a salesgirl in la Manille. She had to learn it a hard way.
She knows how to sell or convince.

Probably she knew it more than anyone there. Her junior colleague already admitted that Arya's cheery and bluffing mouth can trick a Cappuccino as Latte and the customer won't even notice.

And the workload?
She laughed on her own.
She remembered some of her training.
No sleep for three to four days at a stretch or only two to three hours sleep per day, no food or scanty food for weeks, surviving through the extremes of the sun, storm, snow, or rain, and going into the exercises of ninety to hundred kilometers walking on foot carrying almost thirty kg of supplies minus the physical training they went through-  compared to that time, these works were just like walking in the garden.

"Harder the training, easier the battle"- remembering "Art of War", Arya chuckled all by herself. The actual meaning of the famous quote seemed to be befitting her condition in the weirdest way possible.

Arya got into the last bus of the day after almost running to catch it in time.
Sitting in a seat, she sighed slightly.

Her day went well,  except for the part when she whispered in a girl's ear that her fiance was cheating on her. Boy that caused a scene between the two love birds which included nothing more than the splashing of coffee, a mess of whipped cream on the table, wall, and on the opposition's shirt with colorful curses.

When Arya had to clean up the mess after the two left, she swore to not get involved in other people’s business.

Especially the ones with a cheater and a mad girlfriend with guts.

When Arya finally came back, Jin was still awake in his little garden.

His upright and calm figure was serenely sitting with Sae in his hands. His fingers slightly creased their elegant feathers which were contrasting his face.

The bird was almost asleep in his palm but fluttered instantly in his hand and flew away to her corner as soon as Arya entered the room.

"You still up?" Arya asked.

Jin looked back at her.

She went towards him and sat in front of him on the grass covering the floor.

"Why are you still up?" Arya smiled and fished out a packet of crackers from her backpack and opened it and offered to Jin, "Want some?"

"No. Thank you." Jin's words were eloquently formal as usual.

She looked at the watch in her hand,
"Thank god, I'd miss the last bus if I was late for another five minutes."

"Where you have been?"
Jin's voice was soothing.

"Can you believe it?" Arya eagerly leaned in, "I managed to get two jobs. Two!"

Jin's eyes were indifferent.

"I got the job at a cafe until eight last month and today I got a job at a restaurant until one. Awesome, I know, right?"

Jin just nodded without any words.

"But why were you up till now?" Arya suddenly grinned feeling giddy in the possibility of teasing Jin, "Is it because of me?"

Jin was out of words and looked at her.

"It's so funny when you want to say many things but just can't cause you are so done." Arya smiled, "relax. I know you were not waiting for me at all."

"What if I was?" His words came unexpectedly.

"You are quite a talker these days, aren't you?" Arya giggled, "Maybe I infected you with a talking virus?"

Jin again opened his mouth to say something but perhaps finally decided that it wasn't worth it and just shut his mouth like usual.

"You know what happened?" Arya was again full of her unburnt energy and told the whole cheating story without break and with her usual exaggerating storytelling tendency in which slapping and trampling down the chairs were included.

She knew Jin could see through her bluffs and when the breaking of glasses and plates will be involved in the story when she would tell it the third time, he'll not say anything at that time too.

These days, he is just letting her do whatever she wanted, be it breaking rules or talking during eating or sitting improperly, or irritating him in general.
All he does is remind her of basic etiquette and mannerism and that's it. No judging indifferences like when they both were young.

"Speaking of rules," Arya grinned at Jin, "I see someone is breaking rules today!"

His usual time of sleeping was never past ten in the night and always woke up as sharp as four in the morning.

She knew his routine cause it's generally her bedtime when he wakes up.

Jin didn't know but Arya quite enjoyed seeing him going for a run, then into the gym, coming back with a fresh shower, and clothed in neatly ironed attires. The next routine was having a quiet time meditating and reading books.

When Jin finally puts down his book and goes out, Arya climbs up on her bed and goes to sleep thinking of herself as a pretty good stalker with satisfaction and mischief.

"I am going away tomorrow," Jin spoke.

"Where?" Arya was curious.

"They traced down the Arms dealers with whom MOSSAD contacted and the money was transacted."

"So you all are now going after MOSSAD?" Arya frowned.

"The problem is not over yet. We still don't know why they are doing all these stunts and just helping the US forces to take over six of ours military bases isn't enough. There is something bigger behind, and that's why they tried to kill you as you fished out this information which never should have been leaked in the first place."

"Guess you are right." Arya pursed her lips, suddenly feeling a little bit left out from that world again, but it was her choice to step out of it anyway.

"Where are you going this time now?"

Jin didn't answer.

"You are not gonna tell me, are you?" Arya smiled.

She no longer is a part of them, so disclosing operation secrets is far beyond question.

"Wherever you go, just be careful, will you?" This was all she could say then.

"I will," Jin replied gently.

"One more thing, Jin," Arya suddenly remembered, "after talking with Hoseok, I guess I can say that he knew about my death. Everyone at the agency knew I was dead. But I was undercover in North Korea, so you guys should not know about this, especially everyone who didn't know I went undercover and that includes you too. So how do you guys know?"

"What do you mean?" Jin was a little alert.

"It's prominent, isn't it? You or Hoseok, both of you didn't expect me at all when you two first saw me this time. Why is that?"

Jin again was silent.

"Jin," Arya's voice hardened a little,
"You can't avoid it all the time. You can't pretend that you didn't hear it if you are not willing to answer it. You have to answer it this time. Do you have anything to tell me?"

Jin got up from the grass and looked at Arya, "No."

"Jin," Arya's voice was sharp, "All of you, you all are answering me vaguely. Keeping everything in yourself. Don't I deserve to know about myself? If you don't think about me as a friend, fine, but tell me as a colleague who fought beside you. I deserve at least this much, don't I?"

Jin closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath before opening those again, "I am sorry, I have to go."

"Wow." Arya didn't know what else she should say. She was disappointed and mad. She was boiling with rage to the point it was frustrating her. And adding the silly point of being cut out of her own mission though it was her decision, to begin with, it just added the fuel to her irritation.

She was in a good mood, and to be precise, she never stayed in bad mood. It's not in her character. But she was feeling tired now asking for some insights again and again and ending up in dead ends each time. She was irritated, tired and she was feeling defeated and dejected.

"I..." Jin started.

But Arya didn't let him finish. She shoved her hand inside her pocket, fished out the credit card Jin gave her, and shoved it in his hand, "Keep it. I'll pay you back."

And taking the backpack, she stormed out to her room.
Jin heard the bang of the door and he stayed in his place for a few seconds more.

He followed Arya and stood in front of the closed door. When he was about to knock on the door, the door opened suddenly revealing the determined face of Arya.

Seeing the Backpack in her hand, Jin frowned slightly and opened his mouth but he was shut down immediately by her, "Don't."

"Arya..."

"Enough of Bullshits, Jin. Thank you for the help these past days. Our ways have been already separated. So, I'll be happy if you leave me alone from now on."

"Stay."

Arya pulled up her backpack which was now stuffed with very few things she owned, "Don't push it."

Before Jin could say anything, she went out of the house.

She left, just like that.

Jin knew once she was determined about something, nothing could change her mind. Explaining everything to her now? It would sound more of an excuse now when he was silent about it in the first place.

Jin exhaled a sharp breath and clenched his fists. It was time. The agency car would be here any time. He has to leave. He can't go after Arya even if he wanted.

He again closed his eyes and remembered Soojin's words she said when he was at her reception,
"I don't know what you were thinking when you brought her back. Yes, maybe you are kind enough to forgive her, but I am neither forgiving nor forgetting what she had done before. Mark my words, Seokjin, that girl, she will be your ruin just like before."