Seoul ‖ Kim Namjoon

5

As Chayoung opened the front door to her house, she was smiling.

Her heart felt lighter as she bustled around the house, switching in the new flowers that she had bought, earlier that day.

And she was sure her happiness was to do with one Kim Namjoon.

It had surprised, of course, when he'd informed her that he wanted to apologise for his past actions, and she had been confused when she found herself wanting to return to the friendship they once had.

It felt good.

It meant that she no longer had to avoid the idol, and she could walk around the city in peace, her heart not lurching whenever she saw one of his adverts on the big screens.

Chayoung reached for the door knob to her room, and her eyes fell upon a photo frame, hidden away at the back of the shelf, obscured by many other items that she had placed there on purpose just so she wouldn't have to look at the memory inside.

She grabbed the frame, wiping off the dust that had thickened over it over the years, and she smiled softly at the memory.

It was after their second year in high school, just after the exams.

It was safe to say that the three friends had grown up well over the years, growing out of the teenage phase full of braces and glasses.

Chayoung glanced at Namjoon's frame a little bit more, admiring the dimples that popped out when he smiled.

Cute.

Shaking her head slightly, the girl placed the frame back on the shelf, deciding that she wanted a warm bath before she would have dinner, but all the while, her mind was filled with the knowledge that her best friend was back.

Namjoon was back.

...

"Im Chayoung, feed me,"

Minhyuck opened his mouth as wide as he possibly could in hopes of getting at least one spoonfull of tteokbokki, but the female rolled her eyes.

"I already gave you a bowl,"

"I finished it,"

Minhyuck had knocked on the girl's door an hour after she had had a warm bath, demanding to be fed as he didn't want to cook anything at his own apartment.

"I swear since you've come back your appetite has grown,"

The Kwon boy shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a growing boy,"

"Growing boy my foot, you haven't grown since college,"

"Hey! I am not that short,"

"You're only one inch taller than Park Jimin," Chayoung deadpanned. "You are not that tall,"

Minhyuck sulked. "I'm only a little shorter than Namjoon, speaking of him," Minhyuck wiggled his eyebrows. "I heard he chased you down the street like you were in a K-drama, how did that go down,"

Chayoung paused. "We talked," 

"And?"

"We..." She smiled to herself, swirling the tteokbokki in her bowl. "We apologised to each other, and we're - friends,"

The corner of the Kwon boy's lips turned upwards. "Good, I'm pleased,"

"Yeah, me too," Chayoung stretched her arms, a yawn escaping from her mouth as she glanced at the clock. "Mum should be asleep by now,"

"How was today's chemo?"

A frown settled onto Chayoung's features as she spoke. "She looked more tired than usual, 'Hyuck, more than I've ever seen her. And now that I think about it, she barely leaves the house unless she's going to the market or for tea around the neighbours, and she's struggling to get up the stairs,"

"D'you think it's the side effects?" Minhyuck suggested. "I mean, this many chemos in a solid month isn't exactly easy,"

"I don't know," Chayoung leaned back in her chair, rubbing her eyes as she tried not to think of the worst case scenarios. "I just don't want her to be in pain,"

"It's Han Eunbi," Minhyuck offered a gentle smile. "She's a stong one,"

"Yeah," Chayoung mumbled. "It runs in her blood as well as mine,"