still pretty

7. a friend

It'd been a week of the same thing. Short 5 minute conversations as Sana picked her daughter up.

Sometimes revolving around the child, sometimes, not so much.

On days where Sana was busy, Elsie's nanny would come instead.

The thing was, Dahyun never knew who it would be, so everyday was almost like a suprise for her.

"She was great today," Dahyun told Sana as Elsie ran to her mother.

It was almost instinct for Dahyun to walk straight to Sana after class. She secretly hoped the other parents wouldn't think she was biased.

She definitely was though.

"Are you busy?"

The older girl saw Dahyun look up with such hopeful eyes, how could she reject?

"Well, I'm always busy but I'll make time for you," Sana laughed.

"It's a good thing her nanny is here today," Sana turned around and signalled for Elsie's nanny to pick her up.

"Behave okay?" Sana bent down and gave Elsie a kiss on her forehead before letting her run off.

"So, where to?" She turned to Dahyun, excitement evident.

"Same place," Dahyun giggled.

—

"You know, there's something about being with you," Sana said, in between sips of her hot chocolate.

"You make me feel like I'm in my twenties, it's nice," Her words made Dahyun warm inside.

"Well you make me feel seventeen again,"

Sana laughed.

"I watched your projects over the years, I basically watched you grow up,"

"You watched me grow up? I'm so much older than you," Dahyun's childish comment made Sana crack up.

"I watched your interviews, commercials, I'm basically a fan," Dahyun excitedly said, at this point she was no longer afraid of scaring Sana away.

"We're friends," Sana sarcastically rolled her eyes.

Dahyun begged Sana to tell her stories from her crazy experiences over the years and Sana delivered.

Sana spent almost an hour talking while Dahyun listened earnestly.

"And then I met the one," Sana said with a smile that almost looked regretful.

"At least I thought I did," Sana shrugged.

"Your husband, you two are fine right?"

Sana nodded.

"Same old, same old. I just... don't feel the love that was there four years ago. It's not his fault really. I guess it's normal for marriages,"

"I'm a horrible wife," Sana let out a stressed laugh.

"No you're not! Things like these can't be helped," Dahyun reached for Sana's hand and gave it a tight squeeze. The sudden physical contact almost making Sana flinch.

"Thanks," Sana showed Dahyun her signature pursed smile.

"I'm here if you need me, you know that right?" Dahyun assured her. Sana nodded.

"I know it sounds stupid, but sometimes I wish it was 2007 again,"

"When I had no responsibilities, when I could do whatever I wanted," The older girl continued.

"When you could tattoo my drawing on your arm?"

"Yeah, exactly that," Sana joked back.

"Well, I'm here, I'll do my best to make sure you're as carefree as you used to be,"

"Why are you so good to me?"

"Aside from the fact that you're insanely rich and famous?"

Sana laughed. "Yeah, aside from that,"

"You make me happy," Dahyun gave a genuine smile as the older girl dramatically cooed at her words.

Suddenly, Sana's phone rings.

Sana glances down at it, looking at the caller ID, unamused.

"Aren't you going to pick it up?" the younger girl asked.

The noise continued piercing through their comfortable silence.

Dahyun attempted to judge Sana's expression, to read how she was feeling.

She looked annoyed.

"You know the caller, you don't want to pick up," Dahyun stated, mimicking what seemed like a detective's tone.

Partially in attempt to lighten the mood.

Sana's smile appeared once again, a smaller one this time.

But hey, she was smiling.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Dahyun shrugged.

Sana nodded. "I should get back,"

—

The next school day, Sana showed up, smiling slightly less than usual. Dahyun noticed.

She noticed because she always paid attention to Sana.

She guessed it had something to do with the phone call. She just so badly wished Sana would open up to her, pour her burdens onto the younger girl.

Suprisingly, it was Sana who approached Dahyun first today.

It was something Dahyun realised about this new relationship. Neither of them would shy away from each other.

"Hey, I'm sorry about yesterday," Sana gave an apologetic look and squeezed Dahyun's her arm.

Dahyun thought her heart would explode.

"It's fine, if there's anything bothering you," The younger girl trailed off, wondering if her offer would've sounded too shameless, the girls weren't exactly close.

"You can talk to me," She carried on anyway.

Sana nodded, and Elsie, as if on queue, came running to her mother.

Being dragged out by the toddler, Sana turned and waved one last time before she was out the door.