HERSHE - TIAOM

Girlfriend

What's this? What is she doing?

Kim was undeniably shocked to see Pie came out from nowhere. Even so, Pie's presence gave her momentary solace. She was on the verge of falling from the cliff when Pie came in to save her.

Pie noticed Kim's confusion. She held Kim's face with her left hand. "Honey, are you okay?"

Honey? Me? Is this really happening?

Kim peeked at Nam for a second just to see that the latter was a bit surprised too with Pie's sudden appearance. Her eyes went back to Pie. "H-how did you know I'm here?"

"I was looking for you and noticed that your IM status was idle, so I asked Van," said Pie, intertwining their hands.

Kim loved the warmth of Pie's hand on hers but the situation she's in right now doesn't permit her to enjoy it. Kim turned her face to Nam. "Uh, Nam, this is —"

"Pie, right?" Nam's eyes were on Pie. After getting a nod she shifted her eyes back to Kim. "Have you forgotten your girlfriend and I have already met?"

Kim's jaw dropped. The term girlfriend is too much for her to take. "Uh, yeah, I forgot, I'm sorry..."

"Kim has always been forgetful lately because she's too busy," said Pie, brushing a stray hair from Kim's eyes. "Right, honey?"

Kim felt Pie squeeze her hand, asking her to ride along. "Yeah, yeah..."

"So, Nam, what do you think of Kim's haircut now?" asked Pie.

Nam studied her old friend for a moment and nodded. "It looks good on her, yeah." Then she turned to Kim and asked, "Decided to finally cut your hair short?"

"Well... it's her request," said Kim, pointing at her girlfriend.

"Ahh," is all that Nam could utter. Her expression was unreadable.

"Um, Nam, could you excuse us for a while? Pie and I need to talk outside for a moment," said Kim. She felt that she needs to discuss with Pie about what's happening now.

"Sure. We'll just be right here."

Kim smiled and dragged Pie along outside the room.

---

The moment they were outside Kim released Pie's hand slowly. She wouldn't have done it but she doesn't want to give the slightest hint that she enjoys it.

"Are you alright?" asked Pie, grasping her small hands on Kim's shoulders.

Kim evaluated herself for a second. "I think... I think I'm okay, yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm cool."

Pie dropped her hands to her side. "Okay, that's good to hear."

"H-how did you know I'm here again?" asked Kim, still confused.

"I was looking for you because I needed to hand over the materials from Puey. Van told me you're here."

"Umm... are you... are you aware that Nam is here?"

Pie hummed to agree. "I saw Nam's picture on the outline Van showed me."

Kim furrowed her eyebrows.

Okay, so she went here because of that?

As if she could read what's on Kim's mind, Pie folded her arms on her chest and said, "I went here because I was worried. I was afraid that you'll be distracted if you saw them. It might affect you. It might affect your work. You lost the ability to speak the last time Nam showed up in your apartment."