UNCHANGEABLE - TIAOM

15

it turns out that starting a foundation really helps to boost kim's morale.

her days are now filled with reports about the current status of their budget, donors, and rescue operations. dee has taken the initiative to visit the place regularly to make sure everything is in order.

they have also opened the temporary shelter to the public so people can come in to visit and look. some lucky pets have been taken home by their adopters. even conan and doctor gyuri adopted dogs for themselves.

kim brought pie and katrien there one time to show them the situation but it was a failure as the two are cowering outside, frightened to the bones.

(she never brought them back after that.)

kim spends most of her mornings visiting the shelter with dee and coming back after lunch before the latter goes to work. this had drastically reduced her alone time with pie. even so, kim is very much happy and contented with the progress of her project.

everything seems to fall into place. kim couldn't be happier with her accomplishments. jane was right about her lacking a purpose. the fulfilment of this new purpose in her life gives her satisfaction.

as days go by, she is realising how she can be genuinely happy with this new life she found.

---

"you mean you're the one who drew these?" gyuri asks in surprise as she flips through the pages of kim's sketchbook.

"yeah. i couldn't go out before so i pour all my thoughts into that," says kim, her eyes fall to the couple in the kitchen where pie is helping her husband roll up the sleeves of his shirt.

"well, these are all amazing. you've got some genuine talent here, huh..." gyuri continues flipping through the rest of the pages. "do you love taking pictures too?"

kim directs her eyes back to gyuri. "yes, that's another avenue i'm practising. but i left my camera in my apartment so i take pictures with my phone for now."

"may i see some of your shots?"

"you may want to hold that off, ladies," says peter, walking up to them. "let's continue that over dinner?"

"dinner?" kim looks around. "we're going out?"

"yeah." gyuri stands up and takes her coat. "we're having a little dinner celebration. it's peter and pie's eight wedding anniversary today."

"oh." kim instinctively glance at pie but the latter is already walking towards the door. "i see. congratulations then."

"thank you." peter smiles. "let's go?"

---

"how come you two are still that sweet?" gyuri digs her chin into her palms, looking at the married couple across the table. "what's your secret?"

the question goes in kim's one ear and out the other. she's lightly tapping her fingers on the table to calm the green-eyed demon inside of her.

eight years? they've been married for eight years now?

that's even longer than the duration she and pie dated!

kim bites her lower lip. the more she thinks about it, the more she feels this wave of emotions surging through her: sadness, resentment, anger, envy.

she knows comparing would be useless but she can't stop her brain from thinking that pie may have love peter more than she loved kim before.

obviously, she does! what the hell?

but the idea still fucking hurts.

kim takes a deep breath and looks around the restaurant, taking in the surroundings. she needs to distract herself to suppress the demon inside her. she looks around further, trying to make stories of people she sees.