Mrs. Woo pulled out one folder from the cabinet behind her and flipped it open.

As she made her way back to her desk, she placed the opened folder down and turned it around before showing it to Junghyun.

"Well, you never stated the end date, Junghyun-ssi. You told her that you'd hoped for her to stay longer, remember?" Mrs. Woo specified.

Junghyun looked at the document and began to read it as he scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward.

"Well, I was talking about not being like other caregivers, who only stayed for a short time. I wasn't expecting that Soojin-ssi got Jungkook under control," he nervously chuckled, then he looked back up at Mrs. Woo. "So, this means that I can still choose the date, right?"

"Yes. And you, Soojin," Mrs. Woo called out, now looking over at Soojin and asking, "when are you going to Paris?"

"In five months, a month earlier. The academy had contacted the international branch there for us to have additional training," Soojin answered.

"In five months..." Mrs. Woo tightened her lips, her fingers tapping against her table as she stared out of her office window. Then she turned back at both Soojin and Junghyun.

"How about February?"

Junghyun tilted his head a bit, then he nodded. "I will be back to stay permanently in Seoul starting from January. I think even in January, you will have less work since I'm here then you can practice more for the Paris event, Soojin-ssi," he said, looking over to Soojin, then he turned back at Mrs. Woo. "I think that's perfect."

February. That's... in three months.

Soojin fiddled with her fingers, somehow suddenly she was feeling all mixed up inside upon hearing the confirmed info.

That's good, she thought, but then, is it really good though? I haven't been that long with Jungkook.

"I have a suggestion, Junghyun-ssi," Mrs. Woo said, waking Soojin from her jumbled thoughts.

"We set it in February, but we let Soojin choose the date herself," Mrs. Woo added, glancing at Soojin, who looked a bit confused. "I just want to make sure that you have time to prepare for the competition, so maybe in the mid or end of the month?"

"Oh, that'll be fine. Thanks," Soojin nodded in agreement.

"So, everyone agreed," Mrs. Woo smiled then grabbed a pen from her drawer, and wrote down the end date of Min Soojin's service on one specific blank space, before passing it to Junghyun, telling him to finalize the document with his signature.

Soojin was asked to do the same too, and after she had signed, Mrs. Woo took the document back and finally completed the document with her sign.

"Well, then... Junghyun-ssi, can you wait for a moment? Soojin, I need to talk to you, just for a minute," Mrs. Woo said.

Junghyun nodded his head and left the room, giving privacy to both Soojin and Mrs. Woo in the room.

"Soojin, are you alright?" Mrs. Woo suddenly asked, crossing her arms as she leaned closer to Soojin.

"Huh?"

"Are you alright?" she repeated the question, now feeling concerned.

Soojin let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah... Why are you asking that?"

"Your face changed when I decided February to be your last."

Soojin's smile faltered.

Mrs. Woo noticed this, of course. She then stood up and walked around her table, sitting on the chair where Junghyun was sitting earlier.

Mrs. Woo softly grabbed Soojin's hand and asked. "Are you becoming closer to him? You know that you can still see him, right? Even after you're not taking care of him anymore."

Soojin chortled. "Ah... you're right."

"There are so many things happening around you now, and you have eventually forgotten about that."

"Yeah, I'm a bit... busy, these days..."

"Yeah, so busy to the point that you might end up falling for him."

Soojin snapped her head up at Mrs. Woo, shaking her head.

"Wha-What? Nah... That's impossible," she denied, letting out a nervous laugh.

"Nothing is impossible. I know my Soojin well because I've spent most of my life with her," Mrs. Woo smiled, then she cupped Soojin's face with her right hand, lifting her face a bit so that their eyes met.

"I might not be your biological mother, but I know you, so well. You know that," Mrs. Woo whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead and added, "It's okay to love. My girl deserves some love too."

"Ah, stop that," Soojin giggled, covering her face shyly.

*

"I am truly sorry that I had to leave Jungkook to you again. I might be back tomorrow, hopefully. Then I'll give you the rest of the week off," Junghyun said, giving Soojin an apologetic look for the short notice.

"Ah, thank you. Have a safe trip!" Soojin wished him, waving her hand at him as he walked through the ticketing gate of the train that would travel directly to Busan from the Seoul station.

She then turned around and her eyes began to look for an information board, and as she spotted one, she approached it.

"I'll take the direct subway to Seongbuk."

*

Soojin's steps slowed down and eventually came to a stop right outside Jungkook's house gate, as she was rummaging through her tote bag.

"Ah... my keys are in the other bag," she sighed as the realization hit her.

Having no other choice, she then pressed the doorbell and waited, but there was no response.

And that was odd.

Is he sleeping?

She glanced at her wristwatch. "But it's ten?" she mumbled to herself. Staring at the house from outside the gate, she pulled out her phone and looked for his number.

She waited for a while after dialing his number, then he picked up her call.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Jungkook? Where are you?"

"I'm outside."

"'Outside' where? And why are you whispering?" Soojin asked after noticing the oddness of his voice on the other line.

"I um..."

"Good girl! You're a good girl, Geumie!"

Soojin froze in her spot, after hearing a girl's voice in the other line.

And she knew that this girl was with Jungkook from the beginning, and not just some random girls.

"Um... I'm outside your house. I didn't have my keys because I came here straight from the music academy so..." Soojin explained, her head hung low as she stared at her feet, swinging her leg back and forth as her mood began to decline.

"Oh, you're here?! Great, I'll be there soon!"

"Just... where exactly are you?"

"I'm just around the area. I'm at the public park. I'll be there soon, don't you worry!"

"Jung-" Soojin was cut off as Jungkook ended the call. She let out a sigh and her head began to look around as she mumbled to herself; "What park?"

She leaned her back against the gate and waited. Then suddenly she saw Jungkook and Geumie walking towards her from her left side, where the road was going uphill to another part of the residence area.

But there was someone else with them. With her arms around Jungkook's left arm tightly as she guided him back to his house.

Erika?

Geumie suddenly barked and began to dash towards Soojin. Maintaining a tight smile, Soojin kneeled and hugged the dog, petting it, while glancing at the other two, now stopping right in front of her.

Soojin stood up and she slightly bowed her head at Erika. "Erika-ssi."

"Soojin-ssi," Erika smiled, slightly bowing her head too.

"I thought you said that you're going back..."

"Oh, I decided to stay for a few days, to spend time with him," Erika giggled, looking up at Jungkook as she tightened her arms around his.

Soojin looked over to Jungkook, who had this almost blank expression on his face.

And I thought you hated her, Jungkook.

And it was like Jungkook could sense her eyes on him, then he cleared his throat and spoke, "Ah, um... Soojin, did my brother tell you when he will be back?"

"Tomorrow," Soojin said, almost immediately. She glanced over at Geumie and then she spoke again. "Jungkook-ssi, do you mind if I take care of Geumie for the rest of the weekend?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your brother told me that he'll be here for the rest of the week and he said that I can take my days off. Since Erika-ssi is here to spend time with you, maybe I can help by taking care of Geumie?"

Erika brightened up. Her eyes went wide gleefully as she giggled. "Oh? That's a good idea! You're okay with it, right, Kookie?"

Not even saying something, Jungkook just slowly turned his head to his left where Erika was standing, staring at him while hugging tight his arm.

Jungkook wasn't really saying anything, and this had made Soojin a bit disappointed.

Really?

Soojin glanced back at Geumie and sighed again. "It's okay, I'll take her. Besides, I've always wanted to bring Geumie to the vet for a health check, then to the pet spa. Get her all groomed up. We'll come back next week."

"Okay! Do you need her stuff?" Erika asked, obviously excited.

"Ah, no. I have her stuff as well in my place," Soojin nodded, then she grabbed the rope leash that was attached to the dog. "Geumie, come. Let's go."

"Soojin," Jungkook suddenly called out. "I haven't said anything..."

Soojin snickered. "Hey, it's fine. I told you before, that everyone needs a break. Everyone needs their me-time. And this is it. Enjoy your days! See you next week!"

Without any more words, Soojin turned around and walked away with Geumie beside her down the road, exiting the residential area.

As they finally walked a few more feet away from the residential area, Soojin let out a deep, frustrated sigh as she continued walking by the sidewalk, and glanced at the dog.

"Why did she come back, Geumie? I thought they had talked it out. What, did they decide to get back together even though she was about to get married?" she questioned.

She then stopped walking and crouched next to Geumie, patting the dog's body softly.

She stared into Geumie's eyes for a while, and let out another frustrated sigh.

"Geumie, why do I feel so crushed after seeing him with Erika?"

******************************************************************************

We're at chapter 24, and now we're in the phase of Soojin's last few months taking care of Jungkook. That also might mean that... this is going to end soon.

Not too soon though, my drafts have reached chapter 34, so still quite far from the end ^^"

Don't forget to vote, comment, or share whatever that you'd like to do xD and see you guys next time~!

Borahae, Nana <3