March 7, 2022 

Mingyu likes Nabi. 

She was sure of it. 

No. She knew it. 

It was so obvious, Nabi wondered how she had missed the signs earlier. She really is dense. Especially when it comes to things like this. 

It just conflicted Nabi's feelings even more. She wasn't sure how to react around him anymore.

From the way he treats her as if she's made out porcelain to how he always makes sure she's comfortable to how he even is observant enough to know all her likes and dislikes, how could have Nabi even wondered he only saw her as a friend. 

Nabi woke up the following morning with a handful of missed calls and a handful of texts from Scoups. 

She didn't open any of them. 

They were all just pathetic excuses anyways. 

She put on concealer to cover her dark circles and lip gloss to add some color to her face. 

Nabi practiced her smile in the mirror like a psychopath. 

She took her usual us to the office and took her usual order at the cafe and made it to office around the same time she usually does. 

"Happy belated birthday," Yoon told her, stopping by her desk and placing a box on her table. 

"It's strawberries. My uncle owns a strawberry farm and he just picked them fresh yesterday. Trust me, they are crazy delicious," Yoon told her. 

Nabi smiled and said, "Thank you unnie."

She placed the box of strawberries at the side of her desk, letting them sit there as she resumed her work. 

Throughout the course of the day Nabi attended two meetings, drafted a plan for Ms. Shin's schedule, published a new chapter of Unexpected Fate  and provided feedback and editing on two new chapters, suggesting names for the chapter titles. She sat down for at least an hour with the marketing team, providing feedback and changes with the posters of Unexpected Fate and even went ahead and updated their official website page to add more details. 

Since their company is also still small, Nabi in a way works as a manager too and handles all of the work related emails to Jay, either sending them to junk or forwarding whatever seemed relevant.  

Nabi ate a bagel sandwich for lunch and washed few of strawberries Yoon had brought her and had them for dessert. 

For a mid-day break, she made herself coffee in the small kitchen area in the office and helped herself to the chocolate cookies that were there. 

It was a very productive day if Nabi were to say proudly. She felt rather satisfied with her work today. 

Unfortunately that satisfaction was quickly erased when she saw what was parked outside her office building later in the evening. 

More like who. 

Nabi had known that Scoups was not going to let go of this issue this easily but she had not expected him to show up and wait for right outside her work. Nabi must admit that it is smart for him to not text her beforehand and inform because otherwise she would have left early. 

It is also really smart of him to show up at Nabi's office place, knowing that she would not be able to avoid him when she walks out. 

Nabi turn around, her heart racing. Maybe if she just stays back till late, he will give up and just go back home. 

That's when Nabi spots Sehun leaving.

"Oppa," She calls out, making him stop, "Are you going home?" 

Sehun nodded, mainting is usual expression-less face. 

"Do you mind giving me a ride?" Nabi asked.

Sehun drives to work everyday and always parks his car in the basement. If she hitches a ride with him, then Nabi will be able to successfully avoid running into Scoups and even reach back home on time. 

"Sure," Sehun said, agreeing. 

Nabi smiled gratefully and bowed her head, saying, "Thank you so much!"

Sehun only nods and gestures her to follow him, which Nabi does without wasting even a single second. 

Later when Sehun was pulling the car out of the basement, she spotted Scoups sitting in his car, patiently waiting for her and Nabi ducked her head to avoid being seen. 

Seeing him wait in the car made Nabi feel a pang in her heart. 

March 8, 2022 

The next morning Nabi did the same routine. 

She woke up, made her bed, put on some make-up and got dressed. 

The missed calls and unread text messages from Scoups had decreased in number but were still there. 

Nabi still didn't bother opening any of them.

She rode the same bus she rides everyday to work and ordered the same coffee and bagel she has been ordering for the past two years. 

Nabi went up to her office level and got down to work. 

Today she handed over all documents and legalities relating to Mia and her Webtoon to Sehun and devised an official business quarter two plan for Jae to show to Jung. 

She created a presentation, summarizing the audience interaction charts and the audience response chart. Nabi then made another presentation which presented the new options for the web cover of Unexpected Fate  and also put in the potential visual character change after the time lapse which will occur in the story. 

Lastly she contacted the outsourcing digital marketing company which handles all of their social media and give them advice on the upcoming posts they had created. 

It was another normal yet busy day for her. 

Later towards the evening she got a call from Suho and picked it up without thinking much. 

"Hello?" Nabi spoke into the phone monotonously. 

"Noona? You won't believe what happened!" Suho exclaimed. 

"What?" Nabi asked, more focused on her work in front of her. 

"I got a job!" Suho said happily. 

Nabi's fingers paused over the keyboards, her attention gravitated from her work to the call with Suho. 

"You got a what?" Nabi asked. 

"A part time job! I got two part time jobs actually. One at this cafe as a barista and I got another one in customer service," Suho said. 

"Customer service?" Nabi questioned with skepticism. 

"Yeah. Its this start up company but basically they just want me come in three times a week for four hours and sort out their inquiry mails," Suho told me, "It's simple and it pays higher than the lowest hourly wage." 

Nabi leaned into her chair and said, "That's great Suho. That really is." 

If someone had told Nabi even a month earlier that Suho will be working part time, then she would have laughed her head off. 

"They didn't require you to have any prior qualifications?" Nabi asked. 

"Nope. And now you don't have to send me money apart from the tuition and dorm fees. I can take care of everything else by myself," Suho said proudly, "You can keep that money to yourself."

Nabi blinked, at a loss of words and for a good cause after a really long time. 

She cleared her throat and said, "Uh-that's great Suho. I'm glad you're trying to be independent." 

"When do you get free? I'm actually nearby your office and I want to give you something. It'll only take five minutes," Suho said. 

Nabi looked at her wrist watch and said, "Come over anytime. I'm here for a while." 

"Okay. I'll text you when I'm there," Suho told her before disconnecting the phone. 

Thirty minutes later Nabi receives a text from Suho telling her that he's reached and she goes down to the lobby to meet him. 

Nabi remains a bit wary as she's traveling down in the elevator, afraid that Scoups will be waiting for her again but luckily he was in sight anywhere.

Nabi approached Suho, who was smiling giddily and held out a small bag towards her. 

Nabi raised an eyebrow and took the bag from asking, "What is this?" 

Suho smiled like a happy toddler and said, "Present."

"Present?"

"Open it," Suho said. 

Nabi complied and reached in the paper bag, her hands finding a big box and took it out. 

Nabi opened the box to find a pretty looking silver wrist watch sitting inside, facing up at her. 

Nabi raised an eyebrow and looked at Suho, waiting for an explanation. 

"Happy belated birthday," Suho exclaimed. 

Nabi blinked and then said, "You're two days late." 

"Yeah I know. That's why I added 'belated'," Suho told her, "Look, I've been having up to buy you a watch for your birthday because I'm sick of seeing you wear the same watch for the past four years. But I was a bit short on money so I couldn't buy it on Sunday. I had my shift on Sunday evening and asked for advance pay so I just bought this now. It's brand new." 

"You could have texted me," Nabi told him, not angry at all. 

"Yeah but then you wouldn't have been surprised now, would you?" Suho said. 

"Still. . .a text would have nice," Nabi muttered, "Where did you even get the rest of the money."

"Oh that. . .uh-I won it," Suho said nervously. 

Nabi looked at him pointedly and repeated, "You won it?" 

"Yeah. . .you know from bets. . .me and my friends make," Suho said. 

"How many bets did you win to get this much of money?" Nabi questioned, wondering that is even possible. 

"I have good luck in bets," Suho said. 

"So basically you got me a gift from black money," Nabi concluded. 

"This isn't black!" Suho protested. 

"This is basically gambling," Nabi told him.

Suho sighed and took the watch from her hand, taking her wrist and exchanging it in place of her current one. 

"Just wear it, okay?" Suho said, "It suits you." 

 Nabi looked down at her wrist, holding it out and said, "Thank you. I like it." 

"Really?" Suho asked. 

"Really," Nabi said. 

Later when she slept in her bed, Nabi placed the watch carefully on top of her bedside table, eager to make sure it gets no scratches. 

It is the first gift her brother has ever gotten her after all. 

March 9, 2022

I came by your house last night but I think you were asleep.

You can't avoid me forever. 

We need to talk. 

Nabi must have re-read the text at least ten times now. The first few words panicked her and she had ended up opening his texts, although she didn't read all of them. 

Nabi thought over it for a long time. She had figured out that Scoups will show up at her place later tonight but she really didn't want to see him. 

She wanted to avoid the confrontation as much as she can. 

So she texted him. 

I'm busy today. I don't have time. 

Nabi kept her phone away and got up from bed, getting ready for work. 

Today she had a dreaded feeling in the pit of her stomach and had a strong feelings today will not go the way she wants it to go. 

When Nabi looked at her phone as she was leaving, she saw another text from Scoups. 

Make time then.

Nabi scoffed. 

As if he would ever make time for her. 

She left him on read. 

Today Nabi was is set to have dinner with Mia. It was an out of business dinner and Mia has been the only one, apart from Yoon, who had texted her on her birthday. 

Mia had pretty much demanded that she treat Nabi out to a dinner meal and so the two ladies decided to plan a date for today. 

Once Nabi called it a day at work, Mia took her to a popular and expensive Korean BBQ restaurant. 

The food were delicious and the drinks were unlimited. 

Nabi normally doesn't drink a lot of alcohol but she decided to make an exception today, drinking more than her designated limit. 

"Whoa, slow down there," Mia said, taking the bottle of soju from Nabi's hand after she poured herself another shot, "I think you've had enough now."

"Unnie," Nabi started, "Don't ever get a boyfriend. They're useless."

"Why? What did yours do?" Mia asked. 

"They are just fucking useless," Nabi swore, her head swaying. 

"Right, I think its time we go home," Mia said, clearly realizing that Nabi is intoxicated and isn't in the right sense of mind at the moment. 

"No!" Nabi protested, "I don't want to see him." 

"See who?" Mia asked. 

"Him!" Nabi said, not understanding why Mia is failing to understand. 

"Okay. Come on. Let's go home," Mia said, getting up and paying for the meal. 

Mia hailed a cab and sat in with Nabi in tow, not trusting Nabi to go home by herself properly and made a quick decision to drop Nabi home first before going home herself. 

She instructed the taxi driver to wait for her as she helped Nabi climb the stairs to her apartment.

Nabi made slightly louder thumping noises as she climbed the steel stairway, her head still swaying as she kept on thinking over nonsensical things. 

Mia walked on behind her, making sure she doesn't tumble down. 

"Oh look!" Nabi exclaimed when she saw a masked figure sitting in front of her door, "It's him!" 

Nabi pointed at Scoups as he looked up at her voice. 

Scoups had been waiting for Nabi to show up for at least two hours now and was about to give up right when Nabi came.

Mia too looked at Scoups. 

Mia has never met Scoups or even knew his name but she guessed he is Nabi's boyfriend and is the one Nabi is talking about. 

"Are you Nabi's boyfriend?" Mia asked in a hurry, afraid to piss off the driver who is waiting for her. 

Scoups nodded, standing up, scanning Nabi up and down. 

He was wearing all black today, apart from his hair. Which was dyed a sandy blonde shade. It was growing even longer now that Nabi wondered if he intended on cutting it soon. 

"Can you look after her from here. The taxi is waiting for her," Mia asked of him and Scoups nodded. 

He waited for Mia to leave before walking towards Nabi and grabbing her wrist. 

"You're drunk," He observed, "You smell like alcohol." 

"No I don't," Nabi said, snatching her hand back. 

She walked over to the door and took her keys out, trying to insert them into the keyhole but when she kept on failing to do so, Scoups took the keys from her hand and jammed it in the door instead. 

He swung the door opened and walked in, making Nabi follow in after him. 

"Why did you drink?" Scoups asked her. 

"Can't I even drink now?" Nabi retorted. 

"I never said you could. I just know you don't drink that much," Scoups said. 

"I guess you don't know me at all then," Nabi said and even in her drunk state, she knew it would pinch him. 

"Why didn't you pick up my calls? Do you know how worried I got?  It's so late Nabi. I thought something bad happened to you. Why did you come home so late?" Scoups suddenly began demanding. 

"Don't you get worried when you bail on me?" Nabi questioned, walking around the room aimlessly, "Don't be a hypocrite. You don't care about me." 

Scoups closed his eyes and bit the inside of his cheek. 

He deserved that and he knew that. 

"I do care about you," Scoups started up Nabi stopped him, saying, "Liar." 

"I'm not lying, I mean it," Scoups said. 

Nabi took off her socks and put her bag on the bed, saying, "Liar liar." 

Scoups sighed aggressively and said, "Can you please just let me explain." 

"I don't even want to see your face right now," Nabi mumbled, going to her closet to take out her pajamas. 

"Nabi please," Scoups said, reaching for her elbow to make her turn his way, holding her in front of him, "Just please. Listen to me-what are those?"

One second he was holding onto her elbow and the next he was moving her hair away and singling out her ear. 

"Where did you get these," Scoups said, holding her earrings, the one Mingyu gifted her.

"What?" Nabi asked. Her head was already hurting from earlier and now it is spinning too. 

"These. Where did you get these," Scoups asked, accidentally pulling on her ears and causing her to yelp lightly. 

"Mingyu gave them to me," Nabi said, her sub-conscious self taking over her logic and reasoning. 

"Mingyu?" Scoups frowned, "Why?"

"B-because he remembered," Nabi said. 

"Remember what?" Scoups asked, deeply examining the earring. 

"My birthday," Nabi answered and Scoups went still. 

"Your birthday?" He asked, the confusion and surprise evident in his voice. 

"I can have a birthday too, you know," Nabi told him, loosing her balance a little, causing Scoups to catch her. 

"You're too drunk for this. We need to this talk when you're sober," Scoups mumbled. 

Out of nowhere waterworks burst open and Nabi started crying. 

"No, I don't want to talk to you!" Nabi cried. 

Scoups held her and wiped away her tears and said, "I know." 

"I hate you so much right now, I wish I never met you," Nabi said, still weeping. 

Scoups only brought her to the bed and made her lie down. 

As he wrapped her with a blanket he whispered, "I know." 

I honestly did not expect myself to update twice a week because I take so much time writing this book but I did it!

I don't know if any of you like Blackpink but I'm also a pretty big blackpink fan and omg, Ready for Love finally  came out. Even though its not on streaming services, at least we have it on YouTube and at least we have new music after two years. I was not expecting that bridge from Jisoo. That was amazing.