Her Night

After going out of Soohyun's office, she felt something eating her from deep down, but there is no turning back. As she walked out, she can't help but look at Soohyun's office room. A part of her wished she hadn't done what she just did, but another thinks it is the best option for now. It is for the fact that she feels something whenever he is around, but for her, it is too soon to jump into conclusions. She prefers to play it safe rather than being sorry about it in the end. Her past relationship had left her both scarred and traumatized. To say that she is scared of this new step would be an understatement.

JiU stares out the window as the street lights passed like fireflies through the evening. "You like him, don't you?" Tiffany puts her hand on top of her best friend's knee.

"What? Who are you talking about?" JiU attempts to hide the truth by not making eye contact with her best friend.

"Cmon! Are you serious right now?" Tiffany placed her hands on her hips even when sitting in the car, "You can't hide from me, Kim Minji. I practically grew up with you, so I know a whole lot about you." JiU could only chuckle when her childhood best friend calls her by her maiden name.

"I don't know, Miyoung-ah," JiU replied in kind by calling her best friend with her maiden name as well, "Whatever we had is just something from of a paper, and I am not sure about him."

"You know you deserve to be happy with somebody, right?" Tiffany gently rubs her best friend's shoulder, "I mean, he friggin jump in front of a car for you. I think that's saying enough about him?"

"Maybe you should date him," JiU laughed and nudged Tiffany.

"Nope. He's fine and all, but I got my one set on someone else already," Tiffany wiggled her brows and took her best friend's hand, "I'm not forcing you to do anything you don't want to do, but I think it is time for you to take a chance. You deserve it."

"Thank you, Miyoung-ah," JiU smiles and squeezes Tiffany's hand before eventually squinting her eyes, "So, do I know this guy? And don't try to change the topic."

But in the end, Tiffany didn't reveal much to JiU. For the rest of the car ride, Jiu tried all she could to make her best friend talk, but it was no avail. Tiffany kept her mouth shut like a steel trap, and all she said after was that JiU would find out eventually. And the ride back to her apartment helped JiU get her mind off Soohyun for a little bit.

"Hey, the girls and I are going out to the club tonight, wanna come?" Tiffany asked just before she closed the door.

"No, thank you, I'm good," JiU doesn't feel like going out tonight since the day had been too tiring.

"You sure?" Tiffany tries again, and she got was a nod from JiU, "Alright, then take care. But in case you changed your mind, we're at the usual, kay?"

That was the last of it before looking at her car, taking Tiffany back to her apartment. JiU went up into her flat and collapsed on her couch the next second. The day had progressed busier than anticipated, with reports piling up that needed her immediate attention. For some reason, she was looking forward to seeing Soohyun after her work finished. The words he had said to her weeks ago are still fresh in her mind, making her smile when thinking about it.

JiU was asleep in comfort when it was all disrupted by the continuous ringing of her phone. JiU tossed and turned on the couch, trying all her she could to cover her ears with her hands, then with her coat that is still on her since she arrived, and even when she puts her phone on silent, her apartment's phone started to ring the next. She groaned and lazily dragged her tired limbs to the phone. "Hello?"

The moment JiU answered the phone, the blaring sound of music plays in the background, but somehow dwarfed by her caller. "Yah!!! Get your ass over here!" JiU's eyes shot wide up when she recognized the voice.

"SuA?!" JiU's once-sleepy state changed immediately as soon as she heard her old friend's voice on the other side of the line, "Since when were you back in Korea?"

"Yesterday morning!" SuA answered loudly, competing with the loud club music in the background.

"JiU-unnie!" Another voice called out, and it took JiU seconds to recognize who it was.

"Yoohyeon, is there too?" JiU swiped her hair back upon hearing her close friends in one place.

"Everyone is here! Get your ass here, or I'll drag it here!" SuA says so in such a demanding tone before hanging up the phone.

JiU stood there in silence and shock, but a wide smile spreads on her face. She hasn't seen them for years since they had their dreams to chase. And with that plastered smile on her face, she races to the bathroom to take a quick and refreshing shower. Once she was out, she picked out any dress she thinks that was decent. However, what she picked was not what she expected. The dress was something that she hadn't worn in a while, and it was a surprise that it still fits. And she likes what she sees; hence she chose such dress to go to the club, covered with her overcoat. Then she left her apartment.

JiU drove herself to the club. Once at the entrance, all the Bouncer needed to see was her, and he instantly opened the door. "Thank you, Jung Hoon-ssi," JiU smiled before entering the club. The scene almost seemed new since he hadn't been here for over a year when work caught up. She scanned the club and shook her head when she noticed Siyeon standing on one of the VIP tables to wave at her. It felt good to see that her friends haven't changed a bit after so long. SuA is as demanding and slightly aggressive as usual, Siyeon was over herself like always, and it was a good sight for sore eyes.

"Unnie!" Gahyeon, the youngest of the group, came to greet JiU as soon as she reached the VIP lounge.

"Gahyeon-ah!" JiU couldn't help but squeal and returned the hug with her own.

"There she is!" SuA came to join the hug before the whole group joined in, sharing a fit of laughter amongst themselves.

"Where's Miyoung?" JiU refers to Tiffany as she takes her seat.

"She went to the bathroom, I think, haven't seen her," Dami replied as she too sits next to JiU.

Tiffany joined the group moments later with a giddy expression on her face, "Well, look who's here?" She chuckled and gave JiU a hug. "You look sexy and dangerous, by the way." Tiffany gave the 'ok' sign towards her friend, who earned positive reviews from their friends.

From that point on, the night progressed better than anyone had expected. They had the chance to catch up on the years they missed not seeing each other. The ups and downs of life and how they managed their own after leaving their families' homes. JiU hadn't experienced such a good time in a while until this very moment. And to put the icing on the cake, Changwook joined the party.

"Yah! Mr. Architecture!" Siyeon got up from her seat to give the man a tight hug, followed by the other girls.

"Haven't seen you since we last met," JiU referred to their meeting at their long-time favorite restaurant.

"Haha... Yeah, I had to take care of a few things back home and had to settle a few more from France," Changwook and JiU sat down a little farther from the group as they have their private conversation.

"Haha.. you're busy as usual," JiU smiled, reminiscing how much of a hard worker was even in high school, "Always with something to do."

"I learned from the best, though," He playfully nudged her shoulder, stating his memory of her being the dedicated student and daughter that she is, "Every time we meet at your place, you are always doing something too even when you got your maids for that."

"Awh stop, I just like being able to do things myself," JiU downed a glass beer as she chuckled, "But, I guess it's very contagious, huh?"

"Hahaha... True, but, surprisingly, it took so long to rub on her," Changwook gestured to Tiffany, who was downing her glass of Jack Daniels before noticing Changwook looking her way. She gave him a fist, and I am watching you sign. Changwook and JiU had to laugh at the gesture since it reminded them of the love-hate relationship between Tiffany and him in high school.

"It's good seeing back here," JiU put an arm over his shoulder to give his shoulder a rub. JiU, Tiffany, and Changwook had gone a long way together since elementary, and she considered them both as the siblings she never thought she needed.

"It's good to be back," Changwook then proceeds to give her a hug to which she returned in kind.

The two joined the rest of the girls and the night continued as wonderfully as it had begun—however, the natural order of things needed to intervene as JiU excused herself to the bathroom. She makes her way through the crowded dance floor and into the restroom area. The bathroom is as clean as she remembered when she entered, but all of that changed when she heard the door locked behind her.

"Hey there, sexy," Two men had managed to sneak behind her as the club's music must have muted their footsteps. "How bout we have our dance floor, right here?"