A few weeks later, Lia was too busy typing on her laptop trying to finish her second draft on her thesis, which she needs to submit it to her supervisor before this week ends. It's Friday and tomorrow is the last day for her to submit. At the same time, she also needs to prepare her studio presentation next week. That's normal if you're an urban planning students. Sometimes, they can't even sleep properly. Studio project is just a lot of work. Endless discussion, critique session, draft reports and many more. It won't end till you submit your end proposal.
Lia let out a long sigh and drink her hot tea that she just ordered. Suddenly, someone tapped her back and it was Liyli.
"Annyeong, bestie~ what's with the sigh?" asked Liyli.
Lia was too caught up with her assignments till she forgot that both of them had promised to meet each other today. It's been a while since they went out and have a chit chat together as a bestie. "I'm just too stressed with thesis." Said Lia and pouted. "By the way, where were you just now? I tried to call you…" said Lia as she ate the blueberry cheesecake that she ordered with her tea.
"I was doing my part time job… sorry I didn't hear it~" answered Liyli. "Wait, you're still working at the café?" asked Lia and Liyli nodded. "Shouldn't you be busy too? We're in final year now… we're just super busy with all these things…" said Lia feeling worried about her best friend. She knows that Liyli came from a broken family and she has a lot of things to think such as, her mom and her siblings who are still in school. One thing that is similar between both of them is that they're the eldest among her siblings. Till now, Lia can still remember the day when Liyli told her that her parents are getting a divorce.
*flashback*
Lia got a call from Liyli asking her to meet at the park nearby her house. While she was waiting on a swing, she saw Liyli was running towards her with tears streaming down her.
"Oh my god, Liyli, are you okay?!" asked Lia in worried as she ran towards her
"Lia…" sobbed Liyli and she kept on crying.
"What's wrong? Did someone do something to you?" asked Lia and Liyli just kept on crying.
"M-my parents…" said Liyli as she wiped her tears using her purple sweatshirt sleeves.
"What's wrong with your parents? Did they hurt you or something?" asked Lia as she looked around her body but saw nothing.
"T-they're getting a divorce…" cried Liyli again.
"I don't want to be separated from them… I want them to live together… but these past few months they kept on arguing and my mom always throw things at him…" said Liyli and tears still running down in her face.
"What was the reason they got into an argument?" asked Lia feeling concerned about her best friend.
"My mom said my dad got a new girl… so my mom wanted a divorce…. I heard she said it just now and my dad even agreed to it." Answered Liyli
"Then I don't know what had happened. I just called you and ran here." Added Liyli.
Lia, who was feeling sad too, hearing what had happened, she straight away hug her best friend and tried to comfort her.
"It's okay… it's gonna be okay…" said Lia while hugging her.
She too, cried.
*end of flashback*
Lia was so lost in thought on that day till Liyli had called for her.
"Lia-ah," called Liyli
"Oh, yes?" said Lia paying attention to their current conversation.
"Should we go somewhere fun today?" asked Liyli.
But Lia has so many works to do and she even had thought not to sleep in for today because of her due date for draft thesis is tomorrow.
"Liyli, I have submission tomorrow…" said Lia
"Come on, just for a few hours… it's been a while… please? Come on….. We need to ease our mind too…" begged Liyli.
Lia was getting annoyed with how Liyli was pleading her and in the end, she gives up. Both of them went to a Karaoke room nearby the area and both of them were singing till on top of their lungs releasing their stress.
"Nan niga jaeil joha, niga jaeil yeppeo,
Jinaganeun gotgot maeryeogi da heulleo,
Niga jaeil joha, neo hanamyeon dwae,
Gaseume saegyeo dwo,
Niga sesangeseo jaeil sojunghae~"
-I Like You the Best by BEAST-
Lia was laughing seeing Liyli was so into her singing even though she's off the pitch. Both of them were so into BEAST the Korean boy group during their high school days. Their songs are just so good to them. A few minutes later, after tired of singing, both of them decided to buy some drinks and have a small talk.
"Yah, I just remembered that you told me you have something to share to me~" said Lilyi.
"neh… it's nothing…" said Lia
"Yah come on…. We promised each other as best friend we need to share everything~" said Liyli.
"You just won't stop pleading will you?" said Lia and Lilyli nodded.
"It was just that day... me and Dan went on a site visit together… I had fun. He was a nice guy…" said Lia as she remembers that day.
"I even told him why I like stars…" said Lia
"Oh my god, you're not the kind of person to share something about your likes and dislikes." Amazed Lilyly because she knows Lia is someone who keeps everything private unless she really trust them. And Liyli could sense that Lia really trust Dan.
"Just be careful not to trust people easily…" said Liyli while finishing her Americano.
"Yeah, I know…" said Lia and smiled.
On the next day, Lia was in her room finishing her last edit for her draft. When the clock strikes one, she managed to email her supervisor. "Finally I manage to email her on time." Muttered Lia alone and she stretched her body after sitting for more than three hours. She only got 3 hours of sleep right after she got back last night and woke up at four in the morning to finish with her work.
As soon as she got her late brunch, suddenly she got a text from someone and it was from Dan asking to meet him.
"I have something to show you… can we meet today?" texted Dan
Lia was so happy seeing his text and it's been a while, both of them haven't gone out together ever since the site visit day. The only day they could meet up was during discussion and class. That's it. No more. Lia just couldn't describe how happy she was when she got a text from Dan.
*should I reply now or later?* thought Lia while biting her lip.
"Should wait for two minutes more, then I'll reply him." Said Lia as she put down her phone on the table and continue with her brunch. Scared if Dan thought that she was waiting for him. In the end, after two minutes, Lia unlocked her phone screen again and replied him.
"Yeah, sure… I'm free today… what time should I meet you?" texted Lia
And a few seconds later, she got a reply.
"Great! Meet you after lunch.
Location: Time Studio
It's located nearby Yeouido Park." Replied Dan.
*Studio?* thought Lia. Thinking why Dan wants to meet her at studio. She even thought that Dan might be a part timer in the photo studio. But then, Dan doesn't look like someone who needs a part time job. Whatever it is, she's gonna meet him later. Then, Lia saw it's already half past 11 o'clock. So she hurriedly took a shower and choose what to wear.
After she's done showering, Lia started to dress up and get ready to meet Dan. As for today, she chose a knee length checkered skirt to match with her white knit top. As for her hair, she let down loose and pin her fringe to the side. Then, after she put on her lip tint, she hurriedly went to the door and took out her black combat boots and went out.
After a few minutes of riding the bus, finally Lia reached the Time studio. While she was standing in front of the studio, she saw Dan was talking to a few people inside. Then, Lia went in the studio and what surprised her the most was the photo with a frame on the chair that was located nearby the stairs going to the second floor of the studio.