Chapter 20: Photograh

It's been week after the incident. 7 days, but those 7 days felt like a month for Seju, Rohanne hasn't been going to work for at least a 4 days and the last three days she went to work, she was avoiding Seju with all her strength, even though it felt like she was stabbing her own heart a million times.

Seju tried to contact her a couple of times, but to no avail, her number was already blocked, she even tried to ask Sejeong to call her but the latter told her that Rohanne doesn't answer her calls either.

'This is too much…'

She can't do anything, she didn't even have the time to explain everything to Rohanne, but on one point she was thinking, why does she even have to explain the situation? It's not like she betrayed Rohanne or cheated on her. But on the other hand she feels like she badly needed to explain what happened.

"You look stressed. Are you okay?"

She slowly looked over her shoulder to see who was talking behind her.

"When did you arrive?"

He just smiled at Seju and paced his walk beside her, handing the latter a cup of coffee. She then remembered the times where Rohanne was still the one handing her coffees everytime their breaks were aligned. She misses her.

"Just now, oh and do you have anything to do after your shift?"

She looked at Eunji with a questioning look and the latter immediately understood what she meant

"I'm planning to visit Ro, later… do you want to come with me?"

Seju don't know why but her heart suddenly beat erratically when Eunji spoke Rohanne's name. Nervousness? Excitement? She doesn't know what she was feeling

"Do you know where she is? Is she okay? Can you contact her?"

She asked without pausing, The guy beside her just smiled at her and chuckled lightly at Seju's demeanor.

"Why are you chuckling?"

"Nothing… It's just that… Ro is like you daughter that ran away from home."

Seju just frowned at his remark and Eunji immediately felt the deadly aura around her fiancé so he stopped laughing, and focused on the matter at hand.

He faked a cough and made a composed look

"I didn't know you two were that close…"

He asked. He was wondering when and how did Rohanne became close to the people at the hospital, because in his experience when they're back in Canada, Rohanne wasn't the type to be all friendly with people, even their classmates, he was just so persistent on making her his friend because according to him 'She's so cool' that's why they were that close.

'Maybe she changed a bit; after all, it's been 7 years since I last saw her'

"And how did you come to that conclusion?"

Eunji thought about it, for the past week Seju can't seem to focus on her work, and Rohanne seems to ignore her, and after Rohanne disappeared out of thin air, Seju became more unfocused at work.

"Hmmm I dunno, maybe because you two really were close?"

He said and then smiled. The woman beside her just looked at him in a questioning manner, but then she just gave it up, they were indeed close…. Before.

She wanted to ask Eunji about Rohanne, because according to what she has observed the two were close, she can even compare it to Yeonhwa and Seungjae's closeness…

'A kiss…'

When she thought about the kiss that she and Rohanne shared that day she can't help but remember the kiss she and Yeonhwa shared too back then. It felt the same. Their minty breath, occupying her mouth and their soft lips pressed against hers…

Blood rushed to her cheeks as soon as she pictured the scene.

'Ugh why am I thinking about that now?!'

She shook her head to erase the image of both women in her brain. She looked at the person beside her and felt a sudden guilt ran through her body.

She's going to be married soon, Eunji will be her husband, and she doesn't want any internal conflict between the two of them.

'Husband…'

She was already getting married, but after meeting Rohanne, that reality flew off the window. She never really cared at all. About the marriage and such. She was so focused on Rohanne that she seemed to forget that she was engaged.

===

After their shift, she and Eunji went to where Rohanne is and now they're in front of a house. This was a different location, from what Seju remembers Rohanne lives in a condominium unit, not a big-mansion-like house.

When they were at the front gate, she felt like she can't face Rohanne at the moment, she was scared. She doesn't even know why she was scared. Was it because of their kiss? Or did she already developed feelings for her?

She just shook her head to remove the doubts in her brain. She just wanted to apologize, and to explain. But why? She kept asking, and now she's in a loop where she tells herself that she would just explain herself and then asking why she needs to explain.

"Ugh…"

"Are you okay?" Eunji asked her, she just took a glance at the latter and then back at the gate of the house.

"Yeah…" She answered

"You don't look okay"

He wasn't convinced, he placed his hands at Seju's forehead to check her temperature to see if the latter has a fever.

"I'm fine Eunji" She simply said, the man hesitated for a bit but then just gave in. He gave her a warm smile and then pressed the doorbell.

They waited for a few seconds, no one was answering the gate so Eunji rang the doorbell again, and this time the gate opened immediately after the bell rang. Amazement was visible in Seju's eyes, she wasn't expecting this.

"Amazing right? I was amazed too at their house back in Canada" Eunji said, looking around the place

"How did you know this place?" Seju asked the man, while looking around the place walking towards the front door.

"Before we graduated high school, she gave me their address here in Korea, because she said that she'd be studying here, but I didn't have the chance to visit her since she changed her number and she isn't answering in my e-mails. And also I was kind of busy myself."

As soon as they reached the door a man in his mid 40s opened the door for them, Eunji recognized the man and smiled.

"Long time no see, Sir Austin"

He said in English. The woman beside him just looked at them with confusion in her eyes

"I see, you decided to visit Miss Rohanne today…"

The man said as she let the two in.

"Yep! Anyway how is she? You're taking care of her?"

The two kept speaking in English. Seju was just dumbfounded. First of all the house was huge and secondly a butler?

"I'll call Miss right away, you can take a seat here in the living room for a bit, make yourselves comfortable"

The man, Austin, excused himself and went upstairs to call Rohanne. The two on the other hand took a seat. Seju was still amazed and at the same time confused. She was looking around the place and felt like she was at a hotel or something.

She was snapped back to reality when she heard a chuckled beside her. She snapped her head towards Eunji and saw that the latter was looking at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

"I'm sorry you looked like a kid in an amusement park, you're so cute"

Seju felt embarrassment creeping in her body that made her blush.

"I'm sure you have many questions, but right now I can only answer a few. The man earlier was Austin; he's Rohanne's secretary, and also the one who takes care of her, also the caretaker of this house… probably" He explained. Seju was enlightened and can't help but be amazed "And this house is her parent's house."

Seju just nodded. That explains why she doesn't know this place and why she haven't met Rohanne's secretary. Rohanne is a secretive person after all. Eunji explained more about Rohanne, even though Seju wasn't asking.

After a few minutes Austin came back, with some drinks in his hands.

"She'll be down in a bit, enjoy yourselves"

He said as he placed the refreshments on the table. He then went somewhere else. After a few more minutes of waiting they heard footsteps coming from the stairs.

Rohanne who just woke up, still wearing a hoodie and sweatpants welcomed them.

"What are you doing here Kwon?!" She screamed while still rubbing her eyes, she was still half awake that she didn't notice Seju who was sitting beside Eunji.

"We came here to check on you" Eunji said and chuckled a bit at his friend's appearance.

'We? We?!'

She stopped rubbing her eyes and looked at her uninvited visitors. It was Eunji….

"Seju?" Her heart suddenly beat erratically at the sight of Seju in front of her.

===

Sejeong was worried about the three, especially Rohanne. The latter was in complete distraught last time they spoke with each other. So when she overheard Seju and Eunji talking about visiting Rohanne she immediately felt nervous. The three of them in a Rohanne's place? That's probably not going to end up good.

She remembered the last time the three of them were left alone, that was the day when Rohanne ran to the rooftop after a patient died. She was about to step in and pull Rohanne out of that place, she knew how it felt, how it felt to be the third wheel, that's why even though she's hurting herself she wants to help Rohanne get out of that stupid third wheel shit.

Even though she herself is a third wheel.

She was surprised to see Rohanne running to her that time. And when she heard her name came out from Rohanne's lips with agony and heartbreak, it felt like her heart was shattered into pieces.

- A week ago -

"Sejeong…"

Just a single word, full of sadness and heartbreak, she immediately held Rohanne's hand and took her away from that place.

"You really are stupid sometimes…"

She said as she drags Rohanne away. The latter just chuckled bitterly as she let herself get dragged by Sejeong.

"Yeah, I really am stupid"

When they were in the garden Sejeong stopped in her tracks and looked intently at Rohanne.

"You're stupid because you're blinded by your feelings" Sejeong said as she took a seat at the nearest bench, she chuckled a bit and scolded herself.

'I'm one to talk though…'

She thought, she felt Rohanne sit beside her and they just both stare at the people passing by

"Was it the right thing?"

"What thing?"

"Letting her go…"

In Sejeong's perspective it was definitely the right thing, Seju was getting married after all. But she's not in the right position to tell Rohanne that thing.

"Do you think it was the right thing?"

She asked without batting an eye at Rohanne.

The latter just stayed silent, she doesn't know what's right or wrong anymore. All she knows is that she's hurting and she wants the pain to stop, and this was the only thing she can think of to stop whatever pain she was feeling.

They just stayed there sitting in silence until Rohanne collected herself and regained her composure.

"Hey, I'm really sorry…"

"For what?" Sejeong asked, looking at Rohanne, she was confused of what the latter was talking about, there's nothing to apologize for.

"For being such a shitty friend, always leaning onto you when I have problems." She said with a goofy smile plastered on her face.

"Consulting me is not for free though" Sejeong joked, but the latter took it as another debt. And told Sejeong that she would really treat her to lunch this time.

"I was just joking! And the lunch, just forget about it." She said.

She wanted to let go of her feelings for Rohanne, and that promised lunch was the only thing that kept Rohanne in a bind with her anyway.

That day when she saw Rohanne and Seju kiss, she already knew that she doesn't stand a chance, not in a million years, just like before… She was always that Second lead in novels, Second leads that are deeply and madly in love with the protagonist, but doesn't stand a chance. She already knew that she doesn't have a chance but she stupidly and blindly wished that there was, resulting in her getting more attached than she intended to be.

"What?"

"You're not just blind you're deaf too. I said you don't need to treat me to lunch"

She repeated herself, she was amused and somewhat offended by the blonde's reaction, the latter was looking at her like she was questioning her sanity.

"You're Sejeong right?" Rohanne asked, she was just joking but the woman in front of her glared at her and flicked her forehead.

"Ow!" She exclaimed

"Is that enough proof?" Sejeong said as she laughs lightly

"Yeah, you really are Sejeong…" Rohanne said while smiling at their silliness. "… But honestly, Jeong…"

Hearing Rohanne call her by her nickname was something she didn't expect to be… pleasing.

"I really feel so comfortable when I'm with you, I'm really glad you're my friend" Rohanne said.

Sejeong just looked at her and smiled bitterly, but she didn't let Rohanne saw it.

'Yeah, friend… and that's all there is to it… nothing more…'

Sejeong just chuckled and stood up

"Yeah, yeah. I know I'm awesome, but we have to get back to work"

She offered her hand to Rohanne and the latter gladly took it. She pulled Rohanne up and they walked back inside the hospital.

===

Rohanne's gaze were glued on Seju

She vividly remembered the kiss they shared, and the last words she spoke with the woman, the last time they spoke with each other.

'Don't come near me, ever again'

That day she promised herself that she would distance herself to Seju, but the latter was making it hard for her, that's why she decided to take a leave, but she didn't expect her to show up in her house, and with her fiancé at that. It was like a stab right in the heart for her.

"H-hey…" Seju said out of nervousness.

She can't help but notice how Rohanne has changed. She has dark circles under her eyes, her hair was so messy, over all she looked like a total mess.

"You guys want anything? Have you eaten lunch?" She asked as she sat across them

"Actually we went here straight after our shift, we haven't had our lunch yet, and you too. You look like you haven't had your lunch too, should we grab some lunch out?"

"No, I can cook for you guys… I asked Austin to do something so I'll just cook for you"

"No, we can just have some delivery"

"No, I insist"

The two just looked at Rohanne, and Eunji eventually stood up

"Fine but I'll help you out"

Seju just watched the two of them, Rohanne looked like she was so dead tired, but is trying to act normal on their behalf. She wanted to comfort Rohanne and hug her but she doesn't have the courage, and she she's afraid that the latter would just push her away.

"Seju can you wait here for us? We'll just whip something up."

"I can help"

"I'd rather not take the risk, you might blow up the whole kitchen, If we're back in my house you can, but we're at Rohanne's"

Seju was thinking about throwing a pillow at Eunji but, when she saw Rohanne laugh a little, she can't help but smile too, at least even though it was just a little Rohanne smiled.

"Okay fine. Just call me if you need anything"

"We just need you to wait patiently. For safety measures, don't come in the kitchen"

The two were laughing while walking towards the kitchen leaving Seju in the living room.

Seeing the blonde woman smile, she can't help but smile as well. The smile she was yearning to see. The smile that can light up the whole world, the smile that's contagious.

Whenever she sees that smile her heart races as if she just ran a marathon. The smile that can melt her just by looking at it.

She was brought back to reality when she heard her ringtone. She immediately checked her phone but it wasn't hers

'It must be Rohanne's'

She stood up and went to find the kitchen, while she was walking, trying to find the kitchen she came across Eunji

"Where's Rohanne?"

"You didn't notice? She came out for a bit earlier, She went out to get some ingredients, why?" Eunji asked

"Why did you let her?"

"I told her that I would just go out but she insisted, and she said that she also has something to buy outside. Why are you looking for her anyway?"

"I think her phone is ringing…"

"Can you check on it? I have to go pick up something from my car real quick"

Seju just nodded and went back to the living room. The music already stopped but then suddenly it rang again. She followed where the sound was coming from, she stopped in front of a very specific door that says Study Room on it, and just looking at it she felt nervous. Like something was behind that door, and she needs to see it.

As she opened the door, she saw book shelves were surrounding the room. Every corner of the room were full of books, and it was a bit cluttered because of the books that were scattered on the floor. It was also spacious, it's like a private library. Near the window was a desk and on that desk was Rohanne's phone along with papers and books. She walked towards the desk and took Rohanne's phone when she felt something fell from the desk. She placed Rohanne's phone back on the desk and picked up the frame that fell.

Her hands trembled as soon as she saw the picture that was on the frame.

"Why does she have this?"

===

November 1, 2008

"Yeon! Come on it's just a picture! The camera won't hurt you!"

Seungjae said while he was trying to chase Yeonhwa. To take a picture with her. He kept on following Yeonhwa wherever she goes, while Seju was just laughing at the two.

"Seju, Don't just laugh there, help me chase Yeon"

Seungjae was starting to whine when Yeonhwa suddenly stopped her tracks making Seungjae stop on his tracks too.

"You finally gave in huh?" Seungjae said with a smirk plastered on his face

"No, Idiot, I just stopped because I was getting tired" She said as she leaned on a wall near the window in the hallway.

"Come on Yeon! I just wanted to try this new camera that my brother gifted me!"

"You can test it out with your girlfriend, so why me?" Yeonhwa whined, her brows starting to knot together.

"Eh~ I want the three of us in the picture! Please?"

Seungjae was already frowning his smirk earlier vanished like it was not there.

"Yeon, please. I promise I won't skip basketball Practice for the whole year, just take a picture with us"

Yeonhwa looked at Seungjae with bored eyes, and the latter just appealed to her using some of his cringey aegyo. Yeonhwa just rolled her eyes and then her gaze went to Seju, who was looking at her the whole time. She also wanted a picture with her best friend so she did her best to appeal to Yeonhwa too.

"Fine."

Seungjae was jumping up and down from happiness, and Seju, she just smiled from ear to ear. Yeonhwa who was looking at her smiled as well.

"Why are you guys my friends?" She said and snickered

"Because you love us!"

Seungjae exclaimed and then dragged Seju and Yeonhwa to his classroom, he asked one of his classmates to take a picture of them.

After a few days, he gave Seju and Yeonhwa a copy of the picture they took. In the picture Seju was between the two of them, since she was the shortest. Seungjae was smiling from ear to ear while draping his arms over Seju's shoulder, the latter smiling awkwardly while looking at the camera, while Yeonhwa was looking at Seju, smiling.

===

And now Seju was seeing the same picture again. When she was moving on from Seungjae's death and Yeonhwa's disappearance she buried the picture in her room in her parent's house. But right now the same picture was in front of her, and in Rohanne's Study Room.

She opened the frame and looked at the back of the photo, She saw their names and their signatures, and the date they all received the copy.

"…November 4, 2008…"

"What are you doing here?"

She immediately faced the person behind her, her brows knitted together; she slowly walked towards Rohanne while the latter was shocked looking at the frame she was holding.

Seju looked at Rohanne straight in the eye while the latter was still looking at the photo, She took a deep breath before speaking up.

"Where did you get this?"

She asked, she lifted up the picture and showed it to Rohanne but the latter was silent, she wasn't uttering a single word.

"Why do you have this picture?"

Seju's eyes were turning glassy, she waited for Rohanne's answer but the latter was just looking at the picture. Rohanne's expression turned from shocked to somewhat dead…

"Dr. Baek… No, Rohanne… Please tell me the truth. Who are you?"

She asked once again, but Rohanne was still not uttering a single word, she looked at Seju dead in the eyes and then snatched the picture from Seju's hands. She walked towards her desk and fixed the picture and placed it back inside the frame. She fixed it on her desk and then walked back to the door.

"You know, you shouldn't go around entering someone else's rooms without the owner's consent"

Seju just watched Rohanne do all that, still not getting an answer to her question.

"Anyway let's go, lunch is ready" Rohanne said and held Seju by the wrist dragging the latter out of the Study Room.

"You're not answering my question!"

"Because I don't want to" She sternly replied

She swatted Rohanne's hand when they reached the living room.

"Rohanne!"

She couldn't control her emotions any longer, questions were running through her head and none of those questions are getting answered. Puzzled pieces were slowly getting pieced together, all she needs now are answers.

"What's happening here?" Eunji Suddenly butted in, he heard a loud yell from Seju so he quickly ran over to see what was happening only to see Seju teary eyes looking at Rohanne who was looking at his fiancé sternly.

Seju on the other hand didn't even notice Eunji behind her, she just looked at Rohanne; her tears are now attempting to fall from her eyes

"Please tell me… Who ar—"

Seju wasn't able to finish her sentence when the door swung open and saw Jin-Ae with Austin, carrying bags of groceries.

"Unnie! I was trying to ca—"

She wasn't able to finish her sentence when she saw Seju. Shock was evident in her face and Austin just looked apologetically at Rohanne

"Unnie?"

From that moment, Seju realized everything

"What the hell…"

She found the missing puzzle piece that she was looking for to complete the puzzle. From that moment she knew who the person in front of her really is, she doesn't even need to ask.

The person she wanted to slap so badly… The person she wanted to kill, the person she wanted to hug, the person she wanted to embrace and never let go, the person she was missing for the past decade, was standing in front of her, and was there all along.

Those stories she told her… Those moments they spent…

"Yeonhwa…"