Maybe This Time | Saida

Chapter 13: Okay? Okay!

Disclaimer:

Just a reminder that I am not a dentist and all information in this story is based on my intensive online research. Please feel free to correct any misleading details herein. Thank you and happy reading!

For better reading experience, I suggest listening to the linked song above (optional).

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To say that Dahyun was glad that she rekindled her friendship with Mina would be an understatement. She's delighted and happy because she genuinely didn't want to lose a friend as great as Mina just like that. They indeed just needed to have that talk to clear up any more question marks on how they ended their relationship and to finally close that chapter.

So in order to solidify their newly restored friendship, she and Mina grabbed dinner together a few nights ago. But unlike the recent times that they'd been around each other, there wasn't a speck of awkwardness as they caught up on lost time. Mina happily shared about how she got promoted hence being assigned back in Seoul, while Dahyun casually told her about her struggles (yet another understatement) in law school. More stories were exchanged, lighthearted laughs were shared, and pictures of themselves enjoying their time were taken and posted as the night transpired, and Dahyun was at ease knowing that another person that she truly cared about returned to her life.

However, despite the catharsis that came along with her closure with Mina, something was bugging Dahyun. It was occupying a big chunk of her mind, scratching her brain and making her hands itch to do something, anything.

Dahyun hadn't seen or heard from Sana since their celebratory barbecue night, and it's been two weeks.

Their last conversation was through text, the one where Dahyun informed Sana that she got home safely after her talk with Mina with Sana bidding her a good night. Dahyun responded with a ditto but nothing else followed after that—in text and in person. Nada.

Although Dahyun reckoned that the halt of interaction was reasonable since there's really no reason for them to interact anymore. They were only pushed to be with and around each other because Sana was Dahyun's dentist and because they're friends that also had a ton of common friends. To top it off, the two of them had numerous treat-me-a-meal-next-time bargains which also played a big part in them meeting each other outside the two aforementioned reasons, but that had unfortunately stopped too.

And to be completely and brutally honest, Dahyun regretted telling Sana that they should stop treating each other as a form of payment. That was a dumb move. Sure, there's still that Lotte World offer that they had agreed to weeks ago but to Dahyun's absolute disappointment, the theme park had been temporarily closed until further notice for a wide range maintenance check.

"Hey, wanna study this case together after class?" Her head turned to the side to see Hanbin smiling at her. She glanced at their professor who was discussing their next collaborative activity.

Dahyun unconsciously grinded her teeth together in deep contemplation. Hanbin was probably just being friendly. Well, she did set the record straight to him after he confessed a week ago and he's nice enough to understand. She just didn't feel like being with him today.

Not him, but her.

And just like that, an imaginary light bulb appeared above her head.

It might sound a little crazy, but it's—without a doubt—more exciting and interesting than burying her face in another thick stack of case files and casebooks in a buzzing coffee shop with someone who just wasn't her.