"Yuri…"

Jessica immediately got on her feet and backed away. The next moment, she wished she didn't react that fast. Her body was still yearning for that touch, and she hated herself at the moment for it.

"What are you doing here?" she managed to hide her emotions nonetheless.

"I came looking for you."

"Why?"

"Because I—"

The double glass door flung open, and Yuri was cut off. They both turned to the glass doors, only to see Sooyoung stomping angrily toward them, Sunny, Tiffany and Taeyeon following closely behind.

"Kwon Yuri!" Sooyoung almost yelled. "How dare you show up at this place? What do you want?!"

Yuri was unfazed. She didn't answer right away, and Jessica noticed with worry that this only caused more anger to float Sooyoung's eyes.

"This is a hotel, isn't it? I want to rent a room." Yuri put a finger on her chin, pensive. "For a few weeks, I think."

"WHAT?" All of them exclaimed.

Jessica stared at Yuri disbelievingly. She wasn't the only one. Even though a part of her was admittedly thrilled to hear this, a bigger part knew this was no good news.

"Get lost," Sooyoung hissed. "You're not welcomed here."

"This is not how you treat a hotel guest, Sooyoung." Yuri smiled. "You'll never make it big if you let personal feelings get in the way like this."

Jessica felt her heart sink at those words. Was that why Yuri lied to her? Because she wanted to 'make it big', and thus didn't allow herself to love Jessica? Whatever tiny part of her that was truly happy to see Yuri again disappeared. Anger and loathing took place instead.

"I don't need you to lecture me," Sooyoung stepped nearer to Yuri, intending to intimidate with her size. "Now get out by yourself, or I'll have to kick you out!"

"Sooyoung…" Sunny tugged Sooyoung's arm lightly, a little warning in her voice.

"Let her," Taeyeon pulled Sunny away. "She's doing the right thing."

"Just let me handle this, okay?" Sooyoung turned around and her eyes softened the moment they looked into Sunny's. She turned to Yuri again with her killer gaze.

"I'm not going anywhere," Yuri firmly stated.

Sooyoung breathed, her nostrils flared up.

"Let Yuri stay," Tiffany chimed in before Sooyoung could do anything stupid. Sooyoung's head snapped to her direction, the girl's mouth hung open. The room went silent at Tiffany's statement. Every eye was on her.

"What… are you saying?" Taeyeon spoke up first.

"Let Yuri stay," Tiffany repeated. "Just… let her."

"What the hell, Fany," Sooyoung scowled. "You're out of your mind. Kwon Yuri is NOT going to stay. Period."

"Soo…" Sunny moved next to Tiffany. "I'm with Tiffany, actually."

"Sunny!" Sooyoung went wide-eyed. "You're both out of your minds!"

Sooyoung ignored the pleasant grin on Yuri's face. She had absolutely no idea what was going on with Sunny and Tiffany. Turning to Taeyeon, she hoped to see her last supporter.

"Don't look at me like that," Taeyeon's voice was defensive. "I'm sane. I can still think straight."

"Good," Sooyoung said, glaring at Sunny and Tiffany.

"It's two versus two," Yuri interrupted. She then turned to the person who hadn't given her opinion yet. "Sica…"

All eyes were now on her. She didn't realize until now that the decision was lying in her hands. Jessica suddenly felt tired, as if this was too much of a burden for her. Why was she the one having to make the final decision, when all her friends knew it would be the hardest for her?

"Tell her," Sooyoung prodded, sounding positive that Jessica would reject Yuri. Obviously, Sooyoung didn't know of the part inside Jessica that wanted to scream 'stay'. Jessica sighed and looked away from Sooyoung, her gaze wandering to her other friends. She can't quite read their expressions. But she knew they were all waiting for her answer and would accept it, regardless of their personal agree- or disagreement.

Then, Jessica made the mistake and looked into Yuri's eyes. She felt her knees weaken, the desire to give in taking over.

Let me stay, those eyes asked, pleaded, nearly begged. I don't want to go. I need to be here, with you. Because, I…

Jessica snapped out of it. She's imagining things, she's sure. The real Kwon Yuri wasn't the tender person she imagined. She was not going to fall for it again!

Forcing herself to look away, Jessica fixed her gaze on the marble floor. Now all she could see was the tired face of her father, the image of her sick mother, her crying little sister. She closed her eyes, and Yuri's cold and heartless face appeared behind her eyelids, telling her their love was nothing but a means to an end. It was not real, it was not true, it was just something Yuri used to get what she wanted. Anger and hate flared up inside Jessica once again, and the load on her shoulders disappeared. It felt right this time.

She looked up again, straight into Yuri's eyes. "Please go." Her voice wasn't sharp, but firm enough to tell she was determined about it.

"Sica..." Tiffany whispered.

"You heard her," Sooyoung didn't even bother to hold back the satisfaction in her voice. "Leave."

Yuri said nothing. She kept looking at Jessica, as if she needed time to digest the disappointing words. Jessica stared back at Yuri, wanting to prove how much she meant it. But eventually, she had to look down onto the ground again. The disappointment in Yuri's eyes were just too much, Jessica was afraid that if she kept looking, she might feel regretful even before Yuri left.

"Actually," Yuri's voice returned calm as she grabbed into her suit's inner pocket. "I was just messing with you guys."

Jessica looked up at once. This voice... unmistakably belonged to a Kwon. This voice meant that something had been planned. Kwon Yuri was going to win again.

"I own 45% of this hotel and the vacation houses. I have all the rights to stay here, whenever and for however long I want."

Yuri smirked as she held out a piece of paper. Taeyeon snatched the paper and read it, her mouth dropping. Jessica had no doubt that it was the contract Yuri signed with uncle Noh, similar to the contract they signed not long ago.

"I want a room in the staff area," Yuri took advantage of the silence from the shock and continued. "Uncle Noh explained everything to me. I know you guys are staying here." She tilted her head towards the hallway.

Sooyoung grabbed the papers, gritting her teeth as she read through it. She was doing her best to pull herself together. The contract was not fake. Kwon Yuri wasn't lying, they couldn't chase her away.

"There are only four rooms for the staff, and they're all occupied," Sooyoung said. She knew this wouldn't stop Yuri from staying, but she didn't know better anymore.

"All four rooms are double bedrooms," Yuri calmly said. "I can move in with someone. I told you uncle Noh explained everything. You have no reason to send me away." She turned to Jessica, her voice turning more gentle. "I assume you're not sharing a room with anyone yet?"

Yuri's intention was clear. It made Taeyeon instinctively step in between her and Jessica, glaring at Yuri with full protectiveness for her best friend.

"I don't think it's a good idea," even Tiffany shook her head in disapproval this time.

Jessica put a hand on Taeyeon's shoulder, reassuringly, as if to say the shortie didn't need to worry.

"Sunny's driving back to the city. I will move in with Sooyoung," Jessica declared. "Our cook Hyoyeon's staying alone in her room."

"Yeah, we can't be that gruesome and put you with someone as innocent in one room," Taeyeon added sourly.

"You can have my room," Jessica said.

Yuri just shrugged. "That's fine with me." She picked up her suitcase and smiled at Jessica. "As long as I'm around you."

Jessica didn't say anything. She turned around and walked into the hallway, heading to the second last door on the left. Yuri followed.

"I can't believe uncle Noh did this to me," Sooyoung tilted her head upwards and sighed as Yuri and Jessica were out of sight.

"He probably didn't know what happened," Sunny said.

"I don't even know Yuri knew uncle Noh that well," the tall girl shook her head. "All I know was they knew the other was a friend of mine. Nothing more, nothing less. How did she manage to convince him selling the rest of his business?"

"Well, he would have thought he's helping you," Taeyeon argued. "Because he had the wrong idea that Yuri's still your trusted best friend."

"He's sold 45% of the business. Yuri's the one with the highest stock possession. He should have talked to me about it first!"

"Yuri's stock isn't that much of a problem. You and Sica still have 55% together," Sunny said. "As long as you two hold on together, Yuri can't overpower us."

"I hope so." Sooyoung sighed.

"Yuri won't," Tiffany spoke. "I have the feeling she isn't here to damage and destroy."

"That's what I think, too," Sunny nodded.

"You shouldn't be talking at all," Taeyeon snapped at Tiffany. "It's all your fault!"

"What?"

"If you hadn't asked for her to stay, we would have gotten rid of her already!"

"No, we wouldn't. She has the contract, remember?"

Taeyeon just huffed.

"Taetae, listen," Tiffany tried. "I couldn't say it earlier, not in front of Sica and Yuri. But… I have the feeling, Yuri's here because…" Tiffany hesitated. "Because she misses Jessica. For real."

"There's nothing real when it comes to Yuri's feelings," Sooyoung scowled. "How can you forget what she had done so easily?"

"I did not forget. It's just, you and Sica have to start from zero again. There is nothing Yuri can 'use' in you two right now. There is no other reason why she would be here. I… I kinda saw it in her eyes. Each time she looks at Jessica, she—"

"She's here to make our lives miserable!" Taeyeon lost her patience. She threw her hands into the air, yelling. "How can you be so naïve, Fany? She'll hurt Sica over and over again, and this time, I'm going to blame you!"

Taeyeon stomped away, not giving Tiffany the chance to defend herself.

"It's already started," Sooyoung cracked a sarcastic laugh. "Kwon Yuri's already breaking us apart." She then headed towards the hotel entrance and disappeared.

Sunny gave Tiffany a sad headshake before following Sooyoung. Tiffany was left alone in the lobby, heaving a tired sigh. But she still believed in what she'd seen.

----------

Yuri let her suitcase plump down onto the floor with a quiet thud. Jessica's room was surprisingly drab and simple, nothing like the room Yuri was used to in the Jung residence. The two single beds were brought together to a double one. It had the elegant dark brown color of the woods in front of the hotel, covered with plain white sheets, blankets and pillows, and leaned against the just as white wall that was facing the door. Across from it, the make-up table was sitting in the corner of the room. A dresser was on the left side, a medium-sized desk by the window. The room was all in all just a little bigger than a single bedroom; not quite the double bedroom Yuri had imagined.

"Give me five minutes," Jessica told Yuri. "I haven't unpacked much."

Why, Yuri wanted to ask, but restrained herself. Jessica had been here for over a week. Was she feeling uncomfortable in this room, or why didn't she unpack? Unless Jessica couldn't be bothered making it comfortable for herself.

"Have you been too busy?" Yuri caringly asked, watching as Jessica put her neatly folded clothes from the dresser into a bag.

"Kind of," Jessica replied curtly, as if to tell Yuri they weren't in the state to talk to each other like this yet.

"Well, I'm here now," Yuri ignored the hint. "I'll help out with what I can."

Jessica didn't answer. She went out wordlessly, clutching the bag in her hands. Yuri stayed in the room, knowing that Jessica would have to come back. She had not taken all her belongings yet.

Yuri approached the dresser and opened the standing side Jessica hadn't opened. A smile formed on Yuri's lips as she recognized the familiar dress collection. Jessica loved summer and dresses.

Yuri ran her finger along the fabric of a sky blue summer dress that was prettified with little white daisies. She smiled at the lovely image of Jessica wearing it. A bigger and more delightful smile crept on her face when she spotted Jessica's favorite dress. Or rather, her favorite to see Jessica wearing. It was a simple white silky dress, but it was magic, having the power to give Jessica wings and make her look like the most beautiful angel on earth. Yuri had loved the dress since the first time she saw it on Jessica; the day they were on the Chalk Peak.

Yuri found herself leaning into the closet, slowly inhaling Jessica's sweet and unique strawberry scent that she had missed so much. It felt so good. It felt as if she was holding Jessica close – something that would now only happen in her dreams, considering the unfavorable circumstances.

"Ehem," Jessica cleared her throat behind Yuri.

Yuri turned around and stepped aside. She didn't know how long Jessica had been standing there, nor could she read from Jessica's expression how much the girl had seen. Because Jessica wordlessly grabbed her dresses and marched away again, acting like she hadn't noticed the meaningful gesture of Yuri just now.

Yuri just smiled sadly at the empty closed. Was she disappointed? She shouldn't be. She had expected cold treatment beforehand, and this kind of attitude from everyone, including Jessica, was on her list. She should have been relieved to know she still understood people from her past well enough to tell what they would feel and do. She should have been relieved to know they hadn't changed, despite of the shock she had given them.

Yuri walked away from the now completely empty dresser and scanned the room for other familiar sights. She spotted a book next to the pillows on the bed and couldn't hold back a small chuckle. This was no doubt the Jessica she knew.

Jessica came back and caught Yuri smiling at her book. A feeling of sudden anger rushed through her, she couldn't quite explain why. Maybe it enraged her to see that she was exposed to Yuri once again, and the fact that Yuri was laughing over small and silly stuff of hers didn't make her heart flutter anymore.

Yuri watched as Jessica rushed to the bed, grabbing the book, then looking under the bed, grabbing an open box which Yuri realized was holding Jessica's favorite flats, and angrily stomping out of the room again.

Yuri didn't really mind the mad Jessica as she was smiling from ear to ear. She could never forget any of Jessica's fetishes, and the fetish for flats was one of them.

"Tiffany's pride, high heels. Jessica's pride, flats," Jessica had used to say.

Yuri wandered to the other side of the room, trying to find other familiarities that brought her little happiness before Jessica took them all away. She wore that smile to the make-up table, positive that she would find something. However, Yuri stopped in her tracks and the smile disappeared when she saw the silver box. She recognized it immediately. Jessica's jewelry box.

There was only one word that was put on replay mode in her mind. The Necklace.

Yuri approached the make-up table, her eyes glued to the silver box. She hadn't seen it on Jessica's bare neck earlier. It has to be here.

Yuri was about to reach out for the box and open it, but Jessica had returned in time. The blonde quickly walked straight over to the make-up table without looking at Yuri, putting everything, including the desired box, into the empty bag. Yuri watched with mild regret as Jessica swiftly made her way out again, as if she couldn't bear the atmosphere in here anymore.

"Sica…" Yuri decided quickly and grabbed Jessica's hand before the girl exited the room. Jessica stopped, but Yuri didn't know what she was supposed to say now. She acted without thinking properly. She couldn't possibly tell Jessica to show her the box.

There was a long silence. It wasn't until Yuri saw Jessica's jaw clenching from the side profile that she realized something was wrong.

Yuri's heart sank. "Are you… crying?"

"No!" Jessica's head snapped as her head turned around. She jerked her hand back, only to have Yuri holding onto it even more tightly.

"Sica, don't—"

Yuri stared into Jessica's red eyes as she was gripping the girl's trembling hand. Jessica was visibly fighting hard against the tears. It was wrong, yet it felt so right, too right, to have Yuri's hand holding hers like this.

"Sica!" Taeyeon's voice came from the doorway. The girl was standing there with crossed arms, glaring at Yuri.

Yuri immediately let go. Jessica turned around to the impatiently waiting Taeyeon and left without giving Yuri another look or word.

Yuri followed Jessica's figure disappearing with longing eyes, but she wasn't upset at the sudden leave. She knew it was better to let Jessica go this time; the girl definitely didn't want Yuri to see her cry. Yuri wasn't eager to see Jessica's tears either. She had seen what she needed to see. She had seen enough.

She had seen that Jessica hadn't changed, indeed. Jessica still read before going to sleep, Jessica still favored things that were white, Jessica still loved dresses, Jessica still preferred flats to high heels, and Jessica was still the same emotional girl.

And… Yuri's eyes formed a smile. Jessica still loved her.

There was no more need to see whether or not the girl was keeping the necklace to confirm that. Yuri knew that in the silver box, Jessica was saving her promise.