A/N:

The Wise Monkey's POV:

Soojin wondered why she agreed to meet up with Ateez again on a time flexible to just them. It annoyed her that now she and Sooyoung both had to leave work behind to make it to the meeting. The girls' mom is interacting with a regular customer, now stepped out from her work as a cashier behind the counter being aware of her girls' soon-to-be departure. Mrs Ahn does the co-managerial work with Soojin in the restaurant, along with being the cashier. The girls' temporary absence will be filled out, the backups are on the way and that's what Soojin is waiting for as she leans against the wall and absentmindedly watches her mom working.

Their family has come a long way in managing this restaurant without the presence of the father since he passed away. It was Soojin's grandpa who started the restaurant business first. The man was a dignified noodle chef in Japan once, he then came back to Korea and started his expertise here, taught his son the work who in turn passed it on to his eldest born. Soojin now is skilled in everything she learned from her preceding generations, almost; she can still make hand-pulled noodles but just not as perfect as her appa's, besides, they don't serve that in the restaurant anyway.

Anyway. The backups Soojin is waiting for...

The two boys who are to cover would only replace Sooyoung, though, so it's gonna be a staff extra tonight in the girls' absence. Well, Sooyoung does the jobs of taking orders and cleaning in the dining area of the restaurant, and the boys would only be skilled enough to replace that particular job's vacancy; Since Soojin works within the hot confines of the kitchen, she cooks. They already have a main cook who learned all the recipes from Soojin's dad. Soojin just helps, in the evening after she's done with her university.

It's again on a night, like her first Soojin-to-Ateez meeting with the boys. Sooyoung suggested dropping by home first to change into something better before leaving for the meeting at the antique store. Their clothes could be carrying the scent of the kitchen, she reasoned. Soojin simply dismissed. She didn't care now anymore if she smelt like spices and aromatics. It's one of the positive transformations in her she managed to hold onto after that whole Daisy-creation task of mine. Why has she always been conscious about it and physically distanced herself from people because of some mere bullies from her childhood? Why should she? If anyone feels uncomfortable, it's on them, they should distance themselves. She doesn't wanna be considerate enough to be the one to deliberately avoid any discomfort to others who're always strangers( she doesn't have friends).

Besides, smelling like good food is way better than smelling rotten because of improper hygiene, she reasoned with Sooyoung. When she did encounter proximity to a few people during her life as Daisy, Soojin learned people didn't desperately care how they smelled; she was closely around sweating dudes and their stench a lot then, so she now knows.

But, ironically, when Sooyoung asked if her sister at least wanted to borrow her pocket perfume, Soojin was quick to accept it.

The door opens and two young boys enter the restaurant, one of them eagerly yelling, "We are here!"

And that loud one is Soojin and Sooyoung's cousin, Lee Donghyuck. Beside him is one of his many friends, Na Jaemin.

"Of all your friends, you decided to bring the lazy one?" Soojin says to her cousin, rolling her eyes. "Could've brought that other one, the co-tutor." Jaemin blankly stands and Donghyuck doesn't bother to reply. No one is offended but Sooyoung decides to still be the polite one.

"You cannot say like that, he came to help," she says to her sister. "And thank God, he didn't bring the other one," she very lowly mutters the last sentence to herself.

"Yeah, don't take any offence," Soojin says. "But it's true that you're lazy."

Jaemin lazily shrugs.

"And it's not 'help' when I have to pay them with food," Soojin justifies. "You know it, no family or friends in—"

"—in business," her cousin completes.

Donghyuck, a university student, lives with his friends in the university dormitory a few minutes away from the restaurant. Whenever the boy gets tired of the boring, healthy, homely dorm meals, he comes down here to eat— the comfort food that Soojin makes and what Soojin makes only— in exchange for providing help with the work. And he never comes alone, the boy is as extroverted as they come; always brings one of his many friends along.

"So where you going?" he asks. He makes a suggestive, teasing face. "Is that your 'uni batchmates' who came here last time?"

"What is with you?" Soojin makes a disgusted face.

"Do you know something?" Sooyoung asks her oppa, her gaze narrowing in scrutiny.

"I saw you on a video call that day, noona. And news flash, Youngie, they didn't look like just some fellow nerdy fellas like her. Rather, a bunch of models. You made some boyfriend, noona? Or are you planning to involve with one of 'em?" Donghyuck wriggles his brows.

"Ooo, sexy," Jaemin says. From what I've learned, the boy has a habit of saying that word more than it needs to be done.

"Shut up—"

One of the regulars who very much liked eavesdropping says to Mrs Ahn who's serving her. "Your elder one got a boyfriend?"

"You have a boyfriend?" the girls' mom snaps her neck speedily and rushes to Soojin's side. "Did I hear that right?"

The woman was desperate to see her daughter have a lover for once. Unlike any other mother of a 22-year-old child of youth, this mom's dying wish would be to see her kid at least have even an unmarried relationship with someone before she closes her eyes for the eternal sleep. Sooyoung, on the other hand, wasn't allowed to have any boyfriend, eomma Ahn had instructed the girl. Of course, knowing the girl, the woman was already assuming that her girl probably already had a boyfriend and didn't tell her. But that's okay, her intention was never to stop her daughter anyway. It's just that, now, fearing her mother, Sooyoung would only handle her relationship outside of her work, studies or family time and still go on with the regular life and chores without being sketchy. The girl can never use the excuse of her relationship for any possible slacking off in her studies and work.

"You really think she has a boyfriend?" Sooyoung amusedly says. "That's funny, eomma. Also, why would she take me with her if she's going to meet her man? Think about it."

"Oh right, I forgot about that, there's a lot of work that goes into even just crushing on someone, you're not cut out for it, noona," Donghuck says and turns towards his aunt. "Sorry, imo, it's a false alarm."

"You shut up, boy," Mrs Ahn tells her nephew and turns to Soojin, patting her shoulder. "I believe in you, my child. Fighting!" She goes back to resume her work.

"Now, where's our food?" Donghyuck asks.

"We're just leaving, you monkey, I'll make it when I'll come back. Get to work!" Soojin says.

"Aahh, but it'll be late then. And we need some energy to work," Donghuck then points at his friend who stands uninterestedly with his hands in his pocket. "And this guy, he could faint any minute now, he definitely needs some energy in his system."

Donghyuck nudges his friend and Jaemin nods in a child-like manner. "Please, noona."

"Pleaseee," Donghyuck says, attempting at his own portrayal of some aegyo.

"Yeah, I kinda wanna eat before we leave too," Sooyoung says. "Pwease."

Soojin doesn't want to admit it, but in her heart, she knows that she finds the three younger ones adorable.

"Fine! I'm making the easiest thing, I don't have time. Don't tell me it's not good then."

"Like that ever happens anyway," Sooyoung says.

.

.

.

Seonghwa isn't exactly thrilled about meeting Soojin again. He knows it'd be very uncomfortable for him; the last meeting was. It was a good sign that Soojin was equally adept at avoiding his eyes as him. Yeah, he was supposed to be avoiding the eyes, but he did steal glances at the girl when she wasn't looking. It was the only thing of relief about that meeting: Soojin didn't seem to show any signs of heartbreak and longing towards the man. They both are equivalent to a couple who broke up even though there wasn't actually an official break up. He's glad Soojin's smart enough to catch up on that, or she was simply smart enough to discard their whole previous relationship as just but a dream.

But when Seonghwa looked at Soojin, it wasn't just the discomfort he was feeling, there were many emotions: guilt, shame, disgust, anger, dejection and yet longingness. He was confused; he still is confused. He can't decide if he even wants to go to the antique store today. His thoughts were all overlapping and scribbling in his brain. Hence how he now ended up watching fancams of himself quietly in his room to get his mind off of it.

A few two metres away from him, Jongho's sitting on the couch in the living room of their dormitory, patiently waiting, lost in his thoughts. He was thinking how each of his hyungs seems better now that the mystery of their dreams is almost sought, they are all especially elated to know that Daisy actually exists in this real world. He could see and feel the positive change on them. Mingi, for example, claimed that he'll soon be ending the therapy sessions he takes; he openly expressed how the whole revelation felt as if a rock has been unloaded off of his chest.

But nothing ever comes for free. With their relief and lessening stress and anxiety, also came the negative factors of rejection and its dejection, and the underlying frustration of not expressing and passing off those emotions as nothing. His hyungs were obviously disheartened to learn that their friend of the past no more wanted to pursue that relationship with them, but none of them shows and talks about it. Jongho figured that getting rejected for friendship by a friend is actually worse than getting rejected for a romantic relationship like he had experienced.

Romantic relationship with Soojin: Jongho wondered how it'd have been if Daisy had accepted him. He'd have been in Seonghwa's shoes right now. Not quite exactly, he would still like Soojin( it's the same person as Daisy inside, that's what he believed) and pursue her, instead of not acknowledging it like his hyung. But then his hyung's circumstances are really different; if Jongho was exactly in Seonghwa shoes, he'd be very confused too.

But he'd never be. Daisy was the first-ever girl Jongho was seriously crushing on. He was very sober about it. So much so that when he woke up from his dream of an AZ Fella to the real, legitimate, Ateez member Jongho, he still liked to think about the girl and looked forward to his next sleep and the chance to meet her. He was fascinated by the girl from his dream in his reality too. But unfortunately, that fascination took a blow to the head when the dreams ended. And now that the girl's actually back and alive and breathing, he doesn't really know how to feel. Whether he should resume liking her, or accept that he never really stopped liking her at all. To stop the feelings and ignore it all like his Seonghwa hyung is doing never seems like a legitimate option to Jongho.

San joins Jongho in the room, seating himself by the maknae's side, all dolled up and ready to go out. "You're already ready? I thought I was the first one," San says.

The front door opens and Hongjoong walks in. "You guys received the message, right?" he asks the two. A few hours ago was when they received a short, impromptu message from the leader in the group chat notifying them that the meeting was fixed for tonight.

Seonghwa and Yeosang drag themselves out of their rooms knowing that the leader is back.

"I didn't bother to call and make sure each of you knew. Those who want to join can come," Hongjoong says. "Those who're going can fill in to the rest later."

The front door opens again and the Jung boys and Mingi walk in.

"Oh?" Hongjoong says. "You guys weren't here?"

"Nah," Wooyoung answers. "We saw the message and we left. We were actually just behind you when you left the company building."

Hongjoong nods. "So.. who's coming?"

"To that antique store?" Mingi asks. "Aren't we all going?"

"It's a choice."

"Why? I'm sure everyone wants to come," Wooyoung says. "I'm going for sure. I wanna see it all for myself."

"Yeah, me too." "Me too." Yunho and Mingi say.

"We're both already ready," San says for himself and the maknae.

Hongjoong looks at Seonghwa.

"I'll come too," the oldest says.

"So I was wrong. Everyone seems to want to go, I see," the leader says and they all nod, some a lot more eagerly and dramatic than one particular hesitant counterpart of them.

"Okay then, let's go."

.

.

.

The sisters are walking to the nearest parking area to the antique store. Just seconds ago, Soojin received a text from Ateez claiming they're waiting there. For a person who doesn't like attention on herself, she was a bit nervous about walking to the store along with celebrities. Of course, they'd be dressed appropriate enough to not stand out, but you know, fans, no matter what, they still recognize you.

But apart from that reason, she wasn't nervous about facing the boys again, oddly. She is as calm as she can be. Maybe she cried away all her bottled emotions and pain the last time she met them, or maybe it's just a 'mood' thing, the last time she was very angsty and maybe today she's just in a good mood in general. But I'll tell you what exactly it is. Soojin's bored of this human emotions game. She already kind of regrets being pathetically stupid and guided by emotions in the previous meeting. She could have just let it go the natural way, could have told them that she's still a friend, maybe exchanged numbers to barely wish each other on just birthdays and holidays. It's just as meaningless but without the look of hurt on their faces. For an easygoing( according to her) person, she let too many emotions and drama into her decisions that day and it annoys her now.

Sooyoung spots a car with silhouettes of people inside at a few metres' distance. "I think that might be them," she says. One of the silhouettes seems to turn towards them. And then the car door opens.

"Cool. We found 'em," she says as she sees Jongho getting out of it and waving. Sooyoung waves back, and surprisingly to Jongho and the other boys inside, Soojin does too.

The rest of Ateez get out of the car just as the girls reach them. They all exchange their greetings.

"Let's go!" Sooyoung chimes and turns back to walk towards a street and everyone follows.

The walk is very silent. And Soojin did not expect that at all. Sooyoung's a chatty girl and the boys are just too much in number, and not to forget, the majority of them extroverted or just chatty in general, to be so quiet. While her sister must be just too busy leading them all and overly excited to either see her crush or find out about the mystery, Soojin assumed the guys are now just too awkward around her to speak.

"Funny how silent it is now," Soojin says. "I did not expect to have a walk along with Ateez and have like this..deafening silence while doing so." She tilts her head back just a bit to see their reaction and the one directly behind her happened to be Park Seonghwa. Their eyes meet for just a second and then he averts his eyes quickly as he innocently blinks, again glancing at her to confirm if she's noticing him but he ends up taking in her glory as she openly rolls her eyes at his act. Seonghwa's eyes widen and his face heats up as Yunho, among the others who were witnessing the eyeroll amusedly, cracks up at the situation.

Soojin completely turns around, facing the boys and walking backwards as the group proceeded, and with her hands in the pocket of her hoodie and a bored expression on her face, she begins. "You know....when I..."

Everyone's eyes and attention is on the girl, amused to see her being so confident and daringly initiate a talk with them, and goofy as she walks backwards so coolly. Well, everyone's except for Sooyoung who was only relying on her ears to be aware, she is leading them all after all, exactly why Soojin's so confident with this stunt on the street. To the boys, Soojin seems calm and lighthearted today, it's as if she's a friend of them, just like the old times, her ways, her dressing, her attitude, all but just the minor changes in physical appearance. If they didn't see the similarity of her to Daisy, they surely do now— well, they see Daisy in front of them, Daisy who isn't still their neighbour and a friend. Jongho just thinks that the girl is charming as she faces them, a small curve forming on his lips, anticipating more words from her.

"...when I said we wouldn't continue being 'friends' friends with each other," she does the quotation sign with her fingers as she enunciates 'friends'. "I didn't mean we have to ignore each other and be awkward as hell with them if we ever run into each other. We still know each other so we're acquaintances. Even friends who fall out of friendship after, suppose their middle school or something, or couples who are separated, when they run into each other don't avert their eyes," she glances at Seonghwa. "but acknowledge each other with a smile, or a nod, or sometimes even catch up with life. And I just last met you, like, days ago."

Some of them guiltily clear their thoughts, or nods or hums. "I mean," Soojin continues. "you don't even have to do small talk with me, but at least be yourselves and talk to each other. I refuse to believe that when you all walk together, you just tend to stay quiet. But hey, it's your choice again, you do you. I'm not complaining, just letting you know I'm not all that weirdo you just met days ago and I don't mind general talks."