Tell Me Again, My Love

"Mika," Ryn suddenly spoke just when her best friend parked the car. 

"Hmm…?"

"We need to leave early. I have a program to attend tomorrow morning."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Mika frowned.

"I forgot," Ryn shrugged. It was not the first time she had a late night and then the next morning she had to get out early. Hence, when Mika requested her to follow along, she did not have any qualm to agree and join her best friend. 

Besides, knowing Mika, this friend must be quite close or Mika would not bother to attend. She would prefer to spend time with Jason, her newlywed husband than spending the time outside at someone's launching program. Well, unless it was for charity or under the parents' or in-law's request.

"But I thought we could spend the night till early morning," Mika whɨnėd.

"And let your hubby blame me for 'kidnapping' you?" Ryn pointed out dryly. Before marrying her, Jason could accept that Mika would want to spend the night with Ryn with her never-ending pajama party but once married, he would want to have his wife with him all the time. Ryn did not want to be wrongly accused of separating these two lovebirds.

"Ryn~"

Ryn rubbed Mika's arm before she got out of the car. "Let's go. You don't want to be late for the launch."

Mika pouted. But when she saw that Ryn had no plan to coax her, she ġrȯȧnėd and quickly reached for her bag. She made sure the engine was off and then got out of the car, locked the car, and hurriedly walked to catch up with her best friend.

Ryn hid a smile when Mika wrapped her arm around hers. She glanced at her, "Smile."

"Hmph..."

Ryn giggled. She rubbed Mika's arm to soothe her best friend. "I promise I will clear one day to spend time with you."

"Really?" Mika gave her a suspicious look. She knew that manager of Ryn would fill Ryn's schedule if she was allowed to. Only because the practical training a mandatory for Ryn to graduate, did she have to control herself and stopped accepting any request for work. While Ryn hasn't started her training, that manager has arranged work for Ryn until the last day, it seemed. Tomorrow was the perfect example. Should Ryn put her feet down and tell that manager to keep Ryn's calendar clear until the end of the practical training?

The pair entered the club after Mika showed her invitation card. They were led into the VIP section where the other guests were gathering. Mika greeted those she knew and used the chance to introduce Ryn to those who did not know Ryn. 

Ryn smiled and greeted them. She let her best friend lead the talking, just kept quiet, and only spoke when needed. 

Mika was chatting happily with two of the guests with Ryn standing beside her faithfully. Ryn could not help glancing around and saw a table full of food. Her eyes lit up and her lips curled into a true smile.

Finally, something to do.

Ryn looked at her best friend but Mika was too engrossed with her chat with the two women. Ryn's twitched her lips and thought a few seconds before she made up her mind and went to the table. 

She looked at the selection provided and smiled happily. So many foods to choose from. And there was even a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks too. .

She took a plate and started to choose what she wanted to try. She glanced at where Mika was after her plate was full halfway. Mika did not seem to notice that she has moved away from her. Ryn shrugged and continued filling the empty space on the plate happily.

She chose a glass of cola to pair with her food and looked for a place to sit. She did not want to eat while standing and it was uncomfortable trying to eat while holding a glass. 

"You do know the reason we come here is to socialize?" Mika asked dryly as she looked at the food on Ryn's plate and chose one. She was hungry but too lazy to go and pick food from the buffet.

"I'm here to accompany you, remember?" Ryn retorted as she handed her still-filled plate for Mika to choose easier.

Mika rolled her eyes. She thought she could depend on Ryn for the conversation but her best friend preferred eating to talking. It was as if she did not care about anything else but eating. How did she survive mingling with other models and prospective 'employers' if all she did is eating when they were supposed to have small talks during business lunch or dinner?

Sigh.

She was as she was. No one could change her. 

Mika did try.

She tried to train her to one day become the Madam of Long's family.

But she guessed the responsibility would fall on her mother and grandmother's shoulders once Ryn officially joined their happy family.

They cleaned the plate in no time before Mika dragged her best friend to meet her friend. Mika hasn't talked to her when she saw how busy her friend was. 

"This is Ryn, my best friend. Ryn, this is Lori," Mika introduced.

"Hello. Congratulation for the launch of this club," Ryn shook her hand with a smile.

"Thank you," Lori wanted so much to say that she doesn't expect Ryn to be so tall. Standing side by side with the petite Mika, it was so obvious the difference between their height.

Again, Ryn became the quiet partner as she stood beside Mika obediently while Mika chatted with Lori. Ryn accepted another glass of wine as she waited for Mika to be done. Although she told Mika earlier that they needed to leave early, not once did Ryn check her phone for time or remind Mika about it. 

She knew apart from socializing, Mika came here to reconnect with her friends too. Knowing her best friend, it was rare for Mika to meet other friends apart from her. Ryn had no idea why the lack of interest for Mika to spend time with her other friends but she had no complaints at all. It was, in her opinion, Mika's life. 

Treat others by how you want others to treat you. She hated it when people try to control her hence she would not try to control others.

Mika congratulated Lori again after about five minutes of chatting before she pulled Ryn to meet with others. Mindful that she would need to drive later, Ryn stuck to just one glass of fruit wine. She was just holding it while standing beside Mika.

It was almost midnight when they said their goodbye and leave. Ryn sat in the driver's seat while Mika sat drunkenly beside her. Ryn glanced at her best friend speechlessly. This best friend of hers drank so much until become so wasted. Luckily Mika already informed her to be the driver before they arrived at the club so she was mindful of the amount of alcohol she drank.

It was so late at night and Ryn actually did not know how to go to Mika's place, which was her in-law's mansion. For the time being, according to Mika, she and Jason stayed at the mansion until the renovation for their house was done. Yes, Jason actually bought a house for them for 'nesting' but there was a little bit more renovation before they could move in officially. Ryn did ask where it was so she could help with the moving but Mika still refused to say where it was. As she would follow Jeremy for the tour for several months, she could no longer help Mika and Jason with the moving.

As she did not know the mansion's address and she did not think it was appropriate to call Jason for an address this late at night, Ryn decided to bring Mika to her place. Besides, the bed was big enough for the two of them.

Ryn checked the time when the car reached the destination and sighed heavily.. It seemed like tomorrow she would need to drink a lot of caffeine to stay awake during the program.