she can tell pie is happy with her decision.

when kim wakes up, she finds pie cooking at the stove with a phone pressed between her ear and shoulder. kim's eyes lingers on the woman who's wearing an oversized white shirt which she borrowed last night (she forgot to bring extra clothes due to the emergency) and a pair of shorts, her hair tied up in a messy bun.

"... prefer a fully furnished apartment ready for occupancy right away." a brief pause. "yes, i've looked online but yours is the best. and i'm glad you're very responsive." another pause. "yes, we'll be driving there after lunch. expect a call from me around four in the afternoon. thank you. i'll see you later."

kim keeps staring in silence, not wanting to interrupt. staring at pie still makes her heart flutters. although a huge part in her still feels empty and lifeless, but pie's mere presence warms up something inside like it's bringing out a light that's been buried in the darkness.

"gosh, you scared me!" pie jumps when she turns around to place the phone on the counter. "i didn't hear you get up."

kim stands there in silence, poker-faced.

"by the way, i found an apartment for you," says pie, turning back to the stove. "it's about fifteen minutes walk from my house. i know it's not that far but at least we could still look over you and you could still have some privacy to yourself." she turns off the stove and pours the contents into a bowl which kim identifies as one of her favourite breakfast. "i hope you're okay with transferring there this afternoon?"

kim thinks it is perfect. her mind is already tuning to the right frequency. this is what she wants, to have pie around her, to see pie every day. it would have been perfect, until she sees the band on pie's ring finger, reminding her of the painful reality.

yeah. pie is married and she vowed to protect and fight for their marriage despite the difficulty she and her husband are experiencing.

and pie stayed true to her words. they stayed platonic last night even after her confession about her feelings towards kim. pie spent the night on the couch and is always giving updates to her husband.

kim scoffs inside, secretly envying peter for getting this woman for his wife and for witnessing this view every morning.

every darn morning.

boy, he's one lucky guy.

"kim?"

kim blinks, realising there is a hanging question from pie.

"you okay?" pie asks.

kim nods.

"so, are you okay with us packing after lunch and transferring this afternoon?"

kim looks away and nods.

there was silence before pie finally lets out a small smile.

"i also informed conan. she was happy, saying she can finally breathe," she says, settling the food on the table. "let's eat? we still have to prepare your things so we can drive there after lunch."

saying no other word, kim sits down and fills her plate.

they eat in silence, and kim can feel pie's eyes on her from time to time.

---

she's not sure if being around pie is good for her or not.

"you need help there?" pie asks when she passes by kim's room and notices how the latter is having a hard time buttoning up her flannel with one hand.

kim hums, her eyes watching pie's hands button up her shirt all the way to the top.

"is it okay if i pack only your button-ups and some these flannels?" pie asks. "it will be easier for you to wear as it need not go over your head."

kim nods but she doesn't think pie saw it as the latter is busy fixing her collar.

"you honestly still look dashing even with a cast." pie smiles, fixing kim's hair this time. "this is so unfair."

kim's eyes remains glued to pie. she wonders in silence how the voices in her head seem to stop whenever the woman is around? her brain seems to switch back to normal mode just by merely seeing the pie around her apartment.

sensing the stares aimed at her, pie's eyes shifts to kim. they stared awkwardly for seconds before she steps back, blushing a little.

"i... uh... i need to continue packing your things," says pie, fingers reaching to play with her wedding ring. and without glancing at kim one more time, she walks out of the room.

kim stares at the now empty spot in front of her. as ironic as it sounds, pie's presence is bringing her pain too. the reality of pie having her own family still won't sit well in kim's mind.

kim took a deep breath, feeling the sharp pain in her shoulder.

if breathing would be this painful, then she wishes she'd just die. like seriously.

---

they were silent during the drive.

kim knows she should take advantage of this situation to talk to pie and bond with her. but she can't. not that she doesn't want to, it's just that she doesn't have the will or energy to do it.

everything around her looks dull and lifeless. she feels empty inside. she spends the entire drive looking out the window, looking for something or anything that can make her feel.

she knows pie's disappointed and worried about her lack of emotion and unresponsiveness. but that didn't stop the nurse from checking on her to make sure she's okay.

"this looks cosy." pie walks into the apartment and admires the interior. she turns to kim. "do you like it here?"

kim nods. why wouldn't she like it when pie is the one who picked this place for her?

pie's smile grows wide. she turns to the landlady. "we're taking this."

the landlady claps her hands. "perfect. thank you."

pie rummages through her bag. "by the way, here's the check for the down payment."

"pie..."

"yes?" pie looks a bit surprised because this is the first time kim talks to her first after the episode last night.

"i'm paying for this."

"no, kim. it's on us. it's the least we could do for you." pie hands a check to the landlady. "here you go. i'll be in touch with you again next month for the payment."

"thank you." the woman bows. "so, i'll leave you to it. don't hesitate to call me if you need help."

pie's phone rings after the woman leaves. she excuses herself to answer it.

kim walks around the unit to observe the place which will be her abode in the next few weeks (or months). this one isn't much different from the one she has in the city. there's the small living room with a comfy-looking couch, a kitchen on the side, a bedroom, and a bathroom.

kim goes to the kitchen first to inspect the drawers. it's supposed to be fully furnished, but there's no single knife or scissors in the shelves. could pie have asked the landlady to remove it?

she shakes her head and goes to the bedroom. from there, she can hear the small voice of pie from the balcony whom she knows is talking to her husband.

"yup... we're here now... i've already given the check for the down payment... she seems better now compared to last night... yes. i will go home soon... yeah. i miss you too..."

grunting, kim retreats to the living room. her eyes catches a piece of art hanging on the wall next to the couch.

it's an abstract painting of what seemed like two people standing in front of each other, kissing under the rain. lampposts were lit and the leaves above shone brightly.

kim's eyes zooms into how the woman's arms were wrapped around her lover, which reminds her of something and someone before.

'i always wanted to know how it feels to kiss under the rain...'

'i can wait for you as long as you want. but no matter what happens, be strong for us.'

a tap on her shoulder pulls kim out of the memory pool.

"hey. are you all right?" pie asks, worried. "i've called you for like twice now and you aren't responding."

"i'm... fine." blinking, kim tilts her head to stare at the painting once again. this painting gives her good feelings, and she wants to stay in that paradise longer.

the silence after tells kim that pie is looking at the painting too.

after a brief moment, pie moves and glances at her wristwatch. "i... uh... i need to pick katrien from school. i'll be back for dinner. will you be fine here alone?"

kim nods, eyes still at the painting. "don't worry."

there was dead air and kim can feel pie staring at her.

"so, i'll keep going. i'll see you later," says pie hesitantly.

not wanting to see pie walk away from her, kim keeps her eyes at the painting. she feels pie's hesitation to leave, but kim stands rooted to the ground, unmoving, as she lets the painting take her to a faraway memory.

pie's footsteps pads away from her, then the door opens and closes after.

kim stays still, hoping the painting would just swallow her alive.

---

kim flinches when she hears someone unlock the door.

"kim?" she hears pie's voice.

excitement builds up in her chest. she stands up from the study table to peek from the bedroom. pie is carrying a bag of takeout foods. she's also changed to a fresh pair of jeans and a shirt. to kim's surprise, there is another person in the room.

"kim!" katrien runs towards her.

kim's face brightens at the sight of the kid. she bends down to catch the flying kid towards her. "hey. i missed you..."

"i missed you too." katrien leans her head on kim's shoulder.

"katie, careful. kim's injured," says pie.

katrien pulls back. "i'm sorry. did i hurt you?"

"not at all." kim smiles, stroking the kid's hair. "so, how are you?"

"i got a perfect score in our quiz earlier!"

"oh, did you? that's nice."

"and then i recited a poem in front of the class... and they all clapped!"

"oh. really? is that a long poem?"

"this long..." katrien holds her hands out to show kim the length of the poem. "it was hard. but i'm glad i memorised it."

"wow. little katrien is so bright, huh?" kim pinches the kid's chin.

"also..." the kid pulls out something from her pocket and shows kim a heart origami. "the teacher taught us how to create a heart with a paper."

"wow." kim stares at the red origami handed to her. "what is this for?"

"it's for love, forgiveness, and acceptance. teacher said we can give it to people to tell them we love them and we forgive them!"

kim smiles at the kid. "that's nice. i'm glad you're doing well in school."

"daddy says i can be a doctor someday if i keep studying hard."

"mmm-mmm. and do you want to be a doctor like him?"

"i want to."

"why?"

"it's because you always get hurt because of me." katrien pouts. "i want to be the one to take care of you next time."

melting at katrien's words, kim pulls the kid for a hug. "it's not your fault. things just happen. but i'm glad you want to take care of me. thank you."

"i don't want you to get hurt anymore," says katrien. "please take care of yourself."

"i will." kim looks up at pie who's eagerly looking at them with an expression that is a combination of surprise and wonder. "you okay?"

pie blinks. "umm. yeah. i just..." she raises the takeout bags. "don't you two want to have dinner first?"

kim smiles. "yeah. dinner sounds great."

---

"mommy! look! look!"

pie is washing the dishes when her daughter comes up to her holding a sketchbook. "hey, sweetie. what's that?"

"it's kim's! found it on her study table." the kid flips the pages. "look! she draws really well, mommy!"

pie scans the pages as her daughter flips it for her to see. "wow."

kim steps out of the bedroom. "katie, don't brag about it. i'm not good. i was just randomly sketching."

"these are actually good," says pie. "is this what you've been doing after i left earlier?"

"yeah. it's still hard though cos i can't hold the pad in place with my left hand."

"i want to draw too, mommy!" says katrien, excited. "kim, can you teach me?"

"it'll be my pleasure, little princess." kim slightly bows. "shall we start now with our lesson? we don't want to bother your mommy while she's busy."

katrien jumps. "yes, please!"

kim glances at pie who's giving the same expression again like earlier.

"we'll be in the bedroom," says kim.

pie nods, and lets out a small smile. "enjoy."

---

"katie seems to positively affect her, jane..."

kim turns her head to the small window in the bedroom when she hears pie's voice from the balcony.

"i don't know how or why but when she saw katie earlier her face lits up and it's like life has been restored inside of her," pie adds. "no. she hasn't been talking to me since last night. it's either she doesn't talk or she'll give me a two-worded response. but when katie came, she's back now to her usual self."

kim looks at the kid who is sleeping the bed and fixes the blanket over the little girl's body.

"i don't know how peter will react to this. he'll be back here tomorrow and i'm sure katrien will tell him what we did today." pie pauses. "no, i don't have issues of bringing katie here. besides, my kid wants to see and be with kim. i won't deny her that opportunity." another pause. "yeah. i know. i just..." there's a sigh and a sharp inhale after. "anyway, my concern is kim's recovery. i'll be checking on her before and after work. will you be able to visit her daily? bring her lunch or something?"

kim's attention diverts to the voices arguing outside the apartment room.

she goes out of the bedroom to check the peephole in the front door. and yes, two people are standing just outside her door.

"i don't want to see your face here again, you hear me?" says the woman.

"fine," says the man. "you're not even good. you're just a waste of my time and money."

"asshole!" the woman walks back to her room and slams the door hard the walls actually shake.

since the show is over, kim steps back into the living room and sees pie.

"hey. why are you at the door?" pie asks.

"neighbours were fighting," says kim. "had to check."

"ahh. that must have been the masseuse tenant the landlady was talking about."

"masseuse?"

"yeah. and her room is right next to ours... i meant, yours," says pie. "the landlady told me this woman brings a lot her clients for private massage."

"oh."

"by the way, where's katrien?" pie asks. "she fell asleep, didn't she?"

"she did."

"i'm sorry if she's talking a portion of your bed."

"it's fine. are you two staying for the night?"

pie looks at her watch and sighs. "it's past her bedtime and i wouldn't want to wake her up. will it be all right with you if we stay here? we'll just leave early so we can go home to prepare for school and work."

"yeah. sure. you're the one paying for this place so you can do anything you like. would you like to take the room? the couch looks comfy to me."

pie shakes her head. "no. you're still injured. you sleep beside katrien tonight. i'll take the couch."

"okay." kim nods. "i'll go to bed now."

"go ahead. goodnight."

"likewise."

"um. kim?"

"yeah?"

pie doesn't speak right a way, but she's giving that look, the look kim knows is meant only for her. "i'm glad you're getting better now."

not knowing what to say, kim just nods and continues walking to the bedroom.

---

it's around ten in the morning and kim's starting to get bored. jane will come around lunchtime with some foods.

her creative juices are depleted at the moment, and nothing on the tv is interesting enough to watch.

so she steps out of the room and stays in the hallway, staring at the parking lot below, looking at people.

nothing is going on her mind now. no voices, no pain. nothing. and for the first time in days, she was finally able to get a full sleep last night.

she turns her head to the side when the door to her neighbour room creaked open. a long-haired woman in black shorts and tank top went out with a phone against her ear.

"... okay, can you hear me better now? yeah. i'm available today. what time would you want me there?"

the woman stands near kim, an arm over the railing. kim looks away when the woman glances at her.

"got that," says the woman. "just to clarify, it'll be pure massage, okay? no kinky stuff at all. cool. see you in the afternoon."

kim had to repress a chuckle from coming out.

"hi, neighbour," says the woman, her voice cheery. "were you the one who transferred here yesterday?"

kim nods. "yes."

"what happened to your arm?"

"accident." kim touches her shoulder. "the cast extends to the arm for quicker healing i guess."

the woman stares at kim intently. "is it just me or you look familiar?" the woman stares longer, her eyes squinting. she finally covers her mouth with a hand. "oh, my god! you're not kim buranaphan, are you?"

kim smiles and blushes.

"my goodness! what did i do to deserve a talk with you today?" the woman offers her hand. "it's a pleasure to be neighbours with you!"

"pleasure's all mine." kim shakes the woman's hand. "i believe you haven't mentioned your name yet."

the woman smiles widely. "my name is dee, and it's nice to meet you."