pie keeps spending her nights in kim's apartment, except for when she's working night shift. she usually goes there when she's sure katrien's asleep and they will get up in the wee hours of the morning so pie can come home for her daughter while kim drives back to the city for her work.

the agreed set up seems to work for them, at least during the first few weeks. but it starts getting harder after a little while.

there are many reasons, most often because of kim's busy schedule where she's forced to stay in the city. problem is, when she could finally get time for herself, it's pie who isn't available.

"i'm sorry, kim. i can't come tonight. katie's running with a fever and i don't want to leave her alone with mom."

kim's out in the hallway of her apartment for better reception. her mood drops after hearing pie's voice on the other line.

"it's okay. katie's condition is way more important," she says. "if anything urgent comes up, call me, okay?"

"i will." she hears pie sighs. "i miss you."

"i miss you too. but don't worry, we'll catch up once katie's feeling better."

"thank you. thanks for understanding. by the way, i still need to check her temperature. speak soon. i love you."

"i love you too." the next thing kim hears is a dead line.

"trouble in paradise?"

kim turns and and sees dee. "hey. just got back from work?"

"yup. how are you? why do you look like you've been robbed off sex?"

kim laughs.

dee stands beside kim, her door keys rattling in her hands. "let me guess, she ain't coming tonight, is she?"

kim shakes her head. "katie's sick."

"oh. poor kid. i hope it's nothing serious."

"just some fever. but since pie's a nurse, she's doing the nursing thing to the maximum level."

dee smirks and looks down at the parking lot. "can't compete with the child, eh? i think that was the reason my step-dad resented me. i was a sickly kid. and whenever i am down, i am always mom's priority, not him."

kim let's out a small smile. "it's fine. i love the kid too."

"i'm sorry. i didn't mean for it to sound negative."

"don't worry." kim waves a hand quickly. "it's just that spending quality time together has been hard these past few days. my schedule got hectic and i sometimes need to stay in the city for a night or two if there are urgent matters i need to attend to. and pie, well, we can't see each other if she's with katie. i don't want to start any issue between them. but i miss her so much now." she exhales.

"i'm sure pie misses you too in the same way. if not, even more," dee says. "she's really head-over-heels for you. you're one lucky doofus."

kim smiles when dee playfully punches her. "how about you, how are you?"

"fine. the salary you're giving me from the foundation really helps. i have declined some private massage clients."

"that's good to hear. still saving up to pay off your step-dad?"

dee nods. "i called my mom yesterday. she says there's no need for me to pay him. but i still want to. and she's happy when i told her about the foundation. thanks to you."

"wouldn't have done it without you." kim taps dee. "i should be the one thanking you."

dee smiles. "care for a beer?"

"sure. pie won't be coming over anyway. besides, i haven't seen your pussy in a while."

dee laughs. "dammit! that sounds really funny!"

"you're the one who started it."

"i know. i know. let's go in now." dee gestures to her door. "i'm sure my pussy misses you already."

---

kim parks her car just outside the mindara compound. she pulls out her phone to message pie that she's already outside.

it didn't take long for pie to appear. but instead of walking to the shotgun seat, she opens the door on the driver's side and kim wonders why.

"pie--" kim stops when pie suddenly slips in to sit on her lap, straddling her and closing the door after. "oh..."

still not saying any word, pie cups kim's face and kisses her, pressing their bodies together. the two made out in the car. kim's secretly thankful that her glasses are tinted.

in between their heated exchange, kim adjusts the seat back and reclines so pie can settle more comfortably.

they continued kissing until they had to break apart as the need for air becomes unbearable.

"that..." kim's panting. "that was hot..."

"i missed you so much." pie kisses her again. it lingers for a moment before she pulls back. "i missed you."

"i missed you too."

"what time's your flight again? can you stay for a few minutes?"

"it's in six hours." kim pulls pie to her chest. "sure. that's what i'm thinking when you told me you wanted to see me before i leave."

pie sighs, her body relaxing in kim's embrace. "i really miss you..."

"i'm sorry if i have to be away. but it'll be just for a few days."

"i don't like that we won't be seeing each other again for days." pie pouts. "we haven't been spending much time together because i was busy with katrien lately."

"i'll be back as soon as i can. i promise. i won't be away for months like before when i was in aef. it's only for three days, honey."

"but you're with suzy..."

"you know it's business matters," says kim, kissing the top of pie's head. "that travel agency is popular in japan and i heard the ceo's a big fan of suzy. i want to get this deal for the yeosan hotel we're building, so we can provide more jobs there too. conan and hongyok will come along."

"but those two are a couple which means you'll get stucked with suzy."

kim exhales.

"look, i trust you, okay?" pie raises her head to look at kim. "but if that suzy ever tries to seduce you, i'll cut her face with a scalpel."

"chill." kim chuckles. "we won't be sharing a room. and i'll come back home as soon as we're done with the meeting."

pie nods as her hand reach for kim's face, her fingers tracing her lover's jaw. "please take care, okay?"

kim kisses pie's hand. "i will. i love you."

pie says her 'i love you too' by leaning in and kissing kim again.

---

their short and hot make-out session in her car lingered in kim's mind the entire duration of her flight to japan.

she feels giddy inside, knowing that there's someone out there, and it's still pie, who loves her and cares for her deeply.

the thought of it makes kim feel like she's falling in love for the first time all over again, and she can't wait to go back home into pie's arms.

she called pie after they've landed and called her again after kim got into the hotel room.

pie falls asleep that night during the call, listening to kim's stories about her sau days.

---

saying they miss each other is an understatement.

after over a week of barely seeing each other, kim and pie made sure their schedules are cleared for the night after the former got back from her japan trip earlier.

pie jumps up onto kim's waist when the apartment door opens. the impact pushed kim backwards but she doesn't care. if being away for a few days meant getting home to a hungry girlfriend like this, then missing each other is all worth it.

with her emotions taking over her whole being, kim then carries pie straight into the bedroom while the other woman is busy snogging her. they drop on the bed together and is all over each other.

it didn't take long before kim's hands get braver, slipping under the shirt to cup girlfriend's bumps.

and pie's moan tells her she can continue with whatever she has in mind.

so she fondles the woman's bosoms, making pie arch her back.

"kim..." pie's hand grasps the back of kim's neck. "uh..."

"yes?" kim asks. "i'm still not allowed beyond this, right?"

pie shakes her head even though she looks like she wants more.

"well, at least this is progress." she pulls her hands and fixes pie's blouse.

pie laughs. "why are you saying it like i am not allowing you to go sexual on me? am i really giving you a hard time?"

"well, sort of." kim admits with a shrug. "but don't worry. i totally respect your decision about us not going down that road yet. i'm just checking how far can i go."

"i'm surprised this is the first time you've done this in weeks."

"it's because i missed you so much. and also, i'm checking how they are." she playfully runs her fingers along the woman's chest.

pie chuckles. "i can assure you they are just fine."

"well, i haven't seen them for a long time..."

"then why don't you look at them with your own eyes?"

kim's eyes widen.

pie laughs again. "why do you look surprised?"

kim blinks first while processing what she heard. "well... i..."

pie's phone suddenly rings and they both look at the bedside table. kim reaches out for the phone and hands it over to pie after seeing the latter's mom calling.

she gets off from the woman so pie can sit up to answer the phone.

"mom? oh. katie, baby, what's wrong?" pie looks at kim. "umm. mommy went out to buy something. no, i don't have work tonight. oh, you're having a nasty dream? sure, i'll come home now." she holds kim's hand. "yes, baby. i'll see you in a few."

kim just holds her girlfriend's hand back knowing their time together tonight will be cut short again.

pie eventually hangs up and shoots kim an apologetic look.

"let me at least drive you back," kim says. "i know it's about fifteen minutes walk but i won't allow you to walk alone at this hour."

pie looks down and plays with kim's hand. "i'm sorry."

"it's okay. she needs you."

"do you want to come with me instead? you can stay in my room while i put katie back to sleep."

kim inhales. "tempting, really. but you won't be able to concentrate if i'm there. just sleep beside your daughter tonight, hmm?" she caresses pie's cheek.

pie closes her eyes and sighs. "i'm really sorry."

"hey. don't be. it's katie we're talking about here. i love your kid too and i wouldn't let her alone in fear tonight, you hear me?"

pie nods.

"okay. now off we go." kim stands up and picks her car keys. "we can catch up tomorrow, anyway."

"i... we can't tomorrow..." says pie, looking more guilty now. "it's her aunt's--peter's sister--birthday. she invited us to stay over for the night."

"oh." kim remembers how pie was happy knowing her relationship with her sister-in-law wasn't affected by what happened between her and peter. "then i'll just stay in the city tomorrow since i have classes to attend to in the evening."

pie covers her face with her palms. "i'm really sorry this is happening. believe me, i want to be with you."

kim stands beside pie and pulls the woman to her stomach. "hey. we'll be able to find the right timing, don't worry. we won't be like this forever."

"but i'm afraid you'll get tired of this setup..."

"what are you saying? i waited for years to get you back again. i won't let small things like this break us, okay?"

"thank you." pie stands up and kisses kim. "i'll make it up to you next time. i swear."

"yeah. i still have to check your treasures." kim chuckles when pie playfully slaps her. "shall we? little katie is waiting for her mom."

pie sighs and nods.

---

it was raining the next day but that didn't stop kim and her team in doing the rescue operation when they got a tip that several homeless dogs were spotted in the secluded area of the town.

as expected, the dogs were elusive and scared. it didn't help that the road is slippery and they are all drenched--including the dogs--making it hard for them to catch the mongrels.

it took them hours but it was all worth it when the dogs were brought in the shelter and were given food. kim felt so happy and she messaged pie about it too.

getting carried away, kim didn't notice the time and drove straight to the city when she remembers she has art classes in a few hours.

not wanting to be late, she went to her apartment only to change, disregarding pie's reminder for her to take a shower first.

she regrets it cos she's already feeling under the weather after her class. she feels cold and her body aches. her throat feels sore and her nose is stuffy. driving back to her apartment took a lot of effort but she managed to go back to her room and plonk herself on the bed.

she didn't tell pie about it, not wanting to worry the woman who should be enjoying at a party celebration tonight. she just messaged pie she's sleeping early tonight.

after making sure the message was sent, kim rolls herself into the blanket and sleeps.

---

she doesn't know how long she was out. kim remembers waking up from time to time, guessing the time of the day through her windows.

her phone needs charging but every time she tries to get up, her body feels too heavy and she ends up laying back down and drifting into sleep again.

she feels worse than yesterday but she knows proper rest would make her feel better in no time.

---

kim wakes up again and sees it's already dark outside. she gets up immediately in panic, noticing a white towel falling from her forehead down to the floor.

she picks it up. the towel's still damp. she doesn't remember getting herself a towel. a movement on the side of the bed make her look, only to realise she isn't alone.

"pie? what are you doing here?" she asks, surprised.

pie, who's still in her pink scrub suit, sighs. "you're driving me crazy, kim."

"what? i didn't do anything..."

"exactly. i haven't heard from you for a day. the last message i received from you was last night. and after that, nothing."

"i..." kim blinks, trying to recall what happened. "i wasn't feeling well so i slept. i just slept all day."

"aish. you." pie touches kim's forehead. "do you know you were burning with fever when i came in? and you were not yourself. you were mumbling words, talking like you're already dying."

"i did? what did i say?"

pie produces another towel from a bin nearby and wipes kim's face and neck with it. "you said, 'please tell pie that i love her. and that i will be happy to die knowing she's mine'."

"i said that?" kim chuckles. "wow. that's cheesy."

"wow your face." pie pushes the towel in kim's face. "you made me worry, do you know that? i couldn't focus on my work! i even had to call peter to pick katrien from school this afternoon so i can drive here straight. good thing he's done with his rounds early."

"i'm sorry." kim chuckles again. "i still can't move on from my cheesiness."

pie glares at her.

kim gulps. "seriously. i'm sorry."

"can you please stop making me worry like that again?" snaps pie.

kim can see the tears starting to form in pie's eyes. she hugs the woman. "i'm sorry, honey. i won't do that again."

"i was worried," says pie, finally breaking down. "i thought something happened to you. or maybe you finally had enough of me and would just want to call it quits."

"shhhh. that's never gonna happen." she rubs pie's back. "i'm sorry. i am so sorry. i was just out the entire day. i'm really sorry."

"are you feeling any better now?"

"yeah. i have a great nurse for my girlfriend."

pie pulls back and wipes her face with her hands. "good. but i won't let you do any work tomorrow, okay? you need to rest and take meds."

"oh. i know what exactly i need to cure me."

"what?"

"i need to see your treasures." kim wags her eyebrows.

pie grimaces and throws the towel on kim's face. "perv." she gets up from the bed.

"where you going?" kim says in a singsong.

pie turns with a smirk on her face. "i'm going to prepare the treasures for you."

"oooh yeah!"

pie laughs and heads out of the room.

she comes back with medicines and a glass of water in hand.