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“Jungkook?” Yoongi queried as he entered the kitchen later that afternoon.  “What are you doing?”  He watched his young friend bent over his phone.

“Trying to find a good cinnamon roll recipe.”

“A cinnamon roll recipe?  Why?”

“Because that’s tomorrow’s assignment.  Tae was going to bake the girl some cinnamon rolls.”

“Is he trying to make us all fat?”

Jungkook shrugged.  “I don’t know.  But I’m sure those cinnamon rolls would taste better if Tae was here to eat them with us.”  His eyes filled with tears.  “I’m scared, Yoongi.  I’m afraid something bad has happened to Tae.”

Yoongi sighed as he gazed down at Jungkook’s hands.  They were shaking.  He reached out and slid his warm palms over the top of his young friend’s quaking fingers.  And wrapped his own around them before giving them a gentle squeeze. 

Then he nodded.  “I know.  But we can’t think that way.  We have to keep believing that he’s coming back to us.  Safe and sound.”

Jungkook bobbed his head.

Yoongi took a deep breath.  “Come on.  I’ll help you find a good recipe.  And we’ll make the cinnamon rolls together.”

Jungkook gave his friend – who was really more like his adoring, elder brother – a tiny smile.  And the two of them got to work fulfilling the wish of their missing friend.

––

Poppy appeared again late in the afternoon.  “Shall we make dinner together?”

Her eyes slid from one to the other.  She was pretty sure that April had begun to develop feelings for Kim.  And he didn’t seem indifferent to her.  After all, he’d been showering her with gifts for several days now.  Even in his absence.

Poppy was disappointed.  She really liked their mystery man.  She’d been hoping, early on, that he would show some special interest in her.  But ever since they’d run into April at the café, her hopes had taken a nosedive.  Tae had been spending every night here instead of in her own room. 

But the truth was that neither girl knew much of anything about their mysterious visitor.  For all they knew, he could be in a committed relationship already.  Although, if he were, why would he have sent gifts to a stranger?

Unless he wasn’t the honorable man whom they both believed him to be.

Poppy was trying to decide if she should throw her hat into the ring and try to grab some of his attention for herself.  Or was a friendship with April more important?  Poppy rather suspected that the American was as lonely in Seoul as she was.  And April had been here for a whole semester already.  Poppy had just arrived. 

Poppy wanted a boyfriend.  And Kim seemed to be a sterling option.  Still, it would be nice to have a friend she could count on.  Maybe she should invest her efforts in befriending April.  Instead of lavishing her affection on Kim.

And one of these days, Kim would get his memory back and return home.  Leaving them both.  With a sigh, she realized the more prudent path was to befriend April.  She, at least, wouldn’t be going anywhere for several months.  And in the meantime, Poppy would have someone to lean on if she befriended the girl.

So she smiled at April.  “I thought maybe if we pooled our ingredients, we could make something truly appetizing.”

“Sounds like fun!  Come on in!” The girl welcomed her with a wide smile. 

And Poppy felt happier than she had in a long time.