The look on Seri's face never left Chanyeol's mind. This was what he feared the most, to hurt Seri in any way. And yet, he knew he had hurt her so deeply.

 

For many times he tried to reach her. He called, he texted, he waited by her apartment, he knocked on her door, but she never showed up.

 

"Why are these here?", he asked his secretary when he noticed a bouquet of flowers in his office after he came back from a meeting.

 

"It was sent back here sir.", she answered.

 

He gestures her to leave before picking the bouquet up. This was the first time she sent the flowers back from the many others he sent for these past few days already.

 

The mixture of emotions from various aspects but mostly Seri clouded him. He sat on his chair, rubbing his forehead. His eyes landed on the piles of paper works to be done plus his never ending meetings. The company had him tangled up.

 

"Mr. Park?", his secretary called.

 

"Eo?"

 

"Mr. Wu is on line one.", she informs.

 

"Okay. Thank you."

 

He let off a sigh before picking the phone up. Another stressful conversation to come his way.

 

Wu Yifan, the head of Galaxy Corp., called him to meet up with some new investors in China. Also, he would head a new project for Galaxy Corp. He might stay abroad for a few months. In two days, he'd leave. But he doesn't want to. Not without talking to Seri.

 

Chanyeol stopped the car at Seri's apartment, waiting for her. Tonight would be his flight to China. He consistently tried to reach out for her, but she never gave him a chance. This would be his last personal attempt for now. Knowing he wouldn't see Seri for long, he just can't leave without talking to her. But he was determined, if he wouldn't be able to talk to her tonight, he'd still try to contact her in any way. Although, he really wished she'd give him a chance this time.

  As Seri walked back to her apartment from another busy day at work, she spotted Chanyeol's car parked in front of the building again. Jiyah's father still gave her a chance to work in his business despite of what happened. It helped derived her attention from the terrible things she's been through. But Chanyeol's constant calls, texts, and sending of various stuff... his insinuation kept on coming.   He waits by her apartment almost everyday. She even learned that he would wait at the office every now and then. Luckily, she'd manage to escape him every time he appears. Like all the other days, she waits for Chanyeol to leave before she enters the building. She stays at a coffee shop across the street near enough to see everything but far enough so he would not see her.   "We're here again I see.", the imo tells her as she got ready to get Seri's order.   "Sorry for the trouble. I'll leave earlier today." She smiled apologetically at her.   "Oh, you're no trouble. You can stay here as long as you want. Just tell me whatever it is you need. Will you have your usual?" she responded in a sweet tone.   "Yes, thank you."  

Most of the time, the shop owner would have to close down much later than schedule because of Seri. She felt so sorry for it but she was so thankful for her as well. If it wasn't for her, she doesn't really know where to stay while she waits for Chanyeol to leave. For days, the routine has been like this.

  Chanyeol's eyes felt heavy as time went. He had been waiting in front of her apartment for a few hours now, but there was still no sign of her.   'Seri. Please. I just want to talk. I know your mad. I know I hurt you. I've messed everything up. Give me a chance to try and make you understand. I'm leaving for China tonight and I might stay there for long. I don't want to leave like this. I'm in front of your apartment. Please come out." - Chanyeol   "China? How long?", she asked no one after reading his message.   She looked out the window, seeing Chanyeol's car still parked outside. Anxiety striking her with the news he brought. That moment, she wanted to see him, she wanted to talk. However, she was also scared to what it would bring along. The pain still lingered, another one will only break her more. But if she wouldn't let him explain now, when will they ever get the chance to? Will she let everything go this way?   It was time to leave. Chanyeol would need to check in the airport soon. He steps out the car, looking back and forth, hoping he'd lay eyes on Seri somewhere. A great sigh of disappointment left him, having no sign of her. He had asked the security of her apartment several times already if she has arrived but the answer remains constant. No. The building doesn't allow him to enter anymore. Seri ordered them. So even if he asked to, they wouldn't let him.   "Five minutes. Just five more minutes." He whispered as he stood outside her apartment, still waiting.   Being at the third floor of the commercial building where the coffee shop is, Seri can very well see what Chanyeol does. She clasped her hands, thinking of what to do.   "Have I ever told you how handsome he is?", the owner caught her attention as she looked out the window as well.   "I know nothing of what happened, but I can see he love's you."   "No. He doesn't.", she bitterly answered.   "Ohh.. A guy doesn't come wait like that, everyday for hours? Plus, he looks like a busy person and yet he makes time for you. Oh no. No guy ever does that. Just the ones that truly love. "   "Or guilty.", she added.   "I guess you're right. He may be just guilty... or may be he has finally realized how wrong he was, or may be.. I don't know. All I can do is guess."   She glanced at the lady with a mysterious smile formed on her face.   "Would you like to keep on guessing with me?"   Her words cut deep into Seri's mind. She shifted her attention to Chanyeol now walking back to his car. Knowing that it was the sign Chanyeol would be going, she carefully gathered her stuff and got ready to go home once he does.   "Thank you for letting me stay again tonight."   "I shouldn't step in but I've seen how you two were.."   Seri looked at her confused.   "When he picks you up, when he visits you, when he drives you home.."   The scenarios replayed in her head. She suddenly felt embarrassed for whatever it was that the old lady saw. She bowed her head in apology. However, the lady only smiled, lifting her chin up so Seri would look at her.   "The feeling within a kiss can never be faked."       **     Seri lays down on her bed that evening, thinking of everything the lady told her. She also didn't want to believe that Chanyeol would go to China. It's true he comes back and forth the country for business but would it be also true when he said he'd stay there for long?  Did she really miss the chance of talking with him? She can't help but worry. The pain in her mind and heart won her over that she choose not to see him. But now she's having second thoughts with her decision.   When she walked back home the next day, she anticipated that Chanyeol would be waiting for her like he always does. However, to her dismay, he wasn't there. Her eyes wondered around, may be he parked somewhere else. When she realized he wasn't, she asked the security if he came by. She felt her heart beating in sorrow and disappointment when they said no.   He really left. Or has he given up?   She teared up again with the thought of Chanyeol giving up on her. The struggles they faced still had her lost but when he was ready to finally explain himself to her, she didn't give him the chance. And now, he left. This wasn't what she wanted. She just needed to heal herself a bit so when they talk and he tells her to leave his life, it wouldn't hurt as much any more. She's not expecting him to tell her to stay. She knew that the next conversation they'd have was to give the closure they needed.   "Uhh Ms. Seo? This came in again today.", the personnel told her as she handed her a big bouquet of her favorite flowers once again.   Seri didn't expect to receive another bouquet from him when she thought he had given up.   'I'm in China now. I feel really bad we didn't get the chance to talk. I'm still hoping you'd let me when I come back.' - Chanyeol   The card read.   The whole scenario got her puzzled. She also hoped they were able to talk. But may be it was for the best. The time they would be apart would give her the chance to heal. So that when they do talk and finally end their connection towards each other, she'd be okay. It was time to start accepting those facts.     **  

Despite Chanyeol's disappointing reaction at the conference, it still showed how affected he was with Kai. Sehun and Mari even gave Kai a brief background about Seri. Her likes, dislikes, her hobbys. It was included for the preparation they did for their plan. And they knew it worked. Just a little more push, they thought.

After Seri told Mari about what happened at the conference, Sehun, Kai and her thought of another plan.  That day, Mari called Seri to go out and watch the movies with her. She told her they would go with Kai and Sehun. Seri didn't want to but she forced her. They agreed to meet up at the mall but of course, she and Sehun didn't show up, leaving her alone with Kai again. They also knew Chanyeol would be at the mall for his personal visit. Sehun got the information from Chanyeol's secretary. It was the perfect plan, they thought.

 

"Jiyah said Seri went back to the province. She's really upset."

   

Mari said while she sat with Sehun at Choco Bank Cafe.

The two of them have been trying to contact Seri since the day at the mall but she never picked up. Seri felt so bad that she cut the communication eve