WARNING!

Contains some ual content and coarse language!

(it isn't too bad so I don't feel like an M rating is required)

ENJOY!~

 

 

CH 12: Starting from Scratch

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Nini wrapped the blanket that was draped over the lounge chair around her shoulders and pulled her legs up to her chest. Perched on the windowsill she had a clear view of the city streets and the mist that was rising up from its earthly slumber. Nini sighed and blew the stream that seeped from her warm mug clasped in her hands. Despite the long flight she found herself very awake and at an early hour in the day too. She grinned and took a sip of tea, letting the liquid roll off her tongue and warm the roof of . Closing her eyes she thought of Kyuhyun's arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace, his lips resting preciously close to her ear. Nini shivered as her day dream entranced her. She recalled how his voice seemed so soft and smooth even though he had just woke up. It was deep and sultry when he whispered in her ear 'good morning'. Nini took a sharp breath as her imagination taunted her. The touch of his lips brushing along the sensitive skin under her jaw. Growling at her own fantasies she shook herself from the trance and slid from the windowsill. Her eyes locked on the clock over the stove, her jaw dropped. It had been 2 hours since she sat at her window. Out of curiosity Nini took a sip of tea and promptly spat it into the sink, the cool tea tasting bitter in .

Cursing herself for falling asleep before finishing her tea Nini rinsed her cup and placed it upside down in the sink. Spinning to open her fridge and scavenge for food she heard a persistent rapping against the door.  Nini raised her eyebrows and strolled out from her small kitchen cove and glanced in the peephole. She was surprised to see a petite framed man chomping on the side of his cheek, his eyes idly scanning the ceiling. Nini rocked back on her heels to swing the door open and greet the stranger.

"Annyeo-"

"AH! Annyeonghaseyo!!" The small and nearly fragile man cut her off and bowed politely. Nearly forgetting her manners Nini bowed quickly in response before looking at him with a questioning look.

"You...you're from Canada right?" The small man piped up and blinked rapidly. Nini nodded her head slowly at his overly perky assumption.

"Please don't think I'm crazy, I just know the person who set you up with the apartment. Changmin and I used to live on the same street as kids. He called me asking if the landlord had an apartment open and I told him my neighbor just had twins and moved out two weeks ago. You are lucky! If he didn't have connections I'm sure someone else would have snatched up your apartment fast. It is nice isn't?" Nini blinked absent mindedly as the fragile man continued to babble. Why would Chnagmin not tell her she would have a talkative petite neighbor?

"I'm Ryeowook, you are?"

"Changmin asked you to get me an apartment but he didn't tell you my name?" Nini chuckled lightly. Well he gave her a little privacy. Leaving her name anonymous though didn't do much especially when her new neighbor was one of the talkative sorts.

"He didn't even tell me you were a girl, not like it matters if you are a man or woman, but-"

"I'm Nini" You cut him mid-sentence before he began to ramble on again. He nodded with a compliant smile. Nini raised her eyebrow a little higher and leaned against her door frame, not sure if he just wandered over to introduce himself or if he had a greater purpose.

"Oh! I came to introduce myself but also...would you happen to have some eggs? My girlfriend forgot to buy some yesterday and she refuses to walk to the store and either I beg and plead to neighbors or I get to walk" Ryeowook chuckled lightly. Nini creased her forehead, since she really had no idea if she had eggs and why on earth she when she just got here.

"I can check... but I haven't gone shopping or anything so I don't see why there should be food." Nini walked inside flagging Ryeowook to follow her.

"Oh, the landlord was here before you arrived with bags of groceries, I thought maybe you had arranged for groceries to be delivered before you arrived." Nini looked over her shoulder at Ryeowook with a questioning expression.

"Weird, maybe it was Changmin's doing" Ryeowook shrugged and continued to follow Nini into the kitchen cove.

Nini was an interesting character, and Ryeowook knew this just from the brief moments he had already spent with her. Though her outward appearence was soft and friendly, she struck him as a cold business woman, very determined and stern. She wasn't one to stray away from her ideals. Not to say she was a cold hearted woman because from how Changmin pleaded Ryeowook to get her an apartment, it showed him differently.

"What!? I..."

"You don't have eggs?" Ryeowook tried to peek inside the brilliant white fridge to look at what caused Nini's jaw to slack.

"There is everything in here" Nini fawned over her fully stocked refrigerator before gently handing Ryeowook the carton of eggs.

"Take what you need" She grinned and shut the fridge door firmly, her smile never wavering on her face. Ryeowook opened the carton and grabbed 2 eggs, his gaze never leaving Nini.

"Can you believe the landlord stocked my entire fridge? It is chalk full of stuff, I will never go hungry that's for sure."

Ryeowook mused over the fact. Why on earth did he stock up her fridge. It was very unusual for him, but he had just taken over this building from his parents so possibly he was trying to win over his tenants.

"Was eggs all you came for?" Nini snapped Ryeowook from his thoughts about their landlord’s peculiar behavior. Realizing how rude he was for just standing in her kitchen Ryeowook jumped and remembered why he even needed the eggs.

"Oh well, since they are your eggs would you like to come for some breakfast. It's the least we can do to welcome you" He smiled a genuine grin and cocked his head to the side cutely.

Nini couldn't help but find herself amused by how cute the older man was when he cocked his head to the side and smile sweetly. Changmin should have warned her that her next door neighbor would give her cavities from his sweet actions. She withheld a giggle as these thoughts travelled through her mind.

"I would love some… that is as long as I'm not interrupting." Nini nodded her head submissing to Ryeowook's offer. Besides she had to face the fact that her stomach was aching from hunger.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Sunyoung stirred the browning potatoes in the fry pan when her door swung open startling her.

"Yah! Ryeowook-ah can you be a bit-" Sunyoung stopped mid-sentence seeing the pale girl behind Ryeowook who stood at about the same height as her. She had a pretty face with flat facial features and a pouty bottom lip. Her hair looked ebony against her white skin but the reddish brown that the sun caught through their window said otherwise.

It only took mere seconds for Sunyoung to analyze the stranger behind her boyfriend. She felt guilty for how her brain materialized the girl.

"Sunyoung, this is Nini Nguyen our next door neighbor, she gave us eggs!" He exclaimed and Sunyoung could do nothing else but place her forehead in her palm, shaking it lightly.

"Hello" Sunyoung composed herself after her boyfriend’s embarrassing egg dance as he cracked them into the sitting batter.

"I'm Sunyoung, and it is really quite nice to have another girl on this floor" She extended her hand out to shake Nini's. Nini took a little longer than expected to process the simple gesture but kindly enough she shook her hand and stepped back.

"So, what brought you to Korea?" Nini decided to walk further into Ryeowook and Sunyoung's apartment. Standing opposite of Sunyoung who worked nimbly over the stove, Nini rest her chin in her hands.

"Uh, well a recent turn of events brought me here" Nini figured that was the sanest way of explaining herself.

Sunyoung looked up from the pancake that sizzled in the pan glancing at Nini. She could feel Sunyoung reading her eyes, trying to find out her purgative for travelling this far around the world. After giving such a vague answer Nini couldn't even blame her.            

*~*~*~*~*

Changmin had awoke to a very empty and cold bed that morning and that had set his mood for the rest of the day. He was generally miserably. He felt horrible, he felt chilled, and above all he felt quite lonely. Even though Skye hadn't left his side all day, and she talked to him with her usual balance between sarcasm and tenderness, Changmin felt alone. He had never felt so much distance between the two of them. Since day one there was an instant pull, an invisible line that kept them strung together. Yet this morning, Changmin felt like the invisible string had been cut and Skye was off drifting around in her own little world.

Slamming down the bowl he was drying Skye looked up at him.

"Are you going to replace that if you break it?" Skye looked at him with a sharp and stern look.

"Are you going to stop acting so distant?"

"I'm not acting any different, you really need to go back to bed and sleep" Skye groaned and returned to washing the remaining dishes.

"No you need to acknowledge that I said I loved you last night and you haven't said a thing!" There it was, and Changmin snapped.

Skye looked at him wide eyed, setting down the soapy spatula.

"Look..Changmin-"

"No, now isn't the time. I'm sorry I'm just on edge." Skye bowed her head, her eyes dropping to stare at the sink.

"Let's talk about this over dinner, okay?" Changmin bent forward, kissing her forehead. Once his skin touched hers, he knew what he wanted and had needed all morning. He needed to release this stress inside him.

Pulling back he looked over her body. Her skirt just frilled slightly as it rounded around her behind and her chest pressed together as she vigorously washed the grime off the fry pan. He couldn't help but imagine her hands working as persistently on his shaft. Letting his emotions take ahold of him Changmin moved her over into the corner of the counter. His head swooping down to taste the skin below her ear.

"Changmin" Skye breathed out, her hands resting on his chest,

"Please, just...let me" Changmin whispered, his lips carving each word into her skin. He felt her chest fall and her body loosen. She dropped her walls and he took his opportunity, his mouth claimed hers and his tongue found its way past her lips.

His hands kneeded her chest eagerly as he moaned out his desires into . Doing as he asked she slithered his hands down his body, undoing his pants and grabbing ahold of his manhood. Rubbing it roughly, his moans became desperate and his pants quickened as his hips rode her hand.

Changmin worked trying his best to entice her into participating in the heated lip lock, and although moved on his, she refused to feed his hunger.

"Fine. Dinner tonight, I will be back by seven." He pulled away, adjusting his pants he strode away, his long legs carrying him to the door and out of her house as quick as their kissing had started.

 

Skye slide down the cupboard, her fingers knotted in her hair and her chest heaving.

"I can't ing do this." She cursed her mother for ever telling her that to keep a healthy relationship   was needed. Now all that this relationship ever was between them was . She could see this clearly now. When they weren't having , they were teasing one another aggressively or not talking at all.

Skye could feel her heart breaking for Changmin because as much as she wanted to stay, she felt herself walking away. She didn't want to hurt Changmin at all, especially since she started it. Maybe if she hadn't gotten emotionally involved they could have just slept together and that would be it. Nothing more and nothing less. Just your typical booty call. Skye knew she was kidding herself because there was no way she could ever just sleep with someone and not be emotionally stung to them in some way. Dinner tonight would defiantly be a test for her, and if he asked her if she loved him, she knew she couldn't say it back.

"God I want to love you too." She mumbled out loud, resting her head back. She didn't like the sick feeling that swirled in the pit of her stomach and she knew there was only one way to make it stop.

 

*~*~*~*~*

Skye grabbed her coat, swinging it over her shoulders and locking the door behind her. From a distance she could see the cold expression on Changmin's face and it turned her insides to ice. Perhaps he was going to be as heavy on her as she was going to be on him. Swallowing hard she opened the passenger side door and slide onto the heated leather seat.

"Hi" Skye could taste the extra sugar on her tongue and she attempted to start their evening in a pleasant manner.

"Hi" He smiled back at her, leaning over in the car to touch her cheek gently, his lips pressing to hers tenderly. She was shocked by the softness of the kiss but was thankful in the same thought.

*~*~*~*~*

Entering the restaurant Skye looked down at her hand, the one which he didn't grab. She chewed her lip knowing he was only confirming what she already knew. He seated himself and she took off her jacket sitting across from him. His eyes travelled everywhere but to her face. Would you just look at me you idiot. Skye thought to herself, annoyed at his childish behavior.

"So why did you suddenly decide on dinner to...talk?" She was the first to talk and that snapped his attention to her. She watched his eyes drip down her body, his eyes resting on her chest before speaking.

"You look stunning"

"Thank you" Skye felt her question get shot dead by his blatantly physical compliment.

"Did you do something special with your makeup, for me?" He leaned forward, looking at her eyes.

"No I just didn't want to go out to a restaurant looking like how I do every day." Skye held back a snarl and instead decided to scoff him for being so daft.

"If it was up to me, I would take you right here on the table" Changmin whispered, his lips twisting up in a childish smirk.

"Changmin!" Skye hissed slamming her hand down lightly on the edge of the table.

“What…I would” He smirked devilishly and Skye proceeded to cross her arms with a huff. Keep digging Shin Changmin, you’re digging your own grave.

“Hello I am your waitress Marie, what can I get you two to drink for a start” Changmin’s eyes fell heavy as his glance draped over the slim waitress. Skye grimaced as she watched his stare devour her body whole.

“I’ll have a rum and diet please”

“Alcohol?”

“Yes, just because I am a woman does not mean I need to deny myself of an alcoholic beverage of my choice.” Skye snapped, tossing Changmin a hostile smirk.

“I’ll have a glass of your finest red, thank you…Marie” Changmin his bottom lip as she flushed and scurried off to give their order.

“You had to look at her like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you would take her down on the table too, in fact, more willingly because of her work attire.”

Changmin paused for a second before resting comfortably in his seat.

“Well, I would if you wanted me to…maybe even together” Skye’s jaw clenched as he chuckled over the thought of a with her and the waitress. Did he forget everything from early that day? He just let everything slide and went back to being the hot blooded male he tended to be around her.

Eyeing the glass of water in front of her table setting, she grabbed it and with a quick flick of the wrist sent the glass’ contents on to Changmin’s face.

“You are just another erted and untrustworthy pig!” Skye had finally had it, and maybe even over done it but she couldn’t stand looking him in the eyes any longer.

She could hear her name being shouted from behind her but she ignored it, dialing for a taxi.

She felt the tears stinging her eyes but wiped them away. I don’t love you, I wanted to, but I don’t. Yet, no matter how many times she told herself she didn’t love Changmin she also couldn’t help but wish she could have more and that he could have loved her properly back.

 

 

*~*~*~*”~*

“Skye let me inside!” Changmin’s fist pounded against the door, the rain pelting him in the face as the wind wiped violently outside.

“Talk” Skye swung the door open and took two steps back so he could shuffle into the door way.

“Listen…you’re right, you are completely right”

Skye looked at him daftly. He knew she wasn’t expecting this outcome, and neither was he but after several glasses of wine he managed to stumble his way to her doorstep.

“I’m what?” She nearly shouted, grabbing his collar and forcing him to look her in the eyes. He didn’t want to do this but he knew just by looking in her blue eyes that he had already broken a small bit of her. It was time to break the rest.

“You can’t trust me”

Skye released his collar and staggered back, bracing her railing for support.

“What have you done Changmin…why can’t I-“

“I knew why Kyuhyun got fired, I knew when he left and I also swore to not tell you or Nini.”

“I knew he was out of the country before Nini did…I also broke that promise and told Nini he went back to Korea” Skye muddled over the information, her hands slowly balling into fists.

“I also drove Nini to the airport and helped her go to Korea”

“WHAT!?!” Skye looked up at him, her face stained with hurt, confusion and anger.

“She has been there for about two days, but I-“ He felt his voice escape his mouth as his back slammed against the hard door.

“You helped her out of the country and You didn’t even tell me!? You…I have been worrying about her not texting me back, not being able to talk to her since she found out about Kyuhyun. God I thought she may be in serious trouble and you…You lied to me saying she was ok??” Skye’s words were laced with anger but her tone sounded helpless. Changmin brought his eyes up to look into hers. He saw the tears pooling and how she looked shattered. He had done it, he had broken her. He closed his eyes letting out a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry I said I loved you”

“It’s not like I believed you, and it is pretty damn clear you don’t!” her words sliced him. She didn’t believe his confession. He said it to gain her trust, he said it to prove himself, in all honesty he knew he rushed into his confession but he had confessed.

“I do love you!” he didn’t know where the second confession came from, it just spilled from his mouth. As quick as he said it he wished to take it back.

“No you love my body and the …You DO NOT love me” Skye shouted shoving herself away from him, the tears now streaming down her face.

“And of all things you did…you didn’t tell me my friend is in some foreign country? Did you even think? I deserved to know…I watched her breakdown and run away! Kyuhyun didn’t just create this mess, you did as well” Skye mumbled through her tears before hustling by Changmin to pull the door open abrasively.

“Get out” She spoke calmly, rubbing her cheeks on her arm.

“Skye don’t…”

“Get the out.” Skye’s jaw clenched and Changmin felt his stomach drop. He knew this would happen so why did he do it. He was angry at himself for acting rudely and insulting her pride, so why did he hurt her more. To let her know she was right? That she has every right to be mad at him? Whatever the reason was he knew she needed time.

“I’ll…see you later then?”

“No.”

“what-“

Skye slammed the door and quickly locked it as soon as he was outside.

“Goodbye Changmin” Skye shivered and bolted up the small staircase, throwing herself on the ground, she pulled out the suitcase from under her bed and began tossing things into it.

“It’s my turn to go live my life…” Skye muttered, snatching clothing off her shelves and rapidly stuffing them into the suitcase.

“Nini is not going to have all the fun without me” Skye bit her cheek, zipping the bag after her cosmetics were finally set in place.

Skye walked over to her laptop and purchased a one way ticket online before closing her computer and sliding it into a carry-on bag.

“Seoul, here I come.”

*~*~*~*~*

 

Nini looked at her phone which had been vibrating nonstop all breakfast.

"I'm sorry" She apologized quickly before ripping her phone from her pocket and searching through her messages.

"12 New Messages"

and they were all from the same person. Eunhyuk.

"Nini-ah! Donghae and I are coming to say hi!'

"Nini?"

"yah! are you still asleep?"

"lazy ~"

"Wake up and get ready we are going for lunch, come with us!"

"Nini-ah!!! Donghae won't stop harassing me to see you, we will be there soon"

"NINI I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!! OH...GOOD MORNING!-Donghae"

"He stole my phone...sorry"      

"We will be there in 5 minutes"

"You better be awake....

"NINI NGUYEN!"

"uwahh! You really are cold hearted ignoring us, see you soon!"

!

!

Nini stuffed her phone back into her pocket and stood up abruptly.

"Ryeowook oppa, Luna Unnie...thank you for breakfast it was great but my friends decided to surprise me and want to go out and I...am clearly not ready" Nini smiled awkwardly, motioning to herself. Sunyoung chuckled lightly and Ryeowook smiled.

"Feel free to stop by anytime Nini, it was nice to have another girl around." Sunyoung tossed Nini a charming smile as she escorted herself out into the apartment hallway.

 

"DONGHAE! EUNHYUK I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" Nini screamed as she slammed her door shut, tossing off her shirt and jumping from her sweatpants to find a pair of skinny jeans and a button up shirt. She rushed to toss her hair into a soft messy bun on top of her head, accessorized with a white lace bow.

Steadying knocking on her door resulted in Nini’s heart jumping to . Realizing she wasn’t fully done getting ready she shouted for them to come in.

She heard the door open but an unfamiliar greeting. Nini’s blood froze in her veins. Gulping she turned slowly on her heel.

“Hello…Umm I-“

“Who are you and what are you doing-“ Nini shouted holding a brush up as a defense mechanism to the cowering and screaming man.

“I just wanted to introduce myself I’m your landlord please don’t hurt me” The man spoke rapidly, covering his head with his arms.

“Oh…I’m…Oh my god I am sorry!” Nini dropped the brush and rushed to him, propping him into an upright position. When she saw his face for the first time she nearly gasped and was quite taken back. He was young, very young. He was older than her but she was expecting a 40 year old man. She was not expecting a handsome man with pale skin and thick dark eyelashes.

“Hi, I’m Nini” She bowed once the man was sure she wasn’t going to hit him.

“Hello there, I’m Suho your landlord.” He grinned, his eyes creasing at the corners and his hair swishing to the side when his head bobbed.

“Your name is really Suho?” Nini was still puzzled that her landlord was in her room and he was decent looking.

“No my real name is Junmyeon, but Suho is a nickname I earned a long time ago, it has just become comfortable.” He smiled again, chuckling lightheartedly and rubbing the back of his neck.

Nini’s attention was pulled from his face to her vibrating phone on the counter beside them. Picking her phone up hesitantly she opened the text.

“Sorry Nini, we are going to have to cancel our lunch date, we sort of ran into someone we haven’t seen in a long time. Let’s make plans soon!”

Nini groaned and tossed her phone to the couch.

“What was that for?” Suho looked at her genuinely confused.

“My friends rushed me to get ready and ended up cancelling our lunch date.” Nini sighed and leaned against the doorway.

“Well, since you got ready… umm…Why don’t I treat you to lunch?” Suho grinned at her, ruffling his hair on top of his head.

“Do you always ask your tenants out for lunch?” Nini retorted playfully, raising her eyebrows at him.

“No, but you’re new here, I’m just being friendly.” Suho muttered trying to defend himself.

“Hey, I’m kidding. I’d love to go.” Nini smiled back at Suho.

“Well then, come on. I know the perfect café. My friend works there.” Suho piped up happily as Nini strolled by him to the door.

*~*~*~*~*

Eunhyuk slid his phone back in his pocket after sending the text to Nini saying they had to cancel.

“So how long have you been back Kyuhyun-ah?” Donghae sipped his latte and looked the younger man with wavy chestnut locks. Eunhyuk was curious too but he could tell Kyuhyun’s home coming wasn’t a happy situation.

“About a week and a half” Kyuhyun sighed, lacing his fingers around his iced coffee.

“What happened with the job?” Eunhyk was surprised with his own question as Kyuhyun looked at him.

“Things just didn’t work out…” Kyuhyun’s voice was somber, and Eunhyuk knew that Kyuhyun’s mom would be over joyed to have him home, but Kyuhyun would know that his mother might be a little disappointed her son couldn’t succeed.

“What, not even a girl could keep you there?” Donghae laughed, but the look on Kyuhyun’s face spoke volumes and Eunhyuk heard it loud and clear. There was a girl, but he left her behind.

“Damn It Mr.Cho, even in Canada you can’t seem to settle down.” Donghae continued to chuckle and Kyuhyun spoke before Eunhyuk could stop him.

“Maybe, I don’t want to tie someone to me. I’m not worth it in the long run.”

Even if Nini thought I was…

 

---

 

 

AN.

So...UPDATE!!! yay!

This was a freaking long chapter to write and I have a bit to say this time.

I apologize about Changmin, i felt so bad. D not misunderstand his character he is just a boy whose loyalty to his friend got him in trouble and who can't be emotionally attached, which is why he resorts to ual acts over emotional attachment.

In other news RYEOWOOK AND LUNA ARE THE CUTEST COUPLE OK! So I had to add them in.

also Drumroll please for SUHO! Yeah I have been waiting for his character to enter the storyline for a long time! (since July OTL) and finally he is here. Anywho enjoy the Junni ^.^

Also Skye is on her way to Korea to find Nini but...yeah that might not happen so easily. 

On the very interesting side. Eunhyuk and Donghae cancelled on Nini because they actually ran into Kyuhyun :O 

so welcome back Kyuhyun.

thankfully the next chapter everyone will be in the same timezone so my brain doesn't back from matching up night and daylight hours.

Again, please comment and subscribe and tel me what you think!!!

 

PS. Major character introduction in the next update! Look forward to it!

 

~Authornim Skye