I never thought I'd hear those words escape from . It was the shock of a harsh reality. Here I stood, silently wanting her words to be a lie of protection. I was shamelessly hoping her words of rejection were covering up her denial, the truth, for Daesung's sake. My eyes slowly lingered over to my younger bandmate, hoping to see if he had even an ounce of composure. I couldn't make out his expression, my inner worry now lengthening. "Hyung, Seungri, can you two please leave? I'd like to speak to Anika alone." His words carried such a bitter chill to them. That was clear evidence of a now broken hearted man.

I looked over at Anika, a cold expression on her face, but her eyes unreadable. I'm predicting either one of these two will storm out of here in tears.

Silently, I gestured Seungri towards the door. I got one last glimpse of the two beings before retreating in silence, this ugly feeling within me following me out.

Daesung's POV

"Did it cross any of your minds that I may love him, but that doesn't mean I want to be? That I don't want to love him?"

Her words were like some kind of poison. The kind that turns your body into a state of paralysis, evolving to an aching numbness.

I don't know which is worse - the words that vomited from or what she said was the truth. She always told you the truth, whether it's good, bad, or indifferent. Would you call that bluntness? Brutal honesty? I don't know. But she always told the truth, no matter what. And this was that 'no matter what' situation. That's a trait she inherited from her mother. She's my best friend; I'm the only other person who knows her inside and out, every crevice of her mind, the ticks of her personality, everything about her.

"I know you speak the truth," I told her, walking towards her.

Silence.

"A fool would believe your words depicted denial, that you were lying."

Still silent; drawing closer.

"Would I be considered a fool if I convinced myself of such a falsehood, despite the fact I know the heart breaking truth? Hopeless, maybe."

We were only arm lengths apart now. I looked into those beautiful green eyes of hers, filled with what looked like...fear? Sorrow? I can understand the sadness, but...why the fear? "What are you afraid of, Anika?" I whispered, clasping my hands around her face. "Why are you..." That's when it hit me. "You're afraid you're going to lose me, aren't you."

At that instant, I saw shy tears twinkling in the corner of her eyes. Now it all made sense.