The last thing that happened in the previous chapter:

“Tao… I did something… I did the most terrible thing.” Yi -Fan. 

“Didn’t you hear what I was saying right now? I said your daughter’s hanging out with chen. CHEN. THE CHEN.” Krystal’s mother’s voice was much louder this time as she was feeling frustrated with her husband’s reaction or the lack of thereof.

She's been jittery since her conversation with Yi Fan last night as she desperately wanted to inform her husband with the dreadful news; it was eating her from inside. Nevertheless, she knew that it was safest to wait until Krystal was out of the house to have this conversation... and boy was she right... because her husband was by no means being cooperative right now.  Her sleepless night also managed to put her into a crankier mood that she was almost sure she'd blow in any second.

She’d expected him to get mad; she wanted him to. But he only blinked when he heard the news and waited as if there was more to say. He was calm; too calm for her liking that she couldn’t help but lash out at him.

“So?” He replied nonchalantly when she didn’t say anything else for good couple of minutes.

“SO?” She yelled again in incredulity before letting out a humourless laugh. “Yeah… so.” She scoffed.

"So... you're daughter's going to be hurt." she elaborated seconds later with a voice above a whisper.

Their eyes briefly met after she voiced out her fear, and it was then that he could finally see the desperation and fear that was evident in her eyes. He heaved a sigh before saying the words that’d put his wife’s fear to rest albeit their hideousness. “He’s not going to hurt her.” He reassured with soft smile but it soon fell with his following words. “If someone’s going to end up being hurt, it’s him; I’m afraid.

“Besides… you didn’t actually think that he was going to leave her alone, did you?”

Wrong, she actually hoped that he was blaming her for everything. She hoped that he’d grown to despise her so much he’d never want to see her again, or too hurt to endure seeing her again. She hoped, she truly hoped, that her daughter would end up forgotten or loathed… to him… forever.

They were corrupted thoughts; she knew, but they invaded her mind and she couldn’t get rid of them.

She was silent for few moments and he searched her eyes for an answer. He knew that it was only a matter of time until Chen appeared in Krystal’s life, and for some unknown reason, he wanted him to, but it wasn’t like he was going to say that loudly to her anyways.

“I wanted him to.” She ended up saying in helplessness before walking away with a head hung low in disappointment and defeat. 

When she finally walked out of his sight, Krystal’s father couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. So…maybe he was a tiny bit happy about this… just a tiny bit. 

“I’m coming…” Chen ran down the stairs upon hearing the persistent knocking on his front door. “I said I’m coming already.” He yelled again, but it was to no avail because the person who was standing behind the door seemed impatient enough to wait those few seconds until he came down.

“Wha-”

“Where’s my daughter?” The familiarity of the voice struck him like a lightning bolt, and his eyes widened when they laid on the female figure who was standing at his doorstep with the most furious expression over her face. Before he could react though, she was quick on her heels pushing him roughly out of her way and barging into the house like it was her own.

“Krystal.” Krystal’s mother called loudly as she walked around; opening doors and searching for any sign for her daughter’s presence. Chen, on the other hand, was still standing in his place; immobile, too stunned to react to whatever the hell she was doing. Not like she would’ve cared though. She came her determined to get her daughter without minding his existence.

“Krystal… I know you’re here.” She yelled; a bit louder this time getting a little frustrated with each second that passed by.

“Where’s my daughter?” She swirled around and asked in a warning tone. Chen blinked a couple of times; still confused by everything that had happened in the past couple of minutes. Never in his wildest dreams would he’ve ever expected her to come near his house; let alone stepping inside of it.

His eyes were fixed at her, but his mind was elsewhere. “You’re nothing but a forgotten memory…” The words that she’s once directed to him entered his mind again spreading furiousness and hatred all over him. It was then, that all the scarring words of hers began flooding his mind.

She could see his expression changing into a harder one, yet she didn’t spare him another glance. She turned around again when she received no answer from his side and decided to continue on her own. She’d already expected that he wouldn’t help her anyways.

“God… Krystal; if you do not come out…”

“She’s not here.” Chen interrupted her loud outburst with a soft whisper. When she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, she found him standing with his head hung low. He looked calm; weirdly so. Her eyes stayed on him for a couple more minutes as if expecting more words and any action from his side, when he did nothing, she decided to ignore him again.

He was lying for sure; she believed.

“Kr…”

“I SAID SHE’S NOT HERE.” He cried startling her. She swirled around; her eyes meeting his, and she could see how much resentment and anger were filling them. The intensity of his rage startled her for she had never seen him in such state before; not even in her last visit. She kept a blank expression written all over her face though; like she was the least bit fazed by it. She tried to look collected even though she was dumbfounded by the novelty of this sight.

“Why’re you even here?” 

“You know why. I’m here for my daughter.” She paused momentarily her expression hardening again. “I told you to stay away from her.”

“I don’t recall saying that I will.” He replied almost instantly earning him a snicker from her.

“Why’re you doing this?” She asked; her vulnerability slowly starting to unveil. “Why do you want to hurt again?”

"Again?" he asked in bewilderment. "Hurt her?" 

“Don’t act so clueless.” She breathed in frustration. Her eyes unconsciously closed as she inhaled a deep breath and exhaled slowly in order to calm down a bit. “Just… stay away from her… please.”

“I can’t.” He replied with matching helplessness. She momentarily stared at him; seeing the desperation in his eyes. She paused in perplexity.

“Why’re you like this?” She inquired seconds later; bewildered by his reply. “Why’re you being so selfish about this? Why…”

“Selfish?” He pointed at himself in incredulity. “I…I am being selfish?” HE questioned again emphasizing “I”. He paused momentarily letting out a humourless laugh. “So you’re telling me… the one who’s abandoned everything to be with her…that I’m selfish… me?” He repeated again with a quivering voice wanting to confirm her absurd words.

Her words managed to escalate his fury, and he felt himself losing control. His mind turned blank filled with nothing but the word he dreaded hearing so much. The feeling of guilt and self-loathe was slowly resurfacing, and right then; he wasn’t sure whom he hated more… was it her? Or himself?

One thing he was sure of; he was so furious, and he wanted to hurt her as much as she did.      

“If someone here’s selfish… it’s you.” He concluded in disgust. She opened ready to retort, but he didn’t give her a chance of doing so. “You’re trying to control her life right now… just like before. You’re now trying to push me away …just like you tried pushing both of us away before. You think that we might cause her pain, but if anyone’s here who's causing her pain… it’s you.

She might not realize it now… but there’s one thing I can assure you… One day… when everything comes flooding back to her mind again… she’ll remember how you always tried to control her life and how you’re trying to control it now… and guess what?" He continued; not giving her a chance to interrupt him. "She'll hate you..

She always did, but she just can’t remember it now.”  

The sound resonated in his ears before he felt the pulsating pain. His eyes widened as he brought his hands up to his cheeks where redness was starting to form. He was too stunned to react; just staring at her like a deer caught in headlights. Has she just… slapped him?

Her hands flew to upon realizing what she’s done. fell agape, and she silently ordered herself to say anything, but she was too shocked to form any words. “I…I…” she started stuttering in helplessness.

“Get out…” He managed to whisper without meeting her gaze.  

Realizing that the damage was already done, she turned around and ran out of the damned place without sparing him another glance.

“psstt… pssttt.” Ten minutes after their first class has begun, Krystal called in a hushed tone. “Lay” she whispered again trying to capture the said latter’s attention. He looked around seemingly searching for the source of the sound before it finally landed on her.

“Where’s Chen?” She mouthed to which he only shrugged in cluelessness. He was, too, wondering about the same thing. It was a little weird that he hasn’t come yet considering that he always made sure to come early in order to spend some time with her before classes. The fact that he hadn’t showed up yesterday too worried her a bit. She’d considered calling him yesterday but decided against it when she remembered their last argument. They weren’t exactly on good terms, and she didn’t know how he would react.

She thought that it would be less awkward if she waited for him in school, but right now, she was regretting that she waited until today.

“Is he okay?” She mouthed again.

“You can always continue your conversation outside if it’s too urgent, Krystal.” the teacher suddenly snapped before Lay could answer her.

“Sorry…” she mumbled before ducking her head towards her text books. The teacher made sure to send her a glare before continuing again with his explanation.

Krystal tried to steal a glance at Lay seconds later, only to realize that his back was already turned to her again.

Krystal eyed again the clock that was hung up on the wall for the nth time already. 30 minutes have already passed, and there were another 30 to go until she could finally get the hell out of here.

Her hope of seeing Chen again was long dissolved, and she also stopped trying to focus on the lesson when she realized that it was futile. It was calculus after all; the kind of the thing that would start so smoothly with a simple rule, but would end up turning into one of Einstein’s problems… or this was at least how she saw them all anyways.

Her eyes kept alternating between the clock and the ugly doodle she was creating in her text book as she practically counted the seconds left.

Silence fell in class upon hearing a knock on the door. Everyone looked at the door in anticipation, and Krystal silently hoped it’d be someone who could stall the teacher for a while. (Perhaps the next 30 minutes?)

Hell… it was much better.

A smile instinctively broke onto Krystal’s face upon seeing Chen standing at the door.

The teacher didn’t seem as thrilled though because she was glaring at him, and he had to plead her to be let inside. It didn’t take long though for him to lighten up her crankiness with his goofiness.

Krystal turned to the seat next to hers and picked the bag that was placed there. She’d put it there this morning to save this seat for him.

Chen’s expression changed the instant the teacher turned around. He did not bring himself to look at Krystal’s direction and instead started walking with his eyes glued on the tiled floor like it was the most interesting thing he’d seen in a while. Unlike Krystal, this didn’t go unnoticed for Lay whose eyes were fixed on the latter; inspecting him.

He sensed that Chen looked a bit off, and that the smile he was sending to the teacher seconds ago were far from genuine.

Lay’s gaze, along with everyone else’s, turned towards Krystal when her bag fell to the floor with a loud thud. She didn’t acknowledge anyone but kept her eyes glued on Chen who was now seated in the front row.

He didn’t do much as glance her way but continued looking ahead busying himself with copying everything that was written on the board.

Something was wrong… something was seriously wrong with him because Chen never focuses in class; that was a fact. He always takes the seat next to hers and tries to distract her; that was another for sure.

“He’s not avoiding me is he? I mean, he hasn’t walked right out of class without waiting for me like he always does, and I haven’t seen him since then.” Krystal asked in a worried tone when they finally settled on a table inside the cafeteria. “Where’s he anyways?” She asked while her eyes roamed around the place searching for Chen.

“He left.” Lay replied before shoving a mouthful spoon inside his mouth. He really hoped that she wouldn’t ask him further questions, but knowing Krystal…

Her head instinctively snapped towards him upon hearing what he said. “Left? As in left school?” she asked dumfounded by the news. “Didn’t he tell you why?” Lay only shook his head. He didn’t exactly have a decent conversation with Chen, but one thing he was sure of, the latter did want to avoid her. But it wasn’t like he was going to tell her that though.

 “Is he mad at me? We haven’t talked since our last argument… maybe I should’ve apologized…” she started talking fast; guilt washing over her.

“I really do not know Krystal… I’m sorry.” He couldn’t help but lie seeing the sad expression on her face. She shook her head; brushing the matter off and trying to hide her disappointment.

Sulli stole a glance at Lay whose eyes were already on her. The look on his face told her that something was wrong.

______________________________________________

A couple of weeks have passed since Krystal last saw Chen. He hadn’t come to school since then, and didn’t do as much as call her either.

She tried calling him several times, but she’d always be sent straight to voicenote, and he never replied to the texts she sent him either. She even spent hours in places they’ve went together before in the hopes of seeing him there, but she always ended up getting disappointed.

She constantly asked Lay about the reason for his sudden disappearance, but he always said the same thing. “He just needs some space.” Sulli, too, apparently was banned from saying anything for she always apologized when Krystal turned to her.

She considered going to his place; to confront him and find out what she’s done so wrong, but when she asked Ji eun for the address, the latter refused to give it to her claiming that he didn’t want to see her. She thought that Ji eun looked a little happy while telling her this but decided later that she might’ve just been imagining it.

The first few days, she tried to busy herself with whatever. She tried to act unfazed with his absence, but in all honesty, she was really getting worked up over it. There was a noticeable change in her mood, and it didn’t take long for her mother to notice that something seemed off with her daughter.  

She was more than ecstatic when she found the news from Yi Fan.

She tried to prove Chen’s words wrong and help her daughter with this. She allowed her to go out whenever she asked, and even sometimes asked Yi fan to take her out in order to keep her mind off him; and he was more than willing to do so.

She thought she was actually being supportive and that even though her daughter wasn’t happy right now; it was the best for her.

Her husband showed more than once his opposition to her actions. When she informed him about her little visit to Chen, excluding the part where she slapped him of course, he yelled about how wrong it was for her to do something like this, and he hated that she pushed Chen again out of his daughter’s life.

Yi Fan, too, was once on the verge of spilling what he's done to Krystal. He could see how miserable she was, and he wanted to lift the feeling of guilt off his chest. "I told your mother about Chen." He thought of saying, but then again.. it wouldn't be this simple. He would then have to tell her about why her mother hated Chen, and about pretty much everything else. He chickened out upon realizing how hard it would be and instead tried to ignore the guilt and appreciate the time he got to spend with her.

Unbeknown to anyone, Krystal continued with her trials to reach Chen, but it was to no avail. She went to every place she could think of, but it felt like the earth has swallowed him up.

There was one place left that Krystal hasn’t visited; the possibility of seeing him there though was close to none. Nevertheless, Krystal decided to pay it a little visit anyways… it wouldn’t hurt after all.

So there she was right now, standing in the middle of nowhere with the huge shabby building in front of her; the warehouse.

She recalled Luhan telling her that Chen hasn’t come here since the death of his best friend, but there was a tiny part of her that wondered; what if?

And she chose to listen to it.

Unlike the last time, there wasn’t any cars parked in front of it, and it disheartened her a bit. She wondered if she’d just leave; it dawned on her how idiotic it was from her to come here, but it seemed like her body had a different opinion because her legs eventually began moving towards the entrance.

Krystal shivered when she stepped inside. The chillness and lack of illumination inside the place frightened her, and the fact that she’d come alone without Luhan this time didn’t really help. Her eyes roamed around like she was seeing it for the first time, and in a way she was since the last time her mind was filled with anticipation instead.

Her trembling legs moved in hesitant small steps, and the option of running out of this creepy place sounding more appealing with every move she took.

“Krystal?” A voice suddenly called causing her to jump in her place in surprise. This voice… this was the last one she hoped to hear. Her heart was thumping so loud in her chest she could’ve sworn he was hearing it too.

Turning around ever so slowly, Krystal’s eyes were met with Baekhyun’s that were filled with a combination of anger and surprise.

“What the hell are you doing here?” He instinctively yelled with his expression hardening.

She gulped the lump in and tried to rack her brain for an excuse. ‘I’m looking for Chen.’ this didn’t sound really safe for her to say since she didn’t know how he’d react, so she excluded this option. She opened in order to say something, but all that come out was a stutter. “I…I..”

“You what? You think you can come here whenever you liked because Luhan’s shown you this place once?”

“I was looking for Chen.” The words accidently slipped from , and she silently cursed herself as soon as they were out.

“Chen? You were looking for Chen? Here?” He laughed sarcastically. “Well… I’m so sorry to inform you that Chen has stopped coming here long ago…and it’s all thanks to you of course.” He feigned looking sad with sarcasm dripping off every syllable.

“Me?”

“Sweetie… faking a dumb blonde doesn’t suit you. It’s already annoying enough having you forget everything.” He tried to keep his voice sound collected but failed for it was apparent how furious he was. He turned around ready to leave when her voice suddenly brought him to a halt.

“Forgetting everything? What do you mean by this?” She couldn’t help but question; confusion and irritation laced with her voice. She believed that he was toying with her, and the sadistic look on his face when he turned around confirmed her doubt.

“What? You actually think I’ll tell you?” He asked like it was so stupidest thing. “And pass the pleasure of watching you in torment?” He continued haunting her; his lips forming into a wicked smirk. He leaned dangerously closer before whispering in her ears.

“Never.”

I'M FINNAAALLY BACCKK ^^

And I miss you all so muuchh! *Virtual hugs*

I'm done with the exams, so hopefully I'll be able to update more often.

Thankyouu all for your patience, really. I know I was gone for so long!

I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU xx

Don't forget to comment down below, and tell me what you think of this :)))

XOXOXO