“I’m seriously going to kill him!!...and her!!!...Yes! I’ll kill them both!!” said Krystal and slammed her hand on the table

 

“Come on now honey…calm down ok” said Teacyeon trying to calm his girlfriend down

 

“Don’t honey me!! Look at what your best friend is doing to my best friend!!” snapped Krystal furious at Nichkhun

 

“But we should listen to his explanation first honey” said Teacyeon softly and calmly

 

“What explanation? What explanation would justify lying about something like this??” said Krystal sarcastically

 

“Come on Krys…calm down first please” said Luna holding Krystal’s hand trying to calm her down

 

“But Luna look at our Vic!!....How can I calm down??.....I’m going to get to the bottom of this…something shady is going on here” said Krystal with a determined look on her face

 

“Honey I think you should let them talk it out first….they need to straighten this out themselves” said Teacyeon a little frustrated

 

Things was about to turn ugly. Victoria was feeling guilty for causing an uneasiness and conflict between Krystal and Teacyeon, she had to do something to try to calm her best friend down

 

“No Krys don’t take it out on Teac…he didn’t do anything…please I can’t take it if I’m the reason why you guys get into a fight Krys” said Victoria pleadingly at her best friend to calm down

 

Krystal was still fuming mad at Nichkhun, but she was willing to listen to Victoria because she couldn’t fathom making her friend sadder than she already was

 

“Have you talked to Khun about these pictures?” asked Luna concerned

 

“Yes, I did…but he didn’t tell me that she was his ex…he told me that she’s just a colleague” said Victoria almost whispering on having to repeat the fact that her boyfriend was lying to her

 

“Of course he didn’t tell you the truth….he’s a real jerk that’s why!” yelled Krystal

 

“I think you need to talk to him Vic…you need to tell him that you know it’s Gyuri and listen to his explanations” said Wooyoung

 

“Why did he lie to me?....Why didn’t he tell me the truth??....Why did he tell me that she was just a colleague?” said Victoria in a shaking voice

 

Nobody knew how to respond to her questions. They all knew how she felt. They knew how painful it was to be lied to and it was especially hurtful when it came from someone you love. Krystal and Luna began to tear up at the sight of their best friends choking up. They both threw themselves in and hugged her tight to ease her pain a little bit

 

Victoria went back home shortly after. She excused herself saying that she needed time to think it through. Krystal and Teacyeon refused to let her take the taxi home and insisted that they drove her home themselves which she obliged.

 

She honestly didn’t know what to do. She knew she needed to talk to him about it, but she was afraid. She was afraid of what she might hear from him. She was afraid that he would lie to her again, but worst of all, she was afraid that the truth was that he was actually cheating on her. She didn’t know what she would do if it turned out that way. She loved him very much and the thought that he might be cheating on her was enough for her heart to break. However, she was still determined to find out the truth, whatever that maybe because it was the only way for her and Nichkhun to solve this problem; it was the only way for both of them to be in a committed relationship. She took out her phone and started typing

 

Beep beep – incoming text

 

Nichkhun reached out for his phone and immediately smiled upon seeing Victoria’s name, however once he opened the text message his smiled dropped immediately and he knew right away that something was wrong. Victoria’s text was cold and distant again. Gyuri was observing Nichkhun when he got the text and she noticed how his facial expression changed abruptly and she knew that something was wrong

 

“I have to talk to you…can you come by again tonight?” – Victoria

 

Nichkhun started typing on his phone with a serious and confused expression on his face

 

“I think I’ll have to film all night tonight honey….I’m not sure if I can drop by tonight….is there anything wrong?....are you ok honey?” – Nichkhun

 

Beep beep

 

“How soon can you drop by?...I really need to talk to you” – Victoria

 

“How about tomorrow night honey?...I think I can probably drop by to see you tomorrow night at the earliest” – Nichkhun

 

“Fine…..I’ll see you tomorrow night then” – Victoria

 

Nichkhun’s expression was full of confusion. He put his phone down and picked it up again and read the message again furrowing his eyebrows. Gyuri knew that it was her chance again and took out her phone and quickly dialed a number. A few seconds later the same man picked up the phone

 

“The plan is working…..send the second set of pictures tomorrow” said Gyuri

 

“Ok…I got it” said the man on the other end and hung up

 

Gyuri immediately smiled at her luck. She knew it was the perfect opportunity for her and she was going to seize it and take it to her advantage. After all people say that you should strike while the iron is hot and that was what she intended to do

 

----------------------------------------

 

The next day

 

Victoria came back home after work and while walking towards her house she saw it. A brown envelope sticking out from her mailbox, taunting her. She stopped dead in her track, not knowing what she should do. She was afraid, afraid of what she would find inside that envelope, but she knew she had to. She had to find out for herself, whatever it was she told herself to stay strong. She grabbed the envelope along with her other mails and went inside. Once she entered her house she took the brown envelope and opened it and took out the content inside. There, she discovered another set of pictures of Nichkhun and Gyuri. Her hands began to tremble, tears welled up in her eyes. She was looking at pictures of Nichkhun wrapping his arm around Gyuri and while Gyuri rested her head on his chest. There were pictures of Nichkhun still holding Gyuri in his arm inside a house that was not his. There were pictures of Nichkhun sitting in bed while Gyuri lied down next to him and finally the worst of them all were pictures of Nichkhun leaning in about to kiss her

 

She couldn’t take it anymore. Her hands dropped and all the pictures fell down to the floor and she began to cry hard. She was trying to hold on to her love of Nichkhun. She tried to have faith in him, tried to believe that there must be a good explanation as to why he lied and that there was nothing between Nichkhun and Gyuri. However, seeing these pictures destroyed her hopes. Whatever hopes she had or however little amount of faith she hang on to were gone after seeing those pictures

 

“Did you kissed her Khun?” thought Victoria and cried her eyes out

 

It was almost midnight when Nichkhun finally arrived at Victoria’s house. He was anxious and nervous. He didn’t know what to expect. He had been trying really hard for the past two days to think of a possible reason for her to be upset, but he couldn’t think of any. He stood in front of her house breathing in deeply as if to calm his nerves down and pressed the doorbell. A few minutes later Victoria appeared at the door and let him in without saying a word. Nichkhun immediately noticed that her eyes were puffy and swollen like she had been crying for hours. He followed her inside the house and once the door was shut he immediately pulled her in for a hug, but Victoria pushed him off and stared straight into his eyes

 

“What’s wrong honey?....Have you been crying?....Are you ok?” said Nichkhun confused and worried

 

Victoria took a few second to gather her strength and finally she said

 

“Why did you lie to me Khun?....Why didn’t you tell me that the woman in the pictures is Gyuri…your ex-girlfriend?....Why did you have to lie and tell me that she’s just a colleague?” said Victoria eyes b with tears, voice shaking

 

Nichkhun was stunned and his face turned pale all of a sudden. His mind went completely blank. It took him a few minutes to gather himself before he could replied to her question

 

“I’m sorry honey…..I’m really sorry for lying to you….I didn’t know how you would react if you know that it was Gyuri…I didn’t want you to worry that I’m working closely with her…that’s why I didn’t tell you….I know it’s wrong honey and I’m really really sorry” said Nichkhun sighing heavily looking at her apologetically

 

“You didn’t want me to worry??...is that the best answer you could come up with??...So you’re saying that you lied to help shield me from worrying??....Am I supposed to feel grateful to you now Khun?” said Victoria clenching her fists looking straight into his eyes

 

“No honey….that’s not what I meant….I….I just…I just didn’t know how to tell you and I was afraid that you wouldn’t understand and I just don’t think I could handle it if I have to constantly reassure you that there was nothing between me and her….I was afraid that I would have to always prove to you that she meant nothing to me….I didn’t think I could handle that….not when I’m working this hard” said Nichkhun exasperatedly while running his hand through his hair

 

“So you lied to help yourself….you didn’t do it to help me at all Khun….you lied because it was easier for you…you lied to make yourself feel better not because you cared about me……and for the record Khun, yes I would be upset had I known that it was Gyuri, but at least I would have taken comfort in knowing that you were sincere enough to tell me the truth….It would have proven to me that I can trust you, that I can believe in you….but you’re not man enough to give me that….” Said Victoria wiping tears from her face as she looked at him

 

Nichkhun wished he was dead right there and then.The way she looked at him was full of disappointment and hurt and it tore him apart. He didn’t know what to say to her. He knew she was right. He knew he was a coward for not telling her the truth. He lied for his own benefits and pretended that he was doing it to not make her worry, but in truth he did it because he didn’t have to guts to tell her the truth and he was now facing the consequences of his decision

 

“I’m sorry honey….Please I’m really sorry…I never want to hurt you” said Nichkhun and took Victoria’s hand and put it on his chest and said

 

“Hit me, slap me, punch me….anything…I know I deserved it” said Nichkhun desperately trying to make her less angry with him, desperately trying for anything just to make her feel better and to make himself feel better for what he had done

 

“Would it make you feel better if I hit you?” asked Victoria

 

“Yes honey” said Nichkhun

 

“Then I won’t do it…. Why should I hit you?...Why should I hurt my hand by hitting you?...What good would it do for me by hitting you?...Why should I hurt myself to make you feel better about what you’ve done?...You want me to hit you so you’ll feel less guilty about lying to me?....I won’t do it Khun” said Victoria sternly and removed her hand from his chest while looking straight into his eyes

 

Nichkhun’s head dropped at what she just said. She was right again. Asking her to hit him was a selfish act. If she had hit him it would constitute as a punishment and it would lessen his wrong and thus Victoria would have no choice but to forgive him because she had already punished him. However, asking her to hit him would mean that he was asking her to “right” the wrong that “he” had done when in fact “he” should be the one righting the wrong himself, not her.

 

“I’m sorry honey….Please believe me there’s absolutely nothing between me and her….I know I’m a coward for not telling you the truth…and I feel horrible right now, but please….please believe me that I didn’t lie to you because there’s something going on with her….Please believe me” said Nichkhun pleadingly at her and reached out to take her hand

 

Victoria stepped back avoiding his hand from touching her. She looked straight into his eyes and turned and grabbed the pictures and handed them to him

 

“There’s nothing going on between the two of you??....Then how would you explain these pictures then?” said Victoria in a trembling voice and hand shaking while handing those pictures to him

 

Nichkhun took the pictures from her and began to examine them and immediately his face turned even whiter than it was. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He quickly looked through all the pictures and he was lost for words

 

“Are you going to tell me that there’s nothing going on between you two again?” said Victoria coldly

 

“I don’t know who took these pictures!!!....but there’s really nothing honey!!!...she was drunk that night…we all went out for staff dinner and she got drunk!!….too drunk to drive….so I drove her home, but when I got there she was still too drunk to even walk so I helped her get inside her house that’s all!!...Please believe me” said Nichkhun completely frustrated and angry

 

“How can I believe you Khun??...When you lied to me….you lied that she was just a colleague….you said that there’s nothing going on between you two, but what about these pictures Khun??....What about his one?? (holding up a picture of Nichkhun leaning in as Gyuri was lying in bed) How do you expect me to believe that you’re telling me the truth??” said Victoria all in one breath and tears continued to trickle down her face

 

“But it’s the truth!!! I’m not lying to you now!!...there’s really nothing and I mean NOTHING! between me and her!!!....she was drunk and mumbled something that I couldn’t hear so I leaned in closer to listen and that’s all!!!” said Nichkhun frustrated and angry at the whole situation, angry at himself and angry at Victoria for not believing him

 

“I don’t know how to believe you Khun…..I honestly don’t know if I can believe you” said Victoria looking completely worn-out

 

Nichkhun wanted to console her. He wanted to ease her pain. He reached out his arms wanted to hold her tight, but she refused to let him touched her. She stepped back and avoided his hands from touching her and that gesture hurt him

 

“You won’t even let me touch you now huh?....Is that how it’s going to be Vic?” said Nichkhun hurt and wounded

 

“I can’t talk to you now Khun….I really can’t…..I need time to think things through…..Please I need to be alone” said Victoria letting out a deep sigh….defeated and lost

 

“Please honey….don’t be like this….Please believe me….please” said Nichkhun pleadingly begging her to trust him

 

“I’m sorry Khun…I can’t right now….Please I want to be left alone…Please Khun” said Victoria looking straight at him, pleading him to leave her alone

 

Nichkhun didn’t have any other choice but to comply with her wish. He let out a deep sigh and turned around and walked out of the house and left her there. Once Nichkhun was gone Victoria slumped down onto the floor and began to cry her heart out

 

During the next few days Nichkhun was noticeably distraught to everyone on set including Gyuri. She noticed that he looked sullen most of the time. He checked his phone constantly and every time he did he would look disappointed. He also tried to stay away from her as much as possible. She noticed it since he refused to accept her usual morning coffee delivery for him. She knew right away that he had had a fight with Victoria and that fight was about her and when she confronted Nichkhun about his change in behavior he told her about the photos.

 

“Someone took pictures of us and sent them to my girlfriend Gyuri….did you know anything about it?” asked Nichkhun looking straight into her eyes

 

“You have a girlfriend already Khun?” asked Gyuri pretended like she didn’t already know

 

“Yes I do…and I love her every much….I’d would appreciate it if you can keep it to yourself Gyuri….the reason why I told you about her is because I want to ask if you know anything at all about those pictures?” Nichkhun asked again looking at Gyuri with piercing eyes

 

“Of course not Khun….Why would I know anything about any of it??...I don’t know anything” said Gyuri looking innocently at him

 

Nichkhun let out a sigh.

 

“I’m sorry….I know you’re not that kind of person….it’s just so frustrating that’s all” said Nichkhun defeated and lost

 

“I’m sorry to hear that Khun….I can’t believe someone would do something like this” said Gyuri sounding shocked

 

“Thank you Gyuri….I’m not blaming you for what happened, but I really think it’s better for us to keep our distant a little….hope you can understand that” said Nichkhun

 

“I can understand if you do not want to be around me….I really do….I don’t want to be the reason why you get into trouble with her too Khun…It’s ok I understand your situation” said Gyuri looking straight into his eyes and smiled encouragingly

 

“Thank you Gyuri” said Nichkhun

 

-----------------------------------------

 

The next few days of no contact from Victoria was the worst few days of his life. Nichkhun felt like he was slowly losing breath, losing the ability to breathe. He felt like his heart was going to stop beating, the pain of missing her made it almost impossible for him to keep on breathing. He had honestly never felt this much pain in his life. He knew that this was his punishment and that it was far worst of a punishment than for her to hit him or punch him. Physical punishment was far too easy and far less torturous than emotional agony. He realized that now, it also made him realized how painful it must have been for Victoria to had to hold it in during the two days she waited for him to stop by at her house so she could confront him about the pictures. He could understand her point of view and her emotion now and that made him hated himself even more for causing her pain. He told himself that he had to respect her request even though he wanted so much to show up at her house and beg for her forgiveness, but he knew that he had to give her time.

 

The only people he could confide in were his best friends Wooyoung and Teacyeon and both of them gave him an earful about lying to Victoria. However, despite the fact that they didn’t agree with his decision to lie, they also knew how horrible and tormented he felt right now. They tried to support him in whichever way they can. They tried to console him and tell him that he needed to give her time and that soon Victoria would forgive him

 

During the next few days Victoria had completely ignore Nichkhun and all of his text messages. She knew he felt terrible about what happened and that he was really sorry for lying to her, but she was still unsure of what she should do. What happened hurt her badly. She felt betrayed and used and she still didn’t know if she was able to trust him. The only people Victoria talked to were her best friends. Luna would call her several times a day to check on her. Krystal would spend every free minute that she had at school right by Victoria’s side. She was grateful to them for their concern, but she didn’t tell them about the second set of pictures that she received. She didn’t tell them because she didn’t want to be grilled with more questions than she already got from them. She knew that her best friends were worried about her, but she needed time alone to think what she should do.

 

After a few days of no contact from Victoria, Nichkhun was losing his mind and he couldn’t take it anymore. He went out to drink alone at a private club where he was a regular patron. He didn’t know what else he could do to make the pain of missing her to go away. He ordered a bottle of whiskey and began to gulp down hungrily.

 

It was after 1AM. Victoria woke up to the sound of her doorbell ringing constantly and the sound of someone banging on her front gate. She quickly went down to investigate and upon reaching the front gate she knew who was responsible for waking up the whole neighborhood, it was Nichkhun.

 

“Honeeeyyyy…..Pleaseee believeee meee….I’m sorryyyyy….Pleaseee oopennn the doorrrr” said Nichkhun sluring and incoherently while banging on the front gate of her house

 

Victoria opened the front gate to find the completely and utterly drunk Nichkhun clinging onto Wooyoung who was holding him up. The minute she opened the door Nichkhun immediately smiled and stepped inside and hugged her tight. He reeked of alcohol and Victoria was shocked to see him in such a state. She had never seen him drunk before, Nichkhun usually control himself pretty well when it came to drinking, but tonight he was completely hammered. She had to hold herself up so she wouldn’t fall down due to his heavy frame hanging on top of her

 

“Honeeyyyy I’m sorrryyyy….Pleaseeee forrgiveee meee….I missss youuu” said Nichkhun while holding on to Victoria tight

 

“Khun…how much have you drink??....You’re completely drunk!!...What happened to him Wooyoung??” said Victoria shocked at the level of his drunkenness

 

“Sorry Vic….he went out to drink at our usual club and the bartender called me to come picked him up because he was completely wasted….I was going to take him home, but he kept telling me that he needed to see you…so I have to bring him here, sorry” said Wooyoung apologetically while trying to help Nichkhun from falling down to the floor

 

“How much did he drink??....he’s really drunk!!” said Victoria

 

“I’m not drunkkkkk honeeyyy….I can still walkkk” said Nichkhun sluring his words as he tried to speak

 

Nichkhun tried to show her that he wasn’t drunk. He straightened himself up and tried to walk in a straight line, but he could only took two steps before collapsing down on to the ground. Victoria had to rush in and helped pick him up. She and Wooyoung wrapped his arms around their shoulders and helped get him upstairs to her bedroom and plopped him down in bed with much effort

 

“God you’re so drunk Khun” said Victoria panting and out of breath

 

“I’m sorrrryyyy….I’m sooo stupiddd….I’m a babo….babo….babo” said Nichkhun and began hitting himself in the chest and tears started running down the corners of his eyes

 

“Stop it Khun…You need to lie down Khun….come on stay still…I’ll get you some water” said Victoria and grabbed his hands from hitting himself and then she and Wooyoung went downstairs

 

“What happened to him Wooyoung? Why did he drink this much??” asked Victoria concerned while walking to the front gate with Wooyoung

 

“He’s hurting Vic….He’s really sad about what happened….I’m his best friend, but I’m not going to make excuses for what he did….he shouldn’t have lied to you, but I know him well enough to know that he’s not a cheater Vic…he may have lied to you, but he would never cheat on you…He loves you too much to do something like that….Please give him a chance…” said Wooyoung and excused himself and left

 

Victoria went back to get the water and contemplated on what Wooyoung had just said. A few minutes later she came back with water and began feeding him

 

“Here…come on drink some water or otherwise your head will explode tomorrow” said Victoria while scooping him up and feed him

 

“Thank youuu honeeyy….I loveee you sooooo mucchhhh….pleaseee forgive meee. I can’t takeee thiss anymoreee….I missss youuu” said Nichkhun tossing and turning in bed

 

Seeing him in this state made Victoria’s heart ache. She couldn’t deny that she missed him terribly as well and she still loved him with all her heart and seeing him drank himself into oblivion like this was not what she wanted for him. He looked wounded and lost. It was painfully clear to her that he was really sorry about everything that had happened

 

“Lie down ok Khun…I’ll get some wet towel for you” said Victoria gently while caressing his cheek

 

A few minutes later she came back with a basin and a towel. She took off his shirt and his pants and sat down next to him and began gently wiping his body with a wet towel. She gently wiped his face, his neck and his body. Nichkhun kept mumbling sorry under his breath and after a few minutes he fell asleep. She covered him with the blanket and got into bed and sat down watching him sleep. Seeing his face again made her realized how much she missed him. She missed hearing his voice, missed being in his arms, missed burying her face in his chest smelling his scent when he hugged her

 

“I missed you too” said Victoria with a trembling voice

 

She lied down next to him and rested her head on his chest and listen to the sound of his heart beating until she fell asleep

 

The next day Nichkhun woke up with a massive hangover. He opened his eyes slowly as the pain in his head kept increasing. It took him a while to finally realize where he was. He turned and saw Victoria was still asleep beside him and the pain in his head somehow wasn’t as bad as it was a minute ago. He couldn’t believe that she was lying next to him. He couldn’t believe that she’d actually let him inside her house, let alone letting him sleep in her bed after what happened. He stared at his sleeping beauty as she sleep and somehow he fell in love with her even more than he already had. He couldn’t get enough of her, he couldn’t stop staring at her and he couldn’t stop smiling

 

He reached out his hand and gently caressed her soft cheek. He kissed her lightly on her temple slowly and gently as if to savor the moment. He felt peace and calm…this is where I belong he thought. He snugged his arms around her and hugged her tight as if he was afraid that she would disappear from him. Victoria woke up feeling his arms around her. She let out a smile, whatever doubts or anger she had, it was now gone the moment she lay her head on his chest and fell asleep to the sound of his beating heart. She couldn’t hide the fact that she was happy to be in his arms again she turned her head and smiled at him and snuggled closer to him as he hugged her

 

“I’m sorry about everything honey….I’m sorry I made you cried….I’m sorry for being an insensitive jerk…I’m sorry for lying to you and please believe me….there’s no one else but you” Nichkhun whispered in her ear

 

Victoria turned around to face him and looked straight into his eyes

 

“Can you promise to never lie to me again?” asked Victoria

 

“I promised honey….I’ll never lie to you again…I’ll never go near her again…I swear…scout’s honor” said Nichkhun raising three fingers up and looked at her with puppy eyes

 

 “Apology accepted babo Nichkhun” said Victoria smiling brightly cupping his face and brought it closer and kissed him

 

Nichkhun thought he had just died and gone to heaven. It was the sweetest kiss he ever felt. He was so relieved that Victoria had finally forgiven him that the pain in his head was miraculously vanished. He kissed her back just as passionately

 

“I’ve missed you so much honey” said Nichkhun in a dreamy voice smiling a big smile

 

“I missed you too Khun” said Victoria smiling back at him

 

“Honey do you remember that I’ll be holding a fan meeting this weekend?....I want you to come to my fan meeting…..I meant to ask you earlier but I couldn’t because you were still mad at me …it’s this Saturday night….will you come?” asked Nichkhun looking at her with puppy eyes

 

“Of course I remember the fan meeting…the one where you’ll pick one lucky fan to spend a whole day with you…that fan meeting??” said Victoria smiling teasingly

 

“Haha…Yep that one…will you come? I want you to be there” said Nichkhun

 

“But it’s for your fans though….and since I’m not one of your fans I shouldn’t go right?” said Victoria mocking him

 

“What?? What do you mean you’re not my fan?” said Nichkhun pretended to be hurt

 

“Kekeke…I’m just kidding honey…of course I’d love to….after all I’m your biggest fan in the world” said Victoria and hugged him tight