“And that’s the final nail in the coffin Miss Victoria” thought Gyuri

 

Gyuri was down on the floor drenched in red wine looking like a little girl being bullied. It was her plan all along to cause conflict between Nichkhun and Victoria. To make him think that she was not the angel he thought her to be. She was willing to do anything to get Nichkhun back even if it meant that she had to use all the dirty tricks in the book, she was willing to. She had told herself a long time ago that nothing and she meant nothing would be too dirty or too low for her to do if it meant that he would finally be hers again. She thought she had succeeded tonight. She thought that tonight would finally be the night that she could reap the fruit of her labor. She thought that Nichkhun would finally had enough of Victoria and that he would fall for her trap and thought that Victoria was a manipulative two-face kind of girl and that he would finally dumped her.

 

Nichkhun who was still shocked at the sight in front of him walked into the room and over to Gyuri and he crouched down next to her in an attempt to help her get up

 

“What’s going on???.....What happened???” asked Nichkhun turned to look at Gyuri and back at Victoria with a confused look on his face

 

“I was just telling Miss Victoria that she could trust you and that there was nothing between us!!!…..I was trying to reassure her not to worry, but instead she called me a liar!!!...and threw red wine at me and pushed me down!!!!” said Gyuri with a pretended innocence and looking like a wounded little girl and began to cry

 

Victoria was shocked at what Gyuri had just said. She couldn’t believe her ears. She continued to stand there with her jaw dropped and her eyes widen in disgust at the extent of what Gyuri was willing to do. She turned to look at Nichkhun who stood still in shocked

 

“Honey…..” said Nichkhun furrowing his eyebrows looking lost at Victoria

 

He stood frozen in his spot completely lost at what just happened and what he ought to do. Nichkhun’s expression told Victoria everything, she knew that he didn’t entirely believed what Gyuri had just said, but he wasn’t completely convinced that Victoria was innocent either. She knew that he was lost….utterly lost, and instead of feeling angry at him for not believing her, she felt bad for him. She felt bad for her boyfriend to be put in this kind of situation. To be deceived by someone whom he used to love without even knowing it. She also understood what Luna had said to her more clearly now. She could understand if he didn’t trust her given the circumstances that they were in, just like she didn’t believe him when the earring incident happened either. She let what appeared to happen affected her trust towards him and now his trust towards her was being affected the in same way too.

 

It was an epiphany moment for Victoria. She understood now what Nichkhun meant when he painfully asked her why she couldn’t trust him. If she didn’t trust him then how could she be asking him to trust her in this situation? How could she demand a complete trust from him when she didn’t give him that?

 

With that thought Victoria calmly walked over to Nichkhun and took his hand in hers and said

 

“I know you’re in shock at what just happened….and I can understand it if you’re not convinced that I’m innocent Khun….and I’m not being sarcastic or anything….What just happened  made me realized what you meant when you asked me why I couldn’t trust you….so I’m not mad at you Khun…I just want you to hear it from me that I didn’t do it….I didn’t do what she said I did” said Victoria and reached up and caressed his cheek and turned and walked towards the door

 

Nichkhun stood motionless at the spot, still contemplating on what Victoria had just said to him and it took him a minute to realize what she meant. He quickly turned around and ran after Victoria leaving Gyuri on the floor covered in red wine and completely dumbfounded at what just happened to her well laid plan

 

“Khun!!!.....Where are you going???.....Khun!!!” shouted Gyuri after Nichkhun who left her on the floor and ran after his girlfriend

 

Nichkhun caught up with Victoria just before she walked out of the restaurant. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her in for a hug right in front of every diner. He hugged her tight in his arms, rested his head on her shoulder with his eyes closed he said

 

“Please tell me I wasn’t dreaming when you said you understood me….Did you really mean it when you said those words Vic??” said Nichkhun whispering with his trembling voice

 

Victoria wrapped her arms around him even tighter as if to assure him that she wasn’t going anywhere, as if to assure him of her feelings towards him

 

“No, you weren’t dreaming Khun…..I meant it…..I do understand what you meant when you asked me why I couldn’t trust you….seeing what happened in there….being put in the same position you were in opened my eyes…..I didn’t trust you when the earring incident happened….I let my jealousy took the better of me and that hurt us…..now that I was put in the same situation, I do understand now that I shouldn’t have quickly jumped to the conclusion and let what appeared to happen affected my trust in you, in us…..that’s why I said I can understand if you’re not convinced that I’m innocent Khun” said Victoria calmly and gently to her boyfriend

 

Nickhun was so relieved to hear those words. He felt as if the weight of the world that he had been carrying around on his shoulders ever since the fight was miraculously gone. He felt lighter than air as if he would suddenly floated away from all the happiness he was feeling.

 

“I’m sorry honey…..I’m so sorry for everything…..I’m sorry for being so dump…..I’m sorry for even doubting your innocence for just a second….I’m sorry for letting my pride got the best of me……..but most importantly……thank you honey…..thank you for understanding me…..thank you for believing in me…..for believing in is babo…..for loving me…..thank you so much honey” said Nichkhun in a trembling voice and started to cry on her shoulder

 

People were starting to look around at the scene in front of them, but Nichkhun didn’t care. He didn’t care anymore if people would find out that he was already in a committed relationship. He didn’t care anymore if someone would take a picture of them hugging and posted it on the internet for the whole world to see. Nichkhun had now realized that nothing and no one would ever be as important to him as the girl he was holding in his arms.

 

Nichkhun and Victoria suddenly began to notice everyone else in the room. Nichkhun turned around and saw that all pairs of eyes in the room were upon him and Victoria. Some people took out their mobile phones and were taking pictures of him hugging Victoria in his arms. Some were whispering among themselves at what they just saw. Some smiled brightly at the couple. Nichkhun looked at the people in the room and turned to look at Victoria and suddenly broke out into a wide smile. He suddenly reached up and held Victoria’s face in his hands and kissed her.

 

Victoria was lost in his kiss. It was a kiss she had never felt before. It was a kiss from a free man, a man who had finally made up his mind and free from worries and fears. Nichkhun kissed Victoria because he felt he was free to do so. He no longer felt afraid nor care of what the other people think. He kissed her because he wanted her lips right here and now.

 

“Just this once” thought Victoria

 

Snapping sounds of mobile phone cameras could be heard throughout the room. Some people clapped their hands. Some cooed at the sight of lovers in love. Some people grasped and screamed seeing their beloved actor kissing another woman in front of them. After a while Nichkhun and Victoria broke free from their kiss

 

“Let’s get out of here” said Nichkhun looking deep into her eyes while resting his head on hers

 

“Yeah….let’s go” said Victoria smiling brightly at her boyfriend and walked out of the restaurant hand in hand

 

Nichkhun took Victoria to his car and drove off. Once they were inside the car the atmosphere became a little awkward between them. Nichkhun couldn’t understand why and neither did Victoria, but somehow they seemed awkwardly happy and giddy. They kept glancing at each other with a big grin on their faces waiting for the right time and the right word to say.

 

“I’m sorry” both said to each other at the same time

 

They both looked at each other and started laughing at their own silliness. Nichkhun looked at Victoria with loving stare and a big smile on his face and said

 

“I’m sorry honey….sorry about everything that happened” said Nichkhun with a little smile on his face

 

“It’s ok Khun….I have to say sorry to you too….I didn’t exactly listen to anything you have to say and I’m sorry for that” said Victoria while reaching out for his hand and looking straight into his eyes with her head resting on the seat of the car

 

Nichkhun looked at her and decided that this was the perfect opportunity for them to have their open heart talk. He pulled the car over and stopped on the side of the road and turned to Victoria

 

“Honey…..We should talk about what happened….I think it would be good for us to say whatever we want to say, but never had the chance to do so….and at least it would make us understand each other better” said Nichkhun trying to gauge her emotion about bringing up the subject again

 

Victoria thought for a while and agreed that it was probably a good idea for them to have their open heart talk. She nodded her head to indicate to him that she agreed

 

“I hated that we fought, but one thing I’m grateful for was the fact that these fights made me realized how much you mean to me…..I am in love with you and nothing or no one will ever change that….having said that it doesn’t mean that we will never fight again….arguing and misunderstandings are a part of any relationship, it’s unavoidable no matter how hard we try…..being in a relationship isn’t about being perfect and lovely doovy all the time….it’s about growing together, learning to cherish one another through good times and bad times….I can understand why you were mad at me, but I want you to know that I have my own insecurities too…..I’m also scare when we’re not together….when I’m flying half way across the world, but I still choose to trust you….no matter how scare I am that Changmin might show up and scoop you away when I’m not here” said Nichkhun pouting a little

 

“Someday in the future we will fight again…..you may want to stick a fork in my forehead or choke me in my sleep….but the only thing that matter is that no matter what happen I will always be sleeping next to you…..no matter how much we fight I’d still want to hold you and only you in my arms when I go to bed….do you understand??” said Nichkhun calmly  

 

Victoria was beginning to tear up listening to his words. She smiled a playful smile and reached out her hands and squeezed his cheeks together until his lips pucker up and said

 

“No, I would never stick a fork in your forehead Khun…..if I were to stick something in your forehead it will be a knife not a fork honey…..kekeke” said Victoria with teary eyes, teasingly and continued to squeeze Nichkhun cheeks in and out with her hands making his lips pucker up and down

 

Nichkhun then reached out his hands and began to do the same thing with Victoria’s cheeks and said

 

“Well I’ll still be sleeping next to you regardless of your choice of utensil to stick in my forehead honey” said Nichkhun with his nose scrunched up looking cutely at his girlfriend and then proceeded to hug her tight

 

“So what should we do now??....Do you want to go to Luna’s??....We haven’t eaten anything yet” asked Nichkhun smiling brightly at Victoria

 

“Yes please I miss spending time with our friends…but I miss spending time with you the most” said Victoria and pinched his nose out of love and affection

 

“Let’s go and surprise them then….I’m sure they’ll be happy to see us again” said Nichkhun and gave Victoria a quick peck on the lips before proceeded to drive off towards Luna’s restaurant

 

At La Caffe

 

Nichkhun walked into La Caffe holding Victoria’s hand in his. Both were smiling from ear to ear and proceeded to march on to Luna and Wooyoung’s table. Luna was the first one to spot the couple and immediately broke out into a wide grin and quickly got up and ran towards Victoria and gave her a big hug while squealing in delight

 

“Oh my god!!....You guys made up!!!....I’m so happy for you Vic!!” said Luna excitedly while hugging Victoria tight and both began to jump up and down in circle

 

Wooyoung walked over to Nichkhun who was laughing seeing the two girls all giddy and happy and gave his best friend a hug as well

 

“Finally you guys made up!!....I’m happy for you Khun….You have no idea how Luna was so worried about you two” said Wooyoung and gave Nichkhun a hug

 

“Sorry about that Woo….and sorry about that too Luna….I never meant to make you guys worried” said Nichkhun smiling apologetically to both of them

 

“It’s ok Khun….as long  as you guys made up and realized that you belong with one another that’s all that matters….but please less fighting ok? Hehehe” said Luna smiling brightly at Nichkhun

 

“Are you guys hungry??....Have you eaten anything??” asked Luna smiling brightly with twinkles in her eyes

 

“No, we haven’t eaten anything Luna….We were hoping that you could feed us something” said Victoria smiling back at her best friend knowing that her statement would make Luna’s day because of how much she loved to feed people

 

“Oh no problem then!!!....here you guys just sit down….I’ll tell the kitchen to whip up some goodies for you right away!!...I’ll be right back…..kekeke” said Luna and rushed off towards the kitchen

 

“Where’s Teac and Krystal??....Are they coming here too??” asked Nichkhun

 

“Yeah Teac just called and said that he and Krystal are on their way here….He said that they have something to discuss with us about that mysterious Lee J.W. guy” said Wooyoung

 

“Oh really??....Does that mean that Krystal finally found the guy??” asked Nichkhun excitedly

 

“I don’t know yet, but we’ll find out soon enough…….oh here they come” said Wooyoung and motion his head towards Teacyeon and Krystal who just walked into the restaurant

 

Teacyoen and Krystal were surprised to see Nichkhun and Victoria sitting next to each other. Victoria turned and ran and hugged Krystal

 

“Hi Teac…Hi Krys” said Nichkhun looking at Krystal in the eyes trying to gauge her emotion

 

Krystal stood quietly looking back at Nichkhun with a stern expression on her face. After a while she finally said

 

“So are you guys back together now??” said Krystal coldly eyes fixed on Nichkhun

 

“Yes, we are Krys….We are back together and we’ll never be apart again” said Nichkhun with serious expression on his face

 

Victoria was tugging on Krystal’s arm with a little pout on her face trying to lighten Krystal’s mood. Krystal looked at her best friend and rolled her eyes and said

 

“Fine!! I forgive your boyfriend then….no need to turn on your ageyo at me Vic…Aishh” said Krystal smiling a little while pretended to be annoyed at her best friend

 

“Kekeke…..I love you Krys…mwuah!” said Victoria excitedly and kissed Krystal on the cheek

 

“Hahaha…..You could never win when she her ageyo Krys” said Luna teasingly at Krystal after witnessing Krystal fell for Victoria’s ageyo

 

“Awww honey….you’re just so cute hehehe” said Teacyeon adoringly at his girlfriend who smiled back at him

 

“So what did you find out about this Lee J.W. guy?” asked Victoria

 

Krystal took out the content inside the brown envelope that she was holding and placed them on the table. There were pictures of a short and chubby guy standing at the counter in a department store. The pictures clearly showed his face and Nichkhun’s eyes immediately widen upon seeing them. He reached out and took one of the picture and said

 

“It’s him!!....This is the same guy that I fought with in front of Victoria’s house!!” said Nichkhun in shocked

 

Luna took a closer look at the pictures at then suddenly remembered that it was the same guy that she saw talking to Gyuri at the coffee shop not long ago

 

“Oh my god!!.....I’ve seen this guy before!!!.....I’ve seen him with that Gyuri hag!!!” said Luna

 

“Huh??....Gyuri??....Hag???” said Wooyoung looking confused as he had never heard his girlfriend bad mouthing anyone before

 

“Opps…hehehe….sorry….but she is one though!!!...for causing problems for my best friend” said Luna cutely trying to defend her choice of word

 

“What do you mean you’ve seen him with Gyuri Luna??” asked Nichkhun furrowing his eyebrows

 

Luna began to recount the encountered that she had and after she was done everyone was in shocked. Nichkhun was the first one to connect the dots

 

“!!....It must have been Gyuri all along!!!....This explains everything!!....How this guy knows where I live….How he knows where I’ll be….She must have tipped him off when she got drunk at the staff dinner that time too!!.......I can’t believe this……Why would she do something like this???” said Nichkhun eyes widen

 

Everyone was looking bewildered and shocked at what they just heard. Nichkhun suddenly slammed his hand on the table causing everyone to startled

 

“I’m going to get to the bottom of this….I’m going over to her house….I’m going to confront her about this!!” said Nichkhun angrily, grabbed the pictures and got up from his chair

 

Teacyeon and Wooyoung immediately got up right after Nichkhun and said

 

“Oh crap!!....He’s pissed...We better follow him….Who knows what he’ll do to her” said Wooyoung aloud and everyone else at the table also got up and followed Nichkhun out the door

 

Nichkhun was behind the steering wheel driving so fast it scared Victoria. Wooyoung and Luna were sitting in the back looking just as tensed. Nichkhun was extremely upset and everyone could see it on his face. Of all the people inside the car Wooyoung knew exactly just how scary Nichkhun could be when he was mad. Wooyoung took out his phone and sent a text to Teacyeon who was following them behind to keep up with Nichkhun and to be prepared for what was about to happen.

 

Nichkhun dialed Gyuri’s number. The phone rang several times and everyone in the car was listening intently at the dialing tone coming out of the car speakers. After a few rings Gyuri finally picked up the phone and said in her cheery voice

 

“Khun!!!....I knew you’d called….I couldn’t believe what she did to me!!!....Will you come over to see me??” said Gyuri still trying to deceive Nichkhun and go along with her plans not knowing that Nichkhun had figured out everything

 

Nichkhun scoffed a little but managed to control his voice and replied to her as gently as possible, playing along to her plan

 

“Yes, I’m coming to see you….Are you at home?” said Nichkhun trying his best to control the anger in his voice

 

“Yes, I am Khun” said Gyuri apparently happy to know that Nichkhun was coming to see her

 

“Good….I’m on my way” said Nichkhun and pressed the end button and ended the call and proceeded to press his foot harder at the gas pedal to speed up the car

 

Nichkhun parked his car in front of Gyuri’s house fifteen minutes later and quickly got out, followed by Victoria, Wooyoung and Luna. Nichkhun immediately began to ring the doorbell repeatedly. Teacyeon and Krystal were right behind them. After a few minutes of waiting the front door of the house was finally opened.

 

“Wow you’re fast Khun” said Gyuri smiling brightly but her smiled dropped immediately upon seeing the others there beside Nichkhun

 

Nichkhun didn’t wait for another second. He pushed himself through the front door into the house almost knocking Gyuri down. Right before he walked past Gyuri he grabbed her arm and began to drag her back inside the house

 

“We need to talk!!” said Nichkhun maliciously while dragging Gyuri inside the house

 

Gyuri’s eyes widen in shocked as she tried to comprehend what was going on. Once everyone was inside the house, Nichkhun swung Gyuri on to the sofa and stood tall above her with his arms crossed

 

“Ouch!!...That hurts!!!.....What did you do that for Khun??....and what’s with all the gang here??” said Gyuri irritated and confused

 

“I’m here NOT because I care about you….I’m here about THIS!!!!” said Nichkhun and threw those pictures at Gyuri

 

Gyuri picked up those pictures and immediately gaped at what she was seeing. Her reaction to the pictures was all that was needed for Nichkhun to confirm that she was indeed the one behind it all.

 

“How could you???.....HOW COULD YOU!!!” said Nichkhun fuming mad with his hands shaking

 

“I……I…..I don’t know what you’re talking about Khun” said Gyuri avoiding eye contact with Nichkhun

 

“Don’t you dare lie to me again!!!!!.....I know it’s you…..your face said it all when you saw those pictures!!!!.....DON’T YOU DARE LIE TO ME!!!” yelled Nichkhun and pointed his finger at Gyuri

 

Everyone in the room was shocked to see Nichkhun in this state. He was furious and everyone could clearly sense that too.

 

“How could you do this to me Gyuri??....What happened to you???....What happened to the woman I used to love???....You’re not this kind of person……What made you stoop this low just to get me back???” asked Nichkhun confused and wounded

 

Gyuri was sitting on the sofa with her head hung low looking down at the floor. She sat there motionless and remained silent without any indication of answering his question.

 

“ANSWER ME!!!!” Nichkhun yelled and took a step forward toward Gyuri as if to harm her. Before anyone could react to his behavior Victoria stepped in front of Nichkhun and put her hands on his chest to calm him down and said

 

“Khun….calm down first ok….I know you’re mad right now, but please calm down ok….let’s hear what she has to say first” said Victoria calmly while looking deep into his eyes

 

Victoria’s action was like cold water being poured on a hot iron. It immediately calmed Nichkhun down to the point where he regained his composure and breathing. Wooyoung and Teacyeon were amazed at how easily and effectively Victoria could control Nichkhun’s anger. They both knew how scary Nichkhun could be when he was mad and they’ve never seen anyone or anything that could lessen his anger that easily before.

 

“Miss Gyuri please explain yourself….there’s no use to lie anymore….if there’re any integrity left in you then you owe us an explanation” said Victoria calmly

 

It took Gyuri a while before she could respond to Nichkhun’s question. She looked up with her head held high and tears b in her eyes and said

 

“I’m dying……I don’t have much time left to live and that’s why I needed him back…..and I don’t need anything” said Gyuri calmly in a dignify tone with tears running down her face

 

Silence fell upon the room. Everyone’s was gapping from what they just heard. Nichkhun was the first one to respond

 

“Dying???.....What do you mean dying??.....Is this a joke??.....Is this another one of your tricks???” asked Nichkhun furrowing his eyebrows in disbelieve at what he just heard

 

“I wish it was a joke Khun, but unfortunately……it wasn’t….I was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer just a few months after I transferred to New York….at first I thought it was a gall bladder problem but it turned out to be a cancer tumor on my kidney….I had a surgery to remove the tumor, my right kidney and part of my liver….and that’s when I realized that you’re the only one I wanted to be with Khun….When I hit rock bottom you were the only one I could think of……after 6 months and countless rounds of chemotherapy I was pronounced cancer free…..I was so happy, I thought that GOD had finally given me a chance to make things right again…..It was my chance to win you back…..but when I found out that you’ve already started seeing someone else I couldn’t take it…..I didn’t try so hard to live just to know that I’ve lost you forever…..I wasn’t going to let that happen without a fight Khun….so I did what I had to do…..only to find out after the earring incident that the cancer cells had come back again and spread to both my lungs……I don’t know how much time I have left Khun…..I’m going to die soon” said Gyuri sobbing uncontrollably hugging herself as if to give herself some strength to face the fact that she didn’t have much time left to live

 

Everyone was in shocked upon hearing this. None of them knew what to do. They all stood frozen in their spots until Victoria walked over to Gyuri and sat down next to her and reached out and held her hand

 

“It must have been really tough for you going through all that all by yourself Miss Gyuri” Victoria said in a soothing and sympathetic tone smiling her sincere smile at Gyuri

 

Gyuri looked at Victoria in the eyes and all she could see was sincerity and empathy from Victoria and that gesture touched Gyuri as she began to reflect on her actions. Gyuri began to cry even harder.

 

“I’m so sorry…..I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you…..I’m really sorry” said Gyuri in between her sobs

 

Victoria just smiled and embraced Gyuri in her arms and said

 

“You’re not alone anymore Miss Gyuri….you’re not alone anymore”