Happy reading 
Aritha x

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Hayi's POV

It was one of those days where I just sit in my lounge room and think about him.

I know I know....
I know I should just stop thinking and pondering on questions about him.
But sometimes when my lonely heart has no escape and when it is raining outside I think of him.

My yearn for him is not like any other of my yearns.

I long for his presence.
That is all.
All I need is to see his face.
I don't need a hello or a smile.
I just want to see him again.
I won't mind seeing him from afar.
I...
Just want to see him.
Tears gently flowed my cheek.
Soon I couldn't contain my emptiness and my lap was slowly drenched with my tears.
Like the rain outside, it dropped and found itself in the valleys of desolation.

I laid my head on the window and wondered when will he ever appear in my life again. 

It has been a year since Hanbin left the group and the last time I saw Ikon.

Even though it has been a while, I still find myself thinking about him.

Today was my birthday but I don't feel excited or whatsoever.
I just felt nothing.

I still remembered last year, Hanbin bought me a basket full of my favourite foods and a letter handwritten by him. 
But this year, I will receive one less present.

As I walked out of my apartment, my phone started ringing. 
I know it was stupid but I honestly wanted to hear his voice at the end of the line.
But to my disappointment it was someone else.

"Hello,"

"Hayi-ah, HAPPY BIrthday, l hope that you will have a lovely day filled with love and laughter," exclaimed a voice that belonged to  my good friend, Bobby. 

I chuckled. "Thanks Bobby!! Now where are my birthday wishes from the rest of your gang aye, have they forgotten about their sunbae's birthday," 

"Nah, noona of course not!!! We a- actually just finished practicing now,"

"Ahhh," I said.  

"Well I'm heading to the YG headquarters now tell the boys to prepare my birthday wishes, okay?" I added.

"Wait noona, no not yet...." I heard some shuffling through the line. Bobby then continued," just hang in there for a moment we just need to pack the practice room a bit it is extremely messy and we don't want a birthday girl to see such chaos on her special day," 

I smiled, " okay okay, tell me when it's done," 
I knew something was up, and for a moment the longing for Hanbin disappeared but now I had time to think, my mind went to him once more. 

I was wondering whether he remembered about my birthday.
That was all. 
Does he still remember about his friend's birthday?

Hanbin's POV

He remember that today was Hayi's birthday. 
He knows about it.
But he doesn't know what to do about it. 
He was conflicted as to whether or not he should phone her or message her or appear at her doorstep or give her the present.

Hanbin was walking up and down his hallway hoping it may clear his cluttered thoughts. 

What if she hates me? What if she doesn't care about me? Wouldn't I look awkward? 
It has been a year, things should be all good right? 

Hanbin's frustration was evident in the way he roughly shuffled his hair. 
He collapsed in a fetus position on the ground.
He was confused and lost. 
Hanbin looked across to his kitchen bench where sitting on the ceramic bench was a box.
It was box that Hanbin has prepared for Hayi. 
His gift for her.

But his vision was blurred with his utter confusion and conflicting thoughts. 

As he got up from the floor, his phone started buzzing.

It was from Bobby. His eyes widened.

Bobby and Hanbin has kept in touch recently. It wasn't something you had planned, it just happened naturally.
That's the thing with Bobby he always had a way to sneak back into someone's life without causing any commotion.

"Hey brother, I know it is last minute but I was wondering if you wanted to be a part of Hayi's surprise birthday party?" 
As bobby's voice faded into the air, Hanbin's heart was drumming with energy within his rib cage, Hanbin felt a stream of warm blood
being pumped into his cheeks. 
The sound of Hayi's name flustered him and he wasn't sure why. 

After a few seconds, Hanbin finally replied,
"I don't know man, doesn't she hate me? I am not sure if she wants to see me?"

Bobby scoffed," I don't know Hanbin, but if you don't want to that's fine, okay gotta finish decorating, talk to you soon, bye," 

Then with that, the call ended.

A door has opened up for Hanbin to see Hayi, but he was unsure whether he should take it or not. 

Bobby's POV

"Is he coming?" 
" did he say yes?"
"Is Hanbin alright?"
All the members of IKON bombarded bobby with questions.

He drew himself away from the crowd and gently shook his head. 
" I think he is scared that Hayi noona might crack at him, I don't think he is coming,"

The members' face was blank. 

Narrator's POV:

The party went on and Hayi received plenty of love from her coworkers and friends.
Laughter and smiles were exchanged but within Hayi's heart, a part of it was still yearning for someone who was not there. 
When the party ended, she let out a sigh of relief.

Thought the party was heartwarming, it was at the same time tiring. Hayi was obliged to pretend to enjoy herself when really her mind was occupied with Hanbin. But now since the party was over she no longer needed to pretend to be happy. 

After she said her goodbyes and thanked everyone who attended her surprise party, Hayi departed the venue. 

As she walked down the pathway under the twilight sky, she felt like she was being followed. When she turned around, there was no one in sight but she had this strange feeling that a somebody was following her.

She decided to take a turn to see if they would continue to follow her. 
As she took a turn so did the eerie presence behind her. 
Hayi quickened her step, a mini skip soon turned into a jog. 

Her heart was beating fast.
The night was darkening.
The presence behind her was not fading.

Hayi turned around the corner but what she didn't know was she went to a dead end.
Her legs felt weak, she quickly ran back out but then everything happened so quick.

An arm clenched around her neck and a hand was covering her nose.
Nausea was slowly creeping its way into Hayi's mind. 
Hayi's lungs were struggling to get air.
The arm around her neck was not loosening.
She wanted to scream but nothing came out. 
Soon blackness consumed her. 

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Hanbin's POV

It was 2:31am, yet I couldn't sleep.
I decided to take a stroll through the park near my house.
Then my phone buzzed.
It was Bobby.

"Hel--"

"Hanbin, is Hayi with you?" His voice was in distraught.

"No, why?" I replied

",  Hayi's mum called me and said Hayi has not returned back home,"

"Maybe she is out like you know alone time?" I suggested

"No no hyung, she would call her mum if she was, this isn't like her... And I thought maybe she decided to go to you but.. Ah where is she?!"

Bobby's voice was in distress. I couldn't help but to start to have my doubts. 
"Okay I'll come over and try to search for her with you, where are you at the moment?"

"I'm at the Yg studio, everyone is," 

"Okay I will be there," 

I quickly ended the call and started jogging to the studio which was only five minutes away. 

My mind started to go through all the places Hayi would go. 
the park.. No bobby said he checked there already

Her house... Nope
The studio.. Nope

Before I knew it, I was on the steps that will take me to the exact place I left my dream and my best friends a year ago, I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. To be honest, I didn't want to go in. But I quickly shook it off because right now Hayi was my priority.

Nothing was more important than her.

To be continued....

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