A Few Weeks Later

Kayla handed the cashier her credit card and waited while he rung up her gown. She’d finally found the perfect one for the charity ball coming up in the next week. It’d taken her several trips, but she’d finally found it and couldn’t be happier. Purple with a sweetheart neckline and embellishments and tulle it fit her style completely.

So much had happened over the last few weeks, she’d finally gotten back into her groove again and had started to do her typical things. She could actually make it through the day without crying, Father’s Day had been hard since it was her first without, but Shane and her friends had been there to help her through. Kayla also learned that Shane’s company was going to the event and had managed to convince him to ask Chanile this time and much to his delight, she’d agreed. Kayla couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Shane so happy. She’d thought of asking Terrance, but then decided against it. Things hadn’t gotten much better between them.

She hadn’t seen him since that day, he’d tried repeatedly to call her, sometimes she would answer, sometimes she wouldn’t. He continued to apologize, but she couldn’t hear it, the strain was too much, the hurt too deep. She felt further away from him than she ever had before. Kayla found that she was ok with that, she’d gotten so used to him not being there that him not there no longer really hurt like it used to. She took her card back, thanking the man and grabbing the large garment bag and started out the door, heading to her car. Once she arrived home, she said goodbye to Shane as he made his way out, once again going out with his friends.

They still didn’t get to talk much anymore, he was always so busy and since their Dad died, he seemed to grow more social and she was happy for him, but it also meant she was alone more. Heading into her bedroom, she hung the gown on the outside of her closest door and turned towards her bed, when she heard movement upstairs. Kayla stilled, she listened as she heard the footsteps move around. Slowly she made her way out her room, following the movement. The steps picked up, she heard the steps move towards the door, suddenly she heard a door outside close and then the sound of someone coming down the stairs. She held her breath as she waited, the steps passed by her door, the shadow moving briskly.

Kayla sighed softly at the silence that now surrounded her. She walked over to the couch and sat, looking at the door, hoping for a knock, but there was nothing. She slumped back, letting her head hit the cushions. She closed her eyes, things with Kyu Jong had been different, different and scary. She hardly saw him now, his work on his album kept him busy. She usually heard about him from Shane when she did see him. Ever since the musical, he too seemed to go out more, most of the time with Lejna. Slowly she opened her eyes, looking up at the ceiling. They were always inviting her, and she always refused, not wanting to be a third wheel. Kayla knew how Lejna felt about him and she didn’t want to stand in the way. She missed him though, really missed him. She heard the radio interviews he did, saw the tv shows he was starting to appear on more, even saw his cameo on a popular show and it still wasn’t enough. What could she do though?

The excuse that she had a boyfriend was hardly and excuse anymore. She wished it wasn’t, wished she didn’t have to worry anymore, stay loyal to someone who wasn’t really loyal to her.

~~~

Kyu Jong laughed with everyone, thoroughly enjoying himself. Ever since the musical ended, he’d been hanging out more with his prior castmates from the musical and it’d been great to get out and meet new people and have fun, he’d even gotten closer to Lejna, who behind all her shyness, was an amazing friend. He really liked to get to know her better, everything was great, it was helpful after a long day of work on his album promotions.

He took a drink of his bee and sighed, all that said, he missed Kayla. It’d been a long time since they’d hung out. Whenever him and Lejna would go out, they’d invite her, but she always declined. It hurt, it really hurt. Kyu Jong could help but think that maybe after everything that had happened, maybe she was tired of him and didn’t want to be around him. Part of him felt that probably that wasn’t true, but they hardly spoke.

Every so often, they’d text, but he was so busy with the final stages of getting album ready to go out, he didn’t have much of a chance to see her, he imagined she probably felt pretty lonely.

A few hours later, he started up to his home, but couldn’t help but stop by Kayla’s door. Shane’s truck wasn’t in the parking lot, so she was alone again. It was pretty late; he wasn’t sure if she was still up and he didn’t want to wake her if she wasn’t. Kyu Jong couldn’t help remembering how sad she’d looked when he’d turned her down for dinner and how bad he’d felt. Kyu Jong took his phone out and sent her a quick message to see if she’d reply. After a bout ten seconds, there was a notification of a new message, he looked down to see it from her and he sighed in relief. Call it selfish on his part, but he really wanted to see her. He put his phone away and stepped up to the door, knocking briskly. After a few seconds he heard footsteps and then a pause. He chuckled and knocked again, he heard the doorknob rattle and then the door slowly opened and Kayla peeked her head out to see him, her eyes widening.

“Hello Kayla ssi,” he smiled.

The door flung open, her face lighting up, “K!”

“I am sorry to bother you so late, but I was thinking about you. I felt bad that I couldn’t stay for dinner earlier, I wanted to come by and see you again.”

Her jaw dropped and he saw what he was sure was the faint sheen of tears in her eyes.

“O-oh…K, you didn’t need to feel bad, you already had plans, I understand completely, you know I do,” she said softly.

“Thank you for that Kayla.”

“Here, did you want to come in?”

He nodded, “Ne.”

Once inside, he sat on the couch and waited while Kayla brought them both a steaming mug of tea before sitting beside him. He thanked her and then took a couple careful sips of the hot drink before studying her closely. He could tell, she seemed a bit on edge, almost nervous, he could feel it.

“Kayla ssi, how are you? I feel like we don’t get to see each other much.”

“I’m alright K, hanging in there you know. Just taking it day by day, laying low.”

“I was hoping you’d come out with me and Lejna sometimes. I thought maybe you didn’t want…” he stopped, hesitating.

She looked at him, her eyes widening, “Oh! I didn’t want to interrupt your dates!”

Kyu Jong blinked, “Dates?”

“Well yeah, I mean you and Lejna have been hanging out more, I didn’t want to you know, be in the way.”

Ok, he definitely didn’t expect that.

“I uhh…well we’re not dating Kayla.”

Her eyes widened more, “You’re not? But I thought…she was always…”

“She was always what?”

Kayla looked at him, chuckling ruefully, shaking her head, “Nothing, never mind.”

“We usually go out with friends from the musical, for drinks and dinner. You are always more than welcome to come and join us, I wish you would,” Kyu Jong said softly.

She stared at him for a moment before looking down, letting out another small chuckle, “I feel so stupid. Thanks for the offer though K, maybe sometime ok?”

Why did he feel like he was missing something?

“Are you ready for the charity ball?” She asked suddenly.

“I think so, I am looking forward to it, it’s nice we will get to see each other again.”

“Yeah, funny how that seems to keep working out, almost like fate.”

He liked the sound of that.

“Have you asked Terrance to go with you?” Kyu Jong asked carefully.

“No, and I’m not going to. I don’t see the point, he’s gonna be busy and to be honest, I don’t really feel like going with him.”

He nodded; he could definitely understand that.

“What about you?”

Kyu Jong looked over at her in question.

“Did you find a date?”

He shook his head, “Ani.”

“What about Lejna?”

Kyu Jong at her thoughtfully, “I did, but she was unable, prior plans. She’s a very busy woman as well,” he smiled.

Kayla frowned, “Ahhh, that’s too bad, not that she’s busy a lot, just ya know, that she was on that day.”

He smiled broadly, nodding, “Mmm, Shane hyung is going with Chanile.”

Kayla grinned broadly, “I know! I love it, he seems so happy!

Kyu Jong chuckled, nodding again in agreement.

“Seriously! Took him long enough, I know Chanile is really excited too.”

“If things were different, I would ask you Kayla,” he said suddenly, not sure what possessed him to blurt that out, but there it was.

Kayla brought her gaze to his, a sad smile on her lips, “I’d say yes.”

~~~

A Week Later, Night of the Ball

She waved at Lillian and Liz, who she saw as she made her way into the building. They all met up and Kayla said hi and their husband and boyfriend before making her way over to the a table with them. Kayla watched as they interacted with their dates, feeling slightly left out.

“Hey girl!”

She looked over to see Chanile come up, her arm linked with Shane’s, who looked to be over the moon in happiness.

Kayla smiled, “Hey you, you look great.”

“Thanks, you too, love that dress.”

“She’s beautiful,” Shane blurted out suddenly.

Everyone turned to look at him and he blushed.

Chanile chuckled, “Thanks Shane.”

“You two are so cute!” Kayla squealed, clapping her hands together in excitement.

Chanile blushed this time and Shane looked over at her, “Wanna dance?”

“Yes!” She said eagerly, ready to get away from further embarrassment and they both hurried away.

Kayla smirked, “I hope she ends up as my sister-in-law.”

“Awww!” Liz smiled.

They continued to talk when Lillian spoke up suddenly.

“Oh Kayla, look!”

Kayla turned to where Lillian was pointing to see Kyu Jong making his way into the ballroom. Her face lit up, but then fell as he made his way over to the other side of the room and Kayla knew he went to sit with his friends from the company. She couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

“Aww I’m sure he’ll come by,” Liz smiled.

“Oh, it’s ok, he’s got his work friends so…”

“Yeah but still, he won’t ignore you Kayla.”

She gave them a small smile. A few minutes later Liz and Lillian went off to dance with their dates. She looked off on the dancefloor to see Chanile dancing again with Shane and smiled, they both looked so happy. Kayla watched them in envy, sighing longingly.

“Kayla ssi?”

She looked up suddenly, “K!”

“Hello, are you sitting all alone?” He frowned.

“Oh no, Liz and Lillian are dancing with their dates. Have a seat and chat with me for a bit,” she offered, gesturing to the chair next to her.

Kyu Jong looked slightly uncomfortable, actually more like nervous.

“Well…actually Kayla…”

She frowned, “Everything ok?”

He let out a breath, “Actually, I wanted to ask if you would like to dance with me?” He said softly.

Her eyes widened and she felt a strange fluttering in her heart, “O-oh, well of course I would K, of course,” she smiled.

She went to stand, when Kyu Jong came up behind her, pulling her chair out.

“Thanks,” she smiled gently at him.

Kyu Jong reached out and took her hand and led her to the dancefloor. For some reason, she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous, though she didn’t know why. As the next song started, Kyu Jong slipped his arm around her waist and took her hand in his. Kayla brought her other hand up to rest on his shoulder and then, they were dancing.

She looked over to see Chanile, Liz, Lillian and Shane all beaming at her, giving her a thumbs up. She waved them off, rolling her eyes.

“They’re having a fit because we’re dancing,” she sighed.

Kyu Jong looked over and chuckled at them looking at Shane who was smiling so hard, it looked like his face was gonna break.

“I think it’s nice of them to be so happy,” he smiled, shaking his head in amusement.

“They’re crazy, for real,” Kayla groaned.

“You look beautiful.”

Her eyes swung back to his, he was watching intensely, a strange light in his eyes.

“Oh…thank you K, you look very handsome. There’s something about a man in a suit, so y.”

Kyu Jong smirked, “You think I look y Kayla?”

She grinned broadly, “Hell yeah!”

He started laughing, “Wow, thank you. I didn’t think you’d actually say that.”

“Why not? You do!”

“Mmm, well you look even better. That gown is…you look breathtaking. I had to work up the nerve to ask you to dance.”

She could feel her face flaming, “Aww well thank you so much, I love dresses but it’s not always easy to find one that fits me well, I got lucky this time and you didn’t have to worry about me saying yes, I’ll always dance with you K.”

“I dunno, I saw a few guys eyeing you, I was worried that I wouldn’t get a chance to ask you. I wanted to at the Sony party but…”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I wanted to respect him and your relationship,” he said.

“Oh…” Kayla said softly. “And…now? What’s changed?”

“He’s not here, I am. He has done nothing but create pain and havoc and he no longer deserves my respect Kayla ssi,” Kyu Jong said bluntly.

She inhaled sharply, nodding.

“It is a good thing we’re not at my home right now,” he said cryptically.

They finished their dance and Kyu Jong led her back to her table before excusing himself to use the restroom. Kayla watched as he left, her heart still pounding wildly. His words left her breathless…weak. She’d never seen that look in his eyes, his determination and also something else, something she couldn’t quite place. There was a coldness in his eyes that she’d never seen before when he spoke of Terrance, of their relationship. Something had changed for him, but she didn’t know what and she didn’t know when it’d happened.

Sighing heavily, she wasn’t sure why she was feeling so down.

~~~

Kyu Jong made his way out the bathroom, taking a breath. He put his hand to his heart, it wouldn’t stop pounding. Dancing with Kayla had been great, it’d taken Shane thirty minutes to convince him and since Kyu Jong had promised himself he would no longer hold back as much, not that he would do anything reckless, but still, he would make some allowances, dancing was one of them.

Letting out another deep breath, he turned the corner, heading back to the ballroom. Their conversation about Terrance probably came across oddly to her, but at this point it didn’t matter, it was how he felt. He had no respect anymore for that man, he most certainly wasn’t deserving of it. It took a lot for him to not like someone, he could be indifferent, but to have genuine dislike for someone, he tried not to…Terrance was one of those exceptions though. He’d had enough of him and he didn’t even have to have anything to do with him. He didn’t like how he treated Kayla up until now, but the whole thing with her Father had been the breaking point with him

He turned the corner, heading back to the ballroom, when suddenly something caught his eye, or someone rather. Kyu Jong slowly made his way closer, it couldn’t be. Kyu Jong frowned, moving off to the side out of view before making his way closer still. His eyes widened suddenly, anger flaring up as he turned and hurried into the ballroom. He looked around frantically, until his gaze found her table. He quickly made his way over and Liz looked up, smiling broadly.

“Hey Kyu Jong!”

“Hello, where is Kayla?”

Lillian blinked, “She stepped out for in the hallway for some air… Kyu Jong what? What… Kyu Jong?!”

He hurried out, looking for her, he came to an abrupt stop.

It was too late.

~~~

Sighing, she looked back out on the dancefloor to see everyone still dancing. Kyu Jong still wasn’t back yet and she felt alone, she needed some time away. Standing, she managed to get Lillian’s attention and motion that she was heading out for a bit and made her way through the crowded ballroom and then out the door.

Kayla took a deep breath; it was cooler out in the hallway without the massive amounts of people around. Turning, she made her way down, looking at the various things taped to the wall. She couldn’t keep her thoughts off Kyu Jong and their dance. It’d been enlightening and far too short for her liking. She hoped he would ask her again, it’d been too long since she’d danced, the first time in a long time she felt part of group, it’d been nice. She also hoped that Kyu Jong would come and sit with them for a few minutes, they didn’t come together, and she didn’t want to take him from his work friends, but she always felt better when he was around.

She shook her head; she was growing too reliant on hi. Turning back around, she headed back to the ballroom and started to make her way back in, when she stopped, she couldn’t be seeing what she thought she was. Slowly Kayla turned her head, making her way towards the couple. She narrowed her eyes as she got closer, blinking in confusion, stopping abruptly as they started kissing passionately.

Kayla started to chuckle, shaking her head in awe, “I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t ask you to come with me, you would’ve just said you were busy huh Terrance?”

Terrance suddenly pulled away from the kiss, his eyes widening when he saw her.

“Holy , this isn’t what it looks like…,” he said suddenly.

Kayla just continued to look at him, a small smile on her lips, “I see you kissing a woman that’s not your girlfriend, I think it’s exactly what it looks like.”

Terrance shook his head, “No!”

Just then Chanile, Liz, Lillian and Shane came rushing out into the hall behind Kyu Jong who was already there watching.

“Who are you?” The young woman who had her arm wrapped around his waist possessively asked bluntly.

Kayla brought her gaze to the woman, pinning her with a smirk, “I’m the man who’s arm you have around his waist’s girlfriend, how bout you?”

The woman glared, “I’m Sasha…Ohhh you’re the one his Mother told me about, the receptionist…right,” she said coolly, running her gaze over her in disgust.

“Mmmm, Linda told you about me…huh? It’s starting to make sense,” Kayla nodded, looking back over at Terrance, her smile grew cold. “Can’t say I’m surprised at her or you for that matter.”

Terrance shook his head, starting towards her, when Sasha pulled him back. “Stop it Sasha!” He said, pulling her arms from him.

“No please, by all means Terrance, you go right ahead.”

He came up to her, “I can explain, just listen,” he pleaded.

Kayla sighed, shaking her head, “I’m tired of listening to your explanations Terrance, I’m done with it.”

“No, wait…”

“Terrance c’mon!” Sasha whined, “Just forget her!”

Kayla looked over at her, ready to say something, when someone caught her eye. She looked over to see Linda smirking at her, an eyebrow raised. Kayla chuckled again, and Linda’s smirk faded replaced by a glare of annoyance.

She looked back over at Terrance, “Yeah, why don’t you do that, just forget about me ok? Tell your Mom she won, alright?” she said softly. She looked over at Sasha, “Enjoy your time, now that his Mom’s achieved her goal, I don’t know how much longer you’ll last.”

“Last? Please! I’m ten times better than you, the daughter of a wealthy hotel chain, not some lowly receptionist, I’m everything you’re not baby. I’m not you, she actually likes me, you’re nothing but trash, just like she said,” Sasha said coldly.

Kayla stared at her, her heartbreaking at her words a bit, “I’d rather be trash than someone’s sloppy seconds, good luck,” she whispered and started past them.

Terrance reached out, taking her arm, when suddenly it was snatched away by Shane who shoved him hard.

“What the Terrance?! Your in’ Mother called my sister trash?! You pompous ! That's it, that is it! I've had it! I’m gonna bust your in face you son of a !” Shane screamed, shoving him hard into the wall.

“Don’t you touch him you animal!” Sasha said suddenly, reaching out to Shane, clawing at him, while Shane carefully tried to disengage her from him.

“ I dare you!”

Suddenly Chanile was there, pushing the woman away, “Try that again,” she glared at her, taking a menacing step closer to her, causing Sasha to cower back. “in’ ,” she spat at her before turning to Terrance and walking up to him, smacking him hard across the face and reaching out and hitting him in the chest.

“Chanile…honey…” Shane said softly, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her back gently.

“How could you you ! She loved you, was good to you, loyal to you and you treated her like , over and over. Do you know how many times she came crying to me while you blew her off, we were all here for her and you couldn’t even show up to her own father’s funeral because you’re so stuck behind your egotistical Mother that you allowed to torment her because you’re too much of a coward to stand up to her and now here you are, in’ around with this ! Why?! You ing coward!” Chanile said in anger, tears welling up in her eyes as she reached out, hitting him in the chest again as Shane pulled her back further.

Terrance shook his head, he looked on the verge of tears, “No, it’s not like that, I promise! Kayla!” He called out, moving away and out the door.

Liz, Lillian, Shane and Chanile watched as Terrance took off after her, with Kyu Jong close behind. 

_________________

A/N: The proverbial has hit the fan, pardon my French. Whew! Gotta hand it to Chanile, standing up for her friend and giving Terrance what he deserves. The final blow, the final insult. He just doesn't learn does he? I think we can all guess who was behind all this, it'll be interesting to see if we get to hear Terrance's explination and how it will effect Kayla? Will she let it go again? Will she take him back? She didn't get outwardly upset, seemed almost calm about it, even after being called trash. If we're to trust Sasha, by his own Mother. Smh, poor Kayla. 

Until next time!

~MO