"Yugyeom, wait." Hyejin called Yugyeom who was walking to the opposite direction.

"Yugyeom!" she held onto his hand with his back facing her. He couldn't move an inch. He felt hurt, really hurt. His face turned red and results of sadness and sorrow were presented on his face as a form of liquid droplets.

He could not point out what he felt that moment. Was it a feeling of Betrayal? She cheated on him. Was it a feeling of helplessness? He had no ears to listen to anymore. Was it a feeling of longing? He wanted to feel her embrace. Or was it pure emotional emptiness? He felt his whole world crumbled.

He thought it was forever, just like how she said.  Maybe the said forever was only for a couple of months. Nothing hurted him more than being disappointed by the person he loved dearly and thought would never hurt him.

Maybe he was just being delusional. Maybe she didn't love him, no one destroys someone they love, right? Maybe he knew and only tried to make himself believe she did.

He came back to his senses when she folded her arms around his torso from the back, tightening her grip around him.

He wanted to let her hug him, he wanted to turn back and cry leaning his head into her nape. He wanted to forgive her and return to her arms, but he couldn't. He couldn't do this to himself.

He shrugged her hands and marched forward increasing the distance between them and just like that, he left. He left without looking back, turning a darker page of his life to a bright empty one.

 

A few days later, Jaebum being the group's leader treated the members out to dinner and Yugyeom's state only encouraged him to take them.

"2 Sets of A and 1 set of B, please." He ordered. "And 10 bottles of beer, hyung," Yugyeom added to the order. After the waiter left, all the members put loads of effort in being funny and cheering up Yugyeom but to no avail. He would smile but that's just his lips curving into a crescent, everyone knew better than to believe it.

The loss of Hyejin had a great impact on the guy, The lady he loved the most in his life left him. Of course s are a great support to him, without them he would be living some suicidal scenarios.

As soon as the food was served, all of them began eating like there's no tomorrow. With all of what happened during this week, it has been a disastrous week and they were all exhausted.

Finishing their food, each one started boozing onto his metallic can of beer and just like how a motorcycle reaches its finish line, each member reached his limit and one by one they started leaving.

"Will you be okay?" Jinyoung said as he stood up wanting to leave too or else he would pass out any minute. "Don't worry, Jin. I will stick to him," Mark replied reassuringly.

Mark watched Yugyeom gulping a can after another without closing an eye. He wondered how can the youngest have this much stamina and alcohol resistance. Minutes laters, he excused himself to go to the restroom.

“Not great, not great, Hyunnie. I don't know what to do anymore. Nothing is going the way I want it to.”  A thin lady, about 165 cm tall, wearing an emerald turtle-neck with black skinny jeans and 3-inch heels, spoke through her phone as she ran a hand through her hair in frustration. She was sitting in the table next to the guys but then only did Yugyeom see her. “What should I do? Shall I just come back, Hyunwoo?"

She started tearing up and Yugyeom couldn't help but look her way. He wanted to help and comfort her, but he himself needed someone to soothe him.

"You are? Seriously? When?" He could only wonder what the caller told her to result in this fast change in mood.

"You have no idea how happy that made me. I can clearly see that you are my best friend." A very wide smile is shown on her face as she bids the caller good bye through the electronic device.

As she was putting her phone in her matching Chanel bag, she noticed a pair of eyes looking at her. "Sorry you had to encounter that, I just had some terrible days," She told Yugyeom.

"No, It's alright. They really were terrible." They both giggled as she introduced herself, "I'm Kayla by the way." He smiled as he presented himself, "Nice to meet you Kayla, I'm Yugyeom."

 

"Same. So what's bothering you, Yugyeom?" The black haired lady asked the guy, turning her body towards him. "Cheating and breakup. Things happened." He said immediately upon her question.

"Owh, that's awful. I honestly don't understand why would anyone cheat on someone. Like if a girl even thinks about a guy when she's with another, she can just tell the guy and set him free. Why would she be greedy and keep both? It's not like humans are toys."

He didn't know when or how but he couldn't stop looking at how beautiful the lady looked while talking what she has out. He admired her, the way she talks and the way she looks at him confidently. She was a complete stranger to him, yet he felt safe where she was.

"What about you? Why were you crying earlier?" He tried to shake off his feelings and asked her. "I only just moved to Korea, my senior has been driving me nuts even though I do better than anyone else. He just bullies me everytime. And I'm kind of getting homesick too," she told him what's inside her too.

"That sounds like a jerk. Why would he do that if you do you job perfectly?" He tried to make her feel better. "Where did you come from? America?" She looked surprised to hear his question, "How did you know? I came from Los Angeles."

"Oh, I have been to LA too. I went there with one of my close friends. And I just knew it. You smell American." He said in broken English which she responded to with a laugh, "No one ever told me that I smelled American." He couldn't help but smile to her giggles. He thought that she's really cute.

"Yugyeom, you ready? It's already late," Mark said before noticing the American lady. "Oh, sorry. Did I interrupt you guys?" He asked. "No, Hyung. We were just talking. This is Kayla, from LA and this is Mark, the friend I told you I went to LA with." Yugyeom explained. "Nice to meet you, Mark," Kayla said as they both shook hands. "Mutual," he replied.

"It was nice meeting you, Kayla. I don't know how but I hope we could meet again." Yugyeom stood up to bid her goodbye. "Maybe we can, here's my number, you can always call me." She handed him an off-white card with black numbers written onto it in bold. "Cool, I guess I will call you then." He told her, "Bye, Kayla." "Bye, Yugyeom," They both waved their hands as the guys left through the glass door.

 

Days passed by and Yugyeom and Kayla got closer. They chat or facetime everyday. The members were so happy about the fact that there was someone there for him even though they didn't know who she is, Yugyeom was still getting better.

"Do you want to hang out tomorrow? We don't have practice tomorrow," Yugyeom was so nervous, he didn't even know why. Although they have talked a lot, it was only their second physical meeting.

"I can take an early leave tomorrow so I'd be leaving around 1 in the afternoon," she said. He felt all his nervousness disappeared and replaced by a warm feeling which he couldn't describe. "Do you have a place you want to visit in mind?" He asked her. Her reply was simple, yet it made his heart race, "Not really, just hanging out together will be fine anywhere."

"Anywhere, it is then," he continued, "Be ready at 1, I will come pick you up." He was definitely anxious but also excited to meet her again. "Okay," she said. They resumed talking about how their day was and Yugyeom told her that they are practicing hard nowadays because their comeback is nearing.

Time passed by and they haven't realised how late it got. "Don't you have work tomorrow? You shouldn't be late, you know," Yugyeom said. "Oh shoot! It's already 2 in the morning, why haven't we stopped earlier? Oh my God! It's totally your fault if I did." He was taken aback by her sudden blast, only to laugh seconds later. She laughed along and it made his ears heat up. He loved her laugh, he found it the cutest thing ever.

"Okay, I guess I should say Good night then?" He said in a questioning manner. "Yea, you should," she giggled and bid him good night. After turning off the call, he sent her a text message just like how he did daily. That time, he sent her a 'See you tomorrow!' instead of 'Hope to see you soon!'

 

Kicking the pillow, Mark moved around in bed. He kept on hearing a familiar melody, “Yugyeom..Yugyeom, wake up,” he kept repeating but the alarm continued to ring with no stop. “Aish! Seriously?” Mark mumbled as he stood up and went towards the jingling phone, finally succeeding in muting the alarm.

 

Just then, a topless figure came into the room with a towel wrapped around his neck. Drying his hair, “Oh, hyung you’re up?” Yugyeom asked the older boy. “Why the hell would you set your alarm at 9 in the morning on a day off?” Mark voiced as he went back to his first position- in the bed.

 

9 am was a really early time to wake up on a day off for them, considering how late they sleep all their regular work days due to schedules and late night practices. They don’t usually wake up before noon, however today is the youngest special day. He could only sleep a couple of hours, he was so excited. He usually don’t wake up even by his loud alarm and other members wake up and try to wake him up physically. In other words, he is a very heavy sleeper, but that day he woke up by his own even before his alarm would ring. He went for a quick run then came back to the dorm for a shower.

 

He changed into a pair of black jeans, a grey t-shirt with navy blue stripes, and a pair of grey sneakers. Taking his time, he prepared breakfast for s and that was something he has never done before.

 

At noon, he neared each of the members’ room in hopes to wake them all up for a group breakfast. They all made their way to the bathrooms in turns. As if on cue, the doorbell rang signalling Yugyeom towards the metallic door. Upon getting the coffee he ordered for his hyungs from the delivery man, he went back to the kitchen to arrange each cup in front of a chair.

 

He sat down and waited till all of s settle down by the table. A grumpy Jackson came in seconds later, barely awake. He looked at Yugyeom not even knowing why he was awake that time when he could have slept longer. “What is this?” He asked the youngest as he eyed the food he prepared, “Who made this? No way it’s you,” said the guy.

 

“Foooood,” Bambam entered the kitchen at that moment marching towards his tall friend. “Why haven’t you met Kayla earlier again?” He asked. “Kayla?” Jinyoung said getting into the kitchen as well, “Oh right you’re meeting her today! Did you plan anything?”

 

“Well honestly, I’m not too sure, we’ll just hang out,” Yugyeom said shrugging his shoulders. “Just hang out? Are you sure you’re trying to impress her? Because that’s not going to work,” Mark nodded his head as he entered following Jaebum to join the group.

 

“Maybe you could take her to tour the city, she hasn’t been here for long, you know,” Mark said. “Yea, maybe you can take her to the places you guys took Mark, Jackson, and I when we were still trainees,” Bambam said. “I’m sure she’ll enjoy it!” Continued Jackson.

 

Yugyeom checked his watch before mumbling “Shoot! I’m going to be late!” He ran over to his room to grab his phone, wallet and jacket before flying out through the door mumbling, “Wake Youngjae hyung up for me!” A loud shouting was heard through the door with “Good luck, mate,” and “Woo her,” which made him smile before moving toward the subway station.

 

It took him about 45 minutes to arrive at the company she works in. It was 10 minutes before 1, which meant that she could come out at any moment. He leant against the exterior of the building as he took out his phone. He started searching for things they could do together at their first date. Before he could find anything, he felt a hand touching his arms. Turning around to face the source, his eyes met another hazelnut pair.

 

“Hi there!” It was none other than Kayla. “Oh! What is this?” She looked at him and gaped apart, giggling at the coincidence. “Wow, daebak!” Yugyeom said as he noticed her outfit. She wore a pair of blue jeans topped with a white t-shirt with striped of blue. How could they way a similar outfit without arranging it beforehand?

 

“You ready?” They guy asked the lady in stuttering English. “Always ready,” she replied smiling at him. “Let's go then!” He grabbed her hand and started running making sure she's catching his pace as they made their way towards the bus station.

 

Yugyeom didn't realise that he was actually holding her hands until they reached the station. He let her hand go immediately, flustered. Seconds later, the bus came and they boarded it. They made their way to the back of the bus before sitting together in a couple seat with Kayla nearer to the window.

 

“I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have done that earlier. I didn't notice that I was holding it. I shouldn't rush-” he was cut off by a soft touch of her small hands on his big ones. “It’s okay. It's fine. It felt great, really,” the girl said as she intertwined her fingers with his. Butterflies started flying near the pit of his stomach making him speechless. He felt something towards her, he was sure of it.