Listen: Vegas Skies - The Cab

“Dude, you need to stop now.” Suho approached Chanyeol. He pattered his shoulder because he’s been drinking for the whole night. For a month, he’s been acting this way. However, no one can console his broken heart. After getting his heart broken, he found himself being drown into alcohol.

“No…” He softly mumbled as he wiped his lips with his arms. He continued drinking. He was miserable. He was helpless.

Baekhyun came with D.O. “Stop this, Chanyeol. That’s enough for tonight.” Baekhyun tried grabbing the bottle of beer from Chanyeol but he swiftly took it away from him. “Chanyeol. Please, come on. Stop being like this.” Baekhyun pitied the sight of miserable Chanyeol before them.

But Chanyeol shook his head, “Just go, guys…” he continued drinking again. “I need some more.” He raised his empty bottle of beer to the bar tender.

“Come on, Chanyeol. You are going home.” Suho pulled him up by his arm, Chanyeol swayed slightly to his side because he’s already dizzy.

“Just leave! Do you not understand?!!!” Chanyeol suddenly shouted making the others step back.

“How can we understand? Look at yourself! You need some help!” Suho argued back. He couldn’t contain himself anymore. Watching his friend like this breaks his heart as well.

“I. don’t. need. Your. Help.” Chanyeol glared at Suho then he turned to look at Baekhyun and D.O. “Thank you but I don’t accept your help. Just go.” He shrugged Suho’s hand off his arms but he almost fell to the ground again so Suho had to assist him in walking again.

“We just want you to be okay… Chanyeol, it’s been a month now… you have to start helping yourself as well.” Suho calmly said.

Baekhyun stepped closer to them, “These bottles of beers won’t help you, Yeol. Come on. Let’s just go.” But in return, Chanyeol just glared at the three of them.

“You don’t know how it feels… how exactly it broke me…” Chanyeol held back his tears, “Well maybe I can move on because I’d have to… but right now, she’s still here.” He pointed at his chest. This emotional part of Chanyeol’s personality silenced the three. Chanyeol slowly straightened up and made his way out of the club. D.O. had the urge to follow him but Suho held him back.

“Let him be. He knows what he’s doing.” Suho said. D.O. looked down, feeling down for his friend.

“Hyung, where is Chanyeol going? I—I thought we came to bring him home…” Kai came with Sehun. He pointed at Chanyeol’s direction and soon Chanyeol was out of sight.

“I think he can manage. Come on,” Suho put an arm over Sehun. “Let’s just have some fun.” He led them to another room for them to drink by themselves.

Meanwhile, Chanyeol was walking along the open parking lot. He struggled reaching his car because he was a bit tipsy. When he reached his car, he leaned on the side resting his head on his arm. He wasn’t feeling very well. It felt like he’s going to throw up. Indeed, he drank too much.

He walked in front of his car and leaned on the post. He then started throwing up. He held on the hood of his car as he vomited. Suddenly, someone started patting his back. He did not pay attention to the person. Well at least someone pities him at this state. Or he could really use some help because he felt miserably alone right at the moment. He even had the guts to shout at his friends who were only there just to help him. But he is Park Chanyeol. Everybody knows him. A kingka of the school together with his five friends. He’s the most popular out of the six of them because of his personality.

Everyone was scared of him at school. He was always fierce. His rules are rules. However, there was only one person who softened his heart and changed him. and right now, he’s coming back to his old self. Heartless and insensitive person that he was.

He straightened up and he saw a hand offering a handkerchief. He gladly took it and wiped the sides of his lips.

“You’re drunk. You should not drive by yourself.” A sweet voice suddenly said. This made him pay attention to the person who just helped him. His eyes rounded in surprise to see the person. “You should take a cab instead.” Seohyun gripped on the strap of her bag while looking at Chanyeol who couldn’t move an inch.

He couldn’t help but be mesmerized all over again by Seohyun. She was his girl. She was his girlfriend before. For months, they were very happy together. It was only Seohyun who softened the heart of Chanyeol. Just like the familiar story of Meteor Garden, Chanyeol playing the part the arrogant and proud lead, and Seohyun playing the part of the sweet, innocent and beautiful girl.

However, it was a month ago while they were hanging out together and Chanyeol was driving. He was too distracted by Seohyun sitting beside him, he just kept glancing at her. Because he prepared a surprise for her birthday… but then… in an instant… they crashed into a ten-wheeler truck.

It was a surprise that both of them survived. But, Chanyeol was perfectly saved. He only got scratches and bruises, and some body pains. In Seohyun’s case, she was in comatose.  Chanyeol never stopped blaming himself for this accident. He couldn’t bear seeing Seohyun so lifeless on the hospital bed. Her parents were mad at him at first, but then they started understanding Chanyeol. However, not long enough, he started going back to his old ways… he started being the badass of the school once again. He cuts classes and goes to clubs. He just wasn’t that complete without Seohyun.

To his surprise, here goes Seohyun standing before him—looking perfectly fine.

“Uhm, hello?” Seohyun started waving her hand before Chanyeol who seemed too lost in his trance. Chanyeol finally blinked twice and noticed he wasn’t dreaming that Seohyun’s here with him. “So I was saying that I’m on my way home. Maybe I can drop you by or something?”

Before Chanyeol could even answer, he found himself nodding at her. “You’re driving?” For as far as he knew, Seohyun did not know how to drive before.

Seohyun nodded as she started the engine of her car, “My mom said I was involved in a car accident before. I presume I know how to drive, then.”

“But Seohyun, a month ago you were in the hospital and—“

“You know me?” Seohyun’s eyebrows furrowed. Chanyeol stopped a bit. The way Seohyun talked to him… the way she looks at him… “Anyway, just tell me. I’d like to meet people from my past. I can barely remember anyone after the accident that my mom told me about.”

Chanyeol’s heart was shattered into pieces. The girl that he loved so much and was so in love with him too cannot remember him. He looked at the road ahead, “No. We’re from the same school that’s why I know your name. B-but we don’t personally know each other.” Chanyeol said. It’s as if he came back to his senses after being drunk.

It was obvious that only Seohyun can do such miracles to him.

Seohyun sighed, “I was lifeless for a month. I woke up without remembering anything or anyone besides my mom…” She parked the car in front of tall gates. “You must be filthy rich.” She chuckled at her remarks and looked at Chanyeol, “I’ll see you around school, right?”

“Y-yes. At school.” Chanyeol plainly answered. At school, he’s like one of the hottest kingkas. But right now… Seohyun doesn’t have any idea about that. He got off from her car.

“Wait!” Seohyun called him back. He slowly looked at her, hoping she’d remembering something about him. “What’s your name?”

Disappointedly, Chanyeol’s shoulder slumped in defeat. “Park Chanyeol.” He just answered and went inside the gates that were guarded.

Seohyun thought his name rings a bell. But she just can’t really remember anything. She drove off and went back home. The reason why she was in the club? She was actually walking along the streets. There goes two men talking about the man named ‘Park Chanyeol’ and upon hearing his name, he heard them mentioning her name as well. She grew curious that’s why she followed them.

“He’s drinking again. Suho-hyung called to help him bring Chanyeol home.” One of the guys said. They were both taller than her, but she lost them in the crowded club. So instead of looking for the two guys, she just withdrew and went out of the club. And there she saw a tall man holding on to a post who seemed to be not feeling well.

She scooted closer to him to help him.

And so it was Park Chanyeol.

It was a school day and everybody was surprised to see Seohyun back. Everyone knew about the accident and she was quite known because of being Chanyeol’s girlfriend. She was highly respected after becoming one of the kingka’s girl friend. She became too conscious upon noticing that everybody was staring at her.

She can’t seem to recognize anyone from her school. So she just headed towards the administration office so they can assist her with classes. They also gave her a new locker because they can’t seem to open her old one.

She walked towards her locker. She just shrugged off the thought that everybody was looking at her again.

“I can’t believe she’s back.” Sehun muttered as they stood from a distance.

Suho shook his head, “Something seems to be a bit off.” They continued looking at Seohyun.

“I don’t get it why—” Baekhyun was cut off when Chanyeol appeared from behind them.

“She can’t remember anything.” Chanyeol said, his knuckles turning white with his grip on the strap of his backpack. His friends looked at him with questions on plastered on their faces. “Damn it after everything that we’ve been through… she just… can’t remember anything.” Chanyeol maintained coldness in his voice but his eyes tell that he was hurt.

His friends exchanged looks, not knowing what to say. “So… what are you planning to do now?” Suho bravely asked.

Chanyeol raised an eyebrow, “You think I’d run after her?” He let out a frustrated chuckle, “No way. Let her be. It doesn’t matter. You told me to stop right? Fine. I’ll stop everything about me and Seohyun.”

Chanyeol just walked off. After a few seconds, they decided to follow Chanyeol.

Seohyun saw Chanyeol on his way; he was walking on the same direction as hers. Her eyes finally lit up to see someone she knows. She was about to approach him. She’s standing just before him. She was smiling at him.

But Chanyeol… being the kingka that he is, focused his eyes ahead ignoring everyone around him. Including Seohyun,

She frowned after being ignored. Chanyeol just walked past her. She watched Chanyeol’s back disappeared at the end of the hallway together with five other guys.

It was an unexplainable feeling for her but she felt her heart tinged for some strange reasons. The other students started making some noise, murmurs started feeling the hallway. She did not know why Chanyeol ignoring her made a tear escape from her eyes. She felt pathetic. She doesn’t even know what role did Chanyeol play in her life before.

A few weeks passed and Seohyun decided not to approach Chanyeol anymore. She finally gave up on him. There was something that kept her on being friendly towards Chanyeol, but she ended up being ignored as always. She was even humiliated in front of the other students when she tried to sit with Chanyeol during one of the breaks in the cafeteria.

“So how was your class?” She smiled at Chanyeol. He rolled his eyes.

“Who gave you the permission to sit with me?” Chanyeol coldly asked. She sulked in defeat.

“I—I just wanted to have some company…” Seohyun muttered, looking down on her lap and playing with the hem of her dress.

“Well just so you know, I don’t sit with losers.” Chanyeol halted from his seat and walked out of the cafeteria causing a scene.

“Hyung, you need to stop treating her like this…” Kai said. “You’re hurting both of you.”

“Both of us?” Chanyeol forced a sarcastic smile. “She’s not hurting, don’t you get that?! She can’t recognize me! She can’t recognize her boyfriend for Pete’s sake!”

“Then why are you avoiding him, huh?! Make her remember you!!!” Sehun protectively stood before Kai.

In a split of seconds, Chanyeol held Sehun by his collars. “How many times do I have to slap this on your face, huh?! That you don’t know how it feels!” His breathes became heavy.

“Chanyeol, stop—!!!” Suho tried to cut in but unfortunately, Chanyeol was really mad.

“Don’t you just get it?! I almost caused her own death! It was me who made her that way! It was my fault that she can’t remember anything! Do you think I’d like to see it that we’re together again and what, feel guilty all over again?!”

“So what the hell is your point?!!” Sehun finally shrugged Chanyeol’s grip from his collar. He dusted his polo shirt off.

Chanyeol breathed in heavily, he clenched his fists tightly. “If she can’t remember me, she doesn’t have to. She has to completely forget about me, her pathetic boyfriend who almost killed her.” He his back to leave but D.O. spoke.

“You’re being immature, Park Chanyeol.” D.O. smirked at him. “You think she’d forget? The more you act like this towards her, the more she grows curious about you.”

“Stop mending your own broken heart, you’re being too selfish.” Baekhyun spoke up too. “Don’t you think she’s hurting too? Because apparently, she couldn’t remember anything. Then there you are—knowing everything yet not trying to tell her a single thing.” The other nodded in agreement. Chanyeol looked back at them.

“Anything else you’d want to add?” Chanyeol remarked. Baekhyun almost threw a punch at him but Suho and D.O. was able to hold him back. Chanyeol shook his head and just walked off.

“Stupid.” Baekhyun muttered before walking away to the other direction.

Chanyeol just cut classes that afternoon. Night came and he headed towards the club. He needed to drink to temporarily forget things again.

It was a peaceful yet noisy club. He kept on drinking but it seems that his tolerance became higher this time. He was just stared. He decided to go to the comfort room when he accidentally bumped into someone. He grew pissed.

“Y-yah! Watch where you’re—” He stopped midway when he noticed those wavy and long black hair. The girl was just looking down and bowing to apologize to him. But he recognized who it was.

“I’m sorry… Really sorry.” Seohyun continued apologizing to him. She did not even look up at him. She started walking off but Chanyeol noticed she was drunk. She started swaying to her sides but she managed to continue walking through a huge crowd dancing.

Seohyun isn’t the kind of girl to drink alcohol unless she’s going through something, Chanyeol knows that. Before Chanyeol could enter the men’s comfort room, he stopped on his tracks and looked back at the direction where Seohyun headed.

The next thing he knew was squeezing into the ground where people where grinding their bodies together. Some girls started offering drinks to him but he just completely ignored them. It was actually annoying him. He was looking for Seohyun and these girls just keep on butting in.

His eyes lit up when she finally saw Seohyun. He was on his way towards her when he noticed guys were flirting with Seohyun. He did not like what he was seeing. It was obvious that these guys were taking advantage of Seohyun since she’s drunk. He skidded towards her fast. He pulled her by her delicate slim arm, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Chanyeol’s temper boiled. His love for Seohyun shows. He grew mad because guys in the club were so into her. The guys knew who Chanyeol was for he came from a rich family. They backed off at once.

Seohyun just looked at him, “Now you care about me?” She lightly slapped Chanyeol’s hand off her. “Please, just… go.” Seohyun stood up to leave but of course, Chanyeol did not let her. He held her back again. “WHAT?!” Seohyun finally shouted at him. Chanyeol gulped.

“Let’s take you home.” Chanyeol finally had the courage to say. He did not wait for Seohyun to agree, he just started dragging her outside the club.

Seohyun flinched at Chanyeol’s tight grip on her. “Stop it, you’re hurting me.” Chanyeol finally let go of her wrist when they reached his car.

“You don’t just go to clubs like that!” Chanyeol put his hands on his hips as if lecturing Seohyun. He stopped when he heard Seohyun sobbing.

“I just thought it’s somewhere I can run into when everything seemed to be my downfall.” Seohyun said in between her sobs. Chanyeol suddenly softened. He didn’t mean it to raise his voice at Seohyun. He just didn’t like the thought of Seohyun with other guys.

“I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” Chanyeol said in his low, sincere voice.

Seohyun wiped her tears, “You know what hurts? It’s when I’m trying to remember everything yet I keep on being rejected.” She was pointing at Chanyeol’s treatment to her. “I hate myself. I hate myself for not remembering anything!” She started crying like a child once again. She suddenly sat like a child, holding on to her knees while crying. “Why can’t I remember anything?” She started asking. Chanyeol’s tears suddenly started playing behind his eyes. He had to look away from the fragile figure of Seohyun to hold back his tears. “I can’t remember lessons at school. I can’t remember who my friends are. I can’t remember who I used to be. I can’t remember what my dreams are. I can’t remember anything at all…” She cried again.

That’s when Chanyeol pulled her slowly to stand up. He put his arms around her. He let her cry on his chest, soaking his shirt. “Shh, it will be okay…” Was all he could say.

“I can’t go on like this anymore… I just can’t…” Seohyun finally said.

After a while, Chanyeol drove Seohyun to her home. Though it was a question for her that Chanyeol knows where she lives, she did not bother asking anymore. She just played with the necklace hanging on her neck.

“So that necklace means something to you?” Chanyeol said.

Seohyun looked at it, “Probably. Maybe someone gave it to me before.” Seohyun said as they arrived at her house. “I don’t know. I think it means a lot to me. Though the statement is broken. Maybe I need to look for the person who owns its other half.” She gave off a soft chuckle before opening the door, “Thanks for the lift.” She said before entering her home.

Chanyeol watched her close the door. He clutched on his chest and he ed the upper button of his shirt. There revealed the same necklace that Seohyun has, ‘You’re looking for me, Seo Joo Hyun…’

For the whole week, Seohyun did not attend school anymore. Chanyeol grew curious, but he thought he had to show his cool side again so he just shrugged the thought off. Maybe Seohyun just needed some space to adjust to everything. Especially after crying so much that night when Chanyeol saw her at the club.

“Oh, so you’ll be competing huh?” Suho and Chanyeol were back in good terms. Chanyeol just nodded while reading some sports car magazine. “I thought you already gave up on this.”

“Better drive safely, hyung.” Kai muttered. Everyone’s back to normal. The tension that heated finally cooled off.

“Later, you’ll be a world-class sports car driver or something.” Sehun pumped his fist on air. It was one of the reasons why Chanyeol had always been driving. It’s because that’s his sport. And he knows it’s not safe. Especially now that Seohyun’s driving by herself as well.

Tomorrow he’ll be competing for the championship. And there’s no way he’s going to miss it.

Suddenly, the door burst open. It was Baekhyun and D.O. panting. “What is it?” Suho asked.

“Chanyeol.” Baekhyun called him. He just raised his eyebrows at him, “Seohyun will be leaving tomorrow. She’ll be heading to the States.”

Chanyeol’s heart almost skipped a beat. “W-why?”

“We don’t know. It was too sudden.” Baekhyun said.

“Rumors said it’s because she’s desperate to remember everything. Especially about the necklace.” D.O. emphasized.

Chanyeol stood up and fixed his gears. “I have a championship waiting for me.” He just casually said before leaving the room.

However, the race began but Chanyeol’s mind was bothered by Seohyun’s departure. D.O.’s words kept in repeating inside his head. He was leading the race and it’s just a few more rounds before he’ll be proclaimed as the champion. He kept on glancing at the digital clock inside his car. He looked at the side mirror and saw the others trailing behind him.

He’s going to win the game.

But he suddenly stepped on the breaks. The crowd grew furious. Suho, Kai, Sehun, Baekhyun and D.O. stood up from their seats. Chanyeol reversed and headed towards the exit. Without thinking anymore, he left the stadium and was eventually disqualified out of the game.

He called Suho, “I’m sorry. I have to go to Seohyun.” He said, but Suho flashed a smile on his face and signaled ‘ok’ to their friends getting the hint.

Chanyeol was still in racing suit. But he did not mind people inside the airport looking at him weirdly. He ran all the way there to tell Seohyun that it was him… it was him who owns the other necklace.

But as much as he looked all over the airport, even if he asked the guards and all… he was hopeless. Seohyun’s flight had gotten off.

That night, he found himself drinking once again. He kept on ignoring Suho’s calls. He kept on ignoring his friends’ messages asking where he was.

“Stop drinking.” Somebody who was sitting beside him said.

“No, I’ll take this down until the glass remains.” Chanyeol plainly said without looking at the person beside him. His head is seriously spinning right now. “Maybe it’ll make a difference with the way that I feel.”

“But how about the way that I’ll remember it?” That’s when Chanyeol noticed that he’s talking to a girl… and that’s a very familiar voice.

“S-Seohyun?” Chanyeol put down the glass. “I thought you left?”

“Well I was supposed to. But I left something so I had to go back for it. I missed my flight.” She said while twirling the lace of the necklace between her fingers.

“What is so important for you to miss that flight?” Chanyeol asked.

“This. I can’t just leave this.” Seohyun played with the pendant. Chanyeol was almost touched. “Anyway, you really need to stop drinking. It’s not good for you.” Seohyun hopped off the high chair. “I still have a flight to catch tomorrow. I can’t miss it this time.”

“Wait!” Chanyeol called her back, “w-why do you need to leave?”

“I’m going to have treatments there. See if I can regain my memory.” She said while looking down.

“You need a lift?” Chanyeol asked.

Chanyeol drove Seohyun home.

“So what if it did not work?” Chanyeol asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“The treatment. What if you really can’t remember anything after all? What’s the use of leaving Korea?” Chanyeol asked as if he’s being the father.

“Then maybe I can find a new life in the States. Be a new Seohyun that I can be. At least, I won’t have to deal with—“ She was cut off when Chanyeol suddenly stepped on the breaks.

“Don’t leave.” Chanyeol said.

“I have to.” Seohyun softly said, scared that Chanyeol might suddenly throw tantrums again.

“I said don’t.”

“But I really have… to.” Seohyun’s voice trailed off when Chanyeol looked at her directly. He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned towards Seohyun. Her heart started racing for a reason that she did not know.

“Can’t you remember anything? Right now?” Chanyeol softly her cheek. She was frozen on her position.

“Chanyeol…” But her eyes showed no hints of remembering anything at all. Chanyeol slumped on his seat in defeat.

He started the engine and headed off again.

The next day, Chanyeol did not come to school. His friends were wondering why as well.

Seohyun was walking along the airport, determined not to miss her flight anymore. She checked on the necklace that was hanging on her neck. She smiled at the thought that she remembered it.

“Hey Seo Joo Hyun!” Somebody called her. She looked back and was surprised to see Chanyeol.

“Chanyeol?” She stopped on her tracks.

“Nothing. I just came to say goodbye.” His smile was wide but his eyes showed sadness. He waved at her.

“Goodbye then.” She softly smiled at him and bowed slightly before turning her back at him. She started walking again when Chanyeol called him once more.

“Yah Seohyun!!!” He called her and when she turned around, Chanyeol threw something to her. She caught it. “Thought you’d need that.” Seohyun did not bother looking at what that was so she just motioned that she needed to leave or else she’d miss her flight again.

She was walking for about a minute now, Chanyeol was still watching her back from a distance. He waited for her to turn around one more time, but she did not. He slowly his back to leave.

That was the time when Seohyun glanced at what Chanyeol gave her. Her eyes widened when she saw it was the same necklace that she has. Realizations came after one another. Suddenly, her memories with Chanyeol came flashing back on her mind. She stopped on her tracks. Everything, slowly yet rapidly, everything from her past came back to her memory.

Her heart started beating fast, she stopped on her tracks and tears suddenly started flowing on her cheeks. She wiped them and started running back to where Chanyeol was.

Chanyeol sighed as he was about to step out of the airport. Just a few meters away were the door to exit. ‘Maybe I’d have to wait for her to comeback instead… hopefully she will.’

He was about to take another step when someone shoved him around by his arm. He was shocked when Seohyun landed on his arms. She embraced him as tight as he could.

“Chanyeol, it’s you… I’m sorry… I’m sorry.” She started sobbing once again. Chanyeol was taken aback, but slowly he reached for her hair and started caressing it. He patted her back for comfort.

“I’m sorry. I forgot to mention last night the way that I feel.” Chanyeol said.