*some strong language*

 

 

 

CH 14: Please Don't

---

 

Skye looked at her reflection staring back at her in the mirror. Fixing her clothing and chewing on her lips she couldn’t help but realize the nervous churring in the pit of her stomach. Minseok knocking on the door was the only thing that snapped her out from focusing on her nerves. It was unclear why she was so nervous but she was taking a good guess that doing errands with a complete stranger that another stranger left her in the hands of had some part of it.

“You ready?” Minseok squeaked as Skye opened the door, looking at the wide eyed house attendant.

“Do I look presentable?” Skye motioned to herself, stepping back from Minseok so he could look her over.

“You do, but we have to handle your hair first” He leaned forward, his fingers touching the rough tips of her hair. “Did you cut it yourself?”

Skye nodded and looked at her feet recalling the blade slicing along her hair in the airport washroom. Noticing her distressed face Minseok quickly tried to reel the conversation away from her hair which was more than likely tact to a bad memory she was trying to distance herself from.

“You know, there was this cute guy I worked with. I mean…not as in I think he is cute but he was cute…everyone thought he was.” Minseok swallowed hard as a flush painted his cheeks. Skye chuckled lightly before urging him on with complete understanding. “Well he started working with me with a shaved head of hair, almost to the skin. I thought he was really average at first but when his hair grew out it framed his face. One day I cared to ask why he ever shaved his soft hair in the first place. He said, cutting off your hair was a symbol of being disowned or bringing dishonour to your loved ones. When you cut your hair it is admittance of your wrong doings and you are taking responsibility for it. Now it is also a symbol of starting over and erasing your past life to move on.” Minseok looked up to see Skye looking back at him bewildered, her eyes almost glistening.

“Me and your co-worker have something in common.” She spoke up with a faint smile dancing on her lips.

“That’s not a bad thing, he was a really honest and good friend. He didn’t trust many but he loved the few he chose to open up to. Perhaps you’re the same” Minseok grinned before nodding his head towards the door. Skye complied and walked towards the door feeling empty handed with no bag or purse to carry because frankly all of her possessions were in Canada or waterlogged.

When the pair stepped into the elevator Minseok saw how Skye held her elbow and generally seemed uneasy or in unfamiliar surroundings. In an attempt to loosen her up Minseok grabbed her open palm beside him and held her hand gingerly. Skye’s eyes shot down to their hands but she only received a gentle squeeze and a small side glance from the small man beside her. She smiled and looked down realizing that he was just trying to calm her. Whatever bad things that have happened to her before didn’t seem to matter, because finally it seemed like good karma was showing its face.

 

Walking hand in hand down the street made Skye feel a bit self-conscious. She didn’t know how to react to him kindly taking her hand, but she was sure they more than likely looked like a couple. Though her cheeks burned she remained calm seeing Minseok wasn’t affected by their public display whatsoever.

“Hey Minseok”

“Yeah?”

“Where are we going?” Skye decided she should ask because he had been avoiding their agenda all morning.

“Well firstly, you need a haircut so we can fix that cute bob of yours. Next we are going to pick you up some clothes since most of yours was damaged. That’s about it, I was going to go grocery shopping but I’ll do that early tomorrow since Mr.Jang is preparing dinner for you tonight... How about we get lunch together?” Minseok shook your hand back and forth childishly as he sputtered several things that were news to your ears.

“Whoa, wait we are going out today just for me? I don’t have money for this…I-“

“Skye, Mr.Jang is covering the costs.” Rolling her eyes she was beginning to dislike how this Mr.Jang was coming to her ears. First of all he had a maid…house attendant, now he was paying for her hair and clothes.  He seemed genuine but she didn’t want someone’s paid pity.

“I really dislike men who flaunt their money.”

“He really doesn’t flaunt his money often, he just wants to make sure you can live comfortably since you had a rough welcome. Besides it covers the cost of ruined clothes and frankly I don’t think I could wake you another morning with your choppy hair.” Grimacing, Skye crinkled her nose at Minseok who tapped it in a brotherly manner.

“Now come on, we are here.”

 

What was supposed to be a quick trim turned into a wash, dry, layer, and trim. Minseok enjoyed his time perusing with the girls that were getting their hair fixed up, and offered some of his stylish insights to girl who were just trying to get his number but asked his opinion for hair colour. All the while Skye admired her new bouncing bobbed silver haircut in the mirror.

“Wah, look at that the beast has turned into a beauty.” Minseok teased, ruffling her hair before once again latching himself to her hand. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed as a soft sigh was let out collectively from the girls flirting with him.

“Those girls just melt over you.” Skye chuckled half skipping with Minseok in tow.

“They do, but those girls really aren’t my type.” Minseok rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

“So what is our ideal type.”

“Uh-“

“Minseok? KIM MINSEOK!?” Minseok’s mouth dropped as he narrowed in on the jumping figure with mouse brown hair. He dropped her hand immediately as he recognized the voice screaming his name.

“Are you hungry for a small lunch after your hair?” Skye looked down at their hands and back to the stunned but questioning face of Minseok.

“Sure, why not.” Skye shrugged and tugged him across the street to the man eagerly awaiting them.

“When in the hell did you get back” The man jostled Minseok into a large hug, nuzzling his face into the crook of Minseok’s neck.

“Not too long ago.”

 

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

“Hopefully she is home”

“Where else do you think she is going to be?”

“I don’t know maybe some man already stole her heart.”

“Isn’t she here to find her boyfriend?”

“You really think she would be looking for a boyfriend, sounds more like an Ex to me” Donghae’s smirked before letting his knuckles fall repeatedly against Nini’s apartment door.

“Why does her situation even phase you?” Eunhyuk glared back coldly at his friend.

“It doesn’t I’m just saying my observation” Donghae’s eyes glimmered impishly as Nini opened the door. She blinked several times before welcoming them and letting them into her apartment.

“What are you guys doing here?” Nini looked at the confused as she returned to her lunch cooking on the stovetop.

“Well we felt pretty bad about cancelling on you yesterday.” Donghae walked over to Nini, placing his chin on her shoulder.

 

Eunhyuk sat perched on a small stool offset to the counter and kept a careful eye on Nini and his best friend. It irked him that Donghae would act this way to her. After all, it wasn't like they were nothing. Recalling last night’s argument did shed light on Donghae’s need to see Nini and his ability to forget about her personal space and invade it.

 

“Are you really so ashamed?”

“No, I just don’t think we should do anything in public yet.”

“What you don’t want to throw away your manly allure, your appeal by holding another man’s hand even when you spend endless nights screaming his name?” Donghae was furious as he slammed the master bedroom bathroom.

 

Eunhyuk dropped his head realizing Donghae was rebelling. He couldn’t take it that seriously, he just didn’t feel comfortable yet. With that being said it wasn’t like he gave Donghae permission to flirt with others in public, that included women.

“Eunhyuk-ssi, don’t you think we make a cute couple?” Donghae smirked with a raised eyebrow, snaking his arm around Nini’s waist and budging her closer to his side. Eunhyuk’s fingers curled around the lip of the stool before replying.

“adorable” He rolled his eyes, letting it be obviously known he was not pleased with his best friends actions.

“Eunhyuk Oppa I agree, we are adorable” Nini leaned her head on Donghae’s arm before closing her eyes contently.

 

It was no shock to her that Eunhyuk would act this way towards Donghae when he was attempting to flirt with her. She had been suspicious since the first day she met them. Eunhyuk’s jealousy and discomfort only caused her to believe they were more than best friends. So taking things into her own hand she help Donghae make him jealous. Donghae wasn’t the best at flirting and if he wanted a rise from his friend he was going to need assistance, but the world had something else in store as knocking echoed in the apartment again. Moving herself from Donghae’s awkward hold Nini jostled the door open.

“Good morning!”

 

and there was Suho. Smiling with crescent shaped eyes and a bottle of sparkling wine. Trying to wrap her mind around having three men in her apartment Nini let him in.

“Suho...these are my friends Donghae and Eunhyuk.”

“Guys this is Junmyeon” Nini smiled awkwardly before chuckling.

 

Donghae looked at how close Suho stood to Nini, how his proximity seemed comfortable and natural rather than forced. Donghae now had competition and he needed a way to pull Nini to him.

“where can I put this bottle? I brought you it cause I figured you may enjoy the sweet flavour” The man she introduced as Junmyeon smiled at her before she gingerly took the bottle from him.

“Thanks you really didn’t have to but thanks again.” She slide it into her fridge before turning around, everyones eyes falling on her.

 

The longer Donghae’s eyes stayed trained on Nini the longer Eunhyuk questioned himself. Was he really so angry he would throw them to the side. How could he even, he should care that he wasn’t comfortable yet. There should be understanding in a relationship, even if they weren’t officially together. There were boundaries.

Friends with Benefits.

Was that all it was? Eunhyuk liked holding his hand, but he didn’t like the looks burning into the back of his head. He liked the sweet morning pecks he got to pepper over his face after a long night.

But...did Donghae just see them as friends with benefits now?

 

Nini escorted everyone to her living room. She looked over her guests, Eunhyuk’s eyes on Donghae, Donghae’s eyes on Suho and Suho’s on her. The situation was beyond awkward and Nini figured it was best to let boys be boys and figure it out amongst themselves.

“I’m just going to check on my lunch, that everyone here interrupted me cooking” Nini added the snide remark before wandering back to the stove.

 

Dropping her tense shoulders she stirred the pot of steaming liquid around in circles.

 

“Jagiya, what are you cooking?” Kyuhyun snuck up behind her, wrapping his arms around his midriff and tapping his fingers above her bellybutton.

“Just some soup” Nini mumbled, leaning her head back against his shoulder.

“does it taste good?”

“Doubting my cooking?” Nini cocked her head to look him in his eyes.

There was never a time she looked at Mr.Cho Kyuhyun and didn’t feel a warmth grow in her chest but there were times when he looked at her with round puppy eyes that she remembered exactly why she loved being with him.

“Hey Nini” She flashed back to real life and felt Donghae’s chin rocking back and forth on her shoulder. A pang of nostalgia for Kyuhyun hit her in the chest hard when his hands held her hips.

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

“So-”

“Yeah, so…”

“What is going on, I mean with your friend and Nini…”

“Nothing.” Eunhyuk barked before looking back down at his feet, embarrassed with his brash tone he used on the strangely polite guy.

“oh, I was just curious cause it doesn’t really look like nothing.” Suho leaned over the side of the couch to crane his neck in the direction of the couple in the kitchen.

Eunhyuk’s heart sank when he saw Nini turn around in Donghae’s arms. His hands placed on her hips and his lips inching too close to hers. He wasn’t ok with this. There was no force in heaven or hell that would ever persuade him to be okay for his Donghae to look at anyone, be it female or not, like that.

“It’s nothing…” Eunhyuk shot Suho a glance before standing up and fixing his pants, stalking off to the kitchen. Suho jumped from his seat, following the agitated man.

 

“Lee Donghae” Eunhyuk walked behind him, grabbing the collar of his shirt and snagging him away from Nini before he could claim . Nini stood wide eyed as Donghae struggled to find his footing while Eunhyuk tugged him relentlessly down the hall. Suho felt himself exhale the air in his lungs he hadn’t been aware he was holding, praying that Donghae wouldn’t kiss her.

“You ok?”

“I’m fine but I really didn’t think he would try and kiss me” Nini held her shirt in a fist above her chest. Looking over at Suho she saw the stress lines creasing his forehead again.

“I mean it, I’m fine...let’s sit. They will sort things out.” Nini smiled, throwing a look down the hallway where Eunhyuk had Donghae against a wall, staring him down. Suho followed Nini’s stare but turned a cheek, feeling like he was watching a very personal moment.

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

“What the hell was that” Eunhyuk hissed in Donghae’s ear. His back slammed against Nini's hallway wall. His wrists were pinned to his sides by Eunhyuk firm grip and he could nearly hear his own heart thudding against his ribcage.

“What was what?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about Donghae...you, Nini...the flirting.”

“What I can’t express my feelings towards someone else in public, because I sure as hell can’t with you.” Donghae glared Eunhyuk down, his anger rising to the tips of his ears.

“I told you, it’s not that I don’t want to, I’m just not ready. I don’t want to up whatever we have because no one has ever made me feel like how you do-” Donghae tilted his chin forward, his lips meeting his friends. The tenderness loosening Eunhyuk’s grip on him.

He felt his wrist become loose and allowed them to travel up Eunhyuk’s side and into the back of his hair. Their lips molding together freely and their chest pressing against one another.

“I want to hold your hand, I like kissing you in the morning, I love you and if you love me the same way you will let me adjust to all of this, please don’t leave me, just let me adjust to this.” Eunhyuk had broke the kiss to rest his forehead against Donghae’s.

“I won’t leave you.” Donghae spoke completely out of breath.

“Good, but now that we have started this, I don’t think we can finish it here.” Eunhyuk smirked, his fingers intertwining with Donghae’s.

“Let’s go home.”

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

“Well, I guess they are alright again…” Nini shook her head, trying to reel over the last hours events.

“I guess so, they are nice friends you have though.” Suho smiled, repositioning himself in a more comfortable position on the couch.

“Yeah, I met Donghae by accident when I was somewhat lost the first day here. He was meeting Eunhyuk so I got introduced to him as well.” Nini crossed her legs over one another, sitting comfortably beside her landlord.

“If I had known your arrival time I would have picked you up from the airport myself.” Suho smiled sheepishly. Nini didn’t want to ask why her landlord cared about her so much, because she was actually scared to know the answer.

 

Suho felt the awkward silence creeping up on them and the best he could do was outright ask her about her life.

“So what is there back home.” He turned to her with bright eyes. He was genuinely curious about what her life was like back in Canada because he couldn’t quite piece together why she was alone in South Korea.

“Well besides a large family who is not too happy I just kind of packed up and came to Korea, I have friends...one who is half crazy and hooked up with my boyfriend’s best friend and -”

“Boyfriend…” Suho voice lingered on the word and his face started to loose colour.

“I...I didn’t know you were with someone, I just assumed since you rented the apartment you were single and I...your boyfriend probably isn’t happy that I tried to take care of you.” Suho slurred over his words, trying to come up with the most acceptable sentence. He couldn't process that the girl that had been stomping over every logical thought in his mind for the last 24 hours was already someone elses.

“Yeah well, he is kind of the reason I’m here. He left unannounced and came back here. I think he tried to cut everything off with me so it hurt me less but, have you ever thought you can’t give up on something no matter how hard it is?”

“yeah…” Suho swallowed hard. She was here because her boyfriend left and suddenly the girl with beautiful brown eyes seemed like a girl who was on a heartbreaking mission.

“My family though...I was crying over the phone begging them to trust me just this once. They were trying to get on a plane and drag me back home but I told them, I’m old enough I can handle myself and I need to do this for me.” Nini sighed, resting her chin in her palms.

“Tell them you have a guardian who will make sure you stay out of trouble.” Suho laughed lightly, patting a pillow.

“I do? Who?” Nini played the innocent naive roll very well and Suho didn't mind carrying on with her game.

“Do I need to open your eyes wider, you’re looking at him.” Suho grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners before reaching forward to mess up her hair.

“My eyes are wider than yours” Nini pulled away from his hand and fixed her hair, sticking out her tongue playfully.

“Be nice to me or I won’t buy your groceries” Suho shoved her gently on the shoulder forcing her body to bounce sideways.

“Hey! I never asked for that” Nini pouted and crossed her arms. Suho couldn't help but laugh at her playful disposition. Nini joined his laughter, squishing a pillow into her chest.

 

Their laughter came to an abrupt end when Nini’s phone let out a shrill ring. She had reset her phone and got a Korean coverage plan but she didn’t expect anyone to be contacting her. She looked to the lit screen on the table and her heart skipped. It jolted at odd angles till she thought her chest cavity would eventually give way.

 

“Cho Kyuhyun”

The caller display read bright and clear. It was Kyuhyun and trying to control her erratic thoughts she snatched the phone eagerly awaiting to hear his voice.

“Hello..” Her voice shivered.

“Nini…”

“Kyuhyun I-”

“Please Don’t”

“What…”

“Don’t cry over me, stop crying over me. I couldn’t look you in the eyes and tell you I was leaving. Don’t think of me any longer. Carry on with your life as it was before me. I cut us off clean and I have moved on. I think you should too. I’m in South Korea again but I knew I would need to confess everything before I could move forward. I am happy, you should be too.” there was a pause on the other line and Nini wanted to scream during the absence of his voice, but found her voice was drowned out my tears.

“Goodbye Nini…”

Like that the call ended.

 

Things that fell,

Leaves from maple trees every autumn previous,

Puzzle pieces from a broken box that has been tampered with too many times,

Shards of glass from a broken window,

Pedals from a withering rose,

and

Tears from her eyes.

 

Suho didn’t hesitate. He moved his entire body closer on the couch and wrapped an arm behind her back and another around the back of her head, cradling her head into the crook of his neck. He could feel her tears soaking the shoulder of his sweater. He didn’t know what caused her to shatter in front of him but whatever that phone call was broke her.

She seemed so fragile. He watched her face. It transformed from a red rose to a withered stem. Her face cracking and tears staining her cheeks. Her chest rising and falling in a distorted manner as silent sobs traced over her body.

He felt his heart pulling him to her, forcing him to encase her in the warmth of his arms. Bringing her close to something that wasn’t broken. Someone warm and supportive.

 

They sat like this for minutes till her tears depleted into nothing but uneasy breathing. Suho reclined back on the couch with her half laying on his elevated chest. Her fist balling in his shirt.

“Nini...what was that phone call.”

“Him.”

Suho’s heart halted upon the realization it was her boyfriend.

“What did he do…”

“he said he is happy, he moved on...he said goodbye.” Nini sniffled before a few more tears sunk into the cotton sweater Suho was wearing.

“I’m sorry…” Suho his hand over her silky hair.

“Why are you apologizing?” Nini hiccuped, looking up at him through wet eyelashes.

“Because someone should.” Suho glanced down at her before slipping himself out from under her.

“Let’s crack this bottle” Suho walked back in shaking the bottle of sparkling wine and holding two glasses.

“Drinking…”

“It will distract you for a bit, I’m not a big drinker but I will accompany you.” Suho cracked the seal and began pour the glasses.

“Thank you”

“Like I said, you have a guardian” Suho smiled before clinking glasses together.

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

Kyuhyun’s thumb quivered over the ‘end call’ button. Biting his lip as he walked back into the small bistro.

“Is everything alright Kyuhyun oppa?” She blinked sweetly, folding her hands on the table.

“I just had to tie something up, it’s fine now...where were we?” Kyuhyun lifted the hem of his pants, sitting across from her at the table.

“Well I was telling you how good you look Oppa, i haven’t seen you since we were kids. It’s good to see you.” She batted her eyelashes looking at him admiringly.

“It’s good to see you too Seohyun-ah”

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

AN//

I am waiting for everyone to punch me for the ending.

*smiles innocently*

So for starters, OMFG I LOVE WRITTING XIUMIN!!! he is so cute and brotherly to Skye. 

and Yes that was a fabulous Eunhae moment you all got. Enjoy it.

SUHO IS JUST SO dkcsahcdba awhhhh, poor Nini though. 

And Kyuhyun and Seohyun (*note: i do not ship them)

so...umm yeah there was supposed to be Skye and Dongwoo's scene but this got really long so that will be where the next chapter picks up.

Enjoy the read ^~^

 

(PS. I had more to say but can't remember)

MUSIC:

You Don't Know Love - K.Will

Please Don't - K.Will

Baby Don't Cry - EXO

Angel - EXO

~Authornim Skye