Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres.

3^rd October 2020

Sitting by the counter, Aleyah stared at her laptop screen dejectedly; her hazelnut eyes were in a daze. Her mind wandered to the park Sehun and her went to yesterday, the 3 words that he told her was like a broken record constantly replaying beside her ears. They never stopped since yesterday. Even Kai’s company couldn’t make it go away.

Among all the love declaration she had received from all the men she couldn’t reciprocate her love to, Sehun’s confession touched her the most. It was filled with so much sincerity that she could feel her heart softening at them as he spoke, but to her it was unacceptable. Because he was not the man she loves, even if she’s touched, it only feels wrong. She knew there was no way she could reciprocate his love for her, but she did not want to break his intangible heart like how she did to the other men. Sehun was still too fragile to handle this.

However, she did not want to accept him out of pity either. It wouldn’t be fair to him and it also wouldn’t be fair to her; there was no way her heart could accommodate another man other than Kai. There was no way she could tell Sehun all this, she had to find another approach to reject and minimize the pain she would be inflicting on him as much as possible. The last thing she wanted was to lose Sehun as her friend.

A series of vibration on the wooden table snapped Aleyah out of her thoughts. Her phone lit up with a message from Kai.

Hi baby, I know you might be busy right now but I just want to let you know that you’re the best friend anyone can ever have. And I don’t think you hear this enough, but I love you.

A delightful smile spread across her face as happiness sparkled in her hazelnut eyes. Kai’s message was sufficient to chase the sunken feeling away temporarily. Now she truly knew the meaning of being deeply loved by someone gives you strength. With him, she was like a balloon with only an upward direction. His love for her no doubt was an invincible force pushing her forward and through everything she did.

“Welcome to Pollen.” She put down her phone gently as she greeted the customer that walked through the door. “Se.. Sehun-ah…”

“Why do you seem so shock?” He sauntered into shop, pouting slightly at the startled look on her face, “Are you that afraid of me now?”

“N..No I’m not..” Aleyah looked at him nervously. There was no way she would be afraid of him. She just did not expect him to turn up so soon because she hadn’t thought of how to break the news to him yet. “Just.. surprised.”

“I know the reason why.” Sehun’s pout turned into a playful grin, “it’s got to do with my confession.”

He watched how she bit her lips nervously at his words, and of course how her eyes lowered to avoid his, “Don’t be nervous.

 “I came here today to tell you to take your time to think over it.”

Someone once told Sehun: Don’t rush things. Anything worth having is worth waiting for. He believed that it’s true because she was definitely worth his wait. He had liked her for almost a year, what difference does it make if he has to wait for another few more days or even months for her answer? It wouldn’t change his love for her in any way. Even if it’s years from now. And the longer she takes to reply him, the more time he had to make her fall in love with him. That was how he’s going to put on a fight and he was sure he would win it.

“So in the meanwhile, can we be friends like we used to?” He propped his hand on his chin and asked the lady in front of him. His gestures and tone of voice was normal, making Aleyah feel comfortable and somewhat comforted. In return, she smiled and nodded.

“I miss your flower tea, can I have some?”

Aleyah walked over to the garden table, she felt somewhat lighter now. At least the load that was weighing on her was lifted off for the moment; she still had time to think of a softer approach afterall. 

“Have you heard the latest gossip in Exo?”

Shaking her head, she asked, “What is it?”

“Guess?”

“Erm, Baekhyun’s wife is pregnant?” She picked up a floral cup that was on a table, pouring the pink flower tea for him.

“Sadly no. As much as I’m waiting to be a god-father.” He replied sadly.

“Chanyeol is getting married?”

“He could if he stops spending his money on guitars.” Sehun shook his head in exasperation for his hyung as he continued, “Kai hyung is breaking his engagement with Solbi Noona.”

Aleyah turned her head sharply and stared at Sehun in bewilderment. Her hand gripped onto the cup for tightly.“Wh.. what.. did you.. say?”

“Kai hyung is breaking his engagement.” He sighed.

“How… did you know?” She calmed herself down mentally as she whispered. There was no way this was true, he had agreed that he would not do this.

“Kyungsoo hyung and I met him when he was on his way to Mr Lee Soo Man’s office earlier. He told us before he entered.”

Sehun’s words consumed the last energy Aleyah used to hold onto the cup. Her nightmare was coming true. Panic engulfed her as she bit back her tears. The cup slowly slid from her hand, shattering into tiny pieces onto the ground.

“Aleyah!” The blonde male was taken aback by the sound of breaking porcelain cup. But he was more shocked to see how the shattered pieces had slit her feet, “Are you okay??”

However, the lady felt nothing. She was too immersed in her own thoughts to even hear Sehun’s call. All she could think about was how Kai’s dreams were going to end right here, right now. The dream that he had exchanged his everything for was going to end. And it was all because of her.

“Aleyah!” He shook her lightly, snapping her back to reality. Looking into her slightly dazed eyes, “Where is the first aid kit?”

Receiving no response from her, Sehun cupped her face worriedly, “Please don’t scare me… Are you alright?”

“Y..yeah.” She struggled free from his touch as she held the table for support before sinking into the chair lifelessly. The piece of news had totally all the energy in her.

Squatting down to be in the same level as her, he asked her again. Her legs were bleeding so badly that his heart was aching too. Judging from her shocked face, he knew she was frightened too. “Where’s your first aid kit??”

“Aleyah??”

“P..pantry..” She choked out, sending Sehun rushing in there hurriedly. But he didn’t know right when he turned round to leave, a tear escaped from her left eye.

******

Sehun pushed open the doors of a cafe hastily the next morning, his eyes scanning the empty place till he saw Aleyah sitting at the corner. A smile plastered on his face instinctively. Her hair was braided sideways, complementing the pale pink scarf she was wearing on her neck well.

“Heyy.” He pulled a chair beside her, trying not to sound too excited. He sprang out of bed the moment she called him this morning asking to meet for breakfast. This was the first time she had initiated a meetup between them and he couldn’t help but to feel exceptionally nervous about it. To him, her first move was definitely a good sign.

“Hey Sehun.” Aleyah looked up at him from the cup she was warming her hands with. The excitement that was twinkling in his eyes contrasted her dull lifeless gaze.

“Actually.. I’ve got something to tell you.” Sehun stiffened immediately.

“It’s regarding the confession.” She continued just like he had expected.

“Oh..” He nodded his head awkwardly as he started playing his fingers, clearly nervous about her reply. Please, please let it be good. He prayed silently.

“I…” Aleyah choked out the first word as she took in another breadth. How was she going to tell him this? The words she had planned yesterday refused to leave her lips now. His anticipating eyes made her even more guilty as she struggled to speak again, but failed.

Sehun saw how she sighed heavily right after she said the first word. A negative feeling spread over him immediately, he knew what her answer was already. Nobody would sigh if she wants to say yes. The purpose of this meetup wasn’t a good sign afterall, he had brought his hopes up for nothing once again. He lowered his eyes onto the wooden table between them, trying to hide his disappointment as he tried his best to fork out a smile.

“Sehun.. look at me.” Aleyah called him lightly. As much as he didn’t want to look at her now, he couldn’t refuse. A voice inside him told him, even if they can’t be lovers, they could still be friends. As long as they are friends, he would still stand a chance to be with her.

That moment he looked up at her, he was glad he did.

On her delicate neck where her scarf was earlier, laid his necklace, the one that he secretly engraved My Eternal Love on it when he gave her to wear on Chen’s birthday.

That moment, she doesn’t have to say another word. Because Sehun had already went over to her and pulled her into his embrace.

“Thank you Aleyah. Thank you.” He pressed her deeply into his body. This moment was what he had been waiting for. The feeling of her belonging to him. He had once promised himself he would never hurt her nor make her cry if this moment ever comes and now it did. He would definitely avail to it.

He would definitely love her right.

******

Now now, this is where the story truly begins. I had been waiting for this! 

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Confession of the day: I have more Sehun's photos saved in my phone than Kai.