CHAPTER X

AUTHOR’S POV

“Yeah, I’ll see you later oppa.” Mia said giving Siwon a hug. It was now after school and he had to run off with Super Junior. He returned the hug and planted a loving kiss on her forehead.

 

“See you at home dear. Get home safely.” Siwon smiled at his sister and ruffled up her hair a bit. Mia nodded in response and sent him off so he would not be late. Apparently it was some fan meet on the otherside of town.

 

“Brother? I would have never suspected that you would be related.” Luhan said wrapping an arm around Mia as he saw Siwon get in the car and drove off. She looked up at him and gave him an apologetic smile.

 

“Sorry for running away yesterday... I assume you can understand why I ran away though...” Mia quietly said looking at Luhan. He didn’t look amused as she explained but he gave her a kind smile afterwards.

 

“Don’t worry. I would do the same, especially if I saw Xiumin in the corner of my eye.” He chuckled which brought a gentle laugh from Mia. “But any ways, I think, you owe me casual get together of eating food at a cafe at as we socialize, don’t you think?” Luhan asked with an evident smirk on his face.

 

“No, sorry she made plans with me.” Chen said interrupting the conversation and pulled Mia into his arms.  Luhan glared at Chen and the other just scoffed at that ‘cute’ attempt to make Chen scared.

 

“Sorry Lulu, I really did make plans with Chen though. He asked me about it during class...” Mia apologetically said. Luhan let out a groan looked at Mia.

 

Why was everyone ing his chances with getting with this wonderful sweet girl? Was this his punishment?

 

“Sorry, I promise, I’ll go with you next time okay?” Mia smiled sweetly at Luhan. Luhan mentally groaned knowing he was being a pushover about this but agreed anyways.

 

“Okay, I’ll see you later.” Luhan smiled pulling Mia away from Chen before her hair in a loving matter. Her eyes turned into crescents which made Luhan’s heart flutter.

 

Was it humanly possible to be this gentle and adorable at the same time?

 

“See you Lulu.” Mia waved as Luhan took his leave and walked to his car. Chen groaned as he watched the scene unfold in front of him.

 

It’s not like he did not like Luhan, he hated his living guts.

 

Well in Chen’s defense, it was Luhan’s fault on why he hated him.

 

“Well, shall we go?” Chen asked once Luhan was out of sight and slung his arm around her shoulders. Mia looked up at Chen and nodded.

 

“Yeah, let’s go.” Mia smiled and Chen led her to his car where Suho, and Lay were waiting. They both looked up as the both Chen and Mia neared and waved at them.

 

“Ready to go?” Suho asked as he twirled the car keys around her finger. Mia nodded and Lay opened the door for Mia like a gentleman.

 

“SHOTGUN!” Chen shouted and jumped into the passenger seat. The rest of them chuckled at Chen and hopped into the car.

 

 

 

Chen, Suho, Lay and Mia arrived at the park because Suho said he heard there was a free concert today at the park. But first Mia was hungry so they went to go grab some ice cream from a vendor in the park before walking along the park.

 

“Oh have you listened to Big Bang's song Love Song? I really like that song."Chen said happily taking a of his chocolate ice cream cone.

 

“Oh...um..." Mia stuttered looking down at her ice cream that was mint chocolate chip. She could not answer and they just looked at her oddly. “Not my favorite...” Mia quietly said.

 

“Oh, how about we leave after they perform then? Free concert!” Suho happily said referring to the concert he mentioned about in the car.

 

“Um, can we go somewhere else?”  Mia said not making eye contact with Suho. He looked at Mia and gave her a pouty look. Mia let out a huge sigh and decided to wait till after the concert was done till they could leave. Suho smiled genuinely at Mia as a thanks and continued to enjoy the free concert with Lay and Chen.

 

“Aika?” Daesung walked up to her and asked after the concert ended. People were leaving and they were the last group there. Mia bit her bottom lip. She was afraid of this happening. She just looked away not making eye contact with him. “Aika? It's me, Daesung.” He cheerfully said.

 

“Um...” Mia hesitantly looked up and saw his cheerful face, instantly regretting the fact that she looked up.

 

“It is you Aika!” Daesung happily said and hugged her. “I missed you so much!”

 

“Noona?!” Seungri appeared with a shocked expression looking at her. After Daesung hugged her, Seungri took his turn. “I missed you!!!!” He said.

 

“Oh, Aika?” T.O.P appeared. Mia cursed in her head. She was afraid of this. Seungri pulled away and T.O.P enveloped Mia into a tight hug and gave her a quick Peck on the lip. “I missed you Sweetie.” T.O.P smiled. Mia just smiled back but she was scared. Scared out of her mind.

 

Chen let out an awkward cough.

 

“Oh, um these are my friends. Suho, Lay, and Chen.” Mia introduced them. “Um this is Big Bang and my—” Mia was about to say but T.O.P cut her off.

 

“I'm her boyfriend.” He said wrapping an arm around her waist possessively. Chen and Lay just gawked at her and the tall godly man that had his arm around her waist.

 

“Um, nice to meet you.” Suho said politely being the leader he is, although he was a bit confused of why T.O.P claimed to be Mia’s boyfriend.

 

“We're not dating anymore Seunghyun...” Mia said and T.O.P actually looked sad. Mia tried so hard not to crack. Seeing the man you loved for years looking crushed hurt a lot.

 

“We never broke up though.” His deadpanned voice said but his forehead creased as he looked at her oddly. Seunghyun was never one to show emotion when he talked. You could only tell when it slightly appeared on his face.

 

“Yeah we did. I ended things with you, don't you remember?” Mia looked at T.O.P oddly. She clearly remembered ending things with him.

 

Did he not remember?

 

“Um, Noona, what are you talking about? You just kind of left.” Seungri said also giving Mia a confused expression. He looked lost.

 

“I ended things with Seunghyun and then I got accepted into SM.” Mia said. “I told Daesung." Mia said and eyed him suspiciously.

 

“Oh, I never told them you got accepted there.  Jiyong would flip.” Daesung defended himself avoiding her suspicious eyes.

 

“Aika? Why are you hanging out with SM brats?" Jiyong asked as he appeared in the conversation. He looked at Suho, Chen and Lay with disgust as if they were a piece of trash. And which in his mind, they were.

 

"Jiyong, I go to SM.... I got accepted."

 

“Why?” Jiyong demanded with a harsh tone which caused Mia to flinch a bit. “Why didn't you go to YG? Don't tell me it's because of your brother...” Jiyong trailed off as his fist clenched tightly into a ball.

 

“It's my choice Jiyong. You're not the boss of me.” Mia pouted who was clearly sad that he did not support her decision to go where she liked.

 

“I want you to debut, that's why I care. SM will never debut you. You're talented, YG noticed it, you know that right?” Jiyong said as his eyebrows furrowed. “SM is all about a pretty face. I mean, look at them.” He said eyeing Suho. Suho just looked away embarrassed. “Unless you’re Chen...right? I heard your singing...is decent.” Chen was going to thank Jiyong for that compliment but it seemed like it wasn’t the right place to mention anything.

 

“Of course I did... but....”

 

“But what? Why didn't you choose YG?” Jiyong asked wanting an answer from Mia. The fact that she did not choose YG was blowing his mind.

 

“Because... it wasn't fair. I thought I got accepted because you guys were my best friends.” Mia explained while she ran a hand through her hair looking frustrated.

 

“But you didn't. You got accepted because you were talented.”  Taeyang chipped in. He did not get why she did not accept YG anymore. He was just as confused as Jiyong.

 

“What do you mean by we were your best friends?” Daesung asked looking at Mia with a hurt expression. She looked away from him as she begged for the tears that were forming in her eyes to stop forming.

 

“Oh...um...” Mia hesitantly stuttered not wanting to look at anyone in the eye right now. Since she knew if she did, she would break.

 

“Don't you love us anymore? We were there for you from the beginning....” Seungri said with a hint of sadness. Not a hint, his whole voice was filled with sadness and his shoulders slumped.

 

“I know, but times change...” Mia trailed off, not being able to look at Seungri in the eye. It hurt too much. Her heart was slowly breaking.

 

“After all we've been through, you're just throwing it away?” Seungri asked as he reached out for her hand. Mia looked up at him and saw his eyes moist as she took a small sidestep so he could not reach her.

 

“Look, it's complicated... I really gotta go. I'm sorry.” Mia said quickly with a bow and pulled Lay along, running away.

 

“Sorry about Mia, she really is running late for a mandatory rehearsal.” Suho lied. It felt odd lying for him, but he knew Mia need that lie more than anything.

 

“Mia? You mean Aika?” T.O.P asked looking at Suho oddly.

 

“She's Mia now." Chen politely said correcting T.O.P, although he was a bit irritated with them. Chen did not know what their past was, but knew this was something that Mia was hurt by.

 

He did not know Mia long, but he knew she suffered greatly due to these people. Mia was someone he treasured dearly to him, although he just recently got to know her. He knew that she was someone you wanted to hold onto.

 

“Well tell her to call us later. The number is still the same.” Taeyang said with a smile, trying to clear up some off the tension noticing how TOP was glaring through Chen’s soul and how Seungri was about to break down crying.  

 

“Will do. Now please excuse us.” Suho politely bowed and left with Chen.

 

 

Suho and Chen briskly walked over to the place Lay messaged them about. They came to halt when they saw what was happening. Mia was an utter mess. Lay looked so flustered on what to do. Suho quickly analyzed the situation and stepped in.

 

“Mia,” his gentle voice floated in and Mia looked up at him with red puffy eyes. “What happened between you and Big Bang?” Chen asked as he took a seat next to Mia, wrapping a protective arm around her.

 

“You can tell us anything you know.” Suho gently reassured. Mia hurried her face in his shirt, wetting his shirt with her snot and tears, but Suho didn't really mind. Mia wiped her tears away with her hand and let out a big sniffle.

 

“We, we... I was close with them... they were always there for me... they saved me...” Mia's voice kept cracking but she went on.

“I was always lonely...they were there for me... Jiyong was like my father. He watched over me, scolded me when I did something wrong, there for me all the time, he even spoiled me. Taeyang was like my mother. He was always checking up on me. He cooked for me. Nagging Jiyong all the time.” Mia paused and her empty chuckle was heard at the thought of the memory.

“Daesung was like my brother. I told him everything.  We did everything together. Seungri was my younger brother, although he is older. always showing me aegyo, putting his foot in his mouth as he attacked all his hyungs. I would spoil him too like a younger brother.” Mia smiled but her eyes went dull.

“Seunghyun was my first love. He was a combination of a mother and a brother. But I developed....” Mia said and her voice cracked again as tears started to fall.

“Feelings. But... I didn't tell him. When I was trying to avoid the feelings I felt, they tried to get me to join YG. I never did, but, I knew everyone there. I felt it was unfair. I knew every single artist in YG, on a personal level. YG was like a father towards me. Months passed and I finally told Seunghyun how I felt.” Mia paused as she remembered the day she confessed.

 

 

FLASHBACK

He had been asked out on a date, but Aika opposed it strongly. Seunghyun was one not to do anything unless his bros approved.

 

He asked her why and she went silent.

 

Jiyong, Taeyang, and Daesung didn't know what to say. They knew of Aika’s feelings for him but only Seunghyun didn't know.

 

“I gotta go... I'll see you later...” Aika quietly said and left quickly.

Seungri looked at both of them and sighed.

 

“Are you stupid hyung?” Seungri asked and Seunghyun looked at him in total shock. Stunned he would be so blunt like that. But it was Seungri, blunt like always. Putting his foot in his mouth.

 

“No, I don't think I'm stupid?” He said like it was a question. He was confused.

 

“Whatever. If you’re so stupid, I should ask my question then.” Seungri said and Seunghyun looked confused.

 

“What’s your question Seungri?” Seunghyun asked. Seungri looked at Jiyong, Daesung, and Taeyang before sighing. “I like Aika. I’m going to ask her out. Do you approve?” Seungri asked. Seunghyun was stunned. When did Seungri start liking her?

 

“No. I don’t approve.” Seunghyun replied before he could think about his answer. Seungri just smirked. Jiyong, Daesung and Taeyang looked relieved. “Why should she date you? She has a lot of better options.”

 

“Like who? Daesung? Taeyang? Jiyong?” Seungri asked raising a brow at him. Seunghyun let out a deep sigh as he clenched his fist.

 

“No.” Seunghyun could no look at the other. Was he really going to confess the feelings he had? “Just someone better...”

 

“Like who? I think she needs a boyfriend. She’s been looking lonely lately don’t you think so?” Taeyang spoke up. Seunghyun looked at his other friend with a glare, not giving a reply.

 

“Good, because Aika likes you. She really likes you hyung.” Seungri confessed. “If only you weren’t so stupid.” he said and Seunghyun's eyes widened. Aika liked him. Aika liked him.

 

“I'll,  I'll be back...” Seunghyun ran off after Aika.

 

Aika was walking along the streets, sniffling here and there. The thoughts of Seunghyun getting into a relationship with some girl that was not her, it always hurt. She entered a cafe that her feet took her too. She looked up with a sad smile and entered. It was the cafe where she realized her feelings for Seunghyun. How ironic how things played out.

 

Aika ordered a Matcha Tea Latte and took a seat in a booth. Looking out the window the memories of her and Seunghyun sitting in this exact booth flew through her. She remembered the first time Seunghyun took her was when she just met them. She followed him around and he ordered both of them hot chocolates. It was a cold day and the warmth from the drink instantly warmed them up, as well as the bond they created that day.

 

After, every week, on Friday afternoon, Seunghyun and her would venture off to this cafe to sit in this booth, and share a drink.

 

    “Aika!” Seunghyun exasperated said as he slid into the opposite side of the booth, out of breath. Aika was stunned as she stared at him with her eyes wide open.

 

    “Seunghyun...” Aika forced out of . She couldn’t talk. Why was here? Right in front of her? He was panting and out of air, but he had such a determined look in his eyes.

     “I should...I should...I should have realized it earlier...”Seunghyun said as he was catching his breath. Aika’s heart skipped a beat when he looked at her. She bit her bottom lip and looked away.

 

    “Realized what?” Aika could barely say. She was so nervous right now. Her palms were sweaty and they wouldn’t stop shaking. got dry so she decided to try distract herself.

 

     “Realize, that...” Seunghyun trailed off and took her hands into his. He held them gently and gave them a light squeeze. She looked up at him and into his eyes, and all she saw was love and determination. “Realize that you’re the only one I like.” Seunghyun gave a small smile. Aika was so shocked. The guy of her dreams just confessed to her. She was speechless.

 

    “I...I...” She choked out as her cheeks were full on tomato red. She got tongue tied trying to find the right words.

 

    “Will you, be my girlfriend Aika?” Seunghyun asked.  Since she couldn’t say anything, she nodded her head. He gave her a gentle smile and pulled her up out of her seat, to give her a warm hug.  “Thank you Aika...” He muttered into her ear, buried his head into her shoulder, as his strong arms pulled her closer.  Her arms wrapped around his body and hugged him back.

 

 

END OF FLASHBACK

 

    “Oh my god. That was you?!” Chen gasped and Mia looked at him oddly. “I was in that cafe that same day! I saw him confess to a girl! It was so romantic!” Chen happily grinned. Mia looked at him with a broken smile and replied. “I think that’s why I started listening to their music more! I realized how true their feelings were!”

 

    “Not, all things end in happy fairy tales though...” Mia’s voice trailed off as tears brimmed her eyes again. “We were happy, and very much in love. I went from playing around with different guys to being settled onto one, and same went for Seunghyun.” Mia looked at the ground as the memories of all their happy moments played in her memory like an old movie.

 

    “Wait, so you were a player before?” Suho looked genuinely shocked. Mia nodded and let out a dry chuckle.

 

    “Yeah. Something, I rather not talk about though...” Mia said quietly. Suho got the message and respected her decision.

 

    “Five months in to into our relationship, he started to act distant. I would act like I didn’t know, but I knew. And it hurt. It hurt so badly. I would ask Jiyong Oppa and he would give me a confused look saying Seunghyun hadn’t really changed. I trusted Jiyong Oppa so I believed him. It was our Six Month anniversary, and it was a big deal for me. So I decided to surprise him. It was the night before our anniversary and I went to the bar to get a drink. I had a rough day that day...” Mia trailed off remembering that day clearly but shook her head to remember to focus on what she was talking about. “I was at the bar, ordered my drink and I looked around the bar... something I would regret for a life time...”

 

    “What happened?” Chen asked.

 

    “I saw Seunghyun in a corner making out with this chick, who was a YG trainee.” Mia’s eyes went empty as the aura in the room died and went cold. “She was all over him. She asked him if he was free tomorrow and he said sure, I don’t have anything planned.” Mia ran a hand through her hair not even blinking at the tears that were forming. “She asked wasn’t he dating me? And then, that guy, he said no, I was just a play thing. A play thing? I couldn’t believe it. I ordered five more drinks that night.” Mia’s empty laugh echoed the room.

 

“I just remember walking home drunk, slamming the door shut and sending an email to SM about my audition. I woke up with the worst hangover and SM said I got accepted. They watched my video... So I called Daesung to meet up with me. So he did, and I told him what happened, and from what happened that night. I remember seeing him so angry, which I was shocked since that is not in his nature and ready to beat the out of TOP. I told him to not tell him, and that I was going to leave, and don’t look for me. I told him to tell TOP I’m sorry and we’re over and hand him a note... I guess Daesung never had the heart to give him the note...” Mia smiled but it was empty. “When I sent that email to SM, I said the name I would like to be called was Mia. I did not want to remember anything of the past, so I decided to use Mia, instead of Aika.” Mia explained the name. “But they remember me as Aika, and don’t know who Mia is.”

 

Unknown to Mia and everyone in the room, there was someone who was at the academy who finished his practice late and heard everything. He hid behind the pillar as he listened to Mia’s story, as the tears ran down his face. He put a fist in front of his mouth to muffle his sobs that he was letting out. His face was drenched with tears as his head leaned against the pillar hearing Mia’s empty voice.