The next morning, Eric marched to my unit and found me coiled up in the couch with bloodshot eyes.

“What’s with the horrible face?” he asked, examining my state.

I raised myself in a sitting position and faced him. “Do I look hideous?”

“To say you’re hideous is an understatement. You look like hell. Is it about the news?”

“No, it’s not,” I lied then changed the subject. “What brings you here? I thought I already made it clear that I’m bailing out of my schedules. Tell them I’m sick, sick to the bones.”

“I already did but there’s this one event you really need to attend.”

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, Eric reached from the pocket inside his jacket and took out an elegant-looking envelope then he tossed it to my lap. “SMent is throwing a Thanksgiving party tonight. The CEO’s secretary pointed out that your attendance is a must.”

“Eric, do you actually think that in my state right now, I’d be in the mood to party?”

“I know it came at the wrong time but still…,” he tried arguing but when he met my glare, he doubled back. “Alright, forget I even brought that up.” He grabbed the unopened envelope from my hand and tucked it back to his pocket. “By the way, have you talked to Kris? I heard he’s back.”

“I had,” I sighed. “But I think I messed up my chance. He learned about my Singapore scandal.”

“He probably watched it on the news. It was the headline last night on Showbiz Korea.”

As soon as he mentioned it, the memory of last night crossed my mind and I couldn’t help but grimace. “I was there when he saw it.” Eric looked at me with confused eyes so I explained further last night’s misery. “It’s adding fuel to a burning house. I think we’re headed to the end, Eric. And if I am to be honest, I feel like it’s unfair for us to end this way. Part of me admits that I did wrong but another part of me tells me that it wasn’t really my fault, that if his mother didn’t in, we’d still probably be okay.”

Seeing that I was about to burst into another episode of tears, Eric took a seat beside me and patted my back. “I understand how you feel but don’t think even for a second that this is entirely your fault. Kris will come around. Just give him a few days. Have you tried calling him?”

“I did, a hundred times, but it keeps on going to voicemail. Obviously, he’s avoiding me.”

“If that’s the case then maybe you should go to the party.”

“What do you mean?”

“All SM artists are required to attend so without a doubt, EXO will be there. And where there’s EXO, there’s…”

“…KRIS!” I finished for him. “Why didn’t I think of this a while ago?”

“Because you’re not using your head,” he said, tapping lightly on my forehead.

“It’s settled then. Tell Belle eonni to find me a dress.”

***

The night came and after an hour of glamming up, I was all set wearing a one-shoulder black cocktail dress with lace trims which stopped four inches above my knees showing off my insured long legs. And with a colored stiletto, they appeared even longer. My hair was braided and swept on the side while the short strands of my hair fell naturally on both sides of my face. With my make up applied lightly, I looked very innocent and younger. But with another agenda clouding my mind, my looks were the last of my concern. All that were running through my thoughts are the things I was preparing to tell Kris.

Eric offered to drive me to the hotel but I insisted on going alone. I wasn’t planning to stay for too long anyway. I drove my newly bought Bentley to the hotel and just before I was about to make my way to the front lawn of the hotel for valet parking, I saw the swarm of reporters crowding every artist who has arrived. Since I was a hot topic, I’m pretty sure that I’d be like a raw meat thrown to a horde of hyenas. So, making up my mind, I drove to the parking lot in the basement.

As I parked my car, I noticed a familiar figure standing right in front of the elevator. The guy was wearing a gray Armani suit. He was perfectly and glamorously clad for the party. His back was broad and with a slightly disheveled hair, I figured instantly who it is. I hastily parked the Bentley, not caring whether I scraped the car beside it or not. Without thinking twice and with the rush of emotions flowing inside of me, I ran to him and back hugged him.

“I’m sorry, love. I really am,” I kept on saying as I wrapped my arms around him. A few tears welled up in th