Chapter 20: Final Chapter

Two days after I had broken up with Hoseok, Hyejin, Dahyun, Jisu and I had a meeting with our company’s CEO and our disbandment was finalised. Within two weeks our dorm was emptied and we all went our separate ways—Hyejin to be an interior designer, Jisu a teacher, Dahyun an actor, and myself? I returned home.

***

“Ahri!”

I snap out of my trance and peel myself away from the colourful marks that envelop and swirl my senses on the canvas before me. Music blasts around the room, filling every space that’s not already occupied by materials, finished and half-made sculptures, paintings, drawings and deconstructed installations.

My scruffy hair tickles the back of my neck as I turn to find my mother at the door of the studio. I reach over to turn down the volume of the radio.

“Hello,” I beam from where I stand. I put down my brush and go to kiss her on the cheek.

Mum brushes me off, complaining about getting paint and charcoal on her clean clothes. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” she reminds me instead as she points out the marks on my face.

I absentmindedly rub cheek with my sleeve as I checked the clock. It reads much later than I had expected and I quickly pack up.

Mum sighs with a smile, more than accustomed to my habit of losing track of time. “Maybe if you turned down the music you would’ve heard me and your dad call the first ten billion times,” she teases as she follows me out of the studio.

“You know Parker, right?” Jen asks just before putting her cup of coffee to her lips.

The café lightly bustles as people drop by for their afternoon break. The winter sun glazes the windows and lies warmly across our table.

Jo eyes me expectantly as I sip on my chai latte. I hum in response, more than aware what was to follow.

“I gave him your number so you guys should hang out,” Jen says with a smile, “you two have quite a lot in common—he’s a composer and song writer.” She wiggles her brows, quite content with her impressive matchmaking skills.

“You used to be a singer, right?” Jo chips in as she recalls my past.

I laugh awkwardly, almost coughing on my beverage. “That was two years ago.”

“Still,” Jen huffs as she leans across the table, “This Saturday at five.”

My eyes widen, this time I actually choke. “You’ve already set it up?” I say in disbelief as Jo lightly pats my back.

Jen scoffs and waves a hand. “No, not really. It’s just a suggestion,” she admits.

I smile at her loyal persistence until a thought sinks in my mind and my lips press into a thin line. “I don’t know…” I sigh after a moment as I play with the opened packet of sugar by my cup. It’s not like all her ‘suggestions’ have utterly failed but I’ve never felt that anyone has been quite enough.

“Don’t tell me you’re still caught up on that guy,” Jen mumbles before taking another bitter sip of her coffee

I look up hesitantly and give her a small smile.

She sighs and throws her hands up in defeat. Slouching in her chair, she lazily turns her head to Jo who is most likely texting her boyfriend. She gives her a light punch, “I give up! Jo, knock some sense into her!”

Jo perks up and puts her phone back into her pocket, taking a moment to hop back into the conversation. “Parker is real sweet,” she reassures me.

“Parker, huh?” I murmur under my breath. The words become a mist over my lips and I quickly huddle my face into the warmth of my scarf.

My boots tap on the pavement as I walk to where my car is parked. I try to squeeze some memories about him but not many come to mind. I remember being introduced to him a few weeks ago at a barbeque, despite the small chat I shared with him which was mostly small talk, I only remember him gawking at me from the other side of the yard.

As soon as I get to my petite black car I immediately turn on the heater and breathe on my fingertips, warming them from the mid-winter chill. As I rub my numbing hands I can’t help but let my mind wander elsewhere.

‘I wonder where he is now—has he become even more successful and famous? They must have since Namjoon and Yoongi always seem to be too busy to answer my messages within a few hours.’ I smile as I quickly reminisce the last time I had seen the pair of them.

I occasionally hear news of them on the internet and friends, I still keep in touch with my ex-band mates but they do their best to avoid bringing him up. I sigh as another thought inevitably slips into my mind.

‘I wonder if he’s moved on?’

I slump over the steering wheel and stare out of the foggy window, cursing myself for being so effected by the thought and thinking it up in the first place. There’s no denying that he still crosses my mind and that the mere thought of him makes all of my previous relationships seem bland. I wonder why I’m still so bitter after two years. I’m happy with my current lifestyle but there’s something so important and valuable that seems to be leaving a gaping hole inside me.

I sigh as the warmth of the heater holds me tighter in its embrace, telling me I had sat there for long enough. I pull on my seatbelt and am just about to pull out of the parking when my phone suddenly rings.

I swiftly pull out my phone, gesturing an apology for the driver waiting to take my spot. An unfamiliar set of numbers is displayed on the screen; I note that they appear to be from overseas. I furrow my brows and bring the device to my ear.

“Hello?” I greet sceptically.

“Hello?” an oddly familiar voice repeats.

I feel my heartbeat come to an immediate halt. I grip tighter around my phone and bring it to my other ear to make sure I had heard right.

“Ahri?” says the muffled voice.

The way my stomach flips and chest tightens I know it’s him. “Hoseok?” I murmur in disbelief.

 “Ahri, I remember.”

End.