Upon A Time (JoongNine AU)

Upon Retracing A Fading Line

Nine

I put that single rose in a glass jar filled halfway with water. He must have come again, and left them at the front desk of the secured service condo. The front of desk, had started to smile, everytime I was called and came to pick it up, from them. When will he stop doing this?. I had ignored his request to see me through my manager; had hidden in the dressing room after shows, tightly guarded by bodyguards, since there were cases of crazy fans and antifan alike who overstepped the boundaries; and to the extent, had blocked his number to not let him get through to me. I looked at the fresh red one in front of me,  and smiled. I know it's sinful to crave something that belonged to someone else, but I couldn't help myself and felt that my heart was blooming and felt a deep longing.

But then, as I raised my head from the mesmerising red colour, the enchantment broke. Around me, there're multitude stages of dry flowers around my space. My blooming heart suddenly realized, the stark contrast. It was liked being drowned in cold water.Why did I keep them liked this? Why can't I throw them out?. 

I shook my head, and decided to take a huge step. I couldn't let fading memories, to impare my judgement on reality. I rolled my sleeves, took the plastic bag from the kitchen, and grabbed all the dried flowers and dumped them inside the bag. All clear. Yes, no more. Yet, I hesitated when my fingers reached the fresh red one...ah, maybe let it be there till the petals dried out, first.

The next day, I called his manager and said to ask him to stop, what had been going on for two months already, or I'd move house to somewhere he wouldn't know, at all. He did as was asked. The flower, had stopped coming. I should be relieved, definitely, but yet, as days went by, and I lay down tiredly on my bed, after a full day of work, I realised, seeing a single red flower everyday, had brought a momentary smile to my face. And now, the glass jar that I used to put them in, became empty, no different than how I felt inside, once again.

I closed my eyes, and memories of him and I, replayed again, yet some part of it had become fuzzy. It seemed, somehow, with time, I might be able to forget him too.

Yet, why then, do I cry?.

Joong

"That's what he said, Joong. He would move out, if you'll carry on as usual", P'Yui said to me.

"Oh, so his number is still working, then, because he called you alright. Means it is just mine, that he'd blocked, P'", I said, drumming my fingers on the table, and smiling while thinking of my next move. Ah, his hard shell front, doesn't change as well too.

"Joong, this is not something to be happy about, he could report you as stalking", P'Yui said seriously, "he is more influential than you, we cannot risk that". I didn't blame P'Yui. His thinking was what a manager would do, unliked P'Ta who already knew Nine's character, in and out. At time liked this, I missed P'Ta so much, still.

P'Yui knew my status. The divorce proceeding was still ongoing, as there're settlement's documentations that needed to be sort out between the lawyers. Though Serena asked for nothing, I insisted that she should get whatever the law allocated in her rights and also, added in, a sum from my own agreement to support Aria. And he also knew, how determined I was to get Nine, back. But, he still worried for me as an artist under his care.

"P', could you help me with something, then?", I suddenly asked.

"Why am I afraid of what you might do, next?", P'Yui said in alarm.

I laughed and shook my head, "He didn't allow me to get to him, personally. So, this is my last trump card. My current drama that is still in post production, is still searching for a main soundtrack. Could you arrange something with his side? You know right, how this drama promotion has gain a huge interest, since this is my so called 'comeback' to this industry. And, so does Nine, who lifted his hiatus status, to the surprise of many. Imagined how huge, two major comebacks, hand in hand under one production", I smoothly suggested.

"Joong, I could arrange for a talk, but what if Nine refused? What would you do, then?", P'Yui asked back.

"Nine is loyal to the company. The sponsorhip and advertising value will skyrocket with this collab, P'. Though he would feel pressured, I trust he couldn't even deny the huge benefit of such proposal. Ah, proposed a duet too, it had been long that I last sang professionally, but trust me, I could still belt some notes. People would be excited, as we used to be under the same production and company, before. That could be our comeback's surprise gift, to fans", I winked and P'Yui groaned in exasperation.

"I am just a manager, Joong, but this added work as a cupid without wings, is too tiring for me to handle", P'Yui complained. I held his hands, and used my puppy eyes to plead.

"This is concerning the love of my life, and our happiness, P'. Help me, please. Besides, you could tell him too, since he respected you enough to accept your call, that if he wanted someone to be mad at because of this backdoor strategy, he is always welcome to come and punch me, himself".