Could it be him?

*black*

"I told you not to come today! You're becoming addicted to it!" I say and lean against the terrace railing.

Admiring the beautiful view, I hand the lighter to Xiumin and bum puff my cigarette. It's surprising how close I have grown to him.

"Yeah so do you still work overnight here? I get it that you're trying to avoid Byun Baekhyun but come on, you can't keep this up for a long time," he says, pressing the end of his cigarette to his lips.

"Oppa! but how can I face him? he literally saw me half naked! Even though it's been four days, I don't think I can do this."

Taking a puff, he nods his head and asks, "ok, let's leave that. How are things with Sehun? You still haven't talked to him, right?"

Angrily, I roll my eyes and click my tongue. "Why should I? He was the one who rejected my feelings. Can't believe I even cried that day!"

I'm not sure if I ruined our beautiful friendship but it was hard for me to conceal my feelings.

"He left me, oppa. He left me like we never had anything between us. I get it that he saw me only as his 'friend' but he didn't have to-" I say, wiping the teardrop. Flicking the spent ashes, he sighs and says with a painful smile, "don't worry you have Chen with you!"

"Right! I totally forgot to tell this to you! Sehun kept trying to talk to me... something about Chen."

-

"Leah, good news! You can start working with Editor Kim from tomorrow onwards! Also, I want you to get me a latte... consider this as your last errand-girl work!" Mrs Ching says with an apologetic smile.

Words can hardly describe how happy I am right now. I've been wanting to work as an editor my whole life. But the fear of going to the café overtook my emotions. The café.

-

Pushing the glass door open, my eyes search the billing counter as the smell of the freshly brewed coffee welcomes me. Feeling lightheaded, I stop and close my eyes for a couple of seconds.

Kyung Soo notices me and gives me a disgusted look. Yep, he still remembers Baekhyun screaming 'it's a condom'.

Taking a deep breath, I start, "A venti, half-whole milk, one quarter-"

"YES, I GET IT! CALM," Kyung Soo says and shakes his head in annoyance. Unable to control my laugh at his cute expression, I turn around. Staring at a couple, I stand baffled.

Taking small and quiet steps, I examine the couple one last time and hit the man's shoulder. Startled, the girl stares at me.

"Yah, Yixing! Now I get it why you were always so 'busy'! How dare you hide this from me and Suho?" I shout.

"Leah, calm. First, meet Bingbing, she's a ballet dancer from China. And it's only been one week since we started seeing each other."

Greeting her, I apologize for disturbing them and walk to the counter. I was happy for Lay, he seemed so gleeful around her and they seemed to have a beautiful understanding between them.

Looking at me stare into nothingness with a smile etched on my face, Kyung Soo snaps his fingers at me and says, "you should've come a few days earlier, they were literally eating each other's faces. Poor customers who had to see it that day."

-

Walking past the CEO's office, I cover my face and speed walk. God, I so don't want to see Chanyeol.

Great. Looking at Chanyeol walk out of the washroom, I curse under my breath and cover my face with the coffee cup and sprint. Feeling the low blood pressure kick in, I feel my hands shiver. Before I could balance myself, I see the floor sway beneath me. Staring at his doe eyes, I feel the darkness consume me slowly yet powerfully.

-

Feeling a sharp pain in my lower jaw, I bolt upright and find myself somewhere completely unfamiliar. Holding my pounding head, I look around and see everything bathed in white, from the walls to the blankets covering my legs.

Removing the IV needle, I put my shoes on and stand up. Lightheaded, I close my eyes again. Before I could take a step forward, I feel a warm hand around my wrist, forcing me to sit back on the bed.

"The doctor said your blood pressure is very low and it looks like you haven't eaten for days. Is everything alright? We're at the company's infirmary, you fainted a while back. How are you feeling now?"

"Chanyeol, I must go. I'll explain everything later. Please let me go," I plead.

Perplexed, he leaves my wrist and stands still. Chugging a glass of water, I pay no heed to the nurse's words and rush out of the room. Fainting isn't new to me, I must get used to this.

-

Hesitantly entering my house, I look around and tip-toe to my room. Phew, Baekhyun isn't home yet. Locking my room, I take the weighing scale and stand on it, with my fingers crossed.

Looking at the digital reading, I smile and jot down my weight in my calorie-count book.

Standing in front of the mirror, I lift my t-shirt up and stare at my reflection. Running a hand through my prominent rib bones, I smile and wrap my middle finger and thumb around my wrist. Looking at how my fingers overlap, I sigh in relief and sit on the floor, still staring at my reflection.

"I'm home!" Baekhyun shouts form the living room. Quickly putting my t-shirt back on, I open my room door and tip toe to the kitchen, remembering I had left it on the counter top. I grab my phone silently and hold my breath, hoping he wouldn't hear me.

"Aww, you're making dinner for me? That's so sweet of you, noona!" I hear his voice.

Right, life was never easy. Right, life always sends the maniacs to me.

"Yes, yes. I'm making garlic chicken and lemon garlic shrimp with skillet potatoes and whole garlic cloves. Oh, and even garlic juice!"

Gagging, he replies with a disgusted look, "... I hate garlic, noona. Even hearing about it makes me want to puke!"

"And that's exactly why I'm making it."

-