Chan thought about the last sentence Y/n spoke, it hurt his heart deeply, 'I'll regret this forever.' Did she mean it? Or was it in the heat of the moment due to her anger with his words?
Chan didn't know, letting his brain take over his mouth for now, "Right. Fine! I'll do the opposite if that's what you want... and I'll always be grateful you came. But you're right... you should probably go."
Y/n looked at him, her expression unreadable as she processed his words.
The doorbell chimed once more, and Y/n opened the door to a frenzy of noise and flashes. Paparazzi crowded the entrance, along with her entourage, including Karen the chauffeur, and two bodyguards. Y/n cast one last glance inside, donning her sunglasses before disappearing behind the closing door, leaving behind a lingering silence.
An hour passed since Y/n's departure, the paparazzi slowly dispersing from the front of the house.
In the kitchen, Chan sat with Changbin, his head in his hands as he offered solace to his friend. "Was it you?" Changbin's silence spoke volumes, confirming that he had indeed leaked Y/n's whereabouts.
"I suppose I might have told one or two people down the pub... I was absolutely drunk. I'm sorry," Changbin admitted, his remorse palpable. Chan looked up at him, torn between anger and hurt. "Right." He buried his head in his hands once more, resigned to the fact that it was over.
As melancholic music played in his mind, Chan embarked on a walk through Notting Hill, the changing scenery mirroring the passage of time since Y/n's departure. Each shop he passed marked a new month, transitioning through the seasons from summer to autumn, winter, and finally spring.
In the first scene, Chan greets a woman who is six months pregnant with a warm smile. In the next season, the same woman is seen carrying her newborn child in her arms. Felix appears in the following scene with a new boyfriend wearing a leather jacket. Later on, he is seen fighting with his partner outside a pub. The next season, he has a new lover, but the same cycle of arguments and breakups repeats itself.
As time passed, everything around him kept moving forward, but he remained stuck in his loneliness and longing for a girl he could never have. Today was no different, as he found himself in a record shop on a dull and dreary day. Martin and Chan, the shopkeepers, remained quiet in their cozy little space as if nothing ever changed in there.
Felix bursts into the room with Changbin in tow, brimming with excitement. "We have something for you. You'll want to hug me and Binnie so much that you'll never let go for the rest of your life," he exclaims. Chan, ignoring the nickname and how close his brother and flatmate have become without him realizing, questions Felix with a fake smile to match his enthusiasm. "Alright, what is it?"
"The phone numbers of Y/n Scott's agents in London and New York are written on this paper. You can call her anytime you want. You can't stop thinking about her, and now you have the chance to speak to her!" Chan stared down at the paper that Felix had handed him, his mind deep in thought as if he was in a debate with himself.
Felix had to nudge it a few times before Chan took it, "Well, thanks, that's great."
"It is great, isn't it? See you tonight. Hey, Marty... sexy cardy." Felix gave a quick compliment to the worker before rushing out and secretly had his arms around Changbin from the back so Chan couldn't see.
Changbin quickly mouths a "sorry" to Chan for his past actions, his expression contrite. He then offers Chan a friendly thumbs-up before taking Felix's hand and walking out of the room, their fingers interlaced. Chan's attention is focused on a piece of paper in his hands, and he carefully folds it before placing it in the garbage bin with a gentle touch.
...
The night fell upon them, casting shadows across the table where Chan and his loved ones gathered at Jeongin's diner, a weekly tradition on Tuesday nights. But tonight, there was a somber air hanging over the familiar scene.
Seungmin tapped a spoon against a wine bottle, signaling for attention. All eyes turned towards him as he began, "I have a little speech to share... though I won't stand up because... well, I can't." Laughter rippled through the group, a sign of Seungmin's growing comfort with his wheelchair. "... Exactly a year ago today, this man right here opened the finest restaurant in all of London."
Seungmin gestured towards Jeongin, who stood up modestly, bowing as applause filled the room before he resumed his seat. "Unfortunately, not many ventured through our doors." Jeongin shrugged, trying to lighten the mood, "Just a minor setback."
"And so, we must face the reality that starting next week, we'll need to find a new spot to gather." Jeongin's brave facade faltered, the weight of dashed dreams evident.
Finally, tears welled up in Jeongin's eyes, his emotions breaking through. Seungmin pulled him into a comforting embrace, offering solace. "I just want to say to Jeongin... don't take it personally. The more I ponder life, the more I realize it's unpredictable... Some things work out, while others don't... Some of us are fortunate... and others..."
"...get the short end of the stick. Or short version: fired."
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