ANAGAPESIS

17

Anagapesis.

Surely, feeling was something that couldn't be forced but could be protected. Iris was going through this phase not because she wanted to but because she had lost hope throughout her journey.

In her story, the anagapesis she felt was not only referred to her love life but her whole life. Maybe she could have endured the pain of a relationship if only she had received the attention she needed from other people.

When her relationship started shaking, she thought she could have survived by relying on her mother, maybe receiving some advice on how to solve her problems.

For her mother had been living her life longer than Iris did.

However, what she was expecting had never come. Instead of receiving advice, she received backlashes that did nothing but make her more crumbled.

She found herself losing the trust of people around her when her mother blamed her, saying that she was only looking for perfection in a relationship.

Had only her mother known what she'd been through, most probably the lady would have regretted her choice of words.

Jaehyun could simply conclude that Iris was having a hard time having faith in someone again. That explained why she kept her circle too small, being so cold on their first meeting by the pier.

She was traumatized.

"Weird to see you staring into spaces," Jaehyun was nudged by Younghoon as they were sitting side by side, enjoying the fancy surprised breakfast.

"No, I'm not," the latter denied, shoving a toast into his mouth. "Juyeon's foods are always the best."

"Glad to know that you love it," the said guy appeared with more toasts he grilled by himself on the grilling he set up by the beach. "I came all the way just to cook breakfast for all of you."

"If the girls are late even by a second, I won't be tolerating," Younghoon remarked, an evil smile drawn upon his face. "I'm not sharing with them."

"Not sharing what?" just like it was enchanted, the said girls appeared but not in complete numbers.

A questionable expression was seen on Jaehyun's face who once in a while would glance over the girls' suite, obviously looking for a certain someone.

"Iris is still sleeping," Alice spoke up as if she had been reading Jaehyun's mind. But to cover up, she averted her gaze to Juyeon who was enjoying his coffee. "Nice to see you. Didn't know you were invited."

"I invite him," Younghoon replied, adjusting his posture on the chair. "Why didn't you guys wake Iris up?"

"She looks so peaceful sleeping which rarely happened," Anne said, sighing for what seemed like endless when the thought of Iris came across her mind. "These days, Iris couldn't sleep well. It's either crying herself to sleep and then waking up in the middle of the night."

"Or she'd be trying to sleep but failed to do so unless after 2 or 3 hours," Alice added, noticing the changes in Iris' self after she had been weighted down by all the problems that existed. "I guess we need to thank someone."

Her eyes darted on Jaehyun who was fiddling with the hem of his shirt whilst biting his lips. They could tell that he was worried, especially after what had happened between him and Iris last night.

"Jaehyun," Alice called, making him hummed before looking up. "What do you think of our friend, Iris?"

The guy almost choking on air, every so often looking at Younghoon, hoping that he could receive an SOS from him but nothing seemed to come.

"I am invested," Juyeon rubbed his two hands together in excitement before taking it close to his chest, crossing. "Answer it."

"Answer what?" Jaehyun scoffed, eyes wandered around. "It's no use to answer, she is someone's girl."

"Whose girl?" the tone from Alice somehow was questionable. She did not sound happy at all, as if she had never approved of Iris' love life. "We will not let her marry someone who has hurt her too many times."

Jaehyun might have understood, but not the other two males. They exchanged glances with each other, and the conversation suddenly sounded so foreign though they were speaking in the same language.

"We can't decide for her," Anne blurted, staring far as she recalled those harsh moments her best friend went through. "But we can make her rethink. Maybe for a few years more before she decides."

From a glimpse, Jaehyun could tell that the two girls knew almost everything about Iris including the conversation that took place by the beach last night that he thought was a secret.

He should have known that there were no secrets between the ladies.

"We just want Iris to be happy."