Stay Stay Stay ||Choi Yeonjun||

02

On the way home, as the bus swerves down another road, I make up my mind. What could be the worst outcome? It's not like I'm resigning from my current job. If I don't get in, I'll continue my life forgetting this dream of becoming Cinderella. I meant getting the Prince (new job) and getting out of this hellhole created by my evil step mother (my wonderful boss).

I almost stagger up the stairs, pains shooting through my back. I was just in my twenties, then why do I feel like an eighty year old grandma. Reaching the top of stairs, I let out a sigh of relief only to be startled by two ominous figures squatting in front of my apartment.

Walking near, I'm even more scared to see Hana and Jaehan, my two other best friends. It has been nearly a month since Jake left, and I have been successful in dodging and avoiding all three of them. Not that it took much to avoid Jake, his calls were as infrequent as sighting the moon on a cloudy night. A simple text of being busy was enough to appease my so called best friend. Apparently he couldn't care enough because he was busy unboxing and moving and going to every single club in town with a blonde co worker. Don't ask me how I know this, I'll pretend I didn't stalk his social media.

We were friends, I get he is busy but can't I get a text atleast? Was I stubborn and clingy? Annoying? Probably. Maybe... But it was the hardest month of my life. How could I move on when every corner of my own house reveals a precious and haunting memory? When each street of the city holds a special place? It was only a few days I had stopped crying myself to sleep. But Jake did not wait or regret his past. He was happy and content with his new life. Why was I the only one desperately grappling to hold on to the reigns of our past?

The feminine clearing of throat brought me around. These two are still here and my day can very well get worse.

"You shouldn't ignore us like that. We're friends. "

"Well hello to you tooo. So if you finally did realize I was indeed avoiding you, you could've done us all a favour and help me out by staying away. "

Yep, still salty about that. Hana kept something like that from me and while I agree I'm generally really forgiving, this time it just cut too close. She not only hid the fact that Jake was leaving, she also told Jake about my feelings, something she had no right to do.

Like all my other friends from school and college, sometimes I feel she doesn't understand my situation. Why do I feel lagging behind when all my friends have moved on in their lives, married and starting a family? While I'm stuck here, with a job where I get insulted, and a pathetic unrequited love.

"Don't- don't be like that! I did it for you. Jake needed to know about you and I was trying to keep you from hurting. You would have never told him if you knew he was leaving! "

"Greaattt! You have clearly achieved your goal. Thank you for your kindness, didn't really ask it. Now leave me alone, as you can see I'm tired and would prefer to crash on my couch. "

"Dumpling.... "

Jaehan spoke for the first time in the evening. I looked at them from under my lashes. Hana looked frustrated and Jaehan looked guilty and tired. It was the silent plea in his voice that made me stop. I just punch the code in and open the door wide, allowing the two to enter.

The light in my apartment flickers slightly as I throw open a window, warm wind brings in the smell of car exhaust and sounds of horns and people stampeding over each other in the never ending chase of the city. I immediately head to my room, taking my sweet time changing out of my stiff work clothes.

Hana and Jaehan talk in hushed whispers and Jaehan looks exasperated with her. Seeing me they both just keep quiet.

"Why are you here? "