Eye of the public | Seo Changbin

Chapter 10

three days until christmas

"So where exactly are we going?" Riley whined while being dragged by Hyunjin. "Not telling, just follow me"

That was easier said than done, seeing that Riley hated being left in the dark. Hyunjin and her had hung out today until the taller suddenly jumped up and started dragging her to who knows where.

"Hyunjin?! We have been walking for twenty minutes now, are you finally going to tell me anything at all?"

"You'll see soon enough, just be patient" Hyunjin told his friend and wrapped his arm around her shoulder just to see her annoyed grumble at the action.

"Why are you so grumpy today? It's almost christmas, everyone should be happy!"

"Okay, first of all, I don't like Christmas nowadays because it reminds me of the Christmas Eve I used to have back in London. And secondly, I just had a bad feeling waking up today. A girl can't always be in a good mood, now can she?" Riley mumbled but her sadness didn't go unnoticed by Hyunjin.

"Well, I think your day is about to get better, just wait!" He ruffled the shorter's hair and skipped a few steps so Riley had to catch up to him. That caused Hyunjin to start running ahead and while Riley ran after him she forgot her worries for a second and started giggling.

"Why are we in front of my apartment? If you wanted to go inside, you could have just said so" Riley tilted her head but nevertheless reached for her keys.

"I wanted to bring you home safely. It is already quite late, 21:30 (9:30pm) to be exact, and I didn't want anything to happen to you" Hyunjin tried to explain but it was obvious that the girl believed not one bit of what he just said.

When they stood in front of her door, Hyunjin pulled the shorter into a hug as a goodbye before going down the stairs again. He was just one storey further down when he pulled out his phone and sent Changbin a quick text. [ "Good luck, Fighting!"]

Meanwhile Riley had entered her apartment, not expecting to be met with soft music and the faint smell of Plum Pudding. Riley and Hyunjin already went out for dinner but the traditional dessert always fit into the girl's stomach.

The fact that someone must be in her apartment didn't bother her too much because Changbin as well as Harry had spare keys.

"Hello?" She called out still, wanting to know who and why they were here.

"Hey princess" A soft voice came from the living room and seconds later Changbin stood in front of his girlfriend with a fond smile. "Come here"

He held up his hands and lead Riley into the spacious living room where he had set the table earlier. A lit candle stood between two set places and two portions of Plum Pudding had been served.

"What did I do to deserve all of this?" Riley whispered and lowered herself onto the chair Changbin had pulled back for her.

"You stepped into my life"

Changbin sat down opposite of her and they began eating in calm silence while keeping eye contact most of the time.

"Thank you Changbin, again you managed to lift up my mood" Changbin just lifted their interwined hands and kissed her knuckles.

"I will always be here to brighten your mood because that is exactly what you do for me. I love you so so much. Riley, will you-"

Changbin got cut off by the sound of a ringing phone.

"I thought I had it on silent" Riley wondered and pulled her phone out. "It's Millie" That was also her answer because emergency contacts even went through on silent mode.

"Hey Millie, what's up?"

"Ry... dad is in the hospital, he had a heart attack. He will be relatively fine according to the doctors. I just wanted to let you know"

"Is he awake? Can I talk to him?" Riley asked frantically, knowing her father had a rather week heart ever since he was born. "He is resting now, I can call you again later when he wakes up but I should let him sleep for now."

"Okay, please update me the second anything changes in his condition" Riley begged her slightly older sister. "Of course I will, but Ry, mom is devasted and doesn't know how to handle this situation at all, how to take care of dad and the company for the time being."

Riley knew what was coming and tears started to form in her eyes when her sister continued to speak, "My flight got cancelled either way and now I think it would be best if I would stay here with our parents, maybe the cancelling was a sign. I can't leave either of them alone at the moment.

I'm sorry I can't come for Christmas Ry

I have to go now Ry, mom just called me. I love you and I will call you again later okay?"

Riley nodded even though she knew her sister couldn't see her and ended the call, immediately breaking down.

Changbin slipped the ringcase back into his pocket before rushing over to Riley and gently pulling her from the chair so now both of them were sitting on the ground.

Riley cried into his chest, not really knowing herself why she was even crying that badly. Changbin whispered sweet nothings into her ear in an attempt to calm her down. A few moments later he picked the still sniffling girl up and carried her towards the couch before placing her on his lap so their chests were pressed together.

"Shh, you're okay, it's going to be okay, I got you"

After a while Riley had finally calmed down and tightened her grip around Changbin slightly. "Thank you Changbin, for always putting up with me"

"Hey, don't ever say it like you are a burden because you are far from that. I love you so much and everytime I see you I ask myself how I got so damn lucky to have you in my life. All I want is for you to be happy, whatever it may take. So, will you tell me what happened?"

Right, Riley remembered, Changbin could only hear her side of the phone call and was left in the dark of why Riley had broken down.

"My dad, he is in the hospital. He had a heart attack. And Millie ... she won't come to me for Christmas, she has to stay with our parents. I'm going to be alone for Christmas again"

Again tears formed in the girl's eyes but she held them back this time. Changbin's heart ached at the sight and at her words. He knew how much Riley missed her family and was overjoyed to have her twin with her over the holiday. But it also hurt him that she said she would be alone even though he would always be by her side.

They had this talk a few years back when Riley's family moved back into their hometown, Riley staying behind - because of Changbin.

Back then it was evident for both of them that Riley didn't feel complete without her second half by her side. Riley had promised Changbin to see him and her other Korean friends as enough and not constantly wish to be back in London.

Riley couldn't help feeling like that though but suppressed it all those years, it only getting out more and more recently.
Changbin understood her.
While being content and happy with Riley he always longed to go on stage, to perform, to show the world his music.

It was the same for Riley just with her family and her hometown and Changbin couldn't even hold it against her for wanting to go back there. But he was scared of the day that would come true, of what would happen to their relationship.

He would never admit it to Riley or even himself but he didn't want her to go. He didn't want to be missing her constantly, not knowing when they would be seeing each other again.

But that would be selfish of him because Riley deserved to be happy and if that meant going back to London then so be it.

Changbin only wanted her to be happy.

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~until next chapter
~~June