Eye of the public | Seo Changbin

Chapter 11

New Year's Eve

Christmas had been rather unenjoyable on Riley's side. She almost spent the entire day in her room, face timing her family and friends and wishing them a merry christmas. She only left the room once when Changbin stopped by and had invited her to spent the rest of the day with the members.

Riley declined, saying she would prefer being alone but Changbin still had stuck around for one more hour before going back. He had given her a necklace as a present, he himself had the matching one.

In the evening Riley called her parents who sat in their old house together with Millie as their father had been released the day prior. They had made plans for Riley to come over Easter at the latest or to go skiing together if their schedules allowed that.

They were laughing, almost feeling as if they were actually together.

Almost

While Riley was happy to spent some time with them, her heart ached to finally be in her parents embrance with Millie next to her. She yearned for her mother's forehead kisses and her father's hair-ruffling. She wanted to hear her parent's 'I'm proud of you' while taking her in their middle. She missed her family so dearly and the fact she couldn't even be with them in tough times made her heart ache even more.

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Now it were only fifteen minutes until the new year would begin, a year which would bring so many changes.

Riley was sitting on Changbin's bed in the Straykids dorm, hearing the members laughing in the living room while playing some sort of game. Riley had denied the invitation to play along but Changbin didn't let her spent the whole evening alone.

He had literally dragged her out of her apartment a few hours prior and was shocked by how light she had become. He already assumed that the girl was skipping meals but he didn't expect it to affect her this much.

He wanted to scold her but the numb expression in her eyes told him to be gentle about that topic.

Riley had always loved New Year's Eve and her mother traditionally made a midnight snack consisting of simple tea and scones. But Riley loved it like that.

So when she saw the scones served on the table next to a tea pot, she had poured herself a cup, grabbed a few scones and disappeared into Changbin's room to cry.

Changbin couldn't really say anything against it because although she didn't greet the members, she was eating now.

Sobs left her shaking body while she stuffed the last scone into her mouth. Changbin stood cluelessly at the closed door and watched his girlfriend who had demanded to be alone earlier.

"Riley? There are only four minutes left, you sure you don't want to join us?" Changbin asked carefully while stepping forward a little.

"I will call Millie, it's only 3pm over there" Riley's voice lacked the enthusiasm it usually held and Changbin wanted that light in her eyes to come back.

"But I am here and the others are too and we would go to the new year together in two minutes" Changbin didn't want to pressure her into anything but he really wanted to spend the next minutes with his girlfriend, "Please?"

Riley loved Changbin, she really did and beeing in his arms felt like the safest place in the world, but she didn't know if she could handle the bubbly members at the moment.

"You don't even have to talk to anyone and I'll stay by your side the whole time" Changbin seemed to be able to read his girlfriend's mind and held up his hand for her to take.