Stay Stay Stay ||Choi Yeonjun||

04

I let out a nervous sigh willing myself to ring the bell, yet my hand stills. Never in my life did I think that one day I'll hesitate to knock on my best friend's door.

How strange can life be and how quick can it change! One moment you are here with people you swear by, next you are alone and scared of knocking on familiar doors afraid that the person on the other side just wears the face of a familiar.

But before I get to knock the door, Jaehan is here calling out. His shirt is crumpled, tie hanging loosely around his collar. He tries to wave, but between his heavy briefcase and several bags of takeouts, he settles on just flailing his arms with lips stretched wide in a smile.

"Dumpling! "

"Jae!"

"What are you doing standing there? Ring the bell, I can't carry these anymore without my arms coming off it's socket! "

So while sharing a good-natured chuckle, I lock away my initial hesitations and ring the bell. Soft footsteps patter and the door swings open to reveal a disgruntled Hana. My initial fears return full force, but her face soon splits into a grin.

"Mood swings. Don't be scared! "

Jaehan whispers in my ear.

As we unwind over boxes of tteokbokki and cans of coke and pear flavoured soda, conversation flows like the old times. Until Hana suggests we facetime Jake. Not wanting to be the spoilsport, I keep silent on my unwillingness to talk to the boy.

Jake picks up the call on the third ring. He is wearing a loose navy coloured tee, his hair in a disarray. To anybody else, Jake would seem relaxed and laid back. To me, who has been adept in the art of reading him, he looks fidgety and almost guilty.

Hana squeals and starts talking with him, and some unease leaves him and he enthusiastically tells all about his life in California. I keep to myself and he doesn't address me except little glances here and there.

I pick up a piece of fishcake dipping it in the spicy sauce, when we all hear the feminine giggle. The next moment, the spot beside Jake is taken up by a blonde. She titters around asking who he was talking to. Hana and Jaehan introduce themselves. We understood and spoke English, though with our native accent.

"I'm Ava Miller, Jake's told me so much about y'all. "

I look at Hana and Jaehan and they seem perfectly fine. Neither of them notice me. But Jake does. He is openly looking at me with an undecipherable expression, something akin to expectation. Our eyes meet, and even oceans apart time stills. I am the first to look away.

I want to leave, so I do. Hana immediately starts protesting, but something flashes in Jaehan's eyes. He stops her. I nod at him to show I'm grateful. Without looking back, I get out of the house and leave.

◦•●◉✿✿◉●•.

I stare at the email displayed on the glowing screen on my phone blankly. How embarrassing should I consider myself that the simple words on the email seemed written in Latin? But in my defense, the very name Hylift Co. turned my brain to mush.

After few excruciating minutes, I let go of the breath I was holding and it came out as a strangled scream. Then remembering suddenly I was not in my home, rather at the cafe waiting for my hazelnut Frappuccino where people could judge me, I turn my head to see the weird glances. Especially the young barista who came to hand me my Frappuccino and now looked like she was scared of me and the demon that possessed me.

Talk about awkward situations. I try to go for a pleasant apologetic smile which comes of as a grimace.

"I got the job! "