Eye of the public | Seo Changbin

Chapter 21

~this was a last minute written chapter and I was tired so there are propably a lot of mistakes
(edit: I hope I found them all but there still might be some)
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"I am going to die!"

"No, you are not! Now get your ass out off the bed and take a shower!" Minho scolded and ripped the blanket away from Changbin's body, leaving the younger whining at the loss of heat.

"Minho!" Changbin grumbled but got up either way. The older just smiled sheepishly and left the room again.

You see, today was the day Changbin and Riley were supposed to meet up and Changbin was freaking out. Nevertheless, he dragged himself into the shower and started getting ready.

After about an hour, because of Changbin's sleepy movements, he left the dorm and drove to the destination  Riley had suggested.

The area he was in was a rather wealthy part of the town but Riley had also lived there in her old apartment. He parked the car in front of a cozy looking cafe and then walked up the few steps towards the entrance.

The inside looked welcoming and all the interior made it looke even more bright and happy. Changbin immediately noticed why Riley had picked this place - it literally screamed Riley.

When he looked around one of the waiters came up to him.

"Hi and welcome to "Streetlight" Café. Can I help you with anything?" Just after the mention of the cafè's name, Changbin noticed that the lights really were in form of streetlights.

"I'm meeting up with someone? McEvery? A young woman, blonde hair, about this tall?" Changbin tried describing her.

"Oh right, yes. Just around the corner, you'll spot her. I'll be coming to your table in no time" With that the waiter left to go to one of the few other customers.

Changbin did as he was told and immediately saw Riley at one of the tables, waving at him when she lifted her head.

Changbin arrived at the table and now stood directly in front of Riley who had just stood up.
"Hey" He muttered awkwardly and put his hand out to shake.

Changbin internally groaned at his action. Shaking hands, really? Luckily for him, Riley only giggled and suddenly pulled him in for a short hug. Changbin was surpried but wrapped his arms around her nonetheless.

After the rather awkward greeting the two sat down and looked at the menu to avoid looking at each other or starting a conversation. Just when Riley had pulled herself together and was about to say something, the waiter arrived at their table and took their orders.

The moment he left again, the two fell back into their awkward silence.

"So, how are you?" Riley finally started which caused Changbin to look up surprised.

"Fine, I guess. We have a lot to do but right now have a few days off. But it's going good all together"

"I'm glad to hear your career is going good but that's something I kinda kept up with", Riley admitted shyly and shortly scratched her neck, "But how are you?"

Changbin sighed and wiped his hands on his jeans out of nervousness.
"Now, okay. Been better but it's going upwards again. It wasn't easy the past months but yeah"

Both of them fell back into their silence because both were awfully aware that this hardship was based off the break up.

"Well, enough about me. What about you?"

No matter how much the girl in front of him broke Changbin's heart, he would never be able to stop loving her. He became aware of that just now, watching her in her new look and noticing the light in her eyes being brighter than before.

"Good actually. Of course I missed everything here" The 'you' stayed unspoken but both knew it was indirectly there, "I met up with all of my friends and we even organised a class reunion. I've made some new friends who also helped me deal with the situation with my dad and everything. The company is also going well, we want to expand more. That's also why Millie and I moved back. Oh right, and Millie and I are now officially the CEO's."

Changbin already knew the last part but he didn't want to admit that he had been keeping up with Riley as much as he could. But he was truly happy for his ex-girlfriend.
Maybe she didn't directly say it now but Changbin knew that she was happier and healthier now and that the break up was what she needed.

"I missed you Changbin, I truly did and I'm sorry for how things ended. I didn't want to hurt you but.. but" A few stray tears ran down Riley's cheek and Changbin quickly reached across the table to take her hands in his.

"Hey, it's okay. I know and I'm not mad, not at all. It would be a lie to say it didn't hurt me and that something in me broke down but never, no matter how low I felt, I was never mad at you because I understand you" Changbin caressed Riley's knuckles with his thumb without thinking if he was making her uncomfortable, it was almost like muscle memory- an instinct to protect her from everything possible.

"It may not seem like it but it hurt me too. I just needed to do that, I wasn't in a good mental state. But I visited a therapist in London and I'm okay now"

Changbin smiled, a mix of a sad and proud smile, and then pulled his hands back.

"This is my new regular café. I saw it when I took a walk and the name just reminded me of you... God, that sounds weird" Riley admitted and hid her face behing her hands.

"No, it's not weird at all. I think it's cute actually, it makes me happy that you still think of me"

"Of course I still think of you" Riley frowned and leaned back in her chair, "We have known each other for almost nine years now. Just because we broke up it doesn't mean I stopped caring for you. I'm not just going to forget you like that."

"I know. Sorry, it came out wrong. I also still care about you" The two stared at each other and would have got lost in each other's eyes if it weren't for the waiter coming with their orders. 

The two ate in silence but this time it was comfortable with glances shared from time to time.

"Do you think we can try to be friends? I don't want to loose you completely, I would like to still have you in my life" Riley asked, having her eyes directed to her plate, too scared of Changbin's answer.

"Of course Ry, I would love to keep you in my life too"

Riley smiled and giggled quietly, causing Changbinn too smile at her fondly.

Oh, the two really didn't know how their trip of trying to be friends would look like.

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~I managed to write another chapter!
~it's a bit shorter than usual but I try to write some more for next week

~until the next chapter
~~June