Meori Apeuda

Chapter 12

I fell silent as soon as Chan and Changbin arrived at the door, but returned Chan's smile when our eyes met.

"Let's gooo" Hyunjin suddenly shouted, making me jump and we laughed as he wrenched the door open dramatically. My laughter died as I saw how packed the bar was. There was next to no chance to get through the crowd without bumping into someone. Remembering the market I looked to Chan, who had already come to my side. He said a few quick words to the guys and all nodded. Felix stepped in front of me, Chan stood at my back, his hands on my shoulders.

Changbin went in first, pathing a way for us like a little tank. Felix stretched his hands back towards me and I took them, using him as a guide while staring at the floor all the time. Chan's hands on my shoulders gave me a feeling of safety and only a little while later we stood inside a separate room with cozy looking upholstered benches along two walls, an armchair and two giant beanbags. At the other end of the room was a big TV screen and the Karaoke machine.

I exhaled sharply and let go of Felix' hands. "Thanks guys. I'm sorry, I don't do well in crowds..."

"No apologies, all good! We're Body...body..." Changbin looked at Chan questioningly. "Bodyguards" Chan prompted and Bin nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Bodyguards!" I squeezed his shoulder.

"The BEST bodyguards, honestly. Thanks Bin." He flexed his arm muscles like a bodybuilder, making us laugh.

That moment the door opened and a waiter came in. We greeted him and bowed politely. He took out his notepad and looked at us eagerly. "What do you want to drink?" Chan asked and for a second I wanted to say Coke, as always, but I hesitated. The image of Jessy's body like Cara had described her still hung in my head and I wanted it gone, if only just for a few hours.

"Can I get something with alcohol?" I asked shyly and Chan raised an eyebrow in surprise, he seemed to remember what I had told him on our first evening in the restaurant. But then he nodded and ordered something for himself and me.

He'd probably ask questions later, but right now I didn't mind. I needed distraction. As much of it as I could get. I also still had no solution for my housing problem. I let myself fall onto one of the benches and sighed silently. Somehow it felt like my life has been caught in a whirlwind, slowly ripping it apart piece by piece. And I could only stand by and watch.

"Hey, are you okay, Darling?" Chan squatted in front of me and laid his hands on my knees. I nodded, smiling as genuine as possible, stroking the back of his hand. "Yeah, kinda. Don't worry, I just got some...not so good news from home this morning and...Let's say distraction is the key word for tonight."

He held my gaze and nodded slowly, then stood up and sat down next to me. We both looked at the guys trying to start the Karaoke machine, roaring and cheering as they succeeded.

"Not so good news means quite shitty news, doesn't it? That's the reason you were a little bit different this morning?" I rubbed the palm of my hand over my jeans and shrugged. He nodded but said nothing more. He didn't pressure me or asked what happened, he just took my hand in his and laid them both on his thigh.

I couldn't resist and leaned my head on his shoulder, while his thumb caressed my hand. My heartbeat was suddenly quite irregular, my mind showing me images of his hand caressing other parts of me...I pressed my eyes shut. 'Would you PLEASE stop that?' I yelled at myself. Distraction: Ok, but not that kind...!

'At least not tonight...' my heart whispered and I shook my head.

"What?" Chan asked. My cheeks burned and I thought of an answer I could give him. "Nothing, I was just... Let's say on Tuesday I would have never imagined...this..." I made a gesture that involved the room and everyone in it. He grunted in agreement. "Same."