The Golden Ring • ChanBaek | ENG

[CHAPTER 2. 005]

       Silence filled the patisserie as I wiped the tables, while Jaebum was cleaning the counter.. The fact that he didn't speak made the small hairs on the back of my neck stand up, because it was weird the see him so quiet.

No matter how many times we were alone, he always tried to make me laugh with his lame jokes and crude remarks, clearly to no avail.

Of course I'm empathetic, I feel sorry for him about losing his mother, no words can describe how sad it is, but since I didn't even know her or Jaebum, there's not much I can do about the situation.

It's not like I can say anything, since I promised Jongdae I wouldn't talk to Jaebum about this.

I stretched out my arms with a yawn, picked up the bucket and the rag and took everything back to the supply room. Before I left the small place, I just stuck my head out to see what the new boy was doing when he thought I wasn't paying attention.

I frowned angrily because he was doing something on his phone. I know I should bite my tongue and let him do what he wants, but I can't help myself.

Taking the broom and the dustpan in hand, I silently exit the supply room.

"If you're only going to stay to press that stupid phone of yours, you might as well go home," I scolded him, and he jumped at my voice, almost dropping his phone. Ch... stupid.

"Oh, why are you always so grumpy?" he grinned, but at least I now know that it's just a disguise, nothing more.

"I'm not grumpy, but I stay cleaning because I need the extra money, and you obviously want to annoy me," I grumbled, while I started sweeping. "If you're here, make yourself useful. You've been wiping that damn counter for half an hour already!"

He was about to open his mouth to say something, but at that moment the gadget in his hand started to ring.

As soon as he saw it, he grimaced, pressed it to his ear with a frown and entered through the door marked "only for employees".

Shrugging my shoulders, I continue sweeping, I have to hurry to Jessi to finally cut my long hair.

It's true that Jaebum went to another space, thus achieving that I wouldn't even accidentally hear what he was talking about with the person who called him, but I don't think he even noticed that he was kind of shouting, so I heard everything clearly when I paid more attention.

"... I've already said it, and I'm going to say it again, leave me alone with this shit Seokjin! I don't care how much he cries and how much it hurts, he is just as guilty as I am! If he can't come to terms with that, he should blame himself, I won't get back together with him no matter how much I love him. Please don't write or call if you just want to talk about this, I've already closed this topic."

I guess he hung up, because he didn't say anything after that, and even came back with the same troubled face.

"Is... everything alright?" I asked out of politeness.

"Yeah," he nodded.

Well, clearly it's not, although I don't know what I was expecting. That he suddenly throws down his walls and cries out his grief to me? It would have been.. something. Well, I really shouldn't meddle in other people's business, I have enough emotional breakdown problems of my own.

"Go ahead if you want, I'll finish the sweeping," he held out his hand to me, and I handed him the broom with raised eyebrows.

"Oh... okay," I muttered. "The key is next to the cash register and before you leave, make sure everything is locked," I say, and when he nods, I go to get my clothes.

As I stepped out of the pastry shop and told Jessi that I was on my way, I said goodbye to Jaebum, who was sweeping with his head down. I'm not a complete bitch though, I hope life will be easier for him in the near future... even if I don't see much chance... life will always be crap for the majority of humanity.

Before I actually left, I looked at the message I received from Jessi, which included a picture. She took a photo of her hair cutting kit, and I saw the hair bleach bottle on it, even though I told her I didn't want pink hair.

As much as I loved it, I had to constantly redye it, which was just too much for me.

Dare to touch my curls with bleach! I DARE YOU!

It was strange to go to Jessi's house, because I really thought the way my relationship ended.. well with him, I won't see Jessi or Sehun anymore..

Well, I probably won't see Sehun anymore, because for some reason he insisted that I ran away and everything is my fault.

But honestly, what did he expect from me? That I'll I jump in his neck and cry all my little sorrows to him? I've already cried into my pillow, and I wouldn't be able to say much anyway.

Chanyeol.. he left me alone after everything we went through. How pathetic, isn't it? I'm the pathetic one for naively believing everything he said to me.

But for him, I was nothing more than a toy, he seduced me, tied me to me, used me, and before things could get serious, he threw me away like a dirty tissue.

And what did I do about it?

Not much besides crying and gaining weight.

I would have dug myself in even deeper if I had gone to him, knelt before him and begged.

Of course, I could have told his wife everything, but I'm not one for revenge, and anyway, what would I have achieved with that?

They would have probably broke up, but Chanyeol would have absolutely hated me for it.

It hurts what he did to me, I could fucking cry every damn moment I think about it.

I have no idea how long it will take for me to get over it, I can only hope that it will be as soon as possible, because I don't want to cry about it.

Not anymore..