The City of Seoul // Bang Chan [EDITING]

Chapter 30

The snow still covered the colourful city with its blanket when the group arrived a few days later from Japan.

Until the end of the year, their schedule was packed with rehearsals, meetings and awards shows. The busiest season of the year, showing how the hard work paid off.

For Danbi as well. Christmas and New Years themed videos needed to be filmed and edited.
Most of her time was spent in the studios of her company or editing until late at night at her desk.

Being occupied, meant that she had less time to mourn and think about everything over and over again. The young female didn't mind that.
She was hurting enough.

The quiet moments after waking up, driving to work and before going to bed were enough.

"Don't stay too long, Bi." Sohee looked after the younger female at work. Making sure she didn't forget to eat and sleep and remind her to go home.

"I'm almost finished. I promise." Danbi looked up for a few seconds before going back to rewatching the footage of the lasted shoot with a newly debuted girl group.

The sound of her phone pulled her eyes off the screen again after two hours. It was close to midnight and her heart sunk a little more. In less than two it would be 18th. 5 years since he left.

Her thoughts were pushed aside when she saw who was calling. Chan. Ever since her birthday, they started to text again, mostly about work and encouraging each other to work hard but not too much.

Danbi picked up the phone. „Hi?" She heard herself, sounding unsure. The line was quiet for a few seconds.

"Hi, Danbi." There was some kind of rustling in the background, blending in with his deep voice.
"Are you home?" Danbi could hear his concern.

"No, I'm still at work." She put him on speaker and started to edit the thumbnail for an upcoming video.

"Bi," Him calling her by her nickname made goosebumps appear on her arms. "This is the second week you've been staying longer. Go home." He sighed.

"I told you I can't," She rubbed her arms. "And if I had to guess you are still at the studio as well." Danbi knew that the leader knew what day was coming up.

"I am but I'm about to leave," A door closed in the background. "Pack your stuff. I'm picking you up in half an hour." He ended the call.

"Bang Chan," Danny mumbled and shook her head but did as he ordered and slowly finished the ruff design of her work and packed up.

He was waiting outside, leaning on the side of a black SUV. The lights were still on. Like always dressed from head to toe in black. Jeans, Boots, Sweater and Jacket as well as the Beanie.

"Hello there," Danbi stopped in front of him, a shy smile resting on her lips. The older male was returning her gesture. "Hi," He pushed himself out of the car and pulled her into a hug when she was close enough.

„Thought, you would maybe appreciate it to not be alone after midnight." Chan's voice was low, wrapping around like a hug.

Danbi just nodded, leaning into the embrace and closing her eyes for a moment.
„Thank you."

✧･ﾟ: * ✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧

„Do you want a cup of tea?" Chan stood in her kitchen while Danbi changed into comfy clothes.
„Yes, please."

A few minutes later the pair sat on her couch, cups of steaming tea in their hands and blankets in their legs.

„Is Minho alone?" He asked unsure if it was okay to talk about him. Danbi shook her head. „The four of them are staying at his. They always do it on the anniversary and his birthday. Before I left Seoul I did as well but this year it just didn't feel right."

It always helped her to talk about him. A complete contrast to grieving her parents. Only thinking about them made tears in her eyes appear but with Jonghyun, Danbi wanted to talk about him. It still confused her how the grieving process was so different.

Danbi sipped on the tea before looking up. „I can't believe it's been five years without him. It's like yesterday that I visited him days before he left and we binge-watched Christmas movies and ate cookies."

Chan listens, it didn't want to interrupt her.

„Half a decade." Danbi shook her head. „Grieving is weird. I can't speak about my parents but remembering him is so easy. It still hurts like hell but.." She didn't know how to explain it.

„Maybe because your parents passing was abrupt, more than his." Chan carefully spoke his thoughts out loud. He didn't want to say anything wrong that could hurt her.

„Jonghyun was struggling for a long time." Danbi sadly smiled at the thought. „He was hiding it perfectly that his thoughts were this dark and he wanted to leave."

Chan was listening. His strength.

„Everyone close to him blamed themselves for a long time." Danbi looked up at the ceiling, tears burned. „Myself included but I suppose if someone wants to leave this cruel world they will sooner than later." A sigh, her bottom lip trembling.

Chan didn't say anything, there were no words to take away some of the pain. He took her mug out of her hands, putting it next to his on the coffee table before pulling the younger female into his chest.

His arms wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close and his chin rested on top of her head after she leaned into him, head against his chest.

„Thank you for being here right now," Danbi whispered.