♡ a perplex love ♡ beomgyu ff

♡ chapter sixteen ♡

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I ran straight home. Thankfully nobody was home when I got here because as soon as I arrived I ran straight to my room and cried myself to sleep. I only got 2 hours in but, I needed it. I can't believe I ruined everybody's lives. 

I love them all so much, Beomgyu, Yeonjun, Soobin, Kai and Taehyun. I feel horrible for coming here and ruining a friendship I could tell was special. I've heard the way they talk about each other and I know that it was real, all of it was real. Why'd I have to ruin it all? 

My stomach grumbles and I groan as I realize I have to get out of bed in order to get food. I'm wearing my favorite grey sweatpants and one of Alex's soccer hoodies. My hair is a mess but I don't even care, who else is gonna see me?

I walk into the kitchen and am surprised when I see Eric sitting at the island working. When he notices someone walk in he looks up from his computer and smiles at me, "Ariana! I didn't know you were home kiddo." 

"Rough day, what're you doing home?" I say to him as I walk towards the cabinets. 

"I'm working on the floor plan for a new hotel I might be opening up soon. Your Mom says I already have too much on my plate but, I love to stay busy y'know?" He says, I nod. 

After a moment of silence he sighs before closing his computer. "Wanna tell me what happened at school today?" 

I turn around and look at him, "How'd you know I went to school today?" 

He chuckles, "I care about you Ariana, whether you like it or not. The school called and I told them you called me and said you felt sick, they were gonna give you detention y'know." 

I cross my arms, "Yeah well, detention would have been better than any of my other classes anyway." I say. 

He stands up and walks around to one of the drawers in the kitchen and grabs his car keys. I furrow my eyebrows as he makes his way out of the kitchen and towards the front door. I follow after him curiously as he turns around to look at me, "You coming?" 

"Where?" I ask him. 

"Out to eat. I'm hungry, you're hungry, go get dressed and I'll wait for you in the car." 

Before I can decline his offer, he walks out of the house and leaves me there hanging. 

I am hungry, and he's paying so....

Why not? 

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Eric wanted to take me to his favorite restaurant again, the one that Beomgyu works at. But since I know he's gonna be working tonight, I said I wanted something simple.

"This pizza is probably the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life." I say  

Eric laughs before wiping his face with his napkin, "I'm glad someone likes it here, I took my brother here once and he hated it." 

"He must have no taste buds because they put drugs in this or something." I say jokingly taking another bite. Eric smiles before readjusting himself and crossing his arms against his chest, "I even took Alex here once, he didn't like it either." 

I look up at him and see him looking down at his food. I put mine down before clearing my throat, "You do a lot with Alex huh?" I ask. 

"Yes but, I would love to do stuff with you if you'd let me."

"You've never asked me."

"Well you make it quite clear you want nothing to do with me Ariana." He says finally looking up at me. 

"I don't-" I grow quiet. I feel a pain in my chest, guilt. This man has been so nice to my mom and her kids. He's given us an amazing roof over our heads, a great education, he pays for Alex's sports, and he's flying Vivian out just for me this winter. 

But not only that, he makes my Mom happy. I hate to say it but, maybe happier than my Dad's ever made her before. 

I clear my throat, "I don't hate you Eric. It's just hard, moving to a new place so far from where I grew up. And its been difficult to adjust to this new life and a new member of the family. Not only a new member, you're my Mom's husband. And I think for the longest time I just felt anger towards my Mom for being able to love another man other than my Dad, meaning you." 

"I guess I never really related to her and understood how she could love someone else until I moved here. And even though its hard, she chose whatever made her happy in the end. I know she loved my Dad, but you've made her really happy Eric. You don't understand how grateful that's made me and my brother feel, because we wouldn't wanna wish sadness over our Mom." 

He stays there looking at me for awhile before having the biggest grin on his face. "You want any ice cream?" He asks me pointing at the Ice Cream they serve at the place were at. I nod, "Cookie dough please." 

He comes back with our ice creams and sits back down, "So, wanna tell me about him?" 

I look up at him confused, "About who?" 

"The boy you love but can't have." 

I stop eating my ice cream, "Wha-" 

"You said you couldn't relate to your Mom loving someone else until you moved here. I know about Yeonjun, popular guy, very sweet boy. His family goes to my hotels a lot, but there has to be another boy in the picture, am I right?" 

I'm frozen, is he a psychic or something? 

"Just because I was nice to you for once does not mean I'm gonna talk boys with you Eric." I say. 

He leans back and stays silent, just continuing to eat his ice cream. And once again, the pain in my chest is back. I groan before throwing my head back, "Fineeeee, considering Vivian is grounded right now and can't have her phone until next week, I'll resort to you." 

"I'm listening." He says. 

"Well there's this boy that I go to school with. He's in our friend group and I've grown quite close to him. When me and Yeonjun were together-"

"You guys broke up?" 

"I'll get to it, be patient." I say, he nods. "So, we were all great friends until overtime Yeonjun grew more and more jealous over me and the other boys relationship, which was strictly platonic. There were fights here and there, make ups here and there, but just with Yeonjun."

"The other boy, we'll call him Ben. He never caused any issues, only in the beginning but that's a different story, technically it isn't he was just really mean but LET ME GET THERE!" 

"I didn't say anything....." He says. 

"I know but its so much." I say. 

I sigh, "Anytime me and Yeonjun got into a fight, Ben was always there by my side. I always seen him as a friend, but recently I found out he might like me. And things are just so weird right now that I don't know what to do." 

"Do you have feelings for this boy?

"I'm not sure, he-" 

"Let me ask you something, are you basing your decision on what you think is best for everyone else? Or are you basing your decision on whats best for you?"

And its at that moment where I realize what I want, what's best for me. 

I stand up, "I uh, have to go..." I say to Eric. I turn around to walk straight out of the door before stopping in my tracks. 

I swiftly turn around and give Eric a hug, "Thank you." I whisper to him. I let go and run straight out of there.

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