Stay Stay Stay ||Choi Yeonjun||

26

The alarm blared, breaking through my sleepy haze. I got up while stretching my limbs, cocooned in the warmth of my blanket and Pixie, the huge strawberry cow plushie Yeonjun won for me at the Carnival.

We had gone on so many dates— the Musical, picnic at an Apple Orchard where we got to go apple picking in cute little baskets, the Carnival where we ate candied apples and salty buttery popcorn and went on rides, there were few dinners at fancy places.

The cute 'good morning' message from Yeonjun already sat waiting for me. I replied back quickly then heading off to start the day. Yeonjun once told me on our late night talks on how he used to think he'll not be able to see love as anything other than pain or utter madness. He had seen it in the prose and poems he read, he had seen it in his life with his parents and friends, the agony it might bring with it or the excruciating giddiness as people lose all their rationality. But seldom the comforting cradle of feelings.

So I wanted to show him that it could be comfortable too, where he didn't need to rush or hide, or think over too much. I tried so much to become his place of rest. I want to spoil him silly with gifts and coddle him with my cooking.

But I sometimes feel he is the only one to pull this relationship. He is a good four, five years older than me and even if that was out of the way, he is so wise and mature in the ways of the world. He never lets me pay or do much for him, insisting he be the one to care for me.

I shake off these thoughts as I leave for the office. Half way through I need to change my course, cursing our client. I reach the renovation site, searching through the throngs of worksmen for Bora. I spot a flash of bright neon pink and rush over to see Bora smiling forcedly at the old restaurant owner. The man was not letting us even look at his restaurant, let alone renovating. The ancient sushi restaurant was almost crumbling with age when we reached here first. The owner's son worked abroad, but he would return in a few days to take over and he wanted to renovate this place so he had made some advance payments to get the work started.

"Oh thank the Lord that Ahrin you're here! Please explain to grandpa here, that wooden sign is infested with termites and no amount of pest control would be able to save it! "

Mr. Song scoffed loudly, shaking his head and muttering something. I take a seat, trying to calm both of them.

"Now, now Bora, it's alright. And Mr. Song, we mean it. We need to do away with it. In fact, here's a deal. You let us do the pest control and we'll make a new sign with the exact same design. How does that sound? "

"Get away from me and my shop! I will never let you brats near it. "

With that he walked away, shutting the door in our faces. Bora shrieked frustrated, but I clamped a hand on her mouth to shush her up.

"Who does he think he is?! In fact, his son will take over soon anyways and then who will run this decrepit pit of sawdust and termites?! "

"Yah, calm down! He's our client after all. Let's go finish the order for the chairs and tables first. "

I tugged Bora away. Till lunch hour, we both instructed the workers on the details we were planning then drove off back to the office.

As we walked in I spotted Yeonjun near the reception. I was about to go to him but then I saw the lady beside him. They were happily chatting away like old friends.

"Ahrin, you're back! Come here and meet Kim Bitna, she is my college friend and is the current head of . Bitna meet Ahrin. "

We both smiled and bowed at each other. Bitna then proceeded to congratulate Yeonjun on his upcoming high scale celebrity project. Yeonjun asked her a lot for advice and suggestions. Before leaving, Bitna reassured Yeonjun that she was only a call away lest he needed to know something. Yeonjun looked so relieved talking to her and his expression stuck in my mind as we ate lunch and even when I returned back to work.

The old restaurant owner was also not making it any easier. He was stubborn and hot-headed. But after what I witnessed I didn't want to go to Yeonjun. I didn't want to be his burden, or someone he needs to continuously look after. Not after seeing the steady difference in how he talks to someone his own age.

The next day Bora complained of a sore throat so I tell her to just look after some files rather than tagging along with me. I go back to that restaurant, willing myself to be ready to meet the owner head on.

As I reached there I find the owner nowhere in sight. The termite infested sign was back on, sitting crookedly. I was so done, I pushed open the door only to be swarmed by odour of stale alcohol. I looked around. Most of the wooden furniture was in a similar state like the sign, ridden with termites. There was food crumbs on the floor and alcohol stains. It was horrible to say the least.

I called the cleaning crew inside and they immediately started following my orders. It was an hour later I heard the screaming of the old man and knew he was here. I walked out to face him, his face all red with rage and calling me the most vile terms imaginable.

"Quit with your screaming and cursing Mr. Song. Our client has already made advance payments to get the renovation done and thanks to your tantrums, we are severely lagging. "

He was seething and wheezing, all purple with fury. He stalked over to me menacingly, while every inch of me was itching to put some distance between us, I stood my ground unwavering.

"How dare you! Do you have any idea on what you've done?! You heinous bitch. "

Before I could see it coming, I felt a sharp pain on my cheek and stumbled to the ground. The tangy metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. He grabbed my hair pulling so harshly I could feel the burn on my scalp.

"DAD! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! "

I felt the hot tears course down my cheek as I looked up to see the man rush towards me after pushing the ruthless man away. He pulled me up, turning my face gently with his fingers to assess the damage. I was whimpering, unable to digest the pain still thudding on my face.

"I'm so sorry, Ms Chae. My god, I'm so sorry. Let's go get you first aid then I'll deal with this vile man. "

He led me away as one of the cleaning crew quickly shoved a first aid box in his hand. He put some stinging disinfectant on my burst lip, while someone got a bag of frozen peas from the restaurant to put on my throbbing cheek.

"I'm so sorry Ms Chae! Thank God I came on time. But I don't have words to express my regret for what my father did to you. "

"It's alright Mr Song. You don't need to feel sorry after all it was not you who did this. He must be really attached to the restaurant. "

Mr Song removed my hand and held the frozen peas himself.

"Yes, my mother sold away her own salon to pay for it. "

My eyes widened. So that was why. It must have hurt so much to part away from something like this.

"I'm sorry, Mr Song. I didn't realize—"

"Please don't be sorry Ms Chae. He has ran this restaurant down to the ground. But I will not let her sacrifice go to waste. "

I sympathized with his pain, trying to find the words to comfort him.

.

"You better stay away from her, unless you'd like to meet my fist. "