The Assistant

Da~Da~Da

"I thought soju was only bitter
But it felt like I was drinking iced cocoa

In the end, our lips couldn't meet,"

- Loco & Hoody DaDaDa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Baekhyun isn't here right now," I tell the man and he bites his lip. I unlock the chain and pull the door back so now where standing face to face. "How'd you meet him?" I ask trying to further conversation, he wasn't like the others Baek would bring home. He wasn't flashy, had no attitude, or smelt like cigarettes and sweat.

"We went to school with each other, Ava," he says and then looks at me. My eyes get wide and I place a hand on my chest, "Chanyeol!?" I say out of disbelief and he nods his head. "I thought you where in Japan!" I say and he looks left and right. "Can I come in?" he questions as I remember I have him standing outside as if its going to be a simple hi and bye. I move and he walks in and plops on the love seat. "Soo what happened? The last time I heard of you was when you told everyone you where leaving for Japan," I say and sit down criss crossing on the couch. He take his hat off and reveals reddish-brown hair. "I've been in Japan doing my thing. I've been writing and producing for numerous artist as well as holding my own EDM concerts. I'm back here because I have a concert but I am here right now because I saw Baekhyun the other day from the inside of a cafe and he looked at me but it was like he didn't know who I was," he says taking a breath and then running a hand through his fluffy hair. "Well Chanyeol, Baekhyun has changed a lot since you left. I mean a lot!" I say and remember the relationship they had. "I'm not here pleading for you to help me change him back or pleading for him to be with me. It just hurt to know he had no recollection of who I am," he says again. "I'm sorry Yeolie," I say and he shrugs as he slams back into the seat. "Hey, since your back here. How about some soju and a reunion!" I say and he shakes his head. "Not tonight. Maybe next time, I've got gigs," and with that he gets up and I do too. We exchange a hug and I watch as he fixes his hat and leaves. I remember he we didn't exchange numbers and it would be nice to stay in touch with him. 

"CHANYEOL!" I scream into the hall and he turns, "if you don't want me confused by who you are give me your number!" I say and he smiles and jogs back. "Don't be a stranger," I say teasingly and he smiles, "I might take you up on that drink sooner," he says again and proceeds to walk away. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Exactly!" I say into my phone  as I converse with Annalisa about the sudden Chanyeol appearance. "He looks semi the same more developed into a man," I say and then listen to her questions after questions. "He said he might call about taking up on that drink,"I say and she goes on rambling about how she can't wait to see him and ask him how Japan is as I glance to my watch. 7:30 am, my morning run at this point has come to a end. I breathe slowly and look around as I see a bakery beginning to open. 

"I really do hope he gets a hold of you! It'd be amazing to get together. You, Me, Maiko, Rosalina, Baekhyun..." 

I hear the long pause and clear my throat, "It might be better if just 3 of us met with Chanyeol," I say as I jog across the street. "No, Ava-Baekhyun has to be there," she says again, "In that case I hope no fights or anything break out," I say panting and Annalisa laughs. We exchange goodbyes as I stand outside the bakery and then walk in. I order a usual cappuccino but don't stay because I was planning to met with Chanwoo for a simple date when I feel myself not alone. 

"Ava," says that sly voice and I wince. As I turn around I'm not surprised when I see its Minseok in a usual business suit that probably costed a fortune and that bodyguard that really doesn't need to protect Minseok because he should protect people from Minseok. "Leave me alone! I can charge you for stalking!" I say and he motions for me to come closer to him. I look from him to the guard that does a little head nod and I tighten my grip on my foam cup. "Morning run? Oh why the cast?" he questions as he motions a hand to the car. I give no response as I slide in and again get close to other door not wanting to be attacked again. 

Minseok climbs in and unbuttons a suit button as he extends a arm over the seat. "What do you want?!" I fire back and he adjust his position so he is facing me now, "you know very well what I want." I set my cup down and turn to him, "your sick! Just leave me alone and forget it!" I scream at him and he only grins. "You signed a contract, it is not my fault you can't read the fine print," he removes his suit jacket completely and avoids eye contact with me as he gives the driver a nod and a black screen starts moving up blocking the driver from us. "If I sleep with you will you leave me alone," I say cringing and Minseok turns to me, "you'll never be bothered by me again," he says and I slowly remove my shoes. I set my phone down on the seat as the screen glows of a text message that came in, 

Chanwoo <3

I hope your run was ok, how is ur arm? :)

I clench my eyes shut as I feel a hand on my back and I turn around. "My arm," I remember and he looks at it, "I'll be careful," he says. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I got home I rushed to the restroom and threw up. My cries echoed the empty loft and the regret and disgust I felt was too much to deal with. I decided to take a shower and try and scrub any remembrance of Minseok touching me away. Once I finished I stared into the mirror and was reminded of my infidelity. 

Since my arm was in a splint and I hadn't covered it I called my doctor who told me to come in tomorrow because it may begin to smell. I dropped my phone on my bed and carefully climbed in. I just wanted to fall asleep and wake up from this nightmare. However, as I lay there flashes of what happened kept coming back. I bury my face into a pillow trying to quiet the sobs that left, soon I found myself fast asleep. 

"Ava!" said a voice but I refused to wake up. "Ava!!" it said again eagerly then I remembered the owner of that voice, Baekhyun. "AVA!!!" he screamed and I sat up and turned to my left to see a worried faced Baekhyun staring right back at me. "What Baek?! What!?" I screamed back at him and he bit his lip and looked down, "Chanwoo is outside," he said and I felt my heart fall to my stomache. "Ch-hanwoo," I repeat in a slight stutter, "yes your boyfriend is out there waiting for you," Baekhyun said as he gave me a even more worried look. I ignored his look and pushed him aside as I walked to the living room where Chanwoo sat. Once he saw me he smiled but then it dropped as he scanned me up and down. "What's wrong?" he asked and strides over to me, "nothing," I answer too quickly that I bit my tongue. "We where going out today? Don't you remember he asks?" and places a hand on my arm to which I move away, "I'm sorry...I'm not feeling well. Maybe later," I tell him and rush back to my room where I shut the door and lock it. I cover my mouth as muffled cries escape me. I cheated on a man who really loves and cares for me. The regret I felt made its way deep into my heart. I made a mistake that I could never take back.