I'm His... Makeup artist and Stylist

Chapter Thirty

Sorry for the errors.

We were both enjoying the view. The freshly-cut grass, the street lights giving the park a cozy vibe - it was calm and happy yet one thing for sure, our hearts weren't.

I broke the silence between us.

"Chan, how are you? How's work?" I asked. "I haven't had time to stalk you guys." I joked.

It took him a few seconds before he replied. Chanyeol let out a sigh.

"I'm doing fine. I'm a little bit tired with work but I'm doing fine. The other members are doing great too. Yet it has been extremely exhausting these past few months. We are doing our concert tour and preparation for a comeback all at the same time. Aside from our schedules as a group, each of us have been getting busy with individual schedules as well."

I could just imagine the sleepless nights they are going through right now. They're doing everything all at once.

"How about you Irene? How are you?" It was his turn to ask. "I haven't heard about you for quite a long time."

"I'm doing fine too. Learning, saving lives, and... sometimes having fun." I gave a short laugh before our eyes met and looked at the view again.

The wind blew cold, something quite unusual to happen in Manila.

"Both of us are getting older. Lately I had been getting exhausted easier than the usual and it somehow worries me that, you know, I might just collapse in the middle of having a concert," says Chan.

"Well, I guess that's part of life. You're already 28 right?"

"Yes. And you're 27? I guess both of us are already getting old. Are you going to be a doctor forever?

"Yeah, I guess... Maybe." Me, quite unsure of what to say. It was quite an awkward reply. I was nervous of where our conversation was going, it was about each our future. Both of us are just throwing the same question the first one asks tonight.

"How about you? Are you going to be an artist forever?" I looked at him.

"Hmmm..." Chan thought as he crossed his arms and his biceps flexed. Damn. "Of course, I also want to settle down. If given the chance, I want to be able to take a break from the cameras and pursue other passions like photography and managing our business. I also want to travel more. Well, all of members also think about our future soon. We can't just be artists forever. There will always be the end of something, and we have learned to accept that reality."

That's true. I suddenly thought about myself, of my how my future is going to be. I'm 28, a doctor still on residency training. I earn income though I still have a few years left until I become a doctor with a specialty and not a GP (general practice) - and that is probably going to happen when I reach the age of 30+ years old. I have spent years of studying and merely a few years back, I began my battle to the real world. My earnings are just enough for me, and enough for me to treat my family out to dinner.

But I want to do more, I want to be able to bring my parents to places and at the same time I want to help the less fortunate by helping a charity organization... there are just a lot of things that I want to do yet time is going after me!

A family. Yes, I want to have a family when the right time and the right man comes. But the thing is, I don't have time for love life and parties now (even when I started Med School), and I even skip family gatherings just to study and be a doctor as well.

My sleepy eyes and tired body are beginning to act up as well. I still have a scheduled operation the next day where I will be assisting but I just can't miss this moment!

"Irene?" Chanyeol poked my arm. I must have thought too deep.

"Oh, sorry. I... I just thought of something." I replied, finally back to my senses.

"That must be something really serious." Chanyeol said, clearly trying to bring up the atmosphere. "You might be getting tired. Come, let's take a walk."

He stood up first. "Let's go! Let's have those small legs of yours exercised!" 

Chan was being his usual, happy virus, self. And him mentioning my small legs was a funny thing considering I'm short. I couldn't help but smile as I dragged myself up from the bench.

We were walking then he suddenly held my hand. I could feel my face turn into pink. 

We both squeezed each other's hands and looked at each other, and laughed. It was a very genuine moment. 

I did not bother to ask what was happening between the both of us. As if he read my mind, Chan said,

"Three years has passed...

And it's still you."

---

From that day on, we promised to be best friends again even though we were apart. Before he left, we followed each other's social media accounts - I give myself an hour to scroll through my phone, but of course during breaks! - and promised to communicate with each other.

We thought on visiting each other some time soon. For now, work is our top most priority. 

---

Just a quick update! How's your day going? 

Trying my best to get my motivation to write going. :(