Oblivious (Soonsol/ Hansoon)

Chapter 23

  Hansol had to keep reminding himself that the police were right outside.  They could hear everything that was going on right now, every last detail.  He'd been given instructions, he'd get Sunmin outside and she would be arrested and then everything would be fine.  Fine.  He repeated the word in his head.  Fine.

  But right now, with sweaty palms and a dry mouth it was hard to remember that he was safe.  Sunmin's apartment was modern, with an open concept.  The lighting was dim and the kitchen was barely sectioned off from the rest of the apartment.  For easy access.  If something went wrong she could bolt over there, grab a knife. . . it would all be over.

  "Nice place."  Hansol ran his tongue over his teeth.

  "Ah, it's not much."  She tilted her head to the side, bangs falling in front of her eyes.  An old, familiar habit.  It gave her a shy, innocent look and she looked a lot like that first day.  When they met and Hansol fell impossibly hard and he was convinced that this could be forever.  She knew what she was doing.  Hansol almost laughed.  She was good, very good.  Sunmin was trying to remind him of the good times when they were comfortable and happy.  Before it all went wrong, it really was good.  Despite everything, Hansol figured he'd always miss her.  Maybe none of that was real, but the shy smiles and the afternoon dates in early spring. . . those memories were still important to him.

  Finger nails digging into palms.  Hands cramping.  Pupils dilating.  "What did you want to talk about?"

  "Sit down, will you?  Get comfortable, it's my pleasure to have you here."  Sunmin flounced over to the single loveseat in the center of the room.  Crossed her legs.

  "I'd rather--"

  "Sit down, Hansol."  He couldn't remember if she'd always had that venomous undertone to her voice.  Silky-sweet and laced with poison.  Ready to catch him in her trap.  But not this time.  Hansol sat down, played along for now.

  "I want to know how you're doing now," Sunmin said, examining her nails, glancing up.  Calculating.  "Of course, I've been. . . monitoring you.  Through social media.  I've watched all your V-Lives, I know everything you make public, even some things that weren't intentional."  She laughed.  "I guess I'm a bit of a sasaeng fan.  But," a colder tone this time, "I want to know how you're really  doing.  Tell me everything."

  "Make her think she's got you right where she wants you.  Say you're not happy without her, or you don't want to be an idol," said the voice of a police officer through Hansol's earpiece.  He cleared his throat.

  "I. . . could be better.  This life isn't all I though it would be.  Of course I do like the performing and the music and the fans," he smiled unconsciously, "the fans are great.  Most of the time.  But I guess in some ways it wasn't what I expected.  I didn't think I'd have to be so fake.  I wish I didn't have to pretend I'm happy all the time.  This whole lifestyle is a little but suffocating."

  "You can escape with me."  Sunmin put her hand on his.  Her nails were painted bright red.  "You don't have to live this life anymore, with me you can be real.  Wouldn't that be great?  Just like old times."

  "I'm not sure I can just leave."

  "I'll get you out of there, somehow.  Away from shitty Pledis."

  "I-I don't know, okay?"

  "Great, this is an opening." the cop said, "Get her outside.  Say you need some air, make sure she follows."

  "I need some air."  Hansol headed for the door and Sunmin followed as if pulled along by a string.

  "I'll come with you.  We can talk outside."

  ". . . Alright."

  Down the stairs, into the lobby.  He was so close to victory he could almost touch it.  Hansol pushed the door open, a cool rush of night air hitting him in the face.  The street still glistened from this afternoon's rain.

  It was all over remarkably quickly.  Sunmin put up quite a fight but she was restrained, kicking at the police officers until she was shut into the cop car.  Screaming the entire time.

  "I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!  YOU SAID YOU'D LEAVE THEM FOR ME!  YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD BE WITH ME FOREVER!  DON'T YOU REMEMBER?  DID YOU FORGET EVERYTHING YOU SAID WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER?"

  It broke Hansol's heart to see her like that.  Maybe that had always been there, simmering beneath the surface, but one upon a time, she'd been good for him.  Half of him wished Sunmin was still who she used to be, or who he thought she was.  But then he wouldn't be where he was now, would he?  Happy, with Seventeen.  And Soonyoung.  As good as his life had been then, it was better now, and less toxic.  And anyway, he didn't love her anymore.  So he guessed this was okay.

  Yes, everything was okay now.  He could go home safe.  And it would be okay.

Only one more short chapter to go.  I can't believe this is actually ending, I've had this story going for such a long time!  But then I can finally get back to other projects aka Writers Block (which is on hiatus now)