The Director • Seo Changbin

08

"I'm sorry Jae, but you know the whole deal with the arcade wanting to attract more attention with events I won't be able to go to school for a while. Are you sure you'll be ok finishing the shoot?"

"Don't stress Baram, I'll be fine! Our professor already talked me through everything and I'll make sure to update you on anything."

"Thank you so much Jae you're a saint!"

"No problem." He chuckles

"Oh by the way don't worry if Seungmin doesn't show up on set for awhile. And substitute Jisung with a different extra for the last two scenes, he will be finishing the soundtrack with the music crew."

"Got it let me write that all down... uh- why is Seungmin not showing up? And is Changbin leaving the project?"

"Jae I'll need to go now."

"No problem, don't overwork yourself at the arcade, Goodnight."

"Night.." Baram ends the phone call as she locks up the arcade for the night and heads back to her apartment.

It's been a few days since Changbin walked out on Baram. She's still quite shocked about how it all happened. Neither him nor Seungmin has shown up on set since that day; and Felix has been frantically texting her that the two aren't talking and when they do Changbin ends up throwing things and cursing Seungmin out. Seungmin has threatened to get his own apartment in the same complex so he wouldn't have to deal with Changbin. The girl feels completely awful for wrecking their friendship.

On her walk home she stopped a cafe that was still open and decided to grab some pastries and a drink. The bell on the door rang signaling her arrival and she walked up to the counter ready to order.

"Welcome what may I get you?" The worker said happily

"A boba milk tea with an extra shot of syrup and half of this strawberry cake please."

"That'll be $16.27 I'll get your order ready." The worker gave back the girls change and went to make her order. Baram goes to wait on the side and another jingle from the door makes her head shoot up, meeting two very familiar faces.

"Oh hey Baram! Haven't seen you in awhile." Chan greets side hugging her

"Yeah how're you doing?" Woojin adds petting her hair

"I'm good, just got off of work. Bought something to treat myself." She smiles slightly, "what're you guys doing?"

"Their tends to be less fans around at night so Chan and I sneak off to have dates around this time." Woojin smiles intertwining his boyfriends hand in his.

"Actually it's good that we saw you. We wanted to talk about everything that's been happening." Chan says

"Baram?!" A different worker yells before leaving her order on the counter

"One sec guys." She grabs her order and walks back to the couple. "I bought a lot of cake how about we just share?" Baram smiles

"That sounds great, how about you and Woojin go ahead. Felix says they're fighting again." Chan sighs tapping away at his phone

"Ok let's go Baram." Woojin grabs her wrist heading out of the cafe making sure to kiss his boyfriend goodbye first.

Woojin and Baram were sat criss cross on the girls living room floor. The cake she bought sat between them, the pair taking few spoonfuls occasionally as they talked.

"I don't know Woojin. I'm not sure about anything right now..." she groaned

"You can't just avoid Seungmin you guys go to the same school."

"I know but.." she takes a bite of cake, "it's too much to see him. I should ask for a transfer as soon as possible!"

"Why are you running away from your problems? Baram sweetie... you need to talk to them."

"I can't talk to them! Changbin told me to delete his number! He's probably already blocked me! And I can't face Seungmin! What if I was just a booty call to him? He said he had feelings but now that I think about it, what if I was naive and he was using me?"

"Seungmin has never been that guy, you're his 2nd crush since I've met him about 3 years ago. Even if you were an "outlet" for stress he wouldn't have done anything with you without compassion." Woojin says patting the others shoulder

"As for Changbin... You're his first girl friend since high school that he hasn't tried to fuck. You were a legit friend, I know he flirted with you but I doubt he really wanted to sleep with you. He was shocked to see your sexual side that day I guess, especially with one of his closest friends. You probably reminded him of himself and how ashamed he is of himself. Even though we were there for him back then and smacked him for doing dumb shit. There was never really a person to stop him from his bad decisions. He did what and who he wanted, looking back he probably wished someone would reach out and tell him when to quit. He held you too preciously to his heart and he had no clue how to react to it all."

"But Woojin.. you weren't there. The way he spoke and yelled in my face. He treated me like dirt, that day. He called me a slut... I'm just some slut to him now." She started to sob

Woojin pulled the small girl into his arms. "It's ok, you aren't a slut. Don't cry over him he's stupid." He cradled rubbing circles in her back, "In time you'll be a great director and all of this won't seem as hurtful."

Woojin let Baram lay in his arms, whispering reassuring things to her until she fell asleep. He left later that night after cleaning up for the poor girl.

•970 words•