failures III » kpop ✓

chapter 3

❝ can I pretend to be a human just for tonight? ❞

THREE

PAST LOVER

✶

The black feathers came unexpectedly. It was a sunny afternoon in Paris, spent basking in the light at one of the tables of mine, Yunho and Alix's favorite cafe, where we drank our lemonades and tried to do some studying. It was starting to become more and more difficult to juggle my two very different lives and I knew that there would come a moment when I would have to choose between them. The problem was that who I was, who I wanted to be and who I was meant to be, were three very different individuals. The type of trio, who could probably turn every conversation in to an argument and never come to a common ground.

At first, I thought that there was a fire somewhere. The feathers reminded me of ashes. Then one of them landed on my friend's head and I instantly realised what they really were. Another angel died somewhere nearby and I suddenly had a really bad feeling about the seven calls from Ten that I just ignored.

What if it's him?

What if the angel killers really got him, just like he was afraid that they would?

'' I can't believe that you are actually changing your mind and calling him! '' Yunho said and shook his head in disapproval. Him and I were standing behind Alix and waiting while she was browsing the different stands of an old furniture market. We were planning to continue our studying at Yunho's place, but we got sidetracked on the way. '' Didn't you learn your lesson? You always let boys like him break your heart. What is it with girls and bad boys? ''

'' Hey, you liked him almost as much as I did when we were still dating. You wanted him to introduce you to the modeling world of Paris or at least invite you to a fashion event afterparty! '' I protested and raised an eyebrow. I was holding my phone to my ear and impatiently tapping my foot against the ground. Ten wasn't picking up my call now and the rain of feathers was getting stronger. They were cascading from the sky and landing on the ground like black snow. Some of them were still around from the last feathery rain that happened just a couple of days ago. I kept seeing them in gutters, piles of raked up leaves, floating in the river Seine, on the edges of the steps that lead in and out of the subway. They were everywhere.

Alix glanced over her shoulder when Yunho took the phone from my hands and raised it high above his head. She was watching us for a few moments, then she rolled her eyes and turned around again. Yunho cracked after just one pleading look and gave me my phone back. He was too nice of a person to really set someone like me straight and talk some sense in to. '' Why do you and Alix even keep wasting your patience with dating? You'd have so much more free time to do fun things with me if you just gave up on boyfriends altogether. I am way better than they could ever be anyway. I always make sure to feed you, I let you chose what film we will watch at the cinema and I even listen to your annoying nagging. ''

I dialed Ten's number again and Alix picked up a pillow from an old pile of others. She sniffed it and almost cringed right in front of the seller that was carefully watching her. Yunho covered his mouth with his hand to hold back his amused giggling, she shot a glare in his direction and hissed: '' Speaking of you listening to our annoying nagging... Sometimes I really wonder how you can bring yourself to do that. How are you still okay after listening to us every day? Are you okay? Should we hug you more often? ''

'' To be honest, sometimes, when I'm lying on my bed awake at night and I remember the things that come out of your and Effie's mouths... I get kind of scared. Of you two. '' Yunho was trying to keep his voice serious, but it didn't take long before he burst in to laughter.