Autumn Angel | JHS ✔

.twenty-three.

Both of us are exhausted. The ride up the elevator of my apartment building is silent, both of us having nothing to say, and being too tired to do so if we even did. The car slows to a stop and the doors slide open. 

When I spot the man in front of my door, I almost collapse and cry from such an extreme high of fatigue. 

My steps slightly stumble and Hoseok reaches out to stabilize me. "You okay?" 

I can't do anything but simply nod. 

"Autumn, dear." 

"Kim Seung-goon, please." My voice has lost all of its energy, and though I know I shouldn't give off this image of weakness, I can't help but allow today's events to catch up. I close my eyes and blink back tears. "Please. Not today." 

"Angel? Who is this?" Hoseok whispers into my ear. I blink up at him tiredly. 

"So this is the loser you left me for. I got to say, Dear, quite an upgrade. I'll admit the difference. I didn't take you for a gold digger." 

I don't even respond, way too exhausted. I allow his insults to stab me and remain lifeless in front of him. 

"You need to leave," Hoseok says, his voice low and dark, indicating he's made the connection. 

Seung-goon laughs. "What are you going to do? Throw me a bit of money? Call up your security guards? I'm sure you can, considering the amount of money you have. It's the reason why Autumn is with you anyway. She's a gold digger. A whore. It's the only reason why she's with you, because she's shallow." 

"You need to leave," Hoseok repeats, his voice somehow deeper than before. 

He was very close to losing it and I place a hand on his shoulder to try and silently calm him down. "Hobi, he isn't worth it. We can just call 119." 

"No, Angel, we can't. That would lead to too many rumours and articles. We just made our relationship public. We can't ruin our image like that just yet when people are ready to pounce on anything." 

I wanted to scream and cry at the same time. This was just a glimpse at how restricting life in the spotlight would be like. This was just the beginning. Even when my own safety was in danger, I couldn't call for help due to fear of the judgements and false assumptions of the public. 

"If you're here for money, you're not going to get any. If you're here for Autumn, you're not going to lay a hand on her. Anything you try will end in failure so I suggest you save your energy and ours and just leave. It will save both of us the trouble." 

Seung-goon laughs again and shakes his head. "Does he know, Dear? Does he know you're not the pure, innocent angel he thinks you are?" 

I nod and meet his eyes, tired but still determined to not let him faze me. "He knows." 

"Does he know I tainted you? Does he know everything?" 

I rub my ear, the silence enough of an answer for him. 

"Does he know that you gave yourself willingly, and still claimed to be the victim? Does he know that there was nothing you even gave into our relationship except for your body? Does he know that you're good for nothing other than sex?" 

He's hitting all the rights spots and he knows he is. As he continues talking, the smile on his face grows wider and I continue to shrink into my shell. 

Hoseok grabs my hand and walks towards my door, towards my insolent ex. "If you don't leave right this instant, I will call 119. Screw the articles, screw the public, what matters more is the safety of my girlfriend and if you're rude enough to invade her privacy again, I will make sure I dig up the darkest secrets of your past and ruin whatever image you've created of yourself. After listening to the stories she's told me, I'm sure there's plenty for me to find. You think I can't do that? You think I can't ruin your life just like that?" 

Seung-goon's eyes flash in fear as realization dawns on him. Hoseok takes a step closer to him, their faces centimeters apart. His eyes are dark and deep, a glowing intensity burning out of them. Even I am partially scared by the image, so I can't imagine the fear Seung-goon is trying to hide now. 

"Leave my girlfriend alone or trust me, there will be hell to pay. Live your life and be lucky she hasn't turned you in for everything you've done to her." 

I'm impressed at how well Seung-goon is maintaining his posture and stoic expression. "You're lucky you have the amount of money you do," he spits in Hoseok's face. "She'll leave you. Wait for it. You'll see how idiotic it was for you to believe her fake image. You'll realize how good she is at putting up a front and when that happens, then we'll see which one of us was right." 

When his eyes turn to me, I try my hardest to not cower into Hoseok's side. I straighten my spine, lift my chin, and stare him dead in the eye. My eyebrows raise, daring him to say something. 

"When you get bored of his money, when you think you've had enough of your fame, I'll always be here, Dear. I'm the only one that can love you. I'm the one you need. Remember that. No one can love you because you're so broken and messed up. No one can love you except for me. I'll be waiting." 

Finally, he walks past us and Hoseok quickly puts in the passcode to open the door. I stumble into my apartment, take off my shoes, and immediately run to the safe haven I know I can always rely on. Nothing else registers in my mind, the world blurs, and one foot slaps onto the floor after another, bringing me closer to my relief. Everything in the world feels so distant and numb. I needed to feel alive again. I needed to feel valid. 

I vaguely hear Hoseok fumble behind me and then two arms wrap around my waist from behind. "Don't," I hear him say. His voice cracks as he speaks but I don't care. I needed my relief. 

"Let me go," I manage out through grit teeth, trying to pry his arms off of me. My legs continue to try and run forward but Hoseok's grip on me only tightens, rooting his feet further into his stance. I thrash against him, fighting his frame to escape from the only thing between me and my brush. 

"Please," he whispers. 

Something wet touches my shoulder and the feeling of his tears falling on my skin finally causes all of my energy to drain out of me. I grow limp in his arms and Hoseok collapses to the floor with me. Finally, all of the emotions I had been suppressing the entire day flow out of me and my entire frame shakes as I cry. Hoseok's arms tighten further still and his own silent tears drop onto my shoulder and drip down my skin.