Fluffs? (IZ*ONE x M! Reader)

Remedy

Some of you might notice that i've published this before. Someone offered to remake this chapter so I thought, why not. I really like how it turned out, so here it is.

Special thanks to Chaechaezuwu for remaking this chapter. Also listen to Jamais Vu while reading this

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Over a pot of freshly-boiled, warm ramen noodles still bubbling at the surface, you took a mouthful, enjoying the tantalising sensation of deliciousness it gave. You ignored the biting cold of winter enveloping your senses, yet the convenience store hadn't turned on the heater. You glanced at the worker behind the counter, watching himself wrapped with a thick blanket to fend against the cold.

Why wouldn't he turn on the heater then? Probably because the boss wanted to scrimp on the bills. You wondered, almost answering the question you posed to yourself.

It's been a year since you started living alone in your rental apartment. Well, it wasn't that lonely 2 years ago. Until today, you still wished that it isn't.

If it was, then you wouldn't be here eating ramen at a shabby convenience store trying to save up on money. Instead, you could've been eating at a fast food chain restaurant, perhaps even a decent diner. Or maybe bought that food home to have with someone special. Well, someone that you used to have.

With both hands, you held the paper bowl to your mouth, gulping down the soup and let out a hot breath as you glanced out the window. People were either walking in groups, or as couples - passing hand in hand. But one thing for sure, they weren't alone.

You looked down onto your feet and felt as if you were being shunned from society, when that was clearly not the case.
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Flashback

"Yena-ya." You called out to her as you tried stopping her from packing her stuff.

"Don't stop me." She replied nonchalantly. From her vicious tone, it seemed that she had enough of your shortcomings and decided that it was time to leave.

"Yena, Mianhae-"

"Oppa. Listen to me. Why do you keep doing this? This relationship isn't gonna work anymore. We had our times where we had fun going on dates and stuff, but things just feel different now. You started ignoring me lately and coming home late. And when I found out, it turns out that you were always having lunch and dinner with a girl, laughing and smiling like there was no tomorrow. And mind you that it's not just once, not twice - it's more than that."

"Yena-ya..."

"Oppa. Stop. I'm suffering too much from this relationship. Please just..... let me go." She unclasped your strong grip as you could only watch her continue what she was doing. In your mind, you were trying to work as hard as you could so that you could pamper her with the things she wanted. The girl? Well, she was your coworker, whom you never knew had an interest in you. You were always a little dense about this kind of stuff...

Her words, claiming her pain and suffering, made you stop and think. Sure, you were working hard for her, but the truth is that you have also been ignoring her in the process. Behind gritted teeth, you could only smother a curse for neglecting her. Inside your heart, you wished you could patch this relationship up.

"But, Yena-ya. I'm doing this for you..." You tried to explain.

"Haven't I said it before oppa? All I want is for you to be by my side. I don't care about money. As long as you are there when I need you, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But...." She glared at you. The intensity of her gaze spoke volumes about the emotions bottling up inside her - the rage bellowing in her belly, mixed with the rush of sadness. You could see the pain in her eyes as warm tears cascaded across her cheeks, dripping on the ground. The sight alone made your heart break. Never would you have imagined the pain she was suffering from. And it was all because of you.