Within These Shadows || Park Chanyeol/Do Kyungsoo || Book 1

11

"I'm back!" Chanyeol sang those words upon entering into his dorm room, the take away food in hand.

"Welcome back," his best friend sang along with him.

Chanyeol walked over to the other boy's study table, where he was seated, and placed the food there, "Here."

"What's this?"

"Take away. Seung Mae gave this for you."

"Jinjja? (Really?)" Chanyeol's best friend had an amused look on his face. "But she didn't have to! I was going to have dinner after you came back, anyway."

"I know, I know. But she insisted."

"Whoa, daebak (awesome). She's really cool."

"I told you, Ahn Seung Mae is really cool." Chanyeol beamed. "Dig in."

"I should thank her for this."

"Yes, you should. You should've joined us today, Kyungsoo-ya. You would've loved it; we had lots of fun. Seung Mae and her best friend are really sweet."

"Ah, don't make me regret now. Tell me when you'll meet her the next time. I'll thank her then."

"Okay."

*

"So, you're thinking about enrolling into a dance academy?" Dr Debra was sitting in her usual round armchair; she had worn a white blouse and a navy blue pencil skirt, hair pulled up in a ponytail, glasses on the bridge of her nose, hands clasped together, very professionally composed.

"Yeah. I have neither the physique, nor the fitness to start dancing on my own. So, I think it's best if I join an academy, get back into shape first, and then join the club." Jay said, fiddling with her fingers.

"I think that's a very good decision, Jayline. It's the baby steps that will help you start your journey on the road to recovery." Dr Debra smiled.

"Thanks, Doc." Jay smiled in turn.

"What does Mae think about your decision?"

"I haven't told her yet; I guess I wanted to confirm with you first, if this would be a good decision."

Dr Debra chuckled. "Do you plan on taking any other steps?"

Jay looked at Dr Debra with confusion, "Other steps?"

"You know, you haven't talked about Aiden for a long time; two years to be exact. And it's been five years since he's left. He used to be an anchor for you."

"I guess I got past that phase where I used to feel that talking about him was a necessity." Jay stated, nonchalantly.

"Getting past that phase, and actually closing the chapter with a proper ending aren't the same thing, Jayline."

"I know, but five years is a long time too; enough time for me to learn to be dependent on myself only. I respect him a lot; he's my best friend's cousin, an older brother to both her and me. That's all I have, to say about him."

Dr Debra nodded in understanding.

*

Mae pulled open the drawer of her table; inside lay a big photo album. She took it out and pushed the drawer shut. She took a deep breath before opening it, a bit scared that the nostalgia might make her all emotional and teary. But the first picture of the album made her smile affectionately; it was a picture of her and Jay when she was two and Jay was three years old. They were both on their mothers' laps, laughing like two clowns. It was cute and funny at the same time; a photo very close to her heart.