Dating an Idol

Twenty-Three: HITTING THE EMOTIONAL BUTTONS

I managed to get off the train without any problem. I just got back to Seoul. I took an early train from Busan.

Skye's mom didn't really want me to go back to Seoul yet. She wanted me to wait for, at least, a couple of days. But I can't stay in Busan any longer. I had to go back to my part-time job tomorrow.

I wore a loose hoodie and a mask, although I don't think someone might recognize me. But just to be safe, I didn't flaunt my face.

I was on my way out of Seoul Station when I felt my phone vibrate. I reached it from my pants' pocket.

It was Gianna.

"Hello," I said as I kept on walking through the station.

"Girl, where are you?" She sounded distressed.

"I'm back here in Seoul."

"You didn't even tell me that you're going to Busan with Sk --- I mean, him! Have you seen the viral photos?"

"Yes, I did."

"I don't know if I should feel envious that you get to bond with the both of them or what. But girl, your face is all over the internet and it's making me worried! Where are you exactly right now?"

"I'm here at Seoul Station. I just got off from KTX."

"Who are you with?"

"I'm all alone."

"What? Why? But I thought you're with them? Where are they?"

"They left for Seoul last night. The agency sent someone to pick them up."

"And left you there alone?"

"It's not that I can come with them after what happened. Plus, they originally wanted me to stay in Busan for a couple of days more. But I need to go back here today. I have part-time jobs tomorrow," I said as I made my way through the busy station.

"Please stay away from busy places for now. Someone might recognize you," she said.

"Don't worry, I'm being careful," I replied. "By the way, have you talked to Mael? I have been trying to call him since last night but he wouldn't pick up my call."

"Nope, I haven't seen him. I haven't heard from him either. I guess they're busy getting ready for the show."

"They're on a short break yesterday. He actually wanted to see me but, you know, I needed to go to Busan so I couldn't meet him. I'm worried, Gianna. I haven't told him yet."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Try calling him again. Maybe he was just too busy to return your call. But if ever I bump into him later, I'll surely tell him that you are looking for him," Gianna said.

"Thank you. I hope he didn't see those viral posts yet."

"If he was too busy to return your call then maybe he was too busy to check his social media, too."

"I hope so."

"Stop worrying about Mael, he'll understand for sure. It's yourself that you need to be worried about. You know how crazy those fans can get."

"I know, I know. Don't worry. I'll be extra careful."

"You should. Wait. I'm sorry, Yuri, but I need to go now."

"That's alright. I'm about to get out of the station now, too."

"You be careful, okay?" Gianna reminded me again.

"Don't worry, I will be. You take care, too."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."

And the line went dead.

I was now out of the station and was now making my way into the busy streets when someone grabbed my backpack from behind. Surprised, I turned around to see who it was.

I saw three teenage girls in their high school uniforms staring at me.

"It was you, aren't you?" said one of the girls.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said before I spun around to leave them.

But one of the girls blocked my way while the other girl pulled my mask down, exposing my face.

"Yes, it was her," said the third girl who was holding her phone. She looked like she's comparing the picture on her phone to me, confirming if the girl in those viral photos was actually me.

"Get out of my way while I still ask nicely," I said to the girl who was blocking my way.

I tried to act unbothered even if I was a little worried. But then I thought what could three teenage girls do to me in the middle of the day in a busy street? They couldn't possibly beat me to death, right?

"So you are acting tough just because you are dating Eun?" One of the girls pushed me by the shoulder.

"Stop it," I said, trying to maintain my cool.

"Do you really think you deserve him, huh?" said the girl as she moved closer to me, step by step.

I had no choice but to step backwards until I came in contact with the other girl at my back, thus, I can no longer step backwards anymore.

And to my surprise, I felt her pull my hoodie down before she hit my head with something. Then something wet and smelly dripped down my face which I later realized to be raw eggs. The girl from my back just cracked raw eggs on my head!

And when I thought that was enough, another girl poured a bag of flour all over my head.

I was coughing as I tried to wipe my eyes with my own hands so I could see clearly.

"Yah! Do you all wanna die?" I yelled at them when I was finally able to stop coughing.

"Don't come near Eun or any of the Crest 88 members again or you'll regret it," said one of the girls before they all turned around to leave me like nothing happened.

I even saw them giving each other a 'high five' as they walked away. One of the girls even complimented the other one for recognizing me from the station and for being quick to find a convenience store nearby that sells eggs and flour. They sounded so proud of themselves for "acting quick over the situation".

I was fuming mad as I started dusting off myself. I felt like crying and screaming at the same time. But I'm in the middle of the street so I can't do anything but hold my emotions while trying to clean myself up. Which is not easy since the eggs made the flour harder to get off my hair, face, and all.

I felt everyone's eyes on me as I got into the bus later. I know I was such a mess even after my attempt to clean myself up.

I went to an empty seat at the back of the bus and settled myself in. I pulled my hoodie down to cover my face as much as I could and put on my earphones to drown the world around me.

I just want to disappear right now.

My phone beeped and when I looked at it, I saw that Skye's sending me messages.

Why did you leave Busan?

Didn't I tell you to stay there until we fix this mess up?

Eomma said you left early today, where are you right now?

Yuri, where are you?!

But I wasn't in the mood to text him back so I just locked my phone again. What would I tell him? That I'm now back in Seoul and three of their fans attacked me already?

I felt my phone vibrate and when I checked who it was, I saw that it was Mael.

I cleared my throat first before I answered his call. "Hello?"

"Are you okay?" Mael asked right away.

"Yes, I am," I lied. "I've been trying to call you since last night."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I went out with some co-trainees. I left my phone in the dorm," he said.

"Mael, I'm so sorry," I said.

I heard him heave a deep sigh. "Honestly, Yuri, I don't know how to feel. I have so many questions in mind right now. But I'm glad to know that you are okay. That's all that matters to me now."

"Mael, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to keep things from you." I know that sounds stupid since he asked me countless of times when we were still in the Philippines but I kept lying to him.

I heard him heave a deep sigh again. "Let's talk some other time. We are back on training right now, I just sneak to give you a call after I've talked to Gianna earlier."

"You've talked with Gianna?"

"Yes. I bumped into her on my way to the training. It looks like she already knew." His voice sounded sad.

"Mael, I'm so sorry. I was meant to tell you after we came back from Busan ---"

"I'm so sorry, Yuri, but I really have to go. Please take care."

And the line went dead even before I could say anything to him.

I stared at my phone for almost two minutes before my vision travelled to my hands and saw the remaining flour on them. The flour and egg mixture, which is now dry, got stuck on my skin like crazy.

I tried to wipe them off with my bare hands once again but it just wouldn't come off. I got frustrated and started crying in silence.

I feel so down right now.

I hate the fact that I made Skye worry. That I caused trouble to Eun. That I was attacked by three teenagers in broad daylight and there's nothing I can do about it. That the flour wouldn't come off my skin. And that I disappointed and probably hurt Mael.

I hate everything that's happening to me right now.

My tears kept coming as I kept on wiping the flour from my hands. But it just wouldn't come off! Like how all these mishaps won't leave me alone.

Sometimes I would wonder what wrongdoings I've done in my past life for me to suffer this way. It's like things don't turn out well no matter what I do. I always get in trouble.

I silently cried all the way home. I feel so lost right now.

I was taking my time walking home after I got off the bus.

What's to hurry anyway? It's not like everything's gonna get better when I get home. I'll probably just feel even more worse, being alone and all.

With heavy steps, I dragged myself to the elevator and into the condo unit. I punched the door passcode without any energy, too.

I don't wanna go home right now but there's nowhere else to go.

The moment I opened the door and went inside the unit, I was shocked to see someone waiting for me inside.

It was Skye! He was standing right there waiting for me. He must have heard me unlocking the door.

And I saw how his facial expression changed when he saw how messy I look. Without any word, he crossed the distance that separated us in long, hurried strides. Then he pulled me into a strong embrace.

And the moment I felt his arms around me, I broke down. It was like an emotional button was being hit, causing an outpour in me.

I started crying my heart out. I stood there like a log as he hugged me tight, wailing like a kid. I haven't cried like this for the longest time and somehow, it felt like all the emotions I've been bottling all along had finally made their way out of my system.

The room was suddenly filled with me crying.

"It's okay, it's okay," he said as he kept rubbing my back gently. "It's okay, I'm here."

But what he said made me cry some more. It triggered more emotional downpour in me.

"It's okay, Yuri. It's okay," he kept saying as he kept on hugging me tight and rubbing my back all at once. "It's okay, I'm here."

Then I felt him plant a long kiss on my hair.

I hugged him back and cried some more. But slowly, I started to feel not so alone anymore.