Author's Pov:

"Did the meeting go this long?", Aera asked. Mingyu froze on his spot but soon nodded, "Yeah". Aera looked at him with a frown, "You never wear jeans to your meeting".

"Shit!", he cursed under his breathe but came with an excuse, "Well someone spilled the drink on it. So yeah I had to change it. Where is Jiho?", he asked avoiding the topic.

"He is out with Mrs. Jang to some store nearby", Aera said, "Answer honestly Mingyu. What's going on?", her eyes demanded answers. She felt something was wrong.

"Don't you think that you are too busy to realise that you went in this clothes this morning? I was just joking about that Mingyu and you actually came up with a lie", Aera said.

"There something going on and I don't have idea about that", Aera said, "Are you cheating-".

Mingyu didn't let her complete and kissed her lips.

"I love you, Aera. I really do", he said wrapping his hands around her body. His tears threatening to fall. "I love you too, Mingyu", she took a pause,  "Why don't we have a talk Gyu?", she whispered. Mingyu knew this time would come and was always afraid of this.

Mingyu sat down while Aera looked at the view infront of her. "What is happening with us, Gyu? Why are both we falling apart? Just tell me the last time we all had dinner together? Do you even remember that? Even on holidays you either go out for work or to spend time with your friends. You always forget about the meetings in the school, have you seen how Jiho's face becomes? Recently you have never been for us. You go early and then come late at night. I couldn't even get time to talk with you. When you come back you always say you are tired so I keep quiet. Why are we changing, Gyu? Why?", she asked, her eyes slowly becoming watery.

Mingyu looked at her. The tears, her tears, he hated seeing them, "I don't know how to explain Aera. I seriously don't know".

"When we have such talks, the very next day you behave how you used to before but soon as your secretary calls you, you come back to your recent self. Don't you think it is odd when she randomly calls you and you pick up and talk to her. But when I call to inform you something, the only thing I hear is shoutings", Aera poured her heart out.

"Aera, please try to understand. I can't tell you anything right now", Mingyu said. Aera looked at him and nodded, "I trust you, Gyu. I really do. You are the only man after Jeonghan I have ever trusted in my life, just don't break that trust", her voice cracked. Mingyu was filled with guilt, he didn't even dare to hug her or even look at her. He was afraid to touch her.

Mingyu got up, "I'll be with Seokmin. I might be late at night". Aera didn't react anything. Mingyu waited for her to answer but she didn't.

He sat inside the car, hitting the steering wheel, he whispered, "Again! Again, I am running away from the problem".

While driving the car he called Seokmin, his best friend. "Are you home? I want to meet you", getting a positive answer from him. He turned to wheels to Seokmin's house.

Reaching there, he knocked the door impatiently. "Woah, calm down, bro. Don't break the door with that muscles of yours", Seokmin said but soon turned to a serious made when saw Mingyu's face, "What happened?".

Mingyu came inside and sat on couch, hiding his face with his hands. Seokmin didn't understand but soon he heard his sobs. "Mingyu, what happened?"

"I cheated on Aera", he whispered. "You What!?!", Seokmin gasped thinking his ears are playing tricks on him.

"I cheated on Aera with Eunji", he repeated. "Where you on drugs?", Seokmin shouted, "You know what you did right?".

Mingyu nodded, "I don't know what to do, I seriously don't know. I don't  want to lose her. I really love her".

Seokmin couldn't help but scoff, "You really love her, Mingyu? If had, you won't have cheated. You know, you have already lost her by cheating on someone".

"Please don't say this, Seokmin. I-I don't want to lose her. No", he hysterically shook his head. "I could help you with everything, my friend but not with this. You better tell her everything and stop doing that", Seokmin said.

"I tried but I couldn't. I am addicted to Eunji. I just couldn't prevent it", Mingyu answered. Seokmin looked at him in disbelief, "You can't have both, Mingyu. Are you out of your mind. At first you cheated on her, when I am asking you to stop that you are saying you can't?", Seokmin said angrily.

"I am messed up, I am totally messed up", he said, tears uncontrollably falling from his eyes. Seokmin held Mingyu's  face and said sternly, "Message Eunji right now that you are stopping all this. Remember Mingyu how much you cheat on her that much far she will go from you. At a point she will be so far that you couldn't even reach her".

Mingyu took out his phone with trembling hands and messaged Eunji as per Seokmin said. "Remember you are telling her this before it is too late", Seokmin repeated, "I would have kicked you, if you weren't my friend. Just pray that Jeonghan doesn't get to know about this".

"I'll stay here for a while. I don't want to face her again" Mingyu whispered, his eyes red because of crying. Seokmin nodded understanding his friends situation. It was unexpected that Mingyu would cheat on her.

He was there all the time with Mingyu, he has seen every single thing how their love blossomed. If it wouldn't have been Seokmin then Mingyu and Aera would have never met, which he wishes now.

Flashback:

"Guys, there is a newly cafe opened. I have been there thrice, it is best and already popular among the locals should we go there?", Seokmin suggested to their friends. "Yeah, let's go there", Mingyu hoped on his new bike.

As per the directions he reached there earlier than others. He entered the cafe making all the girls drool over him, except one.

"Excuse me", the girl looked at him, "I want to order all the special of today's". She nodded and took his order. 'She is cute', he thought looking at her but soon noticed how uncomfortable she got under his gaze. "Umm, my friends are coming too", he tried to initiate the conversation but realising she has no interest in the talk he left and sat on the table.

"Aera, please come here", the owner called her. "So her name is Aera", Mingyu whispered, "beautiful just like her".

Soon his friends came, "Guys, here" Mingyu waved at them. "Hey, Aera", Seokmin smiled. Aera too smiled back but Mingyu felt it was not a real one.

"You know her?", Mingyu enquired. "Yeah, she is Aera", Seokmin said.

"And?"

"And nothing else. I just know her name", he said. "She is cute though", Mingyu smiled from ear to ear. Seokmin clicked his tongue, "I don't think you have a chance. I see a man, let's not forget to add too handsome as adjective. So the man always picks her up, he might be her boyfriend", Hearing this Mingyu's shoulder slumped.

Mingyu kept taking glances at her from time to time in the cafe. "Stop it, she already has a boyfriend, I think. He will be coming soon now", Seokmin said. All his other friends noticed his glances at Aera and started teasing him.

Present:

"Mingyu, she is strong but I hope this doesn't break her more than before", Seokmin said. Mingyu nodded, "I just don't want her to break like before, Seokmin. I am ready to anything but I don't want to see the old Aera".

Meanwhile,

Soon after she heard Mingyu going away, a lone tear trickled down her face. She quickly wiped it not wanting to cry. "What are you hiding from me, Kim Mingyu?", she whispered. Sitting still, tears falling from her eyes.

"Eomma, I am back", Jiho shouted. Aera quickly wiped her tears. She went out to see Jiho searching for her, Jiho's eyes soften seeing his mother, "Eomma, you okay?".

Aera gave a fake smile and nodded, "I am, baby". Jiho took a second and smiled, "You know, I saw a small puppy on street. It was so cute, his little eyes, nose, paws. Everything was so cute", he again started sharing his stories. Aera listened to it attentively.

After having dinner, Aera made Jiho sleep. She waited for Mingyu to come but there were no signs of him returning early.

Mingyu returned home late at night. He slowly entered his room. Seeing Aera sleep made him happy and equally guilty too. He knew she cried to sleep, he again regretted doing everything.

He slept beside her. Still his eyes didn't leave her face, "I am sorry", he whispered, "I am so sorry".

He hugged her while sleeping and Aera snuggled more into embrace. After Mingyu slept, Aera opened her eyes. She had been awake the whole time. She looked at him, 'It hurts me Mingyu', she said in her mind. Even she could see his fluffy eyes. Even she knew he cried, too hard. She caressed his hair, "Don't hurt yourself, Gyu".