+ thirty eight

On the third day before her departure, Narda received a letter in the mail that caught her attention. She had mostly gotten bills, and a few credit card offers in the mail. But this one was different--it looked important. It was stamped with a seal from the Court of Seoul, similar to the one she had gotten from Chanyeol just a few days earlier when he dropped by to talk to her. She thought maybe it was a copy of the divorce papers for her own records, since he had gotten a copy. But when she opened it, she found that she was mistaken, as well as filled with surprise. 

There were about four sheets for her to look through. The very top one had the date of about a  week ago and the letter was in English for her to understand, and it was in Korean on the back. As she read over the letter, she was both upset, but also not completely caring of what was stated there. The letter claimed that based on proof submitted to the authorities through an anonymous source, Narda Gutierrez had violated her restraining order. Proof of it was attached in the following pages, which Narda looked through. They were screen shots of fan videos that had been posted online of Baekhyun walking her to the train station with an umbrella.

Narda just knew it would bring her trouble, and though it had taken a few weeks, she had been right. No doubt it had been a jealous fan who ratted her out, or perhaps Taeyeon, who was one of the only people who knew about the restraining order anyway. The latter was more likely to do it.

At the same time, Narda wasn't too worried about the letter. Yes, she wasn't too happy about the negative consequences it would bring her--she was now probably thought of as a criminal by the Korean government, a foreigner violating one of their restrictions. But on the other hand she thought that it didn't matter anymore. The letter claimed that she had to leave Korea within in a month's time. But Narda would only be staying there a few more days. The only thing she worried about was coming back into the country in six months time. They would make things difficult for her, since she knew they would take this information into consideration.

The letter finally stated that they would visit her apartment in a month's time to confirm that she had left the country. Narda sat on her living room couch with a sigh, setting the letter aside. 

A few things were in her bedroom already packed. She was taking about half of her belongings. The other half would remain in the apartment, in the hope that she would come back soon. She also planned to leave the keys with Kyungsoo, so that he could watch over the apartment in her absence. The other key was still with Chanyeol, and she didn't plan to tell him about her departure until she was already on the plane. She would ask him to check up on things and made sure the rent was paid. Her brother had already agreed to wire transfer money into Kyungsoo's bank account to pay the rent and other bills.

Things seemed to feel lonely now at the apartment and Narda reflected back on the time she spent there. Two long years that were full of its ups and downs. She remembered the very first day she arrived, she met Nari, and Kyungsoo was there at the apartment, only he covered his face with a cushion to avoid being recognized.

She remembered how she pretended Baekhyun ran her over with his car in order to get his attention. She remembered all the good times she spent, not only with Nari and Baekhyun, but also Chanyeol and the other EXO boys. They all became good friends of hers, and she liked to think they considered her a friend too. She met Florencia and Acacia almost a year later and had also gotten really close to them. Now that it was coming to an end, it made her feel a deep sadness in her heart. 

But she knew this wasn't the last time she would be in Korea. She wouldn't allow it.

-

That afternoon, she had dinner with Florencia and Acacia. The two sisters had been busy these days. Florencia had been forced by SM Entertainment into an idol contract and was now busy travelling back and forth between her home country and Korea. She was appearing in dramas in her country, while in Korea she was keeping up a very busy idol career. She had lost so much weight and looked rather unhappy always, except when she was with her sister, with Narda, Jongdae, or Sehun. They were really the only people who made her really happy.

Otherwise, she kept an appearance of all smiles for the camera. But behind the scenes she was very unhappy. 

Acacia on the other hand, hadn't been convinced into the idol spotlight by the talent agency which represented her baby daddy. She had given birth a few months prior to a beautiful baby girl who she named Wendolyne, or Wendy for short. She was the light of her father's eyes and the baby was also completely in love with her father. Acacia was getting independent modelling jobs which were mostly given to her by SM, but she was under no kind of contract with them.

The younger of the Orizaba sisters had been acting different of the past few months. But Narda didn't give it a big amount of importance. If Acacia wanted to talk to her about it, then she would welcome it. But she had her own things to worry about, with her leaving the country in the next three days. 

Florencia mentioned as the three had their meal together, "I can't believe you haven't told the guys you're leaving in three days."

Acacia nodded in agreement. "The absolutely adore you. You can't do this to them."

With Narda, this was going to be the fifth person who had once been close to them and ended up leaving. There was Yifan, Lu Han, and Tao who had been part of the group and left when they felt mistreated by the company. Though it hurt them, the boys were able to understand and forgive their brothers. There was Yena who replaced her brother Tao in EXO for a whole year. When her job was over, what SM Entertainment and her brother asked her to fulfill, she returned to China. Now there was Narda, who had gone to Korea on a one year teaching scholarship which had been extended for a second year.

A frown formed on Narda's lips. "Soo said that too. But I just don't want to face the looks on their faces when I tell them we will no longer see each other. They're my friends and I'm going to miss them."

"Its not like you'll never see them again." Florencia pointed out knowingly. "Dae says they're visiting USA in February."

The dates for the upcoming Exoplanet #2 tour in the Unites States had been announced already. EXO would be visiting Los Angeles, among other cities. She and her friend Oriana had already gotten tickets for it, since they knew Narda would already be in the country. Even Aldair had agreed to go with them, if even to see if he could spend some time with his new friend Chanyeol. Florencia was right. She would see them again. But this time it would be as a fan and not someone they once knew. Things would be different now.

"I just can't bring myself to tell them." Narda heaved a sigh.

-

On the morning of her flight back to the United States, she dropped off at the airport by Florencia and Acacia. She gave Kyungsoo the keys to the apartment and asked him not to see her off because the other boys would find out that she was leaving. But he sent her a text message, thanking her for her friendship and for being so good to Nari. Narda in turn sent him a text message that was directed to the other members, and he forwarded the message to them once he knew she was already at the airport.

The other members were sad to know she was leaving, but respected her decision to not show up at the airport. Only two of the members would not accept that--Chanyeol and Baekhuyn. Both boys contacted Kyungsoo and demanded that he tell them exactly where she was.

"I can't let her leave without saying goodbye." Baekhyun said desperately into the phone.

Kyungsoo heaved a sigh. "She's gonna kill me for telling you..."

"I won't tell her that you told me." The older EXO vocalist pleaded. He was determined to get the information out of his group mate by any means necessary.

Kyungsoo finally caved and gave his friend the flight number as well as the information as to where she would be. He did the same for Chanyeol, but asked him not to make a scene with Baekhyun for her. His words were even cautious, warning his friend that maybe it was best for him not to show up and let Baekhyun see her off alone. 

Chanyeol was hurt by his friend's words. "You don't want me to see the love of my life leave the country?" He asked, his deep voice shaking with emotion. "What if I never see her again?"

At that, Kyungsoo rolled his eyes a bit. "Stop being dramatic. You'll see her in two months when we visit her country for Exoplanet 2, and she's coming back in June anyway." His tone softening significantly, he said with a sigh. He had genuinely grown to love Narda like another sibling. He considered the boys his brothers, and Narda was his sister now. "I just don't want you two fighting over her 'til the very end. I don't want her taking that memory of you two with her. She's been caught in between you two for two years. You know who she loves and you're only hurting yourself by telling yourself otherwise."

It was then that Chanyeol finally understood. 

It was time to back off. As much as he loved her, it was time to back off.

-

Baekhyun arrived at the airport and parked in a drop off zone, uncaring that security guards were calling for him to return and move his car. He jogged into the waiting area and searched for the terminal announcing the flight which would take off for Los Angeles. It was calm at the airport and he had the good fortune that no one seemed to recognize the frantic Korean boy, trying to find one of many foreign girls at the airport. But to him she was more than just a girl.

He ran despite his lungs burning with tiredness and his legs aching from a previous day of heavy practices. But he ran until he found her. She had been sitting with the two Orizaba sisters, one of them nudging her when she saw the EXO member there before them.

Narda cursed under her breath. "Fucks sake, Soo."

"Were you really planning on leaving without saying anything?" He asked her with hurt in his eyes. His hair had fallen into his face and he was breathing heavily.

Narda bit down on her lip nervously. "I just didn't want to face you boys. I've never been too good at goodbyes. Besides, I'm no one important. You have all kinds of famous friends and I'm just a girl." As she spoke, her gaze fell onto her lap and she started nervously fidgeting with her hands.

Frustrated, Baekhyun cut the distance between them and grabbed her arm gently, pulling her up to standing. "You've seen the way Chan and I have fought over you for two years. You're not just a girl."

"Where is Chan anyway?" Acacia interjected from beside them, ruining the moment.

Florencia couldn't help but nod in agreement. "I thought he would be here too, since he loves Narda."

"He texted me when I was on my way here." Baekhyun informed them matter of factly. "He said he would finally back off and he hoped we would be happy."

Even Narda was surprised by that. Back then Chanyeol was so unwilling to let her go and he had even told her that he would do anything to keep her by his side. It was very selfless of him to back off so she could be happy with Baekhyun. Only it was too late because she was returning to her country and wouldn't return for six months. So many things could happen in that time. Maybe Baekhyun would get tired of waiting for her and find someone else, and she would be okay with that. She loved him enough to want to see him happy, rather than tied down to her, but miserable.

She took her hands in his and gave them a light squeeze. "I don't want to make you wait for me."

"Baby, I waited two years." He said to her gently. "Six more months is nothing."

Narda was about to protest again, pointing out the cons of a long distance relationship. But he hushed her by pressing his lips to hers in a sweet kiss.

-

i'm gonna run behind on updates again. but i was unable to update twice. the thing is that i share my bedroom with my sister. but i'm a grown ass woman. my sister and i are both grown as hell. but also my mom uses my room as a fucking storage closet for her catholic stuff. she buys relics and books and then sells them to people. but she also preaches the word of god to them. 

but anyway, i'm sick of her stuff in my room and i told my parents i want my own space. so essentially im my dad's fave so i convinced him to build me my own room. long story short, he promised he would. but we went to look at designs and stuff at home depot.

when we got back i started writing this. but i wont have time for another chap because i have to go sleep in 10 mins because i'm getting up at 3am tomorrow.

-clary