I finish my cigarette to stub it out, and I drink some more of the cocktail, keep the glass in my hand, and head towards her. I nudge my way to her, not pretending to be going anywhere else, I reach her out and stand right in front of her, but she already offers me one of the sweetest smiles.

Towering her with my height, I tilt my head towards hers to speak in her ear. "Are you okay?" my cheek brushes her warm one when I move my head to look into her eyes, and she nods but drops her gaze on my lips.  "And you?"

I copycat the movement of her head to answer with the same, and I lean in once more. "Can you come with me?" I slide my hand down to hers to grab it, and she merely gazes up into my eyes. Without saying anything, she holds my hand and smiles, so I lead her to the side of the room where some sofas are. I pick the one that is the furthest from the occupied ones, close the curtains to wall us in, and I pull on her arm to make her sit down first, and I squat down to take her high heels off.

"Mister Jeon," she touches my shoulder and brings her foot towards the sofa. "I can't."

I stare into her eyes, but before I could say anything, the screen of her watch lights up.

She hurries to check the notification, and as soon as she looks back at me, I understand that Sookyung has his attention over all her comings and goings.

She slides her foot back into the pump I almost took off of her, but I seize her calf to prevent her from standing up. "Wait," I fix my eyes on hers, feeling the need to ask her one particular question but fearing the answer.

"Tell me," she remains still, so I breathe out and let my words escape. "Do you have to avoid me?"

Her facial expression turns gloom, and she nods to me, not even trying to hide or lie, she answers with honesty, to my greatest relief. "Alright," I gaze down and retreat from her, get up on my feet, but feel her stare on me. I make eye contact, knowing she must not be willingly doing this but obeying her boyfriend only.

I think twice before speaking, and she does not leave, she does not move, she keeps her chin up in order to maintain this strong connection between us and let me sink deep into her beautiful soul, which, I know, has been darkened over the years.

"I was talking about myself..." I finish the sentence that was cut short earlier when Sookyung came in the room, but the look into her eyes tells me she may not have forgotten. Regardless of her silence, I carry on and do not care about anything else anymore. "I can't stand it to see him use you and hurt you like that. I cannot stand to feel so powerless in front of it. I will be there for you like you deserve it, y/n. I will take care of you, protect you, let you live your life the way you want to. You'll be free to do whatever you want...and I'll make sure that you're happy..." I nearly beg her to leave him and this place, promising her something better, but she does not say anything.

Not feeling reassured at all, I go down to her level and hold her hands. "You'll have your own house if you require it. Your own privacy, your own life, I won't ever bother you or be around if you don't want me to. I'll just be there for you if you need me to, I'll listen to you and help you—"

"Mister Jeon..." she fakes a smile and glances down, tightening her small hands around mine. I remain quiet to let her talk, and I skim her skin with my thumbs. "I..." she shakes her head, but some glisten appears in her eyes. "I can't..." she declines it as expected. "Are you scared to tell me the reason?"

A tear runs down her cheek to hit the back of my hand, and she confirms my assumption. "I told you...I can't leave," she lifts her head up to look into my eyes but shatters my heart into pieces with the discernable despair through her teary ones. "You can, sweetheart. I won't let anyone hurt you. He won't ever be able to be in contact with you again, he won't approach or manipulate you again. Even if you're scared about your financial situation, I can promise you that you'll have more than enough. You'll have your own bank account, your card and money that I will never touch or try to take back from you. You'll do whatever you want with it. I'll do anything to make sure you're safe and out of this for good, y/n...I hate to know you're going through so much all on your own..."

Her look on me does not remain steady as if she was having a hard time thinking about this as if she was nervous.

"I'll text you tomorrow," she wipes her tears away. "I can't talk about all this here and today."

"Alright," I understand and do not force her, feeling like I have already done too much and gone way too far without realizing it. I stand up to let her do so, but cannot see her leave without correcting something. "I apologize if I made you uncomfortable, y/n. I just care about you a lot."

This time, a genuine smile grows on her face, and she takes all my worries about this away. "You didn't. No need to apologize for being someone good, Mister Jeon," she steps away to not allow me to answer, but my heart reacts to those meaningful words.

I am so much more concerned now, and I should probably not stay here, I do not want to. Sookyung knows she is the only person I want close to me, and I do not know what exactly made him make such a decision, but this is taking a toll on me.

— Next day —

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021.

1 pm.

< hey, I'm sorry if I'm bothering, but I would like to ask you a question. This is about last night's talk ]

I leave my work for a second as soon as I read y/n's name on my screen. I take my glasses off and pull my desk chair back to read the text with a fast heartbeat.

[ Hey, you're not bothering at all, sweetheart. What is going on? >

< Are you free today? I'd love to talk to you in person this evening before I go to work ]

[ Sure. I should be home at 8, so I'll text you as soon as I am. Are you sure this is alright though? Isn't Sookyung going to be mad? >

< I told him Cherry wanted to see me before the nightclub opens. Don't worry ]

[ Alright. I can't wait to see you, hope your day is going well and that you're okay >

< I am, I hope the same for you. Eat well for lunch if you haven't yet. See you later ]

[ I will, make sure to do so. See you, sweetheart >

I cannot believe this is going to happen. The talk is finally going to happen.

•••

8:50 pm.

My eyes getting tired from all the work that I have been doing on my laptop, I heave a sigh and lean back in my chair. My eyes make a beeline for my phone that is placed next to the keyboard, and I take a look at my black screen again like I have done an uncountable time since I sent a text to y/n.

My heart punches my chest at the sound of the doorbell of my house ringing. I grab my phone, hoping for the person to be the one I want to see and no one else, I hurry to get out of my office and head towards the front door.

Before opening it, I take a look into the peephole, but at the moment I catch sight of the beautiful woman I care about more than her own boyfriend does, I unlock the door and open.

Her head goes up, and our eyes meet. "Good evening," she holds her hands together as if she was uncomfortable, but smiles at me. "Hey, come in," I step back to let her enter my house, and I close the door behind her.

She takes her shoes off, keeping her jacket on. I land my eyes on the casual clothes that she is wearing, loving how she looks in flared pants and sneakers.

"How did you get here? Did you take the bus?" I ask after realizing that I did not see a car parked nearby. "No. Cherry picked me up and drove me here, Sookyung wouldn't have trusted me if he didn't."

"Oh," I cannot even feel any surprise at this answer, sadly, but I do not comment. "Would you like a drink?" I start with, doing my best to make her feel at ease. "No, thank you. I drank a lot of coffee that Cherry got me," she chuckles, moving the strap of her bag over her head to put it on one shoulder.

"Oh, if you ever need to go to the bathroom, it's right behind the wall over there," I show the one on the right one of the kitchen since this is behind the sofa of the opened living room. "I kinda need to," she shyly admits, making me uncontrollably laugh. "Come here," I walk up towards it so that she can follow me, and I open the door, that is on the left of my bedroom. "Here, I'll wait for you on the sofa."

"Thank you," she smiles and goes inside, so I leave her alone and head to the sofa to sit down and wait, patiently.

5 minutes later...

After short minutes, the door opens, and she comes back, so I turn around to lay my eyes on her, and she sits down right by my side.

"Tell me if you're thirsty or hungry, okay? Feel at home," I initiate the conversation she seems to be nervous to start, and she nods to me. "Thank you, I don't think I'll stay for too long though. I have to go home in a short time."

"I know, don't worry," I do not express any surprise, aware of who is causing her to not have any control over her own life. "So, are you okay?"

She smiles without saying a word, and she nods, lying to me. "And you?"

I tell the same lie. "I'm just worried. I wonder what you're going to tell me."

"Well," she holds her hands together, over her knees, and her eyes go down to not be on mine anymore. "I don't want you to be worried...I am alright no matter what I do, and I'd love to accept that...I mean, to say yes. I love being with you, you make me feel good," some honest emotions curve the corners of her lips up. "I love that feeling you give me when you're around, even without doing anything, I feel safe, and I'm happy, but I just...I can't..."

I swallow, feeling disappointed. "Is it because of him?"

Her body language exposes some discomfort, and she fiddles with her fingers. "No..."

"Alright," I do not say anything more, feeling like it is worthless. "This is your decision, and I respect it."

"Are you sure? I don't want you to be mad at me, Mister Jeon," she does not realize that I am far from being like her boyfriend, fearing that I might be upset. "I'm certain. I'll never be mad at you, y/n. This is your decision, and I just want you to be happy, so if that's what you feel the happiest with, then nothing else matters."

We both stare at each other, the glisten in her eyes brightening as I can tell, just from the look into them, that she is hiding everything inside her.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable last night, I did not mean to," I bring this up again, apologizing to make sure she does not forget that I do that out of care. "I appreciate you so much, I care about you so much...I did not realize that I went too far and crossed—"

"You didn't," she shakes her head but cries without ever breaking into pieces. "You didn't do anything wrong, nor made me uncomfortable."

"I'm relieved to hear that," I smile, the thought of her staying in this hell all alone messing up with my mind and torturing me. She glances away to wipe her tears away, and I stand up. "I just want you to never forget that no matter what happens, my door is open. I'll always be here for you, y/n."

She does not raise her head up but leaves the sofa, and she ends against me, with her head on my chest, and her arms around me. I do not ask any questions, I hold her tight and tangle my fingers in her soft hair. Feeling her convulsive breathing, I pat her head to soothe her, and I press a kiss on the crown of it.

Her hands grip my shirt behind my back, and she cries, breaking my heart without even realizing how difficult it is for me to see her feel like that.

"Why are you crying?" I slide my hand down the side of her neck to hold it and skim my thumb over it, and she hides her face in my chest. "I'm tired..."

"Don't you wanna stay here tonight?" I gaze down at her. "Will he not believe you if you tell him you want to stay with Cherry?"

"I cannot," she shakes her head and lowers her chin to wipe her cheeks. "I have to go home."

"Alright," I let out in a whisper but drift my right hand up to her face to hold her jawline, and I press my lips on her forehead. "Do not let anyone hurt you, use you, or treat you badly. You're an amazing woman, you deserve respect and much more than that," I caress her cheek as I can feel her heartbeat slow down, and she closes her eyes, so I kiss her cheekbone and look at her. "Don't be scared to tell me if anyone does not treat you like they have to. Whether this is physically or verbally, they have to respect you. I don't want you to try to deal with anything on your own, I'm here for a reason, and I want to do it with you."

She opens her starry and teary eyes, and we both stare at each other, deeply. "Okay?" I smile at her, and she nods. Feeling the effect she is having on me, loving but hating it at the same time, I gaze down at her lips and brush my thumb over them, the temptation driving me insane. "Stop wearing that makeup, you don't need it."

"I don't have a choice," she states, reminding me as if I did not know. "Yeah..."

"Anyway..." she glances down. "I gotta go."

"Fine," I move back to not touch her anymore, and she runs her fingers through her hair. "Take care of yourself, alright? And don't let anyone force you to do anything."

"Are you not coming tonight?" she frowns at me, and with anguish, I shake my head. "I can't. That's why I want you to be even more careful," I repeat to make sure she does not forget. "Why? Has Sookyung told you anything?"

"No, don't worry. I'm just exhausted and need some sleep," I tell a lie, shamefully, and she nods to me, showing that he believes me. "Alright, see you soon then," she heads up towards the door, and I follow her. She puts her shoes back on, and I hold back from touching her, despite the desire to do it.

Once she is ready, I open the door for her, and she smiles at me, for the last time, before stepping out.

This is so painful.