[ - WONG YUKHEI ]

HOURS HAS PASSED but I still couldn't find Yuqi. I'm really worried about her.

I looked into the shops in her town one by one, hoping that she will be there. Maybe she got bored at home then decided to roam around for a while.

Hopefully that's what she did.

I'm thinking of places that she might have gone to.

Imposibleng sa university dahil sarado na ito ng ganitong oras. Kung sa Chinese resto naman ay baka tinawagan na kami ni Jisoo kung kasama niya si Yuqi. Hindi rin sa mga ice cream shops dahil pinuntahan ko na ang lahat ng stores at wala siya.

There is one place that I haven't gone to yet. Sana ay nandoon siya.

Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa nag-iisang takoyaki shop dito sa lugar ni Yuqi. Sinabi niya sa akin noon na dito ko siya ililibre kapag napatunayan niya na ang kaniyang sarili sa'kin.

Yuqi has proven herself already to me. She is the kindest, loveliest, prettiest, and the greatest person ever. Marami na siyang napatunayan sa akin. Ako? Kahit isa ay wala.

But I have one thing to prove to Yuqi.

It's how much I care for her, and how much I love her.

Agad akong napangiti nang makita ko si Yuqi sa loob ng shop na kumakain mag-isa. Sana ay inaya niya akong samahan siya. It's almost midnight at delikado na lumalabas siya ng sarili niya lang ang kasama.

I went into the store at umupo ako sa harapan ng table niya. Nakita ko ang gulat sa kaniyang mukha. I suddenly noticed how puffy her eyes are. Umiyak ba siya? Who the hell made her cry?

"Yuqi, why are you crying-"

My words were cut off when she offered me a takoyaki. It took me long to respond but I thanked her anyways. She beamed a smile at me, but it looked different. It was a forced smile, and I'm not used to seeing her like that.

"You suddenly craved for takoyaki? You should've called me para samahan ka. Ako pa maglilibre sa'yo." sabi ko at ngumiti. I'm trying to make the atmosphere lighter because what's happening right now is very unusual.

The smile on Yuqi's face vanished and it suddenly turned into a frown. She stopped eating at napasandal siya sa upuan habang nakayuko. "You don't need to do that, Lucas." she looked up to me and seeing the tears stream down her cheeks broke my heart into pieces. "Because I'll never prove myself to you."

I was in confusion. What is she trying to say? "You guys knew about my connections with Yugyeom from the very start, so I was chosen to be part of the team. You all know the power he holds so you all used me to get close with him. No wonder the boys were treating me nicely from the very start,"

"You and Doyoung were right after all, I don't deserve to be part of the team. From the very start, you guys never noticed my skills. You started being nice to me dahil sa tulong na ginawa ko sa'yo noon. You just forced yourself to be friends with me, Lucas?" Yuqi looked up to me and waited for my answer. I have a lot to say, but a word can't even escape from my mouth.

She lets out a heavy sigh. "I left the team already. I know that you and the boys will do great at the competition without me. After all, 21st is better off as eighteen members. Kahit hindi naman na ako kasali sa group, I'll still show support! I love you guys too much."

"Yuqi, you don't have to leave because what you're saying is not even true-"

"Don't worry, Lucas. I'm not mad nor do I hate you. I've just lost all my respect for you and have nothing to say anymore." she stood up and left, not even looking back at me.

While here I am, dumbfounded. I still have a lot to say and ask, but she didn't give me a chance.