Humming along with the tune playing in my earphones, I threaded down the lonely and empty streets and reached the bus stop. Catching the next bus, I found a seat and set myself to staring at the world passing through.
I wonder if I would be able to do this if I became the crown princess?
I shook my head and reprimanded myself for thinking about such things. I was sure that after meeting Donghae, and seeing his sadden gaze and depressing begs not to ageee with it and to stay with him, I would probably decide not to.
I was sure that Donghae could help me decide on my decision.
There was no way he was going to give me up to another man.
Alighting at my stop, I stretched momentarily and continued my walk to his workplace. I reached popular bistro after a short while, seeing that it was buzzing and packed with customers on dates. I plug off my earphones and stuff it into my pocket, scanning the area for him.
I smiled thinking how surprise he would be to see me taking an off day from work and appearing in front of him so suddenly.
But oddly enough, I didn't see him.
Perhaps he went to the toilet or staff room? It was lunch hour now, a peak hour for customers to pile in, but he didn't seem to be in the crowd of bustling waiters scurrying to serve orders.
I spotted the manager, a kind looking middle age man dressed in a dress black pants and a white shirt completed with a tie and approached him. "Excuse me?" I bowed down to him and smiled as sweetly as could. "I was wondering where Shin Donghae is? I am his girlfriend."
"His girlfriend?" He looked at me from head to toe, and blinked. "I didn't know that you were his girlfriend, I thought you were his friend. Anyways, Mr Shin took a leave today, he is not here."
"What?" I tilted my head in surprise.
It was certainly unusual for him to take leave. He hardly even had enough time for me seeing that he was running his family business.
Donghae came from an extremely wealthy family of successful restaurateurs. From the stories he told me, his father had left him in charge of running this bistro as a test to see if he was worthy of inheriting the family business, so he hardly had time for me. "Oh... thank you then." I bowed and quickly left the place.
I pushed my tongue on the sides of my cheeks. Why didn't he call me if he was on leave then? I picked out my phone from my back pocket and scrolled down my contacts, when I saw his name I pressed green call button.
One Ring. Three Rings. Eight Rings.
I frowned when I glanced at my phone again to confirm that I called the right person and the contact name flashed on the screen; Shin Donghae.
Why wasn't he answering my call?
Gripping my phone hard, I tried to dial him again trying to convince myself that perhaps his phone was on silent mode.
No answer again.
Sighing, I stuffed my phone back into my pocket. I could only wait for him for call me back seeing that I haven't even been to his house before, so I couldn't possibly pay a visit to his house so suddenly. Donghae and I had kept our relationship a secret from his wealthy parents; I knew it was because of my poor background but I didn't mind it. His parents would not accept someone of my status, but i was okay with that.
As long as he loved me, I would have endured anything.
My phone vibrated and rang, I immediately brighten up thinking it was Donghae. But what met my eyes were had a completely different impact on my mood.
A new text message flashed on my screen from my workplace at Luxola, a restaurant serving alcohol and drinks. Though my shift usually ends late into the night around 1 a.m. and it kept my tired during school days – it was a high paying part time job.
Luckily they didn't check my I.D. and immediately hired me because they were understaffed. So with thought of money, I endured all the drunken customers and long hours.
I opened the message from my extremely strict manager and my mood turn even more sour than before: 'Lee Kara, I am laying you off. You should know better than to take leave on Friday and Saturdays where customers flocked in the most.'
Great, how fucking awesome.
I groaned and stuffed my hands into my pockets and strolled the streets instead, full of bitterness. This was probably one of the most fucked up week that I ever had in my life.
Everything was falling slowly apart.
Deciding to cheer myself up, I thought of the frozen yoghurt place nearby. Donghae and I used to have our after school study dates there.
I immediately perked up at the thought of having yoghurt topped with gummy bears and strawberries. I quicken my pace and headed for the yoghurt shop. My mood would seriously perk up with a nice delicious cup of frozen yoghurt. I deserved to treat myself.
Grinning to myself like an idiot when the girly pink shop came into sight. I was about to head to the shop to place my order when I stopped in my tracks and my grin fell.
Time seem to freeze right there and then, my heart shattered and crumbled to a million bits, my stomach twisted and my nerves seem to recoil back in pure absolute shock.
My mind started to rapidly process the scene, burning my brain and giving me an instant headache.
Shin Donghae.
Shin Donghae exiting out of the yoghurt shop.
Shin Donghae exiting out of the yoghurt shop with another girl.
Shin Donghae exiting out of the yoghurt shop with another girl, arm in arm.
Shin Donghae exiting out of the yoghurt shop with another girl, arm in arm and smiling brightly.
I always believed that no matter how heavy my burden was in life, I had a great job, awesome friends, a caring loving family and a perfect boyfriend.
I was always thankful and contented with what I had because I felt happy. I always believed that happy things were spawns from the benefits of being a good person (though I sincerely wouldn't allow myself be trotted over, I may be nice but only if you deserved it).
So, despite everything, I tried my hardest to be a good person. I believed in religion and prayed to god whenever I could. I took on the role of being an income provider for my debt-ridden family, working two jobs everyday after school no matter how hard and stressful it got. I never complained when my brothers requested for money, and took on the financial burden because I truthfully hoped that they could study and live care freely.
I was the kind of person that took one step back in order to allow my loved ones to go forward. I loan two helping hands to the elders whenever I could and donated to beggars on the streets whenever I had change because I could empathise with their situation.
I felt like my whole world shatter that very moment. My high paying night job at Luxola sacked me because I took two urgent leaves on the most busy days when they were under staffed, my loving family wanted to marry me off to settle their debts, and my perfect boyfriend...
Was cheating on me.
But I was still foolish.
Love had blindfolded me; I only cared about what matter and not reality. Little did I know that when sweet innocent love finally dies, what is left over turns into bitter anger and resentment.
Funny how what was once a beautiful, happy and bright love suddenly turns into scorned love in a blink of an eye.
So I foolishly took small but fast brave steps forward. It was weird how I didn't feel any anger building inside of me, instead I felt incredibly numb. As I approached the happy couple, their back facing me and their happily arms linked together, I felt reality slap me in my face and rape me over and over again.
I mustered up the courage to smile brightly, deceiving myself by constantly repeating in my mind that she could just be his friend.
"Oppa, what are you doing here? Who is she?" I concealed my voice well even though I could feel my heartbeat elevate, my throat go dry and my knee tremble in anxiety. I could see his side profile, his jet-black hair waxed up in spikes, his diamond earring hanging by his left earlobe and his handsome and sweet well-chiseled face.
"KARA!" Donghae jumped in surprise when he turned around and met me, his eyes bulging out of his sockets in horror. He immediately shook off the girl's grip, but she had an iron grip on his hand. "...W – Wha-"
"Who is she, oppa?" I cut him off and questioned again, this time more slowly and fearless as I dragged my words. I started to feel it bubbling dangerously inside of me - the resentment, the pain, and the bitter betrayal.
"Oppa? Is this the Kara girl that you are talking about?" The girl beside him sweetly inquired, battering her fake eyelashes at him. Her grip got tighter on him and she clung into him, bringing her body closer to her body. "Tell her, Donghae oppa," she persuaded, nudging him encouragingly.
"Quiet, Hyerin." He hissed at her, struggling to push her off him. But Hyerin remained firm and refused to let go with all her might.
I snapped then, seeing it up-close and how personal they were was just too much for me to handle.
"WHO IS SHE?!?! TELL ME!!!" I couldn't take it anymore, I exploded into my ultimate fury and I demanded him to tell me. I needed to hear it myself.
My anger was rising to an all time high within me, I couldn't contain it anymore, and I impulsively rushed forward and grabbed him by the collar, shaking him violently as if it would help him spill the words out. "Tell me! Shin Donghae! Tell me, who is she?!"
But he remained silent, refusing to meet my eye, guilt clouding his brown orbs.
"YAH!" Hyerin screeched and pushed me away from him to defend him, I felt myself tumble her push. I was a weak fragile human being then. I was too bitter drowning in my sorrowful betrayal then to stand up for myself as I usually did.
"SHIN DONGHAE!" I shouted irately at him, trying to still my quivering lips every second he looked away from me.
"She's my girlfriend."