Strings Attached (Sequel)

Best Friend Cha

March 17th

Faye Calinao

"I'm sorry for keeping this from you Lei," I spoke apologetically.

"Sometimes I wonder if it was the right decision to propose. Maybe I rushed into this." I closed my eyes in pain and sighed. He's speaking without thinking... I hoped so. Though it still did not hurt less even though he said it.

"We can talk about this when you get to the airport," I spoke quietly so he couldn't hear my voice break. "I guess Cha, Jing, and Senior planned a trip and we leave soon."

"I'm not going. I rather be alone at the moment."

"Lei," I said disappointed. "I don't want to leave like this until we talk about this."

"I would have thought after you knew how I reacted the first time about finding out about Ximen's feelings towards you, you maybe at that point explained yourself."

"There's nothing exactly to explain."

"You two both dated!"

"It wasn't official," I spoke lightly.

"I don't care if it wasn't official! You two were still both together and at any given point neither of you decided to tell me."

"Our relationship wasn't real!" My eyes watered and I began shaking, frustrated that I had to talk with him on the phone like this. Ximen and I decided to try going on a few dates and tried to do a couple things, but I couldn't take it too seriously due to the bullying of Geng and Doaming Si. I couldn't peacefully be with Ximen fully without watching everywhere we went. I declined Ximen after our fourth date when he asked me to be his girlfriend. At the time I wanted nothing more than to say yes.

Ximen kept his promise and told me this wouldn't affect our friendship. He said he wouldn't tell anyone about this. Though I knew it contributed to his dating habits, I did not do anything.

"You just admitted to dating him! Which is it? Why am I not finding out through you?"

"You haven't figured out the pieces to this after just screaming at me?" I felt too upset to even explain to him.

"I'm too busy being disappointed at you and pissed at Ximen right now. Just..." he sighed on the other end. "Go on this trip."

Sighing tiredly as I looked at the text messages between Lei and I. It made me sad to look at my text messages to him unread. He hasn't responded to any texts since I've arrived in Sanya. It has been a few days now and it seems like he hasn't cooled off.

"Are you alright Faye?" I looked up from my phone to see Cha slowly walking into the kitchen. He looked half awake knowing it was three in the morning, he must be very confused to see me sitting in the kitchen at this time. "I wasn't expecting to see you awake at this time."

For the past few days, I had everyone here being supportive and it helped lessen the pain of when Lei upset me on the phone the other day. Doaming Si and Meizuo sent me updates on if they've found Lei, but it seemed he did not want to be found. I found out from Jing our first day here that Lei left angry. Doaming Si said things without thinking and that was how Lei found out about Ximen and I. I never knew he knew about it until now and he apologized to me for letting this happen.

"Faye..." Cha said lightly and walked around to the side I was at the counter. I noticed his growing concern for me and I couldn't help, but break out into tears. He immediately wrapped his arms to give me a hug and pulled back slightly while taking a nap from the counter to wipe my tears. Fear and concern grew in his expression and I cried even harder for hiding my feelings for this long. "Wh-what happened?" He asked to switch to Korean now realizing he did not want anyone to overhear if someone was around. Only Moonbin could understand but we knew he was sleeping in the basement.

"I keep ruining things for Lei and I," I spoke disappointed with myself and it took a moment for him to catch on with what's going on. "I-I just want him to be here with me and tell me he loves me, but I disappointed him again."

"Hey," Cha said gently. "Lei loves you very much. You're his fiancée and you mean very much to him. I don't think you would have purposely upset him. Why is he mad at you?" A moment of hesitation must be expressed in my face. "Is... it too personal?" Cha asked uncertainty.

"No," I shook my head and used my fingers to wipe some of my tears away. "I was at fault for not telling him. He asked me if Ximen and I ever dated."

"You and Ximen have dated before?" Cha asked curiously trying to understand where this was going.

"I said yes to answer Lei... though it wasn't exactly official. He took me out on a few dates and grew closer. I declined Ximen when he asked me to be his girlfriend."

"Because... of Geng and Doaming Si, right?" I nod, wishing Lei would understand like this instead of coming to the worst scenario. "So you two never became official then? I don't see the problem."

"Lei..." I let out a sigh and closed my eyes for a moment. "It feels like he sees the worst in situations when it comes to me. I don't understand why this came up. I know it was an accident on Doaming Si's part, but what conversation led to him finding out by accident? We were doing so well and I was happy at the baby shower. I thought I'd feel at peace when this happens. It's always the past that causes issues."

"Lei will come around," Cha said lightly after a few minutes of thinking this through. "I'm sure he did not mean to upset you like this either. Sometimes... he loses his control and I think he has made a lot of progress since he has met you. I don't think it will be too much longer until he cools down. After all, he cares greatly for you and your little one."

"He upsets me when he ignores my texts days at a time."

"Maybe... he doesn't want to say something he will regret. Sometimes when I'm mad at one of the guys, I have to stop myself from sending angry texts that I may regret later. For now... let's try to relax and enjoy our time here. I'm sure by the time we get back, you and Lei will be ready to talk things through and hopefully make up; otherwise I'm taking you and you're moving to Seoul with me." I let out a laugh and covered my mouth for a moment feeling a bit hopeful after Cha's words.

"Hmm... you may have to do better than that. I'm... still feeling upset." I bit the inside of my cheeks thinking of a few words that really hurt me and hasn't left my mind since.

"Did Lei say something... that really bothered you? Do I need to fly back and look for him so I can knock some sense into him?"

"He said he didn't want to see me the other day," I spoke quietly and lowered my eyes. "I know he was lashing out on me but... it really hurt me when he said that to me."

"I'm sorry he said that," Cha said with a sad expression before turning to a pout. My best friend seemed to immediately ease my mind and made me think about how nice he was being, even if it's the middle of the night. "I'll be your fiancée then, I hear from my friends I'm quite loyal." I let out a sad smile and shook my head appreciating him being here, just... talking with me.

"If I heard this before I met Lei, I'm pretty sure I would have fainted." Cha chuckled and nodded.

"Ahh, your fangirl days have calmed. I am certain Lei will come around."

"Thank you," I spoke gently.

"Anything for my best friend," Cha smiled. "Shall we enjoy the rest of your spring break?" I hummed feeling better and he reached for my coat on the chair I used to hang my coat and looked towards him confused.

"What..."

"Let's get pizza. There's a place I know that's open at this time." I smiled and agreed.

///

Next update: July 7th, 2022