before & after ‣ 엔하이픈

039 ; present

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AERI

Aeri snuck out that same night in her pajamas.

When she was finished reeling in the regret of what she had done, she headed out back to the convenience store she always found herself in. The cash register who worked there, quickly recognized her and smiled.

"It's been a while, Aeri. I was starting to get worried." He tells her, to which Aeri only chuckled too as she gave him the things she took at the aisles. "Your boyfriend is here as well."

She didn't even have to ask who he was pertaining to, he only ever calls Jake that. Taking her big plastic of food, she walks over to where the seats were and saw him, sitting there depressingly.

With a slight smile, she headed over there next to him. "You can't look sadder than me, jock."

Jake jumped slightly at the appearance of a new voice, but soon calmed when he recognized her. "Aeri, I never thought I'd see you here so soon." Then his eyes fell to the big plastic she just bought. "And with so many food. When did you start splurging?"

"Since I found out I was loaded." Aeri said, opening her first bag of chips. "Why are you so depressed? What happened to you?"

He looked at her with the slightest of smile, one that mixed with pity and humor. "You should see yourself, queen bee. I'm sorry about your mother, by the way. I know you both had your differences, but that doesn't change the fact that she's your mother."

"You're too kind for someone I had given an early invite at the celebration I was going to throw once she's officially out of my life." She tells him. "But, I'm managing. I feel like I'm mourning my father more than I mourn her. I'm still angry with her, especially after learning about the many things she hid from me and my brother. But, I doubt my anger is going to change anything. She would still remain dead, and I would still remain my old sad self." She says, eating from her bag of chips all while she stare at the huge glass wall in front of them that showed her the semi-quiet street with occasional cars passing by.

"I'm sorry, by the way." He abruptly breaks the streak of silence that was just about to begin. She looked at him, raising an eyebrow telling him about her confusion on what exactly he was sorry about. "About not telling you that I knew who spread the rumors about you. Don't be angry with Bora, it wasn't her fault."

Aeri sighed. "I know. I believe you when you said it was Inah, I wouldn't put it past her. She would be the first person to spread those things about me. You can tell Bora not to be so guilty, I'm not exactly that mad with her anymore. I don't think I even have the energy to carry that much anger anymore." She said, with a sad chuckle at the end.

"I'm sorry. I should've told you the moment I found out." He continues to apologize. "I knew how much that secret was going to hurt you and—"

"You still protected Bora, regardless." She points out. "It's fine. I won't hold that against you." She clarifies, finishing the last of her first bag of chips.

Then, an idea appeared at her head. "You know what you can do to earn my apology?"

Jake raises an eyebrow, looking at her with confusion and anticipation, the same eyes he had given her when he first fell in love. "What?"