Plus One | Yanan Spin-Off ✔️

Chapter 13

chapter 13 | overnight work

     "What do you mean?" Yanan asked nervously.

     But Elkie just smiled and was ready to change the topic. "Think about it. For now, we should focus on this."

     So, they worked on the papers after a brief explanation from Elkie what it is about. Yanan couldn't help feeling sleepy as he read though. He should have just had coffee.

     By six, Mingyu finally came to pick her up. He seemed really taken aback to see Yanan with Elkie again.

     "Yanan is helping me with my homework." She explained to him.

     Yanan wished she'd stop going out with him. He couldn't quite understand what Elkie was doing.

     "I'll be back in an hour or two, okay? Thanks, Yananie." She said before leaving.

     A hundred and twenty-two pages into the work, Yanan fell asleep on the couch.

• •

     Elkie was brought to another fancy restaurant that she felt bad about the real purpose of this dinner. "Mingyu-ssi,"

     "Yes, what is it?"

     "I have something to tell you."

     He smiled charmingly. "Just tell me."

     "I... want to stop going out on dates."

     His jaw dropped, and then silence sprang between the both of us. "W-Why? Did I do something wrong?"

     Elkie shook her head. "No, I really think you're a nice person. I really want to date you, but I think it's not right."

     "What are you saying, Elkie-ssi?"

     "I'm in love with someone else. Well, that person and I are not dating or anything like that, but it still feels wrong to keep seeing you while I still have these feelings for him."

     "Then, why did you call me that night?"

     "I'm sorry. I thought I could do it, but I realized now, that I could never."

     "Elkie..."

     "You've been really nice to me, so I wanted to tell you sooner. I don't want to give you false hopes."

     Mingyu nodded quietly. "I understand."

     "I'm really sorry." She meant everything she said that night. Mingyu offered to drive her home, but she insisted on taking the bus instead.

     It was almost seven when she got back home. "I'm back-" She trailed off once she saw Yanan sleeping on the couch. Her face softened. "Oh, Yanan."

     Elkie grabbed a pillow and a blanket from her room and carefully tucked Yanan in. She looked at his peaceful face for a while. His eyelids fluttered and she wondered what he was dreaming about. She made another cup of coffee as she worked through the night.

     By three a.m, Yanan woke up startled. "Woah, I-I fell asleep! Sorry. Sorry. I'm supposed to be helping you."

     "Coffee's right there." She pointed at the thermos of coffee she made.