February 26
I dressed in a striking red colored long princess-sleeved wrap dress paired with a red mini Lady Dior bag, Louboutin So Kate heels, and Dior simple accessories.
I arrived at Hotel Elite for breakfast in a private room. When Lucas arrived, he sat beside me. We ate in silence, tension hanging thick in the air.
"Was it fun yesterday?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.
"Quite fun," Lucas responded nonchalantly, making me purse my lips in disbelief.
"Don't you have anything to explain?" I asked, giving him a chance. He ignored me, instead turning to Isuki.
"Hey, you. Come here," Lucas commanded roughly, gesturing for Isuki to pour him a drink. Isuki stepped forward, pouring the wine and stopped when the glass was half filled, but Lucas ordered him to pour till he said stop, but before he did that, Isuki stopped since it was almost overflowing.
I watched in disbelief as he threw the entire glass of wine into Isuki's face when he deemed the pour unsatisfactory for not listening to him.
The next second, I was on my feet, throwing the wine in my glass into Lucas's face. "Who the hell do you think you are?" I shouted. Lucas just laughed, wiping his face. He then threatened to ruin my reputation if I didn't play along as his obedient girlfriend.
Without hesitation, I pulled a knife and pressed it against his chest, leaning in close. "Do you think I'm stupid?" I hissed. "This knife might not be sharp, but it's enough to pierce your skin."
Lucas's arrogance melted into fear. "W-What are you doing?" he stammered.
I smiled sweetly, stepping on his foot with my stiletto heel. "Cross me again, and you'll regret it," I whispered, tightening my grip on the knife.
"Isuki, clean this mess up. Make sure there's no evidence," I ordered as I walked out, heading straight home.
Leaving the Hotel, I felt an unsettling mix of anger, relief, and exhaustion. The confrontation with Lucas drained me, but I knew it had to be done. The moment I arrived home, I wanted nothing more than to forget the whole ordeal.
As soon as I stepped into the house, I saw Ivan sitting in the living room. He looked up, clearly expecting me to say something. But after what had just happened, I couldn't bring myself to explain. I felt... tainted.
I wanted to hug him so badly, to feel the comfort of my brother's embrace, but I hesitated. Ivan's eyes searched mine, concern etched on his face.
"Is something wrong?" he asked softly.
"I'm just tired," I replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. I hurried to my room, not wanting him to press further to ask me how I was tired by the late morning.
I spent over two hours in the shower, scrubbing my skin raw. I wanted to wash away the feeling of disgust, the dirtiness that Lucas had left me with when he touched my hand and stroked it, or when he grabbed my chin to threaten me. When I finally stepped out, my skin was red and irritated from all the harsh scrubbing. I wrapped myself in a fluffy bathrobe and tried to compose myself, but my emotions were all over the place.
Just as I was going to take a bath again for the nth time, who knows how Ivan knocked on my bathroom door. "Yeim, get dressed and come out. Right now," he commanded. There was a firmness in his voice that I couldn't ignore.
Reluctantly, I slipped into a nightgown and opened the door. To my surprise, Ivan was standing there with Isuki, who looked uncharacteristically serious. I could sense the tension between them. Ivan's eyes softened when he saw me, but there was a flicker of sadness there.
He let out a deep sigh, pulling me into a hug. "If you want to cry, just cry." I look at him after a few minutes, pulling away a little from the hug.
"I'm not crying because I'm sad. It's just... I feel disgusted and dirty. I never had real feelings for Lucas; I only agreed to date him for fun, but now it just feels filthy... too filthy," I confessed, my voice barely a whisper. Ivan gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his expression softening.
"Okay, okay. I get it," he said, his tone calm and reassuring. "Isuki already gave him a lesson he'll never forget. We deleted all the footage, anything that could be used as evidence. And I had my assistant make sure any outside surveillance linked to today's events was wiped clean. You don't have to worry about anything." I nodded, relief washing over me, though the lingering sense of dirtiness still clung to my skin.
Ivan stayed by my side, comforting me with gentle strokes through my hair until I eventually drifted off to sleep. When I woke up, I felt groggy, my mind still clouded with fragments of the morning incident. I dragged myself downstairs, hoping for some clarity, and went straight to the kitchen. I grabbed a cold bottle of water and took a long drink, trying to wash away the remnants of my uneasy dreams as I felt someone wrap me in a blanket, making me wake up from my stance and look at the person.
"Brother?" I called out.
"En, go tidy yourself up before coming down," Ivan's stern voice cut through my daze. I froze mid-sip and glanced over Ivan to see Sean, Ryan, Zach, and Zack all sitting in the living room. My heart dropped into my stomach. I hadn't expected an audience.
Mortified, I quickly wrapped myself tighter in the blanket draped over my shoulders, even pulling it up to cover my head like a makeshift hoodie. Without another word, I bolted back upstairs, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Once safely in my room, I shut the door behind me and took a deep breath. I turned to look at myself in the mirror and nearly groaned out loud. My hair was a complete mess, wild and frizzy, but someone, probably Ivan, had attempted to braid it. I looked like I had just survived a tornado.
I moved quickly, splashing my face with cold water to wake myself up. I combed through my tangled hair and threw on something more presentable, a classic Ralph Lauren cotton cardigan paired with a silk organza midi skirt. I pulled half of my hair back into a simple clip, letting the rest fall in loose waves.
Feeling slightly more like myself, I took a deep breath and made my way back downstairs. The boys were all still there, their eyes turning towards me as I entered the room. I could feel their curious gazes, but they didn't say a word, just watched as I walked in, trying to appear calm and composed despite the fluttering in my chest.
I sat down at the table and picked at the dinner spread Ivan had laid out, though my appetite was practically non-existent. It was hard to focus on eating with all those eyes on me, silently judging or perhaps worrying. Soon, though, the tension eased as they broke into easy conversation, and I was able to relax, if only just a bit.
I glanced at Ivan, silently questioning what this was all about. But before I could say anything, Sean spoke up, his tone gentle yet firm. "We're here for you, Yeim. We know what happened."
My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I quickly averted my eyes. Ryan cleared his throat, stepping forward with an apologetic look. "I heard about Lucas being hospitalized, and I could guess what happened. I told Sean everything, like you two dated." Ryan said uncertain about his choice of words.
I was mortified. They knew. I wanted to disappear. Do they think I am heartbroken? How am I even explaining that I just casually dated him, and I am not heartbroken? If they listen, will they think I am a girl without any virtue, but their supportive gazes anchored me.
"You don't have to face this alone," Zack added, giving me a reassuring smile. "We've got your back."
I nodded, unable to speak. The boys spent the day at our house, keeping me company. We played card games and watched movies, and for a few hours, I managed to forget about any remains of Lucas.
February 28
The very next day, I woke up feeling a little lighter, thanks to the support of my brother and friends. After my morning routine, I decided it was time to officially break the news to my group members about ending things with Lucas. I sent a message in our group chat:
Yeim: "Hey guys, I'm finally free from that walking disaster. Dumped Lucas for good." "No need for sympathy messages. I'm relieved to be rid of him."
The replies came flooding in:
Chaeyeon: "YES, QUEEN, as you should!"
Yuji: "Proud of you, girl! No man deserves your energy unless he's willing to match it."
Haeven: "We were waiting for this! Let's celebrate next time we're together 💃."
Somi: "No wine? Then count me out😌"
Hani: "Same🥱"
Lily: "The hell, Honey, we are drinking right now" "*a pic of her and Hani drinking*"
The conversation went on, and I felt good to be surrounded by love, even if it was through a screen.
The following day, I visited Zach's house for the first time, and it turned out to be quite an eye-opener. That's when I discovered that Zach's real name is Zachary, something he'd never bothered to mention before.
Zachary has three older sisters, each with their distinct personality. The eldest, born in 1998, is an assistant professor who carries herself with a calm, authoritative presence. The second sister, born in 2001, is deep into her PhD studies, radiating a quiet, bookish intensity. Meanwhile, the youngest sister, born in 2002, is still in college and has a lively, carefree vibe that instantly lights up any room.
I couldn't help but be fascinated by the dynamic between them. Despite their differences, there was an undeniable bond that made their home feel warm and welcoming. Spending time with his family, I got to see a whole new side of Zachary, one that made me appreciate our friendship even more.
We ended up studying late into the night, fueled by snacks and laughter from his sisters.