Chapter 3

2016

Cali's POV

"I will always love you, Chu. Remember that"

He reached for my forehead and gave me one last lingering kiss before turning his back. 

My heart shattered into pieces. The picture of his back slowly diminishing on my line of sight is almost like my breath being taken away from me. 

And for the first time, I wish all of this never happened. 

I wish he wouldn't say goodbye. 

I wish we were still together.

I wish he was still mine. 

"Gi-chi!" My body bolted up immediately, my face full of sweat. The fast beating of my heart is more than enough to wake up my disoriented system. 

"Liar..." I whispered to myself. 

Tears, they were streaming down my cheeks again d I felt my chest tightening. 

My eyes scanned the place before me. That's right. I was sleeping in my room. 

My hands reached for my forehead as I rested my back on my pillow and leaned on my headboard. 

These past few days, I keep on dreaming about the past, starting from how we first met and even how we ended. 

I thought I was okay. I'm doing good. Why do I have to remember now? 

Was it because of Seth? 

I let out a long sigh. 

It all started when WHISTLE saw him in the hall on our first recording for our debut. Seeing him made me remember SHADOW, the group I have been trying to avoid seeing in the news and any social media articles. 

It was hard, especially when even the girls admire their talent. Who wouldn't? Their story is even as close as our seniors. They started with nothing, shared spaces in only one room, and had to do everything from scratch. Now, both groups made a name of their own.

But now, SHADOW attracts the general public, and I know it wasn't just because of their talent and hard work. They are really meant to be there, at the top. 

But here I am, just debuted a few days ago and is now struggling to keep my emotions together, all because I saw someone related to him. What more if I see him again after more than a year?

You can't breakdown again, Cali. You can't.

After checking the time, I headed straight to the bathroom to freshen up. 

A cold shower is all I need. 

Once done, I wore a white shirt underneath a large black hoodie and paired it with grey sweatpants. 

It's still five in the morning and not many teenagers come out at this time. Plus, we just debuted less than a week. I'm pretty sure not many people can recognize me if I go out. 

After wearing a black cap and a face mask, I headed outside so I can calm myself while doing a morning jog beside the Han River. I'm wearing the shoes Zanaya gave me as a gift. 

I didn't bother waking up any of the girls. They were also exhausted from all the preparations for our comeback so I don't wanna get this little time that they have so they can rest. 

With the mellow music blasting on my ears through my earphones, I busied myself by doing a round of jog along the circle. It's refreshing that I'm still able to do things like this right now. 

Yeah, like how the two of you do this kind of shits before. My conscience stated but I brushed it off. 

In a matter of fifteen minutes, I was already panting, my breathing ragged and my feet slowed down its movements until I stopped and plopped myself down on the steps on the stairs where I have a clear view of the buildings towering in front of me. 

I removed my earphones while I lean both my hands on the ground, my eyes closed as I let the sun shine on my face, my mask already gone. 

Max will freak out if she realized I'm not in my room. 

A small smile escaped my lips. 

I can clearly picture her freaking out. She did once when Tokyo went out to buy some books and ended up going home ranting about her escapade. 

"You shouldn't be jogging around this area alone, not after you just made your debut, should you?"

My heart almost leaped out of my chest when I heard a very familiar voice emanating closed to where I was. 

A voice I wished I never heard three years ago... 

A voice I wished I will never hear again... But at the same time, I wish I would hear again. Confusing - I know. 

But it's impossible. 

Slowly, my head turned on my right, my heart rate hammering real fast like I was being chased by a lion. 

And there he is, like always, covered in black clothes, his face covered with a black mask. 

But there's no hiding it. No matter how much he hides his identity - no caps, face mask, or anything. My heart can easily recognize him - perhaps even with my eyes closed. 

Storm, Storm of SHADOW…My Storm-chi... 

The first person who made me feel I was important, and the first one who made me feel I wasn't as well. 

His pale skin which can't be covered by his mask can be seen. 

He was there, looking at me like things from last year didn't happen. 

He was there, standing in front of me like he didn't leave. 

And I am here, even after all those painful memories...

Those stupid nights that I would cry in secret, my face covered with a pillow so my members won't hear me bawling...

Or those times when I would stay for more than an hour on the bathtub almost lifeless as I try to ransack my mind what I did wrong...

Even after all those, my heart still beats the same - the same way it did when I first saw him on that fire exit. 

I didn't know what snapped but right this moment, everything just dawned into me, my hands immediately reached my face as my tears poured automatically. 

I was crying. I was crying so bad I can't stop. With him, I am weak - vulnerable. 

I thought I cried enough. But I guess I didn't. I guess I will never be ready to see him without breaking down. 

I didn't know how long I was crying when I felt a pair of hands grabbing me gently on my shoulders. And in a flash, I was already standing, my face now buried over his chest, his right hand gently rubbing my back while the other was at the back of my head. 

"Damn it, Chu. Stop crying, boo bear. Please, I'm sorry. Fuck I'm so sorry," I heard his voice broke and I thought I was just hearing things. 

Why does it sound like he was hurting too? 

He left me, right? 

He pulled away from me a little and cupped my cheeks, his eyes moist with tears threatening to spill and I was left confused. 

"I'm here now... Your Gi-chi is here, okay?" he whispered and I didn't care if we were standing in a public place and the sun was almost rising. 

He's back. 

I don't care if I looked desperate and pathetic. 

I want my Storm back. 

With all the longing I had within me, my hands reached for his cheeks and pulled him for a quick kiss. 

It was brief, sweet yet magical - at least to me. 

"You're here..." I whispered and my heart did a mini somersault when I saw a sincere smile showing on his face. 

Once again, tears started streaming down my cheeks. 

Fuck with the dating ban. 

If I have to go against my Boss again just so I can be with him, I will. Coz the past year without him in my life, I felt like dying. 

I need him so I can live again. 

I need you, Storm.