Homepage/Blossom Series l False Impressions l Book 1: Lee Heeseung/
Chapter 24: Collide
Time slowed once more. Only to hit her hard and beaten to a very extreme way. Another deja vu. Aerin's mind was quick to collect the memories back, leaving her excessively baffled to what she had discovered.
"Enhypen?! Are you kidding me?!"
"Dear sweetie, why are you looking so disturbed? That's what it says in here." Maddie was surprised by her sudden outburst. "And---Oh lala, what do we have here?" Maddie hums her words like being mystified after glancing back to her screen.
Looking at Maddie's monitor, Aerin continuously swallowed the nerves down. It's confirmed, Enhypen is coming to LA, in a day of the final match and a concert after that. And she's going to the present in the two said events. How on earth she's in luck or doomed to fail she can't point out anymore.
"Oh, I get it. No wonder why you looked so fazed, Aerin. These seven men are undeniably gorgeous. My goodness, they're more attractive than own husband especially this one with orange hair. Do you in any way know their names? I'm already a fan! Silly me!" Maddie couldn't hide the eagerness.
"N-No. Y-Yeah. I mean, I worked with them before." she controlled the stutter by not blinking.
How the hell could Lee Heeseung changed his hair color and looks more hotter in it? She can't deny, he looks marvelous and more buff? Looking at those strong, muscular body form, even on screen, it appears like he's been hitting the gym working those brawns out.
"You worked with them? Honey, clearly, I can't let you ditch this one out. I'm confirming you now."
"No! Maddie, I--" she halts after realizing she got no reason to disagree.
"I suggest you go rest now, dear. I'll be sending your questionnaire ASAP. See you tomorrow night. Oh God, I can't believe we are cramped with two succeeding events but who cares, I'll be seeing good looking Korean men!" Maddie chuckled with her own jest.
Reaching her home, Aerin was glazed with confusion, like a fog, and her brain spends more time processing the lack of clarity. Fast enough, she reached for a bottle of hard booze that's been there in her fridge for ages. The urge to drink it is so tempting and guiltlessly, she took it down and was surprised to feel the steadiness back.
By tomorrow night, and another night after that, her sane head will again tremble by a force only him have the power to give. She will again meet Lee Heeseung, the biggest heartache she ever had. Thinking about it happening beforehand, Aerin's deep rooted questions suddenly arise.
He promised to go home, but didn't make it. Because he couldn't make it. Lee Heeseung is a performer, who loves only two things: the stage and his fans. And she? For a person who tried to ruin his name, she don't come any closer than that.
Aerin took another swallow, literally aching her throat for the prickling heat the alcohol creates. Her body is telling her take a nap now, forget tomorrow and deal with it in the morning but her strong head is shouting to grab another drink.
Even though the dawn is still some time away, facing the next day, with tough emotions at hand, surely, it will cease her away.
__________________________________________
"What the--? I've been looking everywhere for you, Aerin. You need to come out now. The ceremonial first pitch is about to start!" David said upon finding her, still slinking inside the waiting room.
Being scared is a tough, tough emotion and she never been that scared all her life. Watching in the waiting area's monitor, Aerin found herself dumb, in the sense that her words have stopped flowing - stopped, because what she had saw left her instantly awe-struck. Lee Heeseung looked so divine with the Dodgers' jersey and he's just outside, waiting to take that first pitch.
"It's not a highlight, David." she sighed.
"The ceremonial first pitch is a highlight. And we got Korean superstars. What are you talking about?" David came to disagree.
Aerin finally stood up. "Can we stay on the B-side? The light is more brighter there." she tried to suggest.
"Wherever it is, it's still the same. You need to hurry now."
Taking that way out is like jumping in the fiery pit and let alone die. The adrenaline, the perfectly manicured turf, the loud energy of the staunch and jarring crowd are the things that greeted Aerin the moment she stepped out of the wide arena. After letting out her heaviest sigh, she halts her feet once more, in synchrony to the moderator's opening speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, for the ceremonial first pitch, please welcome, K-pop superstars from the group, Enhypen, Heeseung, Ni-Ki and Jay. Now before you take the bump, please direct your attention to the screen to a special message."
That short message made Aerin to draw in for some air. Gaping at the wide screen monitor, she was stunned to the point of being speechless. The camera moves slow to the members faces, obviously teasing the fans with the three Enhypen members perfect visuals. It stopped for seconds after catching Lee Heeseung's turn.
Then, in his very obvious notion, he pulled out that smirk while chewing his gum and stick that tongue out. Aerin scoffed in disbelief. That daring move is undeniably the death of every Lee Heeseung stan.
"You impossible son of a tease." Aerin softly groans.
"Woah! That guy just pulled 80% of single women in here and half of the married ones!" David chuckled.
With David around, Aerin's grows to be a chatterbox, but when she finds herself dumbfounded, there is every chance that she's aghast for what she had witnessed.
After taking that first pitch, the three Enhypen members approached the screaming fans, practically females, for a quick photo op, and Aerin couldn't hold the sight even more. Heeseung grows more touchy to the fans. The rizzing is impossible, pulling her strings in jealousy across the floor.
"Aerin? Are you okay?" David called in concern.
"Yeah. I went a little heavy with the drink last night." she was quick to defend.
"Better not do it tonight. You're packed for tomorrow. But why are you looking so knocked out right now, huh? That outfit and make up is fit for tomorrow's event. But I gotta commend, you look superb!"
Wearing a bodycon slicker is not really her cup of tea and just came like a bolt out of the blue. She's meeting Lee Heeseung and eventhough damaged from the inside, somehow, she wished to look her best. But then, Heeseung is hanging around with some bunch of harlots and completely having a good time. Aerin felt ridiculous for togging up.
"Oh, is that why?" David smirked while gazing at someone coming their way. "Hey, Mike! Ready to carry the night?"
"Hey, David. Hi, Aerin." Mike Travis finally got the courage to approach her.
Aerin gained her composure and gave him a nod. Mike Travis, in an obvious manner, is a good looking fella. A hot, centre forward as what they call him, but not the kind Aerin is interested with.
"Good luck for later." she muttered casually.
"Thanks. But I came here to take the shot. You'll never know if you won't try, right?" Mike nervously chuckled. "Uhm, can I invite you for dinner tomorrow night?"
David couldn't hold the smicker, so as Aerin's mind running in circles.
"I-I got a commitment tomorrow night." she said, hoping he'll accept the rejection right away.
"No problem. I can wait for you."
Mike's eagerness is firm and Aerin can't think of a better alibi to turn down the invite. And yet, her silly heart is hoping that somehow Heeseung will change his orientation and meet her eyes and she'll dump Mike Travis right away but the flirtatious twit wrapped his arms around the lucky fan and take joy in it.
"What the fuck, Lee Heeseung?" Aerin's mind shouts in a higher degree of enviousness.
"So, Aerin?"
"Uhm--" she swallowed hard while pondering and couldn't believe she's giving herself a chance of going out with Mike Travis.
She hates making decision when she's feeling low but if Lee Heeseung can have a good time without any regrets with their past, then why can't she?
Aerin faced Mike with a solid stance before she let her words away. "Sure! See you at 7?"
Mike's halfhearted expression was fast to change into steadfast as David choked on his cola. Aerin, on the other hand, was appalled too, but realized, it's too late to take the words back.
Mike grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight, eyes were bright and could dance a little jig. Aerin was surprised to see a cheerful soul in a bearish built man.
"Seriously?! You made me the happiest man tonight!" Mike could've jump in joy.
Feeling guilty about the lurch, Aerin again glanced at the clueless Heeseung. Never he had the slightest idea that she's just there, waiting to be seen. Her heart sank into her feet watching him slowly went his way out the arena.
Maybe it was really over. It's clear as a homerun. Dating her before, Aerin knows, Heeseung is under fire at work and just pretends everything is alright. The feeling of being caged close from all sides and wrestling with some personal demons is a chokehold.
Taking the way back with Jay and Ni-Ki, Heeseung was stopped by a lingering presence. Down on the reverse side of the arena, he caught a glimpse of something bizzare but couldn't get ahold of the perfect sight. Her stance looks picturesque, he was quite surprised to see a mysterious girl, to the point where he took his foot to a halt so suddenly.
Heeseung knew she wasn’t just another girl. She drew attention and have this powerful, striking presence, and a very familiar body language. Heeseung was overwhelmed by the grandeur so easily, the kind that took his breath away. The force is strapping, he is ready to take the stride to come approach her.
"Hyung! C'mon! We got another one coming up!" Ni-Ki called out stopping his feet once more.
He took another glance and how fast his heart to go on an atypical thud. The mysterious girl is talking to a. guy while occasionally scratching her arms. Her manner is familiar, something that Aerin does when she's feeling uneasy. The lady's back was turned against him and that tossed up hair is not her usual color, he might be wrong, but the feeling is too strong he just can't ignore it just like that.
"Hyung! Move it!" Jay's voice has dominance in it.
Heeseung paced back, emotions are running deep. He took his phone out to make a hasty call.
"Are you done with the pitch?" Yuki sounds eager.
"You told me Aerin was is LA." Heeseung starts.
"Ah, yes. My insider is trustful. I cannot be wrong."
"Where exactly in LA?"
"Oh!" Yuki chuckled on the other line. "I thought you don't want to know anymore."
He so stupid to say it before and he got scared as pride took the first hand.
"She's a courtside reporter for the LA Dodgers. She's on the same place with you right now. I can tell you haven't met? What a bummer, Hee." Yuki's tone is mocking.
Hearing it made Heeseung's entire world to spin in a catastrophic turn. He sprung his foot back to the arena, but stopped before he reached the edge. Seeing the full view ahead and with searching eyes, Heeseung looked back to where he felt that strong connection is, just like the gut feelings are always right, but finds out she's not there anymore.
Heeseung shoulder's dropped in an inexplicable frustration and just when he's about to do a reversal, he bumped into someone in the corner's edge.
"Sorry, I--"
Suddenly, his worlds and words unexpectedly collide. Looking at the person he accidentally run into, Heeseung held his breath and was momentarily paused. It's as if his brain stutters for a moment and every part of him goes on pause while his thoughts are trying to catch up. The arena is filled with screams yet, her pretty face brings a quietness within.
"Aerin--" he gasped like being hit by a bullet train.
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