Three days later had passed and EXO had already been incarcerated once again. This time, no lawyers were able to bail them out since the NSI agents and officers took an extensive investigation on their tactics.
The police made a penitent confession about him being bribed by Kai, who wanted to escape and resume his plan. He was ashamed how he was easily influenced at the sight of cash money in the briefcase. Thus, the police officer was dismissed from his position.
Propitiously, Kai also lost his bargain when Bryan and the two groups defeated him, using the equipment back in the factory building.
Up to this day, everyone is consistently back to their usual business. Elsewhere in the area of Hongdae, Valerie was checking the maps to find the nearest bakery shop on her phone. From there, she bumped into a tall figure, which startled both of them in awe.
"Cha Eunwoo...?" She muttered.
"May I help you?" Eunwoo asked tentatively, raising an eyebrow in puzzlement.
"No, actually. I just recognize you somewhere. You know, the media nowadays..." Valerie giggled awkwardly and continued on. "I got to go now. Sorry about that."
Eunwoo blurted out as he grabbed her wrist, saying. "Wait..."
Valerie whipped her head and blinked with a blank expression.
"Uh, I... I'm not sure if I know you, but those eyes of yours..." Eunwoo said, analyzing her features, and widened his eyes in shock.
An hour later, they sat outside the patio bar and finished their breakfast meals. They both wiped the stains from the corners of the mouths.
"I'm so sorry if I came across rude or blunt-" Eunwoo said hastily but got interrupted.
"Not really. I get that you're not comfortable with people recognizing you in the streets," Valerie stated softly, looking away.
Eunwoo stared at her and asked lightly. "What brings you here to Seoul? Have you been wandering all by yourself?"
Valerie looked back wearily, yet she answered in a casual tone of her voice. "Pretty much..."
"You seem awfully tired. Are you sure you are feeling well?" Eunwoo became concerned.
Valerie's body stiffened as she hitched her breath and gripped the coffee mug tensely. She stared at it absentmindedly, stammering. "I-I'm just-"
All of a sudden, Eunwoo gently placed his hand on top of hers, which made her shock. He reassured her, saying. "It's alright..."
Valerie looked at him and nodded silently in response. She managed to smile, which made him curve his lips halfway in relief.
For the next couple of minutes, the two of them were taking another stroll in Hangang Park. Each step was only heard through their silence and they didn't bother to speak or utter a word. Instead, they admire the view of the trees and the leaves falling above them.
At that moment, Valerie began to hum a tune nonchalantly, intriguing Eunwoo into a slight interest.
He questioned blankly when he leaned forward. "What song are you singing?"
"Lovin' You by Minnie Riperton," Valerie answered.
"That's very pleasant," Eunwoo complimented.
"It is," Valerie noted and asked. "How about you?"
"Me?" Eunwoo repeated blankly.
"Yeah, you," Valerie implied with an anticipated grin.
"I do practice piano every once in a while during my free time. As of now, my schedule is hectic since I have a new album coming up with my group, Astro," Eunwoo said, gazing at the front view and continued on. "If you'd like to come to our studio, you are welcome."
In a split second, the sound of a thud made him glance, much to his panic. "Valerie. Valerie!"
He raised his eyebrows when he saw her body slumped onto the ground. Luckily, she was on the grass and not on solid cement. He bent on his knees and picked her up easily, then stared at her face. There, he was starting to become mesmerized by her. He heard cars moving towards the green lights, startling him to snap back to reality.
He pulled out his phone and contacted his assistant. "Hello? Yes, I would need a chauffeur to send us home."
"Us? Who are you with, sir?" He questioned.
"I'll explain later, but for now, will you do me a favor?" Eunwoo inquired.
"Okay, sir," his assistant replied back politely.
"Thank you. See you then," Eunwoo said, then ended the dial.
Forty-five minutes later...
Valerie was walking alone in the streets after she took a shower clean and bought a new outfit. Once she stepped out of the mall, she shuffled herself away from others who were passing by her.
She started to wander her attention towards the billboard ads and sighed dully at them. She was bummed as to why her friends were avoiding her and there were no messages replying on her phone.
"Why are they being so aloof? I thought we were going on a trip," She grumbled and saw the bus coming on the way to the stop. She entered in to tap her card and sat in one of the seats before taking off to the next destination.
As she walked down the hallways of the apartment, she stood in front of the doorstep and unlocked it. The entire room was so dark until the lights turned on, along with the confetti popping noisily in the air, much to her startlement.
"Surprise!" Everyone exclaimed gleefully in unison with their arms gesturing out.
Valerie's eyes brightened as her smile went wider shyly. She was taking a glimpse of the food, decorations, balloons, and the birthday banner hanging on the ceiling. "Aww, you guys, You don't have to."
"No, you deserve it," Jin said, smirking smoothly.
"And we also made a drawing of you. This is the cartoon version of you. Isn't it cute?" J-Hope grinned amusingly as he held out the paper.
"Haha!" Valerie laughed.
"We also have songs to perform for you," Taehyung said and hugged her tightly.
Each of the members was clearing their throats, which made them let go of each other.
Valerie turned around and gave them quick hugs. She stepped back when she noticed Jimin holding the cake in front of her with candles lit up.
They all gathered in a line where Sally led Valerie to sit on the stool in the center. They started to sing harmoniously, whereas Bryan and Ava were taking pictures and videos of her.
"Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, dear Valerie.
Happy birthday to you!"
Valerie was gazing fondly at the seven young men and thought about her wish. She started to envisage them as K-Pop stars. Then, she blinked her vision and saw their normal selves.
"Make a wish," Jimin smiled warmly.
Valerie stared at him in awe and closed her eyes when she blew the candles out. Thus, they cheered in applause...
A sudden jolt made her eyes flutter open and gasp for breath in the present moment. She peeked groggily around the huge aesthetic living room, realizing she woke up in the evening.
"I've been asleep for nine hours? Gosh, especially in Eunwoo's apartment," She was baffled but groaned as she mentally slapped herself.
She sat up and found papers displayed on the wall, written in words.
"Meet me at the Coffee Hanyakbang shop."
Her eyes widened in peculiarity and nodded in understanding. She grabbed her jacket hastily from the rack and exited. She traveled for thirty minutes and showed up at a certain place. Her eyebrows raised up morbidly when it was all dark and the sign indicated her to enter.
She pushed the doors open where the little bells jingled and widened her eyes in astonishment. A few people, including the workers, were standing behind Eunwoo, who was holding an ice cream cake. They began to sing and clap their hands beamingly.
"Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, dear Valerie.
Happy birthday to you!"
Valerie slowly approached him and glistened her eyes intensely. "You know my birthday?"
"I took a background research of you earlier," Eunwoo explained with a chuckle.
"Stalker," Valerie nudged him lightly on his shoulder and laughed.
"Make a wish," Eunwoo said softly.
Valerie looked at him curiously and recalled the dream she had. She shrugged it off and closed her eyes, then blew the candles.
At that moment, everyone started to clap, whereas the waiter was holding the ice cream cake. They were watching Eunwoo wrap his arms around her and Valerie reciprocated in their embrace.
The wish she made was simple and realized it was all real. Even though it wasn't something she was hoping for, she was thankful for someone to acknowledge her.
Eunwoo smiled at her, saying. "Long time no see, bestie..."
"Huh?" Valerie's heart stopped as she became perplexed and surprised at the same time.
That was when someone else was recording them from the back of the room against the glass window. 378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpduPKfZPIo
