CHAPTER-12: ME OR HIM?

EVELYN: Alan?... is it you?

ALAN: (reveals himself) I didn't expect you to catch me so quickly. Neither did I expect that the slow witted and innocent girl whom I knew, is so cunning and shameless in reality. 

EVELYN: Why do you keep blaming me when you are the one who broke into my house behind my back. (Frustrated tone)

ALAN: I'm not blaming you but showing you the mirror. You already had an affair with that man when we were dating, isn't it? How come you moved on so quickly and got a boyfriend on the same night of the breakup. (Shouts and bangs on wall)

EVELYN: (flinches) What? My.. boyfriend? What are you talking about?

Suddenly, they heard a knock on the door, interrupting their tense situation.

DAYUN: (knocks) Eve-chan~ Are you at home? I was craving some cheesecake but I guess I brought it a bit much. Would you like to have some? (knocks)

EVELYN: That's Dayun-sshi..(turns in the direction of voice in surprise) Dayu- (tries to call him out)

She tried to answer him but Alan seized her mouth, disabling her to speak and quickly pulled her closer to the window, keeping her out of sight from Dayun. 

ALAN: Don't make a sound or he'll be in danger. (Whispers in her ear)

DAYUN: (continues to knock) Eve-chan~

It seems like she's not home yet...but I definitely heard sounds coming from her house (frowns) That's strange! 

Nevermind.. (looks at the cake) what a pain.. i guess I have to finish it by myself. (Moves to the next door with a gloomy face and unlocks it)

Though she didn't have complete faith in Dayun but in times of danger, he was the only one who came to her mind. A part of her desperately wanted to call out his name. 

Seeing him leaving made her feel like she had lost all hopes to get out of that difficult situation. 

EVELYN: Please don't go, Dayun-sshi (mumbles his name with teary eyes)

ALAN: It feels like he's gone. Now, we can continue from where we were. Don't try to act oversmart by calling out for help. (Chuckles and raises his eyebrows) You are really something. (Pulls her hair) You never even invited me to your house in those damn 5 years but he already knows your address. Do you take me for a fool? I know he's the same guy whom you have been desperately cuddling to on new year's night. (Continues to yell)

EVELYN: Ahh... Alan.. leave, please... it's hurting me. (Cries and begs him) I don't know why you are so angry? 

ALAN: Stop being so miserable in front of me, you shameless slut. You never truly loved me. You were just using me for your own gain. But now you have him, right? So, you are going to throw me aside. 

EVELYN: Dayun-sshi and I.. don't share that kind of relationship. How many times do I have to tell you? (Hic)

ALAN: Ha! As if I would believe that non sense from your filthy mouth. You are always playing the victim, aren't you? But don't worry, Eve. I'll make sure you regret ever playing with me.

Alan's words cut her deeply, hitting a nerve she didn't know existed. She couldn't beleive that he held so much hatred towards her.

He wasn't ready to listen to anything because of his delusional thoughts.

ALAN: Always causing drama, Eve. It's no wonder why I left you. You never learn. But I'll make sure you do, even if it means breaking you completely.

Alan had gone crazy out of his rage and was about to slap her. Evelyn closed her eyes but even after a few seconds, she didn't feel the impact of slap on her face. 

As she opened her eyes and raised her head, she was shocked yet relieved to see Dayun, coming to her rescue. He held Alan's hands in a firm grip, stopping him from hitting her and pushed him away. 

DAYUN: (glares at Alan) Don't you dare lay a hand on her. She's not yours to abuse. You have no right to harm her. No wonder when I first met you in the morning, i felt something was off and the way you were glaring at Eve-chan. (Cold tone) Ex or whatever just leave before I make you to go. (Turns to Evelyn) Are you alright, Eve-chan (holds her hand with concerned eyes)

ALAN: Still playing the victim, aren't we? Pathetic. (Chuckles) No wonder you end up with someone trashy like him. Who are you to middle here just leave before I decide to make you regret everything you have done. (Yells and blows a punch Dayun)

The punch was strong enough to make him bleed from his lower lips because of the ring Alan was wearing in his ring finger which signified that he still hadn't completely gone over Evelyn. 

The punch made Dayun to kneel down on the floor. 

EVELYN: (Shouts) Alan, what are you doing? (Dashes to Dayun) Dayun-sshi, are you okay? 

DAYUN: (wipes off blood from lips with backside of his hands) Don't worry, Eve-chan...I'm fine. And he won't lay a hand on you again, I will make sure of it. 

EVELYN: How Many times do I have to tell you that I'm not dating Dayun-sshi. (Pauses) Alan, that's enough. Get out of my house right now. (Points towards door in anger)

ALAN: You think you can just kick me out like this? After everything I have been through? You are delusional, thinking you have any control over me Oh come on, Just put out the truth already.

DAYUN: Eve-chan, there's no point in hiding it now. It doesn't matter what you say or how much you hide it, the truth would eventually come out one day. You can't resist it. (Looks at Eve with pleading eyes)

EVELYN: (frowns in confusion and looks back at Dayun) Dayun-sshi...What do you mean?

DAYUN: It's alright, Eve-chan. We can't keep hiding the truth forever it's better to come clean now then to suffer the consequences later. (Sighs and turns to Alan) You wanna know the truth, right? Then listen, Mr Ex (pauses) We have fallen for each other, so hard that you could't even imagine. Yes, I'm her lover. (Says bluntly with a straight face glaring at Alan)

Dayun's sudden words left her stunned and confused. She was afraid to react or even to say anything.

EVELYN: W...why are you doing this? (frowns)

DAYUN: I'm doing this for our sake, Eve-chan. We truly love each other so what's the need of hiding it. And.. i can't pretend anymore. Please, let's stop hiding and be together. (Serious tone)

ALAN: Love? (laughs madly) Wow! Your so called lover has exposed your sins himself. Now, what do you have to say about it? (Glares angrily at Eve)

DAYUN: Is falling in love a crime? And besides this, she was never happy with you. She always tried her best to save her relationship but you are the one who neglected her first. She has done nothing wrong. (Determined)

ALAN: Ha! So now you are openly admitting your affair. How could you stoop so low. 

EVELYN: Stop! (Screams) Can you please put an end to it? I'm not getting anything. I... I don't know.. what's going on (frustrated and staggering voice)

ALAN: (takes a long sigh) I don't have time for your melodrama. I'm giving you a last chance to clear things and come back to me. I'll overlook everything and forgive you. (Egoistic tone) Tell me, it's me or him? 

Feeling overwhelmed and unsure, Evelyn found herself in a state of dilemma and was caught in a tug-of-war between friendship and love. 

She always wanted to clear things with Alan and continue being with him but when she was given a chance to do so, she was unsure of what to choose. 

Dayun intentionally got silent and didn't interfere as he was curious to know her decision. 

The whole atmosphere became tensed with overwhelming silence. After thinking for a few minutes, she took a glance at both of them and slowly began to move towards Alan.

As she was taking slow steps towards Alan, she could feel Dayun's gaze following her every step. He was silently and calmly looking at her as if was ready for any decision. 

She reached Alan, who looked surprised and relieved at the same time. His face got gleamed with a prideful smile. But what happened next was something that no one expected.

ALAN: She choose me (gives a prideful smirk and glares at Dayun)

Alan was showing his egoistic and victorious smirk to Dayun and feeling joy within himself but meanwhile, Evelyn slapped Alan hard in his face which brought him out of his delusional world. 

The moments her hands hit Alan, Dayun's expressions swiftly got changed. His calm and cold face turned into a devilish one, giving off a sinister smile.

DAYUN: Did she? (glares at Alan and Smirks with his eyebrows raised)

EVELYN: How could you even think that I would still come back to you after all the things you have done to me. I have seen those videos on your phone and I can't ever forgive you after that. Get out of my sight and never even think of showing up here again.

ALAN: You little b*tch, how dare you slap me in the face! And you have the audacity to touch my phone without permission. From where you are getting so much guts. (Pulls out a knife and turns to Dayun) Fine, I'll end your suffering and give an epic ending to your love story. 

He tried to attack Dayun with the knife in his hands but Evelyn came in between the two. 

She was about to get stabbed, meanwhile Dayun caught the blade with his bare hands which froze it midway. 

His grip over the blade was so intense that his hands started bleeding profusely. 

EVELYN: (teary eyes) D.. Dayun-sshi, please leave it. Alan! Stop it now otherwise I'm calling the cops. (Pulls out her mobile phone and threatens him)

DAYUN: Eve-...chan, get... out of here..now (groans in pain)

ALAN: (pushes Dayun and throws the knife) Nice...I'm impressed to see how you two could feel each other's pain. (Smirks). Today's not my day but don't you think that it'll end here. I'll make you regret your decision. You'll come crawling back to me, begging for forgiveness. (Leaves by banging the door)

As Alan stormed out of her house, she took a sigh of relief but also felt a hint of fear knowing what Alan was capable of. 

Evelyn rushed towards Dayun's side, her heart aching as she saw him hurt. 

Despite everything, he helped her and even got hurt badly because of her. She couldn't help but feel drawn towards him. 

EVELYN: (gives him support and makes him sit on the sofa) Dayun-sshi, why did you come here? He's a dangerous man. (Looks at his hands) What if...something happened to you? (Tears rolling down her face) I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. 

DAYUN: (smiles lightly and tries to hide his pain) Calm down, Eve-chan. He's gone. Everything's alright now. 

EVELYN: Let me treat your wound first. 

DAYUN: Don't worry, Eve-chan. I'll do it myself. You need to get some rest. 

EVELYN: It's because of me that you got injured so it's my responsibility to get it treated and besides this, your right hand has been injured, it'll take a lot of time and effort to do the dressing properly. Wait a sec (rushes inside and brings a first aid box) Give me your hand.

DAYUN: (smirks and looks at her) As stubborn as ever (thinks to himself)

As she tend to Dayun's wound, his calm eyes were looking at her silently. Her curiosity was getting the best of her as she wanted to know why did he lie about their relationship to Alan. So, she decided the break the silence.

EVELYN: Dayun-sshi, i wanted to know... why did you lied.. about our relationship? (Looks at him with questionable eyes)

DAYUN: That's just...I know that you were not happy in that toxic relationship so I wanted him to leave you on his own and don't bother you again. He was so persistent so i thought maybe the idea of you getting in an affair with someone else would make him give up on you. 

EVELYN: But still, it was too much to say that we love each other. (Sighs) Dayun-sshi, you are a nice person and I don't want you to get involved with him. 

DAYUN: (Hesitates for a moment) I don't want to lie, Eve-Chan. I'm concerned. (Looks at her with conflicted emotions) And i don't want you to get hurt.

EVELYN: I know you are worried as a friend but please, from now on, don't get hurt and take proper care of yourself. 

DAYUN: (grabs her hand) What if I say... I do care about you.. but not as a friend. I see you.. more than as a friend. (Intense eyes)

EVELYN: (her hands stop moving) wh.. what do you mean? (Frowns)

With a racing heart and a sense of confusion, she pulled away from Dayun's touch. She didn't know how to handle that situation.

But one thing was so sure, that she couldn't ignore the feelings stirring within her. Only one thing kept on popping in her mind, ''what to do now...?''