With her heavy, doubtful steps, Aerin walked inside the bar, and couldn't believe how she chose to get her night started. In that noisy pub, everyone is attempting to appear proper in their high end attire, while she is the only one who looked normal - with her thick, chunky clothes when it's not even winter. Hair down with a covered face, is the new normal, at present, that's what it is for her.
Aerin surveyed the place with her sight, keenly checking if there's any chasers around. She sighed in relief when she felt the safety, but not so completely.
Being in that place is her ace in the hole. That unexpected meet up with Kang Minho is her last resort for prowlers are everywhere trying to dig in to the present topic that she have created and her safety is now at risk.
The waiter approached her with a warm smile. "Hi! Can I get you something?"
Aerin glanced at the guy and quickly answered. "I'll have whatever, a drink, maybe."
"We have a special cocktail just for tonight, classic and will not create some booze. You still gonna walk home straight, I can assure that." 
"I think I'd love that."
"Alright. It'll be ready in seconds."
Aerin deeply sighed and adjusted her mask. The place is giving her chllls much more than anywhere outside. The only safe place for her now is ridiculously nowhere. Even in her room feels precocious, she couldn't sleep tightly for weeks past.
The sound of her phone chimed made her senses to come back running and a sense of fear unexpectedly builds up. She is close to develop anxiety because of her situation. Aerin opened the tab and saw the new trending X hashtag.
#cancelchoiaerin #protectheeseungfromchoiaerin
Aerin's fear had fast to become madness in just seconds after reading it. Those psychotic allies of Lee Heeseung are getting way too savage and she's now sick of it. She slammed her phone down just as some pumped-up arms clings onto her from behind. She almost jumped in surprise.
"Did I scare you? I'm sorry. I didn't expect you to become so jumpy lately."
Aerin felt relief seeing the man. But how odd, she cannot feel the thrill while looking into his eyes anymore.
"Are you doing okay? Seems like you a little zoned out. I've heard the news and--"
"I'm fine, Minho." she answered quickly.
"That's good then. Thank you so much for seeing me tonight, Aerin. If you only knew how desperate I am for us to patch things up. I know I'm stupid to leave you like that and I'm sorry."
Aerin's lip twisted up along with a scornful look. A reconciliation isn't in her book anymore. She just want to escape the hysteria.
Having Minho said another things, her mind is totally migrating. She cannot forget those eyebrows scrunching, foreheads creasing and lips tightening before Lee Heeseung spattered those words straight to her face.
"Aerin?"
"W-What?'
"You're totally lost. Maybe it's better if I take you home."
"N-No. I'm fine."
"You're not. Please, don't be so hard headed."
"One cocktail drink for the pretty lady." the waiter cuts in.
"Thanks. Do you accept card?" Aerin asked, totally ignoring Minho's begging.
"Sure. No problem."
Aerin gave her card and saw the waiter's brows bumped in curiosity. He stared on it for quite a while then proceeds to look at Aerin's face. She looked away and immediately knows the agenda.
"Choi Aerin? Are you--?"
"Just swipe my card, please." Aerin's voice quickly raised.
The waiter shrugged his shoulders as he went out. Minho sighed and faced Aerin with serious stare.
"I know you're not feeling safe right now. You need company, Aerin. If you let me into you're life again, I can definitely protect you."
Aerin scoffed hard. "I can't believe you're saying that in the midst of all these hurdles. After all you've done?!"
Minho grew unnaturally still. He knows Aerin have a sharp mouth but she never blowed up that easy. But still, she was right. It wasn't easy to make amends, not in the time when she's experiencing safety issues.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that in the very first place. But I insist of taking you home."
"I haven't touched my drink. And it's not really that necessary." Aerin answered coldly.
She glanced at the counter and her gut is right. The waiter's in discussion with a colleague and making that inessential glimpse on her. Aerin knows fast, that place will turn into a turmoil in no time if she won't leave for once.
"I need to go."
"Aerin, wait!"
"Aerin?! Choi Aerin? So you're the cynic witch that ruthlessly ripped Lee Heeseung with your absurd article! What a desperate hag!" the lady on the other seat blurted, her eyes blazing and is about to spit fire.
Low murmurs filled the whole place and pairs of judging eyes are slashing, it could burn her in no time. Aerin stood up to leave the place but was halted when phone flashes hits her face.
"No! Please--"
To beg is something she finds displeasure to. But in a curveball, and after meeting Lee Heeseung, Aerin learned to stoop low and bend her knees, to the people she doesn't even give a damn before. The threat posed is ponderous, she never thought damaging Lee Heeseung will damage her even more.
"You messed up with the wrong fandom!"
"How dare you hurt our bambi!"
"Go to hell, Choi Aerin!"
Cancel culture is quite harsh. The accident she had made shunned and assaulted her straightly and worst, it was aided by social media. It won't be a shock if tomorrow she'll see her face in the trending news and chains of blasphemous comments will follow. And up until that day, Aerin is still unsure how to completely take down the article. Ms. Kim strongly ordered her not to and she's stuck in between. The coercion is making everything messy.
"Stop! You're harrassing her! Aerin, let's go now." Minho covered her by his coat as he clutched her hard not be get shaved off, saving her from absolute danger.
After some few blocks away and fast, long strides to escape the physical and emotional upheavals, Aerin breaks the tears that been lurking there for so long. The tears welled up her eyes as she lets her head drop, too ashamed to face Minho. Being fearful is not her, but not anymore.
"Aerin--" Minho tried to touch her face but halted. "Just cry. I'm not going anywhere. Just cry your heart out."
Never did she thought she'll made a mistake that will push to the point of agony. Being pitied is something she won't allow, Aerin sighed heavily and quickly wiped her tears.
"I appreciate your help. Thank you so much."
"You are not just any person. I still care for you."
"I think this is the last time we will see each other again."
"A-Aerin--" Minho was appalled.
"My life's a mess right now. And we can't go back to where we used to be. It's over, Minho. I don't want anybody. I just want my normal life back."
"But you're not safe."
Aerin nodded and sighed again. "I know. Let me own up my mistakes and face this problem alone. No one can solve this but only me."
Being desperate sometimes pushes a person to make that jump in deep waters. Aerin covered her face once more and was surprised by the jutted idea that's running inside her brain. Making amends might be scary but there's no more scarier than being scrapped because of an awful mistake. 
Aerin struffled leaving Minho behind. At that moment, her head is the most aggressive of all her systems, defeating her feet, letting it stride to somewhere she never thought she'd go back once more. That building felt bizarre, so scary, but Aerin promised herself she's not going to screw up again.
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