[song for chapter: Save Ur Tears-The Weeknd]
October 21st 2044
Yumi's POV:
the faint sound of rain tapping at my window plays as background noise,as I focus on the paper I'm writing.
I scribbled daintily as if Zaire was really going to care about my handwriting.
it's been over nearly 2 weeks since he departed to Virginia,my feelings for Mingyu has grown massively stronger than since our encounter & confessions to each other.
so I'm here trying to basically write Zaire out of my life,it feels so cold and heartless doing this to him however.
that I grip onto the edges of the paper,mentally threatening to rip it into millions of pieces and burning it so it'll never been recovered.
Zaire is one of my friends,he helped me get here so why should I leave him behind like as if he was nothing to me.
What if he completely hates me for doing this?
what if he grew attached to me?
what if it was all a game to get me to like him instead?
all the "what if's" played in my head,I was so ready to send the letter off a hour ago.
But it's taken me a hour just to write 2 sentences that sounded right to start it off.
at this rate,it would take me the whole day to finish.
I sure as hell would be pissed if I got dumped by mail.
but he's all the way in Virginia & something's halting me from just texting him or calling him.
I'm assuming it's worst than this,but now I'm starting to weigh my options.
I chew on my nail nervously & there goes my pink painted nail.
now chewed up & chipped from my nerves.
my foot tapping on the ground anxiously,it isn't until my mom walks in suddenly that I toss randomly to the side,leaving me unaware of where it landed.
Luna's downstairs playing video games with Daemin while I wallow in self guilt up in my room.
pondering this decision over and over again.
I know this is best because it will hurt him more if keep him lingering and he'll grow even more attached.
"fuck it" I say now that my mom left my room after checking on me,she must've worried because I didn't come down for breakfast & it looks like I'll be in here for lunch as well.
I reassure her however that I'm well,despite my dark undereyes which is a sign of exhaustion from the homework they give us at school.
school takes a toll on the body & mind.
take it or leave it.
it does.
I start writing at a speed that was like as if someone gave me a shot of adrenaline.
I felt the time slip by me until a warm hand tapped my shoulder & luckily I had finished my letter.
I sealed it perfectly & I look back to face my still worried mother.
"Umi...dinner's ready you haven't ate-"
"I'm starving but homework was due" I lie through my teeth.
was it needed? i don't know and I won't know the answer to that unfortunately.
because she bought it and grabbed my arm lightly to take me downstairs.
my hand started feeling sore so I rub it lightly without her noticing,that way she won't start worrying more than she is already.
-
[ the next day ]
-
| UNITED STATES POST OFFICE |
I stand in line waiting for my turn to deliver mail,I tap my foot anxiously as I wait.
my mind running with thousands of words which I must've written in that paper given how long the letter is.
I spilled my entire guts out in that paper,my father thinks I'm dropping off a letter to a pen pal in Virginia which isn't wrong.
but it's slightly off since I believe he's caught feelings for me,which I don't return and it's not because I'm cold.
it's because I never had them for him & I have Mingyu now who I've had feelings for since we were kids.
He's in the car with my dad,I can imagine the lectures he's giving him about being careful with me.
the front desk lady calls my name and I walk up to the desk.
"wait" I let out and I raise a eyebrow in confusion at my own reaction.
I fight back my arm that wants to hand over the envelope to the lady,to send off to Virginia like I planned.
She looks at me analyzing my expression.
I hand it over reluctantly and I walk away.
I get in the car and slam the door shut.
startling both Mingyu & my dad.
"What happened in there?" My dad asks me.
"Just drive dad." I say hiding my face from all existence in my hoodie.
Mingyu goes silent and tries to touch my hand.
I clear my throat in response and he backs off.
-
[ at the house ]
I roam around my room,pacing back and forth.
thousands of thoughts running through my head.
he's just a friend,but why am I worrying so much?
I grab my phone and decide to text him.
"Umi💗: hey Zai we need to talk..."
I wait a while and no response comes in.
but then......my phone lights up next to me.
I grab it again & I look at it.
"Zai✨: what's wrong doll?"
I start typing back.
"Umi💗: I sent you a letter..."
"Zai✨: oh doll you shouldn't had gone through all dat."
"Umi💗: let's end this game..."
"Zai✨: what game???"
"Umi💗: this game we created to make Mingyu jealous."
"Zai✨: why did it work?"
"Umi💗: yea..kinda. but we confessed to each other that we like each other. So we don't have to pretend anymore whew!"

silence.
like as if I never texted him back in the first place.
my stomach grows with worry.
he must be thinking this over.

"Zai✨: yea pretend.."
I nearly choke on my drink reading that.
he wrote that and it sounded sarcastic but I don't wanna jump to conclusions.
"Zai✨: it wasn't pretend to me :/ "

Awh damnit. I messed up.
he likes me?!
Zaire?!!!!?!!
like of all people I never saw that coming.
"Umi💗: Zai I'm so sorry,I never wanted to hurt you or take you for granted. I love you as a friend! you mean a lot to me but it's best we end this."
I text back.
after a brief silence again,he writes back.
"Zai✨: I appreciate and accept the apology,I should be the one apologizing for thinking I had a shot with you in the first place.
You're rare compared to the girls at school but you were made for Mingyu honestly...y'all are perfect."
I couldn't help but feel my heart break into millions of pieces.
"Umi💗: so we still friends right? when you come back you ain't gonna ignore me right?..bc I'll regret doing all this then."
"Zai✨: never that doll,I'm too mature for that. we're still besties for lifey. but I might be coming back to NYC a little later than I thought..I should be coming back in the first week of November."
"Umi💗: oh thank god! we miss you over here,all of us! hurry up and join us again🥺"
"Zai✨: be there by November 5th hehe"
I get off my phone and feel all the weight on my shoulders relieve itself.
-
[MEANWHILE]
Zaire's POV:
I get off my phone and toss it onto my bed.
I sit back in my gaming chair,I stare off into the distance.
I did have feelings for Yumi.
but she doesn't have those same feelings for me,so I must get over them and arrive as her friend.
not a lover boy,I read the message again.
"We miss you over here,all of us."
I bet.
I've been here at my grandmother's house for a while now.
but originally it was a family vacation to celebrate my brother's birthday but it ended up becoming a stay at my grandma's after she had a health scare a week ago.
my aunt is arriving in town soon to stay with her for the remainder of this trip so I can go back home.
So now to go back to NYC,a new man..
-
[to be continued...]
-
Hi guys it's Reina here!
I wanna thank you all for all the support you've given the entire "7 men and a baby" series!
it's insane how much we've grown!
now we're on our third installment "7 men and a teenager".
I love you all so much and I can't wait to see what's next for us on this journey!
Peace & Love Always
- REINA🧿✨💕🦋💗✨