Chapter 4: Life is not a box of Chocolates...

Aya woke up, her alarm was shrieking at her and she let out an irritated groan. She threw the bed covers away from her and shut the alarm off. A yawn escaped her lips while she stretched.

She needed to get a move on but her body was still exhausted from her shift at the diner. She was still angry with Isis for dumping her workload on her. This meant that she would be away from home the whole day.

She stood up and went to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror, the dark marks were thick under her eyes. She opened the warm water and washed her face.

You only have a few minutes before the bus leaves you behind, she thought and left the bathroom to get ready for her shift at the Busan Animal Sanctuary.

She opened her wardrobe and grabbed blue jeans, a purple t-shirt and some white sneakers. She loved to be comfortable. She grabbed her bag and her cellphone, she was out of her front door and running down the steps.

She turned around the corner. The bus just stopped and the doors were opening. She hugged her bag close and sprinted the last few steps. When she got on the bus, she sat down on the seat in front and took out her phone.

She did not know why she kept taking it out. The only person that texted was Carl. She did not know anyone else or maybe she secretly hoped that Hoseok somehow got her number.

She laid back into the seat and gazed out of the window. The bus slowly started moving, she returned her cellphone to her bag. What a long day ahead, she sighed inwardly.

******

Hoseok opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Was it a dream? Had he dreamt the evening before? A soft smile played on his lips and he folded his arms under his head on his pillow.

The memories played like a movie in his thoughts. The way she smiled, blushed and nervously tucked at her hair. It made his heart melt. He took a deep breath and-

"Hobi! Are you up yet?"

The bedroom door burst open. Jimin stood in the doorway with his arms crossed. Hoseok sat upright, his smile did not disappear, "I am awake."

Jimin whistled and grinned. "What are you smiling about this early?"

"I am just excited for the upcoming tour," he replied with a small shrug of his shoulders.

Jimin narrowed his eyes. "You are lying to me, Hobi. Come on, tell me."

Hobi chuckled. "I can't just yet, Jimin. I promise when the time is right, you'll be the first one I tell."

Jimin puffed out his cheeks. "You never keep secrets from me."

Hoseok watched Jimin's pout. He couldn't tell them yet. He hasn't even told Aya that he is a K-pop idol. She seemed so oblivious to who he was, and he liked that, a bit of normality, so for now, he would keep her a secret from his bandmates. He would try his best to keep her safe from the world of a K-pop star.

"Don't pout Jimin, or your face will stay like that when the clock strikes. " He got out of bed, "Let's get into the kitchen before Namjoon comes looking for us."

"I wonder what is for breakfast," Jimin asked and followed Hoseok to the kitchen.

When they entered the kitchen, they were surprised that Namjoon was not in the kitchen yet. Usually, when they would be going on a big tour Namjoon would be the earliest to rise.

Where could he be? Hoseok thought and took down to mugs, "Have you seen Namjoon?"

Jimin sat down on the chair. "No, I haven't seen him yet."

*****

Namjoon was still in his room, he had his phone in his hand, tapping away. He smiled when he found what he was looking for. This would be his triumph card and make sure that any type of relationship came to an end. They would get a scolding from Big Hit Entertainment, but this was all for them.

He wrote down the number and wiped his search history clean. He dialled the number. "Good morning, am I speaking to Yue? This is Namjoon. I am sorry to bother you this early, but I was wondering if you'd be able to come to our last performance in Los Angeles?"

He smiled and ended the call. Even if it takes him a month to help end this fling... He would make sure that Hoseok was invested in their tour, this was going to be the biggest of them all.

He left his room and entered the kitchen. He was surprised that all of them were already sitting around the table. His eyes scanned their faces but stopped at Hoseok.

"Good you are all up. We have a full schedule this week and we have to train harder than ever before!"

They all cheered, "Bangtan, Bangtan!"

Namjoon smiled, yet his gaze never left Hoseok's. "In one week we will be going to Los Angeles, we will conquer any obstacle in our way."

He watched Hoseok's expression but he was just smiling at him. He felt an unknown anger fuel his blood. "Get dressed, we are leaving."

*****

Hoseok pursed his lips as he left the kitchen. Namjoon had to be up to something and he knew he was not going to like the idea very much. He closed the bedroom door and an epiphany came to mind.

He grabbed his phone from the bedside table and searched for the diner's number. Would they give him her telephone number? He kept his fingers crossed and dialled the number.

"Hello?" a bored voice answered the phone.

"Yes-hello. My name is Hoseok and I was wondering if you would be able to help me?"

"Would you like to book a table at Freshly Ground, sir?"

"No," Hoseok replied, "I was wondering if I may have a waitress's contact number?"

"I am sorry, sir but we are not allowed to give out any information."

Hoseok's head drooped. He was afraid that might happen, so he licked his lips nervously. What was he supposed to do now? He needed to see her again.

"May I ask when her next shift will be?"

"It depends on who you are looking for," the voice said smugly.

He was about to reply when a voice spoke beyond the door. "We have to get a move on, Hobi! Namjoon is in the van already."

Curses! Nothing was going right this morning! "Her name is Aya."

"Aya? Wow, I never thought someone would admire her but she is working this evening."

"Thank you," Hoseok replied and ended the call. He grabbed his pack, opened the door and started running for the van. A plan was already forming in his mind.

Tonight was the night that he would get her contact number. Tonight would be the start of a wonderful relationship, he was smiling by the time he reached the van.

"Took you long enough," Namjoon snapped.

"I am here now, aren't I?" He replied and closed the van door behind him.

*****

The bus stopped. Aya got up from her seat and waited for everyone to climb out. The sun lit her face and she breathed in the warmth. She was thrilled to be back at the animal sanctuary.

She opened the door and swung her bag over her shoulder. "Good morning, everyone!"

Three co-workers answered her greeting. She was almost to the back door when- "Good morning, Aya."

She turned around and grinned. "Carl! I thought you were coming in later."

Carl looked her up and down. "You look amazing! You are practically glowing!"

Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "Oh, come on Carl! Do not tease me so early in the morning."

He chuckled. "Well, the puppies are waiting for you. They seem to like you the most."

She eyed him suspiciously. "It is because you are afraid that they will bite you."

Carl threw his hands in the air, offended. "No, my dear girl. You have the magic to work with them."

She placed her fingers on her chin in thought. "Mmmm, you might be right."

She turned back to the door but before she could open it, Carl said. "Do not forget to tell me about this man you met yesterday evening."

"I hoped you would forget that I have mentioned it," She replied and pushed the door open. She was not going to get her hopes up about meeting him again.

"Good morning, Chubby, Shinu and Rai." The puppies scampered toward her behind the cage. She poked her fingers through the cage and they instantly licked her fingers, she laughed. "How're my babies this morning?"

They barked a reply and started rolling around the cage. She smiled and knelt before the cage door.

"I see, let's get the cage open and take you out to the yard." She opened the cage and they burst through the opening and started scampering around her feet.

She whistled and they followed her to the backyard door.