Ling's POV

The messages didn't stop, in fact, they became worst. The number of pictures Borin had to black mail me with was overwhelming, some of them dating back to when I was still studying in Korea. Xiumin offered multiple times to keep my phone for me but I turned his request down. I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable with the photos as some of them may be of him.

That night, the members decided to stay over again. Baekhyun, Kai, and D.O had bought take out and were waiting for us with Lay when we went back to the apartment. The smell of the sweet and sour chicken hit me in the face as I walked into the living room, making me forget my worries for a brief moment.

Halfway through dinner, Xiumin placed a hand on my waist and kissed me on the head.

"We are going to go out for a bit okay?"

"Hmm?" I looked up at him mid-bite. "All of you? Nam Soon as well?"

He smiled at me and ruffled my hair. "Just for a bit Ling, don't worry."

I looked around the table as everyone stood up and headed for the door. I nodded solemnly and watched as the seven of them piled out the door, leaving me alone in my living room with plates of half eaten food.

Where on earth were they all going, and at this time of night too?

My phone buzzed on the floor beside me and I glanced over to look at the caller ID.

Unknown, international call. Could it be Gabby?

I cleaned my hands off as the buzzing continued. Or was it Borin?

"Hello?" I spoke slowly, I wasn't exactly excited to talk to either of them.

There was silence on the other end and I had to repeat myself.

A short, sweet voice answered. "Hello, Lingling."

-----
Luhan's POV

It was as though I was re watching a movie in my head. Everything that had happened during the past few weeks replayed itself in my mind as I tried to make sense of it.

Ling was the victim and Borin was-

I kicked the chair in the hotel room and stood up angrily. I stood in front of the mirror and stared at myself.

Stupid. I ran a hand through my hair. All this time, I had blamed Ling when really-

I recalled Borin's tears at the hospital and all those times she cried in my room. "I had been so sure."

I groaned in frustration and fell on my bed. Guilt ate away at me as I remembered the look on Ling's face when I had believed Borin instead of her. I felt angry tears gather at the corners of my eyes and I let out a slow wavering breath trying hard to suppress them. Again, I was a fault. I had hurt her again when I specifically told her I wouldn't.

I need to apologize.

I grabbed my phone and dialed for Ling only to hesitate at the call button. What would she say? Would she forgive me, I know I wouldn't.

My mind wandered to our conversation in the shop and I thought about Xiumin. What would Xiumin say if I told him?

My heart pounded loudly in my chest. It seems that the more time I spent thinking about how to make it up to them, the guiltier I felt. It was getting to a point where even breathing was nerve racking for me. I sat up on my bed and headed for the door, my hands were shaking uncontrollably and my head was spinning with thoughts.

I have to see Xiumin.

No matter what had happened between us the last couple of days, Xiumin was still one of the closest friends I have. I dialed his number and headed for Ling's apartment.

This time, I'm going to do things right.

-----
Xiumin's POV

"We're not the ones he should be talking to," Baekhyun muttered grumpily in the elevator. "What's he doing in China anyways."

Sehun crossed his arms and wrinkled his nose in annoyance. "I don't know if I want to see him."

The two of them discussed Luhan's sudden request while the rest of us listened in silence. Nam Soon stared at me with a worried expression to which I stared back. I wasn't really in the mood to deal with Luhan at the moment but being curious as to what he wanted from me, I agreed to meet up. To my surprise, he wanted to see all of us except Ling.

Was it something about the collaboration song?

I frowned as we exited the elevator and headed for the back lobby of the apartment. It was deserted as it almost always was. Ling's apartment was a quite a quiet place and the residents rarely gathered in the lobby.

Just as I was about to reach the door to the lobby, Luhan called out from behind me.

"Minseok!" I turned to see him running through the front entrance at us, his hair was a mess and his jacket was half off his shoulder.

Beside me, Baekhyun crossed his arms and leaned on the nearby wall. Out of all of us, I think he was the one who felt the most betrayed by the other members. Baekhyun had always lived by the rule we are one, and now that EXO has been split into two, he's become quite hostile towards the members who believed in Borin.

"What do you want," He muttered under his breath at Luhan as he approached us.

Luhan breathed hard, trying to catch his breath. His hair was damp with sweat, signs that he ran here. We stood in silence waiting for him to settle down.

"Is Ling okay?" He said finally.

"Why wouldn't she be?" Kai asked quietly.

Luhan paused and looked me hard in the eyes. "Borin sent people to watch her."

I blinked at him. "What?"

"Borin," D.O said slowly trying to understand him. "Borin as in, your girlfriend Borin?"

He minced his lips and said nothing, his eyes still locked with mine.

Luhan's pupils were dilated and his breathing was wavering every time he exhaled. The hand holding his phone shook uncontrollably as though he was about to have a mental breakdown at any moment. He swallowed hard and looked away nervously.

Was Luhan changing his mind on who to believe now?

I sighed and shook my head in disbelief. He can't just decide to suddenly change his mind after all of this, it does not work this way.

The members bombarded with Luhan with questions as I stood in the back, listening to him explain everything that happened at the back of the shop.

I found myself gripping my fist hard and I realised that I didn't want Luhan on our side.
Things were finally going well between Ling and me.

However selfish it may sound, I no longer just wanted Ling to be happy, I wanted much more than just that. I looked at the nervous Luhan from the corner of my eyes. He was going to get in my way.

-----
Sehun's POV

I didn't hear Luhan finish before I sprinted up the stairs again.

Borin was stalking Ling, which meant that there were people watching her right now when she's alone up there.

I had an unsettling feeling at the back my mind as I drew closer and closer to her apartment.

Please tell me she's okay, tell me I'm just over thinking it.

With my heart thumping loudly I reached for the door to see that it was unlocked.

"No," I muttered under my breath as cold sweat dripped down my back. I swung open the door with a loud bang and froze at the entrance.

The table in the living room was flipped over and Ling's phone was smashed on the floor.

Notes

//Author's Note:
Ling is gone, what will the members do now? Was Luhan too late to realise the truth?

Survey: Help me improve my writing <3
Thanks for the continuous reading!
Enjoy the story.