#247jaye

TEXT MESSAGE STARTERS — accepting

@247jaye

PAST | Jaye awoke to a loud knock. With the voice of  a man telling him it was time for him to finally get up. The walls were bare, yet there were scratch marks on them as a testament to his withdrawal. A reminder that if he didn’t hit that plateau soon, the man wouldn’t be able to recognize himself anymore. So he got up and began preparing for the day of counseling and normalcy in order to be allowed back into society that wouldn’t tolerate his abuse. A society that his mother worked harder to get him into in the first place. But Jaye wasn’t doing this for her. He had severed those ties years ago. Instead he was doing this for himself. He had gotten to use to the high life to come down now. It was a necessity.

As Jaye exited his room, he continued the schedule as he was supposed to. Rehab wasn’t really his scene but after almost dying, it had become a mandate to continue his career. As a recent check in with scars of his deeds still etched onto his skin and face, he tried his best to act like this place was a godsend. But the sweat beading on the back of his neck and hair told otherwise, the man was struggling. And like they all said, before he hit that plateau Jaye had to hit rock bottom first.

Hiding out in the common room, he slid his back down at an empty corner and buried his head into his hands. He needed to stop the shaking somehow, a sign of withdrawal his counselors said he needed to prepare himself for. They said that it would only last for a little while but to Jaye, time seemed to move just a little bit slower whenever he was feeling bad. He hated that. Snapping his head up at the familiar voice, it took a few minutes for him to focus his eyesight. Once his vision was clear, it only took Jaye a few seconds to realize who this guy was. A ghost of his past that never thought he’d see again. “Sehun?” Or maybe he was hallucinating. “Is that really fucking you?“ Wouldn’t be the first time.

Being clean has started to drive him crazy. He finally moved past the stage of hair-ripping, shaking, vomit-inducing withdrawal. But that didn’t mean it was much easier. He still craved anything to put in his nose, to take and make the thoughts crowding his mind just go quiet for a little while. His mind kept racing or being too sluggish, and there wasn’t much more Sehun hated than being left alone with his own thoughts.

There hadn’t been a choice about going to rehab, not after he’d fallen apart in front of the wrong people. He’d been through shorter stints before, just for detox or outpatient and he’d done some time for his eating problems. But that long just devoted to being clean was enough to make him crazier than he already was. He moved through the motions of his days mechanically. Brushing his teeth. Going to groups. To appointments. That didn’t mean he spoke much, but he went and that counted for something.

As he stepped into the common room, irritated and exhausted - he could never get enough sleep anymore, and they were forcing him to actually socialize with the other patients - his gaze fell on a figure that he never expected to see. A bit of fear plagued him, wanting to run the other way since the other might  know his secrets and use them against him. But then he reminded himself that they’d been in this situation before.

Approaching somewhat cautiously, he croaked out a “What the hell happened to you?” his voice raspy from not using it much. The other looked like an absolute mess. He knew him only too well from their days in high school. They hadn’t gotten along at all, but they shared a secret understanding when they got high together.

@247jaye:

Jaye was honestly shocked. He was pretty sure everyone in high school knew his name. Given how annoying he could be. But it wasn’t like he was a bully, he just spoke his mind a lot. A little too much, earning him a few side eyes by the staff and students alike. If memory served him right though, this girl belonged to the clique with the scandal of the century. They weren’t friends but they shared enough classes for them to hold a couple of conversations throughout the year. He distinctly remembered liking her because she never had that elitist attitude about her. She was just Stella, making him steer clear from her when it came to his rants about society. Jaye never liked how people gave her shit either, even with the scandal since he was sure that there was more to her story. But that was the old Jaye. His own problems took precedence around the time and he figured she didn’t need a knight in shining armor. "Hah. I’m pretty sure that’s a good thing. I was a little annoying back in the day but things change I guess.“  

They had bumped into each other at a bakery and surprising enough Jaye was neither intoxicated or hungover. Putting a warm smile on,he bowed his head politely to Stella and waved at the little girl behind her. “We shared a couple classes back in Cheongnam. I use to bother you for notes whenever I was absent so in a way you were my savior. My name is Jaye Seo.“ A few seconds of silence lingered before a man walked over. Eyes fixated on the woman and not caring that he was interrupting a conversation, he began using the cheesiest pickup lines he had ever heard. Even for a womanizer like Jaye, this guy was just rude. "Hey buddy, you see us having a conversation right?” Jaye began moving closer to both females. “Besides I don’t think my wife likes getting hit on by ill-mannered men."

She registered his facial expression as ‘offended’ at first. Stella felt bad. A familiar face approached her, yet, she could not put a name to this face. Her memory had failed her once again. Stella could only offer an apologetic smile, although he seemed to be relieved that she was unable to recognize him later on. Stella returned a bow and then lifted a hand to tuck red locks behind her ear. Her grin widened, turning warm as he waved to Luna. The young child did not reciprocate his friendliness though. He was a stranger to her, after all. Her attention went back straight to the freshly baked pastries on display and Stella almost wanted to point out her lack of manners then but was cut off by his introduction. 

Jaye Seo. Definitely rings a bell, nodding lightly, the apologetic smile returned to her lips. Of course, no wonder why his face was etched in her memory. He asked for her notes on a constant basis but other than that interaction in class, they barely knew each other. Her voice broke the silence between them. “I’m sorry... I’m quite terrible with names. Plus, we weren’t exactly close back then?” Was that a valid excuse since he did recognize her despite the drastic hair colour change? It sounded like a bad one.

 But, she- oh wow, this guy, her train of thoughts were interrupted by a strange male, who dropped the worst pick up line she ever heard in her life. Stella fought the urge to burst out laughing. That would have been too mean. She blinked when Jaye stepped closer, her eyes widening upon hearing the word ‘wife’. 

She gulped. Wife?

The surprised expression softened as she made eye contact with the other male. Chuckling nervously, she hooked her arm with his, doing her utmost best not to give her act away. Stella was no actress. Everything felt foreign and awkward but she flashed a smile, which appeared more like a grimace. “Yes, and my husband, would appreciate it if you didn’t hit on his wife.”

Maybe her pretence was not convincing enough (or he was just that observant) which led to this man’s question. 

@247jaye // continue from here. 

sumin enjoyed doing her job at lush, what she didn’t was having to deal with some tiresome customers who happened to not understand anything she had said to them. there were always those who wanted more than just a dance but she wasn’t one to entertain this kind of thing, although she might have gotten way more money than she was making now if she did. it was simple. she didn’t even care for those money or anything they would offer her every time. and there was this same guy she had been seeing for a few times at lush, asking for the same damn thing no matter how many times she had refused it. 

for the countless time, sumin told him that she didn’t take private dancing. 

@247jaye

it’s pitch black outside when mark gets into his car. the only break in the darkness shining from his car’s headlights. his stomach is grumbling almost as loud as the engine, and it’s an understatement to say he’s a bit hungry- he’s starving. he switches the radio on to be greeted with “…you aren’t you when you’re hungry!”- the famous snickers commercial, and for the first time- he thinks he wouldn’t mind chocolate. ( though on a normal day, he would be disgusted at the thought of consuming the sweet substance )

the day had not been going well. he woke up early to go to work, despite having fallen asleep past midnight. his mind wasn’t in the right place the whole time he worked. he didn’t have an appetite to eat lunch, and he’d skipped breakfast. he even wondered if he was coming down with the flu. he passed out as soon as he got home- whether from malnutrition or exhaustion, but now that he’s awake, the day of fasting catches up with him, and he’s hungry. so he drives towards his favorite restaurant.

but he doesn’t get far until he spots the gloss of patent leather. he doesn’t think of it much- probably a drug dealer. maybe a gang member. no one knows who could be wandering the streets of seoul this late into the night. so he brushes it off.

until he gets closer.

he notices a figure of a man on the ground next to the guy wearing leather. so he slows his car’s acceleration toward the pair. the man on the ground wears a jacket over his white shirt and light blue jeans. or at least mark thinks it’s a white shirt and blue jeans. he can see the slick shine of dark liquid dripping from the man, staining the clothing. and if it was anyone else, mark wouldn’t have cared. maybe he would’ve felt pity- and he would’ve continued driving to the restaurant. but it wasn’t. the familiar face sent nerve-racking waves of worry to mark. he knew the almost-unconscious man. and he cared.

stopping the car a few feet from the two, he jumps out. his hunger getting replaced by adrenaline and rage. but the rage is not directed towards the standing man- rather, it’s directed toward the man he recognized. jaye seo.

stepping in between the the two, mark faces the standing man, “what is going on?” he asks, a bitter tone evident in his voice. then, turning to jaye, he kneels down.