102. I Need Your Help

"Stan, what are you doing here?"

"I offered to help out today. Now that this place will be opening up soon, you could use more hands." Stan replied as he glanced around the gym.

He hadn't managed to set foot in this place since the last time he'd promised Yeon's parents to visit at least twice a week, a series of events had taken place, one of them putting him in a coma.

"No one informed me you'd be coming." Suzzie seemed more shocked than surprised to see Stan. She watched him walk towards her while scanning the area. It had been quite messy since renovations were still ongoing.

"It was last a minute decision. I was nearby and thought to check this place out. I havent paid a visit since the fire and before too..." Stan stopped midway and took a halt.

"Are you okay? You look flustered."

"Oh, yea. I'm a little under the weather but do not fret. I already paid a visit to the doctor." Stan smiled to himself at the memory of Yeon's little panic from his mild fever, which explained why he'd become moody the previous day, sulking himself enough to irritate Yeon by pointing out everything that dissatisfied him. Luckily, Yeon had been too cooperative, a rather unexpected response than his constant opposition to anything suggested by Stan.

"Then you should probably rest a little. I won't be needing extra hands since I was just winding up and the last of the renovating team have already left. Luckily, the executive rooms are all set so you can take one briefly and I'll time you." Suzzie added with a satisfied look on her. "Would you like for me to call someone..?"

"Oh, don't worry yourself about me." Walking around while nodding his head, Stan said. "Looks like Elric's mom really meant business."

"Yes she and Elric's funding helped pick us up after the minor fire threat. We are all thankful that this place looks much better than it did before. It's as if everything happened for a reason." Showing Stan around, she confinued. "We added more advanced equipments and renovated one of the sections which used to be an executive room and turned it to a 'Family Area' for nursing parents. Additionally, we've catered for those with disability and are looking into hiring instructors trained in handling special needs customers. Previously, all we focused on was making this place elite like but now, as much as there is need to maintain that title, we've added more facilities, equipments and features that makes the gym all inclusive. The executive rooms are no longer called that but have been renamed as 'Quiet Area'. Additionally, well be advancing to a secluded soundproof 'Business Center' section for those that intend to touch up on work and meet deadlines without missing a workout session."

"Wow. You guys really outdid yourselves." Stan seemed completely won over.

"Yes. We are planning to come up with a mealplan for both pairs and fateds too. Yeon's parents have been working on that since the gym shut down. We would have had a restaurant here but that will make this place loose it's original purpose. Still, it's something that can be considered for the future depending on demand. Moreover, most of our clients are anxious to get back. We've lost some and compensated others who had prepaid membership but life happens. We can't always control the unexpected."

"That's...great..."

Suzzie raised an eyebrow after noticing how fidgety Stan had become all of a sudden. "I get the feeling that you are not here because of helping me. Is something up with Yeon?"

Shaking his head vigorously, Stan responded. "Not at all. He is very healthy. It's just me that's a little ill but it has nothing to do with fateds. Just a migrain from overthinking about Yeon and our future."

"Wow. You really are honest. I didn't need to know that last part."

Laughing nervously, Stan rubbed the back of his head, hoping to ease up the tension he felt. "Too much information... Well, yea, I am feeling a little nervous Suzzie. We aren't well that aquinted so this is the longest conversation I've hever had with you. I called Yeon's dad to find out where you were because I wanted to talk to you."

"Unlike Yeon, you are easy to read." Sizzue said as she gestured at a place for them to sit down. "I'm assuming you want to talk about Yeon."

"You are quick to catch on."

"That's because you are being too obvious."

"I'm trying to make peace with anyone that was somewhat involved with Yeon not just because of the things that have been happening, but for my own peace of mind. I'd like to know how he was before I knew him and you seem like a nice person. Therefore, I don't want to constantly be uncomfortable around you."

"I wasn't aware you were on guard around me, but I get why you'd be. Anyway, don't worry. Yeon and I are no longer together."

"I know...but that's not why I came here. You see, I get really jealous knowing Yeon likes other people and it's something I'm working on, accepting that I'm not the only person that cares for him..."

"Wow you are obsessive."

"Ah..yes..." Stan seemed embarassed. He hadn't expected to be called out this soon. "In many ways...I guess I am and I don't know if it's good or bad but I just want to be a good partner to Yeon. He never talks about his past. It's hard for him to open up and since you've known him since childhood, I'd really like to know how he was before. Perhaps his personality changed afterwards...not that I'm complaining how he is now, in fact I like him in any way or form...I mean... grumpy or otherwise... Hah..." Stan sighed. "I don't know what I'm talking about..."

"You want to know if Yeon has always been the way he is."

"Yes! Exactly!" Stan exclaimed.

"Did you ask him about it?"

"Yes."

"...And what did he tell you?"

"About...a lot of things and your name came up...briefly..."

Suzzie giggled briefly. "I know I messed up big time and hurt Yeon deeply. Luckily, our friendship is the kind that can survive that level of hurt." Crossing her arms on her chest, she added. "Look Stan, I appreciate you coming here but us talking about Yeon like this feels like gossip to me. However if I was in your shoes, I would probably act the way you do but still, talking about Yeon with you feels weird."

"I just went to know how he was, and understand him better."

"Wow. You really are his fated. You must be a handful to him."

Looking on the side, a tinge of guilt in him, Stan admittted. "Sometime."

"...And exhausting I bet."

"That too..."

"Why now?"

"His birthday is coming up so I want to get him something meaningful, something that would leave him feeling sentimental about it. Perhaps the kind that would make him know I put a lot of thought into it."

"Knowing Yeon, he'd kill you if he found out you were grinding your brains with what to get him for his birthday...but then, that's the Yeon for today. In the past, he'd get all giddy about it. He was more expressive, probably just like you. We never fought, not even once. We got along well. Maybe that's why we agreed on dating. Like fools we made a pact to get married and not allow anyone to come between us but as time went by, standing next to Yeon started to feel like a competition. He'd get more compliments than me. It made me jealous and Yeon was oblivious to how I felt.

I admit it was childish but what do you do when your boyfriend gets more compliments of how good looking he is than yourself? Looking at you, Yeon must be in that state right now."

"You are right about him being oblivious to certain things. He doesn't even care about what people think of him and his strong scent, and that can be annoying sometimes."

"I'm glad you understand how I felt without judging me. Anyway, as much as his physical appearance didn't favour him much, the confidence he had in himself was big enough for him not to pay any heed to what others thought of him. That's why he was great in be..." Suzzie bit her tongue and looked aside, cutting herself short. "I mean...we had good chemistry but thats it. That's all I can say. Seriously this is getting akwkward...and why are you blushing like that?"

"Well, I kind of get why you came back to be his pair now."

"...And why is that?" Suzzie asked to which Stan responded nonverbally by becoming more flusterred. "Hey! Seriously! You can't be redder than you already are!"

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For not judging me as well. You see, I overthink sometimes and I doubt I'm good enough for Yeon. Becoming fated mates just points out the person we are compatible with. Maintaining that connection requires work. We cant always rely on spiritual essence alone and beigng a marker carries a lot of responsibility."

"How good enough do you want to be? You saved his life twice already."

"I must be really stupid then to beat myself up with unnecessary thoughts."

"You think?" Suzzie laughed.

"You are easy to talk to. I don't usually get along with people I hardly know, or open up this much. However, I'm guessing for Yeon to have chosen you to be his closest friend before, you must be a good person then."

"Don't praise him so much. He is not a good judge of character. He dated assholes who broke his heart after I left him. Not that I'm exempted anyways. I was childish then but now I know better. Yeon's family is the only family I know. I don't regret leaving him for I wouldn't have been the person I am today. I do however regret hurting him. All I can say is the Yeon you have now is no better than the one I had before. He hasn't changed. He is still the same sweet and forgiving person he's always been. I must warn you though. He is no weakling. He won a couple of fights in school by defending me and Mijin to bullies. People misread him always and that has been a huge mistake so don't provoke him."

"I have been on the receiving end to one of his punches."

"Must have hurt like hell."

"It did."

"Well, that's it for now." Suzzie stood up, Stan following her. "Is there anything else you wanted to ask. I doubt I gave you any ideas for his birthday gift."

"I still don't know yet what to get him. He is hard to please.""

"Stop overthinking."

"Right." Stan laughed at himself then drifted away a little, Suzzie watching him closely as he pocketed his hands, shrugging his shoulders while his eyes drifted to the floor.

"Just do with him something he loves. Or buy him ice cream."

"I did that several times. It will be too obvious anyway. I want to stand out and give him something memorable." Looking back at Suzzie, Stan confessed. "I bought us couple rings, but knowing him, he'll probably frown at it."

"Of course he will! Terrible idea...but you can try."

"I don't want to get punched." Both Suzzie and Stan laughed at the same time. The irony of Yeon, each of them knowing different versions of him yet still similar made Yeon appear difficult to figure our for each of them.

"Are you always like this?" Suzzie asked rhetorically. "You really are a handful, but then I guess, Yeon deserves someone like you so you both won't feed into each other's bad habbits. He is your rain and you his sun, perfectly fated. That's why I'm confident you'll figure this out on your own."

"Ouch. It does hurt when someone leaves me hanging."

"What?" Suzzie seemed confused by Stan's statement.

Reflecting back on his conversation with Elric and how he was having problems with Niel not recimprocating his feelings to him, Stan said. "I gave someone the same advise once. Now I feel more lost than I already was."

After a brief silence, Suzzie concluded. "You look like someone who likes to be in control. Have you ever tried giving Yeon some of that control in your relationship? I know it's not my place to say this but it's something... that could help you in your quest. Have you ever seen Yeon drunk?"

"He never gets drunk."

"What? Ofcourse he does...unless you are a lightweight...." When Stan didnt admit anything, Suzzie laughed and added. "There is a specific way to make a particular cocktail that will for sure loosen him up a little. Hard liquer or plain wine won't do. Yeon is weak to things mixed up together, especially when you add sugar into them. Why do you think he loves icecream?"

"When I first met him at the bar before his kidnapping, he was almost passed out on cocktails..."

"Well then, now that you have that figured out, tomorrow is a weekend so good luck to you. You'll need it. Make sure to have something heavy before drinking. For you, not him."

"Why me?"

Suzzie sneered. "Yeon is unpredictable, and full of surprises when he's drunk."