We went straight for the streets to see if we could snap some cool street style pictures. We took our normal cameras and Lishi's special Polaroid one with us. Some people dressed with eccentric tastes caught our eye and we asked if they would model for a second. We gave this two girls dressed head to toe in dark goth looks a Polaroid copy and they went on their way merrily. We also took some awesome scenery pictures that just looked gorgeous.
"The weather is really good but we've been out here for a few hours let's just grab lunch and relax for a bit." Lishi said stretching her arms. Yun was actively joining in as well taking pictures of me and Lishi at random times, but he did get a picture of Lishi blowing her nose at one point. Fun Polaroid there.
We decided to go to a nearby cafe for lunch and passed a person selling roses and other sorts of flowers out of a cart. The middle aged man running the cart gave a rose each to Lishi and I mentioning how he'd like a photo from us. He was so sweet so when he smiled Lishi got the perfect shot and gave him his which he immediately put up on his cart.
We entered the small cafe and was hit by the smell of coffee, cocoa and blueberry muffins which practically made my eyes shine. I love blueberry muffins. This cafe was known for a huge ass selection of lemonades and seeing the literal two dozen combinations I understand it wasn't a joke. I ordered two blueberry muffins and lavender lemonade whilst Lishi got the chocolate cream slice and passion fruit lemonade, and Yun got a triple matcha cup cake set and a latte. Why he went for a latte in the middle of a hot summer is beyond me.
"Okay I think I've found the best chocolate cake." Lishi exclaimed after almost inhaling her slice. She'll say that and next thing she has a new chocolatey love. The chocolate fiend everyone knows and loves.
It was a nice day, and we can finally relax for a bit and take in Seoul. At that moment I just felt peace. No crazy people, no stress or sleepless/nightmares nights could get to me.
This world, the world I've grown up in had sent me on quite the wild ride. But I have a good life, and I wish to keep it that way. I have good friends now, and theres Jaehyun... sometimes I dont know how to talk to him about how I feel. I care for him, really and hes amazing but I don't want to hold him back from any of his dreams. And I don't want him in any danger I'm in, so relationships aren't really in the cards for me I guess. A sadness I must accept for now. This burden is my own and I won't drag people into the mess I call my past.
"Hey Rae you okay there?" Yun asked looking mildly concerned. I barely picked up on his words through my deep thoughts. However, I was able to shake those thoughts out of me and return my attention to him and Lishi.
"I'm fine, just some thoughts about everything. Life." I said waving off any concern with a smile.
"If anything happens I'll be there to help knock people out!" Lishi flexed her left arm jokingly with her words making me burst out laughing. I noticed something off though looking at Lishi.
"Hey Lishi, wheres your necklace?" I asked curiously. Her parents gave her this gold necklace with her initials and she always wears it but I couldn't see it today. Her eyes widen as she felt her neck.
"Oh no." She grabbed her bag and immediately started rummaging through it. I swear she had it on yesterday morning. Maybe she left it at work.
"You weren't wearing it in your apartment so you left it at work then." Yun said drinking his coffee not bothered in the slightest. Well then, I guess he's nice. Note my sarcasm.
"Ah I know it's our day off but you dong mind making a trip to my office with me do you Rae?" Lishi said getting up and paying for our cafe bill.
"Hey, it's alright let's find that necklace!" I replied reassuringly patting her shoulder. That necklace was her gift before we left for Korea, of course its gonna be important to her.
We were on the other side of Seoul though so we took a taxi and headed to the office- Yun in tow still with his coffee in a to go cup now.
As we arrived I noticed quite a few fan girls outside the building. Some holding up posters and such of my boys. Oh right their new song- almost forgot that was released. But now theres no way of normally entering the building and it seems bodyguards haven't arrived yet, if I recall their schedule they should have an appearance on After School Club today.
"Back entrance it is!" I said grabbing Lishi and Yun trying to make up look like regular people walking past the building. As soon as we got round a corner the back entrance was visible and we rushed in, with me locking it with my keycard. Fangirls are scary as fuck nobody needs to deal with that.
Lishi went up to her office whilst Yun and I just stayed and hung around it as she searched. They always had some sort of music quietly playing. One of their older groups songs Bright Time was playing softly.
"You're a very colourful person." Yun commented looking around my office. I had personalised my desk with some accent items like a unicorn pen holder and a mini Halloween skull hanging off my computer. He laughed as he picked up Snuffles the pot. Yes I've named my pen pot sniffles deal with it.
"Hey dont make fun of Snuffles." I replied trying to snatch back my pen pot from him. However hes a good 6 inches taller than me and has freakishly long arms so he held it above my head and laughed.
Mean.
"Argh give it back!" Tried tickling him but he didn't react so I went for poking various weak spots.
"I'm trained to sit through anything, poking won't do much." He was still stupidly amused at my annoyance. He started tossing Snuffles in the air and catching him.
Okay he asked for it.
I jumped onto his shoulders and wrestled Snuffles away from him. Unfortunately me suddenly jumping on him took him by surprise and we went down like a sack of potatoes taking a few desk items with us.
"HEY WHOS IN HERE!" I could hear Seungho's voice as he kicked the door open.
"Just me Seungho it's fine!" I called out.
"Huh what's going o-" I hadn't noticed Jaehyun come in behind him.
Then I realised why he went quiet. The position I was in was Yun and I in a sort of limb pretzel. Oddly suspicious if you just walk in.
"Hey, I just came in cause Lishi lost a necklace of hers." I explained hurriedly getting up. I pulled Yun up as well who was awkwardly standing around. The air was thick with awkwardness there, so I simply cut in with some more words.
"This is my old friend Yun, I'm helping him out since he just moved here. Yun this is Seungho and Jaehyun. They're kind of my colleagues." I introduced them and they shook hands.
Jaehyun had an indescribable look on his face which made me nervous. I mean I have nothing to hide- okay nothing romantic- but something just looks off.
"Hey Rae, mind if we talk for a bit."
And there it is. I can see this play out already. This isn't gonna end up well.
"Uh sure... let's go." He led the way and we left to go to an empty dance studio.
What does one say in this moment? I know I was saying I'd be okay and I cant burden him... but it still hurts.
Maybe I'm just playing into this too much. Maybe hes just gonna ask me about our schedule.... yeah right.
"Rae." His words snapped me out of my minor internal battle and I looked at him, into those eyes that set off that wild night.
"We haven't had a chance to talk since we... you know-"
"Yeah." I nodded in acknowledgment and he coughed once before continuing.
He surprised me by taking my hands. Well this is a weird way to break up with someone....
"I really like you Rae, I dont know how or why but somehow you've just lighted up my life. I know my career is gonna make things difficult.... but I still want you."
I dont know if it was my nerves, sleep deprivation or the stress from everything, but once I heard those words I immediately burst out crying. It startled him but he immediately took me into his arms.
It might be wrong, and I might just be signing us up for hell but right now I just don't care. Whatever is thrown my way... I'll make sure the people I care for will be safe. At any cost.
"Hell I've been worrying so much about whether we would work out... I'm guessing you feel the same?" I laughed and nodded. God I was crying so hard there, he handed me a tissue from his pocket and I wiped the tears away.
"I'm sorry, sometimes it feels so tough and wild. But yes, I still want you too. Even if we're a secret... I won't let you go." By this point I had sat up and looked him in the eye with fierce determination.
"You're amazing." He said with some relief. What dummies we are for not talking to each other sooner. He pulled me on for a kiss and we just enjoyed the moment.
"We should get back before Seungho gets worried." I said once we came up for air.
"We just made out and the first thing you say is about another guy." He laughs and gets up, taking my hand in his.
We walked out and met up with Yun and Seungho who were casually chatting about video games. Yun nodded in my direction signalling for us to go.
"I'll be back to work tomorrow. And yes I'll bring lunch." I added on the last sentence which made Seungho cheer. Laughing I waved them goodbye as we headed down.
"Alishbah found her necklace so we can go now." Yun spoke quietly as he pressed the elevator button. I nodded but I was only half there. What a whirlwind day...
"You know that what you're doing is dangerous." Yun's words made me sigh.
"I know. But I can't continuously live my life in fear of what happens next. I'll deal with whatever is thrown my way."
His eyebrows were raised, but he said nothing more for the rest of the way down. Once we got out Lishi, who had been chatting to the receptionist, joined us and we walked out.
Yun may be right, but to hell with it. I would rather die than live a life where i worry about my every move. If the world tosses paper I give scissors.
We decided against going anywhere else and just went home. I bought some eggs that were on sale, planning on making the boys something for breakfast too at least. I still have a good amount of savings and payday is the following week so I can afford to cook for six kids. Laughing at my own thoughts we made it inside, where Seohyun was watching TV in her pjs.
"Oh hey, thought you'd be at work." I said stealing one of her crisps, popping one in my mouth. Honey butter chips... huh not bad.
"We got sent home early, the main computer server shut down for some reason."
It was about 4:57 so I had some time to kill whilst waiting for the Skype call, so I decided to bake cookies. Baked goods are always a win, especially homemade double chocolate cookies- Lishi loves them cause they're easy to make and they're chocolate. I usually keep these hidden cause I dont enjoy chocolate as much as Lishi.
Lishi's POV
An hour earlier....
Ah I cant believe I lost that necklace. It wasn't worth much but it has sentimental value. I always have it in mattrt what the occasion is. Like a good luck charm in a soft sweet way.
We made it to our office building where we saw a bunch of fan girls hanging out. Rae said something about Snow and then grabbed Yun and I, taking us to the back entrance. We took the 6 flights of stairs to our floor at which point I was dying and out of breath. Rae passed me my inhaler from my purse and it took a bit before I was good.
"Right, you guys stay here and I'll check my office." I walked off before they could reply and unlocked my office. It had to be somewhere here.
"Knock knock anyone in here?" I popped my head up from my desk drawers where I was searching and saw Minho standing at my doorway.
With my necklace in his hand.
"Oh I was looking for that! Where did you find it?" I jumped up and quickly took it out of his hands. I'm so glad it's not broken or anything.
"I saw it on the floor in our recording room and since nobody else has AI as their initials it must be yours. I'm guessing it's important." He laughed and gave me a thumbs up. That's what I found awesome about Minho, he respected my space.
"Thanks so much you're the best." I said, giving him a high five. We perfected an epic high five though which is cool.
~내 피 땀 눈물 내 마지막 춤을~ (blood sweat and tears BTS)
My phone went off as I was putting the necklace back on.
"Answer it for me please?" I asked as I was a little preoccupied.
"Sure." He shrugged and picked up my phone to answer the call. Which I realised about 2 seconds later to be a mistake.
"Oh. Who are you?"
Oh no. My mum.
I quickly took my phone out of Minho's hands and saw my entire family surprised faces. All my sisters, my brother and my parents...
You've got to be kidding me. We could've had a family call any other time and they pick this moment.
"Hey... how is everything?" I said playing it off. Act natural...
"Who's that?!" My youngest sister shouted excitedly. Damn.
"That's Minho hes a coworker of mine, we're just about to have a meeting." I was hoping now that this'll make them hang up.
"Oh I forgot the time change. Its early morning here! We'll talk later okay?" The look in my mum's eyes- alongside a raised eyebrow- confirmed my later interrogation. They hung up and I sighed. I dont even know what he thinks of me, and yet my parents now know of him.
"Your family seems big, that must be nice." Minho commented and I smiled. Theres times when I missed having them close by. He paused for a while, thinking of what to say when he blurted out these words.
"Hey, tomorrow night we're doing a celebration dinner for our debut. Come along, you can even bring Rae." He added the last sentence as an afterthought.
Is he asking me out? I don't like to play around, he needs to make his intentions clear. Although even I haven't thought about my intentions... I should really think about that. He caught onto my look of slight surprise and the raised eyebrow, clearing his throat before continuing.
"I was gonna say this before the whole call thing, would you be open to like- getting to know each other?" I think my eyebrows just shot through the roof.
Getting to know each other? Leading to a possible future perhaps?
"I wouldn't mind at all." I smiled with my response, making him grin as well.
"Great, I'll text you later!" He walked off, but I noticed down the hall him doing a little happy dance which made me laugh. What a dork.
I came out and saw Yun and Seungho chatting. I didn't know they knew each other...
"Hi Alushbah!" My eye twitched as Seungho messed up my name again. Always the maknaes.... always.
"Just call me Lishi, I didn't know you knew Yun." I said curiously.
"Oh Rae just introduced us." Yun replied, going back to his 24/7 mildly bored look.
"Wait wheres Rae?" I noticed she wasnt there or in her office, as we were standing outside it, so where would sh-
"Shes in Practice Room 2 with Jaehyun." With Jaehyun?? What's going on there, I feel like snooping but Rae will tell me everything either way.
"You guys can stay and chat video games I'll be downstairs in reception." I decided to leave the boys to game talk, and walk downstairs. The fangirls had finally left. The receptionist lady is actually really friendly, so we got to talking about Seoul street wear, cause Rae and I took some epic pictures of people today.
"Hey Lishi, we can go now." My head turned to see Rae and Yun walking up to me. Bidding the receptionist lady (who's name I should really get) goodbye we headed back home.
I saw Rae's eyes looked a little red but said nothing. If Jaehyun made her cry he's getting a shoe to the face. A pointy shoe. Preferably my spiky heels. I'll wait for Rae to open up first though..I know shes hiding a few things from me, probably thinking it's for my safety but maybe it's just me but I can see right through her.
Rae bought some eggs, to which I suggested she make some cookies, and to my surprise she agreed. They're super good and easy to make, and yes they're chocolate. But usually Rae doesnt make them often since she doesnt like chocolate as much as I do. Usually when shes in a great mood she'll make them.
I wonder what happened in the practice room.
Rae's POV
I finished making the cookies, humming to myself the entire time. And now to let them cool. I had a good 15 min left before the Skype interview so I just spruced myself up, made sure my hair didn't look wild and finally with 2 mines to spare, sat in front of my laptop and opened up Skype.
I've dealt with assassin mugger before. I can deal with a big time business lady....
I think.