I- I honestly don't know what's come over him. It's been mostly good with him for the longest time. What's going on....
"Rae are you okay?" Minjae asked concerned, setting me upright. Honestly probably no, but I shouldn't concern them too much.
"I'll be fine, I don't know what's gotten over him though...hes never like this." I was confused, and a little hurt at his knee jerk reaction. He had no issues with my being friends with the others so why would Minjae be a problem?
"Ai what is that fool doing, he shouldn't take his anger out on anyone like that especially you." Yamato was fuming as he spoke, he was ready to go out after him but I stopped him.
"Getting angry without explanations will just push him away further, I'll speak to him myself eventually but thank you Yamato for the concern." I said, and I was honestly super thankful for the boys. They've become like brothers to me, a small family. They're also super nice to Lishi, and love having her around too.
"Dont worry noona, things will work out." Seungho said with some enthusiasm to try to cheer me up. I smiled and patted his shoulder.
"No doubt. It's time for me to get back to my work, I'll be seeing you guys tomorrow." I waved to them before heading out back to my office.
I went in and I started tearing up a little again. Lishi noticed and came over for a hug without saying anything. She always knows what's up with me, an awesome sixth sense or something.
"What's wrong?" Yun looked me over like he always does, seeing if I was okay on the outside.
"Its fine but... Jaehyun kinda lashed out at everyone today." I recalled today's events to them. Lishi and Yun looked ready to murder him then and there but like Yamato I stopped them.
"I'll talk to him myself. In any case I need to finish my work, I can't let personal feelings get in the way of my future like this." I shook myself and headed back to my desk, putting in my earbuds and blocking out the outside world.
Minjae's POV
What the actual fuck. Jaehyun must be on something today to push Rae like that, if I didn't catch her she couldve hit herself against the table.
"Rae are you okay." Ah stupid question to ask, because she looked heartbroken there.
"I'll be fine, I don't know what's gotten over him though...hes never like this." She sounded so confused and hurt it honestly made my heart clench.
Ever since she arrived shes been nothing but a delight to have around. She feeds us whenever we need, helps Seungho out with schoolwork and smh issues. She even helped Lamon bake one of his special family cakes once, and he never let's anyone help him with anything in the kitchen let alone his family recipes. Since I found out about her past, and the new news on who she is I've felt her previous loneliness and confusion wash away, she had an identity now.
The world shes opened to me, to the whole group shines so brightly you can't look too hard. She gave us a life beyond constant practice practice practice and work work work. And I can see how much she values us too, and Lishi her best friend. Honestly they're like sisters with how close I've seen them. What a beautiful soul they both have.
Rae left the meeting room after reassuring us, well more herself by her words that she's okay. Yamato looked like he was about to go off and honestly I don't blame him. He has such a protective nature over the people he cares about, ever since he lost his brother years ago. He and Yamato, they both loved to perform and Yamato took up this life and sings for him and the people he loves. He has no tolerance for this kind of stuff and neither do I.
"Ah I'm ready to smack him into next week!" Daehyun exclaimed angrily cracking his knuckles. Lamon was cursing up a storm in Thai, and Seungho looked upset by the whole matter as well.
We went the rest of the day without seeing Jaehyun anywhere, even when we went back to the dorms. He eventually came back around 8am the next day reeking of various alcohol and sweat. I was sitting in the kitchen drinking some coffee and chatting with Lamon when he dragged his butt in through the front door. Like really? Just an honest to god cocktail of gross. And we had a photoshoot today ugh, he's going to need to get it together later.
"You look disgusting." Lamon plainly said as he was flipping an omelette. He shrugged and went to take a plate when Lamon slapped his hand away with the spatula.
"Have a shower first, and you get hangover soup." He said pointing to the premade mix packet of spicy soup.
"Come on, that tastes gross." He complained.
"Well we think your behaviour is gross so deal with it." Yamato commented as he entered the kitchen.
"Seconded, also what the ever loving hell did you do yesterday to warrant the stink monster from hell to rise?" Honestly Lamon's question had me curious too.
"I just went for a drink what's wrong?" He once again gave a nonchalant shrug and I wanted to just send a nice right hook to his face.
He finally left to take a shower and clean up. I breathed a sigh of relief when he went because honestly the combination of his stink, my anger and the tension was unbearable. We headed separately to the studio where we were supposed to have our photoshoot at and the plan was to meet Rae there.
When I got there and saw Rae directing people on what the schedule was I gasped at the sight. She looked like she hadn't had any sleep in weeks my god. She had her hair in her usual curly updo and was wearing a white business blouse and skirt, all professional but none of the fun 'rae' touch of colour or life that I know.
"Hey Rae you're looking a bit rough, did you not sleep well?" I asked carefully, I didn't want to upset her.
"Ah just a nightmare or two it's okay." She said waving me off without looking in my direction. I raised an eyebrow, shes told me about her nightmares before so it might just be that. She turned to me and continued.
"Hey do you have any plans monday afternoon? Lishi, Yun and I are going to my old family home, and it would be nice to have another friend accompany me." A little bit of her normal happy nature returned as she spoke with some excitement.
"Of course I'm going! You don't even have to ask, I'll be there." I replied patting her shoulder with a smile. I'd give her a hug but it's too public for that here.
"Thanks! Now go on and get dressed!" She laughed swatting me away with her clipboard.
We got dressed in our summer theme clothes, I forgot what magazine we were going to be on but its wild that we're even on a magazine let alone the front page. And not to toot my own horn but I look cute as heck. They curled my hair and put me in a white shirt and pale yellow shorts. The rest had similar outfits and such. Jaehyun seemed to have mustered up some decency and acted adult throughout the whole process. Mina worked her magic to make him look less like a train wreck and more so like a human.
"You guys look awesome! I'll need to give extra praise to the stylist this time." Rae said looking us all over after we finished the photos.
"I know right? I look like a melona bar!" Seungho grinned in his green outfit making us all laugh. I mean he's right.
"Next are a few individual shots, Jaehyun you're up fir-" she paused and her eyes seemed to zero in on something before she coughed and continued.
"First. Fix the collar a bit too." Surprisingly he fixed it without complaining but what worried me was the way she just stopped and looked at him.
Everyone else got to have a break as we went up one by one and Rae came by with our lunch, katsu chicken curry and rice. I could practically see the stars in Yamato's eyes when he opened his own lunch pack. She even gave us homemade green tea ice tea to go along with it. I wish I could eat like this all the time, it's so good!
"Rae did you peer into my dreams or something? This is heaven!" Yamato almost inhaled his food but stopped to praise her. We all nodded in agreement and she simply punched his shoulder playfully.
"Ah stop playing around. Eat quickly and then it's time for interviews." She didnt have to tell us twice, we couldn't finish fast enough.
We got the interview section done and dusted and that was all for the photoshoot. I had a little casual hang out meeting with some of the producers including my friend Wes. He helped me learn english as a kid because he lived in Washington for a few years. I think we've been friends for like 9 years now. But we've been hanging out once every week or so to chill and get some songwriting done. Usually Jaehyun and Yamato join me but Yamato has a facetime scheduled with his family and I'd rather eat sand than be near Jae right now. We made it back to the company building and we were about to part ways when I almost forgot to ask Rae something.
"Hey Rae text me when and where we meet up on Monday." I remembered I almost forgot to ask her about what times we'd meet up.
"Dont worry I'll send you the details later." She said giving me a thumbs up. Lamon heard and looped his arms round both of us.
"An adventure? Care to have one more person join you guys?" He teased jokingly, Rae chuckled and pushed him away gently.
"Minjae is helping me with some gifts for my family since I havent gotten round to it." Her lies are smooth as hell, if I didn't know any better I'd have thought nothing of it. Lamon seemed to have bought it too as he made a face before laughing.
"Ah family gift shopping is a mess, have fun." He skipped off inside and I almost sighed.
We got inside and I was about to go in to the studio room with the producers when Jaehyun stopped me and asked if I had time to talk. I sighed and turned to face him, honestly I didnt want to but I wanted to hear his explanation of what the fuck happened yesterday.
"Hey Rae said you guys were going somewhere?" Is he- no 'I was out of line sorry for yesterday?' or anything? I shook my head.
"Not that it's any of your business but yes we're picking out gifts for her family and Lishi's." I was about to turn to walk over to the door when he stopped me again by grabbing my shoulder and I had no patience and basically whisper shouted to him.
"No whatever bitch fit you're having you need to get your head out of your ass and talk to her! Stop with this bullshit act you've got going on, you're hurting her and it's not right." His eyes widened and he looked surprised. Without another word I shook him off and walked the few steps to the studio room.
We had a good session and I could blow off some steam. Wes commented on how tense I seemed and handed me a beer which I gladly took. I had about 2 beers throughout the entire day and usually I don't drink at all during the day but I was kinda mad. Jaehyun is one of my best friends, we were trainees together for 4 years. He helped me write one of most successful songs to date, I want to know what's wrong with him and why he's acting like this.
Sigh. The least I can do is be there for Rae.
Rae's POV
The combination of no sleep from nightmares and the fact I think I'm coming down with a migraine (which is usually the start of a cold) has really not helped make a good start to this day. Lishi told me to call in sick and offered to take the day off to make me soup but I told her it's okay. I popped an advil and powered on through the day.
I had to get there earlier than the boys as well so I got there at 7 to make sure everything was okay and set up. Mina was there and saw how haggard I looked, offering to do my make up as a little refresher.
"Its okay! I didn't sleep so well yesterday since I had the heating on!" I really should go into acting if I can put on faces this well....
"Hey are least take some of this herbal tea, my aunt made too much." Mina handed me a flask and I took it gratefully, promising to return the cute panda covered flask.
The boys arrived and we got started on the photoshoot. Minjae did ask me what was up but I told him the truth, nightmares really fucked up my night. I already don't sleep as much as a normal person would this was great.... but I did think of a good idea.
"Hey do you have any plans monday afternoon? Lishi, Yun and I are going to my old family home, and it would be nice to have another friend accompany me." Hes already so deep into this so it wouldn't be harmful if he came on the trip with us.
"Of course I'm going! You don't even have to ask, I'll be there." He patted my shoulder and gave me a big grin making me smile.
I shooed him off and went about making sure things were running smoothly. The photos turned out to be amazing, all the boys looked great. Seungho commented on how he looked like a melona bar, and honestly with the look he had he wasn't wrong. Even Jaehyun who was wearing a peach pink button up shirt and white shorts looked good....he was smiling and acting like nothing was wrong. The act made me more mad than anything but if he wanted to act like this then fine. He can go be a child for all I care.
Except I did care and seeing him act like that did hurt me a bit. I shook off the feelings of sadness and praised the boys for doing a great job instead.
"Next are a few individual shots, Jaehyun you're up fir-" I noticed something peeking out from his shirt collar that was previously hidden.
A hickey.
A fresh fucking hickey.
I could feel a cold wash of realisation hit me. I had stopped mid sentence and realised the others were looking at me and coughed pretending I had something caught in my throat.
"First. Fix that collar a bit too." I said and he did so with no complaints.
My actions were on auto pilot but in the back of my mind this hickey was eating away at me....
The last time we were together was a week ago, so who the hell was he with?