And for now we were back in Seoul.
We left that night to go back because Lishi and I had work in the morning but we were running on fumes.
"Rae I love you and that trip was great and all, but I will never go on an afternoon trip with you again I'm so tired I'm about to pass out." Lishi, who was on the couch half awake was drinking her third cup of coffee attempting to resemble a human being. I mean so was I, we both got around 2 hours of sleep because we got back at 6am.
"I know. Let's knock out work for the day and when we get back we can sleep." I replied pulling her up and for once instead of walking I called a cab.
The 5 min drive meant we were in super early. Like the receptionist was barely awake as well. Mustve been a rough night for everyone. The minute I got into my office and sat down I sighed.
"Knock knock its meeee." Minjae said walking in with my version of heaven.
Peach tea lemonade.
I took the drink from him like it was gold. It was even from the cafe I went to with Lishi and Yun. I mean I told him about it once but its over half an hour away from here, and even father from the dorms. Did he go all the way to the cafe just for my favourite drink? How sweet....
"I thought after the day we had yesterday you deserve something nice." Minjae patted my head as he spoke. Well he is also taller than me by a good 6 inches. Whats it with these boys being giants nowadays? I gave him a side hug and invited him to sit and chill with me for a bit.
"You've got a photo shoot with Jaehyun at 12, practice for the subunit song at 3 and since you said you wanted to learn Chinese I'll be teaching you from 5 till 7 every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday." I rattled off the schedule for him and he grimaced hearing Jaehyun's name. I sighed rubbing my temple.
Its gonna be a long day.
"Look please get along in public today, we could've cut the tension with a knife last time."
"Can I still be mad and salty?" He learned some English slang from Lishi and I, and now he's been using salty, yeet and lit constantly. I regret everything.
"Go ahead you big baby." I replied laughing. Whilst the hurt from Jaehyun is still fresh, I'll be okay.
We stayed together for a little while till it was time to send the boys off. I was ahead on my work so I decided to walk around and see if anyone else needed help. My official job title was now Manager instead of caretaker since Jisoo decided I was ready to take them on properly instead of being just a helper. Lishi ywas doing another recording session with the head producer, shes learning to take an actual producer role which is awesome. I noticed there was a group of trainees finishing their group dance lesson so I walked in and sat by the corner as they finished up. There were about 12 of them, 7 girls and 5 boys doing a hip hope style lesson.
"Hi do you guys need anything as its lunch time?" We have a cafeteria in the building and it serves good food but usually I make my own. Although today I was too tired to make any so I'll take advantage of the good food here.
"Ah Manager Rae you don't have to!" One of the younger trainees was flustered speaking to me. Aw she looks to be about 12-13 how cute. The oldest looks like they're about 19 and he was leading the others with their practice when they were stuck.
"Its no problem, I might be your manager in the future so why not treat my trainees." I replied with a chuckle. The older two came down with me to the cafeteria to get sandwiches and salads for the rest. I got to know them a bit, the leader one was a slightly stocky kid named Min Joon and the other was a tall flowery girl Eun Ha. They looked like a power team honestly. I remember hearing their names float around with the other staff members, they seem to be gearing up to join a program for the new debut of a team in a year.
We brought the food back to the delight of the other trainees. They dug in, enjoying their break and chatting with their friends. The nice break was definitely needed to clear my head a bit more so I feel better about the day, but I still feel so tired so I might just get a coffee.
Whilst the food here is good, the coffee is something that's definitely on the need-to-improve list. I decided to repay Minaje for the ice tea earlier and get him a coffee as well so I went to the closest coffee shop. I think its called Sweet Treat? Anyways I walked in and immediately had to duck because of a small projectile. I heard the SPLAT sound behind me to see....a pancake?? A sticky pancake started slowly sliding down the door I just opened. In front of me was a shocked worker and what looks to be her manager behind her who seemed to be the one who accidentally threw the pancake.
"HWANG SUNYOUL! LOOK WHAT YOU DID!" The girl turned and smacked her manager on the shoulder. Okay maybe I should go somewhere else... but the girl turned back to me and gave me a big smile.
"Hi welcome to Sweet Treat what can I get you?" Might as well. I looked at the menu and decided iced chocolate mocha would be the coffee drink of my choice and got one for Minjae plus a cookie.
"Sorry for the display earlier, the cookie is on the house." The girl said handing me the cookie whilst the manager who I'll be guessing is Sunyoul made the drinks. She looked a little like me but with wavy hair and she looked more Korean than what her other half would be.
"You look a lot like the friend of girl that's in the dating news these days." Sunyoul replied curious. Dating news? What the heck. My confusion mustve shown on my face because he sqealed and the girl sighed.
"Here we go again..." she muttered as Sunyoul came from behind the counter to show me a picture on his phone. Okay I've just met these people like 10 minutes ago....
"Its been all over Dispatch!" The picture showed two people drinking together and seemingly having fun. The picture was blurry but when I zoomed in a little I could see it clearer and I had to hold back my gasp.
Its Seohyun and Jaehyun. Drinking together? When the hell was this taken. The article is from 2 days ago and said 'New mystery girl of up and coming kpop idol Jaehyun from SNOW??' what a development. I managed to keep a neutral face and shrugged.
"Never heard of him." Sunyoul looked a little disappointed that he couldn't gossip but still smiled and gave me my drinks before heading to clean the pancake mess.
After what Yun said last time, that Seohyun might be involved its been gnawing at me all the other things she might've done. She might have been feeding information to Seunghyun or something like that. But what if she's being blackmailed? She could be in danger. If only I could talk to her and get some answers but that could backfire on extreme levels if she WAS working alongside him.
I was about to walk into the boys practice room when I heard some of them having a conversation about me. I know its rude to eavesdrop but instead of walking on I stopped and listened in to what they were saying.
"Guys its almost been a 100 days since Rae's been working with us." Yamato mentioned. I quietly checked my phone calendar and damn they were right. My 100 days with them was tomorrow! Lishi's birthday was also in 3 days and I need to get her a present...anyways back to listening in.
"Im planning on taking her out for drinks to celebrate!" Minjae replied and paised for a moment before adding, "you guys should come too!" At the end. Awwww.
"You and Rae seem to be getting along well, shes been a little off nowadays is everything okay with her?" Yamato asked, his tone changing to one of slight concern. Oh boy. I mean I wouldn't need to explicitly lie to the boys now, but this would go down about as well as a lead balloon.
Also there's the Seunghyun and Seohyun issue. I might give them the PG version of events.....but not until everything's settled with the two.
"Ah she's been working on her book whilst helping us so she hasn't been getting sleep. I brought her some soup yesterday." Minjae smoothly covered it up without a hiccup. Perks of being a trained idol perhaps? I decided I had enough listening in and opened the door with my elbows since I was holding both drinks.
Both Yamato and Minjae's heads swerved to face me like little kids that had been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. I ignored it and sat on the seat next to Minjae handing him his coffee.
"Here's some coffee, I didnt know you were here Yamato others I'd have gotten you some hot cocoa." I knew he couldn't stand the taste of coffee even more than me. I like mochas only but he universally hates everything coffee.
"Ah its okay, its a slow day for me except for practice so I thought I'd come in and hang." I nodded at his words and looked at his schedule. He had the subunit practice with Minjae and Lamon, and helping tutor Seungho with his Japanese.
"Since you have nothing to do right now would you boys mind helping me grab some boxes from the storage room? Its stage props but theyre heavy as hell." An extra pair of hands would do me good.
"No problem." They replied simultaneously making me giggle.
We headed to the storage room each grabbing a box and headed back to the main office. I had to sort them out for each member. On the way back my phone started ringing and I had turned it to mute earlier since I was at work and I knew it wasn't going to be Lishi or Yun who'd call me. Yun would've just shown up since he prefers face to face talks. It kept vibrating on my pocket though and I couldn't reach it carrying this box so I asked Yamato (carrying a smaller box) if he could reach it and pick up the phone for me. It seemed to be urgent.
"Ah okay." He replied with a smile reaching into my pocket to grab my phone and showing me the screen so I know who's calling.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
Huh. I told him to press accept and to put the phone to my ear for a sec.
"Hi there its Rae, who's this?" I answered curiously. Maybe it's someone at Lightbook calling, but we don't have our meeting until Friday so I don't know....
"Hi Rae. It seems you've been doing quite a bit of family searching haven't you?"
Seunghyun. I cleared my throat so I could sound as natural as possible (and not the surprised mess I am) before replying.
"Well aren't you a dear I've been waiting for you to call." I switched to Chinese to make sure the boys wouldn't understand. Yun told me all the little information he had on Seunghyun, the most known was he went to Beijing Normal University so I know he can understand me.
"Oh so we're speaking Chinese, is there perhaps someone or some people you wouldn't like hearing this?" He replied with a hint of surprise. Smooth bastard.
"Look Seunghyun I'm not one for drama, business is business however, you want to deal with me you pay up. What do you want?" His voice was so smooth and buttery before now it sounded slimey and gross.
"Sounding like one of them already, I just want to talk. Only you and no one else. Your friend Seohyun might get caught in the crossfire if you don't." Huh he's an ass no doubt, trying to threaten me with a friend.
"And you don't think I have a brain that can figure out she's working with you?" I voiced my thoughts thinking I'd catch him in the act but he laughed instead. The same one when we were drinking but it just sounds creepy now.
"And how do you know that? She's a plaything, a toy and I'll dispose of her as I see fit. You're human Rae you'll come down to the Sweet Treat coffee shop tomorrow morning 8am, whether it be from curiosity or concern." He said on a tone full of authority, with no room to negotiate no doubt.
"If I'm human then what are you?" I retorted getting annoyed.
"I'm the monster under the bed." And with that he hung up.
Smug ass mother fu-