Argh his existence pisses me off. And we STILL don't know whatever the hell he wants with me.
"Hey Rae are you okay?" Yamato asked concerned. He must've noticed my annoyance when I spoke. Hell even a deaf person could've heard it.
"I'm fine, trust me just a thing with my book deal apparently they lost the draft for my work so I have to resend a new copy." I manged to sound huffy enough and from his relieved look I managed to successfully convince him that it didn't look like too much of a big deal.
We got the boxes unpacked and sorted after a little while and I sent them off to practice and prepare for the photo shoot. As soon as the door closed I sat and sighed.
"Jesus christ this is annoying, you heard all that didn't you Yun?" I talked into the small tracker on my shirt. Yun apparently could sew like nobody's business so he sewed some trackers into my everyday clothes. After a little static I could hear Yun's quiet voice.
"No shit. I tried hacking to see if I can find where he was but he used a burner phone. He's one slippery mother fucker." Oof he's even more mad than I am.
"I'll go, he won't harm me as long as its a public place." I replied.
"Its good he chose Sweet Treat, one of our own actually owns the place." No way.
"No way who?!" I thought back to the girl I met at the counter and her silly manager, I think Sunyoul was his name?
"The manager Sunyoul, well his family owns the place. The Hwang Family are practically founding fathers of our organisation, next to your family." He scoffed. Seems like someone doesn't like them.
"Its not that I don't like them I just think they're a bunch of stuck up snooty dust buckets. Apart from Sun he's pretty cool." He added seemingly reading my thoughts. I snorted at his response. I saw him earlier with the projectile pancake display but he seems chill. I took a final sip of my drink and immediately gagged. It tasted fine but my stomach didn't want to hold it in. I grabbed the trash can near by and started spewing.
"Are you good there Rae?" Yun's concerned voice rang in my ears as I upchucked my days meals so far into the trash can.
"Yeah I think I'm just coming down with a nasty cold. I'm gonna go buy some cold medicine and finish the day at least." I replied once I was done. Wiping my mouth and rinsing it out with some water in the mini fridge.
"Hm okay I'll make some soup for you later." He sounded suspicious for some reason but still hung up.
I grabbed my bag and headed to the pharmacy nearby for some cold medicine even though I despise the taste of it. The sun was burning hot and was the perfect add to the pounding headache I had.
"Ooh look at her curls." One of the pharmacy staff, an older lady probably in her 50's spoke admiring my birds nest curls.
I got my medicine and headed back to finish a rather uneventful rest of the day. Lishi's birthday was soon so I have to go shopping for her gift and the house needs more groceries. I sighed sitting back in my office chair, adulting never gets easier.
I checked my schedule to see I also had another meeting with Lightbook on Friday and the "meeting" with Seunghyun tomorrow. I don't know what his deal with me is....did I wrong him somehow before I lost my memories or is this some kind of multi-generational grudge that's spanned several decades. Sigh hopefully I get some answers tomorrow. I feel so lazy today I'll probably order take out instead of cooking, Lishi had a late night and I want to avoid Seohyun as much as I can... I'll see if Minjae or the others are free for dinner. Hopefully my stomach can contain it and since I emptied it earlier I'm so hungry right now.
R: Hey Minjae want to grab dinner together later?
M: sure, chicken or bbq?
R: hmmm bbq, I want tteokbokki as well been craving something spicy.
M: alrighty im bringing Yamato and Seungho as well is that cool?
R: the more the merrier
After a few more minutes scrolling through my phone I went back to work and was finished in about an hour or so. I headed to the boys practice room since their sub unit practice finally ended. I stopped to tie my laces outside the door and I heard the boys talking.
"Have you seen the articles online lately? Jae-hyung is gonna get in trouble like this...." Seungho said with worry in his tone. Ah he's too precious.
"He's a grown man, if he wants to do this its his fault. I'm just worried Rae is burying herself into work to avoid everyone, she used to have lunch with us all every day and talk lots now shes just gone recluse." Yamato replied sighing heavily. He sounds so concerned for me its breaking my heart. I don't want to worry the guys anymore like this.
"Speaking of Rae do you know she has a fan page now? She's going to have her own fandom at this rate!" Minjae interjected easing the mood. The laughs I heard proved it was working. Okay I think I've heard enough
"Now what's this I hear about me having a fan page?" I grinned as I walked in, all three boys with a deer in the headlights look as I caught them.
"Rae-noona!" Seungho the sunshine he was jumped up from scretching on the ground and greeted me enthusiastically. I patted his shoulder looking at the other two.
"So I know I haven't been around much and I'm sorry I've had a lot of family and book stuff thats come up. I'll treat you guys to dinner as a thank you." The mention of food brightened up their faces and they immediately rushed to get their stuff.
Masked up and hoodies drawn we headed out to a nearby restaurant, not the one from last time where we got mugged. We sat with Seungho and Minjae side by side in front of Yamato and I. Both of them went up to the bathroom after we ordered and I poured Yamato some soju.
"Youre not drinking today?" He asked curiously, I just had some cola in my glass instead of soju.
"No I just had some cold medicine earlier, wouldn't want to mix alcohol with it." It might be the excitement since I came to Korea but this feels like the most domestic and chill convo I've had so far.
"So what was that earlier with that phone call?" Yamato blurted out and I choked on my cola. He immediately started patting my back whilst I composed myself. So much for domestic and chill....
"Just like I said earlier a little iss-"
"I took chinese in high school, 'business is business' whats going on Rae?" Yamato's steel look made me sigh. I don't want to make him or the others even more worried but its better to keep them informed so they can stay safe and possibly up their security for a while.
"Alright here's the deal but don't tell people unless I say its okay." And I whisper relayed most of the happenings of the past few weeks. Except for the Lishi almost murder thing because I didnt want to give him a heart attack.
By the end of it he had a wide eyed look of shock. I braced myself for any comments but he simply gave me a giant hug.
"You must've suffered for so long Rae. I'm proud of you." I....I don't think I've ever heard anyone outside of Lishi say they're proud of me before. I had some tears well up in my eyes but blinked them away quickly.
"Thank you." I sounded choked up but between the book deal, romance heartbreak, managing, Seunghyun and just existing....I'm so tired and hearing someone recognise my efforts just made me emotional. Minjae and Seungho came back to our table a little disheveled looking a few moments later.
"We ran into my auntie and she nearly squeezed us to death with a hug." Seungho laughed as he fixed his hair up. Speaking of Aunts I haven't been talking to Aunt Ina much.... I should video call her when the dust settles on the family front.
We ate till our stomachs were bursting and thankfully I didn't throw it up this time. The spiciness of the food helped with my headache and cold so it did me some good. Yamato was staying over at his friends place and the dorms were far away so I decided Minjae could come with me so he can stay and chill at Yun's place where I'm spending most of my time. I sound paranoid but it just feels weird staying in my apartment after this whole mess with Seohyun....and Jaehyun. Sigh I can't focus on him too much or I'll never get over him.
"Oh no I know that look, what's troubling you there?" Minjae poked my cheek, he was buzzed from the soju he drank and leaning on me slightly.
"Nothing, you're drunk keep walking mister." I laughed pushing him off me. He stumbled a bit but caught himself and pouted.
"Im not drjbk...." pfffft now I'm really glad I didn't drink so I can see this.
"Rae you pretty. You should be mofellll." Awwwww a sentimental drunk I love it.
We came back to Yun's place and he face planted into the couch sighing in content.
"Issss soft." He went on to mumble some things which I didnt understand and I looked around to see if I could give him a set of pjs from Yun.
I found a pair in one of his drawers and tossed it to Minjae who surprisingly started taking off his clothes in the middle of the room so I turned around with lightning speed before he could pull down his trousers.
"Minjae! You're drunk but at least go into the bathroom!" I turned back to him, covering my eyes. I've seen a man's body before but he's drunk as a skunk it wouldn't be appropriate to look now. He laughed before removing my hands to show me him clad in pink striped pjs. Phew.
"I think I sobered up a little from the laughing but man that was funnnnnn." He laid back down on the couch happily as he talked.
"Thats great, I think Seungho enjoyed hanging with us too he usually has his own high school friends doesnt he?" I replied getting a blanket out.
"Only a few. He gets quite shy....he liked having you around." Aw I'm so happy to hear that.
I made him some hot cocoa and we watched a kdrama off Netflix. Sometimes Minjae and I watch the same drama. This one's Strong Girl Do Bong Soon. We were at the part where Park Hyung Sik confessed he liked Bong Soon.
"Hey Rae would you like a guy like that." Minjae mentioned half asleep. It was a little late so he's probably just tired.
"Hmm if they have visuals like Park Hyung Sik I might." I replied laughing a little. Handsomeness is a plus but its not everything.
"What about someone like me?" Huh. Why would he ask something like that unless he liked m- oh I'm a dumbass.
"Look Minjae i-" he held up his finger to stop me.
"I know with everything going on the last thing you need is a guy hounding you but I thought it would be better to at least let you know....I really like you. But obviously I won't pressure you for an answer whilst you're not over Jae-" My face was burning so hot I could fry an egg on it as I did the only thing I knew would properly shut him up.
I kissed him. His eyes bugged out like a cartoon for a moment before we both melted into the kiss. After a few seconds we broke apart for air and he was stunned.
"What I was GOING to say is I'm flattered and maybe after some time we can go on a date, to see how it goes." I was a little breathless as I said it. The slow grin that spread on his face was infectious and I soon was grinning as well.
We went back to watching the show, each with matching smiles. After a few more minutes I heard some knocking outside, not on Yun's door but on my apartment door. My ears perked up and I lifted Minjae who's head was on my shoulders away to get up and look. It stopped after a minute so I figured it wasn't much, besides I wasn't even in my apartment and all important items were with Yun always.
"Hey where's the bathroom?" Minjae asked from the couch.
"Third door on the right, there's a spare toothbrush next to the sink as well you can use it." I replied going to get dressed in my own pjs. I decided on my panda ones which was basically an extra long (down to my knees) shirt with shorts. For someone who's tall for korean standards that's long as hell.
The knocking started again this time on Yun's door. I approached it cautiously looking out the peephole to see....Jaehyun??? Why is he here? I opened the door instantly in surprise to see him a little flustered and red faced, possibly from drinking.
"Hey Yunseok have you seen R- oh hey Rae why are you here?" Jaehyun stopped mid sentence as he noticed my existence.
"I can hang out here, why are YOU here?" I countered with a raised brow. Is he here for Seohyun...or me?
"I wanted to talk to you but I thought you weren't home since you didn't answer your door and I remembered Yunseok was your neighbour so I was going to ask him where you were but obviously you are here and i-" i stopped his rambling holding my hand up to pause him.
"Okay breathe goodness. Whats wrong did you need anything?" I asked. Its just passed midnight so I have no idea what he'd want.
As if fate couldn't get weirder out walked Minjae shirtless with a freshly washed face.
"Hey Rae who's at the doo- oh." He, like Jaehyun, stopped mid sentence when he noticed the situation.
It was like a tennis ball match. Jaehyun's eyes went from Minjae to me to back. Him. Me. Him. Me. I cleared my throat to break the silence.
"So? Its late so I hope its an emergency." I was playing it off.
"Why is he here?" Jaehyun pointed accusingly at Minjae.
"He and Yun were working on his laptop so he's staying over, Yun went out to get us some ramen. Now again what do you want?" I said with a little more exasperation. He looked relieved almost and his expression relaxed. If he knew about the kiss he'd have an aneurysm...
"Do you have the spare key for the dorms I lost mine." Jaehyun had a sheepish smile as he spoke, the same that would have previously made me go aww. Maybe its Minjae's presence but I felt nothing in the moment.
"Take mine." Minjae replied walkinh over and grabbing his jacket from across the room and pulling out a key. Tossing it to Jaehyun he headed back to the bathroom before he turned around and with a cheeky grin said something that made my cheeks burn again.
"Those kisses were nice Rae." He held up an empty hersheys kiss wrapper but God if I didnt know what he meant I'd be a fool. Although Jaehyun seems to be none the wiser...
"I love those kisses." He remarked thoughtfully and my face burned even hotter than I thought possible.
He left after that and I sighed internally. We should have a talk to clear things up before we both move on fully. I've got a few questions of my own and until then I should abstain from anything with Minjae.
"So did he get it?" A smug grinning Minjae popped his head out and I tossed a pillow into his face.
Men....and now to sleep and meet with my possible ultimate enemy. Should be a nice and breezy day.... psh in my dreams. I better bring my A game. Sigh hopefully it won't be too much of a train wreck.
Here's to the start of the end of this mess.