Changes - lee donghyuck, haechan

11

"Aera, please it'll be quick," he stared at her phone that had just pinged. She retrieved the phone from her pocket and stared at the message from HyunTae.

(Micheal) Tae Phelps:

at the parking lot.
we're taking my bike

"I'm meeting a friend, I need to go"

"Who?" The urgency didn't go unnoticed by the girl. This only confused her.

"A friend," she once again attempted to move around him but he only grabbed her wrist to stop her. Compared to before his touch didn't cause butterflies, it only made her uncomfortable.

"Can I come?" She had managed to slip his hand away.

"What is it to you?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"You break up with me and now you suddenly want to talk and hang?" This was a snappy side of her that he wasn't used to. She was always so cooperative that it was never an issue to convince her into things.

"Just go somewhere JooWon. Leave me alone," by now he could only stare at her retrieving figure. Cursing at himself for not stopping her.

Aera made her way towards the parking lot. She didn't take long before spotting HyunTae's black motorcycle. He casually leaned against it while he typed on his phone.

The loud groan of the girl caused him to look up.

"What now?" He slid his phone into his pocket while crossing his arms. Aera made her way around his bike and grabbed the helmet. Her movements were angry as she aggressively tried to buckle it. With a deep sigh, the tall boy moved around towards her. His hand replacing hers and securing the buckle. He tapped her head twice. He knew to not ask questions until later.

HyunTae was an unknown expert in how to handle an angry Yeejin and Aera. The boy was so used to being the unknown support system that he knew a couple of tricks. He silently sat in the motorcycle, waiting as she hopped on behind him. With a visible pout, Aera wrapped her arms around him and held on tight as he pulled out of the parking lot.

JooWon jealously watched them. His hands balling into fists as they unknowingly drove past him.

Aera had promised HyunTae that she would hang out with him. After back to back rejections, she was accompanying him in a restaurant booth for lunch. However, the atmosphere was not what they expected.

The boy could only wait for her to open up as he expertly fried the meat on the grill. He always enjoyed going out with friends. Although he expected the setting to play out differently he still remained patient.

"Okay. I'm not going to ruin this." HyunTae mindlessly placed a piece of meat on her plate.

"How was your day Tae?" She tried her best to ignore the voice that kept reminding her of her stupid ex.

"Surprisingly good. The practice was good, classes were easy-"

"Because you literally copy my answers!" He sheepishly piled more cooked meat into her plate. Successfully diverting the topic.

"You know I was surprised you wanted to hang out," Aera grabbed the meat between her chopsticks. She urged him to continue as she prepared a lettuce wrap.

"You're always so reluctant and I expected you to be even busier," Aera stared sadly at her best friend. She had been so caught up with her breakup and SM that she failed to realize she was always saying no to him.

"Well, today's my day off. I'm choosing to hang out with you," he smiled up at her. He accepted the wrap she offered to him.

"Have you seen Red Velvet yet?" She rolled her eyes.

"I've only seen a few NCT members,"

"Did you ask Johnny for the autograph?"

She couldn't help but laugh at his attempt to a joke. Reaching over towards her drink. Her eyes wandered around the restaurant until they landed into a familiar pair. Despite their attempt to hide their features, she could recognize them. Immediately the cola spraying everywhere.

HyunTae widened his eye in shock at the girl. Aera was choking all of a sudden and the familiar pair turned to stare at the commotion.

Johnny couldn't help but stare at his best friend's sister as she struggled to breathe. His eyes instantly followed the boy who tended to her.

Haechan stood beside the taller boy and watched HyunTae pat her back with one hand. The other occupied as he wiped her shirt dry.

"I'm fine," Aera managed to squeak while waving at her friend to sit back down. HyunTae worriedly followed as instructed but still stared at her. By now Aera could see the two boys stare at her curiously. She offered them a discrete smile to which didn't go unnoticed by HyunTae as she followed her line of vision.

"Who's that?" He offered a head nod to both boys as they aimlessly stared.

"Just workers from SM," Aera managed to cover up. Her eyes instantly widen when she saw Johnny make his way towards her.

"Funny running into you here," his perfect English confused the other two boys. Aera smiled at him with widened eyes.

"Same," Haechan couldn't help but stare at HyunTae who sat there confused. Hundreds of questions circling around his head. Was this her ex? Was she on a date? Who was he?

"You look familiar," HyunTae pointer a finger at Johnny. His head piecing together where he recognizes the eyes and voice.

"You're Suh Johnny!" Instantly both Johnny and Aera shushed the boy as he pointed an accusing finger.

"Why didn't you tell me it was him?" Aera couldn't help but flush red. She had been caught.

"My friend totally loves you. She even asked Aera for an autograph from you." The girl couldn't help but palm her forehead while her arm leaned again the table. Her attempt at keeping her interactions with the idols was blown. Now she was sure to be questioned later on.

"Aera never told me. I'd be glad to give her my autograph," Aera could see Johnny's extroverted side come out as he started to casually converse with her friend.

"Uh, don't you guys have a schedule?" Johnny shook his head. Aera for the first time that day met the eyes of Haechan. The boy finally got the memo.

"Hyung, we actually do,"

"We do?"

"Yes, we should get our order and go," Aera smiled at the boy in gratitude.

"Will you be coming later?" Haechan's expecting eyes met hers.

"Uh-" Aera looked down at HyunTae for a second.

"Yea I'll go," nobody could see the smile under Haechans mask.

They all managed to say goodbye once their order was ready. Haechan once happy feeling replaced by an unknown feeling of sadness as he watched the pair. He didn't understand who the guy was or why Aera was so quick in wanting to get rid of them but he couldn't ignore the feeling growing in his stomach. He could only continue to wonder who the guy was and what was his relationship with Aera.