Kaia
Winning the gold extended my two weeks to three weeks. Since I needed to attend guest events and expos, it's not that I'm complaining, but it really irritates me when they force me to reveal my face. I'm glad that my fans would defend and come into my defense if only I could, but no. I don't want my grandma to end up in the hospital knowing that I pursue this; she almost lost my father before because of this, and she doesn't want it to happen to me.
Leo and Hazel took the first flight that the media back in my country knew about. I saw news about my return, and I couldn't risk everyone knowing my identity. Sometimes the press in our country could be aggressive and would take extreme measures just to get a scoop.
I actually arrived yesterday and checked my fridge and pantry; they almost ran out, so I went to go and get groceries early this morning.
The boys were out of town for a guesting; I checked their schedule, and they will arrive later. I asked Sena earlier, and the boys decided to rest first and eat out later. She even asked if I was back, but I lied by sending her a photo of me at the Plaza Mayor.
I decided to cook for Shua, Hao, Hoshi, and Cheol since I owe them a lot. I also prepared the gifts I bought for them back in Spain; if they didn't like them, I would really hit them.
I spent three hours cooking all of these. I smiled, looking at the food perfectly placed on the dining table. Galbitang, kimbap, Japchae, Bulgogi, jangeo-gui, Haemul Jeongeol, and Cherry Strudel for dessert. I should send them a message.
KaiaCute:How's your shoot? "
Minghao: tiring but fun 🐸
Joshua: We just arrived at the oasis, but we went to the store to buy soda.
KaiaCute: Who's with you?
Joshua: Us four. The rest went to the flat directly to rest.
KaiaCute: Bring pineapple juice too. I'll be waiting.
I decided to take a photo of the food and send it to our GC. I am thankful enough that I won't be able to see him today. After a few minutes, the four of them barged into my room like children.
Shua immediately hugged me.
"How are you? When did you arrive?" My cousin really is such a sweetie.
"Yesterday, by the way, guys, I have a gift for you." I immediately took the bags inside my room.
"You don't have to do this," Cheol said, but his face was betraying him. He looks like a kid who is so excited as I hand each of the gifts to them.
"Wow, really? These gems are absolutely stunning, and they come with quite a hefty price tag." Shua was absolutely mesmerized by the dazzling array of gems in various sizes, perfect for creating stunning accessories. His excitement was so overwhelming that he completely forgot about checking out the Balenciaga shoes, which his cousin had thoughtfully purchased for him.
"I'd love for you to create a beautiful bracelet from it." She couldn't help but smile as she watched the sheer happiness that engulfed him.
"Woah! Look at these custom Tom Ford shoes and Valentino shirt! Woah, I can't believe it!" The look on S.coups' face said it all—he knew just how pricey those shoes were.
"Consider it my sneaky way of getting you on board." My heart melted as I saw them opening my gifts like kids.
"Noona is like a sugar mommy buying us expensive things; look at this gold in Buscemi shoes. I think I'll just have it in my room. Someone might rob me because of this." I couldn't imagine Hao could be this silly.
I turn to see Hoshi, who is staring at the jeans in his hands with a baffled expression.
"Dussault and bloodline jeans, collab, and balenciaga shoes. Are you insane, Noona? Are you trying to empty your bank account?" Hoshi said with an exaggerated expression.
"Just like Hao said, I'm trying to be your sugar mom, and if you don't like it, the receipt is inside. You can go to Spain and ask for a refund," she laughed, seeing their surprised expression.
"By the way, I saw these while I'm shopping, and you came into my mind. Here, take this Sargadelos tea set."
"This is too much, Noona."
"No, it's my way of showing gratitude towards you guys." They might be idols, but they are kids at heart. The four of them are too busy taking pictures of the gift that they received.
"Can we post this?" Hoshi asking permission is such a cutie.
"Yes, but never tag or mention me.Now, put that aside so you can start eating," I said as I showed them to the table.
They put their gift up on my couch, like it's something so fragile. Soon, my kitchen, which was quiet, will be filled with talking and laughing.
"How's the competition?" Shua asked.
"She won, of course. We were like crazy when we watched it last time." Hoshi really could be extra sometimes.
"We were watching it secretly, and whenever we would scream, the member would give us a weird look," Hao said while eating the food heartily.
"We're like proud daddies watching you receive that trophy; we even treated the boys and staff and ate outside. They were all wondering why we were treating them." Cheol is smiling as he reminisces about that moment.
My heart melted with their thoughtfulness. I came in angry at my boss's betrayal, but I gained friendship from these idols. Hearing their stories made me a bit sad; they had to sacrifice their youth to be able to reach this. They weren't able to travel, have fun, and do whatever they liked because they needed to train and follow strict rules, but seeing how successful they are now really paid off those endless years of training.
Soon, the four of them were full and had asked permission to go to their room to take a shower, but they did promise that they would come back for dessert.
I just finished washing the dishes when Cheol came back, followed by Jeonghan, who looks like he is out of battery. I feel so nervous and cold that I forget how to speak.
"Kai, we still have food, right? I want to feed this lazy boy," Cheol said, dragging Han behind him.
"Yes. You guys can heat it in the oven. I also made cherry turnovers and cherry sorbet. Please suit yourself," I said, gesturing for them to go to my kitchen.
"Really? Thank you, Kai," Cheol said. His wink made me blush. He really likes cherries, huh?
"Welcome, C-cheol, can you please call me once Josh is back? I need to wash up first," I ask, not giving Jeonghan a single glance.
"Of course. You take a rest first before washing up; I know you're tired from cooking and making dessert for us. Thank you so much." Cheol is really thoughtful.It won't be difficult to develop feelings for him; any girl who ends up with him will definitely be fortunate.
I immediately took a quick shower and changed into my white ribbed tee and white boxer shorts. I blow-dried my hair, thankful for my decision to cut it short because it wouldn't consume my time anymore. I applied some night cream and then lotion to moisturize my body.
"I can't wait for our beach outing tomorrow with the girls from our club." I have checked the boys schedule, and tomorrow is their two-day rest that I requested from the boss.
I was lying down in bed watching my last performance at the FMX Championship.
"Tsk, someone caught my tattoo at the back while I was resting in our waiting area. It was this time when I took half of my suit and tied it around my waist. I should be more careful because people might just recognize me with my tattoo."
I giggled as I watched the award ceremony. All of the pain and bruises from my practice paid off. I look at my legs and arms, which still have traces of bruises from my practice, but they're not that visible anymore.
It is unusually quiet outside, and I thought maybe the boys had left to take a rest since they were pretty tired. I decided to go outside to get some water but was surprised to see Jeonghan savoring the cherry turnovers and sorbet on my counter.
"Hey..." Shua smiled since he was the first to notice me.
"I thought nobody was here since it was too silent," I said as I walked to get a glass of water.
"Cheol, forbid us. Oh, you cut your hair?" Hoshi, who is sitting beside Josh, exclaimed, which made everyone look at me.
"I had too."
"They said if a girl cuts her hair, it means she's moving on," Hao said while looking at Jeonghan.
"Silly, summer in Spain is no joke; it's scorching hot! I couldn't stand sweating all the time, so I took matters into my own hands and decided to go for a shorter hairstyle." It's quite surprising that I find myself in the position of explaining things to them.
"But it really suits you; you look more beautiful than ever, plus your sun-kissed skin is glowing. Have you found a man in Spain?" Cheol said, then turned to see Han. These guys are really weird.
"You guys are silly. By the way, what are you going to do tomorrow?" I am asking because tomorrow is when they have time for themselves.
"The five of us will go and have fun tomorrow. Wonwoo and Mingyu will go biking, some will go hiking, and some decided to just stay and take a rest. How about you?" Cheol asked, then took a spoonful of the sorbet.
"Outing with my friends," I answered. Since then, Jeonghan has not even opened his mouth. He looks tired and uninterested.
The boys were talking about their show when my phone rang. I excused myself and went towards my mini-gym.
"yes, Leo?"
"Boss, the shipment of our equipment has been delayed. It will arrive after a week, but Niko is there to make sure that our things are intact and in good condition," Leo explained.
"Just make sure Ares is safe, okay? I'll see you guys once he's here," I said, then hung up the phone. My heart skipped when I saw Han looking at me.
"I didn't notice you wearing that; you really are sexy, just like me. Wait, you have bruises?" Josh sounds like grandma now.
"All thanks to the extreme activities that I tried." Why would he bring that out? Cheol walked towards me, took my hands, and scanned it. He then dragged me to sit beside him, opposite Han.
"Are you okay?" Cheol asked.
"yeah"
I have been observing the four of them, and something is really off with what they are doing. They would exchange glances and then either look at me or Han.
"Oh, look at you two. You look like a couple there."
"With her sun-kissed skin, my cousin radiates warmth and care. She always smells delightful, has a mesmerizing singing voice, is a music enthusiast, shows thoughtfulness, and is an exceptional cook. She's exactly what Cheol envisions in his dream girl!" The behavior of Shua, who takes pleasure in teasing us, is quite unusual.
"Noona, what do you think of Cheol?" Hoshi asks like a curious baby.
"At first glance, he may give off a frightening vibe, but I soon realized he is actually quite tender-hearted. Not only is he incredibly good-looking, but he also possesses a caring and protective nature towards both you guys and those around him. He doesn't hesitate to splurge on me, as evidenced by the stunning and luxurious flowers he sent me in Spain. I even took the extra step of preserving each flower in resin, a testament to their beauty and significance. Any girl would be incredibly fortunate to have him, and let's not forget his captivatingly sexy voice when he raps or sings.My response was completely truthful, causing them to gasp in astonishment.
"How about me?" Hoshi is smiling widely.
"I am truly amazed by your exceptional dancing skills and your incredible voice. Not only are you incredibly attractive, but you also possess an irresistible cuteness. Your intelligence shines through, and your appearance exudes both strength and gentleness. I am genuinely grateful that you approached me on my first day and became my friend. You will forever hold a special place in my heart as my beloved baby tiger," I said, thankful to him, and he blushed like a child.
"Hao, however, appears quiet at first glance, yet he possesses a striking handsomeness. I adore his compassionate and thoughtful nature. He's like an enigma waiting to be unraveled, and once you uncover his secrets, you cannot resist being enchanted by him." I added.
"Josh, hm, don't mind him. He is so full of himself," I said, which made them crack up.
"You're heartless. What are your thoughts on our friend Hannie? How would you describe him?" Josh said. I held my phone tightly, unable to find words.
"Well, he is like someone I once knew from the past who is so distant—you know, someone that feels so familiar but still feels like he is too far away. He is handsome, and I don't know what else to say since we are not that close," I said, trying to avoid his gaze.
"That's understandable; it was us four who would pester her whenever she's here and would continue to pester her in our group chat when she's not around. She didn't get to know Han just like us." Hao came to my defense, but his smile is weird; he even winked at Cheol.
Jeonghan gave me a questioning look, but I did not mind him. The boys were busy talking about their music.
"Do you have beer?" Josh asks.
"Yeah, I have the flavored one and the plain one; just go check the fridge," said these guys. What do they think of my room?
I took an apple-flavored beer, then went to sit on my indoor hammock chair, which allows me to see the city light.
I let them enjoy their drinking session, and I'll enjoy my own space too. I plugged in my earphones and opened my Spotify account, then played a playlist that had a lot of good songs. I was so drawn to Adele's All I Ask that I sang along with it.
If this is my last night with you,
Hold me like I'm more than just a friend.
Give me something I can use.
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do.
It matters how this ends.
'Cause what if I never love again?
I really love Adele's song; it's like a reflection of my own feelings. My feelings, which are left unspoken and are still affecting me today,.
"Excuse me, but Josh, what was the song that you told me to listen to last time?" I ask him, which makes them look at me.
"I forgot; it was S.coups who recommended it to me. What is it again? The one with the moon something?" Josh asked Cheol, and I patiently waited for his response.
"It's Moon and Back by JVKE," Cheol answered, who looks so happy.
"Okay, thank you. Josh, you can at least grill some meat for you guys to eat, you know." I actually wanted to eat it too, but I'm too lazy to do it now.
I continued listening to some music when a message popped: There was a sudden change in their schedule. They will have a two-day shoot for Company's Day Out Season 2, but after that, the boys will be given a week off before their comeback preparation.
I was about to tell them, but I heard them complain about the sudden change of schedule. I heard Cheol excuse himself to inform the members. I, on the other hand, continued reading the messages in our GC, and the crew also complained about it.
Sena: It has, I guess, something to do with Night Savage; a scandal broke out after seeing the girls wildly partying.
After Sena sent that message, pictures were sent, and a familiar girl was in them. It's Jeonghan's girl Hanna wearing a very revealing dress, and she looks so intoxicated.
Lara: And they will be there tomorrow, the audacity. I am glad that I'm not part of their crew.
Sena: You bet! I heard that the boss won't renew their contract next year.
How did he fall in love with her? Is he blind?
"Are you going back tomorrow, noona?" Hoshi asked.
"Not yet. Sandy filled my month of duty, and I want her to finish it. Now, enough with your beer, guys. You go and take some rest. You still have a long day tomorrow."
"It would be great if you're there." Hoshi looking tipsy is a cute sight to see.
"Don't worry, I'll bring you guys food tomorrow before I go meet my friends. Now, you go take a rest and just leave those cans; I will clean them up after I'm done with mine." They obediently listened to me. I could hear the door shut and decided to just stay here and watch how busy the city is right now.
Just like our time, it went too fast, and here we are now acting as if we don't know each other. If I had known, I wouldn't have agreed with Grandpa before.
I sighed deeply, hoping that the heaviness in my heart would simply fade away.