I thought about the advice that I.M gave me a few days earlier, staring at the chocolate cake on the agency's kitchen counter. They forced us to do a strict diet but did not feel a bit guilty to put this wonder before our eyes.
Min Cha took me out of my thoughts by entering joyfully. She was litteraly floating in the air.
Min Cha: Ha Neul, we are invited to participate to Weekly Idol in 4 weeks!!!
Me: Noo really?!! I can't believe it!!
I took her in my arms and we jumped around the table with overflowing happiness. Every Wednesday night (okay, every Wednesday night when I had the time), I would sit in front of the TV and anlayse the behavior of each guest, the things I should possibly have to do, the segments that comes up the most often, etc. In short, I wanted to look good in this show, because it was the one I liked the best. With Running Man. But that will be for later. Really later. Maybe never.
I left the kitchen to go to Jae's Office. He called me yesterday, but I couldn't come so here I was.
I knocked and I heard him shout "You can come in."
He was on his computer and was working on something. I sat on one of the two chairs in front of his desk and remained silent. He finally laid eyes on me and apologized for not having said hello earlier.
Me: Why did you want to see me?
Jae: Well, the agency received a call yesterday.
I didn't know why, I felt bad about it.
Jae: And it doesn't look very good for you...
Me: What?!
Jae: Just kidding.
He looked at me with a so dramatic look that I almost thought he was going to tell me that my career was over.
Me: Idiot, you scared me.
Jae: Hehe, sorry. So in fact, the agency did receive a call about you. But we couldn't decide anything without telling you before. As you must know, the next season of Unpretty Rapstar is almost here and-
Me: No!! They want me to participate??
Jae: Yes and they have high expectations regarding your rapping.
Me: Wow... I can't believe it. Yet I haven't rapped in public that much.
Jae: That's true, but we have several videos of you rapping. We sent some in different TV stations that may be potentially interested in having you as a guest. Sorry for not having warned you first.
This day was getting better and better. Who else to tell me another invitation on a TV show?
I can announce it during dinner tonight. Speaking of which, I should probably go to clean the dormitory before getting ready.
Suk Hee was the messiest. Min Cha was not, but she wasn't the one to clean either. Housekeeping was not my greatest passion, but I liked when it was done my way, so I didn't complain.
Hours later, Suk Hee entered the apartment without even closing the door. She made her way to me and held up a bag before my eyes.
Suk Hee: I bought you a dress for tonight!
Me: Oh, but you didn't have to. I would have just borrowed you one or go buy one myself.
Suk Hee: Oh no worries, pay me back later.
Ahh... This kind of poisoned gifts. She's the kind of person who does that.
Me: Well, thank you.
We prepared together with Min Cha and each checked if everything was perfect.
Min Cha: I think we're ready!
To go to the restaurant, we decided to take a taxi rather than the bus. It was a little more chic.
I separated the bill and we joined the guys inside. They were already seated at the table we had reserved. We would have preferred to be in the private room that the restaurant has, but it was already booked. Although nobody seemed to recognize us until now.
I saw Jooheon for the first time since he told me to want to "take a break". I realized that I had almost forgotten his face. There was something different tonight. When he saw me, he stayed still and didn't even make a move. I was looking for what was wrong, but I couldn't find it.
Once we received our drinks, we made a toast to our new "celebrity life".
Kihyun: Do you know what's coming for you in the upcoming months?
Suk Hee: We have some shows coming up, we have fan meetings in several mall centers and we're also invited on some TV shows.
Minhyuk: Wow, it's starting well for you.
Jooheon: Well, it was the same for us.
Minhyuk: It's still great for them anyway.
He nodded as if he didn't care.
Me: By the way, I was invited to participate in the third season of Unpretty Rapstar.
I.M: Seriously!! I knew you'd end up getting this kind of opportunities.
They all seemed happy for me. Of course, there was Jooheon who didn't seem to approve. He really wasn't in his normal condition.
Suk Hee: You didn't tell us... They didn't talk about me?
Me: Oh, uh, I don't know.
Suk Hee: You know what, next year I'm going to audition on Show Me The Money.
Hyungwon: If there is one.
Suk Hee: That's pretty sure.
Hyungwon: Or not.
She gave him a look full of frustration and he fell silent.
Jooheon: In any case, I wish you good luck for Unpretty Rapstar. You've hardly written any songs and your freestyle... phew... I'm not sure.
Why was he so mean..? By hearing him speak and act, I finally realized what was different. He really made me think of the Jooheon I first met, the Jooheon, which over our first meetings, hated me and spoke to me this exact way. This Jooheon came back when I left Monsta X's dorm for the last time, when he told me about this damn break. It wasn't a pause, clearly not. It was the end, that's it. I'll never see Jooheon's soft and charming side again, I'll never hear his romantic words again, his not funny jokes or his aegyo customized just for me. Never again will he be mine.
I took a sip of water and saw a familiar silhouette appear in my sight. She approached slowly, and then I recognized her face.
Cho Hae.
We all had the same idea in mind. Send her away, prevent Jooheon from turning around and act as if she had never come. It was downright harassment, I was freaking tired of it.
She approached more and more, so Shownu, even if it was not subtle, got up, but he couldn't even do something as she pulled a revolver from her purse. He sat back down immediately.
Everyone who was back to her turned around and saw the gun in her hands.
Cho Hae: Nobody move or I'll shoot.
She had shouted it for all the people present in the restaurant. Everybody was now turned to our table to watch the scene that was happening.
That's when she said these words, I noticed that she was pointing Jooheon.
She looked him straight in the eye. He looked scared.
Jooheon: Wha.. what are you doing?
Cho Hae: Ahh Jooheon... We could have a beautiful life together. I thought that when I came back, you would jump into my arms and you'd be happy that I wasn't dead for real. But instead of that, you have forgotten me and you found a bitch to replace me. I saw only you, I loved only you, you betrayed me Jooheon!
She shouted that last sentence.
Hyungwon: A bitch? Isn't she too harsh..
Cho Hae: Shut up!
She pointed Hyungwon with the gun and returned slowly Jooheon.
Hyungwon slid down in his chair as low as he could.
True, she called me a bitch, but I had barely paid attention to it. There was more important right now.
Jooheon: Drop that gun.
Cho Hae: No, Jooheon, no.
Jooheon: Why..?
The tears began to flow down Jooheon's cheeks.
Cho Hae: Rather than see you love another person, I prefer to kill you with my bare hands.
I began to tremble. She wasn't really going to shoot, right? I felt tears pricking my eyes. What to do in such a situation?
I saw her hand directing the gun to Jooheon's heart. At this time, I got on the table taking a momentum and jumped on Jooheon to put him on the ground, but a shot was heard.
Had I been able to protect him?
Jooheon: Ha.. Ha Neul. Are you okay?
Me: And you?? You're not hurt at least?
A glaring pain overcame me. I suddenly felt dizzy, then nothing.
End of chapter 29! Thanks to follow the fiction and to vote^^
Gamsahabnida!