the day continues with jooheon successfully letting yourself feel better. you never would have thought you'd get over something like this so quickly. perhaps, it was more of a small distraction to calm you down. but it definitely made you feel so much better.
you offer a ride to his company or at least to his dorms since he did all that for you. you two fought about it for a while since he didn't want to be a bother to you but you wanted to pay back this favor.
"fine!," it was almost midnight when he finally gave in. you both stand up from your couch and walk out to the car again. backing out of your driveway, you drove into the street. it was when he finally took his phone out for the first time today that he noticed all the notifications on his phone. his gasp makes you look over to him in confusion. "stop the car." you did as he asked, a bit nervous.
"what's wrong? did something happen?" you gulp as he slowly looks over to you with a pitiful face.
"y/n, i am so sorry.."
"what do you mean?" he shows you all the text messages from his members and the further you read, the more you started to frown.
didn't know y/n was into you..
what are you two even doing out?
you should care more about your image, joo..
did you just not care about changkyun?
you actually felt apologetic even though it almost seemed like they were dissing on you.
"what's going on?" you blinked a few times when he showed you his phone again with a news article. you check the headline and it was enough for you to know what was trending right now.
"i'm sorry.. i really am."
"joo.. it's not your fault. i.. i think it's best if we stay away from each other for a while. umm..," you look around, clearing your throat. "i'll just drop you off for now." he slowly nods his head as you continue driving. the rest of the drive up to his dorms were silent. so was the drive back home. you didn't know what you were going to tell your mom. did it make you look like some girl who flings around with guys? yeah. but it also made you a jerk for doing something like this changkyun. you kept thinking whether you should clear this up with him but you also kept reminding yourself that he no longer wants to do anything with you. and.. the least you could do was respect that decision.
once you arrived back home, you took your phone out and sat down on the couch. you clicked on the news and saw your name and jooheon's on the headline. you scroll further down to see a photo. the karaoke lounge. and it was right when the two of you had your masks off because you were getting your beer. you blinked a few times, nervously.
"what a mess.." you mumbled to yourself. all jooheon did was be a good friend and now he has a scandal. you felt so stupid and so selfish. you were feeling so miserable over changkyun, you didn't bother to check like you would usually for all the members.
just then, you feel your phone ring. you flinch at the sudden vibration in your hand. you answer it with a deep breath.
"hello?"
"hey. i know the rumors are wrong. jooheon told me everything. but the company..." you hear him stop at his words and you get more anxious.
"what?," more silence.. "minhyuk. tell me. what did the company say?"
"they want to confirm the scandal." you thought about his words and what that meant.
"w-what?"
"have you seen the comments?," you shook your head like he could see it but he already could tell from your silence, your answer was no. "check it. put me on speaker or something and check it." you did as he said and put the speaker on. you went on twitter where most of the comments went. but all you saw were positive ones. you forgot monbebes were one of the most supportive fans ever. of course, other fans were too but monbebes were never the type to get too jealous over any of the members being regular humans.
aww.. i support them. i've seen y/n on their behind the scenes videos and she's so caring.
y/n's really pretty too.
i'm happy that jooheon has someone he can be happy with too..
i wish this is true and not like one of those rumors that are stirred up for attention or something.
"how could something like this happen?," you said, your voice barely coming out. "wait.. so you're saying because the fans like it, the company wants to confirm it? for what? clout?"
"y/n, i don't really know what we're going to do about it either. but, i just wanted to give you a heads up.."
"yeah.. thanks, min. i don't even know if i have the right to ask this but..." you stop yourself, too afraid to ask. you were glad minhyuk knew you too well for you to spill the words.
"changkyun's fine.. a little startled. maybe a little lost too. but he'll get over it." you let out a sigh. what were you thinking? he was the one who broke up with you. it's not like he would feel so hurt. he had five months to think that over.
"and joo?"
"he's also fine. he's worried about you. he keeps telling the company that you need protection but we haven't gotten a response.." you chuckled at his kindness.
"he should be worrying about himself." you said, causing the both of you two to let out a small laugh.
"i'm sure we'll get an answer by tomorrow. so pack your bags, just in case."
"pack my bags?" you look around your house with a lost look.
"yeah. just in case you might have to be moved to a safer area."
"what about my parents?" you say, worried about them as well. you hear minhyuk talking to someone on the other end so you remain silent. suddenly, you hear a few weird sounds like the phone was dropping on a blanket or something. you lower the volume, waiting for him to talk again.
"y/n?" you hear, all the sudden. jooheon..
"joo.. i'm really really sorry about this. i never meant for this to happen. i read the comments and even if the fans like it, it's going to ruin your career someday and i can't let that hap-"
"i'm confirming it."
"w-what?"
"i wanted to talk to you about it anyway.." now you were really confused. you stood up and walked over to your bedroom, wanting to feel your a little more of a comfort. you softly lie down on the bed and put the phone to your ear once again.
"talk about what?," you can hear his breathing lightly through the speaker. "is minhyuk there?"
"no.. he let me have his phone for a bit. the company's not letting me call you."
"joo.. don't go against the company rule-"
"y/n, can you just listen to me for a sec?" you shut yourself up as you waited for him to say something.
"i know this isn't really something to say right after you broke up with changkyun but..," you already could tell where he was going with this. you were an adult too. "i want you to give us a try. the company's willing to take full protection with you and your parents. i just got confirmation. but if you really don't feel anything for me, i'll tell them to reject it." this was too much pressure right now but you knew you didn't have a lot of time. you couldn't lie and say you hadn't felt something for him the last few years. but it also felt wrong since you still had feelings for changkyun.
"joo.. i won't lie. it's not like i haven't felt something for you before but.. i'm not over changkyun yet and that isn't fair to you."
"i'll wait. i'm willing too, at least.. i just want to know if you want to give this a try." but the only you could think of was getting hurt again. it was almost bound to happen. it happened with you and changkyun. whether it was the company, the constantly unnamed time schedules, or maybe he fell out of love with you. dating an idol was already hard for the both of you. you didn't know if you were ready for that. but it was also different with jooheon than when you were with changkyun. jooheon took the time to show anything. he didn't hold back when it came to showing you his feelings.
"jooheon.. if you're really serious about this, then.. i'm willing to try this. but on one condition."
"damn. i want to date this girl but i gotta go by some rules? talk about restrictions." you chuckle at his sarcasm.
"oh come on.. it's not that bad."
"fine. what is it?" you bit your lip and smiled to yourself, as if you were trying to prove something.
"we can't tell changkyun. at least.. not yet."
"how the hell are we going to do that? the company's releasing the info." you knew you sounded stupid but you couldn't help but think that changkyun is at least a little bothered about this.
"i mean.. i know the company's saying it but he doesn't need to know that we're actually trying this. you know?"
"so you want me to lie to him and say that we're only doing this for the fans?" you felt like even more a jerk now. no. you felt like a bitch. how could you even ask jooheon to do that?
"oh my god. no. nevermind. i.. i'm so ashamed. i can't believe i just asked you to do that to your best fr-"
"best friend?," you cleared your throat as he interrupts you. "i can do that.. it'll get awkward for us anyway if i told him."
"really?"
"yeah.."
"i'm sorry, joo.."
"hey hey.. i'm the one who asked you, remember? don't apologize." you couldn't help but smile at his sincere talk. "also. pack your bags. i'll come back tomorrow with my manager and you're gonna live in our dorms for a while. at least until we can get you settled somewhere closer to the company."
"jooheon. you know i have a job over here?," you can hear a soft chuckle on the other end. "what's so funny?"
"you would be surprised what our company can do, no matter how late in the night it is.," you were scared to hear the rest of his story. "we got you your job back. you're being transferred. i know we should have told you before but it was kind of a rush job. the company just wanted to get everything sorted out."
"i mean.. i guess that's fine." it wouldn't hurt. it's a lot easier that way and you did miss the other guys.
"really?"
"yeah. it'll be fun."
"okay then. get your sleep. i'll call you in the morning."
"i thought you said you can't call me," you teased, hearing a sigh in return. "you gonna ask minhyuk for his phone again?" you chuckled as his lips smacked, obviously taking a hit on your comment.
"i'm sure i can have my phone back tomorrow."
"alright. you go to sleep too.."
"okay. but just cause you said so," you rolled your eyes at his comment but unconsciously smiled. "good night."
"good night.."
the next morning, you woke up at your usual time and picked up your phone. you didn't even know why you were waiting for his call. you felt stupid, placing it down on your night table and instead went over to your closet to get dressed. you put on a white blouse with regular light blue jeans along with a black leather belt. picking out a plain, black purse that went along with it, you flung it around your shoulder.
as if right on time, you get a phone call after you have put all your makeup away. you answer it and notice it was a facetime. you place your phone in front of you as you jooheon waving to you.
"hey! looking gorgeous today."
"why thank you!" you said, playing along with his sweet talk. he chuckles as you hear a knock. you look over to the door and back to jooheon.
"are you already here? yes i am!" jooheon says, reading your mind. you grab your airpods, shoving them in your bag and the end the call, quickly rushing over to the door.
"i do not sound like that." you said, opening the door and seeing him. he rolls his eyes at your remark before you see one of his managers.
"mr. yoon."
"y/n. it's been a while. hasn't it? how have you been?" you smile as you hold on your purse awkwardly.
"i've been fine. you?"
"great. now that you're back. these boys are a handful. i practically had to listen to jooheon whine throughout the whole car ride here. he kept complaining about how i almost left him behind at the dorms. kids.. am i right?" he joked as you laughed along. you see jooheon pout at your reaction so you grab his hand in yours as an apology. little did you know, that little action made his heart flutter.
"um.. your bags, miss?" the driver says.
"right. they are right there." you were about to go but jooheon keeps your hand in his, enabling you to move.
"i'll get it, miss."
"i'm sorry. thank you." he shakes his head and walks inside your house. luckily, your suitcase and your extra bag were to the side of the door so they weren't that far away. one thing you didn't know was how long you were staying but it didn't really matter. you bought the house you were living right now when you broke up with changkyun. or at least tried to, the first time. you made a commitment to stay there but obviously you were now moving back.
"okay. we should get going." jooheon says as the manager checks his watch.
"you are right. let's go." all of you get in the car as jooheon follows you, still holding your hand. you had to admit, you liked the feeling too. it made you feel warm.
you both sat in the back as the driver rolled up the windows and took off. you then realize you hadn't told any of this to your parents. you fumbled in your purse, having to let go of jooheon's hand. he looks over to you, watching as you take your phone out.
"i haven't told my parents about me living somewhere else temporarily yet." you said, clicking on your mom's contact. you sent her a quick text about everything and how she didn't have to worry about you. that you weren't completely heartbroken and you had a friend who was taking care of you. it wasn't completely wrong but the less she found out through text, the better. you put your phone back in your purse and look out the window. you didn't notice jooheon was staring at you and waiting for you to hold his hand again. but right when he looks away, you see his hand slightly placed near your thigh. you bravely take his hand in yours again and feel him whip his head over to you again. you look up at him, your faces almost too close. you feel your cheeks heating up as he smiles. looking away, you feel him get a hold of your hand more tightly.
it took a few minutes more when the car came to a stop. you look around and see the familiar street across the street. getting a little nostalgic, your grip tightens on your hand. that didn't go unnoticed by jooheon as he instantly took your chin in his other hand and forced you to look at him.
"you don't have to do this if you don't want to. remember.." you nod your head and give him a small smile.
"are you kidding? and skip the opportunity to do this job again?" you look up at the building and can't help but smile.
"wait. i thought you quit because you liked your previous job more. why did you quit?" you thought he knew your reason so you frown a little.
"i figured since it would be too risky for changkyun and his image. he always wanted to go the extra step but he was very cautious over what people thought about him. you know him.. he acts as if he doesn't care but inside, that's all he ever thinks about.," he nods at your statement, letting you continue. "so i quit to not let him get into any trouble. but that only made it worse." he nods, sympathetically feeling for you.
"well.. i'm not gonna let you do that this time." he says, walking you out of the car. you both enter the company quietly as you slowly let go of his hand.
"changkyun.. remember?," you said as he sighs, biting his lip. "look. i'm saying this because i have a conscience and i don't want to be mean. i'm not doing this cause i still want something with him. okay? i just wanted to make that clear."
"i know.. if you did that, then you would be mean." you nodded your head, glad he understood.
"okay.." you turn around and see the boys crowded in the clear meeting room. you smile as you see minhyuk wave his hand. you wave yours back, slowly making yourself over to the room. you enter with jooheon following after and let him sit down along with the others.
"hi guys.." you said with a smile. you looked at each one of them as they made a funny face or waved lightly at you. changkyun didn't even spare a glance at you but you didn't expect much anyway.
"y/n, you're back." kihyun starts as you nod your head. shownu was the first to stand up and give you a hug. you pat his back as everyone begins the hug train. it ends with jooheon, making you chuckle. but suddenly, you hear a chair scooting back rather aggressively. you look over to changkyun, knowing the sound came from him standing up.
"come and talk with me." he says, leaving the room. you cleared your throat, tightly grabbing at your purse. jooheon stands up but you stop him.
"this is between him and me. if i don't tell him, it's pointless." jooheon's face softens, nodding. he slowly sits back down, listening to you and watches you walk out of the room. you walk around the corner and see changkyun scratching the back of his head.
"why are you here?" you look up at him, startled with his straight up question.
"cause it's my life?"
"and none of me saying we shouldn't see each other meant nothing to you?" you really wanted to scoff for how childishly he was thinking but you were mature. at least more than he was. instead, you let go of your purse and straightened your back.
"of course it means something. but that's why i'm back. since i mean nothing to you and you don't want me to be anything to you anymore, i won't be assigned to you. i'll even request for you to have your own stylist. if that's how you want to handle this situation. as an adult..," you could tell he was speechless with your words. "but what i'm more focused on is that.. this is a job i like. it's fun. i mean.. considering how it took you only a few months for you to feel completely different about me, i don't think you'd understand how much this job actually means to me. if you're really bothered by it, i'll just have a completely different schedule from you. but i'm not quitting. not for you. not again.." you bowed towards him like you were actually someone who was merely working at the same company and walked back to the room. as soon as you walked in, you put your hand over your heart.
"how did it go?" jooheon asks as you give him a frightened look.
"i acted so heartless. i don't know how to feel right now. my heart is pounding." you said as the other boys chuckled at your nervous self. jooheon takes your hand in his again, making you look over to him.
"go.. talk to your manager from before. he's upstairs in his office." you nod your head as you softly let go of his hand. he feels that empty feeling again and fails to hold in his pout. you chuckle at his sulky expression and suddenly feel the courage to make a move. you tiptoed up to his height and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. he blushes and smiles with his eyes creasing together.
"i'll see you later." you said and stepped out of the room, walking over to the elevator.
back in the room, all the boys holler, hyping jooheon up. jooheon felt like an idiot, not being able to stop himself from smiling.
"since when has y/n made moves like that?" minhyuk asks, obviously teasing. hyungwon hits jooheon's arm and gives him a wink.
"i don't know.. i'm kinda worried though.."
"you know.. your words and face aren't working together." kihyun states, noticing how smiley jooheon was, considering he had just said he was worried about you. everyone laughs, watching as jooheon moves around his cheekbones.
"anyway! what i meant was.. she and changkyun just broke up. she's holding up too.. too smoothly."
"maybe you being there helped." shownu adds, confused to see jooheon talk like this.
"i mean.. i'm glad if it did but.. it's just weird. it's that she might be holding it in and i don't want her to bottle everything up. there's no way you can get over a breakup in a day when you've loved the guy for over two years." the boys couldn't disagree to his statement but they also knew jooheon liked you before changkyun did. they loved both of the boys equally and a lot too but this situation was a bit difficult. nobody knew what was going to happen next and that scared them a bit. they were scheduled to have their comeback in a month or so too. would all this affect their teamwork?