♫ ❤︎

CHAPTER FORTY SIX : "ricky and his hatred for seeing people happy.."

— doah pov.
- 1st person.

btw if u haven't read performer yet, spoilers ahead. (also doesn't include haerin and taerae's past in this!!!)

by this point everyone was already here to celebrate the whole performers thingy. yujin excitedly came over with our many cupcakes and put them on the coffee table where everyone was sat around as donghyuck kept talking.

"can you fucking believe it!? huang renjun KISSED ME!" donghyuck says ecstatically to everyone. the boy obviously couldn't wait to tell the news that everyone already knew was going to happen.

"wow... you've never kissed before!" ricky says sarcastically. "so you're dating now am i right?"

renjun covers his face with his hands. "i did it." he says, causing donghyuck to proudly hug him. i was so surprised to find out renjun did everything, i've lost faith in my own brother.

taerae pokes my arm. "i won." he whispers. i roll my eyes and push him lightly. this is unfair, we've made a few bets and he only wins.

i genuinely still can't get over taerae deadass pulling me into a bathroom for a silly moment half an hour ago. he normally does stuff like that but i don't know how this time the butterflies are still in my stomach.

"why did it take you guys so long?" haerin asks before taking a bite out of a cupcake. "i already thought you were dating the first time i met you guys."

"it's called being a pussy. unlike you and gyuvin dating after two months." donghyuck crosses his arms. god everytime i hear their story on dating after two months it makes me laugh.

yujin laughs, laying down on the floor with his head on my lap. "i think we should tell doah and renhyuck about the events when gyurin were forming."

"oh my god yes please i really want to know about this!" renjun says, sitting up. i knew very little about their past, since haerin almost never mentions it.

mostly as she's always ashamed of her old self, but she still enjoys talking about it with gyuvin and their friendgroup.

"god it was the worst time of my life." hanbin says in a stressed tone. "my sister went through so much shit in like two weeks."

"please tell us the important parts of how it happened, from start to finish." donghyuck says, "let me rate your love story."

gyuvin and haerin share a look. "i think yujin should explain." she says.

the youngest boy rolls his eyes. "okay." he sighs, getting up. "doah and renhyuck might think you're insane after this."

i laugh at him. "it's okay. i've heard a bit anyway."

"basically gyuvin accidentally added haerin instead of hanbin to our reunion groupchat a day before she was moving to sspac." yujin explains. "cause he's a fucking idiot."

"yujin!" i hear his mum shout from upstairs. "i heard that!" we all laugh as he rolls his eyes.

"i don't know how i fucked it up so bad." gyuvin sighs. "she was so mean to me aswell." haerin only replies with a teasing blowing kiss that makes him scoff.

"anyways, the day haerin joined school she was already popular because she was hanbin's sister and hanbin was like one of the big 3 people there." yujin says.

"i'm so cool and popular everyone liked me back then." hanbin laughs. "besides jeonghyeon and gyuvin obviously."

"he's still pretty big in uni." i laugh, remembering moments of our first year when everyone liked him. i do admit i found him cute until i found his instagram and it was full of hao.

"she even dated lee jeonghyeon before too." taerae mentions. "so like, many people knew her before hand."

"CRAZY EX!!" gunwook shouts, causing everyone else to look at taerae who looks at them with an annoyed expression.

"and like somehow everyone fell in love with her because she made out with park hanbin like barely a week into school." gyuvin says with crossed arms.

"do you enjoy kissing people two years older than you or something?" donghyuck laughs.

haerin rolls her eyes. "bro i just wanted some attention leave me alone. you can't blame me."

"daddy issues??" hanbin jokes.

"oh yeah and there was also a thing where her parents came back and like they were so bitchy to haerin because they kicked her out when she was 16/17" yujin says, "they didn't like gyuvin because his parents scammed them once."

i snort. "why are adults so stupid?" i swear, some parents just don't deserve to raise such amazing kids.

"right???" haerin says. "like they're all up in my business as if they didn't force me to live alone in high school and college." haerin is truly one of the strongest people i know, i still don't think she deserves anything that happened to her.

"wasn't there a whole thing with unknown accounts and threatening?" i ask.

gyuvin sighs. "that was so funny i can't lie. everyday more people just wanted to fuck up her life and then when she passed out on me i saved the day!" he says, hands on his hips.

the group give him a judgmental look. "then we left you two alone in her house and they ended up cuddling at one point."

"wasn't that their first day actually talking?" matthew says. "this some love at first sight type of shit."

"i kind of liked him before i moved to sspac because i was stalking hanbin's account and gyuvin was there." haerin laughs. "i found him hot but now that i met him..."

"haerin!" gyuvin shouts in offence, making everyone burst into laughter. "what's wrong with me?!"

"nothing, you're just a bit strange sometimes." she says. "you're abnormal."

"she said abnormal???" yujin laughs.

"young love~" i sing to taerae. he turns to me and chuckles, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

"we're cuter right?" he asks, i nod at him. "our story is wayy better."

"your love story just sounds like gyuvin liked haerin but she was hung up on her ex for a bit and liked attention from other people." donghyuck shrugs.

haerin rolls her eyes. "i mean you're kind of right but leave me alone i've changed!!"

"they were always so scared of each other until then. but gyuvin is a perfect man and made her normal." hanbin mentions, giving gyuvin a high five.

"do you remember the old performers show?" gunwook asks, making haerin almost fall to the floor in embarrassment.

"that kiss was the cringiest thing i've done in my life." haerin screeches. "i hate kum junhyeon."

gyuvin shrugs. "it wasn't that bad. but it kind of gave me high school musical vibes when everyone ran past us."

i laugh. "it seemed fun though, i saw some videos of the performances. especially the singing ones."

"THE PLAY WAS SO GOOD LAST YEAR!!" yujin grins. "this year seems way better though."

"yeah this year is better since we have dorae watching you now." ricky says, pointing at us. "i think we should talk about them."

"please let's not talk about us, it's so embarrassing." i complain, hiding my face in taerae's arm.

"but why? i think you guys are the cutest here!!" miyeong says.

"i think we should. we talked about gyurin, we introduced renhyuck and now all we need is to talk about you two, gunyeong and haobin." jiwoong says excitedly.

one thing about taerae's friendgroup is that they love talking about each other's love lives. i've realised this a long time ago, but it was scarier in person. i can't confidently have a conversation about this, ESPECIALLY in front of my brother.

"i want to know how doah went from being an introverted innocent girl sending a pickup line to making out with the same guy during a movie." renjun laughs.

taerae pulls me in between his legs, wrapping his arms around my waist. i pause, flustered as i could feel his breath on the back of my neck. "let's talk about it." he laughs.

"careful, kim taerae. "donghyuck warns, letting go of renjun to point at taerae. "doing romantic shit in front of me like that is traumatising."

"how the fuck do you think i feel?" hanbin says, hands in the air. "my sister is way worse than everyone here!"

haerin hits her brother's back. "quit complaining, you can't say anything either!"

"sorry alcoholic." hanbin puts his arms down and smiles innocently at his sister. then the siblings decided to bicker loudly. ricky ended up instigating, saying things like "personallyy" and "i wouldn't have it."

"we aren't bad in public, are we?" taerae whispers. my whole body tingles weirdly and i gulp and shake my head in panic. i was still not used to this at all. "relax, doah. you said you'd do whatever i want." he chuckles.

i notice how stiff i was in his arms and i quickly try relax. "right..." i whisper.

everyone was still interested in the sibling argument until hao shouts. "i wanted to hear about dorae!" he says.

the group slowly turns their heads towards us and they were all looking at me like i was crazy. i couldn't tell if i was still obviously very nervous from taerae or if my makeup looked weird.

"taerae why is she so pink?" gyuvin laughs. "poor girl, you're making her shy now."

"doah babe don't be shy of being cute with your boyfriend."  haerin chuckles. "but taerae is bolder than i thought, damn."

"this isn't a good thing!" donghyuck says, fake crying into renjun's shoulder. "why is she so close to a male?"

i ignore what everyone had said as i was completely zoned out, only being able to think about what taerae was doing to me right now.

"is she pink?" taerae laughs, turning my body around to face him. i cover my face with both of my hands and i could hear the sound of photos being taken and a few giggles next to us. he pushes my hands away and smiles at me sweetly. "why are you so shy all of a sudden?"

"i hate it here." ricky says.

"real." gunwook sighs.

"what the fuck?!" miyeong shouts.

i turn back around quickly and awkwardly smile at everyone else. "anyways!" i act like i wasn't just silent out of being hugged by my boyfriend.

"gunwook stop pretending you aren't in love with miyeong challenge go!!" matthew shouts. "it's annoying now!"

gunwook rolls his eyes. "what do you mean?"

"guys he likes me don't worry." miyeong says laughs, patting the boy's back. i also heard they recently made out again and went on a date at a recent party. another couple down i guess?? "he wants me so bad."

"whatever!" gunwook says, "let's finally talk about how cute dorae are right now!" he takes out his phone and shows everyone a photo.

"aww you two are so adorable~" gyuvin coos, cupping gunwook's phone.

"being surrounded by couples is actually driving me insane." ricky sighs.

"stop complaining, so many people like you." hao hits the back of his head. "people are always lining up for you."

"he's too busy focusing on himself." jiwoong laughs.

"ricky and his hatred for seeing people happy.." matthew sighs.

gyuvin laughs at ricky before running towards us on the floor and showing us a photo from literally twenty seconds ago. "i think this is a perfect photo of you two."

i gulp. "uh huh..."

"send me that." taerae says with a smile, his hands still around my waist after i turned around.

"i highly do not consent to us talking about me and taerae. i think we should save it for another time." i finally speak, making everyone laugh.

"hmm okay, fine. we'll go back to couples later. let's focus on why i actually wanted to bring you all here again!" yujin smiles, taking another one of the cupcakes.

"aw, shame." taerae says. "another time."

i clear my throat. "okay, yujin. talk about your performers show thing."

"me and yujin are the dance centers for this year." gunwook smiles. "i'm really excited. you're all coming right?"

i furrow my brows. "wait when is it?"

"next thursday." haerin says. "i got you all tickets in the front row already." she winks.

"i'm the one who bought them all, be thankful." miyeong butts in. "i had to get the front seat just for gunwook too." gunwook swiftly wraps an arm around miyeong's shoulders and smiles.

"i can see all of you, i'm excited to show you it doah." he giggles.

"thank you!!" i say excitedly. "i'm looking forward to being in the front and seeing you."

"doah you better be cheering for us." yujin says, his arms crossed. "my mum says if you don't she won't be nice to you ever again."

i laugh. "okay, okay. i will, i promise we'll all make sure to. i'll bring signs and everything."

"doah this is your first time watching a performance from them, right?" taerae asks me from behind.

"yeah, i've never seen yujin or gunwook dance too." i answer awkwardly.

gunwook gets up, "we'll show you!" he says with a huge smile on his face. even after a few months, his smile is my favourite to see (besides taerae's of course).

"noo we can't spoil it!" yujin whines, wrapping his arms around my left arm. "doah tell gunwook to not spoil it."

gunwook rolls his eyes. "we'll show her another dance."

"yujin dancing is so cute to me." haerin says in a fake cry, "he's growing."

yujin sighs and gets up. "doah and renhyuck rate our dance skills okay?"

"i'm not a dancer but okay!" i smile.

"we are, let's be like judges." donghyuck says, sitting up and crossing his legs in an exaggerated 'professional' manner.

the rest of the group sit facing the two boys who were randomly punching each other's arms to 'warm up'.

"children you're taking too long!" haerin shouts, "hurry up!!"

yujin's mum walks into the room. "what the hell are you two doing?" she chuckles. "i just came down to tell you someone's at the door, i don't think you heard.

—

it was more of a struggle trying to get into the theatre since i kept bumping it to loads of adults and parents. i was holding onto taerae for my dear life getting to the front row.

our group kind of went all out to support yujin and gunwook. the college professors apparently used haerin and gyuvin to set up everything and they had to go outside the theatre to sell tickets.

so it was everyone but them two inside, we looked crazy as fuck. but it was all jiwoong and hao's idea to look like fucking highlighters; facepaint and excessive colours everywhere on their bodies.

the other people in the crowd were all wearing glowstick bracelets and necklaces that we were also wearing, since i got told gyuvin was handing them out (jiwoong accidentally bought 40 packs instead of 4..).

we were holding huge signs on the ends of our row since we didn't want to cover people's views of the stage. our signs said "HAN YUJIN" "PARK GUNWOOK" and some pictures of them. i found it funny since the two had no idea how far we were going.

"do you think yujin and gunwook will win?" taerae asks, holding my hand. "gyurin won last year and haobin won the year before, do you think our friendgroup can win again?"

i smile. "of course, i believe in them."

it started in five minutes and gyurin were almost no where to be seen, my guesses were that they were either making out or still greeting the people coming in.

i didn't realise how big of a deal this was, since almost all of the friendgroup (besides me and renhyuck) look so bright and are standing out even though we're deadass in front of the stage.

the order of the performances was singing, dancing and the play. yujin and gunwook were surprisingly in all three, which was shocking since yujin doesn't even go to college.

"where the fuck is gyurin?" hanbin whispers to me, "the performance starts soon."

i shrug. "they'll be here, people are still coming in." i say, pointing at the many people still walking in.

then, the whole room went black and everyone begin to clap and cheer, i think i could only hear hanbin shouting the loudest though.

one VERY familiar person walks on stage and smiles. "CHA WOONGKI????" taerae shouts. our group were clapping so loud when he stops at the center of the stage.

"hi." woongki grins into the microphone. "i'm a former sspac student, cha woongki who is also going to guide you through the program." he says.

"what the fuck is he doing here?" i laugh to taerae.

"the first performance is a a short singing performance, followed by the dance competition and another singing performance and then last, a play." he says.

"so let's be supportive and cheer and clap for the students and be respectful!!" he says.

"OKAYYYYYY!!" haerin shouts, walking into the front rows. "LOVE YOU WOONGKI." she laughs, dragging gyuvin into their section.

woongki laughs and bows before walking off and the lights went black again, letting the crowd quietly mutter as the little college kids prepare.

"get ready to scream." taerae whispers to me, i laugh and nod at him, turning to the front.

since we're at the front, we notice silhouettes walking onto the stage. gyuvin claps loudly and shouts yujin's and gunwook's names.

i could already recognise the two walking on and the lights go on and a couple younger kids were stood tall with microphones in their hands and smiling.

"HAN YUJINNNNNNNNNN" miyeong shouts, followed on by many claps but it quieted down as the piano at the back begins to make sound, music playing.

the chords of WA-R-R by colde slowly started to play and i watch as gunwook gives a small wave to miyeong. i turn to her and she covers her face in embarrassment. "your man seems to be happy you're here." i laugh at her.

she hits my arm as gunwook starts the song, his eyes still focused on miyeong and his smile was wide as hell. "bro it's giving taerae in man in love-" matthew snickers from my side.

"quiet, woohyun." taerae mutters. i laugh at their small interaction and watch the youngers in awe. i've never heard them sing, i'm now only aware everyone in the group went to this college and all were good at music and singing somehow.

i went to another music college with most of my friendgroup, and now the two both go to cheonlim university. i don't know why but seeing them all sing so softly made me a bit emotional.

anyway, everyone was doing really well and i turn around to see all of the glowsticks moving side to side which i found cute. maybe jiwoong accidentally buying 40 packs of 100 glowsticks wasn't the worst thing he's done.

yujin waves at us as other people sang and we all wave back excitedly. taerae's right arm wraps around my waist and he pulls me closer. "look at the way gunwook's staring at miyeong for the whole song." he whispers.

i look up again and seeing gunwook STILL staring at miyeong almost made me melt, it's like the look taerae gave me on our first proper date when we went to have a picnic.

the music ends and our group had erupted into an abundance of cheers and claps. "OUR SONS  DID SO WELL!!" hanbin shouts. "YOU ALL DID SO WELL!!"

gunwook and yujin both put their index fingers over their lips, gunwook mouthing a 'shut up you're embarrassing us'.

"gunwook really rizzed miyeong up singing WA-R-R.." taerae laughs, making the other students look down into the crowd to spot a shy miyeong.

"shut the fuck up kim taerae." she says, watching as gunwook chuckles and bows at the audience with the others. the claps were once again loud as hell and the lights turn off again.

woongki walks back onto the stage as the lights turn on again. "they ate to be honest, anyways, the dance duos are next, starting off with han yujin and park gunwook. i say you should really look forward to them." he says.

"how did you find this singing performance, lee doah?" woongki asks, walking towards me and leaning down, putting the microphone infront of  my face. taerae tightens his arm and pokes me to say something. "uhh i think they all did really well. all four of them." i smile awkwardly.

woongki laughs and walks backwards. "thank you, doah. now let's get ready for yujin and gunwook's performance."

the lights turn off again, and their figures walk onto stage and we begin to cheer, glowsticks in the air. "gunwook taught me the dance i should dance from here." gyuvin laughs.

"my god please don't." haerin says. "save your energy, you used it all trying to sell those tickets and glowsticks."

"they took so long my legs hurt-"

"SHUT UP IT'S STARTING." donghyuck whisper-shouts, shutting gyuvin up as the lights illuminated and an oddly fierce-looking gunwook and yujin are stood in their positions. 'pressure' by bree runway (ty claire xx) starts to play and we all scream very enthusiastically.

"FUCK IT UP YUJIN!" hao shouts, "MY SON FUCK IT UPPPP"

"MIYEONG'S MAN!" haerin screams, cheering for him. i think we could probably be louder than the music but we were all too excited hyping them up. "MIYEONG SAYS SHE LOVES YOU!!"

i notice a smile crept up on gunwook's face briefly until he changed his expression again and went back to being serious with yujin. it was actually shocking seeing them dance, i don't think i've ever seen anything like it.

gyuvin and renjun were the ones holding up the signs and they were screaming a little too loud, but it was funny watching the two boys on the stage try not to laugh.

"HOLY SHIT.." taerae shouts, pointing at gunwook and yujin's floor choreography. "OH MY GOD STOP PLEASE."

i laugh at him and the rest of the group was shouting at them, telling them to stop acting more mature. "HAN YUJIN WHAT ARE YOU DOINGGG.." hanbin yells, trying to cover his eyes.

"they're so good oh my god," i say to taerae. "are you sure this is the same gunwook and yujin i know?" i was still shocked at seeing them go so hard in contrast to their cute, funny personalities i'm used to.

the glowsticks were waving around and the audience behind this were also cheering, i laugh at seeing gunwook and yujin's parents sat together in shock, whispering in between every few seconds.

i turn back around and i think i was almost deaf from hearing gyuvin and haerin shout, most of it being "MY SONS!" or just mentioning anything and hyping them up.

at this point, i'm expecting everyone's voices besides mine to be lost after this. there was still more dances and a play at the end.

—

TIME SKIP : after the performances.

jungmin
@hjjungmin

hey
i'm sorry i have to say this all
over text since i'm out of the
city right now but i really need
to tell you this

??

doah i'm really fucking sorry for
being so horrible and bitchy to you,
ruining your life, helping sunwoo's
mum, drugging your brother, basically
cyberbullying you calling you ugly and
sensitive and just everything i've done
for the past few months

oh.

i was just so jealous of you, i obviously
really liked taerae and i thought he was
the only thing that could make me happy
so i just wanted him all to myself and when
i saw that you were close, it broke me so much
and i just ended up going the wrong way about it

...yeah you did

you're just perfect doah. you're everything
a guy wants and you're completely his type
and you have everything i don't, i wanted to
get rid of you but i now realise how stupid
and immature i look right now

i mean you were really immature
but like... i didn't expect an apology

it's bad that i'm only now realising
the shit i've done to you was really
shitty and i don't want you to forgive
me since i don't deserve it but i really
want to make everything up to you

i'm so confused

no you're not doah i'm saying every
thing as simple as i can. i could even
say way more right now but i'm not
typing a lot but i just hope i can do
something for you for as my apology

i'm sorry i don't understand
what do you mean by doing
something for me

i want to make it up to you doah.
i've ruined everything for you for
nothing and i feel horrible for it..
i really feel horrible and the things
sunwoo and his mum did too.

why do you need to make it up
to me though??

sunwoo and hao told me that i need to
try do something more than an apology
since i actually feel terrible

oh.. i don't know what you
can do, you don't need to..

my god i'll explain it all better soon
i know you're with taerae and the
group right now but just know i'm
apologising all from my heart and i
mean everything i've said. please just
think of something.

..

♫ ❤︎

sorry for updating a week late, i was busy pookies </3 anyways enjoy this shitty chapter, dare and the performer universe is ending soon.

anyways, pls stay tuned for my hao book if u aren't already xoxo

also thank u to Myungart and kotaku4568 for helping me write this chapter xoxo love you lots