And I can still see it all (In my mind)
All of you, all of me (Intertwined)
I once believed love would be (Black and white)
But it's golden (Golden)

- daylight (taylor swift)

70. daylight

"Noona, if I ask you something, are you going to beat the shit out of me?"

After Seojun declared a mini vacation for the clan, it was decided that they had one day to wrap up things in their personal life so they could all get ready for the trip. Han Seojun was going to keep low at Soojin's place for the day while his manager and Suho would arrange everything for them. When asked about the place, Seojun simply shut his mouth and slid an imaginary zip through his lips. 

All Soojin knew was that the along with the High School clan, the band members were joining too and that this would be the break they all deserved. Although, Soojin hardly felt relaxed, with each passing second, she kept worrying about the fate of the man she loved.

"Depends on what you ask."

Currently, the duo was making their way through the parking lot of the office premises of Kang Soojin so she could officially ask for a leave from her team leader. Jaehun had accompanied her because he wanted to help shop things for the stay and also, thank Mr. Choi for being so helpful during the last couple of days.

"Han Seojun - shi." Jaehun said while walking behind Soojin who flashed her company card to the security. She turned to meet Jaehun's sharp gaze, waiting for him to continue. "Do you really know him from when you were in school?"

Soojin nodded, fearing that this was not the question he wanted to ask. "Since middle school, he was best friends with my neighbor. We had few unpleasant interactions ever since." 

"You never mentioned about it, not even when I asked you who your favourite singer was." 

Soojin sighed, tilting her head and walking in the glass building - wrapping her arm with Jaehun who was dressed in his casual clothes with a long brown jacket on top. She on the other hand wore her formals - with her white coat to top it. 

"Seojun - well, he is a sensitive topic. Just like you have yours."

Jaehun nodded. "I understand, Noona. But I am just glad you have someone who looks at you the way Seojun-shi looks at you."

"What?" Soojin chuckled, shaking her head. "And how does your Seojun-shi looks at me?" 

"You really don't know?"

"Don't know what?"

"Daebak - come on, Noona. You have to be really dumb to not see..."

"YA! I am not dumb, I was the smartest in my high school."

"I thought Lee Suho was the smartest."

"Now I regret telling you about my friends."

Their fun filled conversations made Soojin realise how much she missed being around Jaehun and made Jaehun realise that he may not have everything in life, but he had such happy moments, and he should be thankful for that. 

"Behave, Jaehun. Arachi? Don't speak out of turn." Soojin patted Jaehun's shoulder and dusted his coat, then she proceeded to set his hair to a side and ignored his discomfort. "Mr. Choi does not like anyone speaking out of turn, okay?"

"Jaehun does not like you touching his hair, what about that?"

"Well then Jaehun should have not kept it so messy!"

"Kang Soojin!"

"Yoon Jaehun..."

"Kang Soojin?"

The husky authoritative voice of the 35-year-old businessman dressed in his black formal suit and looking more proper than the president himself got the duo by surprise and Soojin apologised, making her way inside the cabin and dragging Jaehun with her. 

"What brings you here?" Mr. Choi asked, looking at Soojin and the boy they saved last night. "How are you holding now?" He would never say it aloud, but the sight of Soojin was enough to brighten his day. 

She looked pale and tired, but her dark eyes seemed to carry a happy spark, and a smile seemed to play on her pink lips. Her hair was tied in a low-end ponytail, her hand holding Jaehun's with a firm hold and her eyes meeting his - almost making him hold his breath.

"Very good, thank you for asking." She bowed and greeted the man and then nudged Jaehun who cleared his throat as he approached the team leader. "My brother would like to say something."

Jaehun hesitantly nodded, he forgot everything they had practiced the moment he saw the professional man looking at him like he was breathing wrong. Jaehun realised how sharp and scary Mr. Choi could be, making Soojin's work rants, meaningful and scary. 

"I wanted to thank you sir." Jaehun bowed, lowering his gaze and greeting the man who now stood up in mutual respect to the gesture. "Thank you for saving me last night, thank you for taking care of my Noona and thank you for helping us, going above and beyond for us. I also want to aplogise for causing distress to you. Please forgive me." 

Soojin nodded at the sincere apology by Jaehun who hesitantly looked at Mr. Choi. He was now approaching them. The tall man had no expressions on his face, so Jaehun didn't know what else to do but hope that he'd take mercy on him. 

All of the tension was flushed away when Mr. Choi smiled at the boy, a smile that reached his eyes, a smile that made him look more handsome than he was. He patted Jaehun's shoulder with a small nod. 

"Hope you know that you matter a lot to the people around you." Mr. Choi met the scared boy's eyes and saw a reflection of a past him. "Especially, to your noona."

"Yes sir."

"Don't ever do that again, arachi? Life is way too precious even when it's absolutely nerve-wrecking. I want to see you fighting against the currents of your life, not with it." 

Mr. Choi smiled at the boy who seemed to be moved by the appreciation and then turned towards Soojin who had a soft smile on her pretty face. 

"The leave application is approved." 

Soojin's eyes widened in surprise, even though she knew that Mr. Choi wanted her to take some days off but to see him accept the week's leave without resisting or adding his signature grim look. 

"Don't look at me like that. You deserve a week off after working tirelessly over a year with me. Have fun, Miss Kang." 

Soojin tilted her head, raising her gaze to meet the happy eyes of the Team Leader whom she had a wrong impression off for the entire year. He was a rigid, expressionless and cold man, and had no life than his work but he had proved her wrong by being more considerate, selfless and kind than anyone had been to her over a decade.

"Thank you, Jang-nim. Also, about the money - "

"Don't worry about the money." Mr. Choi retreated back to his chair, Soojin tilting her head and waiting for the catch. "I'll be deducting the amount with interest from your monthly salary on installment basis."

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Soojin narrowed her gaze, a playful smile on her face which Jaehun was quick to notice. "Thank you once again. Although, if you don't mind me telling you..."

"Yes?"

"You should take a break too, sir. You deserve it just as much."

Mr. Choi chuckled instead of being his old grumpy self. "Noted."

Before the duo could leave, Jaehun was quick to interject to the working man. "How about you join us for this week?" 

Both Soojin and Mr. Choi looked at Jaehun like he had a third head, and while Soojin was surprised at the sudden invitation, Mr. Choi had no change of expressions on his face. Instead, he looked at Kang Soojin who did not seem to like the idea of him tagging along with what seemed like a private affair.

"Jaehun - "

"Come on Noona, it will be fun!" Jaehun pouted, shaking his shoulders like a kid. "And Mr. Choi has done so much for us, shouldn't we thank him in a proper way. Plus, I am sure hyung wouldn't mind." 

"But..."

"Yoon Jaehun, that is a really kind thing to ask me." Mr. Choi knew when he was not needed, so he simply stayed glued to his seat and continued to type on his laptop. "But I would have to unfortunately decline the nice offer. I have a lot to cover up this week." 

Kang Soojin should have been pleased at the way Mr. Choi refused to tag along and moved out of the way, respectfully. But Jaehun was right, Mr. Choi really had gone above and beyond for her and not just with her work affairs. He had been there for her when she had no one, and his monotonous tone simply painted a sad picture to the girl who could now read her team leader's tones and facial expressions well. 

"I know you are really busy and that this offer is last minute, but I'd really like if you could join us too." Soojin offered, smiling sincerely and meaning every word. "Although I should warn you that the trip includes people I went to High School with, and they are all crazy in their own way."

Mr. Choi raised his eyes to meet Soojin's tired ones. He tried reading them, hoping to see her not wanting him there, so he could dip out. But Soojin's tired eyes simply held the truth like she did with her words.

"Please say you will reconsider. I'll text you the location, so maybe you can spare a day or two for us?" Soojin spoke with a pleading tone and Mr. Choi found it a bit difficult to reject an offer that sweet. 

"Alright, I'll give it some thought." Mr. Choi smiled, eyeing the cheery duo as they bowed to take their leave. "Travel safe."

"I hope I see you there." 

Mr. Choi watched Soojin leave with Jaehun tagging alongside and sighed when she was out of sight. He shook his head, trying his best to drown Soojin's happy voice and even livelier smile from his mind. He knew he was crossing a line already by being so attracted to a girl he never really cared about - his junior and more than that, a girl who could never be his.

Not when there was someone else who loved her enough to jump in the water for her.

It didn't matter if he would have done the same thing if he wasn't a minute late. It didn't matter because he would always be second best when the contender against him was Han Seojun - the man who had captured Soojin's heart when he wasn't in the picture. 

Second best.

_ 

"YA Han Seojun - you still have not told me where we are going!" Soojin complained once they were done with the packing, the rest of the group would meet on the airport. "You have made me pack everything, swim clothes, summer dress, winter formals, coats and sweaters and even a rainy coat! Where exactly is this place?"

Seojun shrugged sheepishly, whilst working on the plane tickets. He was travelling with his band in a private plane to not grab attention, whilst the rest of the group would travel through business class. It was a long travel, for almost ten hours. 

"Who else knows, Suho?"

"Suho will die but not speak anything about it."

"I can't with you two."

Seojun hardly told the clan about the travel, the rest of it was handled by Suho and Move who had sponsored the entire travel for their star singer and his friends. The Band members had readily hopped on the plan when Seojun asked - without consulting or worrying about the KMF that was in less than two weeks. They really needed a break and deserved one without having to worry about singing and bands and careers. 

"I am just sad that you will have to travel all alone without me." Seojun pouted, walking towards the girl.

"Ten people is hardly alone, Seojun." 

Seojun held Soojin's hands, towering her with his tall frame and looking down to meet her dove like black eyes. He remembered how he wished for a time like that, earnestly and fervently and now when he had it, he was running away from it. 

"I don't have a lot of time, so I want all of you for me."

Soojin held back on the sudden drop in her heart and smiled in response, despite it being really difficult for her to react in a positive manner. 

"You can have all the time with me, Ajhussi. You just have to take a leap of faith." 

The ride at the airport had been nerve-wrecking and exciting. Jaehun stuck to Soojin's side when she met up with her friends. Su-ah and Jugyeong enveloped her in a bone crushing hug. They kept asking her how she was given the last couple of days were so tough on her. When Soojin introduced Jaehun to the girls, they left her side and went all Omma mode on the poor boy who had to answer all health-related questions honestly.

Soojin smiled at Suho who simply ignored her smile and went straight in for a hug.

"I cannot believe Lee Su." Soojin said in a soft whisper as Suho hugged her, "I cannot believe you can ever be the type of person to hug someone."

Suho chuckled, breaking the hug and Soojin could read how well he was trying to hide his fears and worries underneath the mask of being happy. She could also tell the influence Jugyeong and Seojun had on him over the years, and she couldn't be happier.

"I don't hug everyone, Soojin. You are an exception."

"Oh - I feel so grateful. The great Lee Suho - rank holder of Saebom High - wanting to hug someone like me?"

"You are insanely dramatic, Kang Su."

"And you are insanely different than what you were. Jinjja - if I could tell the frowning and brooding Suho from high school that his future version was so happy and relaxed, I am sure I'd get disowned and ridiculed."

The old friends laughed it out and waited for the departure. Soojin greeted Chorong and the few old friends that tagged along and asked about their whereabouts. She was then pulled aside by Suah who wanted to shop a few things before their flight and Jugyeong tagged along. The boys didn't want to interrupt the girls, so they headed to the lounge to get some refreshments. 

Soojin forgot how much she missed being with her own people.

"I am so glad we are doing this!" Suah said with her tiny arms wrapped around Soojin's frame. "It has been sooooo long since we three have been out like this."

"True, it'll be so much fun!" 

Soojin smiled. "I hope so too. I have missed you two so much. And I missed out on your lives too, I want to catch up on every tiny detail."

Their flight to their destination was announced and a pleasant smile graced their tired faces, as Soojin along with the others walked towards the exit. Since it was a last-minute booking, Suho did his best to get everyone together but few of them had to sit in economy, Suho and Jugyeong sat together in business class whilst the rest seemed to be disbanded.  

"This one is yours." Suho pointed at the middle seat to the right aisle of the flight where two men already sat on the either end. "I am sorry, this is the best I could do. You could exchange seats with me, if you want."

Soojin immediately shook her head, she didn't want to take Jugyeong away from Suho - not again. "This is not bad either, and I'll be fine."

Suho went back to his seat after making sure everyone else was seated, Soojin waved at the happy Jaehun who also sat with strangers but was happy to get a window seat and she then looked at the arrangements. An old man in his 50's sat on the aisle seat, he was reading a magazine with a grim expression and Soojin wondered how pissed he was going to be every time she asked him to get up. She then looked at the man in the window seat, he was dressed in all black from head to toe, right from his cap, the mask he put on his face and his long coat that wrapped his tall frame. He had placed his head on the window and seemed to be asleep, a pillow around his neck and his hair covering the rest of his face.

Soojin made her way to the middle seat and took a deep breath. She wondered why she was feeling so anxious all of a sudden. Her breathing was erratic and so were her heartbeats. The sudden feeling of all alone hit her and she held the armrest with a grip that could mistake her for being terrified of airplanes and heights. 

This was supposed to be a break for them, a break for her. An outlet to have fun, to stop worrying constantly and to breathe a little - yet she was anything but relaxed. She wondered what would happen after this week was over and the next would arrive. She worried about their fates, she worried about the happy smiles everyone carried and how they would soon be replaced with a tired sigh. A pit formed in her stomach when the plane took off and Soojin almost came close to a breakdown, making a fool of herself amidst strangers.

"I know you are scared, but maybe lessen the grip on my hand, just a tad bit, princess."

Soojin snapped her eyes open and turned to the side, amused to hear the voice of the person she wanted to hear ever since she entered the plane. Her eyes met the light brown eyes of Han Seojun who smiled at her, his eyes radiating the laughter lines and a comforting aura which she needed. 

"Han - "

Seojun immediately covered her mouth with his palm, shushing her ever so silently. "I am undercover." He whispered against his palm, "I had to dress up like a hooligan and plead on my knees to Suho to agree to this arrangement. So, please..."

Soojin nodded and they sat back in their places, but instead of the armrest, Soojin's hand was wrapped with Seojun's with their fingers entangled and fitting each other's imperfectly. 

"Why did you do this?" Soojin asked once the flight attendants had served them their refreshments, "what if someone caught you? Ya Ajhussi, why are you so reckless?"

Seojun simply smiled under his mask and rested his head on Soojin's shoulder, wrapping his arms around her and she relaxed under his hold. "So, I could do this..." He nuzzled closer and made the butterflies in Soojin's stomach to do a summersault. "Ten hours of this flight, I ain't wasting anymore time, princess. I want all of you to me, and me alone." 

Soojin didn't know whether she should shake her head in disapproval at the adult acting like a kid or be happy that she got her wannabe gangster back in a way she dreamed all these years. 

"So, you are going to stick to me like this for the next ten hours?"

"Absolutely." Seojun kissed her hair and although he had a mask on, Soojin couldn't help but blush. "I am tired, let me sleep."

"You took your pills?" She asked, her hand patting Seojun's soft hair. "It's a long flight."

"I did." Seojun replied, pulling her closer, "she is right here with me."

_