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It affects the band. After the kissing attempt and that night in her room with Minhyun, Seunghee has showed a big displeasure against him. Her trust with him dropped big time. If he can't keep his feelings to himself, they can never work together again. With him acting like a maniac like this, it can never be the same between them.

Talks in the band happen with everyone around. And out of respect, Minhyun doesn't talk like he used to anymore. The good thing is, he's finally reflecting on his acts. Seunghee hasn't talked to him since then. And he exactly knows it'll take time for her to forgive him. But he's completely repenting. The moment he walks up to her again, he's entirely reverted to his old self, and he'll do the right thing to get her heart.

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At practice, Dongho and Jonghyun walks over to Seunghee who's sitting alone at a corner, trying her hardest to keep her distance from Minhyun.

"Hey, are you alright here?" Jonghyun utters.

Jonghyun stands before her and Dongho sits beside her.

"Are you okay?" Dongho repeats the question.

Seunghee finds it hard to answer them but she manages to, "Yeah, I'm okay guys."

"I don't know how to say this but Minhyun has never been like this," Dongho starts.

Seunghee knows they are here to defend their friend. But she politely listens.

Dongho continues, "We've been friends for nine years but this is the first time I've seen him distraught like this. He'll never disrespect a girl just for the fun of it. You know him, he's old-fashioned and careful. I don't have any idea why he did that to you."

"Yeah, we were shocked too. I think what he feels for you is so much different from all those girls he previously dated. I think he's so in love with you. But of course that doesn't mean he can do the things he did, just because he can't help it. It's still wrong," Jonghyun assures her.

Seunghee is relieved, she's glad to hear them taking her side of the conflict. She's glad they know she's the victim here.

"I'm... I'm just so disappointed in him," Seunghee looks so down, she might even cry. "Why is he doing this? He's scaring me and I don't think I can work with him if he continues being like this."

"We know. But please, can you bear with it? We'll make sure he won't do anything. We'll assure you he won't lay a hand on you anymore," Jonghyun assures her.

"Seunghee, you're our only vocalist. We hope you think this through," Dongho says.

Seunghee just nods at them. She can't fail them. It's all Minhyun's fault, and these boys have nothing to do with it. How she wishes this is all just a bad dream. How she wish they'd all turn back to how they used to be.

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Seungkwan passes by late at night at the café right before closing just to see Elkie. Seunghee watches at the side of the stage as Elkie happily welcomes her boyfriend. They look really cute together. Seungkwan is a nice boy. Since they became a couple, Elkie has been even more lively and inspired. Seunghee knows it's all because of Seungkwan. The boy gives her enough time and attention, and even more love and positivity. They surely have it going very nice.

Meanwhile, Seunghee walks out of the café unnoticed, or so she thought so. Minhyun is still watching her like he usually does. However, because he crossed the line, he can't even talk to her now. It's only been two weeks and she doesn't show signs of compassion. He knows it himself, once was enough, and twice was too much but he couldn't fight his feelings. And until now, he still does, he's just putting so much restraint on himself that he manages not to even go near her for the meantime.

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Seunghee has gone directly home and is now walking down the street to her apartment. She's stressed. She wants to unwind for a while. But she has nowhere to go and she has no one to spend time with. It's that time she wished someone is there to cheer her up.

Upon stepping at the yard of her place, she surprisingly sees Jeonghan, leaning on a parked car at the parking lot. He looks like waiting for someone when he turns to her.

"Jeonghan-ah..." she murmurs while approaching him.

"Seunghee-ya, you're early tonight. It's only past 10," Jeonghan says.

She's standing before him now and she quickly remarks about the car, "Well, I got an early time out. Is this yours?"

"Ah, I just rented it. I need one for our gig in the fifth district. It's a hassle commuting," he says as a matter of fact.

"I see..."

"Are you going in already?"

She hesitates. If only she can ask him to take her out for a while, she thought. That would be too much on his part though. But it's amazing, cuz he probably heard her inner thoughts just now.

"Would you care for a ride? I just wanted to road test it for tomorrow," he requests.

Her face lights up in delight with a smile. With the face she's showing him right now, his heart skips a beat and just confessed what is really on his mind.

"Honestly, I just wanted to spend some time with you tonight. I saw you across the street and you looked bothered and actually, it bothers me. I just wanted to do something to cheer you up."

He steals her heart once again tonight by being the only person she wants him to be at the right place at the right time.

She gives him a cute smile and says, "Then shall we go?"

He smiles at her genuinely and instantly opens the passenger's seat's door for her. "After you."

She smiles at him sweetly again and says before loading, "Thank you Jeonghan-ah."

It feels heavy as he closed the door. Her smile is sincere but it feels like she's carrying some real weight on her shoulders. He may not know what that is and he's not gonna pry, but he will try to loosen her up a little. He will be there for her no matter what.

He runs to the other side and loads the car then starts the engine, "Are you ready?"

"Yeah, let's go for a joyride."

"I follow traffic rules though."

She only chuckles at him and after putting their seatbelts on, off they go with their trip.

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Jeonghan drives nonstop for an hour just around the city. In the passenger's seat, Seunghee is pleased. They talk every now and then just about whatever comes to mind and it's funny cuz they find it interesting together. Somehow, they are getting used of each other. And together is like their getaway from all the frustrations and troubles of the world. They can both feel it. Their sense of togetherness is gradually being home.

She feels so safe and secure being with him that she carelessly, unmindfully falls into a nap with him still driving. It's been a while she's silent that he starts the conversation again.

"Hey, I still haven't told you about your-" he glances at her and finds her napping peacefully. At first he thinks she's just faking it, "Hey, Seunghee-ya!"

But after getting no response from her, he's sure she's really taking her sleep. He only smiles to himself glancing at her but he's relieved. She looks so calm now unlike earlier. So he speeds up one more round before heading home.

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They've arrived in their apartment but she's still in dreamland. Jeonghan calls her gently after he parks the car outside their rooms.

"Seunghee-ya, Seunghee-ya, we're here now," he calls on her afraid to startle her.

But she's beautifully sleeping on his side. She looks so peaceful and he can only stare at her pretty face as his heart flutters. The butterflies in his stomach are going berserk and it's inevitable that it puts an urge in him to touch her. He slowly reaches out to her hair and gently puts the strands that are blocking her face to the side, tucking them under her ear. He wanted to touch her face so bad but he restrains himself. He has to be content with just watching her for now. He can't ruin the trust they're building up only because of his unearthly desires. He's not even sure if she really likes him. But right now, being with her makes him happy, that's what he's sure about.

Seunghee finally comes to her senses and opens her eyes. She sees Jeonghan standing outside the car, on the driver's side, and so she unloads the car with dreamy eyes and walks off to him.

"Jeonghan-ah, why didn't you wake me?" she murmurs.

She's still wobbling circling around the car's front and unexpectedly stumbles upon a small stone on the way. She loses her balance and is about to fall on her knees but he's one step ahead ready to catch her fall. He takes her by the shoulders, as her face bumps lightly on his chest.

"Hey, watch it," he says, looking down at her with caring eyes.

She looks up to him mesmerized. He smells so manly. It's almost midnight but he still smells like those that just got out of the shower, it makes her head spin. It's a combination of sweet sweat and musky cologne and he smells very nice. She hasn't been this keen on any man's scent, but his smell is just too hard to ignore. She can already see herself fantasizing.

But before she loses her cool, she stands on her feet and thanks him for catching her, "Thanks, I wasn't looking."

On the other hand, he's almost at the edge. He's almost hitting his limit at this very moment. His hands are still on her shoulders and she's looking up to him so vulnerably. In his mind, he kisses her already. In his mind, he touches her more than this already. In his mind, he confesses to her already. But all those things are only all in his mind. He knows there will be a better time for all these things. And in his mind is where they all fit right now. It doesn't have to be today or tomorrow. The right time will definitely come for him.

He clears off his mind and replies, "You were sleeping so soundly, it was hard for me to wake you up." He lets go of her arms too by then.

She wants to get rid of her weakening knees so she tells a joke, "You didn't take my picture did you?"

"What? Why would I do that?" he chuckles.

"Just making sure."

"I didn't, trust me."

She frowns cutely at him and just lets it go, "Okay!"

She stretches infront of him just like an old woman who has just woken up, even if it's this late in the night. He laughs if off watching her.

"What are you an old woman?" he chuckles.

"What? I slept really well and I need to stretch it out," she remarks.

"But that's not even necessary since you'll be dozing off in a while."

"It is for me!"

After locking the car, they both walk up to their rooms arguing like that. While facing their respective doors, Seunghee finally thanks Jeonghan for another wonderful night.

"Hey, thanks for the ride. It made my night. Even though I slept on you half way through," she says.

"I can take you for a ride whenever you want. Just don't mope around like that while crossing the road. It might be contagious," he jokes.

She giggles at it. They've only been together for two hours but it feels like it all happened in a day. It's too real. It's feels like it's the only thing that happened today.

"Thanks again. Good night," she bids and walks in her room.

"Don't-" before he can continue, she cuts him off.

"I'll lock it. You don't have to remind me."

"Alright, alright. Good night."

She completely shuts her door and he enters his home too. As they both are alone in their own homes now, they smile to themselves. It's been a great night and it's great to be together. Seunghee and Jeonghan both know it'll only be a matter of time before they end the gap that's still standing between them. But they will take their time. There's no need to rush. With the attachment they're feeling for each other, they know they're both reserved for one another. And it's the crazy feeling they just want to enjoy for now.

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TO BE CONTINUED...

Published: 11/17/17