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| May 15th, Wednesday, 2019 |

  Annie had finally finished writing the title track for VERIVERY's comeback "Tag, Tag, Tag" and she couldn't be more nervous. No, it wasn't because she thought the company or the group wouldn't like it, it was because the song was about her first love: Seo Changbin.

  Not only that, but she had taken the bold decision to show him the track and "ask for his opinion" at an attempt to make a confession.

  If he felt the same way, great. If he didn't, she could just say it was a misunderstanding and the song isn't about him.

"What's up? You never call me to check on your songs? You usually ask Chan or Jisung."

Changbin entered the studio.

"Why? Are you jealous?"

Annie joked, secretly hoping he was.

"Of those two? Ha! Never."

"Anyway, this is for VERIVERY and it's called 'Tag, Tag, Tag'."

  She scooted a bit to the side so he could sit down comfortably.

"'Tag, Tag, Tag'?"

Changbin stared weirdly at her.

"Yeah?"

"Alright, let's hear it."

  Not questioning much, Annie disconnected the earphones and hit play.

https://youtu.be/mmoAEvF_YAc

  The song ended and the room was filled with silence for a few seconds.

"Wait..."

He started.

"Yeah?"

  Annie smiled, trying her best to sound calm.

"This song..."

  Changbin stopped for a second, re-reading the lyrics.

"You like someone!!! Since when!?? Who is it??"

  If there was a tiny bit hope left inside of the girl, it had left her body now.

He...didn't notice? How?

"Oh my God, you're not saying anything! Do I know him? Or her I don't judge-"

She glanced at him.

"I just want to know!"

It's you, idiot.

"Didn't you pay attention to the lyrics?"

Annie tried one more time.

"I did! Wait. 'If I say it as a joke, will you figure out the hidden message'...Oh my God! Yeonjun!??"

He yelled, nearly jumping from the chair.

  Meanwhile, she stayed quiet, eyes slightly getting bigger because of the name he said.

"What!? No!"

"It is him! Incredible! I've always knew you two were too clingy to be just friends."

Annie opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"Is this your way of telling me you two are dating- That's why you asked me to come! How long has it been?"

  Changbin looked like a child that had just received a candy.

"What- we're not dating!"

She yelled back - luckily, the door was closed.

"Oh. So you haven't told him yet?"

The girl sighed.

"Alright! I'll help you!"

"No! What are you-"

Fighting back seemed useless as the boy was already dialing Yeonjun's number on his phone.

"Yeonjun! You have to come here right now!"

"Eh?"

"Changbin shut the fuck up!"

"Was that Haerim cursing?"

The girl facepalmed.

"Yeah, but don't mind her. Anyway, are you busy? Can you come to JYPE?"

"To your company??"

"Jun, you don't need to come! Just hang up!"

"Haerim wrote a very nice song and I think you should hear it...it won't take long."

"Uh...I guess I can pass by then?"

"Thanks! See you soon!"

  The call ended and Annie just wished she could hide inside a hole.

This was not her plan at all.

● ● ● ● ●

  With a hoodie and a mask on, the tall boy entered the company, following his friend Changbin towards the studio where Annie stayed at.

"Rima! It's been so long since we've seen each other oh my gosh!"

He pulled the girl into a tight hug.

"Did you grow taller in the meantime? What the hell??"

  She looked up, feeling the almost 20 cm height difference.

"And did you grow cuter? I like your outfit."

Yeonjun patted her head - actually, her beanie.

"Enough of flirting, listen to the song."

Changbin's funny expression displayed annoyance.

"Do you want me to listen to it? I came, but I won't listen if you don't want to show me."

He turned serious to the girl.

"No, it's- it's fine...it's nothing much, I guess."

Annie mumbled the last part, letting out a small chuckle.

"Okay! Cue!"

She sighed one more time and played the song.

Yeonjun would give her a few glaces on certain parts and they didn't go unnoticed by Changbin.

"That's..."

The youngest spoke carefully.

"A love song, man! And you know who it is about?"

  Yeonjun's eyes widened with Changbin's words, quickly turning to Annie.

"I-"

"Exactly! About you! I've done my part, now I'll let you two alone."

With that, he left the studio.

  The other boy dumbfounded by what had just happened.

"He..?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

"I don't know, I thought he would notice but he kept saying the song was about you."

  She shuggred, playing with the chair to hide the dissapointment.

"Oh my gosh he's so- Well, at least you didn't get rejected?""

Yeonjun smiled awkwardly.

"You do realize that this means he has zero romantic feelings for me, right? It's a hidden rejection."

Annie chuckled.

"Uhm-"

"Yo! Should I write a song about that? 'Hidden Rejection'. It would be good, don't you think?"

"An..."

  Yeonjun knew Annie well enough to know she was trying to hide her feelings by focusing on other things.

"Come here."

He patted the sofa.

  She slowly got up and went to the sofa, being hugged the moment she sat down.

"You'll be okay, trust me, I've been there, you know. It would be easier if I could tell you he's a jerk and all but the dude is nice as hell..."

  Annie laughed at his attempt to comfort her.

"You laughed! Anyway, we'll go through this together, alright? I'll help you forget him...or at least be okay being just friends."

"Thanks, Jun."

She smiled weakly.

"I just want to see my girl happy."

  Yeonjun hugged her tighter and the two cuddled on the sofa.

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