It had only been a month since the night in Vietnam. And now they sat almost millimetres away from each other. They hadn't spoken since that night. Their schedules had been packed, yet Irene couldn't help but feel hurt. She thought he was different. She thought he'd be the one. The one to kiss the pain away, the one to hold her as she stood in front of the world yet she realised how wrong she was to increase her expectations. No matter how much of a gem of a character he was, he had a reputation of a player amongst them. And she gave in. God she gave in over and over again. She tried to brush it off, trying to finish it under the excuse that it was his work yet it was the same thing that brought pain to her heart.

She let out a sigh, the girls shooting her a look of concern. She flashed them a small smile before grabbing a blanket and placing it on her legs. She felt like they were playing musical chairs, their seats being changed to suit the angle of the cameras at specific times, but majority of the evening she spent sitting behind him. Her eyes subtly moved inconspicuously, aware of the cameras that were pointing in their direction.

He looked amazing in a black suit, his favourite colour she noted, with his hair half styled. His suit hugging his form, highlighting his broad shoulders. She smiled softly to herself, before returning her gaze back to the performance in front of her.

Jackson could feel her eyes. He wasn't stupid. And as much as he wanted to look at her, he tried to remain as focused as he could on the scene in front of him. He knew he had let her down. He had gotten so busy to the point he hadn't responded to her messages. And he could now see how it looked. He had made her believe that he didn't care, he proved the player reputation in her eyes and he knew it was going to be awfully hard to prove otherwise. He moved forwards slightly, to look towards Jinyoung on his left who moved to grant him a view of the goddess herself, he moved back quickly just as her eyes were about to turn to him, his eyes quickly dropping back to the scene in front of them.

Irene moved her arm back slightly not realising their similar stances as she was adamant not to pay him anymore attention. Of course that went out the window. She cursed herself. Her eyes were like magnets for him, they were attracted the minute they knew he was near and the magnetic pull was something she had no control in denying or repelling. A camera zoomed in on them, Irene looking down and not realising until Yeri softly jabbed her. She raised her head ever so slightly and passed a small smile that had the crowd screaming. The girls laughed around her, and she could have sworn from the corner of her eyes that he turned to sneak a look. Her smile dropped with the camera leaving, her ice queen exterior painting itself back on as she continued her thoughts. They were signalled to come up for their performance and so they left their blankets in their seats before moving backstage.

And with her gone, Jackson could now turn to see her unoccupied seat. He let out a deep sigh, Jinyoung passing him a small smile, the others doing the same. They had noticed how his mood was completely off and they knew the exact reason why. He passed them a tight smile back as the audio for peak a boo played. He smiled softly remembering the first time he had heard it at the bowling alley with the boys, her singing voice completely catching him off guard as he rubbed the base of his neck with a shy smile, he wished he had called her or messaged her to congratulate her, but he hadn't, especially when she had bothered with him. He sighed, the camera zooming in on her with the uproar deafening. He couldn't help but smile. This was the power she held, and he remained captive within it. He bopped to the tune, his eyes never falling from her goddess like form, and he felt a sense of pride rush through him, pride that he knew in this moment in time he was not entitled to feel. She wasn't his, and that was because of his own mistakes. He watched as she completed the choreography effortlessly and again with her ending she had everyone awe struck with such simple and subtle movements. He clapped slightly, him and the boys standing out of respect before taking their seats again. Jackson turned his attention to the hosts as the girls took their seats opposite to them this time out of orders from the directors.

"The next award tonight is the best girl group of 2017. Now this year we have seen so many different concepts, and the versatility of our industry has been showcase through our strong female idols, but who will be crowned the best? The nominees for the awards are..." Irene looked around the girls, fiddling with her hands. "And finally without further adieu the winner of best female group of 2017 goes to...RED VELVET." The girls stood up, the younger ones walking out first as Irene stuck closer to Wendy. She could feel a pair of eyes stuck to her form, and she didn't need to turn to work out who it was. Jackson had stood up so quickly that Jinyoung had turned to laugh at his best friend as he clapped for the girl of his dreams, and even when his group members had sat down he waited until she reached the stage before sitting down.

Irene flattened out her hair as Yeri accepted the award, she turned to the mics starting the group introduction as she proceeded to complete a speech. She smiled slightly, the crowd visibly going wild over her visual. She bowed slightly finishing off as they were lead back stage and back to their previous seats behind the boys of got7. "The next award this evening is the best boys group of 2017. Just like with the girls, we have been shown different authentic colours of music through men, about love, hate, anger, loneliness and so many other emotions that we deal with on a daily basis. Tonight's award however is celebrating one group who have topped all charts and sold out internationally, the winners of this award, are...GOT7." Again Jackson had reacted first, angling himself in such away that granted  him a look in her direction. She stood up alongside the girls, a glance going in his direction as she smiled softly seeing his happiness. He deserved it. He had been working so hard and he had deserved every ounce of success. Her and the girls resumed their seats as they looked towards the stage, the boys going down the same trek they had before reaching. Jackson had handed the award straight to JB and Irene couldn't help but smile. It was always the little things about him. He waited patiently allowing his members to go first before he was signalled to translate. "Yo!" He called out and she couldn't help but smile brighter as he bent the mic towards him, his words oozing in his mother tongue. Yeri leaned towards her. "Whats he saying?" Irene smiled, her eyes never falling from his form. "He said thank you for the love and support. There are times we don't think we are deserving of it but everything we do, we dedicate to you fans and we hope that we can continue to work hard and make you all happy. For your happiness is ours. Thank you." She translated the girls smiling at her softly as she finally tore her gaze away from his form.

He hadn't come back. They were rushed backstage to prepare for their performance. When Irene saw him, her breath hitched, the girls looking to her as they began, her eyes closed at his voice, her lips murmuring the words as she moved her head to the beat, and when they joined Day6 and he had shed the leather jacket she knew he was here to kill. Finally when the torture was over, she released the breath she had no idea she was holding.

Hours passed and finally the night of the awards was over yet all of them were heading to the after party. She just wanted to go home, and that was clear on her face. She chatted amongst her other girls,black pink, twice and red velvet sticking together as the boys of other groups came to greet them. They all picked up on her mood. "Is this about jack?" Jennie asked, watching as the older girls face stiffened, conformation to them all. "Just speak to him." Said Wendy, smiling, the others nodding in agreement. "I don't want to talk to him." She said and the girls simultaneously sighed. Speaking of the devil. The seven boys approached them, conversations being started as Irene stood hugging them all besides him. "Ooo drinks." She said, swerving him and taking the glass that the waiter had on the tray behind him, she brought the glass to her lips before moving. Lisa and Rose couldn't stifle their laughs. "I love Irene Unnie." Said Jisoo, her and nayeon laughing. As Mina looked towards Jackson. "You have some serious making up to do." She said. The other girls humming in agreement. "And you better decide fast." Cut in Dahyun. "Seems like someone else is fighting for her." Jackson turned, eyes widening as he watched V approach her. Suelgi looked towards Jackson. "She doesn't like him." She said, Wendy nodded. "He's been trying for ages, she rejects him all the time, she's told him she has feelings for someone else, but he's adamant to pursue her." Yeri rolled her eyes. "In a nutshell Kuya you need to work out what the hell you want.
If it isn't Irene Unnie then leave her the fuck alone." Joy high-fived her. "Well said baby." The two youngsters laughed as Wendy slapped them. "Just go before you regret it." She said.

Jackson approached her cautiously, seeing V walk away somewhat shattered, he suppressed the smirk as he sat down in the seat besides her. "What do you want?" She spoke leaning back in her seat. "Usually when people occupy the chair next to someone they ask if the seat is taken." She schooled him as she chugged back another drink. "That's enough of the drinks." He called, placing the glass away from her. She glared at him. "And you are?" "Irene..." "save it." she called. "I'm sorry. I should have messaged you-" "you should have done a lot of things but you didn't so here we are. What's your point?" "Let me make it up to you." "Why so you can disappear on me again? Yeah no thanks." "I'll be better." "You don't have to. You don't owe me anything. It was probably just another one night stand. Just another number for you." "That night meant something Irene." "Did it? Because you have a funny way of showing it." She pushed the glass back standing up. "Please just give me a chance to make things better." She looked towards him. "You really hurt me." She said. "Then let me make it better." "It won't be easy." "When have we ever been easy Irene?" They stared at each other until Jackson placed his lips against hers. They could hear the wolf whistles from behind them, as he moved his mouth professionally against hers. She pulled back. "Do not fuck this up Wang." She said, "Yes Ma'am." He said as she crashed her lips back against his.

The end

Authors note:
One shot of the week. Let me know what you think. Lots of love and best wishes to you all. Stay safe xx