•

It didn't escape my eye when I found Minjae engaged in conversation with Bae Irene. Rather closely engaged.

Covering her mouth with her hand. She hid her smile that she had from what Minjae had said to her.

I arrive at the table after the performance still wearing the stage outfits with Tiffany and Seohyun.

Red Velvet instantly greeted us back. Minjae smiled at me as I sat down next to him.

"What did you think of the performance, Mr. Shin?"

"It was very good especially with my wife up there." He pulled me close to him, "Sexy as always."

I could feel Irene's attentive stare on us for a long time. I looked at her when we faced forward. The expression on her face was mixed with confusion and nervousness as she kept stealing glances at Minjae.

I peak up at Minjae's face and catch him wearing a lopsided smile.

The lights of the stage changed making the audience quiet down.

Baekhyun appeared in the middle of the platform. A band standing behind him. His eyes scanning the crowd of fans. He holds up the microphone to his lips.

His voice is light and soft. The warm colors of the lights from above shining on him.

The notes smoothly transitioning to the next ones. Long and dynamic with heartfelt instrumentals. A pre-recorded female voice sings along.

Baekhyun's eyes flutter closed like every lyric is part of him. A story that was never told until now. Sincere longing shores onto his face.

The cilmax of the song approaches, the fateful high note. His eyes slowly open. The gleam is gone only darkness filling in despair.

I can't leave you.

He shifts his orbs in search of something. Someone. They fall on me. The search is over.

So I love you you're my soul.

The high note resounds throughout the venue. Captivating every person in the room. The audience falls silent.

I cannot leave his gaze. My heart drumming against my chest. The song finishes out yet resonates in me after he's done.

His hands fall limp on his sides. The audience booms, applauding and screaming. The stages goes dark.

"That was an unimpressive performance." Minjae muttered in a rough tone.

He leans back in his chair uncaring his arm resting on the back edge of my chair. His face scrunched up in a scorn.

The members of the table and others nearby began to compliment Baekhyun's performance. Astonished by the raw emotion felt from his singing.

The corners of my lips automatically tug up. It was more than I expected. It was beautiful and heartbreaking. Beyond the lyrics was a story.

"I don't like that color on you." Minjae broke my thoughts. I look over at him. His jaw clenched when I have my attention on him. He has a hard stare on me. The smile on my lips fades away.

My husband lifts his hand up to press his thumb on my bottom lip. He swiftly runs his calloused thumb, smearing the prominent red.  

I sit frozen until my mind processes, my eyes widen in bewilderment and my heart rate quickens in embarrassment. My hands fly up to hide my mouth. I scan around the room to see of anyone saw.

I quickly leave my seat and ignore the stares that allow when the girls finally know I have left.

When I get into the restroom it's empty. I walk to the mirror above the sink. The red lipstick is smeared outside the line of my upper and lower lip. 

The corners of my eyes prickle, the longer I stare at myself. I shake my head trying to force the hurt that is creeping into my heart away.

"He did that on purpose." The voice in the back of head said. My chest tightens. "He did it because you were smiling about him."

"It was just jealously." I reasoned with myself.

"Is that enough of a reason for you?" My voice said.

"He cares..."

"Is it enough to make you feel like this and disregard your feelings?" My eye fall from the mirror. A tear slips down my cheek onto the polished white porcelain sink.

I hear the women's restroom door creak open. I wipe away the tear trail from my face. I go into the nearest stall door. I hear the clicking of heels against the flooring. A few moments later, a knock on my stall door.

"Taeyeon, I know it's you." I don't say anything.

Her voice softened, "Are you okay? You left the table so suddenly." I bite my lip and stand silent.

I decide to click open the door. Tiffany is surprised by how I look. "Taeyeon, what happened?"

I walk passed her to the sinks. I take a piece of paper towel and press it onto my lips.

"I accidentally smudged my lipstick." I lied. "I just felt embarrassed about it and came here to fix it."

I feel Tiffany's stare burning holes in my back until she takes the paper towel from my hands and throws it away.

"Where's the lipstick? I'm going to help you." She holds her hand out.

"You don't have to."

"Tae as your friend I have a duty to assist you." She smiles. "Hand it over."
I take out my red lipstick from my purse. She begins to carefully apply the bold red on my lips and clean up the leftover residue.

"Minjae was really worried about you when you left." She said once she was done. I tense up from hearing his name. Tiffany didn't catch it.

"Let's go. They are waiting for us." I hear her voice but I don't move towards where she is standing at the door.

"Taeyeon, are you really okay?" Tiffany steps back towards me.  I wanted to tell her. Confide in one of my closest friends and ask her opinion. 

But should I? Should I get her involved in something between me and Minjae when maybe we can work it out ourselves.

"Taeye-"

"I'm fine, Tiffany Hwang. Let's go." I smiled. In the end, I didn't say anything.

Was that the right decision?

•

This chapter is alot longer than the usual number. It's mostly because I was being detailed of certain actions. I have been building up to this moment since this story started but I had no idea it was going to be hard to write.

On another note, Minjae messed up Taeyeon's lipstick most likely because of the smile she had on for a certain young vocalist. This is definitely not the end of Taeyeon's night. Also what do you think was going on with Irene? Why is she suddenly acting strange?

This chapter was going to go a different direction but I like it better this way. Thank you. Later, loves.

- MoonBae🌸