18. Naeun (1/2)

(OST- Breathe again by Sara Barellies )

Oppa, why did you…No, Taemin how could you?Seeing him leave like that made me crumble. The downpour was so heavy he wouldn’t have heard my sobs. It didn’t matter anyway. I was weak because he had made me so.No… I had not heeded the warnings of those who cared for me. I had honestly disregarded them or taken them too lightly. Instead of engraving them on my heart I had written them in a book and left it for dust to settle, metaphorically speaking.My manager called sometime later to check on me. He picked me up and I got into the car, doing my best to cover up the makeup which had run. I think he might have suspected something happened but he didn’t ask or try to speak to me which was fine. I needed my space.The moment the other members saw me they knew immediately what may have occurred. Eunji unnie was by my side along with Namjoo. I didn’t tell them anything; just ate dinner and went to bed.“Unnie, unnie wake up.” Someone was shaking my arm. Blinking my eyelids I slowly glanced at Hayoung who was the cause of my wake. That wasn’t my main concern. Something was wrong. Why did I feel as though I was lying on a bed of ice?

“Hayoung what’s the hold up?” I heard our leader’s voice call along with footsteps. The door opened and soon she was watching me.Hayoung glanced at me a little closer. “She looks a little pale. Do you think she’s ok?”

I felt a warm hand against my head. Chorong unnie placed it against her head as well. “Her temperature seems to be high.”

“Please turn the heater on,” I said almost chattering. They both stared at me.“What are you talking about Naeun? It is on.”

“T-then w-w-why d-does it feel s-so c-c-cold?”

Chorong unnie pushed at Hayoung. “Get manager oppa. She’s running a fever.”

“Naeun is sick?!” Bomi unnie, Eunji unnie and Namjoo all came in and joined Chorong unnie in watching me. Our manager came in and tested my forehead as well. He then made a rather solemn nod and was on the phone.“I’ll call the company.”

“What about a doctor?!”

“Bomi-ya he will don’t worry.”

Meanwhile I just pulled the blankets up higher before I became even colder. This week couldn’t have gotten any worse.Ω It took three days for me to recover and be out of bed for our schedules. The company got me an IV to make sure that I would be alright. People got wind of the news and soon I was getting messages on Twitter checking I was ok.He sent me a text which I ignored. Even if he was genuinely concerned I did not want to speak to him. What had happened in the rain was the dramatic conclusion of us. At least I didn’t have to see him for a while.Chorong unnie got us singing along to one of our songs on the way to our schedule which was an awards show. It was nearing the end of the year so a lot of our time would go to public appearances regardless of whether we performed or not.“Omo,” I heard Eunji unnie exclaim. The rest of us glanced around and then we realised why.How come he was here too?

I saw him lift his head from his phone and Namjoo glanced at me before we quickly kept going on. He didn’t have to see us and fortunately for me it looks as though he may have not done that.“Ignore him,” Eunji told me as we were getting powdered for our appearance. “He’s just here to do his job like the rest of us.” I nodded but still it made me uneasy in my stomach.Ten minutes later we were preparing to go on stage to perform. He had gone three singers before us so at least I could still avoid him. Despite only just getting back on my feet I gave it my best for the crowd, the fans and the other members.“Naeun are you ok?”

“I am,” I had answered while stumbling. Namjoo checked on me and guided me to a seat.

“I think you’re over doing it unnie.”

Shaking my head I tried to assure her that I wasn’t before a voice cut the conversation cleanly in half.