Chapter Thirty: Kiss Kiss





The day lasted forever, and from being swept up into that office space with Hannah and Hanbin, to breakfast with Lux, and that epic breakdown in the recording studio, to my morning training session, I just couldn't seem to find a break. I hadn't talked to him yet, and time was ticking.

I would not have time for lunch since I had the photoshoot with Hanbin during my lunch break, Which was another Hannah punishment, I'm sure.

My talk with Jiwoong would have to wait, yet I didn't want him to see any pictures before we could have that conversation.

"Ready?" Hanbin walked into my training room, and both Billie and Chanbin gave me puzzled frowns. They had noticed my attitude today, and I had missed several steps. My voice, which was usually on pitch, had also been off.

"No lunch for you?" Billie asked.

"No, not today." I quickly hurried towards Hanbin, not wanting any more questions to hit me in the face.

As we left the training room, Hanbin reached for my hand and squeezed it in reassurance. "It's going to be okay, Alli."

"I'm sorry, Hanbinnie. I didn't want you in this mess! I'm sorry you have to go through with this," I stopped him from walking onwards. "Just... say the word. And I"ll... I'll... Quit."

His face broke out in a full-on smile, "Aaaw, you would do that for me? For me?" he pointed at his chest, and I snorted.

"No, but seriously babe. I don't want you to quit. We are going to debut together, remember?"

He dragged me to his chest for a quick hug.

"Besides, it isn't all too bad. I like you, Allison. If anyone should be my fake girlfriend, I'm glad it's you."

I laughed and hugged him tighter, feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulders.

"You are the best."

"I know," he replied, and I punched him on the arm as I tilted my neck back to stare up at him some more. "Don't get cocky!"

"Great, they are already hugging," a man we had never seen before said, his head was poking out of Studio F, a small studio nobody trained at. It was where we did promotional photoshoots and stuff.

Hannah's head followed next, her red-rimmed glasses were a little fogged. She didn't give us any smiles, she just gave us the come hither finger, and we sheepishly followed her inside the room.

A single chair was standing in the middle of the room on a white sheet of paper. The entire wall behind it was also in that same white sheet.

Hannah pointed at the make-up artists and the chair. "Get your make-up on, get changed, and sit down." She barked and crossed her arms. She watched us get ready.

They put me in a soft lavender summer dress and beige heels. At the same time, Hanbin got a white dress shirt and beige cargo pants.

"There is only one chair," I asked, puzzling over this arrangement.

Hannah rolled her eyes at me as if I was dim. "Hanbin, sit down!"

He got startled and quickly hurried out of the make-up artist's grip, who was trying to pat some highlighter on his brows.

"Allison," she gave me a deep, frustrated sigh, "Sit down on his lap! Now, quickly! I don't have all day!"

I walked to Hanbin, and as I stared down at him, I felt subconscious. This was hella close. He just gave me a soft smile and patted his right thigh.

"It's okay, Alli. Sit," he said as he reached for my hand and pulled me to him. I sat sideways on his lap, put my arm around his neck, and gave the photographer a sheepish smile. Hanbin's arm supported me under my ass while his other hand found my knee and squeezed it.

"It's going to be fine,"

I gave him a thankful smile, our faces close together now.

A camera flashed, and it startled us both.

"More! You need to look in love, not as if you have been dragged to your first communion!" Hannah growled low under her breath while giving us a dark look.

I huddled closer to Hanbin's chest, trying to cover some distance at least. He helped by dragging me in even closer.

"This isn't working," the photographer said after a few more flashing clicks. Hanbin and I had tried to pose some more, as we were familiar with some modeling work.

Hannah dropped her phone and glasses. Oh God, she was livid.

"Fucking kiss each other already! Or pack your goddamn bags!" she flashed her hands to the photographer. "Make it work, or you are fired too! I don't got time for this nonsense." She snatched her phone and glasses back from the table and walked towards the door.

"You better deliver me something in one hour, or all of your asses are on the line." The door slammed shut so hard that one of the golden plaques on the wall crashed down. I cringed.

"It's just a kiss," I whispered more for myself than for him, our lips barely brushing. We were that close together.

I did feel safe in his presence, so that did count for something. I also found him fairly attractive, not in the all-consuming  and passionate way I felt about Ji, but in a more mellow way. He was also my friend.

His other hand came up to caress my cheek, and without another word said between us, he brought his lips to mine.

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