Chapter 23

A/N just because I practically died after seeing this I add a picture so everyone can share the pain


"She's still asleep?"


"She slept through lunch."


"She must of had a big shock."


"She's okay though right?"


"Just a small fracture. It'll heal in a couple weeks."


"Did she like it?"


"She loved it. She posted it online too."


"That's great. I feel really bad."


"Just treat her out and stuff. Help her out when she needs it while she's here with you guys. Also help out with Miguel. I'm sure she's warn out from working to going onto this trip and tagging along with you guys and taking care of Miguel at the same time."


"I'll make sure to do that. Don't worry, mom"


"I'll hold you to that."


"Of course, dad."


The voices faded out along with my consciousness.


(A/N Korean)


"Hey, Chris. You should wake up and eat." I was being shaken and I yawned but quickly stopped from the pain. The shaking stopped. "I'm sorry to wake you, but you should eat. I heard you missed lunch."


I peak out one eye and my vision is blurred. I close it and open it again and slowly open the other and blink numerous times before my vision clears.


"You would choose black," he tells me pointing at my nose. I grunt in response and he offers a hand and helps me up. I yawn again and nod. I quietly hiss but he catches it. "Does it hurt badly."


"I'm okay. I have medicine for the pain," I tell him. I grab the bottle and follow him to his room where everyone is gathered comfortably. His room is bigger than mine.


"Your face!" Jackson points out and I look at him flatly.


"Wonder how it got like that?" I ask staring at him. He averts his eyes and continues eating what looks like dumplings. "Where are your parents? And Miguel?"


"They left and took Miguel with them to go sight seeing," Mark tells me handing me a container of food. I nod and take it from him. Right where I was I sat on the floor. "There are seats available."


"I'm good. And that's good. Miguel got to go out and sight see. I'm sure he's having fun." I'm talking more to myself than anyone. I begin eating and my hunger grows at the taste of food. I quickly stuff my mouth with food.


"Hungry?" Jr. asks me with a look of amusement.


"Starved," I mumble back with a half filled mouth.


"This is not lady-like, missy!" Jackson sasses in English.


"Who said she was a lady?" Mark jokes.


"Yeah, Jackson!" I play along still with a filled mouth. The guys froze for a moment and looked at me. I just shrugged and Mark laughed.


"You get use to her humor," he tells them. The nod hesitantly.


"So what did you guys do today?" I ask checking the clock to see it was already late in the evening.


"Interviews and practice. Our concert is tomorrow," JB says. I nod.


"We also have a photo shoot tomorrow. Want come, Noona?" Yugyeom asks me. I glance at Mark and he nods smiling.


"I don't think I should go out though," I say hesitantly.


"Because of your nose?" Jr. bluntly asks. The guys give him a look but I just chuckle.


"Yes. Because of my nose, I don't know if going out is a good idea," I tell them.


"You can wear a mask. It'll be like your sick," Youngjae suggests.


"Yeah, Noona! I have a black one you can borrow. It'll match!" BamBam says excitedly. He runs out of the room but quickly comes back holding the said item. "Here!"


I grab the masks and put it on. I hold up my hands in a gesture to ask if it was okay.


"Good idea BamBam. It works! Now you can come with us!" Yugyeom exclaims. I laugh and remove the mask nodding. I then realize something and stop.


"You use this when you're sick?!" I ask with wide eyes to BamBam.


"No! No, we use it for when we go out without make-up. I have a different one for when I'm sick," BamBam says quickly waving his hands back and forth. "Don't worry, Noona. That one is clean."


I nod relax. For the rest of the night we just talked and had fun playing games and telling embarrassing stories.


"--So JB actually went out onto a dating show!?" I ask shocked.


"Why? Is that so shocking?" He asks offended.


"Actually, yes. You don't seem to be one to go on one. Jackson, yeah. I can see him going on and making himself look like a fool-"


"Yah!"


"-and enjoy himself on it but not you, JB. That's really shocking." He smirks and shrugs.


"Well, I was still just JJ Project with Jr. so it was also something to help promote us. I was with MinJung hyung so it was a lot more comfortable," he tells me.


"You-"


"Shh Jr. I didn't mean to so don't bring it up." I looked at them confused but didn't push the conversation further. JB probably did something bad and regrets it now. As long as he realizes his mistake I guess.


"MinJung is Jun.K from 2PM right?" I ask to make sure.


"Yeah, you know them? They're our seniors in our company," Jr. asks me. I nod smiling.


"They're one of the first K-pop idols I've learned about because of Dream High," I tell them sheepishly. After mentioning Dream High my eyes mindlessly skimmed over to Jr. and JB. I little smirk formed as I saw their sudden reaction to my statement.


"Did you wa-"


"Yes I did. And from that I stalked you guys until 'When a Man Loves'. No creepiness implied," I interrupt Jr. and chuckled at JB as he whines.


"You watch Korean dramas?" Mark asks me. I look at him with a raised eyebrow. Is it shocking for me to do so?


"Yes. Yes I do. And variety shows," I tell him with a brow raised in question.


"It's just that I never saw you have the time to do any of that." I looked at him a bit stunned. That's why he didn't think I watched? Because of time?


"It was in high school when my schedule wasn't as busy. I didn't go out much in high school and just stayed home," I shrug. I look at him and curiosity fills my head. He's been observant of me and I'm not use to it. I'm not use to his consistent knowledge of my life. The care and concern for my life like he does now. Was it like this before, or is there something different now?


"You use to go out a lot! What are you talking about? We use to go out every weekend and even during the week!" He tells me.


"That was before-"


"How before? It was like that when I was there until I le- oh," he stops in realization and I look to the floor and nod. "I'm sorry-"


"Don't appologize. I think it's time for all of you guys to sleep. You have a busy day ahead of you." I didn't say more and stood up and threw my trash away. I walked into my room and almost close the joint door behind me. I turned on my light and grabbed the giant teddy bear and brought it to my bed. I sat leaning back onto the backboard and faced the bear in front of me. I patted it's big, fat, fuzzy head. Then, lightly punched it's nose. "You can't go around sticking your nose everywhere without knowing where you'll end up. Stop bringing up the past because what's done is done. It's not just your problem but mine too."


I sigh as I stare at the bear and hold its arms. I play with it as I swing the arms back and forth as if it was dancing. I pat it's head again and hear the door squeak open. I look up and see Mark. I give him a smile as he enters and closes the door fully behind him.


"Can I stay?" He asks in English. I just stare at him and lightly nod. He joins me on the bed and sits next to me grabbing the bear from my hands. "I wasn't sure if you'd like this."


I didn't say anything. I just stared at him.


"I don't know why I did it. I just felt like it. I'm doing a lot of stuff I don't know a reason behind it." He stares at the bear instead of me. "Like now. I don't know why I'm here. I don't know why I'm taking to the bear instead of you. I don't know why my heart is pounding at this very second. I don't know why."


I had turned to face him, but I look down to the sheets and play with it in between my fingers. I don't know what he's trying to say and I'm sure he doesn't know either.


"Chris, I'm so confused lately. I don't know if I'm happy or not. I don't know if I'm living or just doing a routine. Lately, I've been so out of it. I smile for the camera and I smile for the fans. I don't even have to think about it anymore. When a camera is faced my way I smile. When fans are around I smile. I don't know if it's because I'm happy to see them or because I already know I have to be seen smiling." He pauses and I look up. He looks at me and I look at him. The ends of his mouth are pulled and I don't think he knows. "When-when I look at you, I smile. I smile because I know. I know that you're here. I know that you are here for me and I really like that. I smile because it's you. If it has to do with you, I know. Who are you to make me know?"


We stare at each other as our breathing syncs. The bear had fallen as he let go and faced me too. We didn't say anything. By looking at his expression I knew he was deep in thought. By his eyes I can tell he's observing me as well.


"Chris?" I don't respond but we lock eyes. "I- I-"

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