THE ENHYPEN HOST || 8
|| Reverse harem || ft. TXT, Mingyu (Seventeen) & BTS
TRAILER:
WARNINGS: foul language, explicit content, group sex, humiliation, sex in public, threesome, foursoome, rough sex, red flags, immoral acts, unprotected sex, morbid jealousy, comedy, parody, possessiveness, violent quarrels, arguments, betrayals, lies, femdom sometimes.
GENRE: +18, reverse harem, comedy, enemy to lovers, friends to lovers
SUMMARY: You moved to Seoul to start over after a bad experience, and everything seems to be going well, you even manage to work for HYBE. You discover, however, that you owe them almost a billion won, money you don't have and don't know how to recover: but don't worry because Hybe itself offers you a solution.
Your body in exchange for paying off your debt.
Do you accept?
PREVIOUS CHAPTER:
FIRST CHAPTER:
Although it doesn't seem possible, I feel as if Heeseung is offended because of me, frankly I am afraid that this will bring out his hidden side, but I am still quite certain of my decision.
Of course, if someone had told me that I would reject any of the boys, even Heeseung, I would never have believed it. With him I feel strange, it's as if there is more than just an irresistible physical attraction, and it scares me.
I'm too emotionally involved, being so much a fan of his. I have to defend myself.
"I'm a little rusty, I need two or three warm-up games." He anticipates, as we get back into the car.
I nod wearily. "All right, we can do that. I'll start placing the order?"
"All right - he replies, handing me the phone, more politely this time, - you know how to use it." Then he starts the motor.
I use South Korea's most popular home delivery app, it should be fine. I have the list prepared by Jay as I mark item after item.
"We could have ordered takeout from the beginning, why are we here?"
"Jay said to get you a driver - he explains, as if it's obvious, I didn't understand anything - I think he wants to keep you busy so you don't stay home too much. Especially today that Sunghoon and I had no plans."
I smile spontaneously, Jay really thinks of everything , huh? He also tought about a driver, why can't I stop smiling again? I miss him a little, I can't wait for him to come home.
On the way we talk nothing but grocery shopping, I ask his opinion on the brands available, him being a connoisseur apparently, and it all goes on rather naturally.
When we get back to the penthouse, Sunghoon is right in the living room at the entrance with his arms folded. I avoid looking at him and proceed to Jay's room to make myself comfortable, Heeseung stays to watch the roommate.
Before going inside, I honestly eavesdrop.
"Where have you been? There's no groceries either."
"We ordered it, it's more convenient." Responds Heeseung relaxed that he is still removing his shoes at the entrance.
"You've been out for a while."
"We took the pc.... actually, by the way-" Heeseung suddenly seems to remember.
Sunghoon approaches curiously. "What?"
No, Heeseung. You cannot betray me so soon. I need to know if he will, so I hide behind the corridor wall, moving closer to listen better.
"Aish, no, nothing."
"Yah! - Complains the younger one. - Tell me!"
"It's nothing, really."
Is he really not telling him? Is he really tergiversing? Or is he also afraid of what Sunghoon might do if he finds out, being such a devilish fellow?
"Why won't you tell me?"
"It's just that it doesn't matter, and besides, you don't really care, do you?" Lee Heeseung doesn't seem to be fooled by Sunghoon's smirk.
"You're right, I don't care. - He scans the words with annoyance, the shorter by a few inches, Sunghoon.... - Where does she live?"
"In Hongdae."
"Understood."
"I'm going to change - he says, starting for his room, then stops, - do you want to play LoL?"
He doesn't answer right away, then clears his throat. "Okay?"
"Are you asking me? - Heeseung asks confused. - But instead... you're not doing anything today? Aren't you seeing Wonnie?"
"She has a photo shoot. Anyway, I don't like this temperature, I'm not used to the heat yet."
In fact, when we returned, I felt a nice coolness. The air conditioners are on and the air smells clean, but it feels strange to imagine Sunghoon feeling threatened by such a thing as heat, or maybe it is not so strange, after all, he is still the ice prince.
"Okay, then take the PC."
I go back to Jay's room completely dazed. I'm pretty sure they didn't see me, and it seems that Heeseung doesn't really want to flaunt my shame to the winds.
I continue to brood as I make myself comfortable in this morning's clothes. When I leave, carrying my things, I notice that the two have already settled on the floor around the low table. Heeseung has beer, Sunghoon something like a korean sweet bread, they have them nearby, but there are other things as well. Will Heeseung have done this? I guess so, that makes me smile.
"What will the matches be like, since we're in team with you?" Sunghoon asks, sighing and sitting at an appropriate distance.
I stand in the middle between the two, legs crossed, then, let my hair down. For a second, I'm sure I have both of their eyes on me, but I'm not brave enough to lift my gaze and ascertain if that's really.
"I guess it will be a little... hard?" I say, Heeseung understands, Sunghoon continues to look at me confused.
"You say they put us with other psychopaths like you?"
"Have you had lunch?" The younger man then asks, completely out of context.
We look at each other awkwardly and somewhat complicitly, Heeseung and I, then he answers for both of us. "I did, she didn't really."
"That's not true, I had lunch too." I reply in a joking tone.
"That's not lunch! You have to stop that."
"Are you the couple now?" Sighs Sunghoon boredly, who goes back to looking disgustedly at his computer screen.
"Have you had lunch, you?" I ask him - but why do I do that?
He didn't expect it either judging by the way he looks at me, surprised. He even fails to answer at the moment, then snorts annoyed.
"I wasn't hungry."
"It's not that you were waiting us?" Heeseung asks amused.
"You were grocery shopping, didn't you say..." He almost blurts out, then lets the words die in an astonished grin.
"Shall I make you something?"
"Actually you could." He replies immediately.
But what am I doing? Why am I being nice to him?
"Wait, no! Order something!" Heeseung tackles him.
"Ah - he exclaims annoyed - we'll think about it later. Start we playing or not?"
Basically, he is not ruling out the possibility of having me cook exclusively for him, no, mr. kindness is concerned not to spoil the mood of the moment.
Certainly selfless, but yet - why does he seem sad? No, he's not sad, he's just bitter about giving us importance? In fact, I don't understand.
I nod, confused.
We exchange nicknames and in no time we manage to create a team, although I can't stop laughing after seeing that Sunghoon's account doesn't even have the lowest rank.
"We can't play with him, sure puts us with the strong ones." I explain, after a few seconds.
"Actually.... however, by not doing ranked, we could still play in the end." Heeseung says.
Sunghoon looks at us as if we were speaking in arabic, then mumbles annoyed. "I got the computer by now, I'll play anyway."
We start the queque of the first game. Meanwhile, Heeseung hands me his can, and I am tempted to accept, but then change my mind. I don't want to look like an alcoholic.
Oh no, he's already conditioning me.
"Don't let her drink until she eats." Reminds him, Sunghoon, who would perhaps like to appear thoughtful, the idiot? No, perhaps he is simply annoyed by my tantrums.
"I didn't want any anyway." I reply acidly.
"I'll put on the music! - He proposes Heeseung and it's such a good idea. - What shall I put on?"
"I need the light." I answer spontaneously.
"Can you say any song and pick an ost?"
However, the major doesn't answer right away, he just stares at me, he does it for a long time. "No, it's good."
"I'd like to hear it live someday." I admit, awkwardly.
Okay, we're in the game. The games always start slowly, we're all very focused, the music is soothing, and before long a lot of their colleagues, senior BTS and Seventeen, also NCT, fellow TXT and Stray Kids, start from the speakers, but there's also a touch of personality in the random frequency of these songs. They are almost never leadtracks.
I know what I said, but deep down I also know that someone like Heeseung has to have good taste. I know that his concept of music is different from that of ordinary mortals.
"You've died twice already." Heeseung breaks the silence.
"He keeps attacking me even under tower, he has a move that literally teleport him." He argues his position animatedly, an offended Sunghoon.
"Don't expose yourself, just try to take away a little life at a time. When it's low enough life, half life is fine, call me I'll catch up."
Seunghoon seems to get distracted for a second but then becomes lucid again. "Okay, good."
He's entering competitive mode, I know because as i'm killing lane's beasts, I move the camera to his character. He sucks to play, bought all the wrong items, but at least he has reflexes, so he executes my directions well.
"I'm coming, let him damage you and then run under the tower so he can follow you." I tell him, he quickly transposes.
"Okay."
I manage to trap enemy under tower so that he doesn't kill Sunghoon and also that I can kill him, simply being a little stronger than the latter but not at my level.
"Kill steal!" He can say that, in english, english good as his game but still nglish.
"Are you kidding?" Heeseung bursts out laughing.
"Yes..." He admits, comically annoyed.
I feel like smiling but restrain myself, continuing to play in silence.
"Ah! Help below! - Heeseung asks, pointing to himself on the map. I quickly catch up with him, he is up against two enemies, i attack them from behind, he thus manages to gain the upper hand. - Yes assholes, they thought they would stop my killing spree." He says, and kills them both.
I sigh, I could have done it myself but I don't know why I decided to let him do it. Anyway, I couldn't have done it with Sunghoon because he would have died there for sure, not for anything else.
"You left me the kills?" He asks surprised.
"No." I answer.
He smiles out of the blue and I can't control my expression because I end up doing the same. "Liar."
"You are liar." I say, for some reason.
Sunghoon wearily rolls his eyes with an expression bordering on disgust. "Are you finished? Ew."
"You think about not dying." Heeseung reminds him.
He doesn't heed the advice and his death combo seems to start again, so I lurk in his area. Being the one that goes in support of the team, I can do that, plus being the lowest he is being targeted by virtually all opponents.
"Stay under tower." I remind him.
"I don't need your help."
"If you keep dying you make them stronger. It's a problem for everyone."
He snorts with superiority, though I don't understand which one. "Come only if I'm dying."
It becomes a matter of pride as usual, all right. I won't help him, and I won't intervene unless he's dying. Exactly twelve seconds pass before he is almost completely lifeless.
"You suck so bad." Heeseung, who is watching him, takes the words out of my mind.
"Shut up! - Speak in the plural, he's nervous. - Weren't you supposed to help me?"
"I don't know, I'm waiting for you to ask me for help. I'll stay here."
"Don't be a sh--" He interrupts himself, grunting annoyed.
I am better than him, i have no need for revenge, i have no enemies. Three of them come at him, but they are all so low that I manage to leave them with one notch of life, then walk away.
"Are you leaving them the triple?"
"I don't care." I reply, imagining I look the coolest in the world.
Sunghoon, confused manages to kill one, then lifts his gaze to me, I spontaneously return his gaze.
"Are you crazy?" He tells me, evidently stunned.
"Omo, you're the worst!" Heeseung shouts, so surprised that he has to get up.
Sunghoon is killed, he other two following me, and I don't know why but I am dazed, the two of them blocking me and charging at me with both ultimates slaughtering me. First death of the game.
"What..." I ask myself under my breath, in italian, staring at the pc screen.
"W-Why?!" Heeseung raises his voice.
Sunghoon closes the laptop, stands up, then looks at me ruefully. "It's all your fault."
I turn distraught, looking at him. "What?"
I would have expected the elder to ask the other to get back on the PC, but in the end he doesn't, he just stands by and watches the skit perplexed.
"Let's stop playing the game! This game sucks!" He seems to make it up on the spot, completely upset, but by what?
Heeseung is even more confused. "But if we've even been playing for fifteen minutes!"
"What do you want to play?"
"To Go."
We both turn to him. "What?"
"Let's play Go, so we can see who's better at it." He mumbles very offended a suddenly tender Sunghoon.
Tender? No, let alone.
Heeseung remains silent for a while checking on his phone as I keep telling Sunghoon that it's not fair at all since only he knows how to play it, and he retorts that it's not his problem if we can't play it.
"They're passing...the boys." He says, under his breath.
Although our voices seem to cover him in the moment, we both hear perfectly. "The boys who?" Sunghoon asks.
"TXT." Sighs Heeseung.
"And why?"
"Niki invited them."
"Aish, that brat-" he starts to curse, but then seems to remember my presence and prefers to keep quiet.
"What a nuisance - mutters Heeseung - how do we deal with her?"
"She locks herself in room." Sunghoon replies without having thought about it for a single second.
"What? No, I want to be there too!"
"No way." Sunghoon tells me, Heeseung seems about to retort but finally doesn't.
"Why? I won't do anything weird!" I try to remain meek, trying to convince him.
"How do we explain that you are here? What are you supposed to be doing here?"
"Cleaning lady?" I propose, falsely naive.
"It's not like they stay all day."
The major puts a hand under his chin, thoughtful. "What if I invite your friend?"
I glare at him, but I don't understand why. "Ester?"
"Are you dumb?" Sunghoon immediately scolds him.
"She has already met me, you said we can be safe, we can say that you are of our foreign friends. They won't disdain the company of two beautiful girls."
Sunghoon opens his mouth but then says nothing, I nod fully convinced. "Dhe will love it!"
"I still don't want all their attention on her." Heeseung says, surprising me.
Sunghoon looks away annoyed. "Did you see on the group? Who's coming home?"
"Just Riki and Jay, for now."
"Alright, then get yourself sorted out." Sunghoon breathes heavily, resting his elegant fists on his narrow hips.
"I'm going!" I say all too happily.
Honestly, I don't even care who the ones to come among TXT are, I'll still be happy and Ester will be too, we listen them a lot. However, why do I feel jealous? It's unfair, unfair, I know it well... yet it's also all so exciting and hectic that I become more impulsive. No, I'm happy that Ester is coming, and I'm happy that ... she's meeting Jay, finally.
To be honest, it's the least I can do after all she has done for me.
I get my things from HIS room, staying to stare at Jay's folded clothes for a few seconds. It's strange because we seemed so close at first, but over the next few days we hardly spoke to each other.
I call Ester, hoping she answers despite being at work.
"What's going on? Are you okay?"
"Not really. You're invited to some kind of game afternoon with TXT.... Jay's there."
She shouts, despite being practically in the office, then I hear her clamp her mouth shut. "How much time do I have?"
"I have no idea. As soon as possible, 'll send you the address. Be sure not to say anything to anyone..."
"Are you kidding? - She can't contain her contentment. - I have to make myself look good. I'm coming, bye."
I have no idea how but I know it won't be a problem for her to leave work, considering that her superior clearly has a soft spot for her.
Luckily I listened to Heeseung, coming home to get clothes was providential, now I can indulge. I go to the bathroom, things in my arms, the hallway seemed deserted but Sunghoon appeared, seeming to be looking for me judging by the way he approaches before I can enter the bathroom.
"What is this friend of yours like?"
"She's prettier than me, if that's what you want to know." I answer distractedly.
"Heeseung said she knows him, how is that possible?"
I remain silent for several seconds, then sigh. "We went up to the apartment."
"Are you kidding?" He asks me seriously, but he sounds furious.
"I told him to stay in the car."
"If anything happens because of you... - he says under his breath, though the tone creeps - I don't even want to think about it."
So he says, pulling away.
All right, he won't wipe my smile off this time, are we kidding me? Finally I can present myself as a normal person to people I admire, finally I can lie, pretend to believe other people's lies, finally I can be on the same level.
No contract.
In the shower, however, it occurs to me that I was able to behave somewhat normally today, and in fact it's not like I felt the weight of the contract, along with Heeseung.
I think back to the fact that he even lied, keeping our secret.
But why am I smiling? Let's stop it, honestly, if with others I can even fantasize, with Heeseung I shouldn't even do that, simply because his appreciation creates too big a gap between an ordinary person and a celebrity.
Let's not think about it, I dry my hair properly, I don't have many products make up but I make sure to use each one to the best of my ability. Putting on the music and starting the preparation process, almost two hours pass and it is already four o'clock. I am a little surprised that no one has arrived yet.
Heeseung is leaving his room when I come out of the bathroom, just as Sunghoon is, on the opposite side. For a brief second we all look at each other but I'm the first to look down.
"I was right..." Heeseung says.
I am confused. "What?"
"Purple looks good on you."
He says and his words seem to imprint themselves on my skin. I should tattoo it, honestly.
I'm wearing a tight, short little dress with slits on both sides, very loose but with a ring showing the skin holding it all together. I've loosened my hair, let it fall down one shoulder, these are uncovered, and a tight, black chocker clasps my neck.
"Change." Sunghoon orders.
Heeseung looks at him surprised but says nothing.
"They will think she is a prostitute."
I walk toward him, I really hit him in the face this time; he's really tired me. "Ya! You have-"
The boy stops me by the wrist and I look completely powerless in comparison to him. "I said, get changed."
"No!" I glare at him.
"Aren't our attentions enough? Do you want theirs too?" He asks and for several seconds looks at my lips.
I shiver, backing away. What was that?
"He's right, you should change." Heeseung nods, betraying me.
"No, why?"
He stepped closer to me, forcing me to turn toward him rather than the roommate. "The situation could get weird ... with two girls ... and all these guys."
"You're not even able to avoid these things? What are you, animals?" I reply, as brave as I am opportunistic.
"What are you talking about? - Sunghoon complains, grabbing me by the arm and forcing me to look at him, starts turning my head with these two, I swear. - It's not that, it's that you're too exposed."
"I'm not changing!" I raise my voice.
Have they both gone crazy? What do they want from me? I dress as I please, and then it was Heeseung himself who told me to get this stuff! It's true that it's not random-that I chose purple garments, but it doesn't change that I can decide to wear them whenever I want!
"I'm hungry. - Says Sunghoon, serious. - Cook for me."
"Order yourself some food." I reply disinterestedly.
They ring the doorbell and we all turn sharply. Heeseung seems to voluntarily precede me, starting to run toward the entrance, Sunghoon does the same, and though I don't understand why, I join in as well.
It should be Ester, the directions were crystal clear, so I'm pretty sure it's her.
"Get changed." Heeseung says.
"I'm not changing." I repeat, adjusting my skirt.
They ring again. "You're making me nervous." Sunghoon continues.
"I'll get over it."
"Ya! Open up or not?" Jay yells behind the door.
I turn pale. Why? Shouldn't he have the keys? Anyway, I shouldn't be surprised, I had so much fun saying I wanted to wear it anyway...I'm certainly not afraid of Jay...or what he'll think... of what he will say... of how he'll look at me.
Sunghoon chuckles contentedly, Heeseung sighs and then opens.
"Have you read about the..." He starts to say as he enters, but then he lifts his gaze and stays staring at me.
I feel tiny little in front of him, and I don't know why but I kind of like it.
"Yeonjun and the others are coming." Heeseung continues.
"What are you wearing?" He asks, not at all in a kind tone.
"We invited a friend of hers, we'll say they're foreign girls we know-so it won't be strange."
"A friend of hers?" Jay asks surprised, turning to the major.
"Yes, I met her today. She said she's quiet."
Even at this moment, it's as if Heeseung is justifying himself to Jongseong, but he's not the elder. It's strange, right?
"Did you meet her today?"
"We went to Amanda's apartment." He explains, serenely.
But then why does it feel like my chest is crumbling when Jay looks at me? "Oh, really?"
Heeseung looks at me now, too. "She's a big fan of yours. She kept asking about you -- and then, there were so many posters of you." He says, believing himself funny.
Jay, however, is more awake, as I suspected. "Did you see her friend's room?"
The boy seems not to expect such a question, naively even, but he smiles. "More or less, give her a nice welcome."
"Are you going clubbing?" He asks, and that's enough to make my knees shake.
Why don't I react as I do with others? Why do I become so docile with him? It's just that I feel that seeing him really angry is something very frightening.
"Don't you like it?" I desperately try the path of seduction, but also of downplaying.
"I didn't say that - he replies, calmly - unbelievable, you act just like a little girl. You're even older than me."
"Come on, don't say that." Tries to make peace, Heeseung.
Jay sighs, starting for his room.
"Are you happy? - Sunghoon asks, satisfied. - You made him angry."
Heeseung still needs to change, since he has been playing the whole time, Sunghoon is comfortable too, but Niki seems to be coming back so time is tight. I wonder where Ester is with all the time that has passed.
The door clicks as I am sitting alone in the living room, wearing the same purple dress. Honestly I would have dressed like that anyway, my style is provocative, if I'm going to make a good impression it's obvious that I'm banking a lot on physical appearance, it's not such absurd reasoning.... But being a woman, things change.
I'm so tired of their pathetic beliefs.
"Noona." A voice as deep as the abyss calls to me.
I turn around confused. "Riki..."
"Did you prepare in advance?" He asks me, without posing any kind of problem with my attire.
Involuntarily I smile; there is still hope. "I just got ready."
"Let me see - he says, closing the door behind and holding out his hand, which I grasp in a manner that is nothing short of natural, lifting myself off the couch. - Wow, noona... you are so hot."
No Niki -- the way you bit your lip as you said that is hot. The tight white wifey showing off your broad shoulders is hot. But I'm not going to give in to the temptation to fantasize about you, you're just a well developed little boy.
"Do you like it? Everyone told me to change."
"Anyone would be jealous of that." He says spontaneously, smiling. He seems in a good mood.
"Should I do it?"
"Absolutely not, make them angry. Make them black with anger."
"Or red." I joke, at ease.
"That's okay too. - He says, walking away toward his room. - I read that a friend of yours is coming."
"Please welcome her properly, it's very important."
Actually, we never really had any real interactions, but I sensed from the start that Niki was different from the others. Like a white wolf in a pack of black wolves, but more like a puppy. He was always kind, but maybe he still didn't trust - or maybe something good happened to him and he's sunny.
There are still so many things I don't know about them.
After several minutes of doing nothing, I start to feel my eyes closing on their own, I rest my head just for a moment on the back of the couch, and I don't know precisely how much time passes, but it ends with someone continuing to tap me on the forehead.
I also hear the sound of the doorbell.
I jerk my eyes open, find Heeseung's face there, and yell out in a rush.
"Ah! What are you doing!"
"I think it's your friend, your phone was ringing." He says.
I look at my cell phone, two missed calls, then look toward the doorway. "I have to open!"
Even as I get up and go, I am literally overtaken in time by Jay who walks past me and opens the door. Ester is paralyzed, as well as simply ravishing. She has long red hair that slides down her slender, milky body, with a black dress that sharply breaks up her pallor.
"Wow." Jay exclaims.
I would do the same, if this didn't bother me. "Omo, don't... I dont't...-- Ester turns around, covering her face, has suddenly become shy, the actress! - I don't understand..."
"Am I so ugly that you won't even look at me?" Jay asks, although he knows perfectly well that it's not about that.
When Ester turns around with tear-filled eyes I see the boy stiffen in surprise, and I am even more jealous. "Omo... Jay.... Jongseong..."
"Please come in." He tells her, moving aside.
Ester enters and can't take her eyes off him but continues to stand at arm's length. Deep down, I can't help but be happy for her.... Indeed, it would even be possible for Jay to take an interest in her. After all, she is a normal girl, she ... she is also so beautiful.
"Do you... do you want to hug me? - He asks in a rather comical tone, spreading his arms wide. - I won't bite, really."
She rushes to hug him, resting her buxom breasts on Jay's bare chest, or rather, covered by a simple tank top that surely will not have cushioned the contact.
Seeing how she squeezes him, Jay evidently swallows agitated. Ester's breasts are so beautiful and soft, not that I have fantasized about touching them, of course....
"Are you jealous?" Heeseung whispers to me.
I shudder, gasp. "Not at all."
"How can two such beautiful girls look at him if I'm here?"
I'm tired of his insinuations, and I'm also nervous about my own business. "He definitely has it bigger."
"Yah! You haven't even seen it!"
"I'm sure of it." I reply, continuing to watch the two almost flirting.
Jay touches her shoulders, sometimes her hips, she doesn't pull away at all. Smart as usual my good Ester, I smile nervously, looking away. Heeseung follows my movement, learning again in front of my face.
"You know, it's annoying." He admits in a whisper.
"What?"
"You seem to like Jay and Sunghoon more than me."
"Sunghoon?" I ask altered, drawing the attention of the other two.
He, with the mouth wide open in amazement, looks me annoyed. "Ah, about Jay you don't deny it?"
Huh? Why is he doing this to me? He's betraying me at the worst time, but how am I supposed to stop him from continuing to talk since Ester is also watching us? I don't even want to imagine Jay's expression, he will be angry for sure.
"No, you more." I say, thinking myself clever, I guess.
Heeseung twists his lips. "What, do I look stupid to you?"
"What are you idiots talking about?" Jay asks.
We look away simultaneously. "Nothing. - I answer, standing at attention. - Ester, shall I show you the house?"
"Don't let her into my room." Heeseung intimates menacingly.
"Not even in mine." Jay admits.
Ester obviously bursts out laughing after her favorite's words, and I try not to find it revolting as I grab her by the wrist. "Let's go."
When we are finally alone in the kitchen area, with Ester looking around quite fascinated by the modern kitchen but I think more by the fact that she is in the Enhypen dormitory, I hear her start to giggle.
"Are you a lucky bitch?"
"Not really." I answer quickly, without thinking.
"Who are you introducing me to now? Anyway, I think I fell in love with Jay instantly." She admits, although it was obvious she was trying to change the subject.
I smile nervously, opening the fridge and handing her a beer; I know she will appreciate it. "I know, he's really handsome."
"You also said he's... big...." She nods.
"Ester! - I call to her, remembering later that we are speaking in italian and they couldn't understand anyway, even on the off chance they were spying on us. - W-Well, you should try to win him over. You are far too beautiful."
"Omo, should I? - Asks, reaching for her beer, then I see his sly grin lengthen. - What's the matter, Amanda? Are you jealous of Jay?"
"No!"
"By the way, you're too cool. You're making me look bad, go change."
I smile amusedly, everything seems back to normal in a second. "Stop telling me that!"
"Who told you that?"
Everyone, I guess? Jay didn't exactly say it directly.
"No, n-" I try to say, but I freeze when Sunghoon also enters in the kitchen, not giving me a glance at all, concentrating on Ester.
"How do you do?" He asks curiously.
Ester looks like some kind of reptile who freezes as she drinks and almost doesn't drop the water on her face, lucky that I move the small bottle in time. "Ester?"
She immediately covers her mouth, looking at me, and why? "How is it so good?"
"Really? I didn't attention to that." I lie unashamedly.
The boy, who is watching us indisposed by speaking italian, gives me a threatening look and then approaches her. "I don't speak italian, but Italy is beautiful. There are a lot of pretty girls... - he says as if he were the friendliest person in the world. - Wow."
"WOW? - She screams, returning the emotional but still crazier and more natural Ester. - You are really beautiful in person." She admits, looking him straight in the eye.
I feel like laughing, so I pull away so as not to ruin the moment. I notice that Ester has taken his face with both hands, to bring him closer and observe him better, and through it all Sunghoon remaining with his hands crossed behind his back, indulging in his desires. Why am I staring at them so much? For a few seconds, Sunghoon also shifts his pupils to me, but what does it mean?
It doesn't mean anything at all.
"What are they feeding you? You are all so big and strong." She keeps feeling him, touching his bare arms or chest.
Since I've lived here, I almost couldn't get close to him, it's only natural that I feel envious of Ester, after all, she's the main character tonight and I just have to accept it. The thing I should accept most of all right now is to be a despicable person, envious of such a great friend like her, who deserves all this.
"Have you been friends for long?" Sunghoon reconnects with me, as I sense a presence behind me.
Ester smiles softly. "Unfortunately, not for long enough. I found a true sister in her."
Her words warm my heart, but they also make me feel worse. It's not fair what I thought, it's not fair how I felt -- feeling jealousy for the person I can never be again, at their eyes, is certainly not Ester's fault.0
"Your favorite is Jay?"
She nods in satisfaction. "Of course, I'm completely crazy about him."
"Really? - A deep voice asks, appearing mysteriously. - Nice to meet you."
Niki has come from his room and stood at my side, I look down at him and he looks far too bright now that he has changed. He has practically taken off his clothes to put on a very expensive but apparently very comfortable all-grey jumpsuit with some black lines. I turn to Ester who is pale, Sunghoon is annoyed.
"P-P-Please! Niki-chan!" She starts whimpering, approaching him.
The boy automatically snaps back, maybe paparazzi trained his reflexes, Ester stops. "Oh, sorry!"
"No, forgive me! - My friend answers. - Are you okay?"
As the two of them converse I notice that Sunghoon is looking at me, but why? What do his serious eyes mean on me?
"Forgive me, it's just that it often happens that fans jump on me and it terrifies me." Admits Niki, who does not seem to have such an obvious character.
"You're right, I shouldn't act this way with a child. - She sighs, taking a long bow to make up for it. - Nice to meet you, I'm Ester."
"Ester? I like her." Smiles Niki, who preferred this approach and is now stroking her head.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-five." She answers confidently, she, who is older than me by two years if we consider time as koreans do.
"Wow! - The two boys exclaim together. - Are you serious?" Niki asks.
"Do I look older?"
"You look barely 20." Sunghoon says, almost giving me gasps.
"You guys are great, but when coming back Jay?" He asks suddenly, leaving them stunned.
Meanwhile, Heeseung was coming in, who burst out laughing so hard he had to hold on to the wall. "What's going on?"
"The koreans fans would be crawling at our feet right now." Niki commented amused, looking at Ester.
"That's why I prefer the west." Jay exclaims, coming into the kitchen.
"No doubt about that." Heeseung nods.
Sunghoon snickers. "You are the shame of your country."
I can see Ester scowling, I swear.
"When are the boys coming?" Ignores their unhelpful comments, Jay, turning to Niki who lifts the phone and seems to alert everyone.
"They've been here ten minutes."
"What?!" Ester and me ask in chorus.
They all turn to us. "You get used to us quickly, huh?" The most menacing of them all asks again.
I see Ester smiling blissfully as looks at him, curling her lips. "To you, never..."
"This is wrong." Sunghoon remembers.
We all go to open, and seeing the TXTs is like a vision. In front of everyone is Yeonjun, dressed as casually as I would have imagined, next to him Beomgyu and Taehyun, just behind Soobin but stretching out I keep trying to see if Hueningkai is there too, which however he is not, unfortunately.
"Oh, how do you do?" Says Yeonjun who actually looked like he was about to blurt at them for keeping him waiting. But then he stops, and says this, looking at me.
Looking at me? When Ester is beside me?
I see he casts a few glances at her too but the one who is really staring at her right now is Beomgyu. Am I confused? And a little disappointed, since I like him so much?
"Aren't you even going to say hello?" Heeseung asks, putting himself in front of me. Paying attention, he has rather broad shoulders too, seeming to obscure my sunshine but it's okay if I can observe this.
"I should beat you up. But don't you have phones?"
Niki chuckles, embarrassed, how cute. "I had the mute. Why don't you ring?"
"The theory of the demented - Yeonjun announces, coming in and walking past me, giving me a look so intense it makes my knees shake, I try to swallow but have no saliva - according to Beomgyu you changed bells with the neighbors to confuse saesaeng."
"One of the staff told me that." The boy justifies himself not exactly well, walking in.
Oh? Did Taehyun notice me too? I like him because his gaze is kind, not heavy like Yeonjun's discombobulating but instead restorative, able to set things right. I can't help but turn an intimidated smile to him.
I hear someone's tongue snapping behind my ears and I lift my gaze immediately annoyed, with a sudden change of expression.
"Will you stop smiling at everyone?"
"What do you care?"
"You have to have some self-respect, too."
I hate him, I forgot how much I hate him. But why was I nice to him today? I even asked him if he wanted me to cook for him -- I don't know if I'm stupid or self-defeating. Yes because he is like a razor blade cutting the skin, burning, bringing everything back to despicable reality, but why don't I push him away? Am I really that shallow?
They all settle down toward the sofa area, so we are away from the crowd and the chaos for a moment.
"That's enough, Sunghoon." I tell him, bravely.
He opens his big lips, surprised. "Huh?"
"Leave me alone. I know very well what my position is, there's no dress or makeup or smile that can hide it, I'll still leave anyway. But can I just be myself for one night? A mere fan? Can you just-"
"No. - He don't thinks enough about it, that's how it is. - I won't allow you to drive them crazy too."
Even? Why are you getting in the way?
"No one is going crazy."
"Are you pretending naivete or are you stupid?" He asks more menacingly, moving closer to me.
I can feel his breath tickling my face, it's so...intense. "Stop it."
"You want to be like this? Go ahead and play, let's see if you're that good at games." He says, then walks away.
What anxiety he has put on me. What is this feeling that grips me to the core? I don't understand anything at this point, too much has happened today.
When I get close again, I find they're all drinking, like normal guys in the afternoon - no, maybe not exactly normal, considering they're practically athletes. Ester sits next to Jay, on the couch, and is in the one place where I wouldn't feel vulnerable right now, but that's okay, anyway, he wouldn't know how to make me feel better either.
I go to sit between Heeseung and Niki but they both glare at me. "W-What?"
"You can't sit on the floor." He reminds me of the major.
"Do you want to sit on my lap, noona?" Niki asks, who is obviously not serious.
Yeonjun takes Beomgyu by the collar and tosses him amicably on the floor, tapping his palm on the pillow. "You can sit here."
Why did I look at Sunghoon out of the blue? Stop it, Amanda. Of course he is always annoyed.
I sit but we are certainly cramped on the sofa, lucky that I am only between Yeonjun and the armrest.... I'm breaking out in a cold sweat, it's really Yeonjun's thigh that's touching mine right now and I know he doesn't feel anything under the cargo, but I have exposed skin.
"Who are they?" Soobin asks, who is evidently intrigued by Ester with her red hair, her white skin, her elegant profile. - I didn't even get their names right."
"Ester." My friend raises her hand.
I, on the other hand, lower my gaze. "Amanda."
"Are you the shy one?" Yeonjun asks me nonchalantly.
Sunghoon bursts out laughing, alone.
Jay glares at him, Heeseung smiles annoyed.
"What don't we know?" Soobin then asks, smiling in turn.
"Ester is Jay's chick while Amanda ... is Sunghoon's chick?" Beomgyu proposes.
"No!" The chorus gets quite full-bodied as we answer.
It is me, Sunghoon, Heeseung, and Jay as well who respond. Ester is surprised, looking at her best boy with an annoyed look.
"I was talking about them, not us." He tells her, smiling sarcastically.
Ester bursts out laughing, not at all lucid, I can tell. "Honey, you had me worried."
"So you are single?" Yeonjun asks again, I shiver to my hair.
"Amanda is, actually." Ester answers for me.
"No, she's not." Heeseung says, for some reason.
"You all are annoying me." Says Beomgyu.
Sunghoon is the most annoyed, crossing his arms. "Why are you here?"
"Because you have more alcohol." The leader of the other band replies.
"Is there a reason for drinking?" Jay asks.
Yeonjun nods. "I bought a coat worth 10 million won."
"Get out of this house." The one who asked the question continues.
I see Taehyun lift his gaze to me before speaking. "We will actually cooperate with the sumbaenim."
A minute of silence intersperses the exchange of lines, then Ester shouts, "The Bangtan?!"
"Again?" Jay is intrigued.
"This time they're producing several songs for us, and we're even going to make some together."
As they talk about the matter, I can't help noticing a kind of disappointment shining in Heeseung's eyes upon hearing those words. Perhaps he feels envy, resentment, because they have only been able to do covers and almost nothing else by BTS. Why does it hurt so much to see him with such an expression? It looks like someone is squeezing my heart.
I would love to use my palms to cover his ears and prevent him from continuing to hear the conversation about collaboration, but what can I do? We are so far apart.
"Are we enough for a group game?" I ask him, aloud.
Yeonjun perhaps notices the exchange of glances between us and stares at us.
"Do you want to play?" Heeseung asks, looking relieved.
These words-they remind me.
No, but why did I look at him? Idiot, idiot Sunghoon.
"Yes, let's play."
"So you like Heeseung too? How trivial." Snorts the one a year older than me, Yeonjun.
"I like her." I say, pointing at Ester.
"This is getting intriguing."
"Don't get too intrigued." Reminds him Sunghoon, who seems to have heard the full conversation.
"Then there are triangles here."
"Don't be on her. - It sounds like advice, but it's said in a rather scary way and by the most unlikely person, Niki, who is fiddling with something between his legs but I can't really see because he's sitting behind the coffee table. - They do it enough already. Can't you see how they suffocate her?"
"I didn't do anything." Heeseung complains.
Yeonjun turns his head as he looks at me, then smiles with those innocent lips. "All right, how did you two meet? Are you friends?"
"They are friends of friends. - Sunghoon replies, moving closer to sit on the very armrest I'm leaning against, I reluctantly move away but the contact is inevitable. - They are nice, besides we would be too many boys."
"And you only invite two?" Sighs Beomgyu, who seems really interested in Ester, but she doesn't give him a glance and I precisely don't understand how she can, although I understand that sitting by Jay's side, like the queen of an empire next to her king, is something else.
"In the apartment is the ultimate number."
"By the way, why didn't you invite Wonyoung? Maybe she would bring Jiwon."
"But you weren't dating her?" Soobin asks, turning to Taehyun who asked the question.
Ester and I go wide-eyed, Yeonjun casts a dirty look at his bandmate. "Yah, what are you saying?"
"No...nothing." Chuckles the leader.
So Taehyun is practically dating the most beautiful girl in Korea? Other than Sunghoon, he's the one who won, really.
"Too busy." Sunghoon replies, very professional.
"Wonyoung and all the IVEs must not know about them." Jay reminds him, and I am surprised to hear him say that.
Beomgyu smiles as if he knows more than he shows. "Sure, take it easy."
"But are these two...quiet?" Yeonjun asks again, looking at me.
"Sure." Riki replies, as if he has only one reason to trust.
What's wrong with him today and why is he staring at me as he says that?
Sunghoon's hip presses against my arm and I'm obviously uncomfortable, but I don't want to show it, so I flinch at Yeonjun, who seems to notice, from the way he looks at me out of the corner of his eye, but says nothing, instead raising his arm to let me fit under his wing better.
"Let's go for a smoke." Niki proposes.
I am stunned when I see the huge thing in his hand.... really, that's not a double entendre, I'm talking about the special cigarette he has evidently prepared. "What are you doing?" I ask, upset.
Heeseung gets up quickly, takes the joint out of his hands and runs toward the kitchen. "You bastard!" Soobin shouts, starting to chase after him.
Niki, Taeyun and Beomgyu also go, leaving us in a strange, uncomfortable situation.
"You guys don't smoke? - Yeonjun asks innocently. - Amh..."
"I do." Ester admits.
I smile embarrassedly. "Not in Korea." I admit, too.
Sunghoon glares at me. "Even?"
"Are you his brother? Or are you her father? Are you her boyfriend?" Yeonjun asks again, smiling like an asshole.
"And who exactly are you?" Sunghoon replies curtly.
Jay is immediately alarmed, I guess he can promptly assess the situation, realizing that the tone of both of them is rather threatening. "You keep bothering her, I'm not the problem."
"We joke like that, what do you know?"
"Are you done?" Jay is also heard by Yeonjun, who is older and should be addressed with respect, but his tone is neither friendly nor respectful.
"He started it." Yeonjun accuses him.
Jay sighs annoyed. "Let's go."
I can see him not giving me a glance, but will I be too selfish to wish for that? Maybe it's because I thought there was something special between us. Had I seriously deluded myself about such a thing? Am I not already all too aware of my situation, as I told Sunghoon?
I will never be a normal girl ever again. I should just enjoy the moment.
"You're really obsessed with me." I comment under my breath as Sunghoon stands beside me on our way to the kitchen.
"You'd like that."
"You're pointing that out to everyone, can't you tell?"
He sighs disinterestedly. "Let them think what they want."
"Are you finished? - Heeseung calls out to us seeing us coming as he has the lit murder weapon in his hand. They opened all the windows so that the smell of weed doesn't get trapped inside. - Do that from today."
"They like each other, it's obvious." Beomgyu says, taking it out of his hands but failing to smoke because Niki takes it away from him again.
"She likes me, you mean. I have a girlfriend, and she is also beautiful, but you already know that." Replies Sunghoon, who is not interested in such amusements so he simply takes water from the refrigerator.
"Exactly because you have her you shouldn't be all over her like that." Yeonjun repeats.
Heeseung is annoyed, I can tell by the way he looks at the boy from the other band. "Do you smoke?" He asks.
"Of course she do." Remembers Sunghoon, and I now attack him.
The Enhypen oldest takes the incriminating object from Niki's hands, handing it to me. "Why don't you ignore it?" He asks again, I take the joint confused.
"You're right." I say.
Sunghoon is offended, I feel his gaze on me. I take a long drag and then blow it in his face, leaving everyone stunned. I don't know precisely why I did it, but it made me burst out laughing, and after me so did everyone else, especially Ester who literally has tears in her eyes. Everyone else--except the Enhypen, I mean.
Sunghoon grabs my cheeks with one hand, pulling me closer to his face. "Are you dumb?"
"Move over if the smoke bothers you." I say with my mouth unnaturally closed because of his hand.
"Amanda!" Jay calls me back.
"I think they like each other, too." Soobin nods.
"Don't you get involved too, hyung." Taehyun calls him back.
"She certainly doesn't like him.- Heeseung blurts out annoyed. - Stop it now."
"Heeseung but do you like Amanda? Do you?" Yeonjun asks.
"How would you know?" Chuckles Sunghoon nervously, completely ignoring his sumbae.
"I've been in her room."
He seems to be improvising but the truth is that he couldn't wait to say it.
I think I'm on the verge of unconsciousness now. What is he saying? Don't tell me he ... he wants to bring up that stupid story now? I swear that... what? What can I do if he decides to say it in front of everyone?
"In her room?" Soobin asks, interested.
"Are we in an erotic drama?"
"Why do you say that?" Taehyun asks Yeonjun, who was actually quite specific.
"She is your host, isn't she?"
...
Did I hear correctly? Did I get caught right away? How? Do they have a guest too, or did Niki say something? The smoke comes out of my parted lips in amazement, I am holding my breath so much that I think the effect of the puff will be very strong. I take another one quickly, handing it to the owner who thanks by gesturing in silence.
"No." Heeseung replies after many, many seconds.
"Indeed." Sunghoon nods.
Niki looks at his companions nervously. "What is a host?"
"You should have asked first." Jay reminds him.
And the house of cards collapses. It all collapses. The normal-person evening I was hoping to have just shattered into billions of microscopic pieces. Ester looks at me alarmed, Jay is terribly annoyed.
"What did you see in her room?" Reminds Sunghoon, however, who doesn't seem to care at all about the awkward situation we are in.
Heeseung sneers. "That she doesn't like you."
"Bypass that?" Taehyun asks, laughing in an incredibly sensual but nervous way.
"What does that mean? Tell me what you saw." Sunghoon sounds really obstinate.
"Are you children?" Beomgyu asks incredulously.
"I am hungry." Niki says, raising his hand.
"Since we are saying random things - Ester begins - when is Jake coming?"
"There are also other people besides Jay, and apparently Jake, who is not even here." Beomgyu annoyedly reminds her.
"If you keep mentioning him, you'll hurt me." Says Jay, acting, perhaps, I hope?
It's all so damn chaotic.
I have to step away for a second, my head is spinning, I hope no one notices, because there's no one I want beside me right now, I prefer to be alone when I'm sick.
Maybe it's because I haven't smoked for so long, maybe it's because my stomach is cramping and I haven't been thinking for several days now, but I need a moment in silence. I go to the balcony of Jay's room and curl up on myself.
It will be fine, it will be fine.
hi...are you guys enjoying the story? i hope so!
anyway i was curious about something so i try to make a survey!
NEXT CHAPTERS:
13 notes
·
View notes