Midnight

Failed You

aeri got multi missed calls from her brother after she left the studio.
among those missed calls and messages, there's one from the unknown number.

unknown no: hey, it's jeno. can we talk?

.

she agreed to do so, if he promised not to bring her brother with. and he kept the promise.
they met up at a local coffee shop near the river.
the sun almost set, and the shop started to get less customer, making it more convenient for private conversation.

"I heard about the offer." he began right away. "I understand your point of view, but i'm here.." he can't even hold eye-contact with her, as if it was hard for him to say. "can you consider about it at least?"

aeri scoffed, her arms crossed, giving him a look of disbelief. "understand my point of view, my ass."
"look, I don't like you-"
"oh, really? cause I mirror that." her eyes rolled back.
"let's be civil, can we?" he groaned, and aeri finally calmed herself down. he looked like he's sincere.

"we met on a wrong foot, but I clearly understand what you're seeing of an idol's life, or at least, a life in spot light, cause I'd been there."
she raised a brow in suspicion. "you had?"
he hummed.
"then, weren't you exhausted? didn't you hate it? wasn't that why you leav-?"

"can you stop putting word in my mouth?" he shut her up once again. "I didn't leave. I admit, I do not like all attention on me, but what keeps me trying to pursue that life again is music. and i'm sure we have the same point goal here."

"jeno, is that your name?" aeri leaned forward. "you do realise that there are other occupations where you can connect to music, right?"
the guy nodded just immediately. "but none of that gives me the thrill and excitement as being on stage, performing, experiencing how people enjoy the performance with my own eyes. it's the moment." he reasoned out. "as a singer, producer, we're trying to connect to people about emotions, telling story, and lists go on, through music. don't you love it when we witness the audience responses right in that moment?"

"I see what you're trying to do." she gave a thin smile. "but, I've already thought about it-"
"then at least think of your brother." he took a deep breath seeing how her reaction changed. he did not want to touch this topic, but he really can't help.
"it's our own problem, you should stay in your lane-"

"are you sure, it's both of you guys problem? cause what I've been seeing is only him who deals with everything."

aeri felt like there is something she might has not known. "what.."
"hyung has tried hiding this from us, but he's been struggling with finding true passion these past few months. he's busy with managing and preparing for our debut that he almost completely lost focus on his main career."
jeno maybe right.

during those times taeyong rarely got in touch with her abroad, she knew he had a big project and had always shown how excited and nervous about it. he seemed to be liking it so much when he talked to her about it. as time went by, he became more stressful, and the hope slowly faded. yet, he had never mention about the struggles to her.

at that times, aeri did not know the band debut preparation was the project he's been handling.

now, she finally connected the dots.

if that three months on-going project failed, then her brother would also hurt, and probably difficult for him to bounce back to find that passion. which pains her just thinking about that.
knowing taeyong, he's not the type who easily give up, but he's the type who blames himself for everything out of his control.
if the band fails to debut, then obviously he took it hard as his own failure as well.

jeno watched the person in front of him being silently consumed by her own thoughts. he knew his words might touch something inside her.
"I've seen the contract." he carefully continued. "two years pass like wind. please give it a try, then you'll be free to choose the path you desire. besides, you'll be given chance to produce music exclusively for the band as well. it is not that bad."

her eyes flicked to him. "well there is one flaw."
he raised a brow. "what's that?"
"you're in the team."

jeno swore he could have cursed, but held back. instead a small relief smile appeared. her dropping a joke indicates that she's feeling good about it.
"so, you're considering it?"
aeri rolled her eyes again. "if so, I have to suggest some amendment in the contact."

the latter felt like the giant rock has been lifted from his chest.
"I guest that's easy. director kang seems to really like you. just ask him properly, maybe he could agree."
"we'll see about that." she leaned back to the seat, hands unconsciously clutching her stomach, and pouted. "it's about the song credit, i'm quite uncertain though. they're known as the capitalised company."

"don't overthinking too much now." he assured. "dinner yet?" swiftly turned the topic.
the mention of food made her empty stomach growled which caught his attention.
her eyes widened in embarrassed, and he scoffed a laugh. "let's get you some food. it's on me."

she was taken back. "oii. what's wrong with you?" she stood up and followed him from behind.
"i'm not the one who torture my own stomach though. there's nothing wrong with me." he told. that reply earned him a hard smack on his shoulder. the curse being held back now has freed, as they directed towards the nearest bbq place.

-

aeri entered the apartment after jeno dropped her off.
it was dark. the only light was from the dinning table. she did not see her brother in the sight.

the papers scattered on the dinning table were in fact bills of rental space for production studios, the other expenses on team preparation, and huge amount of punishment for breach of contract with SM for leaving before employment contract ends.

"ri?" taeyong came from behind, with his worried voice, but also a relief that she's home.
"why don't you tell me we have these much debts?" she turned to him with a disappointed look, only to double the pressure he's been carrying.
"it's not that much though. I can handle it myself. I don't want to burden-"
"burden?" aeri scoffed, hands on her waist. "really? we're sibling, yong. there's no burden in this household. we'll go through hell and heaven together. I remember that's what you told me."

taeyong looked down, away from her gazes. "still, as your brother, I don't want to give you something to worry about since you already have other things in your plate."
"as my brother, you've always been there for me." her voice became soft. that's when his eyes found hers again. they're holding back the threatened tears. "now, let me do my part as your sister."

he opened his arms, and aeri rolled her eyes, but still embraced him with care and love.
"having you here already help me emotionally, sis." he sincerely told.
"not when we're financially crisis, bro."
he hated that she sarcastically dropped the words in such serious moment. "it's not that serious, ri."

"i'll consider being in the band." before he could question that, she tightened the hug. "for you, yong."