Midnight

Personal

Saturday came so fast.

the moment they entered the building, they're informed that jaera had already been waiting.
the guys paused their steps right before they entered.

"come on, guys." aeri convinced. "you don't have to say anything, and most important of all, you don't have to accept her apology if necessary. just listen to what she has to say first."

dery let out a deep sigh. "okay."
yangyang nodded hesitantly, while jeno remained stoic.
aeri took the sign and opened the door.

jaera immediately rose from her seat, hands intertwined, looking restless. she tried to force out a smile, hiding the nervousness. she failed the moment specific person entered and their eyes met.

"ra." aeri called her back to reality. her manager and the other staff already left the room to themselves.
"thank you so much, unnie."

aeri gave a thin smile. "you want anything? tea, coffee?"

"i'll go with you-"

"no, yang. sit back down. now, what drinks?"

yangyang pouted. "fine. get me the usual."
"same." dery added.

"water is fine." both said in unison and their eyes met once again. the tension rose.

"uh.. great then. i'll be quick." aeri left the room then took one deep breath. "it's suffocating in there."

-

"so," dery started after sensing their awkwardness. he can't stand that. "how are you, jae?"

she gave sad smile. "i'm surviving just fine. lots of schedule here and there. sometimes it gets quite lonely doing this all by myself." her hands clutched the end of her skirt, eyes on the floor.

"yeah right. now you know." yangyang couldn't hold back, and let it out. even dery didn't stop him.

jaera accepted that. "I guess I learn it the hard way." she took deep breath, gathering the courage as she held her chin up, meeting those betrayed gazes directing at hers. "i'm sorry." her voice almost cracked.

dery and yangyang immediately looked away. only jeno kept his stares straight at her, cold and emotionless.

"i'm sorry for letting you down. i'm sorry for almost ruining your dreams. i'm sorry for leaving, for the betrayal, for the trust, and.." her breath shortened. ".. for everything." there, tears rolled down her cherry rose cheeks, washing the first layer of make-up blush. yet the overwhelming emotion had her whole face reddened.

"I understand if you do not accept my apology nor forgive me, but I really appreciate that you give me a chance to speak-"

"make it quick. we don't have all day." for the first time, jeno spoke. and it cut so deep somehow.
dery silently nudged his arm as they sat close to each other. "be nice, jen."

"s-sure."

a knock on the door echoed as aeri entered with a huge tray of their drink.
jaera quickly wiped away the tears, and put back on the smile.
yet, this didn't go unnoticed by her. "everything's alright?"

jaera shook her head. "thanks, unnie."
aeri settled next to her, to make her feel at least she's not alone in this room, especially when the guys looked at her like she's their prey.

"can you guys loosen up?" rolled her eyes.

"what? we're looking fine." yangyang opposed. "let's just hear what she has to say."

jaera nodded at the sign.
"it all happened just two months before our set debut day. everyone was excited and nervous, so was I. there was nothing else could I ever had imagined as a dream comes true moment.
until those dream vanished as nightmare engulfed me." she paused then looked up at jeno.
"your father came to me."