Midnight

Be There For You

the news of the stalker of Midnight's main vocalist spread like wild fire.
the management dealt with the stalker, as they sent the band back immediately to seoul.
with all of the mess, manager yoon's suggestion of members' hiatus was given a green light.

they got a month of holiday before another comeback preparation.
hendery immediately booked a flight back to visit his family, finally able to see his own niece safe and sound, and put his mind to rest.

yangyang spent the first week travelling around korea before he flew to London.

jeno visited his family every weekend, but he never stayed for long. personal reason it is.

among them, aeri was offered personal therapy prepared by the company. she did not think it's necessary, but everyone around her convinced her to do so.
rather than spending time at her home country, she's stuck with her brother.

it's now been two weeks since their free time.
she has to admit she's never been at peace for a while.

taeyong would rather stay by her side all day long, as he worked from his home studio.
they saw each other every hours. though it might have been tired, he found it hard when she decided to move back to the dorm.

"you really have the heart to do that to your brother?" the producer crossed his arms, showing the grudge against his sister, watching her packing.

aeri rolled her eyes. "come on. you're literally leaving me this weekend to paris for song camp." she shut the luggage. "besides, jeno's been lonely by himself."

"did he say so?"

aeri shrugged. "nah. we havent talked much lately." at first, she assumed he may need his alone time. but then, he always cut the conversation short whenever she texted him first.
don't get her wrong. she was just checking up on him as a good team mate she is.

"yong." she called. "do you have any idea about his relationship with his father?"
taeyong paused his doing. "i'd rather not say a word. before, jaera was a sensitive topic to him, but his father is much worst. " he warned. "if he was not the one volunteering to talk about this, don't bother asking him."

"it's that bad?"

taeyong gave her a disbelief look. "do respect him, aeri."
aeri sighed and gave up. "alright, bro."

-

it was not a surprise to arrive at the messy dorm.

she was greeted with a sight of jaemin cooking in the kitchen. he explained everything before he's preparing to leave to his shooting schedule.

"don't forget to remind him to take medicine." he put on a coat. she led him to the door.
"will do, jaem. rest assured."

"thank you for taking care of him." he sincerely told before he turned his back, but paused and hesitantly looked back at her

"he's going through some hard stuff. try not to poke his botton."
now that reminded her of what taeyong has told.

.

aeri carefully prepared the soup and medicine and knocked on his bedroom door.

"jaem." his voice was hoarse. he's that sick? it still angered her that he did not say a word in their group chat when everyone was updating their lives.
"just give me another minute-"

"it's me."

there was a silence followed by hesitated footsteps. then the door was yanked open.

he had a cold gel stick to his forehead. his hair was long and messy, probably hadn't been washed for days.
not to mention, his dried skin, black circle under eyes, and red runny nose.