Rainbow

Chapter 17

Irene's POV
I smiled at the story. "It's like a television drama."

He chuckled, "Yeah. I also told that to Dad."

"Anyway, did you become a backup dancer to pay for your dad's specialist?"

"No. You won't make much money at first from being a backup dancer. I became a backup dancer because when me and my sister were still young, my parents wished to see us on TV. My sister wanted to grant their wish because her dream is related to that, but I don't want to. I don't like that career. What I want is to become successful in business. But when Chaeyeon came into my life, little by little I got interested in dancing. And when I was still on semester break, she wanted us to audition. I agreed to make my dad smile, and I also started to love dancing that time."

"Why didn't you two audition to be an idol?"

"Chaeyeon doesn't want to compare with her twin even though her sister was just a trainee back then and didn't debut yet."

"How about you? Don't you want to be an idol?" I asked and looked at him.

He nodded. "Yeah, I don't. Other than that I knew they would force me to break up with Chaeyeon if I became an idol, I also wanted to have a normal relationship. And being an idol is not my dream. I just wanted to grant my parents' wish and see my dad happy. And there are advantages to being a backup dancer. You get perks similar to idols like fame, recognition, the opportunity to perform, and many more. And there is no pressure to uphold being a backup dancer.

I nodded in agreement and looked away. "You're right. Anyway, how did you pay your debts to your dad's specialist?"

"I stopped studying again and worked in the restaurant of my dad's friend."

I looked at him in surprise. "But that's just one semester, and you can graduate after."

"But my dad's hospital bill is costly. And I'm ashamed not to pay for it little by little, though my dad's specialist said it was okay to pay for it after I graduated. I also need to work for my dad's needs. His friend already didn't let him pay for staying at their house, and I don't want to depend on him for Dad's needs because he also has a family to support."

"How come your mom let you stop studying again?"

He sighed heavily. "I lied to her, and that was the first time I did that. I told her that I was scammed and had to pay a big amount or else I would go to jail. She said she would be the one who would stop studying and pay for it. Of course, I disagreed, telling her I wanted her to prove to my grandparents that loving my dad was not a mistake. My mom had second thoughts about what she would do but agreed after I kept persuading her. After that, I worked at the restaurant of my dad's friend every time I didn't have practice or scheduled. I also keep racing to have extra money."

"How about now? Are you going to continue studying now?"

He shook his head. "I lost interest now in studying. And I'm still paying for my dad's bill because until now, he still has treatment."

I nodded and looked in front. "But how can you still manage to go every time our managers invite you?"

"When I'm on my day off, I really spare that day to rest. I don't want to die and leave my family with debts." He chuckled.

I smiled and shook my head. "Then why didn't you use that day to rest instead of going with our managers?"

"Aside from my family and cigarette, Redpink is also my stress reliever. I feel relaxed every time I watch one of my favorite groups."

I laughed softly, "You're dead if Yeji heard that. You didn't mention her."

"She's part of my family, of course."

Oh, that's sweet. "By the way, may I know why you and Chaeyeon broke up?"

"Because she found someone better?" He laughed at what he said. "Actually, I don't know how Chaeyeon met her current boyfriend. She just talked to me one day after we celebrated our one year of being in a Groovy dance crew. She said she wanted to break up with me because she already loved someone else. I was hurt at that time. And even though I don't want to break up with her, I have to because it would be useless if we kept our relationship. And I want to see her happy, even though I am no longer her happiness. But you know what I admire about her?"

"No."

He laughed when I answered. "I admire her for not cheating on me and ending our relationship first before they start dating."

I glanced at him and saw him smile while looking nowhere. "Do you still have feelings for her?"

"She always has a place in my heart because she's my first love, but I don't have feelings for her now."

I was about to speak when I felt my phone vibrate. I took it from my sling bag and saw Wendy's message.

"Where are you, unnie? I thought you were going here first? We are all here now in the practice room."

I looked at my phone and was surprised after I saw that it was already 1:21 pm. I didn't notice the time!

I stood up while putting my sling bag on my shoulder and looked at Seulgi. He looked at me in confusion. "I have to go now. I'm going to be late. We have practice at 1:30 pm."

He took his phone from his pocket and saw the time. "I told you my story is long." He laughed and stood up. "You even haven't eaten lunch." He said as we walked to the elevator.

"It's okay. I'm still full. Are you going home now?" I asked and pressed the button of the elevator.

"I still have practice at 2 pm."

I entered the elevator when it opened and looked at him in confusion when he didn't get in.

"Are you not going to leave here yet?" I asked while holding to the edge of the elevator to keep it open.

He shook his head and smiled. "I'll do my session first before I go down."

It takes seconds before I understand what he said. His cigarette. "Okay. By the way, is it noticeable that I cried?"

He looked at my eyes first before he nodded. "Just said you cried while sleeping here because you had a bad dream."

I laughed softly, "Okay. I'll tell that. And thank you for listening to my problems." I removed my hand from holding the elevator after I said that and waved my hand at him.

He smiled, "And thank you for trusting me." He said and waved back before the elevator closed. When the elevator opened to the floor of the practice rooms, I ran towards the practice room where my members were now.

"Did you cry?" Wendy asked me worriedly after I entered the practice room.

I nodded and smiled. "I just had a bad dream when I fell asleep on the rooftop earlier, so I cried while sleeping."

She looked like she bought that excuse and nodded. "Okay. Let's practice now."