Hard to love : A haesoo love story

Chapter 15: We were on a break (part 2)

Hello everyone, 

I didn't expect this storyline to be a three-parter. I had a hectic work week and I didn't want you to keep waiting. So please forgive me and I hope you enjoy it still. 

Thank you all for the support. 

Enjoy

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Haein jolted awake as his alarm rung, rudely pulling him from the shallow sleep he had managed to find in the early hours of the morning. His head throbbed, mimicking the sensation of a hangover despite having abstained from alcohol the night before. The disorienting feeling of his world being turned inside out weighed heavily upon him. Blinking groggily, he suddenly remembered an impending event: the Seoul Water Bomb Festival. The prospect of interacting with others and participating in any activities today held little appeal; Haein wanted to be alone. Overwhelmed, he had no idea what to do or how to act.One thing was for sure, he couldn't let anyone know what happened last night, not even his brother.

 At the festival, drinks were flowing and the music was loud. Despite the distractions, Jisoo haunted his thoughts. As a representative for Sprite, he diligently posed for photographs with the swarm of eager fans, especially the multitude of women that flocked to him. Striving to be gracious, he accommodated their requests, yet one particular fan invaded his personal space, prompting him to gently establish boundaries. Should any footage surface, it could shatter his already fragile relationship with Jisoo. The urge to send her a warning message was strong, but respecting her wish for a temporary break, he decided to give her 48 hours before reaching out. After all, she might not even care.

With a heavy heart, Jisoo arrived at the studio before anyone else the following afternoon. Despite her restless night, she hoped immersing herself in work would provide some distraction from the overwhelming urge to collapse in a ball and sob. Today, she had to rework several parts of her song, "The Happiest Girl." Seeking inspiration, Jisoo requested to hear her fellow members' contributions before attempting her own, to capture the right emotions. As Rosie's voice echoed the bittersweet line, "I can't remember why we try," Jisoo's eyes welled up with tears. She pushed through, however, and sang "My heart only wants you" with every ounce of sincerity and visceral longing that she felt for him. Desperately fighting to regain control over her emotions, Jisoo repeated the phrase, "I can stop the tears if I want to," as she willed herself not to let the tears cascade down her cheeks.

When she exited the booth, she was met by a flabbergasted Lisa and an approving Teddy.

"Jisooya, that was perfect. The emotions were on point" Teddy complimented.

Lisa dragged her to the couch and said "Are you okay? Your voice was so desperate! Did something happen with Haein Oppa?"

"Lisa Si, your turn" Teddy said before Jisoo could respond.

"I don't know how I'm going to follow that, Oppa" Lisa countered as she made her way to the booth.

"You'll be fine! Just go in" Teddy replied rolling his eyes

Jisoo stretched out on the couch, her fingers dancing over her phone screen as she played her favorite game, occasionally pausing to take a sip of her iced americano. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a notification – an alert on Haein. Curious, she tapped to reveal images of him at a lively party accompanied by his brother and several unfamiliar faces. His white t-shirt clung damply to his well-defined pecs and abs, while his trademark black cap shaded his eyes. Haein's grin was undeniably genuine, the joy even reaching his eyes. It didn't seem like her decision had affected him much, offering a strange sense of comfort to Jisoo. With that thought, she shrugged it off and immersed herself back into the game.