The City of Seoul || Bang Chan ✓

✧.* Chapter 23 *.✧

"Breath, Bi," Minho whispered while holding her close to his chest, one hand on the back of her head and the other rubbing her back.

As soon as she had entered the studio, she broke down sobbing. Minho immediately kneeled by her side on the ground and held her. The other three members of SHINee followed him. The five of them sat cramped in the entrance space.

They rubbed her back or tried to comfort her by running their fingers through her hair.

„Sh," Minho kissed her temple and rocked them side to side. It was the first time since she came back that he had seen her in this stage of a panic attack. He usually was able to help her through it. Even his members grew into safe spaces for her over the years.

All four felt helpless.

„Talk to us, Bi," Onew tried it again.

She tried and mumbled something inaudible into her brother's chest.

„Angel, we can't understand you," Minho gently pulled her away from him, holding her face in his hands. He wiped the tears.

„I'm scared," Danbi hiccuped. She couldn't meet their eyes.

"What cares you, love?" Key rubbed her back while Taemin brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear.

"That this situation affects them," she hiccuped again. "And you as well." More tears slipped down her face and her voice broke into a sob.

"Bi," Minho continued to while them away. "They have amazing lawyers by their side like we do and a lot needs to happen after their company signed a contract with news outlets and paid them to delete the pictures."

Danbi shrugged. She felt so helpless. Not one second did she think about herself. It would be easy for her to start over even in Korea in a different company, maybe in a different country but any of them lived their dream as an Idol and wouldn't be happy right now to give that up.

She wouldn't be able to live herself if that turned into reality.

The four idols engulfed her in a group hug in hopes of calming her down.

"We are here," Onew mumbled.

"Everything will be fine, Angel," Taemin agreed.

Minho kissed her temple again and nodded. It broke their hearts to see her like this.

✧･ﾟ: * ✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧

Danbi chose to distance herself from the Idol group for the coming weeks. Occasionally they would talk over the phone or send a short update over text. Just not daily.

The two Australians flew back home to their families for a short break before they released another album a few later. The remaining eight members used their free time to see friends and family as well.

At the same time, the Choi siblings took days off to travel to Jeju. Being away from the busy city helped Danbi to relax and be less anxious about everything that was going on. To help with that Minho decided that they should remove any social media apps from their phones.

"I want to look at a few properties while we are here," Minho looked over to his sister.

They had spent the morning exploring and spent the afternoon at a small beach to go swimming, have a huge water fight and now lay on their towels in the sun to dry.

"Sounds good," she smiled, lowering her sunglasses to meet his eyes. He smiled as well.

"Let's pack everything up," Minho rubbed his stomach. "I'm getting hungry." He sat up and stretched before standing.

"Mhm," the younger sibling could stay longer but decided to agree. There were many more days left to sunbathe.

An hour later the siblings walked into a restaurant near their rented house. An elderly woman greeted them happily before showing them a private room in the back of the restaurant with a few of the coast.

Danbi bowed and thanked her before sitting down.

"Care to share?" Minho smiled while looking up from the menu. She immediately nodded.

"I wanted to ask you the same question," Danbi winked.

They showed each other what sounded good and decided what dishes to order. Minho explained it to the waitress after she came back with their drinks.

"I'm grateful to be here with you, Min," Danbi told him after they were alone once again. He smiled and squeezed her hand.

"Me too, Bi."