**D1, Be the ONE! We are ZEROBASEONE!***
After debut, idol life is just getting started, and it's our time to bloom.
And so are the challenges...living in a dorm with eighteen people could never go wrong, right? Especially not with some love triang...
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It was a day earlier than I'd liked, but I had so much work to do. I couldn't focus on my family at all. My mom had noticed and had sent me home with her blessing; I felt terrible about missing quality time with them, but my focus was on Zerobaseone, and as the leader, I had more things to carry.
I knew Hao was home, so I wouldn't be alone anyway.
I rode the elevator up, and immediately noticed something was off. The door to our penthouse stood slightly ajar. I knew Hao would never leave it unlocked. He was meticulous about many things, and securing our safety was definitely one of them. Especially with that crazy stalker Alli had these days.
I still got shivers thinking about those packages and those words. They had been written for me to see. The look on Alli's face had been one of utter horror. I would never forget it.
At night, she would stir more these days. Whimpers and incomprehensible words would leave those lips. She had nightmares daily. I wished I could take them away and rescue her from those intrusive thoughts.
"Hao?" I said as I entered the penthouse with apprehension. The door creaked open and revealed our dark living room and an even darker kitchen. Did I see something move in the corner? I hesitated at the edge of the door. If the stalker was here, it could not be safe for me.
"Hao?" I said again, but still, nobody responded. From the looks of it, the apartment was empty.
"Is anyone here?" I yelled louder because I was convinced somebody was there. The apartment didn't feel empty, as if I was aware of a presence. Goosebumps broke out over my skin as I again noticed movement coming from the bedroom I shared with Alli. How the fuck would the stalker know where we slept? We hadn't made it public knowledge.
My phone was already searching for the security guy's number. He was downstairs, so it wouldn't take long. I backed out of the room, one step at a time as if I was walking away from a lion who had me in their gaze.
I was almost at the door, ready to bolt out of there. The number was one button away. All I had to do was press dial.
Until my back hit a warm chest.
I yelped, and nearly jumped out of my skin in fright.
"What are you doing, Hanbin?" Hao said with a drunken lilt in his voice. I had screeched like a little girl and was fairly embarrassed by it now. Behind Hao, Billie turned the lights on. The entire room got illuminated and looked entirely different now. Not at all intimidating or scary. Both of them were wearing party hats and looked drunk as fuck. As if they had been raging all night when it was only midnight.
I thought they weren't getting along at all. Look at them, being friends now!
"I thought..." my eyes trailed to my bedroom, but noticed nothing amiss. I felt stupid. The stalker was definitely making me paranoid.
"The door was unlocked. Did you not close it?"
"Oh really?" Hao glanced at it and fumbled a little as he had to turn his head and wasn't in a state to do so. Billie giggled at seeing Hao in disarray like this. "I must have left it unlocked. I'm sorry."
Billie walked my way and put a light blue party hat on my face without warning. She snapped the rubber band underneath my chin with an evil little smile. "Happy birthday to me!" She singsonged and twirled on the spot. Her yellow skirt flew around her legs.
"What have you guys been up to?" I laughed because they looked way too drunk right now.
"Dom Chow's, and then every one of the staff and Dongsun himself went out with us in Itaewon." Hao gave me a big smile, clearly thinking back on his night and the fun he had. I was glad. He needed to let go, and he didn't let go often.
Billie was running towards the television.
"Anyone wants to play a game?" she turned on the game console and gave us an excited look.
"Sure, I'll play," I said and walked her way. I couldn't sleep with all this adrenaline going through me anyway.
Hao followed and plopped down on the couch in pure exhaustion. His eyes were already closing.
"You really wrecked him tonight, didn't you!" I laughed, and Billie gave me a big smile. She was anything but tired, drunk yes, but not tired. She had energy for days, and was jumping around like a Duracell rabbit.
"He's actually fun!" Billie whispered loudly behind her hand. "But don't tell him I said that!"
One of Hao's eyes opened, and I winked at Billie, who hadn't noticed him.
