THANK YOU // DEX

32.

Siyoung didn't return home until around midnight because she was discussing the songs with the producers, the ones she managed to create on Jeju Island. They really liked "New Feelings," but they thought "Psycho" needed some work and fine-tuning. When they were giving her feedback, she already knew in her head what changes to make.

Or home, as she and Jinyoung had planned, she would spend the night at his place, and in the morning, they would go to work together. Jinyoung had a photoshoot the next day, and the studio was on their way to StarShip, so Siyoung would give him a ride.

She entered the code and opened the door with a beep. Jinyoung, who had heard Siyoung entering the code, peered out from the kitchen and smiled when he saw his girlfriend. Siyoung could imagine a life like this, a life where they lived together, where someone was waiting for her at home when she returned from work. For the past two years, she had been so alone that she had completely forgotten what it was like to have someone who appreciated her and was excited to see her again, even though they had seen each other a few hours ago.

"Hello," Siyoung called out and took off her shoes. In the kitchen, there was a box of fried chicken - Jinyoung must have ordered it when she messaged him that she had finished work. It surprised her because it was the food she had been craving since morning.

"Hi," Jinyoung briefly hugged her, gave her a peck on the cheek, and then grabbed the box and took it to the table. Siyoung sat down on one of the chairs and immediately took a piece of chicken. She was really hungry - her last meal had been around one in the afternoon because she hadn't had time for dinner.

"How was your day?" he asked with a smile. Just a few days ago, Siyoung couldn't have imagined that she would be sitting with her boyfriend over chicken at midnight, with him asking her about her day. But she liked it. She definitely didn't want it to end.

"Taeshik complimented 'New Feelings,' so I'm happy. I'm really proud of that song, and I don't know what I would do if he had told me it didn't fit the album, that I should put it away and maybe take it out someday," she explained. She really loved "New Feelings," not just because of its musicality but also because of its meaning. The song was about Jinyoung and what he managed to awaken in her - feelings that had been buried for over two years and no one had been able to dig up.

"That's great news," Jinyoung smiled. He experienced every bit of Siyoung's career news, and Siyoung did the same with Jinyoung's career, although he didn't share much about it.

"But I need to make some changes to 'Psycho,'" she added, "but I already know exactly what to do, so the album will be ready in a few days."

"You'll finish 'Psycho,' and the whole album will be done? Do you have everything already?" Jinyoung sounded surprised. He only knew about "New Feelings" and "Psycho," the ones she worked on during her time on Jeju Island. He thought they were the first two songs, with the others still ahead of her.

"Yeah," Siyoung nodded with a smile, "after KCon, I'll start recording, then we'll shoot the music video and set the comeback date."

"Do you already have a title song?" Jinyoung asked.

"I want it to be a double title. 'Psycho' and 'New Feelings' are the main songs of the album, which will get music videos, and I'll promote one song for a week and the other the following week," she told him. This had already been decided. She had already discussed it with Taeshik and Jaehyun, and they had all agreed. Everyone liked "New Feelings," so there was no need for lengthy persuasion, but they weren't sure about "Psycho" because it wasn't finished yet.

"That sounds great. I know how hard you've worked on both songs, so congratulations," Jinyoung squeezed her hand and smiled. Siyoung knew he meant it. Unlike Seojun, who didn't listen to her talk about music and always wanted it to end quickly so they could discuss more important things - like the gym, which was more important to him.

Seojun. She didn't know whether to tell Jinyoung that she had met him. She didn't want any big secrets between them, but Seojun might be something she shouldn't talk about.

But when she saw that smile on Jinyoung's face, when she saw how innocent and cute he looked, she knew she had to tell him. She knew she didn't want to keep secrets from him. So she sighed, which caught his attention. She put down her chopsticks and looked into her friend's eyes.

"On my way to work, I ran into Seojun," she said. She sounded calm, maybe too calm.

"And did he hurt you? What did he want? Did you call the police?" Jinyoung stood up abruptly and went to Siyoung. He immediately began checking her to see if he had hurt her.

"Don't worry, he didn't even touch me," she reassured him, but even that didn't make him sit down. "I had a minor panic attack on the street, and actually, he was the one who wanted to help me. Well, then he told me something about leting you go, that you're not my type anyway, and that I should go back to him because he's exactly what I'm looking for."

"And you didn't answer and just left?" Jinyoung asked.

"I told him that he didn't know who my type was, and I left."

"And you didn't call the police?" he asked her.

"There was no reason to. He didn't do anything," she explained. However, Jinyoung didn't seem enthusiastic. He looked quite angry, and Siyoung was confused because she had expected him to praise her for keeping her cool and not letting him upset her.

"Young, we agreed that when you meet him again, you call the police. It doesn't matter that he didn't do anything. How do you think that creep found you? Huh?" Jinyoung gestured wildly around him. "That creep is watching you. He's watching your every move and waiting for you to be alone so he can do something. He's waiting for me not to be around to protect you."

"I don't need you to protect me," Siyoung shouted at him. She didn't even know why she shouted it. She usually tried to be the calm one in arguments because the calm ones always win battles, but she couldn't remain calm with Jinyoung. She like Jinyoung, and that's why she wanted him to understand. She wanted him to listen to her, even if it meant she had to yell at him.

"Tell that to the Siyoung I once saved beaten up in front of her house. You're weak and need protection, that's why I'm here," Jinyoung immediately paused after saying it and covered his mouth with his hand. He didn't want to say that, but he had already said it, and it couldn't be taken back.

"If you're only with me to take punches and fight for me, then please leave my life," Siyoung put on her shoes and disappeared from Jinyoung's apartment.