karaoke machine | p.js

3.07

Jisung felt beyond awkward sitting across from the older boy. In the two years they hadn't seen each other, Kangdae had definitely matured. It looked as though he had been working out and there was a look in his eyes that told Jisung that he had really changed since they last met.

It had been a little more than two weeks since the two had initially run into each other at Music Bank. Now in mid-April, Jisung finally had a few days off before he began preparations for the album repackage.

The two had been sitting in silence for a while now. Every ounce of muscle in Kangdae was screaming at him to stand up and leave. One look at Jisung was enough for Kangdae to know that Jisung had definitely changed physically, but he wasn't sure how much Jisung had changed in terms of maturity and mentality.

Kangdae almost felt bad looking at the younger boy. He so clearly was uncomfortable, looking more awkward and weary than Kangdae had expected from him seeing as Jisung had been the one to ask him to come out to talk.

With a heavy sigh, Kangdae sat a bit straighter in his seat. "You know I really can't stand you,"

"I figured," Jisung responded but said nothing more.

Kangdae's frown deepened, "If you just called me here to waste my time then I'll leave, I only came because-" Kangdae caught himself before he said her name, and Jisung noticed.

"I'm sorry," Jisung's gaze dropped, "I actually had a lot to ask you about, but-" his voice drifted off.

Kangdae hated the pitiful look on Jisung's face, the way he couldn't even meet Kangdae's gaze angered him beyond belief. But Kangdae also couldn't completely hate Jisung. He knew how hard Jisung's life was, and he knew that he could never understand what Jisung had gone through.

Because of that Kangdae couldn't hate him, but arguably that made Kangdae even angrier than anything.

"Why did you have to be her soulmate," Kangdae said.

Jisung felt his throat dry at the words. "I don't know,"

"That's bullshit," Kangdae's glare was directed at Jisung but for some reason, Jisung didn't feel like his anger was meant for him. "Why did it have to be you? It should have been me," Kangdae turned away from Jisung, "I can't even hate you, you're a good guy, but what you did to her..."

Jisung understood everything Kangdae was saying. The events of the past weren't something that Jisung was proud of. Jisung's own heartache after the breakup must have paled in comparison to what Naerin must have felt.

Kangdae watched Jisung's gaze fall to the table. As much as he wanted to tell Jisung to leave and forget about being soulmates with Naerin, Kangdae knew that after seeing Naerin watch Jisung on stage during Music Bank it was too late.

"She's falling for you," Kangdae said.

Jisung's eyes widened as he slowly lifted his eyes to meet Kangdae's dark ones. Kangdae frowned at Jisung, his arms crossed as the younger boy tried to process what his next move would be in light of this information.

"Is she really?" Jisung asked.

Kangdae sighed and nodded, "The way she watches you, it's a dead giveaway. She doesn't even realize it herself, so can I ask you a favor?"

Jisung hesitated but ultimately nodded.

"Don't bring her false hope," Kangdae said, "Even if you think that you can finally accept her, don't. You're only going to disappoint her,"

Jisung's breath caught in his throat as he stared across the table at Kangdae. As much as Jisung understood where Kangdae was coming from, it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He wasn't sure if he was ready for the public to know about who his soulmate was.

And now they were both public figures, it made his confidence waver knowing he could get caught in another scandal. The prospect of losing everything he built up from such a young age loomed in his mind. But Jisung knew that he couldn't ignore his soulmate bond.

Although their encounters were a bit tense, Jisung felt relieved whenever he saw Naerin, as though his heart started to beat normally when she was around him. Despite their obvious distance, the short amount of time they had spent together was a clear answer for Jisung.

"I can't do that," Jisung said, his eyes meeting Kangdae's.

Kangdae raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "Seriously? God, you're really annoying,"

Jisung's jaw tightened but he didn't look away from the older man. "I'm being serious. I'm still in love with her,"

Kangdae's look of disbelief quickly shifted to a serious expression as he leaned across the table. "Don't joke around like that," he said, "Don't talk about things that you don't know about,"

"But wouldn't I know about my own feelings?" Jisung asked calmly, "I'm in love with Naerin. My feelings for her haven't changed."

The silence that followed his words made Jisung shift in his seat. Kangdae's stare was unwavering and it felt like an eternity before he finally leaned back and sat in his seat comfortably.

Kangdae sighed, clearly contemplating what to say.

"I'll hold you to that," Kangdae said, "If you really do love her, then you better start proving it,"

–––––

"If you were tired you should just go home," Serin sighed as Naerin plopped down on her bed.

"Eonni, are you kicking me out?" Naerin said as she started to get under the covers.

Serin made a disappointed expression as she judged Naerin, who had gotten herself comfortable under the blankets of her bed. "As if you would leave even if I told you to," Serin sighed as she went over to her vanity to get ready for the day.

Naerin looked up as Serin sat down to start doing her makeup.

"Where are you going?" Naerin asked.

"I'm getting coffee with Mark before he goes to the company," Serin replied, her voice was even but Naerin saw how her eyes brightened at the mention of her soulmate. "He's been really busy with the comeback, so it's hard for us to spend time together."

Naerin nodded as she laid back in bed.

Serin noticed Naerin's lack of response and let out a soft sigh as she did her eyeliner. "You've been moping a lot recently." she noticed.

Naerin shrugged, "Really? You think so?"

Putting her eyeliner down, Serin spun around in her chair to look at Naerin. "All you've been doing these past two weeks is sighing and dragging your feet. Shouldn't you be in the studio creating music or something?"

"You make it sound so easy," Naerin chuckled as she sat up. "I have a meeting later today with the company. We're planning a comeback for early December. I must be anxious about getting back to creating my own music,"

Serin raised an eyebrow as she went to sit in bed with Naerin, "Right, so this has absolutely nothing to do with Park Jisung whatsoever,"

Naerin tensed but shrugged to play it off. In truth, it had everything to do with Jisung. Naerin was convinced that she could keep things casual between them. But as time went on, the more she saw him the more she felt her soulmate bond pull them together. If Naerin were to fall in love with Jisung once again, she wanted it to be of her own accord and not due to the influence of their bond.

"You're nosy," Naerin said.

Serin sighed as she went back to her vanity, "You're in denial,"

"You would understand better than anyone else wouldn't you?" Naerin asked.

Serin paused her makeup to glance at Naerin. Her face was clouded with confusion but the look in her eye said that she understood what Naerin meant. Still, she asked Naerin anyway.

"Understand what?"

"What it's like to be disappointed by your soulmate,"