What's After Like [M Reader X IVE (adult members)]

Chapter 4.1 - Liz

(A/N: Change of pace this week; hope you all enjoy getting some proper plot going!)

BZZZT

A loud vibration from your phone stirs you awake.  Rolling over to investigate the source of the disturbance, you see that it's almost 2am, and more importantly that you have a message from Liz, one of the few people you deemed important enough to let your phone wake you up for.  Opening it up, you find a picture of the Eiffel Tower, then a handful more of other scenic views around Paris.  Somehow, despite there being just a few days left now before their comeback, IVE had found the time to fly across the world for a special Music Bank in Paris event.  "Had a great time touring the city today!  Hope you're not missing me too badly already" reads the actual text.  Regardless of the time, you can't help but grin at the fact that Liz still thought of you while busy on schedule in another continent.  As you smile at your screen, another message appears.  "Oh I completely forgot about the time difference!  Sorry if I woke you up; sleep tight!"  Seeing as you're already awake, you go ahead and reply.  "Glad you're having fun;" you type, "and any message from you is worth waking up for."  Tacking on a wink emoji, you hit send.  A short moment later she replies again, "Aww that's sweet of you, but I gotta run to more schedules, so do get back to sleep already."  Then one last message appears containing a single 😘.  It's not exactly clear to you at this point just how close you actually are with Liz, but you're hardly going to complain about the romantic tone of her messages to you recently.  And this is in spite of the fact that you haven't seen her in person in over two weeks due to the frantic rush of activity they've been on before the comeback even officially starts.  Maybe when she finally has time for you the spark can be kindled into a true flame, but for now this is already more than you'd ever hoped for.  Pleasant thoughts of romance occupy your mind as you gradually drift back to sleep.

Over the next few days Liz continues to send you the occasional message despite being busy in Paris.  On Sunday night IVE return to Korea, but you have no chance to see her as they arrive at the dorm late after you've gone to bed and are already gone by the time you're up the next morning.  Today is the big day at last: April 10, the day their first full album "I've IVE" finally releases.  Even with a busy work day ahead you set aside a few extra minutes in the morning to watch their new music video multiple times, before letting the rest of the album sink in on your way to work.  Unsurprisingly, you're a big fan of what you're hearing, with an addictively fantastic title track in I Am along with excellent and widely-varied b-sides such as Blue Blood, Mine, and Not Your Girl.  Liz texts you a selfie from the ready room before their comeback showcase event, which has you in especially high spirits for the rest of your Monday.  By now you've accepted that you're not going to see much of her or the rest of them until promotions are over, but it's encouraging that she still seems to be thinking of you consistently amidst a busy schedule.  Content to exchange occasional messages when she gets an odd moment, you continue to look forward to her promise of a proper date when promotions are finished.

Tuesday morning you find yourself back at work again, distracted as usual by hopes that Liz will message you if she has time.  Soon enough your phone does buzz with an incoming message, but it's not who you expected.  Instead Rei's name appears on your screen.  "Hey y/n," the message reads, "are you gonna be home tonight?  I have a present for you that I'd love to deliver in person."  You are indeed going to be home tonight, though the toneless nature of a text message leaves you wondering about the exact implications of her request.  Not that you're gonna say no regardless of the interpretation.  You let her know that you'll be free, and she sends back a simple "7pm ;)", no doubt already hurrying on to another schedule.  To your mild disappointment Liz doesn't text you today, but you're not overly concerned.  The life of an idol sounds brutally demanding at times, so you're grateful each time she does manage to make a moment for you amidst the absolute height of her busy career.  As work finally concludes you head home and make your dinner, wondering what Rei's impending visit will bring.