The back door squeaks at your arrival, echoing through the now-empty summer house. Yeonjun tosses his mask down on one of the hallway couches, having kept it all this time. "Hello?" You hear a voice call from somewhere beyond the staircases. You see Mark coming from the left wing of the house, box in tow. "Woah, you guys kinda, um, look–Sorry, never mind, I shouldn't've..." You look around at everyone, your makeup smeared and eyeliner cried out.
"We look like clowns." Mingi cackles, patting Yunho on the back as he, and just about everyone else, shudders at the thought.
"I mean, I didn't want to say it." Mark grins before letting a sigh take hold. "I better get going. Jean-Pierre's gonna freak if I'm still here when he gets back... Well, um...it was nice getting to know all of you. I hope–"
"Wait, are you leaving-leaving?" Yeonjun asks.
"Oh, I thought the box was more of a giveaway... I've been let go of." He replies awkwardly.
"So they just fired you?" Yeonjun presses on.
"Yeah. It was out of nowhere, too. It would've been kinda nice if they gave me a two-week notice or something...but I guess I'll have to enjoy the unemployed life for a while. I'm probably gonna have to move back in with my mom..." Mark's eyes widen as he realizes this.
"Tell you what, stay here for now, at least a week longer. Things are crazy right now, but once they die down, I'll find someone who's hiring." Yeonjun assures. "But you'll have to hide from Jean-Pierre until he leaves too. Okay?"
"I think I can do that... Wait, is this all okay with your dad? 'Cause, like, um, I'm not very good at fighting, and I don't wanna start anything–"
"It's fine. It's not his house anyways."
"It's not?" You pipe up, trying to process everything.
"No. It's his father's." Yeonjun explains. "He just pays for the utilities, but the deed's not his."
"Where does his father live then?" You ask.
"Prison." Soobin says, looking down at the marble below. No one says a word. Clearly, you've managed to open yet another can of worms. "The house has been here since the eighties...so it's been paid off for ages. My father has been rebuilding it since his father got sentenced, which will probably turn into a spiteful welcome home gift whenever he gets out."
"What's he in–" You start, but before you can finish asking, an upstairs landline rings out. You all look at one another, and since no one seems to be planning on answering it, you decide to. You're not sure why you do, but next thing you know, you're in Mr. Choi's office, staring at the flashing light. You raise the phone to your ear, looking back to see everyone, but Mark, followed you. Quickly, you move the phone away from you, a voice booming through it. Swiftly, you switch it to speaker, and everyone crowds around the desk to hear the man below.
"I can't do it! I know you said it'd be okay, and I'd be okay, but I'm not okay! You have to understand at least that much. I'm not like you, Insu. I can't keep stuffing this stuff down. It's taking a toll on me. I'm gonna be dead by the time I'm fifty, and well, you know Jamie. He's not exactly a ladies' man, so who knows when I'll have grandkids!? If I'll have–What I'm trying to say is you have to turn her in. I know she is your wife, but this is too far! Too far! Even for you!" Silence fills the room as you look up, completely baffled. A few more seconds pass before the speaker crackles again. "Insu? Are you there? Maybe I'm just ranting to the void. I tend to do that, I think... At least, that's what it feels like talking to Rebecca. She acts like a void–"
"Insu's...not here." You cut him off, afraid to let him ramble on.
"You don't sound like Miyoung... Has he taken a mistress already? I knew he wouldn't be able to forgive her!"
YOU ARE READING
Paradigm | ATEEZ x Reader
Fanfic"I was wondering if you could air something for me?" The boy asks, handing a piece of paper to Yunho. "Hey, I know you," Wooyoung starts looking at the boy closer, definitely invading his personal bubble, "You're Changbin's best friend, aren't you...
