A Dream and A Bonus || BANGCHAN

40. "Should we intervene?"

Three days later, I finally got out of bed, took a shower, and ate a full meal. I looked at my body in the mirror, and my eyes burned with unshed tears that I fought hard to keep from falling. Because the marks he'd given me were still there. Some had faded, like the ones around my breasts, but the hickey on my neck and thigh as well as the bruises on my hips were still very dark.

I wasn't over Chan or anything that happened, as the past three days I couldn't stop crying or thinking about him. Not even when Yunjin called to celebrate.

Surprisingly, the universe actually was on my side, as neither Ross nor our parents called to celebrate. Madi came up with the excuse I had the flu and didn't want to leave me alone when Yunjin invited us over for dinner and another sleepover. I told them I'd be fine if they'd want to go, but they shushed me immediately.

When I was done eating, I moved towards the sofa but stopped. The one seater was my and Chans seat. Was. Past tense. Tears filled my eyes, but I silently wiped them away. Someone knocked on the door, and my heart sped up as I jumped around. I stared at the door as the knocking came again, but I didn't move. I couldn't move. Madi walked in and stood next to me as Vic slowly opened the door, relaxing when Ross appeared instead of Chan.

"Hello, my new rising stars." He smiled and clapped his hands. "Well, at least that's what MTV is saying in their newest article." He smiled widely, and then it dropped when he spotted me.

"What happened?" His voice came out as a whisper as he slowly looked down to the table. Probably looking for another note or something from those stalkers. Shaking my head, I smiled at him.

"It's nothing. I just lost a close friend from home. We had a fight, and I can't just go over and talk it out as we have this distance, you know?" I half lied, and he walked towards me and pulled me in for a hug. Hugging him back, I couldn't help the new tears that formed, and I just broke down in his embrace. He was the closest thing we have to a parent now, so hugging him felt like hugging my dad. It was so comforting.

"You'll get over it soon. Everything will work out for you two. Don't worry." He wiped my tears away and smiled sadly at me before pulling away.

"I think the news I have might cheer you up a bit. But," He smiled as he stared at each one of us. "Your interview and shoot is tomorrow. But today, out of nowhere, Capital FM wants to talk to you. They need to know more about the new artists who, and I quote, 'are making quite the buzz'. They'll call in twenty minutes."

He laughed, and I turned to the girl, who was just as shocked as me. Capital FM is one of the biggest radio stations we know of. And just like Fab magazine, we'd always listen to them as they interviewed and played Little Mix so much.

Madi and Vic started jumping as they giggled. Smiling widely, I decided I needed to get my head in the game. I could cry later about losing the one I loved, but right now, my career was more important. My career came first. And I wouldn't ruin it for everyone because I was sad. When we were forced to end it months ago, I managed to film the same day. So if I could do it then, I can do it now. So I joined in and jumped with them. Because right now, Chan was locked away.

***

We sat, Ross' phone on the table between us. He sat opposite us as we waited for the call. The three of us all held each other's hands, and it made me laugh because it looked like we were summoning the dead.

My heart was racing as I sat there. And as we waited, the minutes felt like hours when our phones dinged from a message. It was Jeongin who sent on the group chat.

'Goodluck girls. We're listening in and are very proud of you.'

My heart squeezed at how sweet they were. Not only were they sweet, but they were so supportive of us. Well, not all of them apparently. Looking up, I caught Vics eyes and smiled sadly at her as I blinked my tears away. He was listening in. He'd hear me. He'd hear us talk about sex and experiencing, and he'd judge us. Judge me.