The Second Chance of A Suicidal Idol

Roomies (9)

Dance practice had ended and for the first time, Ju Hae wasn't there to end it with them. Ju Hae was in a hospital bed and unable to walk, unable to move, and barely breathing. Dance practice ended and Ha-rin just wanted to go to the dorm and sleep.

Of course, she knew she would be held back as soon as the familiar voice of her teacher spoke up.

"Ah, Ha-rin, I wanted to talk to you about something. It's about the schedule..." Her teacher, usually demanding and harsh in practice, called her over with his voice soft.

Ha-rin looked at her members, who remained, and nodded them out the door. They looked at her confused, as it was every practice she would be called after at this point. But they never said a word, as Ha-rin would always explain it as 'leader duties'. She supposed it didn't bother them enough to press.

They shut the door behind them as they left, and it was only then her teacher's expression turned a bit sour. "Ha-rin, I heard about what happened to Hae-ssi..."

She stiffened.

"I saw the clip." Her teacher said, taking a step towards her.

She clenched her fist, the memory of that moment, on stage, the whole world and more watching them fall apart. She hated it. She hated everything in that moment and now.

"When you looked up, when you asked for help. And Ha-rin– no one was coming..." He said, in an almost creepy sadness, he caressed Ha-rin's cheek, as her eyes began to burn. "She was just there, in your arms, passed out, all pale. Ha-rin, I watched her stomach slow in your arms..."

The recollection made Ha-rin's eyes burn red, and a tear fell from her eye.

"And when they finally came out, everyone had seen. And Ha-rin, seeing you so– so sad, made me even more sad." He cooed in her ear, wiping at her tears. "Shh, I'm here. I'll be here for you... I can be what your groupmates can't." He said.

Ha-rin began to sob. She kept her arms still by her side as her teacher engulfed her in a hug. He brought her arms up to wrap around his shoulders.

"I'm here, Ha-rin, use me."

Joon-woo woke up, not in a cold sweat, but tired. Kite was asleep perched on the edge of the bed. Bo Jaesang was snoring away, Ryeo Hyun had his eyes closed with his stomach slow enough to be sleeping. And Joon-woo figured that Jung Hyun-Ok was passed out asleep, as the man was quite the heavy sleeper and seemed to be plenty tired by the time they had finished their PR video votes.

It was 3:54 A.M. when Joon-woo recalled the contents of his dream. That's how Ha-rin's teacher had hooked a leash around her, that's when Ha-rin finally trusted the man. And god, did he feel stupid thinking back.

She should've known, at 17, at debut, that he only meant the worst with her. With the way he would always whisper into her ear, and force contact. Ha-rin should've stopped him and she didn't. She fell for it.

Joon-woo lied there and recalled his day. He recalled the violence he had experienced from his team, the words. His roommates, who were teamed together, talked about how great their trainer was and how fun it was to be teamed, and Joon-woo watched with a frown.

Couldn't he just score a non-violent team? Did he really look that assault-able? He pulled his wrist to his face. It was at its peak shade of purple and peak point of pain. Tomorrow Teacher Nam would have a list of songs to suit their various talents and what not. Tomorrow Joon-woo would have to see his teammates that hated his guts.

He sighed. He was tired. He was tired and he wanted to rest, he wanted to put his feet on solid ground. He wanted to feel the food beneath him and he wanted to lie upon it without consequence.