Black Rose ~ A Taemin Fic Pt. 2

Chapter 18

So much time has past. I look up at the clock on the wall, only to slump further into the sofa. "We should probably get back so we can prepare for the comeback stage."

Baekhyun heaves a groan before opening his eyes from the producers chair and inhaling one large breath. Upon exhale he admits, "Yeah, probably. We did just record two songs, though. That's fucking impressive." He turns to me, my eyes feeling as if they're heavy with sand. Chuckling, he asks, "Got any others?"

"Not really," I yawn, not moving as he relocates himself to the spot beside me. Without a care, I allow my head to fall on the shoulder closest to me. He exhales a short laugh. "Taemin's so good at writing music. I wish I could write songs like "Heaven" and "Want." He's so sacrilegious for a man of God."

Baekhyun chuckles alongside me briefly, before replying, "He sure is. If he would've found you sooner, I bet he would've written even greater songs."

"You really think so?" I ask, tilting my head up to look at him. At the same time, he glances down, a smile present on his lips. "I like to think that sometimes. God, I can't wait for him to come back."

Before Baekhyun can respond, the door to the studio flies open with urgency. I slowly lift my head though, the fatigue too heavy to permit myself to care. I am surprised when I Sohyun in her outfit and makeup, phone pressed to her ear. "Found them," she sighs into the receiver before ending the call. "We've been looking for you two for hours! It's time to get into the dressing room. Manager Won isn't too happy."

Her glossy lips press into a flat line as she eyes the two of us. Glancing then to the rest of the studio, she asks, "What were you guys doing?"

"Recording," sighs Baekhyun as he rises from his seat. Reaching his arms up in a stretch, he adds, "Yuki's recorded some songs she wants to sing with Taemin. They're pretty good too."

Frozen, Sohyun murmurs, "I didn't know you wrote songs." It's as if she's surprised and ashamed of it, or else why would she speak so quietly about the matter?

I only shrug and reach for my phone just as my name is heard down the hall. It doesn't sound happy either.

"Lee Yuki and Byun Baekhyun!"

"Shit," I murmur, getting up and quickly rounding the corner past Sohyun to find the manager marching towards us. I quickly fall into a bow just as Bakehyun appears behind me. He follows me example, the two of us rising at the same time to meet the red face of the old man in a suit and tie a bit too tight for him. I want to laugh, but his voice projects emotions of the contrary.

"Where have you been?" His chest puffs in and out like a panting dog, and sweat beads his entire forehead. "We're on in an hour, and I need you two in costume and makeup NOW!"

Baekhyun is the first to speak up. "Apologies, sir." His smooth tone makes him rise from his slump from only a few seconds ago. "I was going over some songs Taemin sent me, and I wanted Yuki to come along."

I slowly blink, half-grateful for the lie and half-ashamed that I'm still wearing only shorts and Taemin's button-up in front of my boss. Manager Won just exhales and looks to the opposing wall for advice before muttering a curse.

"Fuck it. Let's go, you two." He ushers me by the back towards the hall that leads to, I would guess, the awaiting cars that'll take us to the comeback stage. Turns out, there's only one car to throw us in, so Baekhyun, Sohyun, and I squeeze into the back, me in the middle. It's awkward sitting beside her, but she's surprisingly calm and not trying to compete for attention. I shrug it off right as we pull up to the venue.