Make Me STAY

Chk Chk Boom

Hyunjin had been spending a lot of time in the dance studio - outside of group practice. It kept his mind off things, but eventually, he had to go home.

He tried to spend as little time as possible in the apartment because it felt like everywhere he looked he saw Rose with Chan-Hyung or Changbin-Hyung. It hurt to see them being so in love. This made him feel guilty. He felt like a bad person for not liking seeing them happy. What was wrong with him?

Rose was waiting for him on the sofa when he walked in. She patted the space beside her.

"Can we have a chat, Jinnie?"

He thought about refusing, claiming tiredness, but he had a feeling this was unavoidable and he could only delay it for so long.

"What are you still doing up, Noona? Are Chan-Hyung and Changbin-Hyung in bed?"

"I was waiting for you and no, Chan and Changbin aren't here, neither is Jisung. It's just you and me."

Hyunjin chuckled uncomfortably.

"Why? What's going on, Noona?"

Rose was going to lead into it more gently but the dancer looked as though he was ready to run away at any moment.

"Jinnie, something's on your mind, isn't it? You haven't been very happy recently?"

Hyunjin avoided looking Rose in the eye and scratched the back of his neck.

"What? No - that's not - I'm just tired, Noona."

"Don't lie to me. Can you look at me? I know what's going on."

Hyunjin looked like a deer in headlights. His eyes were wide, his expression panicked and his shoulders were up by his ears.

"I..."

Rose held out her hands and waited for him to do the same. Once they were connected his shoulders dropped as she stroked the backs of his hands with her thumbs.

"Hyunjin, you're not the only one who feels something."

His jaw dropped.

"What? I don't understand."

"I'm not sure what's been going on inside your head, but this is real. I'm sorry it took so long for me to notice. Hyunjin, I can feel our bond. We're soulmates."

It hurt to watch his face crumble as he processed what she had said. The relief was evident. Hyunjin broke into tears and Rose gathered him in her arms and held him close.

Eventually he calmed down and started talking while Rose continued to stroke his hair.

"I thought I was a bad person. Why would I fall in love with Hyungs' soulmate? I didn't understand why I couldn't stop feeling this way. Instead it only got worse."

"When did it start?"

"When you... came back, I realised I missed you in a different way to the others."

Rose pulled back, so she could see his face.

"Hyunjin... That was so long ago! How did I not notice?! I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, Noona. You'd already found your soulmate. I understand why you wouldn't look at me that way."

"But after Binnie I should have opened myself up to the idea. Chan and Changbin already had suspicions... How could I be so oblivious?"

"It's not your fault, Noona. I hid my feelings not believing that we could be soulmates. Maybe my denial is why you couldn't feel it."

"It's not your fault either. It's no one's fault. What matters is that we know now. So only happiness from now on. Yes?"