The Man Who Could Not Stop Time (Monsta X Fanfiction)

Chapter Four: Dinner Date with 8

"I want to sing the first song!" Minhyuk exclaimed.

The eight of us walked to a nearby karaoke spot that served food to the rooms. It was the perfect place to go because we'd get to know each other in the fun atmosphere of a karaoke room while also having privacy. First we'd sing, then we'd get down to business.

"We're not here just to sing." Hyungwon snapped, "Don't forget our objective."

"Don't pretend you don't like singing." I.M. scoffed, sitting down next to Hyungwon and bumping his shoulder.

The hostess that lead us to the room looked at me with envy, she probably wondered how someone like me was spending time with so many hot guys. Maybe she thought I was their manager.

"Do you like to sing, Areum?" Wonho asked. He stood next to me, towering over me. He had much more muscle than me on top of being much taller than I was. Needless to say, he was, as the kids like to say today, thicc.

'Wow, he's totally my style.' I thought, distracted for a moment before I could find the words to reply. "Yes, I like to sing karaoke with my friends..."

But I had just lost my only friend, Hyuna, because she was a major hoe. Before that; Jimin, Hyuna, and I would go to karaoke together occasionally after work. They could sing well, but I was just there to have fun. Those were some of my most memorable moments of this year and I would never get those back.

Not unless this watch turned out to be the real deal.

"Let Areum sing the first song." Wonho suggested, pushing me forward so I could take the mic from Minhyuk. He pouted before handing it to me.

"What are you going to sing?" Kihyun asked.

"We're not here just to sing!" Hyungwon chimed in again, arms crossed as he leaned against the couch. I doubted I would hear him sing at all that evening.

"Oh, hush." Jooheon said, waving his hand to silence Hyungwon. "Let's have some fun before we get down to business. Everyone needs fun."

"So?" Kihyun asked, looking at me and waiting for my song choice.

I had become very nervous. First of all, a very attractive group of men were sitting and watching me, waiting for me to sing to them. Plus, I wasn't even that good at singing.

"Ummmm....." My mind raced through every song I had ever listened to in my life.

But my head had gone blank. I couldn't think of a single song at that moment.

Then.

"Ugly by 2NE1?"

AKA the hardest song to sing ever.

'I'm such an idiot.' I thought to myself as Kihyun scrolled through the songs and picked the instrumental. 

The music started to play and I blanked out again, wanting to bring myself out of the room and into a different plain of existence. I channeled my current drama, closed my eyes, and belted out the song.

"I think I'm ugly
And nobody wants to love me
Just like her I wanna be pretty I wanna be pretty
Don't lie to my face cuz I know I'm ugly" I sang, finishing the song and feeling accomplished.

I turned around to look at the guys and gauge their reaction.

They all looked thoroughly shocked.

'Was it that good?' I wondered.

Then one of the members asked.

"Are you okay? You're crying..."

I hadn't realized it, but tears were streaming down my face. I guess I channeled my drama too well.

Feeling completely embarrassed, I jogged out of the room without saying a word to hide in the bathroom.

I entered the girl's bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. My mascara was smudged all down my face, and I looked like I had been crying for hours. To top it all off, I didn't even look cute when I cried.

"Why am I like this?" I wondered, splashing water on my face, waiting until the tears would stop.

I had just met these guys, and somehow I had already acted weird in front of them.

I dried my face, sighing and looking at my makeup-free face in the mirror. I knew I had to go back in the karaoke room eventually. I would have to suffer through the embarrassment eventually, but wanted to postpone it as much as possible.

I finally mustered up the courage and pushed open the door.

To my surprise, someone was waiting for me out in the hallway.

"What are you..." I started to say.

Hyungwon looked up at me, he was leaning against the wall outside of the bathroom and appeared to be waiting for me. His expression remained blank before he said, "Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to check on you."

"Okay...?" I said, confused.

Then what was he here for?

"I'm just making sure you didn't run." He added, pushing away from the wall to stand in front of me.

I looked up at him, admiring his modelesque face.

He reached out and wiped a residual tear from my face.

I froze in shock. Did this mean he was going to be nicer than me now?

He was such an unreadable person.

"You don't look pretty when you cry." He muttered before promptly turning and going back to the room.

'What an odd person.' I thought, watching his back as he walked away.

After I pulled myself together, I followed him and went back to the room too.