Maybe?

Chapter 4

Again, thank you guys for the reads, voting and comments. It is all appreciated!

---------------------

Sungjae POV

I arrived home pretty late the day I was told about the contract because I was out all day getting my head round the fact that I have to spend time with Sooyoung again. Stop it Sungjae, you shouldn't call her Sooyoung. Thankfully the hyungs were all asleep when I arrived back at the dorm and most of them have had schedules most of the week so they haven't asked any questions. I'm not even sure whether Hyunsik hyung told them that I was called into Cube. If he has then the hyungs haven't made it obvious.

Today is the day of our first 'date' and I'm dreading it. How am I meant to talk to a person who I practically hate and I'm pretty sure she feels the same towards me.

It's late afternoon and the sun is going down as I grab my black hat and mask from out my room and take the elevator down to my car. I was told it would look best if I went to pick Joy up from her dorm as opposed to going somewhere in the company van. I open the front door, get in and set off towards Red Velvet's dorm. I'm surprised that I can still remember the way but I feel like it was only yesterday when I dropped Sooyoung off after the filming of 'We Got Married'.

I reach the dorm and now I have a dilemma, do I message her to come down or do I go up to her. Then I remember that she blocked me on everything so I guess I have to go up. I sit in my car for a while wondering on the first things to say, then my attention turns toward my outfit and whether it's good enough. I play around with my shirt collar, should I have it up or down, unbuttoned or buttoned? Stop it Sungjae, you don't like her, you hate her so why are you trying to impress her. Then the realisation comes that we have to act like a couple in front of our groups and I begin to panic even more.

I find myself pressing floor 4 in the elevator and slowly the doors shut taking me to a situation I don't want to be in. The doors open and I begin to play with my collar again as I see my hand shaking profusely. My heart rate is rapidly rising as I give myself a mental pep talk as I go to knock on Red Velvet's door.

Not even after two knocks, the door swings open and there is Yeri with the widest smile on her face. "Sungjae oppa! It's been so long, seriously you and Sooyoung eonni should have told us earlier because we're all so happy for you. How are the oppas? Is Eunkwang oppa alright in the army? Maybe we could all go and visit him?" Before I know it I'm being bombarded by questions at the speed of light and I haven't even stepped through the door.

"Yeri-ah! Shut up and let him in" I hear Wendy noona shout from the kitchen.

"Yes alright but it's been ages since we've seen him and I'm just so happy." I couldn't deny that, it's the happiest I'd seen Yeri in a long time. "Sooyoung eonni is just getting ready, you can have a seat. Make yourself at home like you used to." At this point Yeri winks at me, giggles and then runs off to what I assume is her and Joy's room.

Joy POV

Oh no! He's here and I still haven't decided on what I want to wear yet. Do I go casual or dress up? But I don't want him to know that I put too much effort into it, it has to look as if I just threw it on. What's the point though? I'm pretty sure he hates me judging from the way he avoids me so often. As I'm talking to myself, Yeri bursts through the door "eonni, he's here and he looks even better than he used to!"

"You do know he's my boyfriend and not yours." I don't know where it came from but I suddenly felt territorial. I go back to my wardrobe and finally land on a white shirt and black jeans, not too casual but not too formal. I grab my black hat and mask from out my wardrobe and slowly open the door to start the show. I'm an actress, I can do this.

As I enter the living room I see Sungjae surrounded by the eonnis and I think to myself this can't be going well as I know how flustered Sungjae gets. The next thing I notice is that we're wearing exactly the same outfit, shirt and black jeans.

"Oooh couple outfits, I love it!" Yeri says whilst emerging from behind me. This makes Sungjae look up and our eyes meet for just a second before he looks down again. I suddenly see his ears begin to turn red and it secretly gives me hope that maybe he does still like me. I turn my attention towards Irene eonni.

"We'll be off then, come on oppa." I don't know what takes over me and I grab Sungjae by the arm and pull him towards the door. "Not sure what time I'll be back but I'll keep you updated!" I shout as we make our way out of the door ignoring everyone's shocked expressions.

"Nice to have you around again Sungjae!" Wendy eonni shouts before I slam the front door shut and we make it out into the corridor. Sungjae pulls his arm out of my grasp and makes his way to the elevator. I stop for a second before going to stand beside him whilst he presses the button. "Don't forget your hat and mask" he says without looking at me. I place the hat on and look towards him and I'm shocked at what I see, he's holding the exact same hat! I'm an idiot, I should have remembered that we'd bought the hats together years ago. Now it's going to look like I'm obsessed and I planned it even though that's practically impossible. Sungjae turns his head and our eyes meet again for the second time before we both quickly look away.

We make it to his car and I start walking a little slower to see whether he'll open the door for me but he doesn't and it brings me back to reality. This is just a contracted meeting, nothing more. This isn't the same Sungjae I met 3 years ago and fell in love with.

We both get in the car and sit in silence for a while before I break the silence. "I know neither of us want to be in this situation but we are and so we may as well make the most of it."

"I don't know about you but I hate this situation and I will continue to hate it until we are contracted to break up." His words cut me like a knife and I feel tears begin to well up in my eyes. I hold it in as he begins to speak again. "We should set some ground rules first. Firstly, we don't contact each other except for arranging times to meet when contracted to do so. Secondly, I hope you understand that nothing real is going on between us and so we will not act like it when we are alone. And finally, you aren't allowed to get jealous because like I said before, we're not real." I feel a tear slowly fall down my cheek and I'm finally sure this is a completely different man to the one I met years ago. I shift in my seat to look outside the window and now my question is answered. He definitely hates me.

Sungjae POV

Do you hear yourself at the moment Sungjae? Don't get jealous? I won't let her know I've secretly been hating every guy who looks at her just that little bit longer. Don't even get me started on that Dohwan guy, I could kill him. It doesn't help that in the time that we were apart she became even more beautiful. She was pretty before but now she's matured and has an aura around her that I can't even describe. Sungjae stop it, she cut you off and so you should give her the cold treatment now. But I can't stand to see her like this. If this was before, I would have wiped the tear off her cheek and told her it was all going to be okay. But this is now and the situation is different, she doesn't want to be with me and so I should just accept it.

"Where do you want to go?" I say as sternly as I can but then her tear stained face turns towards me and my heart drops immediately. Don't do this to me Sooyoung because I might just bring my walls down again, just for you.

"Wherever you want to go." She says through small sniffles that couldn't possibly be cuter. Sungjae stop it, don't get drawn in, remember what she did to you.

"You always used to say that and it annoyed me then and it annoys me now! Just pick a place." I see Joy flinch at my words. They came out harsher than I intended but that's what comes with having to suppress your real emotions. I put the car in drive and quickly proceed out of the building.

"Where are we going? Joy asks whilst holding onto her seatbelt.

"To the restaurant." I say whilst keeping my eyes firmly on the road.

"Which one?"

"Our restaurant."

-----------------------

Feel free to comment guys as feedback is greatly appreciated! Hope you're enjoying it so far.