euphoria | knj √

23: autumn leaves.

"Please don't leave me. Please don't fall. Never never fall, don't go far away."

0:00 |───────── 4:27

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The group hung out for a bit after the music video was over. They changed into civilian clothes and hung out in the lounge room, where alcohol was served. However, Rein found it within herself to not touch even one glass of champagne. She felt antsy, as she was waiting for Namjoon to leave the group to do something, anything, but it was no use. He didn't budge, but instead opted to peer down at his lap almost the whole time while she talked with the other members, as if it would look any different from the last time he did it. They barely noticed as they were too wrapped up in their own little conversations, and they took Namjoon to just be his quiet self.

But she knew there was a difference in the silence.

The invisible wall was back up again, and there was no getting around it with a shortcut. Not this time.

After what seemed like years, he eventually excused himself and left. As soon as he was out of sight, she grabbed her belongings.

"I think I'm gonna head out, y'all," she said feigning fatigue. The members gave her disappointed looks.

"So soon?" Taehyung asked. She shrugged.

"I know... I'm just a lot more tired than I thought I'd be." At least that was a partial truth.

"Oh... Well, when Namjoon gets out of the bathroom-"

"No! No, no," she said a little too loudly. Taehyung's eyes widened at the outburst. Rein composed herself and started again. "I don't want to bother him or anything. I'll see you guys..." She thought. When would be the next time she would see them? She would come into the studio less now that the songs were mostly written and the music video was more or less complete. She wasn't sure if she would have an excuse to talk to them to this extent again.

"But... He might get worried..." Taehyung said, twiddling his thumbs. Rein tilted her head.

"Why?" she asked.

"Well, isn't it kind of obvious?"

"Uh, no?"

"He kind of li-" Jungkook grabbed his arm and pulled Taehyung down with him. Taehyung seemed to have an epiphany after a moment, his face glowing bright red.

"It's fine. You get some rest," Jungkook said with a warm smile. "We'll see you around." Rein looked at Jimin and Taehyung, slightly confused.

What was he going to say? Though her curiosity burned hot, she didn't press the issue further. She wanted to leave before she had to see Namjoon again.

"Have a good afternoon!" Rein called as she made her way out of the building as the boys waved at her. She let out a relieved breath as she stepped out into the open air, realizing how stuffy the inside of the building felt.

The wind chilled her to the bone, bringing violent shivers along with it, but the pain was a bittersweet distraction from what happened that day. She bit her lip as she hugged her coat closer to her body, looking at the gentle frost gripping the windows, the leafless branches above.

Rein sighed and let a tear slip down her cheek. She just had to ruin everything.

She climbed into the car, not daring to say a word to the driver. It sped her away wordlessly from the place she discovered heartbreak, and somehow, the hurt cut deeper as the building became just another addition to the Seoul cityscape.