no regrets 。taekai 。

viii

"so, this is the dorm." jongin opened the door while carrying a very heavy backpack and an equally as heavy bright pink carry on.

"that's your room, it's been empty for some time now so don't worry, you shouldn't find any dirty underwear around here." jongin tried to joke but the girl continued to type away on her phone.

jongin scratched the back of his neck before placing her luggage next to the bed, leaving the room and awkwardly standing on the door frame thinking what he should say next.

"thanks for everything but i just had a long day in school so i'll sleep now, but once again thanks." taehee gave a small smile for .01 seconds before slamming the door on jongin's face.

the black haired boy messed up his hair, idly looking at the door with a confused look. he took his sweet time before he turned his back to the door and went towards the direction of the living room, watching some tv shows to make time until he had to go to his shoot.

when seven pm rolled around, jongin was showered, in black jeans and an oversized grey shirt that widely exposed his collarbone. he had sunglasses and a mask on his hand and his phone on the other, his wallet and keys on the front pocket of his jeans.

he was about to open the front door to leave but then he remembered something. taehee. he backed away and headed towards minseok's old room that taehee was temporarly residing in and knocked.

she popped a head out the door, he long straight black hair also following the movements of her head.

"yeah?" she asked.

"eh, i have to go to a shoot no- i mean, a photoshoot now, i was wondering if you wanted to come? i know you're old enough to stay home alone but i was thinking of eating out today so...?" jongin awkwardly asked.

jongjn had no idea how to deal with teenagers. he knew how to deal with little kids, like his nieces and nephews but none of them were over the age of eight so he never had that kind of experience with children wannabe adults with puberty infused voices.

"photoshoot?" taehee widened her eyes, now opening the whole door and showing that she was fully clothed and looked like she was ready to go out somewhere, "wait! i'll just put on makeup, wait for me!"

she quickly went inside and in a question of minutes she was back with a full face of barely visible makeup, similar to the makeup jongin had to use during shows.

different than jongin, taehee was bery properly dressed. she had ripped denim jeans and an oversized pink hoodie with matching light pink sneakers.

"you ready now?" jongin asked, texting his manager about taehee.

"yeah! let's go!" taehee punched a fist in the air and ran to the door.

"now she's excited..." jongin muttered and shook his head, following taehee outside and closing the front door.

。。。 

"have you ever been to a studio like this?" jongin asked. he was already in the clothes the stylists chose for him and a bit of makeup.

he already had done his solo shots, he was just waiting for yixing to finish his so they could wrap up by doing the duo shots.

"no, taemin never let me go with him, he's too shy." taehee rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

jongin chuckled and heard his name being called by the photographer. he stood up and called a little 'be right back!' to taehee.

after it was over and after introducing yixing to taehee and she letting out an unnecessary comment that 'lay was the most good looking member in exo', the man and the overly exited taehee made their way to a little restaurant in front of the dorms.

"you're so cheap, you're an idol but you're choosing this little thing to eat in." taehee shook her head, grabbing the menu from the table.

jongin just answered with a 'who's paying again?' and that made taehee huff and scan once again through the menu.

after a few moments of silence jongin finally thought of something that he wanted to ask taehee.

"hey," he said, making taehee hum in response, "why were you so exited about going to a photoshoot? is it one of those things that your brother said no so you want to go anyway or...?"

taehee sighed and put her menu down, and looked at jongin.

"don't tell my brother this but.. i want to be an actress." after seeing jongin's confused face she continued, "a model, a singer, a reporter. i love being in front a camera and that's why i was exited to see the photoshoot today, i wanted to see how it works."

"well, if you told your brother he'd surely help you out in being anything you want in this industry. he is pretty influential you know, has a lot of contacts." jongin said.

"that's the thing," taehee groaned, "everywhere i go it's like; oh! you're lee taemin's sister! you're going to make great publicity for us! of course we're going to give you a part! but i don't want to do this because of my brother. i want to do it because of me, i want to trust myself enough to do this without using my brother as leverage go get where i want. can we order now? i'm starving."

jongin felt quite moved by taehee's speech, but decided not to stretch the conversation any longer. it seemed like he was already prying too much out of a teenager he'd only met twice.

he called the auntie from the establishment over and she took down their orders. taehee wanted blood sausages with bread and jongin decided to go with the same order.

after joking around with taemin's sister all throughout their dinner, jongin started to feel as if taehee was his own sister in a way (totally not because taehee had mentioned jongin was cooler than taemin. totally not it).

what a weird family, jongin thought as he was once again left alone in the living room while taehee talked with her friends on the phone in her room.