Rise Up (Stray Kids Seo Changbin)

6

After a long, stressful day in the Main Society Headquarters, Paige found herself sitting on a nearby beach while licking an ice lolly. Beside her was Donghyun who had been the one that persuaded her to leave the Headquarters and take an evening off. She didn't know how he did it but he always knew how to get her to do things she usually didn't.

He had long finished his ice lolly and was now watching as she struggled with her melting one. A chuckle fell past his lips when she groaned in frustration.

"Eat it quicker," he suggested. "It's not going to stop melting."

She glared at him.

"I'm sorry that I like to take my time and enjoy my lollies."

"Are you enjoying it now? With half of it all over your fingers and in the sand?"

She groaned.

"I was enjoying it before. Besides, it was cold. I don't understand how you devour it so quickly. Don't you get a brain freeze?"

He shook his head.

"No. Well, sometimes. But rarely."

She glanced back at the sunset. The last time she had seen Changbin, they were on this exact same beach watching the sunset. She remembered  their conversation and how they promised to leave everything they felt for each other behind. She remembered how he caressed her cheeks then pulled her into a sweet kiss. And she remembered his tearful goodbye and being left on the beach alone and cold as the sky grew darker.

She sighed and looked down at her lolly that was now completely melted. Her hands and the sand included were painted red with the liquid. The sun had since disappeared and when she glanced to her left, she found Donghyun staring right at her.

"I know the reason you've been avoiding coming here," he told her, voice full of sympathy. "I just wanted to give you a new memory so you'd want to go out more. It's been so long since I last saw you leave that office without having to do something that has to do with work."

She furrowed her eyebrows at him.

"How do you know that?"

He leaned back onto his hands and stared at the waves in front of them.

"The Rebellion recruited me a couple years ago to stalk you and report it to them. That's why they were always a step ahead of you. When you were in Ireland to when you landed in Buenos Aires to your mission with Stray Kids. I saw all of it. Watched you throughout it all. When Changbin left, I watched you. I still remember how much you cried that day. I stalked you for a couple more weeks before resigning. I couldn't watch as you fell into the Rebellion's trap. I couldn't be part of that."

"And that's how you knew about Linc..."

"Yeah... I don't mean to creep you out or anything. I just wanted to tell you the truth." He heaved a sigh before glimpsing at her. "I haven't been entirely honest with you."

The sincerity on his face made her shiver but she leaned closer to him nonetheless.

"I know. There's a lot to you, Donghyun. Almost too much."

He smiled softly at her.

"I could say the same to you."

The moonlight reflected off the waves, brightening up the beach. The waves crashing into the sea and the distant hum of music was all that could be heard but with the both of them staring into each others' eyes, they couldn't hear any of it.

In the moonlight, Donghyun's eyes gleamed and sparkled as he scanned her face. His smile slowly faded and he sat up straight. She watched him closely and for a second she almost leaned towards him and kissed him. In fact, she would have if her phone didn't ring.

She cleared her throat before pulling her phone out of her pocket and answering it. He leaned back on his hands and sighed before turning his gaze back to the sea.

"Woojin?" She asked over the phone. A few moments passed before he responded.

"Paige? Where have you been? I've been looking for you for the past half an hour."

"I went to get some coffee then ended up bumping into Kyla. We had a little chat and now I'm on my way back," she lied, glancing at Donghyun who stared at the sea bitterly.

"Alright but why didn't you tell me. I was worried sick. I thought you were kidnapped."

"I'm fine," she assured him. "I'll be back soon. See you there."

"Bye."

Then he hung up.

She sighed as she shoved her phone back into her pocket and stood up. She opened her mouth to speak but Donghyun stopped her.

"Yeah, yeah, you have to go. Go ahead.  I'll see you tomorrow."

"Are you sure? Don't you need a ride back?"

"I'll figure it out... I just need some time to think."

She knew she should stay and make sure he was alright but Woojin was waiting for her and probably needed her for something.

"I'm sorry," she muttered quickly before running off to her car.

Donghyun watched her drive off, sighing.

"That was close," he mumbled. "Too close."