Suho and the sea

Thirty Seven

We sit in the waiting room; "Hold pressure on it." I say as I make him place his arm on my shoulder to levitate the arm. I'm not sure why, but I turn my head to watch him; "Why did you get so mad?" I question him: "It's not the first time Junmyeon does something to benefit the group over people." Jongin says. And I look away: "I can't believe he did that to you, he could have come clean, and that gets me so mad." Jongin mutters. "It is what it is."

My phone buzzes as I pay attention to my phone for the first time. I notice a dozen missed calls from Lee, Misty, Min-Ah, Kevin, Tad, Most of the red velvet girls. And Lee calls me just as I watch my missed calls. I sigh and watch Jongin, who automatically rolls his eyes at my phone. "Yeah?" I say monotoned down the line, "Are you okay?" He asks softly. Lee kept his distances after the incident; he had no idea what had happened the day we got back from the beach. But he finally realized that it was a lost cause, which he said in a lengthy text message he sent me.

"I'm alive-" I sigh as Lee is quiet: "I don't understand, why did that Lay guy confirm your relationship, did you and Suho break up?" He sounded odd. "No, I don't know what's going on, but we aren't dating anyway." I sigh as I look at Jongin: "Lee, thanks for the call can you talk to Kev, Misty and Min-Ah, I don't really have time to make phone calls anymore, unless it's from the company-" I say exhausted.

I've been in this mental rollercoaster of emotions the last couple of hours, and it seems I'm just going down the hill, and it's never stopping. "But for real Lily, how are you coping?" Jongin asks as we sit and wait for the doctor inside the examination room. "How do you think? usually, you guys are good at keeping secrets, and clearly, you'd do anything from having the truth come out." I say and lean against the wall: "What do you mean?" He asks as he looks at me, holding his arm high. "Like Sehun's cancer, you keep making up bullshit lies for that." Jongin looks at me in utter shock: "I can't believe Junmyeon told you." He said through his teeth: "He didn't." Jongin looks at me, confused; "You just did," I smile at him, and Jongin scoffs but seems defeated.

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

"I can't believe you tricked it out of me," Jongin says and shakes his head when we are in the car. "I can't believe you managed to keep it quiet for so long," I throw back at him. "Well, we did cover as much as we could, and honestly, he's handled it well." Jongin says gently, "After his surgery there two months back; he's been so much better." Jongin continued, "They said he was completely free, but still need to do some radiation treatment." Jongin says gently, "Who do you think managed to get his schedule clear for all of this, and if you just had told me, I could have done more." I say and wave my finger at him.

"Yeah, yeah, it's good that you've helped behind the curtains too," Jongin says as we drive up on the driveway where Tad and the boss are waiting for something. "Oh, fuck." Jongin says, and I turn to look at him; "I think it's about me, you know." I mean, and he chuckles, "Let's hope."

As we climb out of the car, Tad goes to Jongin; "What the hell happened?" He asks and examines his arm; "Lily, why didn't you call me?" He questioned, "I think you have enough on your plate to deal with than three stitches." Jongin waves his hurt arm and smiles; "I got pills." He says before Tad looks at them and chuckles, "Yeah, for like a headache, but please go inside Jongin, we need to speak to Lily." Jongin looks at me, worried, but I nod for him to leave, so he does.

Tad makes sure he's gone: "So, Lily, we can't come up with a good plan for now, but we talked about Lay coming here, but he's too important to be in China for now." Tad says: "And the fact he confirmed your relationship and the fact that the fans are going crazy with joy for Lay and you, we've come up with the only plan that would benefit us all." I shake my head, I feel like I know what's coming and I know I won't like it. "Because you speak fluently Chinese." Tad said, and I watch Simon just stand there looking proud: "We are going to transfer you to china." I feel defeated; "And I don't have a say?" I question, "Not really, well, you can always sign a new contract to become a public figure." Simon says, and I give him a look of disgust. "You're sending me to a foreign country to a person I've met ones to 'date' him and cater to him? how can this be your only solution?" I question as they look at me and sighs, "You could become a star, and you'd get much more freedom." I knew that was a lie. "I can quit." I say and Simon shakes his head, When I signed my contract there was a no quitting line, I have to work for the company for a whole year, why my pay is so good as well as free living and food.

"I want to see the contract." I say, and they show me a contract as a performer in their company, and I scoff; "Because I have zero choices, at least you should have given me a something good, don't you think?" I question as I pull a pen out of my pocket, its a work damage. Always have a pencil on me in some way. I read through the contracts ten pages with ease, and instantly start to cross things out and laugh at the outraged claims they are trying to lure me into.

"Well, this needs to be fixed, this instantly," I say and show them all the crossed-out sections, literally only five points I was okay without of forty-seven.

1. During the time of the relationship, you and x have to stay under the same roof, not having to share the same bedroom; unless you're interviewing at home and doing a home tour, one room has to be assigned the main bedroom.

2. Anything you create during your time at SM ENTERTAINMENT, you'll get 55% of the rights. (Music, lyrics, art, manuscripts)

3. Every acting job, commercial, or broadcasting show, you get 90% of the earnings.

4. You get your own manager who will manage your schedule.

5. You have creative freedom, but the company will have the last say in what will be published, this refers to album releases.

I hand it to Tad, who eyes it and gives it to Simon who looks furious: "What are you doing? You want me to accept this?" He questioned and waved the contract at my face: "Oh, so you expect me to? you need me, remember? I don't want this, don't think you can play me." I raise my voice at him.

"Okay, what do you want then?" He asks, looking like he's about to burst.

"Well, for starters, I get to hire my stylist that you'll pay for, of course." I point out, "I won't take that monthly payment, add a few zeros, and we'll talk." I say as I have my phone on record the entire time, "I can break the contract whenever I want after it runs out." as I speak I look over at Tad, who looks impressed: "I'll sign a contract for a year, and not more, but it takes longer; each month, I will be paid two extra million won over the monthly payments."

I can tell he's not happy, but I'll go wild. "I have the right to decline jobs that I don't agree with or will enjoy doing." I say, "I will create a Youtube channel, and release at least ones every two weeks." I only added this one in because it was a must in the contract, but it was more of me acting like a machine releasing videos every other day or something.

"I will be allowed to post whatever I want on my social media, as long as it's not damaging my reputation or company reputation." I say, "The company is not allowed to confirm or make statements for me before it has been approved by me first." I say: "The company will provide with a home for me, that the company will pay for." I state: "The company will provide for my phone bills, and most essential costs, fashion, doctors appointments, and so on, that will help me be a better creation for SM." I say and smile, "My private life is for and me only, the company has no say in who I date and don't date." I say, and the look at me confused; "Well, currently, I'm supposed to date Lay, but who knows how long it will last." I shrug.

"And last but not least, I will have the right to go on vacation and take days off for my mental health, which the company will pay for." My boss looks like he's about to faint. "I can write it up for you so you can sign it if you want," I say, and my boss is now leaning against the car.

"I have myself to blame, for your pay, I can add 1.000.000 not two" and I nod and approve to that; after all, I just made sure I don't have to pay for at least a year.

"Well, I can pack tonight." I sigh as I watch the house, and my boss nods and comes over to me and places his hand on my shoulder: "Thank you." He says, and I frown, why was he thanking me, I just became the highest paid artist without any traning to his company.