Dream

11: Awkward Sungjae

"There's a number that I got from you in my dream and I've sent many messages to that number since then. What I want to ask is, do you get them?" Joy asks.

Sungjae who's been wondering about her, now remembers who Joy is. No wonder, he feels familiar with her name and face. She's the girl that always gives him good dreams and sends him texts. The girl who does his crazy favour.

"Why would you send messages to that number? You know it doesn't make sense for me to receive them," Sungjae replies while trying to stay calm.

"I know it is, but you sound desperate when you gave it in my dream. And I can see that you're having a hard time in your performances. So, I'm sending them, hoping that they're encouraging you. So.. do you get them?" Joy asks for the second time. She's curious about the truth of that number.

"Is it hard doing it?" Sungjae avoiding to answer Joy's question once again. 'She has the same concern for me in her dream. Is she really the same as in her dream?" Sungjae wonders.

Joy wonders if Sungjae is avoiding her question by keep asking other questions. However, she plays along with Sungjae, setting her thought aside since she doesn't want to force him to answer her question.

"It's not hard to send them because I'm grateful towards you and I want to encourage you back. I know that living as an idol is tough. Do you want to see them?" Joy offers her phone to Sungjae since she isn't sure if Sungjae had received them.

"Should I?" Sungjae asks nervously while taking Joy's phone. He agreed to read those messages. He's grateful that she still doing it despite being not sure if it's sent to him.

Sungjae scrolls her phone quick to read some messages which he has seen before. He comes to realise she has sent him so many messages and it makes him feel guilty for not stopping her. He should have followed Peniel's advice last time. He's been too mean with not replying to her texts and leaving her confused, while he receives those texts contently.

'That's quick.' Joy comments in her mind after observing Sungjae act. She's a bit disappointed to see Sungjae reads it fast. She was hoping he would read more.

"Thank you for sending the messages, sincerely," Sungjae says sincerely since he had read them before and gets encouraged for the past few months. "And sorry for bothering you a lot," he apologizes.

"Why are you sorry? It's not your fault. It's just a crazy act of mine for doing what I saw in my dream."

'It's actually my crazy act for asking you favour in your dream,' he replies on his mind. "Just because.. I'm sorry that I asked you to do that in your dream," Sungjae replies.

'How does he know he asked me in my dream?' Joy wonders. Joy shakes her head to erase the thought. "You don't need to. It's the Sungjae's in my dream doing, not you. And it's my fault to do it despite knowing it's nonsense."

'It's me. It's my fault.' Sungjae sighs. "Stop sending them, Joy. Don't waste your time doing that anymore, you should focus on your own life."

"I am actually quite well with my own life. That's why I still send those messages even though it's from my dream. I'm grateful towards you for making my life better, so I want you to encourage you to make yours better too."

"But it'll make me feel bad instead."

"Why so? It's not that you'll know that I'm still sending them."

"Because you started it because of me," Sungjae blurts out.

"Huh? How did you know?" Joy asks confusedly. She thought she heard it wrong when Sungjae said he asked her, but it's apparently right. He just said it's because of him. She's now curious how it happened.

'Shoot. I said something wrong,' Sungjae bits his lower lip. He doesn't answer Joy's question.

"Are you saying you have been getting my messages all these times?" Joy asks again.

"Eh? Aniyo, I mean no. I never get those messages. No way," Sungjae said in a flustered tone.

Knowing Sungjae's flustered, Joy knows she is right. Sungjae is not good at lying. He's obvious when he lies. "So why do you feel so bad about it?"

"Because I'll never get to return your favour," Sungjae answers nervously.

"That wasn't the reason that you said before. You said because you asked that. How did you know about it?"

"Guessing. I'm just guessing. I have never received your message. Really. It's the truth. Today is my first time reading your messages," Sungjae insists nervously. He hopes Joy believes him. 'God, please make her believes my words,' Sungjae prays. But obviously, his prayer isn't granted.

"If that's what you want me to believe, then I'll believe it even though I know it's a lie," she replies. "I'm good at telling when people lie or not."

Sungjae only sighs. He lost already. Joy can really tell lies like in her dreams. She also made Sungjae feels more guilty with exposing his lie. He becomes a bad person all of sudden.

"Sorry," Sungjae finally says without further explanation. He decides to confess his lie as he feels guilty over Joy.

Upon hearing Sungjae' apology, Joy understands that Sungjae indirectly told her that he received her messages. It makes her getting more curious about the phone number and how could that number relates to him. However, she doesn't ask further as she sees Sungjae feels uncomfortable talking about it.

"So, what did you do today in Melbourne? Did you have fun?," Joy asks to start on another topic.

"I visited the old train station, a library, an amusement park and the beach near there. Sorry that I don't remember the names. I'm bad at names" Sungjae answers a bit awkwardly.

"Same here, but I know all those places because they are the tourist attractions here. How's the concert preparation?"

"Pretty well, I guess, so far. Hope it'll go well like the previous concerts." Sungjae starts to relaxes again. "Are you coming tomorrow?"

"Of course I am. I even bought the ticket for meet and greet session to get my album signed and see all members."

"Guess we'll see each other again tomorrow."

"Yep," Joy replies. "Oh, that's the hotel! Why is it so fast?" Joy complains after points out the hotel to Sungjae.

"Is it? It feels long though. But I see that you kept your word well. You didn't bring me around and really send me home," Sungjae praises Joy.

Joy turns her head to Sungjae. "Should I do that? But, I want you to have enough sleep for tomorrow and I've promised not to do anything weird."

"Uh? Don't!" Sungjae says panically. "I'm just kidding. I do need to rest for tomorrow."

Joy smiles. "I know. But, I still want to talk with you though. It's unfortunate."

"Ayy, I had enough talking with you," Sungjae replies. He instantly gets a sharp glare from Joy, Sungjae put a fake cough. "We can talk again tomorrow, at the meet and greet session," Sungjae explains.

Joy's look softens. "You're right," Joy says. "Let's talk again tomorrow."

They have finally reached at the hotel lobby. Joy turns to Sungjae and smiles, "I'll get going now. Thank you for letting me send you here and sorry if I made you flustered about the phone number. Enjoy the rest of your days in Melbourne and good luck for tomorrow. Good night, Sungjae." Joy bows a little before going home.

"Joy!" Sungjae calls when Joy has walked away. Joy turns her head and Sungjae continues, "Thanks for your company and.. for sending the messages," Sungjae smiles. "I'll see you tomorrow." He continues.

Joy smiles upon hearingwhat Sungjae said. He indirectly acknowledging that he receives her messages. "See you," Joy replies, leaving Sungjae behind.

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