Happiness ♥Red Velvet♥

Chapter 18: Don't you forget it

Joy's POV

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, my makeup artist dabbing a cotton pad of foundation over my skin. I fought the urge to sneeze in the heat and thought.

We were going to a meeting, but the managers only really wanted to see Y/n, we could tell, and she was stressing over it. I tried to comfort her but she only fell into her pillow and told me she couldn't take anyone being around her anymore. It's been hard on her, so I have a coconut cream bun in my handbag to give her later. It's from her favourite bakery on the high street, but I never go with her so I don't know what she really likes. I think that if she didn't become an idol she'd have definitely worked in a bakery, living the life of a story. I could imagine her waking up early to a lively morning of kids playing football outside and birdsong floating through her window, a pure white apron tied around her waist, chatting to customers as she handed them their regular order. It did sound like bliss.

"Close your eyes, please."

I obeyed, and went back to thinking. Flowers, pastel colours and the sweet smell of pastries wafting out onto the street. I must have been so into my daydream that I drifted off to sleep.

Seulgi's POV

We'd just stepped out of the car and into the building when five of us were ushered into a room to practice, leaving Y/n outside alone. I looked back encouragingly but her eyes were fixed on the floor, a ghost of who she was yesterday. We practiced for two hours but she still didn't show up, so I asked if I could go look for her. The performance wasn't the same without her.

"Umm," the dance teacher looked uncomfortable. "The managers told me she will be back soon, and not to wait for her."

"Oh okay." And we went back to rehearsal.

Y/n's POV

The time had come, and I was not ready in the slightest. The manager came out to see me in person, beckoning to follow her.

"Now, Miss L/n, we have much to discuss."

I swallowed back my anxieties and walked with as much purpose as I could muster.

I was seated in the meeting room, usually reserved for the composers to brainstorm ideas and get them down on paper.

"Well, it seems your popularity has gone up, and by quite a bit, it seems."

I looked up hopefully but was only met by an icy cold glare.

"But it's still not enough. You will be removed from the group in the coming fortnight. I have tasked the dance teacher to tailor the comeback for five members, not six. They will see that they don't need you anymore, and this whole fiesta will be over."

"Then what am I meant to do!?" I shouted, louder than I had aimed for.

"Do not talk to your elders and betters like that." she snapped. "You are gone for good, and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Please. You don't have to do this."

"You're right. I don't - but I want to. You're finished, L/n. Don't you forget it. Now, go home and start packing. We're moving you back to training houses in the next few hours, so you know where you belong."

I cast a glare back into the room as I was leaving.

"You won't forget me. I will haunt your dreams and turn them to nightmares, and you will wake up, screaming, thinking about me!"

She made a funny noise. It couldn't be... a laugh?

"I'm sure I will, L/n. But I can sleep safely knowing you're not debuting again."

"What is your problem with me?"

"My problem with you? No, L/n. You have it all wrong. It's your problem with me!"

Her words echoed around my head, as if it was hollow. Don't you forget it... Nothing you can do...  And most confusing of all, your problem with me!  I've never done anything against her in my training or as an idol. What did she mean and why did it matter so much to her?