Jackson hypes Byeol up
Byeol had been sitting in her makeup chair for an hour. Her butt was numb but Jackson had done a wonderful job at keeping her distracted and laughing. It was nice, to laugh again. To feel like things were back to normal and they were just messing around before a show.
But that didn't last long because the creeping sensation that her whole past (one she'd done a very good job at forgetting) was about to be put on full blast for the world to see. She sighed, sinking down into her chair. Jackson frowned, moving to sit next to her.
"You look like a gorilla when you frown like that." He teased and she scrunched her nose up. "Jackson Wang!" She yelled and he smiled, ruffling her hair, much to her stylists satisfaction. "Sorry, noona. Won't happen again." He offered a cheesy smile as the stylist gave him a look and Byeol giggled.
"You're always messing my hair up before we do something. One day she's gonna smack you." Byeol teased and the stylist hummed in agreement, getting back to work on fixing her hair. "Noona! You would never! I'm too cute!" He batted his eyelashes at her and the stylist grunted.
"Gross. You look like a hippo." Byeol teased and Jackson scoffed. "Bet I'm the best looking hippo there is." Byeol shrugged, feigning indifference. "Whatever helps you sleep at night." They continued their banter back and forth until she was told to go change.
She slipped into the slightly large turtle neck and leather leggings, hooking her boots on. She walked back out and Jackson wolf whistled, bouncing his eyebrows. "You look hot," he said and she blushed a little, bowing. "Thanks. It's tiring to be this gorgeous."
"I believe it. Sitting in a chair for hours only to get up and put pants on must be a real struggle." He teased with a grin and she glared at him. "Yah!" She darted towards him and he stood up to run before Jaebeom grabbed both of them. "Not injuries before. Please."
Byeol muttered something under her breath and Jackson snickered, Jaebeom shooting him a warning look before going back to his book. "Seriously though, you look good. You should dress up more often." Jackson said, handing her earrings to put in. She shrugged, struggling to get the thin metal through her ear lobe.
"I like to be comfy." She said and Jackson chuckled, grabbing the jewelry and helping her put them on. She smiled, thanking him. "I like being comfy too. We can be comfy together." He said and she chuckled, shaking her head. "I think people think we're too comfy with each other." She teased and Jackson shrugged.
"Don't care. You're the only one I want to be comfy with." She shoved his shoulder lightly, smiling. "Same here. Let's be comfy after this. I think we're long overdue for a movie night." Jackson's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Fuck yeah!" Their manager called for them to start heading towards the stage for the interview and Byeol gulped.
She had been having such a fun time bantering with Jackson, she'd had forgotten why they were here. For an interview. An interview that would most likely be centered around her and what's been in the tabloids lately. She felt her hands start to tremble and she clenched them into fists, holding her head as high as she could, determination clear on her features.
However, that only lasted the minute it took to walk to the stage before her resolve broke. She started trembling everywhere, a lump in her throat forming. She couldn't do this. She wasn't ready. She didn't think she'd ever be ready. Maybe, in privacy. But not for the whole world to see. Not for the fans to judge her.
Not for her friends to hear about later and give her pitying looks that made her sick to her stomach. Not for her family to hear about what really happened to their little girl when she left home to pursue music. She stopped walking, eyes wide with fear and she let the panic set in. Someone grabbed her shoulders from behind and she flinched, panic rising.
"Hey, Moon-ssi." Jackson. It's Jackson. She told herself in her head, repeating it like a mantra. Just Jackson. Only Jackson. "Byeol. Look at me." He moved and stood in front of her, brown orbs boring into hers, worry clearly evident. Jaebeom and Jinyoung had stopped short, but Jackson waved them off. "Give us a minute. I got her."
They shared a look but nodded, eyes not leaving the pair as they made their way to the stage. "Byeol-ah. Can you hear me?" He asked quietly and she nodded her head, hands reaching up to grip his wrists. She squeezed and he sighed. "Moon-ssi." She nodded, eyes looking into his. This was her safe place right now. She was safe.
"I know it's scary. And I know it's not how you wanted anyone to find out. Or that you even wanted this part of your life to be known. I know." He gripped her shoulders a little tighter as he saw tears well up in hers. "But you can do this, Moon." She shook her head furiously.
"Yah!" One of his hands gripped her chin, forcing her to stop shaking her head and look at him. "You can. I know you can. Because you're Sihyuk Byeol and you're one of the strongest people I know."
"I've watched you fall apart for a month but you're still here, laughing and joking with me. I watched you break down when we were trainees yet you stood tall on our debut stage and you did it." She let his words sink in. He was right. She could do this.
"I've got your back, Moon. Jaebeom hyung has your back. Yugyeom-ie has your back. We all have your back. Always. Forever. You can do this and you will. And after this we're gonna drink a bottle of soju and you're gonna cry it all out and then we're gonna watch movies and pig out on take-out food. Okay?"
She had relaxed, a gentle smile making it's way on her face. "Can we make it two bottles?" She asked and Jackson smiled, more in relief than anything. "Might as well get seven. One for each of us." She smiled a little wider, nodding. "Or we can just split it between us. Make Jinyoung play mom for the night." Jackson smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her towards the interview.
"Sounds like an even better idea."
