Fated||K

chapter sixteen

"okay!" the choreographer exclaimed, "this is your last practice before performance day, so let's see what we have."

the two got in formation in the middle of the practice room, waiting for the music to begin. since it was the last practice, they wanted to sing live as well, so they had their microphones in their hands.

chloe and k alternated their parts and came together for the chorus and ending. at the end of the performance, the two would stand face to face and a mistletoe would drop right over them, but of course, no kissing would happen.

the music softly faded away, coming to an end as the room filled with heavy breaths.

"i have good news and bad," the choreographer stated, "i'll start with the good."

"the performance is great. your voices are stable and the dancing is perfect. the bad news is that something's missing. i need to see chemistry. you two had so much chemistry during all the other practices, but now it looks like the two of you just met each other for the first time."

"we have to do something about it or else your performance tomorrow won't be as special. now i believe you two are old enough to work it out yourselves, so get on it. i'll see you two tomorrow at sound check," the choreographer ended, leaving the room.

after the door shut, chloe and k turned to each other, but immediately looked away after making eye contact.

"we totally have chemistry .. right?" k questioned, looking at chloe through the mirror.

"totally," chloe hesitantly nodded, "but clearly not enough."

"let's talk it out under the stars?"

chloe turned to make eye contact with k and smiled at the mention of stars, "i'd love that."
—
chloe and k were lying besides each other on the blanket they spread out, looking at the stars.

"i don't really know what he meant by saying we're missing that chemistry and i don't know how we're going to fix that for tomorrow," k began, referring to the choreographer, "but something was off."

"w-what do you mean?"

k let out a low sigh and sat up, facing towards chloe as she sat up too.

"i don't know if it's because i know we're soulmates or what, but i know i'm starting to feel something for you," k admitted, making chloe completely speechless.

"i know," k chuckled, "you're shocked too. it came really fast, but i came to a realization that you make me feel all these things and .. you've just impacted my life so much and i want to know that you'll be by my side."

chloe smiled at k's words and it made her feel warm. she knew that k was genuinely speaking from his heart and it made her want to do the same in return.

"but i'm not going to ask you anything or force anything out of you because you should have time to think about whatever you need to think about. plus, you've just debuted, so you're busy and have a lot on your plate, which i totally understand."

"i'll just be on the sidelines waiting," k softly smiled.

chloe nodded with a soft smile, hiding what she felt. everything was confusing her and time to think for herself was exactly what she needed, so she was thankful that k was being understanding.

"are we ready to go?" k asked, standing up and holding out a hand.

chloe took k's hand as he helped her get up while the two folded up the blanket and got back into the car.
—
chloe would speak up to give k the directions to her place every once in a while, but besides that, the car ride was silent.

k got out of the car to open the door for chloe, but before they could say goodbye, another car pulled up and two men stepped out.

"chloe kim," one of the men chuckled, "so this is where you live. noted."

the two men looked mysteriously sketchy and the tension gave chloe goosebumps.

k stepped slightly forward and pulled chloe behind him, "may i ask who you are?"

one of the men eyed k from head to toe and cocked his head to the side to look at chloe, "who's this?"

"i believe i asked you a question," k stated, his tone being much more serious.

"tch," the man scoffed, "am i supposed to be scared of you or what?"

the men were testing k's patience and his fists were slowly staring to ball up on the sides of his body.

chloe saw this and she didn't want anything dangerous happening, especially something that could jeopardize k's image, so she placed her hands on top of k's and gave them a tight squeeze.

"i'm not wasting my time anymore," one of the men scoffed.

"i'll see you next time," he added more mischievously as the two men got back into the car and drove away.

once the car was out of sight, chloe released her hands as k turned around.

"are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" k asked.

"i'm sure i'll be fine," chloe assuringly smiled, "i should go wash up and get some rest. you should too."

"yea of course," k nodded, "i'll leave once you get inside."

chloe nodded and began walking up the steps to her apartment, closing the door once she stepped inside.

almost five minutes after she locked the door, there were multiple knocks and rings on the door bell.

chloe, for some reason, expected it to be k, but when she checked in the monitor, it was the same two men from earlier.

"miss kim," one of the men called out, "let's have some fun."