It Just Happened That Way || JEONGIN from skz!

19

A week has gone by and the boys...are literally always hanging out at our rooftop now. It's as if they suddenly decided that their new hang out spot would be here. Sometimes, me and Jeongin will come home with our ice cream and just...see them hanging out here. They all had the password to get into the building, and often would hang out on the roof or in Jeongin's apartment, even when he wasn't home. 

Tonight was no different. Hyunjin and Seungmin, who I met earlier in the week, were hanging out, playing some sort of card game on the roof's platform. They looked up briefly to say hello, and returned to their game, completely engrossed.

"Why are they always here now?" Jeongin asks me, tilting his head. "I mean, I get it, none of them have a rooftop like this but..."

I shrug, and turn to leave. We planned on watching the next episode of a drama, and I was getting chilly. As I turned, I saw that Changbin and Jisung were walking up.

"Oh, hey guys!" I say, slightly confused. I laugh at them a little and say, "Hyunjin and Seungmin already took over the platform playing their card game."

After a chorus of Aw man's Jeongin and I invite them all into my apartment, so we could just watch TV together. 

Somehow, this had become an ordinary night in my life. I still couldn't really believe it, but it was becoming more and more normal. Which was also strange.

Life continued on like this. I would go to work, and finish some tickets. I had my meetings, I made some friends albeit not close ones, and went to the climbing gym or to Korean class (something I started a month ago). After that I would either go directly home, or meet up with Jeongin. On the weekends, we would explore Seoul, go shopping, or have good food with the boys, if they had time. 

Turns out that a lot of them were working on individual projects in addition to their group's new album. It would be one of their last albums, I found out. Jeongin was working on some singles with Seungmin, and Hyunjin was cast in a new drama. Felix became a pretty big MC, so he was always on TV shoots. Minho had become quite an accomplished and well-known choreographer, so he was working with newer big idol groups, helping to craft their performances. 3RACHA had their own mini comeback and were creating more hip-hop songs, which were getting even more attention than the ones they had uploaded onto Soundcloud way back when. 

A lot of things had changed after the pandemic without me even realizing. But they all seemed happy doing what they were doing, and they all seemed to have a lot more flexibility to change their path whenever they wanted to.

On one of their busier days, I came home and was alone for the first time in a while. I decided not to climb that day, just to take a rest day. As I put my bag down, I looked at my phone to see that Jeongin was suddenly texting me a stream of messages.

Jeongin: Yeona! Yeona don't sign anything. Holy shit, Yeona don't do anything, I'll be there soon. I'm so sorry, just don't say anything don't sign anything! I'll be home in 10 minutes! Please wait for me okay?

I frown a little. What is he on about?

Suddenly, someone rings my doorbell. I look to see who's outside, and see three unfamiliar people in suits. They look like lawyers or something. I look back at my phone and reread what Jeongin texted me, as the doorbell rings again. The three people look impatient. One shouts out, "We saw that you went inside, please open the door."

I panic a little, and call Jeongin. No response. I text the group chat with the boys and I.

Hello why are there 3 lawyer lookin people outside my door?

Seungmin: what there are? Did you let them in?

Felix: Shit, they did this to Jason too. Just wait for Jeongin I think he just left the office.

Yeona: I didn't let them in but they're like banging on the door now.

Felix: just ignore them until Jeongin arrives.

I start pacing back and forth, and 15 minutes go by with them knocking and ringing the doorbell incessantly. I am tempted to call out to them that I won't be letting them in until Jeongin arrives, but the words are caught in my throat as Jeongin's message of warning goes through my head. What do they want from me??