Life After SM Entertainment(Sequel)

Chapter 1

Yangyang: heyyy
Me: Hi!!
Yangyang: wyd?
Me: I'm on my break from work
Yangyang: where do u work again?
Me: I took up a job as an English teacher at the local high school. I worked really hard and got my English & Lit degree online while I was still a trainee
Yangyang: that's cool🤩
Me: thx
Every time Yangyang and I talk, we always switch between English and German. I learned German in high school, and even into college, but it needed work. I'm so glad that I met Yangyang, so I have an excuse to speak German. He may be the only guy in South Korea I know who can speak fluent German.

Later that day, when I got off work, Yangyang asked if we could hang out. He invited me to come hang at the WayV practice room. I hope no bad memories come flooding back to me if I set foot into the practice room again. I don't mind because I will be meeting up with Yangyang. I have become so comfortable with him. He's like my best friend now.

I walk into the practice room and see Yangyang practicing a WayV song. I sing along quietly. He spots me from the corner of his eye.
"Oh, hey." Yangyang said.
"Hey, Yangyang." I said.
"How about we dance together?" Yangyang asked, putting out his hand.
"I have the perfect song, hold on." I said.
I push play on Nur Mit Dir by Thor Braavig. I first heard this song in German class, way back in high school. I consider Thor Braavig the Ed Sheeran of Germany because of this song. Yangyang smiles, recognizing the song. He starts singing along, and I join him. We dance together in a ballroom style. Hearing Yangyang sing in German hits different, I'm telling you this now. Before, all those other times he sang in German, they were just jokes. Now, he's singing legitimately, and I couldn't be more in love with him.

The right moment comes, during the lyrics;
Diese Freude, die mein Herz erfüllt. Sie kommt von dir allein, sie kommt von dir allein. Ich lass mich tief in deine Arme fallen. Ich lass alles los, denn ich will nur mit dir sein. Ooh, nur mit dir. Ich liebe dich. Ich liebe dich. Ich liebe dich so sehr.
Yangyang takes a step closer to me. He puts one of his hands on my cheek, and the other on the back of my neck. He whispers I love you in German, Ich liebe dich, then kisses me. This was the most romantic kiss I've ever shared with a boy. The song comes to an end, and then out of nowhere, Ten barges into the room.
"Who is this?" Ten asked.
"Um- I, I can explain. You weren't supposed to come back." Yangyang said, hiding me behind himself.
"I just came to check on you. Tell me, who's this girl? You know we have a dating ban." Ten said.
"I know. . . I just, we met. I felt the connection." Yangyang said, "This is Shelly."
"Ten, please. Be easy on Yangyang." I said.
"You know what Yangyang is risking, right?" Ten asked.
"Oh, I know all too well. I used to be a trainee here." I said, "I almost signed a contract to debut."
"What?" Ten asked, shocked at this sudden news.
"Yes, it's true. I used to be a trainee, but I left." I said.
"Okay, it's all making sense. Well, how old are you?" Ten asked.
"21. I was born in 2003." I said.
"Yangyang is 3 years older than you." Ten said.
"So, what does that matter?" Yangyang said.
"I'm just saying, bro. Be careful, keep it low key. You know what'll happen if you get caught." Ten said.
"I know. . ." Yangyang said.
"Will Yangyang get kicked out if they find out?" I asked.
"Yes." Yangyang and Ten said.
"Oh. . ." I said, "Then, we shouldn't go through with this. I don't want you risking your career for me."
"But I love you." Yangyang said.
"Ten, what should we do?" I asked.
"I mean, if you guys truly love each other, then you should find a way to make it work." Ten said.
"Okay, let's make a plan." Yangyang said.
"Okay." I said.

Ten leaves the practice room, Yangyang takes me to his dorm room. He paces back and forth, wondering how he could possibly make this work. It worries how much this stresses Yangyang out. I hate seeing him like this. We had just met, and our friendship moved very quickly into a relationship. Normal life doesn't work like this. I try to talk to Yangyang about waiting to date until their dating ban gets lifted, which I believe will never happen for as long as WayV is active.
"I really want to make this work because I really like you." Yangyang said.
"I understand, but do you really want to risk your career?" I asked.
"You don't believe in me?" Yangyang asked.
"Think about it. We met only a week or two ago. Then, you think we have love at first sight. I'm just saying we moved very fast." I explained.
"Okay, I understand that. I'm sorry for rushing it. I was just scared, and to have finally found someone I love. I am just excited." Yangyang said.
"Alright, alright. We can try to make this work. Just, tell your manager right away." I said.
"Why would I do that?" Yangyang asked.
"It's better for them to know than for you to keep secrets. Keeping secrets makes you less trustworthy. Trust me, I dated secretly as a trainee. It wasn't fun when they found out." I said.
"I'm glad you understand my situation. Okay, I'll tell my manager, but if I get in trouble, I'm blaming you." Yangyang teases.
"Good luck, baby." I said.
"Thanks. . ." Yangyang said, walking away to call his manager. I listen to his conversation, not understanding a word because it is in Chinese. That's fascinating. Yangyang is fluent in; English, German, Korean, and Chinese. What a language genius. That's so impressive.