After hours ✓(editing)

9.

"So you gonna tell us where you were the whole night?" Hoseok asked as soon as they got a break from the practice. All the members had been curious about Seokjin's whereabouts, mostly worried because he hadn't been himself the whole week but now he looked normal.

Seokjin sighed looking at his friends. "I was out."
"We know that." Jimin said. "But where? Do you even know how worried we were? Namjoon hyung was one step away from calling police." Seokjin's eyes widened. "Impossible. I'm a grown man. You don't have to worry that much about me."

"But you are family. We live together, hyung." Yoongi said seriously. "You could've messaged atleast one of us." He put his arms up in surrender. "Fine, I get it. It won't happen again."

"So, where were you?" Jungkook asked his eyes twinkling. "I was with a friend." He said cautiously. "Girl friend?" Taehyung asked, separating the two words intentionally. Couldn't risk people misunderstanding.

Seokjin knew he couldn't hide anything, nor was it wise. "Yes, girlfriend. I met her about two weeks ago."
"And you are already in a relationship?" Namjoon asked disbelief clear in his voice. He shrugged. "No point in denying what would have eventually happened in the future."

"And she's okay with you being an idol?" Yoongi asked knowing the exact questions to prod him with. He knew him pretty well. "She doesn't know I'm an idol. She doesn't even have a TV in her house." A collective gasp was heard from the boys.

"What is she? I mean how can she live without a TV?" Jimin asked as if it was a national crisis. Seokjin chuckled, his face settling into a fond mask as he thought about his girlfriend. "She's like that. She does what she wants to do. She is very simple and isn't that materialistic. That's why I like her."

The boys were happy to see their eldest hyung looking so happy but with all this fame and their images it could be dangerous. Not only that but their schedules were so busy that it was difficult to maintain a healthy relationship.

The choreographer came in before they could talk further. They'd have time later anyway but Yoongi couldn't let this go just yet. "Hyung, you should tell the truth soon. It wouldn't be fair for her. She needs to know what she might face in the future. Also, I hope she is worth all the trouble you are going to get in."

Seokjin clasped Yoongi's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry about me. I know what I'm doing. You'll like Sehee." Yoongi smiled. "We'll see." Shaking his head, Seokjin concentrated on practice but still he couldn't shake off Yoongi's words. He needed to tell her as soon as possible.

***

"What!?!? You forgave him? Just like that? What is wrong with you, unnie?" Aera screamed after finding out about last night and early morning. Thank God, they were in the break room and the her mouth was filled with food.

"Aera, no need to be so dramatic and besides you would have forgiven him too if you had seen him last night. He's a good man." Aera rolled her eyes. "Look at you, already defending him. How long has it been since you accepted to be his girlfriend? Half a day? Unnie, you don't even know what he does. What if he is involved in something illegal?"

Sehee laughed. "Aera, your imagination is truly wild. If he had been involved in something bad I would have known. You know I have experience with such people. I can easily recognise them." She sighed in defeat, knowing well that Sehee's ability to judge a person correctly was far better than hers.

Still, Aera continued worrying about Sehee. "Are you really sure you want to continue meeting this man?" Aera asked to which Sehee smiled dreamily. "Yes, I do. I can't really explain it, Aera but it's like, it's like I've been waiting for him my whole life. It makes me feel a lot better for turning all those people down over the years."

"And what if he isn't like what you think he is?" Sehee sighed. "Do you want to know what I think he is like?" Aera nodded timidly, looking down at her food, finding it not so appealing now. She was just too worried about her elder sister who was too innocent and didn't care much for entertainment or luxury. She just cared about being happy and keeping the others around her happy. Atleast, that's how Aera viewed Sehee.

"He has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, pure and adoring. You'd think he looks at me with lust like the others do but he doesn't." Aera looked at her, her features soft and far away as she imagined the person. "Whenever I look into his eyes, I see a man wanting to love and to be loved unconditionally. Even though he has a lot of friends, I guess he still craves for partnership, a companion to just lean his weight on when it gets too heavy for him to carry. I see no ill intentions in his eyes, Aera. I don't care what he does as long as it's not illegal, which I know is not the case. I just want him to be comfortable with me and stay with me."

"How do you know, he is the one?" Aera asks her eyes huge, reminding her of the when they first met. Grinning ear to ear, Sehee pinches her cheeks lightly. Making a fist she pats the younger's chest, over her heart. "You feel it here. When you meet the right person, you know by the change in the beat of your heart. It's not even close to what you felt when you were with your first boyfriend or having your first time. You'll just know."

Aera could only nod as she thought about how her virgin sister knows if it is really different. But since a very young age she had come to rely on her and even though they had their own share of fights, she knew, in the end Sehee would be right

~~~~
A/N:

Hey y'all! I must say, I really like how much Aera eats. She is definitely me with all that food stuffing thing. 😀

Thank you for reading and voting, it means a lot to me!!💜💜