“Aigoo hyung, you really had to swear that much on television? I can see the headlines now, ‘B.A.P’s Leader-nim Is Ruder Than Block B’s Zico.” Him Chan raised his hands, pretending to frame the words.

Yong Guk shrugged good-naturedly, his eyes never leaving the screen.

Ta-Dah B.A.P was on air, and the six members of the group were huddled around the television set, taking note on their screen presence and visual impact, just as their sajangnim had ordered.

Jun Hong sat bolt upright against the couch, his lengthy arms at his side, hands curled up in fists. Beside him sat his girlfriend of a year and a half, Kang Nani. He kept darting his eyes at her, mentally complementing her scarf and her ear rings. Nani was a designer after all.

She laughed, and automatically the corners of his lips lifted too.

“Thirty percent? Really?” a teasing grin made him blush and clear his throat. Jun Hong slowly took her cold hand, sliding his fingers through hers and rubbed his thumb over her skin.

“Do you have a schedule today?” Nani asked no one in particular. Young Jae yawned, “Later. Why?”

Jun Hong felt Nani’s eyes bore into his head. “Nothing in particular.” She added in a nonchalant voice, picking up her bags. His gaze followed where she was going, and stood up, following her to the door.

“See you guys.”

They nodded and replied, not taking their eyes off of the screen. Yong Guk was the only one to send her a smile and a nod.

Nani sighed slowly, trying to release the air as silently as possible. The jangle of her keys startled her and she shyly slipped her key ring from Jun Hong’s index finger, avoiding his sly grin.

“So you’ll call me?” he nodded immediately, trying to memorize her hopeful gaze.

“After your schedule of course.” Nani’s head cocked to the side, trying to read his expression.

“… Alright then, good bye.”

“See you.” He whispered and lightly pressed his lips against her cold cheek.

Nani held her head up and left the house, quickly slipping on her black boots. Jun Hong shut the door and slowly made his way over to the couch.

He gazed at the seat where Nani sat for a moment, before sitting in the seat himself. The warmth that her body left behind was still there.

Daehyun stared at Jun Hong before nodding at Yong Guk. The leader reciprocated the nod and swiftly turned off the television. The youngest snapped out of his lovey-dovey thoughts.

“Jun Hong… we need to talk.” The said person sat up, realising the seriousness of the situation. They never called him by his birth name unless something had happened.

“Yeh hyung?”

“It’s about Nani.”

Jun Hong’s eyes opened wider. “Is something wrong? Is she okay? She would’ve told me right? I should go and get her.” Jong Up’s strong hand restrained the younger boy, forcefully pulling him down.

“Nothing’s wrong… with her. We just wanted to say – as hyungs,” Young Jae assured. “That…” the nineteen year old was stuck for words, and silently implored the leader to continue.

“Zelo, how long have you been together?”

“One year, six months and I suppose… a few weeks?” he wasn’t too sure.

“You’re a bit... detached. Don’t you reckon?” Him Chan interrupted, bluntly stating the truth.

“What does that mean?”

Him Chan rolled his eyes. “Do you cuddle with her, kiss her, hug her, hold her hand, that Romeo-Juliet kind of thing?”

Jun Hong fell silent.

“When was the last time you hugged her?” Daehyun prompted, helping out his dongsaeng.

“I guess, a few weeks ago.”

He quickly added, “But I kissed her before… on the cheek, and I held her hand last time we went out on a date.”

Yong Guk held up his hand. “Give it up Zelo, we know you haven’t been on a date in months preparing for the debut. I’m sorry if this hurts you, but you’re not looking like boyfriend material.”

“Zelo…” Him Chan started but Jun Hong’s temper had already flared.

“I treat her well! I like her a lot. Hell, sometimes I think I even love her. I treat her well.” With gritted teeth, he put emphasis on the last three words before storming off and shutting the door of the dorm he shared with Jong Up loudly.

“I’ll go.” Jong Up sighed and walked to his room.

Without knocking, he opened the door with a loud click and took his mobile out of his back pocket.

“Listen to this. Your last fight, she sent me this voicemail after she couldn’t get to Him Chan hyung.” Jong Up left after playing the recorded and saved message.

“J-Jong Up oppa, Jun Hong and I had a-another fight.”

Zelo buried his head into his pillow, trying to hide from his girlfriend’s choked sobs.

“It was my fault… he missed our date and I got upset. I wasn’t wrong but I did over-react. It’s been a week and a half oppa… he’s never ignored me for so long. Please tell him that I called… I called and I called… and I texted him.”

Silence.

“But you know oppa… I still know that what I was angry for was right. I mean… don’t you think it’s heartbreaking to know that…”

Jun Hong sat up and stared at the phone, listening intently.

“To know that… his girlfriend always comes after his fans?”

The message ended, and Zelo lowered his head.

A single tear dripped off his nose.