"The double rainbow we saw that day...

 

...Ah..

 

You admired the rainbow, and I admired you...

 

The colorful pictures were taken that day,

 

I don't need to print them off...

 

They are engraved in my memory forever...

 

The strings, plucked by our fingers...

 

The strings we created...

 

The life we expected..."

 

...

 

It was the evening when he came back from a work trip...

 

Kyungsoo and YiSeul sat at the table. YiSeul released her hair from the tight top knot and brushed by fingers so they would lie down nicely on her arms. Then a gentle smile appeared on her face:

 

- How was your trip? -

 

- I'm more tired than before the trip. To be honest, I could have been sleeping inside the JJ building. Everyday meetings, and organizational projects. I even worked with a live audio engineering team to make sure the stadium equipment was efficient -

 

The spark in his eyes shined though, those words didn't sound like a complaint.

 

- Oh, so Baboo has a new skill! - she joked

 

- I knew it all! I was the one who was teaching them - touched his full of pride chest while declaring that - and you? Except for the accident with your mom, what have you been doing? -

 

She took a sip of wine and brushed he hair to the back:

 

- Nothing worth mentioning... Oh! We will probably have a job for Marie Claire! - that made her suddenly jump and point finger at a random place on the sealing, for no

 

reason.

 

- Wow, that's great. I'm sure you will do a great job! - Kyungsoo comforted her. The atmosphere suddenly became lively.

 

They spend an hour chatting and sharing a great time.

 

 

 

When the time for cleaning came, they collected all the plates and she started washing dishes while he was cleaning the table. When finished, he stood behind her and hugged tightly. Then brushed her hair to the side and comfortably placed his face on their arm. Then gave her a peck on the ear...slowly going down her neck. She stopped washing, turned around, and with wet fingers she slid down his face gently. Down the forehead and nose, then stopped at the lips. She placed her hand on his back and pressed against her. Both lips touched creating an euphoria running down their bodies. Kyungsoo forgot about all the doubts, from a few minutes ago.It was too late to stop it...

 

 

 

The night was intimidating like a starry night on a clear sky...

 

.......................................................................................................................................

 

AUTHOR NOTE: TBC in a special chapter! You can find it here

 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/51266965

 

...........................................................................................................................................

 

 

 

In the morning Kyungsoo woke up in his bed and d blindly for YiSeul who was usually sleeping next to him. After still half asleep mind realised she was not there, he opened his eyes to confirm it.

 

There was no one in the room except him.

 

The atmosphere after last night's full swing was still in the air. The gray flat carpet looked like it was part of the gym flooring, if only any gym would use a

 

house carpet.

 

Kyungsoo slowly sat on the bed and moved to the edge. His slippers were nowhere to be found, so he just ignored his barefoot feet and headed to the door.

 

 

 

While walking down the stairs he was focused on listening to any sounds. "Has she gone home?" Thought impatiently and his feet moved faster with every step...

 

"She's here..." he stopped and looked at his girlfriend leaning her back on the kitchen's countertop and scrolling something on her phone. A teethy smile appeared on his face.

 

- YiSeul, you're up already? -

 

- Oh, KyungSoo, you woke up? Good - she smiled back when raised her head - I'm going to start work earlier today. Will be sleeping at my mom's tonight. Give me a call later, ok? - and she moved to the door's direction and stopped halfway. Kyungsoo without a second thought jumped down the stairs and walked casually to her side.

 

Hugged gently, staying a little longer in this position than it was needed:

 

- Eat well and don't forget to wear warm clothes, it's cold outside - he looked into her eyes - Give me a call when you're free OK? -

 

She gave him a peck on the lips and with a wide smile said:

 

- See you...Baboo - she waved her hand, opened the door, and disappeared behind it in a second.

 

...

 

His mind for some reason went blank, but not because she walked away. He felt like he was carrying a heavy burden on his back for a long time and suddenly it disappeared. He stretched his back without discomfort. What was the reason for this burden? He couldn't understand himself, but it doesn't matter now. He is full of joy and feels like his body is about to float in the air any minute. Nothing will change his mood today. Time to go to work...

 

 

 

KyungSoo's contract states that his work pattern is from Monday to Friday, with office hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In reality, when it's busy he comes earlier to have everything prepared perfectly. Finish time also depends on his own work goals. When it's quiet he can finish earlier and work from home if needed. When it's busy, he is staying till he finishes his job. A job that is usually set up by himself. Even the receptionists are joking that they will apply for creating a living room in this building, especially for him. Because it's a busy period, Kyungsoo arrived at work at 7 a.m

 

JJ Entertainment was built in JungGu, Seuls Jung district which is in Seuls center and just the northern side of the famous Han River. This district is also famous for its history and reminding historical buildings, these days however mixed with also the modern ones.

 

The company's large grounds were placed 10 min from the main road, embracing one small street area. The main building's shape was oval from the bottom to approximately the 4th floor, then the shape changed to a regular rectangular office building created from glass walls, just in the center of its round bottom. From the street to the main entrance was a large space filled with nicely shaped bushes on the sides and a few branches placed one after another in rows. The parking lot was placed on the left side. JJE smaller buildings were placed behind the main one, with a substantial park in the middle. It was probably not created for employers to enjoy their break time, but for outsiders and other companies, as well as stockholders, to make an outstanding impression.

 

Kyungsoo parked his car after approximately 30 minutes of travel. He headed to the main entrance ignoring anyone who just passed by. There's no need to smile at strangers even if they knew who he was. KyungSoo's personality is honest, he can't lie and wear a smiling mask even in this business world full of puppets and those with power. If he meets someone he knows, then he will definitely greet this person. For example, ladies from reception...

 

- Good morning. Early start today? - one of them just grabbed his attention. They are always doing that, not only to KyungSoo. A smiling young lady with a nicely tied bun and wearing a two-piece skirt suit set in silver color waved to him from the reception desk. Two more ladies were wearing the same style and makeup which was nicely done eyebrows, long lashes, and red lips.

 

- Good morning, any news? - Kyungsoo stopped to have a chat.

 

- Nothing much today - then she opened her notebook and double-checked her words - Tempo is coming at 9 am, later new solo artist is looking for advice. The visit was authorized by Kim. The meeting was at 11:30, so we were crossing fingers for the solo artist...- then she raised her crossed fingers and gazed at Kyungsoo

 

with a teethy smile which was giving him the android doll vibe programmed to cheer for buyers, so he ignored it waiting for the rest of today's plan...- around 15:30 Creams will arrive and discuss their new album details-

 

- Am I fully dealing with them again? - KyungSoo interrupted her because this unpleasant feeling of not knowing what his real tasks were was disturbing. What was the purpose of taking away Creams from him and then sending them from time to time for a consultation or whatever it is? He still hasn’t forgotten what Kim has done at the meeting...

 

- Apologies sir, I have no details in this matter...- she was upset, but not because of him. She was upset that as a receptionist she should be a better support.

 

- It's fine, I'll ask them by myself - he shook his hand to calm her down - Thanks, see you later - slightly bowed down and headed to the gates on the right side of the reception.

 

 

 

The gates looked like the airport, just "the doors" were square glass plates that could be opened only by swapping an employee's card. Straight after the gates was a corridor with 2 lifts on the right and left, also further down another path leading to corridors hidden behind the walls. He used the first lift on the left. Then after riding alone, he stopped at the 7th floor. Then, headed to the studio at the very end of this long corridor, doors on the right.

 

He opened the black, solid doors which were heavy like his garden fence when he just moved in, before applying oil.

 

The studio consists of two rooms. First, after entering the main door was the control booth. Doors were under the left side wall. Just further down was the lounge area. A black leather couch under the wall and two armchairs standing parallel, forming a U shape with a coffee table just in the center. On their right side was a long control desk with hundreds of recording controls, and a main computer in the middle. Two large screens were placed at the window just above the desk, a keyboard on placed on it and small space for a computer mouse on its right side. The office chair was nicely placed under. The window was as wide as the control desk. At the end of this room on the right side was a bar chair and a high table with a microwave, then under the wall 3 vending machines, each with different products. Sandwiches and noodle soups, cold drinks and hot drinks. Except for them, on this wall, two pairs of doors were seen, probably for machine rooms.

 

Kyungsoo came near the high table at the end, took out a laptop from his backpack, and placed it in the middle. Then he took out the blue file and black notebook and headed to the chair in the middle of the control booth. When sat down, he lowered under to press the PC power button, and then he sat comfortably and looked behind the window.

 

The second room was a vocal booth.

 

This was the place for real fun for musicians as after entering by the door from the control booth's right side, there was all kind of different instruments standing and waiting to be used!

 

Right wall - metal desk with violin and flute case, then large black piano. The back wall was filled with all kinds of guitars and bass guitars hung on the rack like coats in the anteroom. On the left side was a drum set and three hand drums of a different size. Then finally, in the middle was a vocal station with a high chair, microphone, and isolation shield.

 

Kyungsoo started working on the computer, took out from his pocket a pen-drive, and inserted it into the PC. Time was passing fast when he was working, writing in the notebook, and creating new beats in production software.

 

"A piece of cake," he thought, and after that he opened his eyes and a sudden spark appeared in his gaze. He took a pen, played one of the beats, and went:

 

"A piece of cake...

 

Inscribed in significance

 

I wrote it as I wished

 

As the author of the novel"

 

the melody was coming along with the words. He suddenly stood up and started singing:

 

"Before it gets more difficult

 

With the words I said

 

The day... that felt like a dream" then stopped

 

- no, "an answer" sounds better...- and typed it down. The whispers from the door site woke him up from a trance and he rushed to see who is it. It was four Tempo members secretly watching him from a slightly opened door and giggling with each other. He calmed down:

 

- You're here? Did I leave the doors open? -

 

Boys walked in with amused faces and one of them answered " Yes, sorry for eavesdropping" and he folded his hands as if in prayer.

 

He was quite tall, around 180 cm, with medium-length wavy hair, and a round face.

 

The member on his right was maybe 173cm tall, with short hair with red colored gelled bangs up. Kyungsoo guessed it was some kind of trend that he was not following, but it would pass soon anyway so no point in thinking about it.

 

Next, the tallest of them, maybe a 188cm guy with blue hair color, cut in a mushroom hairstyle. Again, for Kyungsoo probably the color was a bigger question than the cut, but he ignored it.

 

The fourth one was max 170cm and his hair was blond dreadlocks.

 

- Guys, sorry, I have seen your names but still don't know who is who. Can you enlighten me? - he pressed his hand against his chest - I'm Doh KyungSoo as you probably already know -

 

- I'm Di! - the one with wavy hair said

 

- I'm TJ - the one with gelled bangs

 

- I'm Luke - the tallest said and Kyungsoo commented: "Oh, going by English name?"

 

- My name is Nakatsu, and I'm Japanese - he made a peace sign and pressed it to his face with a teethy smile.

 

- Nice to meet you guys - KyungSoo was calm, but it seemed he couldn't wait to start. He prepared many tasks before they started the real thing.

 

- Sit on a couch, I would like to speak and get to know you - he pointed to the lobby and then headed to his producer's chair under the control desk.

 

After a while, when they finished talking about themself he went:

 

- Who is rapping and who is singing, also what kind of vocal range are you? -

 

They shouted together while raising their hands high like at school. - Sorry, what did you say? Soprano? - he asked Di.

 

- I can go very high! - shouted with pride, but Kyungsoo, even without changing his impassive facial expression he smirked. Soprano is the highest female range, we will see if he is telling the truth.

 

- And you? - asked Nakatsu

 

- I'm on the lower range but I can do runs and adlips! - said that to make Kyungsoo curious about his abilities.

 

Then the producer asked:

 

- So you both are rapping? For a rap... guys, please do not mumble rap, I will appreciate any effort to be as creative as it is possible, OK? -

 

Silence...

 

- We're not mumble rapping, no worries! - The blue-haired Luke laughed out loud.

 

- I'm glad to hear that because what I have for you will need a specific style and flexibility to make it perfect. Let's check your vocals range first, so I'll know where we are standing -

 

And the KyungSoo's mini-casting started. Apparently, the vocals were slightly different than what was stated by the members. Also, Kyungsoo helped them to explore their vocal capabilities. This studio suddenly became an amusement park. The laugh and excitement were heard even in the corridor...Where Kim was standing and listening, as the doors were not closed fully.

 

- Manager Kim...-

 

He jumped on site after hearing a gentle voice talking from the back. With eyes wide open he tried to catch a breath.

 

- Director Choi, what brings you to the 7th floor? - asked one question but it seems he had more of them in his head.

 

- I'm just checking on our new boy group. How are they? -

 

The person standing there was a middle-aged tall woman with black long hair tied nicely in a twisted low bun. Minimal makeup, just long lashes and mat lipstick in a dark burgundy color. She was wearing a black office suit set with a grey shirt under. She casually came under the door and listened to any sounds coming from the gap.

 

- Considering Kyungsoo will train and lead them, we can expect something new and satisfying... - he answered a question from a few seconds ago, but his tone sounded like he was not admitting it easily.

 

Then Choi opened the heavy door without any warning, walked inside, and closed it behind leaving Kim alone in the corridor...

 

 

 

When she entered, the silence fell in the studio. Kyungsoo rose and bowed his back:

 

- Director Choi -

 

The rest of the boys did the same. She casually moved to KyungSoo's site and turned to the Tempo members.

 

- Are you enjoying your time here? Do you find this session helpful? -

 

"YES!" They shouted together at once while raising clenched fists like they were ready for a battle.

 

- Good - Director smiled and turned to Kyungsoo - how do you see this? -

 

For some reason, they both started slowly moving to the vocal booth, without a word like they were sharing the same mind.

 

- Doh Kyungsoo - saying his full name intended to speed up his answer. He smiled gently and while walking inside the vocal booth he started:

 

- They have talent but no technique. It will take a while, I'm not a vocal couch. Will practice with them the songs and explore their abilities to sound the best as it's possible on recordings, but they should start training now. They don't even know the vocal range...- and stopped because he realized Choi is laughing amused by his words - ...OK? -

 

- I apologize, it's just I'm still impressed even after many years. You grown tall Kyungsoo-yah - she looked at him in a way mother would look at her son and that made him speechless - I'm glad that I made you stay that day. You are the most irreplaceable person in this building. Come to think about it, do you still have this...trauma?.. - stopped. Is this the best word? Can she ask it directly? A few years ago saying the word "trauma" was like playing with fire. He looked into her eyes with disbelief. Then, calmed down as if this question never happened, looked at the microphone and the chair in the middle and almost whispered:

 

- I have no idea, to be honest... a lot is going on in my life and I somehow forgot about the past. But I like how I live now, thank you, again, for giving me a chance back then - he then gratefully smiled and bowed slightly.

 

- I will never forget when I found you on that floor backstage... also, I will never forget when you were the only candidate on casting who came with a Pen-drive, printed off lyrics and sang your own song. I knew I couldn't lose you back then...-

 

This silent second was long like an hour. Was the sliding in his lower eyelid tear a manifestation of joy or the terrific memories?

 

- If you ever wish to try again, please let me know. I won't be lying, as a director I wish to use all your capabilities for business purposes, but...as a friend... I just want you to be happy and not limited because of your fears. I'll help you, whenever you feel you are ready - her caring smile gave Kyungsoo comfort. "Thanks" he nodded head.

 

When she was about to open the door, she stopped and raised her hand:

 

- I remembered! This is something I have learned today *ha ha ha*- laughed suddenly before even revealing the reason - Staff is calling you producer K.O. - and covered her laughing face by hand. Confused KyungSoo wasn't sure if he should laugh too:

 

- What does that mean? -

 

- I didn't know either, but apparently, K.O. in games means the final blow, and employees are saying you are always giving the final blow to every work - she still laughed like it's the best joke ever. This was surprising but not unpleasant. Kyungsoo felt like laughing too and they both came back to the control room in a good mood.

 

 

 

The next day, and the day after, and the day after, all were looking the same. Producer K.O. comes to work at 7 a.m. and finishes around 8 p.m. Eating, reading, or watching movies then sleeping and waking up again. On Thursday there was no difference.

 

This day was long. Kyungsoo had to train Tempo as apparently, no vocal couch was available at that moment because they were in different cities and different branches. JJE was big enough so they could afford to employ additional staff, but it seems the recruitment and planning team missed this one job role in their plans and now they are blaming the low budget for short-staffing.

 

After this long day, at 5 p.m., Kyungsoo was still in the studio. He was working on the song he came up with 3 days ago, recording his voice, but not in the vocal booth, just sitting comfortably in his chair in the control room.

 

The doors opened, he didn't even have time to turn around when he heard:

 

- Kyungsoo-yah! - it was Chanyeol, waving his hand and smiling like a baby.

 

- How's it going? - at the same time slapped friends back. Then, Kyungsoo swung his elbow just in the center of Chanyeol's belly, but just touched to scare him, and it worked, his friend jumped back and started laughing.

 

- How are things? All good?-

 

- Yeah, I think so. Been buckling down for the last 4 days - raised his hands and stretched his back as much as he could.

 

- What about you? -

 

- Umm...nothing really, SeoJung and WSS are a pain in my , but we're fine with May now, so nothing will destroy my great mood. What about YiSeul? -

 

Silence...

 

Kyungsoo just realized he didn't have any contact with her for 3 days. He was so knackered after work that he was managing only to send a Goodnight message...has she replied at all? He grabbed his mobile phone and started searching. She didn't...then he looked at Chanyeol who was standing with folded hands and gazing at his friend with disbelief.

 

- That's not good, is it? Instead of sitting here pointlessly, you should call her. Maybe she's mad, I would definitely be...- Kyungsoo grabbed the phone and ran to the corridor while pressing CALL.

 

ONE SIGNAL

 

TWO SIGNALS

 

THREE SIGNALS

 

- Finally, huh? - she answered...

 

He was in such a shock that couldn't construct the sentences. He didn't believed she answered... And why he didn't think about her in those 3 days? How selfish is he? She's angry, definitely angry...

 

- Y..YiSeul...apologies, I had loads of work to do...- "It's fine, I knew" she interrupted...

 

But what is this feeling of disappointment? Why is she not upset? Why is she supportive? He has done wrong! He is the worst boyfriend and yet, she is not angry.

 

Something seems off.

 

He knew it but didn't want to let this thought disturb his mind now.

 

- Are you happy to spend time with me tomorrow? I mean...I will work only 5 hours, most of the job is done. Do you want to go on a trip to an amusement park? -

 

- Why not? Sure! - she almost shouted into the phone and this made him satisfied. Then he came back to the studio where Chanyeol was waiting impatiently to joke around about this situation.

 

 

 

What a joyful day is waiting for you Kyungsoo-yah...