A/N: I wanted to get this up this morning so please excuse if it’s written badly or if there’s spelling errors. I’ll fix them later.

Chapter 3: The Plan

 When Yonghwa didn’t answer the phone, Seohyun felt relieved but sad at the same time.

There was always the excuse that he had a late schedule and wasn’t able to pick up the call. But there was also the chance that he simply wanted to ignore her or answering would be too awkward for him. He was so popular these days, and the attachment to Yongseo often seemed like a burden for him. It was easier for her, to handle the jokes and the questions, but he was a man. Surely he wanted to be free of ties to any girl holding him back, especially if he had someone else in his life.

She still had the bear. And the guitar. And the letters, gifts, pictures, and memories. But she seldom touched them or looked at them anymore. Whenever she did, she felt sad and confused. She remembered the cameras in her face, the nervousness that came with standing next to him, hoping she wouldn’t say or do something stupid, and feelings that she couldn’t explain during a moment shared between them. And she’d take that feeling home with her and grin over it for hours. He wasn’t really the problem. She was who had probably made it more than it was. Considering all of this, she decided in the end that it was good that he didn’t answer the phone, that they didn’t open back up that can of worms.     

And then he called back.

The instant Seohyun heard his voice, she knew that they were alright. It was refreshing to hear him say “Hyun”, and memories came rushing back of her choding husband. They were still close, and it made her happy to know.

He said he’d pick her up soon, and when they hung up, she couldn’t help but to smile. But she promised herself not to open up too much. What they had hadn’t been real. She had to remind herself of that if she was going to survive this little play date. She took a breath and controlled her emotions for the sake of clarity.

Sooyoung and Hyoyeon were waiting impatiently by the bathroom door when she came out.

“So?” they asked at the same time.

“He said they’ll be here in a half hour to get us.”

“Wow, that’s not nearly enough time to get ready,” Sooyoung mused. “Oh well, the important thing is what Hyunnie will wear.”

“I’ll just throw on something and do my hair,” said Seohyun thoughtfully.

“Throw on? You’re going to go see your ex-husband wearing something thrown on?” Sooyoung teased.

Seohyun laughed. “You make it sound so real, Unnie.”

“Treat it like it is. Let him know what he’s missing,” she winked, heading toward her room. Hyoyeon dragged her back into their own room and began to look through her closet.

“Annio, annio, too childish, too dressy, annio,” the girl mumbled to herself as Seohyun waited.

“Unnie, I can pick my own clothes.”

“Nonsense. Where is that little leather jacket you bought awhile ago?”

“It’s in there, in the black section. But isn’t that too much?”

“Why would it be too much? You look good in it.”

Seohyun sighed. She did want to look pretty and show him that she matured, but she didn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea.

“Unnie, this isn’t a date ok. We’re spending time as friends, nothing else. Please don’t embarrass me tonight.”

Hyoyeon spun around, wearing a smirk. “Me? When do I ever embarrass you? Huh?”

“Unnie, seriously!” Seohyun fell backwards onto the bed and whined.

“Wah, Wah! Stop moping and put this on,” Hyoyeon ordered, tossing the cute leather jacket at her.

…………………………………………

The van rattled as Yonghwa ran over a pothole pulling off of the highway. The closer he got to Seohyun’s apartment building, the more he anticipated it.

“So what’s the plan, Hyung?” asked Minhyuk.

“We’ll probably just go out to eat and then come back home.”

“We meant about Seohyun,” said Jungshin quietly.

Yonghwa looked in the rearview mirror at them. “There is no plan. I just want to see her, as a friend.”

“Hyung, we’re just a little worried about you. After the show ended,” Minhyuk treaded carefully, “you had a really difficult time. And when she answered no on that show—“

“I’ll be ok. Like I said, we’re all meeting as friends. Don’t worry about anything.”

He knew his dongsaengs meant well, more than well, but did they have to bring that up? It was still a sore spot with him. Here he was on a broadcast, shouting at the top of his lungs that he loved her, but all she could do was hold up an X when asked about her feelings. He had tried to play it cool, giving the situation excuses that made him feel better, but one day, he couldn’t anymore, and it was like one of his scenes out of CN Blue’s first music video “I’m A Loner”.

Eventually he had faced it and gotten over it, but he hated remembering it. And what he had thought about her at the time.

“Just know that we have your back, even if you don’t need it,” said Jonghyun.

Yonghwa laughed. “Let’s see how much you have my back once pretty girls are around. Speaking of which, please don’t make everything awkward. Talk, be funny, be nice. They can be kind of intense.”

The van pulled in front of the familiar apartment building and Yonghwa sent a text saying that he was parked downstairs. After about five minutes, he saw them in the atrium.

“Here they come. Be gentlemen,” ordered Yonghwa, but Jonghyun and Minhyuk were already acting giddy.

Only two girls emerged from the building in sunglasses, cute casual outfits, and heels. He tried to angle his head to see if Seohyun was coming, but he didn’t see her. His excitement died.

The two girls knocked on the door, and Minhyuk opened it. Greetings and quick introductions were exchanged, and Minhyuk moved to the back of the van, his eye smile in full throttle. Rather than following suit, Jungshin remained in his seat. Yonghwa was about to scold him until he saw Hyoyeon climb over Jungshin to sit on his left. He ended up sandwiched between both girls, and couldn’t help but grin about his luck.

Lastly, Jonghyun abandoned the front seat and moved to sit in the back with Minhyuk. He was wearing a wide smirk, the one he reserved for when he felt embarrassed.

“Seohyun’s coming down. Just wait awhile,” Hyoyeon answered his prayer.

“Ok, let’s cut to the chase,” Sooyoung leaned forward in her seat toward Yonghwa. “Do you still have feelings for our Seohyun?”

Yonghwa was caught off guard and couldn’t bring himself to respond to her forwardness. But there was no need because she and Hyoyeon seemed satisfied by his gaping, nervous expression.

“Just what we thought. So listen up, we need you to convince her that she’s still in love with you,” explained Hyoyeon seriously.

“What? Why?” he found his voice again. “If she doesn’t like me, then she’s doesn’t like me. Besides, I’m not her type.”

“You’re the one who gave her a type, Babo. We’ve known that girl half of her life, and all 8 of us members have seen changes in her we never imagined. She still thinks about you, a lot, but she won’t ever say what’s on her mind. Sometimes she gets really sad, but she’s become good at pretending lately.”

“We’re hoping that you can rekindle something in her. You two are too perfect to let it fall apart.” Sooyoung added.

Even if I do, what does it matter? She’ll never accept me,” Yonghwa insisted. “It’d mess up her image if we were ever caught. And maybe even the band’s.”

“That’s true it would. But she can’t be the innocent maknae forever.”

“If you’re worried about losing fans and causing a scandal, I understand, but we can handle that. We do it regularly. Not for us sadly,” Hyoyeon frowned at Jungshin, “but for the other members. If SNSD can get around scandals, can’t CN Blue?”

“Good question,” said Jonghyun from the back. Yonghwa forgot that his dongsaengs were even present for this conversation.

There was a rap on the van window, and they all jumped. It was Seohyun.

“Tonight’s your one chance,” said Hyoyeon lastly.

Sooyoung popped open the door and told the girl to sit in the front.

When she opened the passenger door, Yonghwa’s throat went dry at the mere sight of her. Before he could stop himself, he smiled widely. She was in tight skinny jeans, a cute mini leather jacket he had seen before in pictures, and her black hair was long and bone straight. She looked like his stylish rockstar girlfriend who was waiting backstage at one of his shows.

She met timid eyes with him and bowed slightly. How many times had he clung to the image of her eyes?

“Annyeonghaseyo!” they both said to each other as she climbed in.

“Hyun,” he said cheerfully. “It’s been a long time.”

“Dae, it has,” she smiled at him easily.

His CN Blue brothers echoed the sentiments, and she turned and greeted them happily.

He drummed on the steering wheel happily. This was going to be a good night. He’d certainly take on the challenge of expressing his feelings to her. They weren’t starting from scratch this time.

…………………………………………

So here they were, Seohyun thought. After several months, back in each other’s presence. Free to talk, to laugh, to be friends. It felt good but worrying.

“Mianne,” said Seohyun, running her hand through her hair. “I know it’s short notice, and you probably all would’ve liked to stay home and rest.”

“Annio!” said Jungshin. “We’re happy you called. Home was uneventful.”

She clicked her seatbelt on and turned back again. Sooyoung and Hyoyeon had position themselves on either side of Jungshin, who looked clueless as to what they were up to. Jonghyun and Minhyuk, buried deep in the back of the van, waved to her. She felt sorry almost immediately.

She had only met the CN Blue boys a handful of times, and she liked them a lot. They had a feeling of warmth and friendship, but she couldn’t help to worry about Sooyoung and Hyoyeon’s presence. Would things be even more awkward with them joining? This had the potential to be an interesting night.

“Ok, none of this awkward stuff,” said Hyoyeon as if she had read Seohyun’s mind, leaning forward and popping a CD into the player.

“Unnie, put on your seatbelt,” Seohyun scolded innocently. She glanced over at Yonghwa, who grinned at her and pointed out with his finger that he was already strapped in.  

“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I made a CD that we could all enjoy. Jungshin-ah, you like Maroon 5, right?”

“Dae, we all like Maroon 5,” said Jungshin.

Seohyun realized she was stuck in a van with two of her most intimidating unnies, three shy ex-brother-in-laws, and what felt like an ex-boyfriend rather than a husband. She knew things would seem weird, but nothing had prepared her for that feeling of seeing her oppa again. Her stomach flipped so wildly when she had opened the passenger’s door to the van and saw Yonghwa in the driver’s seat. When he had smiled, it went even crazier. These days, she didn’t even have that reaction performing on stage. How could she bare to look at him all through dinner?

“Misery” began to play. And that’s what Seohyun began to feel like as the van rolled away from their dorm.  

A/N: Hey guys! I just want to point out that Seohyun is really confused about everything. So while she’s saying one thing and thinking another, that means that she’s feeling really conflicted feelings about Yong. Keep that in mind while reading. Sadly the next update will probably NOT be until sometime next week. This weekend is Memorial Day weekend in the US (where I happen to live), so I’m going out of town for a couple of days. When I get back, I’ll try to update regularly again. Expect an update around Wednesday of next week :) Thank you for reading, commenting, and subscribing!! I hope you will enjoy future chapters, and to the other Americans reading this, Happy Memorial Day! Enjoy the time off.