Jade’s POV

I couldn’t move my body. It froze, & so were my hands. They were still plastered against his. No matter how close he was leaning forward, I couldn’t help my feet to walk away. The most I could do was stay still, pause myself, & stop. Anything that involved moving left me.

“A-HEM” suddenly a voice interrupted us, followed by the sounds of tapping footsteps.

Heechul leaned back, glaring up at Yesung who was tapping his feet, arms crossed, & Donghae whose voice I must’ve heard just now. They both looked crossed & annoyed.

But before those two could sound out… “Oof!” Leeteuk & Zhou Mi pulled them back into their room from behind.

What is up with those guys?

After the awkward moment, Heechul finally sounded. “I should be in bed by now…”

I blinked numbly for a second. “Y-Yea…” & everything was left, just like that.

Leeteuk’s POV

“Owww~! Yah hyung!” Donghae pouted like a 5 year old after I hit his & Yesung’s head.

“What did we do wrong??” Yesung asked while rubbing his head. Donghae did too. “We were just about to ask where they went!”

“& interrupt their moment?” I raised a brow, arms crossed in frustration.

“What moment?” he asked innocently with wide eyes. I slapped my forehead as Zhou Mi just sighed.

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The Next Day

Jade’s POV

“Jade? Jadeeeee!”

I snapped back to reality when I realized that Kyuhyun was calling me at the dining table.

“Can you pass me the syrup?” he asked.

“O-Oh, right” I said, & passed it to him.

I’ve been told that I’ve been spacing a lot lately ever since yesterday. I dunno whether it was because the incident with those gangster guys, or… Heechul.

When you laugh, I feel good too~

My phone rang, & everyone at the table almost cracked up laughing as my face turned sour & red. I ignored them & just took my phone & answered the call.

“Yeoboseyo?” I said over the phone. It was Mr. Park. Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve heard from him.

I listened closely, & my heart was kind of dropping at what he was saying. I stayed cool, not wanting to let the guys hear. Then I ended the call with a ‘Thank you’ & ‘Goodbye’.

“Who was that?” Sungmin asked me.

“Oh that was, um, Mr. Park” I quickly explained. “Uh, I gotta go” I said & ran into my bedroom before they could ask anything else.

I closed my door & sat on the bed. I glanced at the phone in my hand. He called to inform me that my contract was ending. Literally made my spirit flew away when I heard that…

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Later

“Jade?” Henry poked me as I was too dazed.

We were at SME building inside the practice room & the whole day I haven’t been hyper like I used to. Usually I’d be bothering Eunhyuk right now. But I just couldn’t.

“Sorry, Henry” I apologized. “I-I was just thinking”

“No kidding. You’ve been sighing a lot” he told me.

“Any problems?” he asked. “Need someone to talk to?” he slumped down on the floor beside me.

Yes, I do need someone to talk to. But I can’t talk to him. I bet if I say one word about my contract ending, he’d definitely be upset.

“It’s ok… I’m fine” I assured him with a smile.

“Ok…” he nodded. I felt like stopping him for a moment & tell him what’s really going on. But I guess I chickened out…

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After practice, Leeteuk decided to treat us all to dinner. & who wouldn’t agree?

He took us to pretty nice, high-class restaurant & everyone was absorbed into the menu. Well, all except me.

“You’re not gonna order anything?” Sungmin asked me, looking over from his menu. I haven’t even touched my own menu.

“I-I guess I’m not hungry” I told him as I played with my spoon. “Maybe you can just order me some water” I said. He nodded & ordered one ice cold water to the waiter.

The guys’ food arrived within minutes. All except mine since I didn’t order anything except for a plain glass of water with ice.

I kept stirring & stirring the straw, but haven’t even sipped it once. Henry was getting suspicious of me, & so was Sungmin. Whenever the ate, their eyes would still focus on me.

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Nighttime came, & we all headed back & rested up in the dorms.

“Jade” Sungmin came up to me as I was lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling. “Can I talk to you for a sec?” he asked.

“Sure” I said, sitting up straight. He then sat beside me as I gave him some room.

“Are you ok? You seem… distant this whole day” he told me.

I hesitated for a moment. “I’m fine” I told him.

“You just hesitated” he told me.

I chuckled. “Really, I’m fine” I tried to sound convincing.

“She’s lying, hyung” Henry peeked from his room.

I looked up to him. “What’re you talking about?” I asked.

“Come on, Jade. I think we should know you a lot by now” he said, walking over & sitting next to my right.

I stared at the two for a while, then finally admitted. I sighed, & looked down. “My contract’s ending. In 3 weeks…”

Henry & Sungmin exchange glances. “What?” their tone di