[[to understand more, please read my first story "Song and Key " this is a sequel to that story.]]

YuNa's POV

I buckle the fastener on my backpack and take one look around the room.

This is so not fair.

I make my way out of my room and then across the hallway. Even though we’re roommates and best friends, I haven’t actually seen MeiXing for a day or so, so I guess she’s staying with Key.

I unlock the door and make my escape.

“Jibe Gajima, Baby~”

I look down at my phone.

Who could possibly be calling me right now? Everyone I know is at work.

“Yoboseyo?”

“Ms. Jung?”

I pause. “Yes?”

“This is the manager of employment at SM, we were wondering if you could give a statement.”

I clear my throat.

“I never actually quit. I said I needed a break. I’ll be seeing my manager in half an hour to straighten some things out.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for the mistake.”

I hang up and keep walking.

At this time of day, when I reach the SM building, everyone should be too busy to run into me.

“Ah Jung YuNa,” Mr. Kim greets me as I walk in.

A girl stands to the far right but I take a step forward anyways.

“Mr. Kim, did you tell the highups that I quit?”

He looks at me dumbfounded.

“I thought you understood that I just need a break.”

He sighs. “Although I think you’re a fantastic writer and I adore that fact that you and the boys get along so well, I can’t give you a break.”

I clench my jaw.

“But if you can tell me the reason for this break, I may let it slide.”

I swallow. I can’t tell him either and what about that girl?

“I’m currently going through some personal reflection and I think it will damage my work.”

He nods his head.

“YuNa, there is only so much I can do. Not only you job, but mine is on the line.”

Which is why I can’t tell you about the blackmail.

“If you could honestly say that you were only going to be absent for a week then maybe I could let it go, but without a definite answer, I can’t keep you.”

My heart stops. I’m fired?

“This is Lee Yuki; she will be taking your spot as the new writer.”

I turn my attention to the girl.

She’s tall, thin and is absolutely beautiful.

“Hello, I’m Yuki,” she says in a Japanese accent.

“YuNa,” I bow.

“Yuki will be the new writer, but her position will be broader covering all groups while in Korea and in Japan.”

I smile at her. She did nothing wrong.

It’s not her fault that I’m in this situation.

I write down the second admin account and its current password.

“Yuki, this is for you. Mr. Kim, I wish you the best. I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”

I bow before leaving the room.

So I guess I did quit, or maybe I was fired.

Aish, I don’t care, either way I don’t work for SM anymore.

“YuNa-shi!” someone yells down the hall.

I look up to see Leetuek from SuJu.

“I haven’t seen you much lately, how’s it going?” he asks.

I paint on a fake smile.

“It’s going. How are you?”

He laughs, “Same old same old, I’ve been on Star King a lot lately, but that’s about it.”

I try to smile.

“Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

I take a breath.

“It’s nothing, I’m sorry but I’ve got to go,” I say excusing myself.

“What do you think you’re doing?” a deep voice says looming over my shoulder.

I stumble foreword.

“You haven’t been here in over a week and now you’re back and you don’t even say hi?”

Minho…

“I was actually just leaving.”

He grabs my arm. “Hyung, I’m sorry, but I’ll be escorting her the rest of the way.”

Leeteuk says goodbye before Minho dragging me down the hallway.

“Minho, I’ve got to go.”

“We need to talk.”

I twist my way out of his grip.

“Minho, I’ve got somewhere I need to be.”

He grabs me by the waist and throws me over his shoulder.

“Put me down,” I say hitting him on the back.

“We have some questions for you.”

“We?”

He opens the door to a room and then locks it behind us.

“Minho, what are you doing?” Key asks.

Minho puts me down and I look around the room.

It’s only MeiXing, Key, Minho and Taemin sitting on the floor.

I lunge for the door, but Minho grabs me around the waist.

“We heard today that there’s going to be a new writer,” MeiXing says cocking her head.

I nod. “There is.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I didn’t want to worry you.”

MeiXing looks at me in the eyes. “Bullsh - t.”

“After everything we’ve been through and you’re just lying now? I really thought you were sick!”

She’s speaking English; she can’t be in a good mood.

“I’m sorry; I just want to make things better.”

Key grabs her arm.

“Don’t get upset,” he hushes.

“What did I do?” Taemin asks.

“You did nothing.”

He snorts and then stands up walking towards me.

“Tell me what did I do? I’m sorry, just tell me.”

I push him away.

“I wanted to quit. This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while,” I lie.

He takes my hands.

“We all know you’re lying.”

I look up at him unable to stop the tears that sting my eyes.

“I’m doing this for all of you.”

He laces my fingers with his.

“None of us asked you to quit YuNa.”

I look from Minho to MeiXing to Key then back to Taemin.

“You don’t have to tell me to, I know what needs to be done.”

His eyes soften.

“You never call me Nuna,” I whisper so that only Taemin can hear.

He swallows.

“Because you’re more than just a Nuna.”

“You’re still seventeen, do you know what could happen if people found out?”

He kisses the palm of my hand.

“Do you really think I care?”

A knot starts to form in my stomach.

What do I do?

“What about your career? What about SHINee?”

“What about it?”

______________

cliffhannger? okay so weird updating will start sometime this week. >.< sooorry. (and by weird i mean not as frequently)

hope you like it so far... it's getting a little dramatic =_=

still looking for a name for the co-ed group in my other fanfic.. any and all ideas are loved. I've got more info on the latest chapter.

much love,

meng.