9:45 PM // The CLUB

Jinri hissed at the pouring rain. She was already an hour late since she should always be around the club before its opening hours. She grunted, fishing her phone out of her bag while making grumpy sounds.

"Look who's being a late mess." A familiar voice took her attention.

"Oh, Sehun.. it's you! GOD, thank you for your presence! I'm so late!" She slipped her phone back to her bag and quickly went under the taller man's umbrella.

"You're so careless. You forgot an umbrella? Good thing I saved you."

"Look, I have many issues to think about and checking if it would rain tonight is one of them. C'mon!" She grabbed the taller one by his wrist before pulling him as they started to walk towards the club.

It didn't take long for them to reach the club, music was already playing across the corridor as they rushed in. Before Jinri could push the door open, Jongin went out with his bandmates, clearly surprised seeing the two.

"Hey Jong- gotta rush!" Sehun gave a small salute to the other, rushing inside and headed behind the bar counter.

"Look who's late." A snicker left Jongin's mouth, reaching a hand up to mess the girl's hair. 

Jinri couldn't help but feel red, good thing it was pretty dark around the corridor or else she wouldn't take it. "Pft, get away from me! I'm late." Well, she wanted to stay there and probably tease the hell out of him but she had to work. "I'll see you guys later!"

"Wait Jins, I gotta introduce you to someone-"

"It can wait later! I'll see you in a few!" Jinri patted his shoulder before running inside the club.

Jongin laughed a little, giving out a wave along with his other bandmates before propping a cigarette in between his mouth.

Jinri quickly rushed at the back room, tossing her bag at the couch without looking. "Oof-" a sound took her attention, making her turn around in surprise. "Well that's a pretty nice welcome." Chanyeol murmured to himself, placing her bag to the empty space beside him. 

"Look- I know I'm late but I have a life too." She groaned to herself while tying her hair up in a bun. 

"Chill." Chanyeol stood up, took her apron that was resting on the tabletop before wrapping it around her waist, making Jinri flinch a little. 

"Uh.. thanks?" She blinked, turned around to stare at him for a few seconds before grabbing her pad and pen to slip inside her pockets. "You're not putting this late-ness against me, are you?"

"Depends, Jinri. You know that you can't be late. The costumers are always a lot and a loss of few hands is a big commotion." He grinned as he sat at the chair behind her. "Or I'm lowering your pay."

"Wait, so do I need like a promisory note or something?" She rolled her eyes. "You're a - You can't lower my pay!"

"I'm your boss." He spoke in a deep voice, his face turning into a much more serious expression.

Jinri gulped a bit and made a sarcastic smile afterwards. "Uh, yeah- Sorry, uhm... I'll get going." She then scurried her way back out.

three hours after Jinri's shift

The wind was cold out after the rain happened, Jinri made her way outside the club and went out through the backroom for a little rest. "Ugh." she made a sound while sitting on the backdoor steps, finally stretching her legs out. "I'm so exhausted." her arms made it against her chest as she laid her forehead against her forearm. 

"Here." the pale guy sat the space beside her, handing her a water bottle. "I didn't steal it, don't worry." Sehun chuckled before gulping down his own water.

"How long have I been in this job? two weeks? three? a month?" 

"Well, I'm not one to calculate but.." he hummed as he thought deeply. "....around a month but less than a month."

Jinri brought her head up and clicked her tongue. "Well, that answered it."

"You know Jinri, a guy would like you more if you weren't that sarcastic."

"You know Sehun, a girl would like you more if you didn't give out an opinion no one asked."

Sehun chuckled, so did Jinri. "We're even then."

"Mm." the girl nodded, opening her bottle before drinking from it. "Sehun, I got a question. And I think you're gonna be weirded out if I ask it."

"Spill."

"How do I tell a guy that I like him?" she bit on her lip as she looked up the sky with a sigh.

"Woah, Jinri..." he looked at her with a bit of widened eyes. "Is this really you? Asking me for love advice?"

"Shut up Sehun. Just answer the damn question!"

He chuckled a little and chewed on the inside of his cheek after. "Well, you tell him straight up. Guys aren't picky at time or place or how you say it and all that, cause you know.. we just don't mind."

"So you're saying.. should I just tell him?" She gazed at him with wondering eyes.

"Yes. But are you like, expecting something? If he'll like you back?"

Jinri sighed, her mind wandered for a while with her thoughts as she bit down on her lip again. "Well, I guess. I just don't like keeping the feeling to myself, do you get me? So yeah, who wouldn't the person they like to like them back."

"You have a point." Sehun then brought his hand up to pat the girl's hair. "Well, whoever this dude is, he's lucky that you like him. Despite being a potty mouth without any limit to herself or anything, I know you have that sweet side that's for him."

"Ew, you're being gross." She nudged his arm away, making the guy laugh then stood up to step back in the club.

Jinri closed her eyes and had a deep breath. "Alright, I'm telling him."

As soon as Jinri headed inside the backroom, Jongin and his bandmates were inside as well. Brickering and chatting while they were probably on a break from performing. But Jinri's eyes caught something an unfamiliar girl she'd never seen before who was sitting beside Jongin.

"Oh, Jins!" Jongin stood up, pulling the girl beside him by her hand. "Good thing you were here. I was about to introduce you to Yoona earlier."

Jinri smiled awkwardly, and held a hand out towards the girl. "Hi, I'm Jinri."

The other girl smiled, named Yoona which she just heard from his mouth. "Hi, I'm Yoona. Uh, I'm Jongin's girlfriend. He told me so much about you--"

What.

Wait..

Girl... friend?

Jinri's mind was blank and it was all a blur. When did this happen? How the hell did this happen and why didn't Jongin tell her about this whole thing? She felt so hurt, so betrayed? Where she knows she shouldn't be.

"Jins... Jins!" She woke up from her gaze and stared at the both of them for a while. "You alright?"

"Oh, yeah! Sorry, your girlfriend's too pretty I couldn't stop staring!" The three of them laughed but Jinri forced herself as much as she could. "Ah, Jongs.. why didn't you tell me about anything between you two!"

"I did! But you probably weren't paying attention too much and you were so busy with finding work and all the bills, I couldn't just bother you with it!"

"Ah, I see." She tried to smile warmly as she could and chuckled softly. "Well, I wish the both of you happiness. I'll be heading back to work now." soon after, she brought her hand up to wipe the tears off the corners of her eyes. 

I..

He's..

How..

2:56 AM

"Thank you! Come back tomorrow, we'll take things down and slow for all you lovers out there. Good night!" Jongin held a hand up to the audience in the club before getting the guitar strap off him and placing it back to the side as he and his bandmates stepped down the stage.

The crowd loved them, they were going to be famous somehow. Jinri thought to herself.

On the other hand, she watched him throughout her shift until she was done. Then she found herself resting herself near the back, looking at her best friend. Yep, just a best friend with her girlfriend who was sitting up front.. watching his boyfriend... who's Jinri's best friend.

"Hey Jinri. You look like you've lost your energy and spirit." she found herself beside her boss, Chanyeol, who was looking at her weirdly.

She grunted, covering her face in frustration. "Shut up. I'm a bit sleepy and I can't wait to get out of this place."

Chanyeol made a little laugh and then did his signature grin after. A few girls passed by in front and waved to Chanyeol, he then waved back, making her roll her eyes. "If you keep rolling your eyes, it's gonna reach to the back of your head." He chuckled a bit before resting on his side to look at her.

"Ugh, I don't understand why people like you exist." Jinri uttered enough for the both of them to hear.

"Like.. me?" He raised a brow, titling his head in confusion.

"Y'know, you have this playboy image, right? Like, why? What good do you get our from it? Playing with all these girl's hearts and all."

"It's nothing, really. I'm just friendly? And hey, I'm not pla-"

Jinri cut her off, "Friendly? You fool around with these girls and you throw sweet words to these... women who just want innocent love from you."

"Woah, why're you so fired up about it? I'm not that kind of person that you hear from other people. I'm not just all that."

"Oh, really?" She crossed her arms against her chest, raised a brow at him.

"You can't talk like that. You don't know half of what I've gone through."

She brought her hand up to her forehead and took a deep breath, "I know, I'm sorry. It's just.. a lot happened today and.. I don't know."

Chanyeol looked at her worriedly, he knew her somehow. And she wasn't like this at all, she'd probably be calling him a by now or a jerk, or a douchebag but something was bugging her mind and it was bugging him too. "Are you alright?"

"No.. it's just.." She couldn't take it, she had to let it out. "I'm sorry." and she found herself rushing out the exit.

Without hesitation, Chanyeol followed her until they reached out the empty streets with just the sound of the wind. The starry night above them and a few sounds from clubs around them playing music. 

She was brawling her eyes out and he quickly held her wrist. 

"I'm fine." she cleared as she tried to speak normally but her voice cracked as soon as she tried.

"Jinri, don't give me that ." He looked at her with worry, he felt like he couldn't do anything to make her feel better. "....It's about Jongin and his girlfriend, right?"

And with that, she couldn't help but cry a little bit more.

He pulled her to him and quickly wrapped his arms around her. And with that, Jinri didn't plan to let go, she couldn't fight anyone anymore, not even for her own feelings. She felt so hopeless. And he didn't like seeing her like this.

Somehow, it felt safe for Jinri in his arms. Somehow, in a way, she felt like it was okay to cry.