Yuqi wakes and looks up to the morning light that’s peeking behind the still closed shades not knowing the exact time it is but got a gut feeling it’s time to get up to start the day

 

And like the days before, the eyes couldn’t resist itself of not glimpsing to Lucas’s gift she placed on top her desk since the night they last met as she stumbles out of her bed

 

The gift is an auto reminder of how many weeks there is left to make the decision whether to accept or decline Lucas’s proposal to be her boyfriend

 

But thanks to the reviews of last nights Queendom episode, her mind wasn’t in the mood to count today, it flew straight to Soyeon whose name got the most mention in the comment section

 

+ + + +

 

Soyeon have dealt with much more worse and hasher words to hear and read but it didn’t felt as heavy as this one

 

The critics started from her choice of words to focusing on other details from the performance and connecting it with the past ones those people find offensive and problematic

 

She felt bad the girls got dragged along and just learned that some words often said in Korea as an expression of compliments can mean and interpreted as something else outside

 

Minnie just finished eating her breakfast when she receives a chat message from Yuqi wanting to check on Soyeon's condition. She told Yuqi the call they made to the PR manager on the same night was a great idea

 

The stress and pressure on Soyeon’s eyes Minnie saw were no longer there the next day

 

Minnie : How is Lucas’s jetlag?

 

+ + + +

 

Ever since Lucas’s return from the fashion week and photoshoot for Burberry in London 4 days ago,  he hasn’t able to restore his sleeping schedule back to normal

 

It’s like when he got back from Dubai all over again. Flipping night with morning. Morning with night

 

The last time Yuqi chat messaged Lucas, he plans to build the Lego she gave him on the finale of Keep Running along with the couple others he owns to fill in the hours 

 

That plan and intention to do so actually existed since a few months back but it kept put on halt because of the busy schedule

 

Waking up to a view of Lucas’s back sitting in the same spot and position he memorized before going to sleep kind of surprised Winwin

 

He thought Lucas will already be in bed by the time the sun rises and birds are chirping outside. But he guessed wrong

 

Winwin startles Lucas a bit with his big yawn getting out of his bed, “Xuxi” he calls, “Please get some sleep. The days off are for you to rest, not aiming a target to build each of the Lego’s you bought before getting back to work”

 

Hearing Winwin’s voice made Lucas realize the day was no longer dark, “No wonder my eyes begin to feel tired” he jokes leaning back to chair

 

Winwin counts the Lego’s Lucas done building in just one night and said it’ll be weird if Lucas’s eyes doesn’t give any reaction after all the hours spent with only one lamp radiating the desk area 

 

+ + + +

 

Few hours later when Yuqi and the girls is getting ready to be one of the performer in a university festival, she receives a chat message from Lucas asking why she didn’t tell him the drama that happened when he was still awake yesterday night

 

Luclint : I read through the comments while tuning in the performance they posted

Luclint : I found a couple unpleasant ones

Luclint : Went on twitter to check and shock to read the tweets underneath the post you girls made

Luclint : You girls ok?

Yucisha : We are

Yucisha : A bit sad but don’t worry :)

Yucisha : Maybe we need to understand deeply about other cultural beside ours

Yucisha : Afterall

Yucisha : Kpop now is becoming more international than it was before

Luclint : I wish I can tell those people they also need to understand where we are coming from

Luclint : To balance each other out

Yucisha : Agree

Yucisha : It doesn’t feel pleasant getting called out for something that’s not intended to go to that certain direction but did

Luclint : Kind of feels like crap when they demand an apology for the result of their own thinking and interpretation while continue on cursing at us

Yucisha : Let’s not forget it’s not nice calling out others who disagree with them just because those others sees it differently

Luclint : 💔

Yucisha : You seem to have been in such situation before

Luclint : Discussion within the fandom how I reacted to something

Luclint : They thought it was offensive and thought I could’ve done it in a better way

Yucisha : They don’t know we read what their saying on the internet though we cannot reply even if we wanted to so bad

Luclint : It’s a secret that will forever be a rumor among them

Luclint : Sorry for being noisy

Luclint : I can’t help myself for not worrying, cause you just went through an accusation of misunderstandment not long ago

Yucisha : You did as well 😌

Luclint : But you had it worse 😌

Yucisha : I’m blessed to have such a supportive and positive environment to get me through to it 😊

Luclint : You’re welcome 😬

Yucisha : Anyways

Yucisha : 🐒

Yucisha : How many hours of sleep did you get today?

Luclint : Not bad. Why?

Yucisha : I asked how many hours, not how was it

Luclint : You’ve been quite obsessed with my sleeping hours since yesterday

Yucisha : You don’t like it that I care about you getting some rest?

Luclint : Kidding me?! I’m flattered

Luclint : 😅

Yucisha : ⏳

Luclint : I slept around 10. Woke up around 2

Luclint : A leap of progress right?

Yucisha : More like baby steps of progress

Yucisha : Let’s just hope you can sleep normally tonight

Luclint : I’m done building the Lego you gifted me by the way 😊

Yucisha : Oh?

Luclint : I wish I can post it up in my weibo page or my anon accounts but that’s like digging a hole for a new problem

Luclint : (picture sent)

Yucisha : LOL

Yucisha : Did you tell Win ge to pose or he offered himself to do it?

Luclint : I told him if he wanted me to stop building Lego’s and sleep, he needs to do me a favor

Yucisha : So if it wasn’t for Win ge, you might be still up around 10 building Lego’s?! 🤔

Luclint : Not really

Luclint : I felt the drowsiness kicking in as soon as i lay my head down on my pillow

Luclint : My eyes probably wanted me to sleep but my mind were still on my Lego’s

Yucisha : After a day not getting any, i’m sure your eyes were begging you to

Luclint : Hey Yuci

Yucisha : What?

Luclint : I haven’t asked  about the location you are at right now

Yucisha : Salon

Yucisha : Waiting for Miyeon unnie getting her makeup done and off we go for another festival stage

Luclint : And?

Yucisha : Back to Cube to prepare more stuff for our fan club opening ceremony on the 22

Luclint : Afterwards?

Yucisha : Dorm

Luclint : Chat message me when you arrive back

Yucsiha : Video call?

Luclint : Still ask? 🙄

 

+ + + +

 

The crowd gives a round of loud applause, the girls bow down saying their farewell, “Thank you. We love you all” wave once more to the students, visitors and fans that came to watch them perform

 

Yuqi and the girls along with their manager, drove straight to Cube Ent afterwards for a brief practice and finalization on the things that needs to for the upcoming ceremony 

 

The upcoming ceremony will be like a mini concert. There will be performances, interviews, and games. The girls will also do a surprise cover from other groups and a one day early celebration of Yuqi’s birthday

 

“Let’s not tell her” the stage manager told Miyeon, Minnie, Soojin, Soyeon and Shuhua

 

Those who are working on the ceremony preparation can feel excitement from the girls. Though it’s private and small, they are excited and pumped to interact more closely with the fans and perform more longer for them

 

They wished their family could join but Cube said there will come a time each family will be invited to a much more better one in the future

 

“Oh—” Yuqi gets a call in the middle of the gathering, “I got to get this” she excuses herself outside and accepts the call, “Yuci” she answers

 

Yuci, Yanan’s familiar voice can be heard on the other line

 

+ + + +

 

The two last met when he accompanied her back to the dorm after the strange encounter with Yeseo

 

On the same day

 

He told her the reason behind his sudden visit to Korea is to have a talk with Cube about his hiatus status in Pentagon that hasn’t been lifted, making him unable to participate in their activities and comeback

 

He also said he’ll contact her once the meeting is over before excusing himself back to the Pentagon's dorm. But he never did and never showed up again

 

Sorry, Yanan apologizes, I vanished in an impolite way. I hope I didn’t worry you and you can forgive me

 

“I’ll be lying if I say i’m not mad” replied Yuqi, “A bit mad—“ she continues, “and a little worried because gege was going to confront Cube without any attorney by gege side”

 

Yeah, Yanan agrees, That was a mistake. Not bringing an attorney, Yanan chuckles, is that all?

 

Hearing the desperation sigh, Yuqi didn’t have the heart to nag further, “Didn’t go well?” she asked

 

I didn’t want to cramp your thoughts and mood after the Yeseo thing happened so I decided not to tell you. Who thought it was stupid of me to do so because I couldn’t tell anyone else. As a result? I got kind of stressed out keeping it to myself

 

“Oh dear—” Yuqi is concerned, “But is gege ok now?”

 

Me flying back to Shanghai and seeing my therapist was a good decision I made. Even if it needed a couple days to regain myself back but  here I am. Talking to the only person I’m most comfortable talking with. Are you busy? I forgot to ask, Yanan wanted to be assure he wasn’t bothering and interfering in a middle of something

 

“Luckily, i’ve just finish a meeting with the girls and we’re on a short break before we continue on to our practice for the 22”

 

Please Subscribe to read the full chapter