Part Nineteen

“Heol. What a brave face you have to be here standing so proudly,” I wasn’t even looking that direction and I knew immediately who that annoying little voice came from.

“ off, Kai. I have nothing to say to you and if I did, it would be with my fists,” I tried to ignore him, as I continued fixing my outfit and hair in the mirror. I was all set already, but that didn’t change how nervous I was anyways. It didn’t help that Minho wasn’t here by my side. He should be, he was my lucky charm.

But thinking about him only reminded me of how much more I wanted to punch Kai for the little stunt he pulled yesterday and I swear I would if I wasn’t literally about to have the most important performance of my career in less than an hour.

“I don’t know why you’re even mad at me, I didn’t lie, you should own up to your own actions. The only one who has the right to be mad at me is Minho and by the way he hugged me yesterday, I doubt he is,”

Okay, I was very successfully ignoring him, but that hit a chord. But that’s exactly what this jerk is trying to do anyway so I just roll my eyes before turning to him, “I know what you’re doing, but I should inform you that it’s useless. Me and Minho are back together so save your breath.”

Clearly he wasn’t expecting for his little stunt to turn out with these results, judging by the small look of shock in his face, “Give me a break, you’re back together and he’s not by your side cheering you on right now? Are you sure he didn’t just say that to get you out of his face last night?”

“I don’t know why this is any of your business, but if you must know, he was the one who drove me here and helped me prep this morning, thank you very much. He has a life, you know? He has to be there for a friend tonight too and I’m not nearly as dramatic as you to get upset about things like that,”

“Oh, how cute. He’s going to be there for a friend tonight? Does that even make sense? When his supposed boyfriend is having the most important night of his life? Please, Tae. I don’t care if you guys are back together or not, his feelings cannot be labeled. It seems through all this fighting Minho has unknowingly found someone more important than you.”

Gosh I hated this prick. Who the was he to come and tell me who or what Minho felt? And why the was it making me think about it.

I mean, he had a point… what the was Minho doing? He knew how important this was to me, didn’t he? He had to and if he didn’t then did he even care about me?

But instead he’s out doing what? Caring for someone else? Another friend? Since when does a mere friend’s feelings matter more? Unless Kai was right and… that’s no mere friend..

“Get a life, Kai. Stop obsessing over me. That’s the best advice I can give you, as a human being,” I was being sincere, that was the best I could do, maybe if he wasn’t after my every move he could lead a good life for himself.

I decided I was over this little encounter anyways, so I headed off to find Jonghyun, which was fairly easy to do as he had his own dressing room, being the only one that wasn’t from this company.

“Knock knock,” I state, as I enter and immediately receive a nervous smile from Jonghyun as he looks away from his phone.

“We’re almost up, Tae. Oh my god, we’re really about to perform for the Dream Concert,”

“I know hyung, I know, I’m just as excited. Everything’s perfect.”

“Everything?” I could hear the hesitant look in his eyes and I could only smile softly to it.

“Yes, hyung. Minho and I made up yesterday, and I very carefully explained our performance today so he would be well prepared to see me … see me all over… your… your abs…” I trailed off, looking away, feeling my cheeks heat up.

“Yah! You can’t get shy now, you’ve been touching them for hours in rehearsal!”

“Hyung! Aren’t you even the least bit embarrassed! Gosh this isn’t exactly something I’m proud of...”

“Why would I be embarrassed? I’m excited for Key to see, maybe once he sees how good I look up on stage, he’ll gather some sort of attraction?” He had a cheery smile and I was happy for him and his optimism to pursue Key. I was definitely happy so why did my eyebrow twitch at that slightly? It’s like everything’s about Key today. More people exist in this world!

“Hyung, he doesn’t need to see you half-shirtless to be attracted to you, you know that right?”

“Well, if that doesn’t do it I don’t know what will… I’ve tried everything and he still won’t turn my way. I’m at the point of wondering if I’m just a creepy friend of his who can’t get a hint, gosh he should get me a restraining order,”

“Hyung, you know it’s not like that, he so clearly flirts back with you. He’s just not ready for a relationship, but he’s so thankful you’re always waiting,”

“No, Taemin, that’s what I think is going on. But after so mucha attempts I could only begin thinking maybe that’s not it, maybe I just don’t get the hint,”

Of course I wanted to tell him that Key is so obviously in love with him because he has told me directly, but that was a secret I promised never to say, so I bit my response back and instead gave a small smile.

A ring on Jjongs phone startled both of us, but as he picked up with that excited glint in his eyes I knew immediately it was Key. Does Minho get that glint when I call him too or has it turned into an annoyed sigh?

“Yeah, yeah, I’m in my dressing room it’s on the 2nd floor, should I go get you-” he didn’t get to finish as the door opened slightly with Minho’s head slowly peeking in. After noticing us, he entered fully with Key strolling in behind him and I couldn’t help my happiness as I walked over and hugged him.

“You’re here,” I state happily after a quick peck.

“I am and I’m trying to get Key to come with me, but he insists on staying put in here,” he grumbled and it was cute.

“Come with you where? Can’t you just stay by my side? I’m nervous,”

“Although I’d just love to watch you get ready to get your paws all over some other guys chest, I need to make sure to pump up Key’s reputation around here,” As he said this he was staring at Key somewhat longingly and I don’t know why but all of sudden my stomach had dropped.

Both Key and Jonghyyun had gone to sit down on the couch, a bit further away from us, so why was Minho’s attention on them instead of me, who was standing right infront of him? And why the was Key wearing that. Yeah, he’s always stylish as heck, but this outfit is pushing the line. It looks like a freaking stage outfit, do I need to remind anyone that I’m the one who's performing tonight not him?!

Thinking back to it, hadn’t Minho been so completely preoccupied with Key these past days? Wasn’t this supposed to be my big day, but instead he was focusing on someone else? He even used my ticket to give to Key...

“Hyung, this is a really important performance to me. Can’t you be there for me?” I wasn’t simply asking, my voice had a tone of challenge.

“I am here, and I will be supporting you when you go on, but right now I need to be there for Key,”

“What exactly is so important about Key today that you’re so obsessed with him?!” I didn’t mean to but I snapped without wanting to, though at least that seemed to get his full attention on me. I couldn’t even properly be mad and yell because the duo were only a couple of feet away from us so instead I had to resort to whisper-yelling.

“Excuse me? Obsessed? Is caring for a friend such a bad thing?”

“What exactly is there to care about! He’s standing right there, fine and healthy with his crush who he belongs with,” I try to emphasize but that only seemed to trigger him as his eyebrow twitched.

“Oh, so you are aware that Key has a crush on Jonghyun, but I guess that just slipped your mind when you went behind both our backs and made out with him,”

Yes, I felt guilty, and yes I know that no matter what I do I was in the wrong for that, but we had just gone over this yesterday!

“We already talked about this yesterday, hyung! I explained things to you and I thought we were good? It’s not fair of you to bring it back up,”

“Yeah, we’re good, but that doesn’t mean it's so easy to forget Taemin. Are you even listening to yourself, this happened yesterday. And that’s not even the point, I’m not bringing it up from my point, I’m bringing it up from Key’s point! You kissed your own best friends crush while knowing about it!”

Again with Key! Key, Key, Key, Key!

“Oh my god, stop talking about him! NEWS FLASH: THE WORLD DOESN’T REVOLVE AROUND KEY. There are many people more important than him!” I couldn’t help it at this point and yelled it out, this time both Jonghyun and Key looking at both of us now.

“What is wrong with you? WIll you stop being such a ing jerk to Key? He’s done nothing but be perfect to you, why the are you being like this?”

I could only scoff at that. Perfect? PERFECT? There was no doubt as to what Minho clearly thought about Key now.

“Perfect? What exactly about him is perfect? He couldn’t even get into my company,” It came out before I could stop it, it really did. And before I could react to my own words I felt a punch to my face.

To be honest, I expected that, but not from Jonghyun. Key didn’t say anything, instead went back to the couch to pick up his bag. Jonghyun was fuming and Minho only stared at me with disgust.

What? So he could give Key those loving eyes but I get the disgust? What a ing jerk.

As soon as Key was out the door both Jonghyun and Minho were after him.

And I was just alone.

“Oh wow, looks like that went great for you,”

Alone would actually be a lot better than this, but instead Kai had wandered into the room… almost too convenient of the timing.

“ off, Kai, I don’t need this from you.” I meant it. And I was being nice by giving him a warning, because one more snarky remark from him and I wouldn’t hold back from killing him.

“Calm down, I came to help,” he muttered, raising his left hand to show he had brought a small first aid kit.

“I don’t want your help, I don’t trust you. This is exactly what you wanted to happen anyways, didn’t you?”

“Come on, you go on stage soon, let’s clean it up,” he must have sensed my lack of resistance because he came walking over to the vanity setting down the stuff and giving me a silent signal to sit so that he could treat my wound.

“Strangely, I think it’ll fit the concept,” I mumble and I can’t believe I was having a decent conversation with him for once.

“Well, we should still get it cleaned up,” he insisted and I didn’t fight it as I sat down, letting him grab a cotton swab and clean the small amount of blood on my lip. He didn’t say anything else and neither did I. I mean what could I say to this guy that I’ve hated for years?

He finished up quite quickly and threw the stuff away.

“Your bag’s in your dressing room, right? I’ll go put this extra stuff in it,” I couldn’t help but keep looking at him strangely… why was he being so nice to me?

“No, that’s okay, I can put it in there myself,” I stated but he’s quick to disagree.

“You don’t have much time before your performance, I think you should go find Minho and talk to him.”

Seriously, why the was he being so nice and reasonable and understanding? It was a bit creepy, but I did think I needed to speak to Minho before my performance so I mumbled a quick thank you and left only hearing a happy, "Break a leg!" from behind me.

A/N:

Please don't kill me for the large break, I'm so sorry.....