It's Not A Joke
Hesitant
"Are you guys almost ready?" Michelle zipped up her black hoodie and fixed her hair in the mirror. Once inside their
place they fought viciously for the bathroom, with the maknae Minkyung winning the first spot. Each girl hurried to get
ready. They each picked out dark clothes in order to blend in easier with the darkness of the night. Michelle finished
doing her make-up and picked out one of the many face masks they had collected. Another act in the hopes of not
getting caught, concealing their faces.
place they fought viciously for the bathroom, with the maknae Minkyung winning the first spot. Each girl hurried to get
ready. They each picked out dark clothes in order to blend in easier with the darkness of the night. Michelle finished
doing her make-up and picked out one of the many face masks they had collected. Another act in the hopes of not
getting caught, concealing their faces.
She waited patently for the other girls to finish and checked her phone. Ray texted her saying they would be down two
blocks south of the building.
blocks south of the building.
"Unnie, quick picture!" Jinhee pulled her off the bed and they all huddled together as Jenny raised the Fuji Polaroid
camera.
camera.
"First night sneaking out!", she said, "Smile!"
"Shhh!" Michelle hushed the giggling girls behind her.
She quickly made her way down the rusty fire escape. With each step they heard it creak and feared that they would be
caught.
caught.
"Okay there's no quiet way to do this.", she whispered, "Just stop laughing and try not to fall!"
Jenny played look-out as Michelle help untangle Minkyung's jacket from the ladder. "Aiya Minkyung!", she struggled, "I
don't even want to know how this happened."
don't even want to know how this happened."
She scowled, "I'm sorry unnie."
"There.", Michelle helped her down and they quickly hid in the shadows as they ran down the street.
They saw the boys and scurried down, bumping into them purposely.
"Well? Let's move people!" Jinhee jumped up and down.
Barom smugly looked at her, "Surprised you showed up."
"Yeah, yeah." Michelle hugged Jaejoon, "What are we waiting for?"
The group made their way to the train station, masks hiding their faces. Michelle was the last on, frowning when there
wasn't anymore seats. She leaned against one of the poles and held on.
wasn't anymore seats. She leaned against one of the poles and held on.
"Oh you can take my s-", Jaejoon was about to get up but Barom stood up before him.
He went next to her and pointed at his seat. Michelle gave him look as if he was crazy. "Uhm...are you okay?"
Barom rolled his eyes and nudged her forward, "Sit."
Everyone stared in amazement as she took his seat, bowing her head slightly at him.
Dabin looked at her, "What was that?"
"I can hear you." Barom shook his head, "Dumb ."
The rest of the ride was silent, with Michelle trying to read Barom's facial expression. He seemed to be deep in thought
and met her gaze after a few seconds. She looked away quickly and stared at her shoes, feeling embarrassed.
and met her gaze after a few seconds. She looked away quickly and stared at her shoes, feeling embarrassed.
They all got up feeling the train slow down and eventually come to a stop. Michelle was almost trapped by the doors
closing but with Barom's strength, he was able to keep them open.
closing but with Barom's strength, he was able to keep them open.
"Come on slow poke.", he joshed, his eyes showing that he was smiling.
She hopped off and they both ran to catch up with the others.
"Guys! Wait!" By the time Michelle and Barom reached the top of the steps they were already splitting up.
"Unnie, we're going over there!" Minkyung pointed.
The girls ran over, waving at Michelle, "We'll be back!"
Barom had the same trouble, the boys split up as well.
"Take care of Jaejoon!" He was able to yell before they too ran out of sight.
Michelle twiddled her thumbs, and looked up as Barom coughed.
"Guess it's just you and me.", he sighed. This sigh was different though, usually he sounded annoyed but this time it
was kind of...happy? Michelle didn't say anything as they began walking. He saw a food stand and smiled brightly,
"Come on!", he grabbed her hand and dragged her along.
was kind of...happy? Michelle didn't say anything as they began walking. He saw a food stand and smiled brightly,
"Come on!", he grabbed her hand and dragged her along.
She was shocked at the sudden action, feeling a blush creep up from the feeling of his hand on hers. Something is
definitely up...
definitely up...
"Do you want something?", he asked as he stepped in line.
Michelle shook her head, still not saying anything. "Oh come on Michelle! I'll buy it for you, just eat!"
She tilted her head at him and he turned around to move up in the line.
"Are you sure?", he asked.
She nodded, "Positive?", he strained his voice.
"Mhm.", her voice was muffled from the mask.
He narrowed his eyes at her before turning around and ordering. The girl became distracted with a group of kids
running around, she chucked. Barom touched her leg with his knee, hands occupied with food.
running around, she chucked. Barom touched her leg with his knee, hands occupied with food.
"Follow me!", he sang. Still confused by his behavior she trailed behind him.
They both sat down at a small table and Barom put down the disposable plates filled with food. Michelle fiddled with her
phone and looked up when he placed a plate of food in front of her. She saw her favorite, the dish was topped with
gogi mandu's. The only person that knew her favorite was Dabin, unless he mentioned it to him...or maybe he just got
them without thinking.
phone and looked up when he placed a plate of food in front of her. She saw her favorite, the dish was topped with
gogi mandu's. The only person that knew her favorite was Dabin, unless he mentioned it to him...or maybe he just got
them without thinking.
"Thank you.", she lowered the mask and gave him a smile.
Barom kept his head down as he at, hiding the huge grin that had when she smiled at him.
Michelle chewed slowly, trying to figure out what in the world was going on in his head. The only time he was ever nice
to her was when they first met, and even then he quickly changed into an annoying .
to her was when they first met, and even then he quickly changed into an annoying .
Both walked along the bridge above the river, neither saying a word. Barom hesitated for a second but he knew he had
to, there was no stopping him from doing this now. He brushed his hand along her's and from the corner of his eye he
saw her snap her head down.
to, there was no stopping him from doing this now. He brushed his hand along her's and from the corner of his eye he
saw her snap her head down.
He did it again, pretending he didn't notice before and finally just grabbed her hand, lacing it with his own. Michelle
stopped immediately and yanked him back.
stopped immediately and yanked him back.
"Okay what's going on?" She pulled her hand away and crossed her arms.
"What do you mean?", Barom took off his mask.
"Is this a dare? Who do you have a bet with? Dabin? It's Dabin isn't it? No, Minwoo?"
Barom started laughing. "This isn't funny!", she glared at him.
"Why are you being nice to me? You've always been rude and obnoxious and conceited and...all this other stuff! So
what's going on? Why are you willingly hanging out with me, buying me food, and holding my hand?"
what's going on? Why are you willingly hanging out with me, buying me food, and holding my hand?"
She smacked his arm when he continued to laugh. "Barom Yu! I'm being serious, stop joking around with me. Why are
you like this?"
you like this?"
He coughed as he tried to speak, "It's...it's just funny!", he laughed.
"HOW?!" Michelle threw her arms in the arm, "I fail to see the humor in this."
"Y-you think-k that I'm messing around.", Barom wiped the tears at the corner of his eyes.
"What?" Michelle didn't understand.
"You think that this.", he grabbed her hand again, "Is a joke."
Her eyes went from their hands to his eyes, "B-barom...what are you saying?"
He sighed and struggled to say how he felt. Instead he pulled her forward and planted his lips on hers.
Her eyes bulged out from their sockets as she realized what was happening. He smiled when he felt her relax. With
slight reluctance she wrapped her arms around his neck, his hands staying at her sides. When she tried to pull away he
tugged her back and tightened his arms around her waist.
slight reluctance she wrapped her arms around his neck, his hands staying at her sides. When she tried to pull away he
tugged her back and tightened his arms around her waist.
"No...please don't.", he whispered.
She fought against his grip, "Barom, no.", she gulped, "We...I can't."
His sweet breath mingled with hers as he leaned his forehead.
"Michelle, please. Just kiss me.", he begged.
Before she could say anything else he cupped her face and connected their lips again.
Barom's phone began ringing and he ignored it, completely forgetting that they had both let the kids roam around.
Yes, he should've been more considerate about them but right now he didn't want anything to ruin the moment. As
soon as his stopped ringing, Michelle's began.
Yes, he should've been more considerate about them but right now he didn't want anything to ruin the moment. As
soon as his stopped ringing, Michelle's began.
"Aghh.", he groaned as she pulled away.
"It's probably the kids.", Michelle dug in her pocket and answered.
"Where are you Minkyung?", Barom held her closely, his lips pressed against her forehead.
"Okay...", Michelle smiled at him when he kissed the corner of , "No, I haven't killed him yet. Tell the boys to
calm down they still have a leader."
calm down they still have a leader."
Barom smirked, "Okay, we'll be over there in a little bit then, bye."
She put the phone back in her pocket and looked at him.
"They are waiting for us.", she exhaled, "And we shouldn't have left them alone."
They both slipped on their hoods and masks, with him trailing behind her.
They caught them by a magic stand, with the magician using Dabin as a volunteer.
"Make him disappear!" Michelle shouted, making them all turn in her direction. Dabin glared at her, sticking out his
tongue.
tongue.
"Where were you two?!" Jenny asked lowly.
"I was contemplating whether or not to toss him over the bridge."
Barom scoffed, "All she did was whine about how you three 'abandoned' her."
"SHH!" Minwoo turned and silenced them so he could watch the show.
Jenny went back to where she was, leaving Barom and Michelle alone, behind the rest of them.
Michelle kept her eyes on what the magician was telling Dabin. He handed him a small red ball, "Now hold it tightly, and
I'll say the magic words~"
I'll say the magic words~"
She gasped lightly, feeling Barom's around snake around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder and watched as
well. When it ended Barom quickly tore away from her, not wanting any of them to see.
"Should we head back?", Taemin asked, "It's nearly two."
well. When it ended Barom quickly tore away from her, not wanting any of them to see.
"Should we head back?", Taemin asked, "It's nearly two."
Dabin frowned, "I'm gonna have to take a different train back home."
They slowly made their way towards the station, with Dabin almost missing the one he needed to take.
He waved frantically through the glass and made heart shapes with his hands. When he was out of sight they moved
to the right platform and waited for it to arrive. There weren't as many people so there were plenty of seats for them.
to the right platform and waited for it to arrive. There weren't as many people so there were plenty of seats for them.
Barom tried to get the seat next to Michelle but didn't make it. She sat in between Jaejoon and Hyunil. He sat across
from her, making a sour face.
from her, making a sour face.
Half-way there they both fell asleep, their heads on her shoulders. Barom shook them awake, too tired to scold them.
They sleepily made their way back, careful to not bring attention to themselves. "Bye guys!" They stopped where they
had met before beginning the adventure and went their separate ways. They boys going back to their dorm another
block away, and the girls heading back to the building.
had met before beginning the adventure and went their separate ways. They boys going back to their dorm another
block away, and the girls heading back to the building.
With both groups heading away Barom grabbed Michelle's wrist and spun her around, "You know we can't do this.",
she looked up at him.
she looked up at him.
He closed his eyes slowly, "Don't say that."
"It's true though, we can't...I'm sorry but we can't."
Michelle didn't wait for him to respond and hurried to catch up with the girls, who were too tired to notice that she
wasn't right behind them.
wasn't right behind them.
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