Jieun took a deep breath and seat on the floor. The atmosphere around her was too hot and she could hardly find the strength to keep her eyes open and she was sure that if she allowed her eyes to rest, even if it was just for two seconds, she would pass out in that exact moment. The last time she felt like that was probably when she was a child and right now she was sure that it was even worse than before, she wasn’t just sure how bad it actually was. She allowed her head to rest against the cold ceramic wall and she tried to breathe again. How she found herself in a situation like that, she would never guess, but at that moment all she wanted was to leave and go back to her warm, wonderful bed that was calling for her, no matter how far she was from home at that moment. She shouldn’t be there. it wasn’t a place for a girl like her! She shouldn’t be in a place like that. it was out of her character, and a place like that wasn’t something that she would go to on a daily basis. And how did she manage to go to a place like that in the first place? It was 2AM and for all her mother knew; she was still practicing and would be spend the night there. She was surprised her mother didn’t say she would go there and help her with her dancing. It was something she would say for sure.

But no. instead she found herself being dragged by Jeon Hyosung, her best friend, to an underground club where her boyfriend was going to perform. She was sure she had said no to her friend, but if she did, why was she there? Why did she watch Jang Dongwoo perform and kill the audience with his amazing rap skills and with his incredible dance? It was no wonder many music companies were after him to make him a big star. It was strange that he still didn’t accept it. Jeon Hyosung would always tell him to accept it but instead he would just smile and say he would rather teach kids how to dance and how to rap. In reality was that he didn’t want to be a star because that meant he would need to break up with Jeon Hyosung and Jieun knew how Jang Dongwoo was. He loved her with all his heart and she knew it was a matter of time before he proposed to her and she said yes. Jieun didn’t believe in soul mates or in fairy tales, but she knew those two were meant to be…How she envies them. So much. Maybe it was why she was there. Maybe she was hoping that on that club she would find the love of her life. Or at least something that made her smile and happy.

Instead, she was locked on the girl’s bathroom throwing up every single thing her stomach had. She was sure if things continued like that, her soul would leave and she would die right there. No she wasn’t drunk. She hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol. It was her stomach again. It was giving her problems again and she couldn’t control it. It would only happen when she was nervous or when she ate more than she should so she didn’t understand why she was feeling like that. it made no sense and no matter how much she tried to think about it, no matter how much she tried to think why in the world she was feeling like that, she couldn’t remember what happened that day that made her feel like that. her day actually went smoothly for a change. At practice Lee Howon finally said she was improving a little bit but she was still too far behind and then she spent the afternoon listening to Nam Woohyun’s songs. Each note was like heaven and she couldn’t help but feel blessed. He would never play his own songs to anyone, and yet, he was playing them for her over and over again. it made her feel special and every time he smiled at her, her heart would almost explode and her cheeks would burn to the point she was sure she would pass out.

But that feeling was wonderful and made her happy. It wasn’t like the way she was feeling at that moment, not by a long shot. She was just lucky Jeon Hyosung left already, otherwise she knew her best friend would probably take her to the hospital, and if her mother found out what her daughter was doing, Jieun would never leave her house again without some kind of supervision. She was 23 for god’s sake. Why was her mother like that? And why she allowed all of that to happen in the first place?

She heard a knock at the door. Damn it. “Busy.” She said with a weak, yet loud voice. Another knock and the same answer but this time her voice cracked again. Couldn’t the woman go to another bathroom? She was sure there were other’s available. “Go away!” She said, almost demanding. The knocking stopped and all she could hear was the loud music coming from outside. She was sure the woman had left, but then she heard the door being unlocked and all she could do in a state like that was look up and see whoever was entering the bathroom.

Her vision was a little blurry because after throwing up so much, tears started running down her eyes. But even in her state there was no way she had confused that voice. “Are you ing serious? You again?” She continued looking up and that familiar amber hair made her feel beyond ashamed and those small eyes were looking at her, judging her for being in a position like that, but what could she do? It wasn’t like she controlled her stomach, unfortunately.  “Tired of wanting to be run over and now you’re trying to kill yourself in another way?” Why was he always thinking she was trying to kill herself? Sure, every time they meet he would almost hit her with his bike and her being sad when that happened didn’t help one bit, but she didn’t want to kill herself! Of course she didn’t! “What was it this time? Drugs, alcohol?” She looked at him and could see he was seriously angry, but she couldn’t understand why. “Kill yourself already but far from my bike or my bar!” That explained why he was so angry at her for throwing up in the bathroom. He was looking at her with such eyes that she could swear he hated her. “…I…It’s just my stomach…” She said and he continued looked at her with suspicious eyes. “I…I don’t drink…” She was so weak and she knew she didn’t have to explain herself to this unknown man. All she knew was his name that he had a bike and now that he owned this bar. “Your stomach?”

He asked and she nodded as she tried to get up from the very cold floor. Her legs were shacking and because she had no energy whatsoever, she lost her balance. When she was ready to hit the floor or at least fall on her knees, she felt two strong arms around her. Surprised, she looked up and saw Kim Sunggyu looking at her. His eyes were still showing how angry he was, but at the same time he looked like he was starting to believe her. “…You look like crap.” That didn’t surprise her at all to be honest. She knew how she looked and she knew that death looked prettier than her at a time like that. Jieun was about to open to answer, but instead of talking or saying anything at all, the last bit of anything she had on her stomach decided to come out and before she knew it she was throwing up on top of Kim Sunggyu’s shoes. Oh yes, she was causing him such a wonderful impression that she was sure she was going to be kicked out of the club and would never be allowed to comeback.

“Here” He handed her a small cup of tea and she thanked him. For her surprised he didn’t kick her out and was starting to believe her words. He brought her to his office that, for her surprise was seriously big since the club itself was rather small. He took a quick shower on the employee’s locker and came back with new clothes and she couldn’t help but feel even worse. Why in the world did she throw up on top of him? What the hell was she thinking? Or better, why wasn’t she thinking? He sat in front of her and started scanning her from head to toe before he started talking. “…Why are you here? Are stalking me?” He asked with a neutral tone and when she heard it her eyes almost popped. “NO! I…I came here to see my best friend’s boyfriend perform…” She looked down to the tea cup and she could feel his eyes on her and it wasn’t getting any better because she could feel her stomach hurt again and the last thing she wanted was to throw up in the man’s office. “So, you just came here for support?” He asked and she nodded. “You’re 23 right?” She nodded and saw him supporting his face on his left hand like he was trying his best not to be bored or something like that. She didn’t know. “Why are you dressed like that?” What was this? The Spanish inquisition?

She looked down to her clothes and then to him. “What’s wrong with my clothes?” Jieun could see him roll his eyes and then stare at her. “Nothing…” He paused and she continued staring at him not understanding. “They are really good….” If this was a compliment it didn’t felt like it. “…if you’re 12.” She knew it. She knew this man couldn’t give her a decent, nice compliment. “Does your mother choose your clothes?” She started biting her lips and looked at him. If he only knew. “No…” She hated lying, but should she say that her mother in fact chose her clothes and that she was only allowed to wear what her mother approved? God, it sounded beyond stupid! “You look like you belong to the kindergarten!”

That was enough. She placed the cup of tea on the coffee table and opened the office door ready to leave, but before she could do it, she felt something strong around her wrist. She turned her head and saw Kim Sunggyu stare at her and all she could do was feel her legs go weak again, now by a complete different reason and the way he was staring at her wasn’t helping one bit. “…I’m sorry.” He said but she continued looking at him with angry, hurt eyes. She hated her clothes, that was true, but he didn’t had to make fun of her. “…I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” It was a little too late for that wasn’t it? She tried to pull away but he continued grabbing her wrist. “…Listen…” He started and she looked at him. “Tomorrow night I’ve a race at 12AM….want to come?”