"So she won't be promoting with you guys?"

Anna glanced at Taeyang with an exasperated expression. "I thought I just said that," she snapped impatiently. The male held up his hands subserviently, clicking his tongue before laying a reassuring hand upon Anna's shoulder. "It'll be okay," he demurred gently. "You're all strong; even without Byeol, you guys should handle it well."
"That's not the point; she's on a plane right now, heading to Tokyo to film a drama none of us knew about... and Abeoji's telling us this just now? Haebyeol didn't even leave a letter or note; she didn't even mention it; she even had the audacity to practice with us even when she knew she wasn't going to be around to release our comeback single!" Anna declared angrily. 
Taeyang pursed his lips carefully together, jutting them against each other into a taut line. "Maybe Abeoji didn't want her to tell; you can't just pour everything onto Byeol, Anna," Taeyang chided softly, smoothing out her dark hair. "With the rumours flirting around, and the scandals, don't you think it's best that she works on another project, too?"
"Not you, too, Youngbae-ah," Anna sighed, growling sourly.

"Just calm down," Taeyang murmured calmly, disregarding Anna's flagrant scowl. "Things will pass over. Your comeback is just a single, so you'll be having a goodbye stage in no time, with Byeollie back before you know it --"
"That's easy for you to say --"
"And you don't think it was hard for me, Seungri, and TOP-hyung to perform alone as three, when Jiyonggie-hyung and Daesunggie-hyung were on leave? I'm a performer, too; so don't forget that. With Jiyonggie-hyung's scandal, and Daesunggie-hyung's accident, it was hard, too, to have to perform without them because of their suspensions. But we got over that; and even though, now, we have to perform temporarily without Seungri, we're still okay.. just calm down, Ye Jin-ah."

Anna pursed her lips thoughtfully, scowling -- Taeyang was only serious when he mentioned her real name. However, he platonically smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist; he pulled her substantially closer, holding her to his chest firmly as he leaned back against the kitchen counter. "Calm down, okay?" he repeated sweetly, shooting her an affable grin. "Ne?" He continued to prod at her playfully, lips nipping and caressing her cheeks. "C'mon, Ye Jin-ah," he cooed, rubbing her sides amiably.

"Araseo."

She pouted, but she didn't fight his arms away; instead, she lingered in his warm grasp, leaning against his broad torso tiredly. She nuzzled her chin onto his shoulder, sighing irritably at herself. "Why is it so hard being an idol?" she questioned rhetorically. Taeyang merely smiled, enveloping her within his arms even more. Her question was left unanswered, as it was intended to be. "Is it this hard for you, too?"
Taeyang nodded, kissing the crown of her head affectionately. "It is, so as a good leader, you should go back to your dorm and comfort your girls --"
"They all have their own people to go to -- boys, particularly," Anna pouted chidlishly. She tossled her black hair, rubbing the nape of her neck; she stretched out the knots in her arms and leaned in to peck Taeyang gently on the lips.

"But, the person that needs the most comforting right now is Lu Han-shii," Anna exhaled. "I should go find him and explain the situation to him."

Taeyang nodded. "Yeah, you should."

Lu Han buried his face into his hands, grumbling incoherently underneath his breath. Before him, a light-haired girl sat, nonchalant, and uncaring to his demise. She blew at her nails, brushing away the imaginary dust; she peeked up at the unfortunate wreck in front of her every now and then from behind her short lashes, but never took the initiative to start a proper conversation.

"Goo Hara-shii, seriously," Lu Han whispered finally, peeking from behind his fingers. "Why are you such a homewrecker?"
She gaped, now, scoffing with disbelief at her new title. "A home -- excuse me," she screeched, flustered beyond compare. She leaned over the dormitory's dining table, glaring at Lu Han with threatening eyes. "I didn't wreck any ho --"
"Oh, please," Lu Han grunted. "Because of you, Byeol -- Haebyeol is suspended from performing with ELiTE, and is now assigned to film a Japanese drama."
"You should be thanking me instead," the separate party tittered carelessly. "Now, because of me, she's going to become a Hallyu idol --"

"Goo Hara-shii," Lu Han growled. "Does this not look like a serious situation to you? You've condemed ELiTE to become a scandalous group --"
"How is it my fault that they're protraying themselves to look like a bunch of easy girls?"

Lu Han slammed his palms down against the dining table, ignoring the worried glances he received from Kris and Chen from the other room. Even Sehun had poked his head into the small room to check if anything had been broken. Lu Han normally wasn't one with a temper, but upon looking at Goo Hara's spiteful features, anger swelled up within him like a contagion, overspreading across his firm figure. "You're despicable," he barked. 
"You say I'm a problem, but you haven't come up with answers to solve me," Goo Hara asserted arrogantly. She rose to her feet, picking up her purse; with a flick of a wrist, a strand of hair sifted over her dainty shoulder. "I hope we're done, now? I know you wanted to settle this quietly, Lu Han-shii," Hara sneered, "but what's done is done. I was just trying to do you a favor -- you two seemed so in love; how could I possibly let you guys suffer from a secret affair?"

Lu Han rotated his jaw. "We were going to announce it when we were ready," he argued fervently.

"And two months of going behind your band members' backs to kiss and hug and cuddle wasn't enough?" Hara scoffed, her lips sarcastically. She flaunted a petty smile, shooting a taunting gaze toward Lu Han before strutting her way out of the EXO dormitory.

"Nobody understands her," Kai blurted, coming into the dining room suddenly. "Not even her band members, so don't feel so down."
"Yeah, hyung's right," Sehun tittered assuringly. "You'll never know why she did that -- maybe even she doesn't know herself!"
Lu Han smiled apologetically in response to the younger's contriting statements, leaning back languidly in his chair. "Whatever," the blonde whispered, jutting out his lips into a thoughtful pout. "I'm leaving to go back to Beijing, soon.. even when I come back to promote with you guys, she'll probably still be in Japan."

Before the youngers could say anything, the older blonde spoke up again, "Hara was right, though: what's done is done.. all I have to do is wait.. there's nothing else."

"You called?" Lu Han rose a questioning brow up at Anna, who was settled against the telephone pole near their rendezvous spot. 
"I was worried about you," she replied earnestly. "Must've shocked you, when Soo-man seonsaengnim notified you about Byeollie's leave, huh?"
"She's a Hallyu star now, at least," Lu Han joked bitterly, frowning softly at the memory that lingered in his mind. Hara's jeering visage, and her mocking smile, and her penetrating words. His heart stung, and it felt as if it could detach from his rib cage any minute now. His blonde head was frazzled, racked with swirling thoughts and theories. "Has she called?"

Anna shook her head. "According to what Abeoji told us, she's probably just landing right now."

Lu Han nodded slowly. "So uh.. how about the girls?"
"They're coping," Anna answered vaguely.
"That's nice," Lu Han returned. Awkwardly, he rubbed the back of his neck, before using his cold hand to usher towards the door of the cafe behind them. "Coffee? You look like you need just as much consoling as I do."

Anna smiled briefly, a ghost of a smile lingering at the corner of her pale lips. "Sure."

Haebyeol lugged her bags insolently across the floors of the airport before heaving a deep breath. She looked around furtively.

"Look for someone holding up a sign with your name on it. One of the actors you'll be working with will be picking you up, alongside the manager that will be assisting you whilst you're in Japan."

She cursed with annoyance, ruffling her dark hair before her eyes fell upon her target. A dark man, tall and firm in build held a sign in one hand listlessly, scratching his head nonchalantly with the other. Beside him -- or the uglier of the pair -- was short, stout, and plump; probably her manager, then, Haebyeol deducted. She sauntered over to them wistfully, briskly slumping her bags beside her once she finally approached the two males. The taller glanced at her with wide eyes, astonishment overtaking his tanned features. Whether he was shocked she was able to easily detect them, or shocked by the fact that she might've been prettier than he thought, he didn't know, but it wasn't like Haebyeol cared either.

She handed the fatter man her paperwork, signed and dated by Hyun Suk, smiling coldly. She bowed politely to the two before locking her eyes with both of them invidivually, as she fluidly introduced herself. "Konichiwa.. watashi wo Haebyeol desu (Hello, I'm Haebyeol)."
The two men nodded slightly; the taller smiled amiably, accepting her baggage voluntarily. He walked alongside her as the elder walked in front of them, his short gait making it easier for the two youngsters to catch up, even with their heavy luggage.

"First time in Japan?" the fair-haired male inquired casually.
Haebyeol shook her head, doing what she could to tune out his euphonious sounding voice. "I've been here a few times," she returned amiably. She took the time to steal a glimpse of him from the corner of his eye. He had fair hair, light and obviously dyed, but it suited him; his jaw was firm and well sculpted, as well as his chin. His eyes were naturally curved up into a permanent eye-smile, radiating a friendly and approachable aura. "Are you.. filming with me?" she questioned timidly, ducking her brightened features behind her dark hair.

From the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of his soft nod. "Kanata Hongo," he stated blandly, smiling straight ahead. He didn't bother to look down at her, only focused on the scenery before him instead. "But for you, Hongo-kun will be just fine."

Haebyeol flushed. Sweet Lu Han, help me.

"Nice to meet you, Ho-Hongo-kun," she stammered, clearing awkwardly. He grinned.

And she forgot -- for just a second -- what she was doing in Japan.

"Can you believe that?!" Kyo Jin blinked with wide eyes at the male before her, flailing her arms madly. "Jinki-oppa, she just -- she was just up and gone! And then Abeoji tells us she's going to Japan!"
Onew smiled pitifully, rubbing Kyo Jin's head. "It's okay, Kyo Jin-ah," he cooed softly. "It'll be okay; you have to work hard and impress your seonsaengnim so he will be convinced to bring your Byeollie back.. araseo?"
Kyo Jin pouted, but nodded anyways, tilting her head back as she in a cold hiss. "I can't believe this," she grumbled childishly. "I thought YG was filled with unicorns and happy dreams coming true and rainbows --"
"But instead it's filled with harsh realities and insufferable truths?" Onew joked.

"Oppa!"
"Ah, ah, mianhe Kyo Jin-ah."

Hannie and Kisa lay, sprawled across one another, the latter flipping through the channels on the television with no interest whatsoever. "This is ridiculous," the younger gloated absently. "First Haebyeol unnie is gone, and now Ava and Kyo Jin unnies are too busy to spend time with us? Where's Anna-unnie, anyways? Same for Viv-unnie! Omo!"
"Anna, Taeyang," Kisa returnd blankly. "Ava, Yongguk; Kyo Jin, Onew. Vivien, Seungri. 'Nuff said."

Hannie rolled her eyes, tossing Kisa's legs off of her lap, before stalking into the kitchen with an obvious grimace lining her tight lips. "Stupid," she chorused loudly, burping as she rubbed her stomach. "Why can't we have that kind of time?"
"We do, it's just that our boys don't want us right now," Kisa chortled bitterly.

Hannie sighed, tossling her short hair. "What if Byeollie-unnie really enjoys Japan and never wants to leave?"
"Don't be stupid," Kisa called from the living room. "She'll be desperate to return home in no time."
Hannie sat herself down at the kitchen counter, picking at her bowl of ddukbokki. "I know, but that's what we think. There's some pretty hot guys there, too, you know; I've lived there, I would know.. what if she forgets about Lu Han-hyung -- OH NO! What if she forgets about us?!"

Hannie's head snapped up at her own words, disregarding her wilting rice cakes. "Oh crap!" she continued, wailing obnoxiously. "Kisa-unnie, what if Byeollie-unnie never wants to come back to Korea?!"

"Stop being stupid, you pabbo!"

Ava glanced up at Yongguk boredly. "There's too much drama. I don't want to be an idol anymore." She jokingly threw down her napkin and took a long sip from her coffee cup. "Maybe I should just give up and move in with you and have you provide for me," she joked playfully. A smirk traced her confident lips, red and bright as Yongguk flamboyantly returned her smile with a cocky grin.
"I wouldn't mind," he responded coolly. "In fact, if you're already suggesting it now, it'll probably save me the next two years -- now, I won't have to try to court you," he beamed.
Ava rolled her eyes. "Three outings with you, and you suddenly think we're soulmates," she scoffed. "You're such a softie."
"And you're an aplha," Yongguk chirped brightly, leaning across the table. His lips were inches away, but stil close enough for Ava to catch a whiff of his musky cologne. "Just how I like them."

A low grumble erupted from his throat, morphing suggestively into a growl; the corner of his lips tilted up into a devious grin, and his hands found hers underneath the small table. His fingers moved around hers expertly, twirling them and drawing circles into the palm of her sweaty hand. "No strings attached, either," he whispered mischieviously. "If you and I know each other as well as I think, then it's probably safe to say that that's probably the way we like our relationships, too... right?"

Ava smirked. "You're a clever guy," she noted arrogantly.
Yongguk shoved a curt nod her way, his gummy beam vanishing into a tight smirk. "Word on the street is that Ava likes clever guys."
"Have the streets also told you that Ava likes them mysterious?"

Yongguk sauntered over to her side of the table, slipping into the seat beside hers, his scarf masking the bottom half of his blushing face. He leaned in substantially closer, eyes twinkling with a playful delight. "I can be whatever you want me to be," he purred seductively.
"Are you ually deprived or something?" Ava teased, her voice falling into an octave lower.
"Only for you."

"No strings attached?" Ava catechized seriously, her eyes suddenly darkening.

"None, whatsoever," Yongguk smirked, lifting his car keys. Ava's eyes flickered doubtfully over them before meeting Yongguk's lustrous eyes again. Her lips darted out, mocking his actions as she saw him his dry lips. His calloused fingers brushed back a strand of hair, smirk fading into a reassuring smile. "What do you say?"

"Are you really up for a challenge like me?" Ava whispered, closing the distance boldly.

Yongguk, then, chortled haughtily. "I live for challenges like you."