A/N: Heh, can you believe it?  I actually updated!  =.=  Sorry it took weeks... Also, I haven't proofread it yet so I'm sorry if there are any grammar or spelling mistakes...

---20---

“They really need a break,” Dujun suddenly said, glancing over at Jaehwa’s and Yoseob’s sleeping forms.

Beast had already begun their comeback performances, but the CEO had decided to keep Seobhwa in the spotlight for a while more.  He had also assigned Jaehwa with a new song for her next solo comeback date in a few weeks.

The duo was exhausted.  There was no mistaking that.

Poor Yoseob had had no time to be with his girlfriend.  He and IU were starting to become distant.  There was no doubt about it.  However, he refused to acknowledge the fact and still spent every minute of his spare time with her.

Jaehwa, on the other hand, had had little success in contacting her parents.  They continued to give her the cold shoulder, not allowing her even the slightest conversation unless it was about changing careers.

The only good thing that came out of this was it somehow brought the two former best friends close together again.  Neither of them realized it, but Dujun had noticed the two spending more and more time together.  Yoseob always claimed it was “just work”, but the Beast leader had a feeling that it was more than that. 

Yoseob’s handphone suddenly rang, the ringtone startling the idol.  Dujun looked up from his conversation with Hyunseung and turned to the main vocal.  “Who is it?” he asked casually.

“It’s Jieun.  She wants to meet up,” Yoseob replied sleepily, his fingers flying across the keyboard of his phone as he texted her back.

Dujun’s eyes flickered over to Jaehwa, who was still sleeping soundly on the chair besides him.  “Didn’t you say you were going to practice with Jaehwa later today?”

Yoseob stopped what he was doing.  His eyebrows scrunched up as he tried to make a decision.

Pick Jaehwa, Dujun pleaded silently.

Then he stood up, having made up his mind.  “She’ll understand.  I haven’t spent much time with Jieun lately.  Tell her we’ll work tomorrow, okay?”

Dujun opened his mouth but could not get any words out as the door slammed shut behind Yoseob. 

“Aish, that kid,” Hyunseung muttered besides him.

The leader sighed heavily before placing his hands on his knees and pushing himself up.  “I’m going to get something to eat.  Do you want anything?”

“Just get me a soda,” the other Beaset member noted, nonchalantly scrolling through his phone.

Dujun nodded and left the room.  Jaehwa stirred when the door closed, shifting in the chair she was sleeping in.  She groaned in pain as she woke up, stretching.  Blinking, she looked around, stopping on Hyunseung.  “Eh?  Where is everyone?”

“Dujun went to grab a bite.  He’ll be back soon,” Hyunseung replied, praying she would not ask about the other boy who was in the room earlier.

Jaehwa rubbed her eyes, still groggy from sleep.  She mumbled a quiet, “Oh,” before resting her head against the pillow again.

Hyunseung breathed out in relief.  He returned his attention to his phone when Jaehwa suddenly sat up again.  “Oh yeah… Is Yoseob-oppa with him?  He asked me to practice with him today.”

The lead vocalist paled.  He wracked his mind for an excuse to cover up the fact that his stupid dongsaeng had ditched her for his girlfriend.  However, just in time, Dujun reentered the lounge room, a soda can in one hand and a bag of chips in the other.

“Hey, Seungie, is this soda–”

Hyunseung shot up and snatched the can from Dujun’s hand before he could finish.  “Yeah, this is good.  Thanks, but I have to go now.  See you!” he managed to get out before rushing from the room.

Confused, Jaehwa raised an eyebrow at the frozen leader.  “Well… that was unexpected,” she joked, laughing quietly.

Dujun snapped out of his shock and chuckled along with her.  “I wonder what the hurry is.”

“I was just asking where Yoseob-oppa was.  And then he just bolted.  Oppa, what happened?” she asked suspiciously.

“Oh, that,” Dujun glanced at the door uneasily.  “He just went out for a while.  He said he’ll be back in a little bit.”

“Oh, arasso,” Jaehwa said, standing up and picking up her bag.  “I’d better warm up my vocals then.  I’m going to practice.  When he comes back, tell him I’m in the recording room.”

“No problem,” Dujun called after her.

The moment she left the room, he frantically dialed Yoseob’s number, tapping his foot impatiently as the ringtone droned on.  When the call went to his voicemail, Dujun cursed under his breath.  He then scrolled his contact list for someone else.

“Yoboseyo?”

Dujun immediately cut to the chase.  “Hyuna, are you busy right now?”

“Um… not really…” the girl said uncertainly.

“Where are you?”

“I’m in 4Minute’s dance room.  Why?”

“Can you stay with Jaehwa for a bit and stall for some time?” he pleaded.

“Of course.  What’s wrong?” Hyuna asked worriedly.

“Yoseob left to be with IU for a while and skipped out on his practice with Jaehwa.  I just couldn’t tell her that he ditched.”

“What?  What are you going to do then?  You know she’ll figure it out when he doesn’t show up for a couple of hours.”

“I know.  I’ll think of something.  I’m hanging up now.”

“Alright.  Bye.”

-----------------------------------------

Yoseob shivered as the cold wind blew past his face.  He paced alone by the Han River, waiting for IU to show up.  She had told him to meet her there, but she was nowhere to be found.

A white cloud escaped from his lips as he exhaled.  The normally calm river splashed wildly, stirred about by the wind.  A spray of water shot up as one wave collided with another, the freezing droplets landing on Yoseob’s face.

The boy lifted his numb hand to wipe them away.  In his rush to see his girlfriend, he had left his gloves, hat, and jacket, leaving him in only jeans and a thin sweater.  As Yoseob continued to wait anxiously for IU, his phone vibrated in his pocket, indicating a message.

Yoseob’s smile dropped as he read what it said.

Oppa, I’m sorry, but I can’t make it after all.  My manager scheduled an event for me without my knowing.  I’m so sorry.  We’ll meet up some other time, I promise. –IU <3