Chapter 37

37 The Winner, Thae

While driving back home, Kyung-Soo was praying to god that all his team members must be fast asleep. He switched off the engine before entering the gate and pushed his car inside. He stealthily typed in the keypad and the door clicked softly.

Taking extra precaution, he pushed open the door enough for him to slip in and closed the door quietly behind him. He took off his shoe at the door and hung his car key. He looked around, the whole house was dark except for the footlights. He was relaxed after seeing that everyone was asleep and no one had any idea about his late-night excursions.

In order not to make any noise, he tiptoed towards his room and pushed his door open. His mind was at ease. Smiling like an idiot, he switched on his light.

The moment Kyung-Soo switched on the light, his work chair turned, and Jung-Hwa appeared before him. He had Yong in his arms, and he was sitting like a Bond supervillain. Kyung-Soo shouted at the top of his lungs but realised that his members would wake up by his shouting so he covered his mouth with his hands, instantly.

“Welcome, Hyung,” Jung-Hwa said in style and a deep voice.

Kyung-Soo placed his hand over his chest and shouted, “you idiot, you almost gave me a heart attack. What are doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” inquired Jung-Hwa.

“Have you lost your mind? This is my room,” scolded Kyung-Soo.

“I meant what are doing at this hour. Where were you?” demanded Jung-Hwa.

.....

“Um... No... nowhere, just went to get some fresh air,” lied Kyung-Soo. He was not able to look him in the eyes. He kept avoiding looking at Jung-Hwa.

“Fresh air... in your car?” asked Jung-Hwa. He knew something was wrong. Kyung-Soo was hiding something.

“Yes, do you have a problem?” questioned Kyung-Soo.

“Tell me, else I will wake everyone up and they can ask you together,” warned Jung-Hwa.

“Get lost,” said Kyung-Soo and completely ignored his warning.

Jung-Hwa opened his mouth and at the top of his lungs started to shout, “EVERYON...” Kyung-Soo ran up to him and covered his mouth with his hand.

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up,” he whispered through his teeth. “Okay fine, you win. I will tell you everything.” Kyung-Soo removed his hands from his mouth.

Jung-Hwa rubbed his hands with mischievousness. He was grinning like an idiot.

“You are a blackmailer, you know that, right?” Kyung-Soo hit Jung-Hwa on his head, playfully.

“Of course, now stop stalling. Where were you? Don’t tell me you were working,” Jung-Hwa rolled his eyes.

“The thing is... I went to see... Ritti,” whispered Kyung-Soo.

“Ahhh...” Jung-Hwa started shouting.

“Please! Please! Shut up! Shut up!” pleaded Kyung-Soo.

“Sorry! And?” inquired Jung-Hwa.

“And what?”

“What did she say? What did you say? What did you do? What did she do? What happened? Anyway, why did you go at this time?” he showered Kyung-Soo with his numerous questions.

He grabbed the chair and made Jung-Hwa look at him, “Jungie!”

“Hmmm...”

“Relax. I will tell you everything, you don’t have to get so worked up,” assured Kyung-Soo.

“Right, sorry! Continue,” he controlled his excitement and replied.

“I had her wet clothes in my bag from the bathroom. I could not return it in front of everyone, so I snuck out and gave it to her, happy?” explained Kyung-Soo.

“Heh... why couldn’t you give her clothes in front of everyone?” inquired Jung-Hwa, confused.

“I can’t tell you,” answered Kyung-Soo while taking off his t-shirt.

“Hyung!” Jung-Hwa didn’t even flinch. It was not the first time he was seeing his Hyung without clothes. Living with seven boys meant everyone walking without clothes one day or the other.

“JJ, some things are not meant for kids,” replied Kyung-Soo.

“This kid can babble before so many people. It’s your choice,” cautioned Jung-Hwa. He stood from his seat and let Yong run away to his room.

“Fine, I had her bra,” blurted out Kyung-Soo while taking off his pants.

“Hyung!! Why would you tell me something like this?” shouted Jung-Hwa and cringed at him.

“This idiot!” Kyung-Soo shook his head in disbelief. He dressed himself in a comfy silk pyjama and sat on his bed.

“Okay, okay, did she say anything about me?” inquired Jung-Hwa.

“No,” replied Kyung-Soo.

“Was she still angry?” Jung-Hwa was not ready to hear the answer.

“Angry at me or you?” Kyung-Soo asked in turn.

“Why would she be angry at you?” Jung-Hwa was confused.

“Oh, take your pick, for telling you about us, for going to her house late at night or for going to her house without a mask,” listed Kyung-Soo.

“That’s a trick question. The right answer is all of the above,” replied Jung-Hwa, jokingly.

“You are right. You win nothing,” Kyung-Soo played along.

“So, nothing happened,” Jung-Hwa had a devilish smile on his face.

“What do you think was supposed to happen?” Kyung-Soo was baffled.

“Oh, I don’t know, kiss,” replied Jung-Hwa, smiling.

“You are an idiot,” Kyung-Soo threw a pillow at Jung-Hwa who caught it easily.

“So, nothing happened inside the bathroom too?” inquired Jung-Hwa. He wanted a positive answer to his query.

But alas! Kyung-Soo replied, “nothing. She was too shy and embarrassed. She was in a problem, and she needed help.”

“And you helped her?” he threw back the pillow. Kyung-Soo caught him and held it in his lap.

“I did. I hope no one gives her a hard time for being locked in a bathroom with me,” Kyung-Soo’s face suddenly turned serious. He was worried for Nivritti.

“Yeah, I know, your crazy fans,” Jung-Hwa rolled his eyes. He too knew that if this news would get out in the world, people would make Nivritti’s life, hard.

“I just hope for no repercussions for her. I can take anything that comes to me but I want nothing to happen to her,” wished Kyung-Soo.

“Everything will be alright, Hyung. She will be fine. She won over TK Hyung, so she can do anything, win over anyone,” comforted Jung-Hwa.

“You are so right about that,” smiled Kyung-Soo.

“It’s late night. You should rest, Hyung.”

“You too, Jungie.”

“Goodnight, Hyung.”

“Goodnight. Make sure Yong is safe in his kennel,” requested Kyung-Soo.

“I will, Hyung.”

Jung-Hwa came out of the room and walked toward his room. He found Yong wandering outside Thae’s room, so he picked him up and softly placed him in his kennel and went to sleep.

After Jung-Hwa left, Kyung-Soo shut his door properly and switched off the lights. He lay on his bed and smiled thinking about Nivritti. Her sweet face kept flashing before his eyes. Thinking about her, he immediately fell asleep.

The next morning came with so many hopes and promises. The boys woke up, had breakfast, and went for their daily routine of practice and video shooting. Kyung-Soo was sad that he would not get to see Nivritti till next Monday. One member would go and get the scripts for the remaining days. Every day it was a fight between Kyung-Soo and Him-Chan but somehow Thae always won.

Jung-Hwa was too scared to face Nivritti, but Thae enjoyed meeting with her.

In the meantime, the Rencontre team discussed about their idea with Chung-Ho.

“So, you keep such scripts in a separate folder,” asked Chung-Ho.

“Yes,” replied Dae. They all were huddled near Dae’s cubicle and discussing their plan with Chung-Ho.

“Grammar is that bad?” inquired Chung-Ho.

“You can’t even make a single sentence correctly,” replied Nivritti.

“But the concept is good?” asked Chung-Ho.

“Yes, ASD sometimes is in a mystical land or are superheroes. The concept is good but the language is bad,” explained Dae.

“But that would increase our work,” noted Chung-Ho.

“That was our initial issue,” replied Dae.

“Hmm... we already have so many scripts to read, increasing the load on that would be foolish. But you say the concept is good, will that look good on video?” asked Chung-Ho.

“It would look awesome,” replied Nivritti.

“Fine, we can do that but that will be second to selecting the scripts with good grammar. If we could not find a winning one in that pile, then only we will dip into the non-existent grammar pile. Am I clear?” asked Chung-Ho.

“Crystal!” said all three, Jae-Hwa, Dae and Nivritti, in unison.

“Okay, let’s continue selecting the scripts. When are you going back to King?” questioned Chung-Ho.

.....

“This Monday,” replied Dae.

“Okay, let’s hope we have something to show him,” said Chung-Ho.

“Yes, Choi-ssi,” replied Dae.

That day was the first time, Thae came to collect the scripts. There was a commotion in the script department. It crossed the limit when Thae went up to Nivritti to greet her especially and gave a bar of chocolate to her.

Everyone was stunned at the progress of their situation. A few days before, he treated her like she was a criminal, now he was giving her chocolates and greeted her. All the girls were jealous of her, but Jae-Hwa understood that he was feeling bad for spilling cola on her, and this was his way of apologising.

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Every day from that day on, Thae would come to get the scripts and bring something for Nivritti, be it chocolate or a cup of coffee. He never came empty-handed. One day even Chung-Ho teased him.

“You never brought anything for me,” teased Chung-Ho.

“You never scolded me as she did,” smiled Thae.

“Ha-ha. I am glad Kat, you guys made up,” Chung-Ho was extremely glad at the turn of events.

“I am glad too that she forgave me. I was rude and acting like a fool,” said Thae.

“That you were,” nodded Chung-Ho.

Again, Thae collected that day’s scripts and went after saying hello to Nivritti.