Chapter 31 — The Feeling That Wouldn't Go Away
Los Angeles — Morning
The suite was quiet.
Too quiet for the kind of night they had yesterday.
Sunlight slipped through the tall glass windows, falling across the living room where blankets, pillows, and empty snack boxes were scattered everywhere. Someone had left the music speaker on the floor. A hoodie was hanging from the lamp. One shoe was near the table for no reason.
No one had the energy to clean after last night.
Ci-n groaned first.
He was lying half on the carpet, half against the couch, his arm bent under him in an uncomfortable position. His neck hurt, his back hurt, and for a moment he forgot where he even was.
"…Why do I feel like I got hit by a truck…"
He opened one eye, then the other.
The ceiling looked unfamiliar.
Right.
Hotel.
LA.
Concert trip.
Jay.
Everything came back slowly.
He pushed himself up and sat, rubbing the back of his neck, then froze when his eyes landed on the couch.
Min Jae was still sitting there, his back against the cushion, head slightly tilted to the side.
Jae Rin was asleep in his arms.
Her head resting on his chest, one hand loosely holding his shirt like she fell asleep without realizing it. His arm was around her shoulders, holding her carefully, like he didn't want to move even in his sleep.
They looked… peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Ci-n stared for a few seconds without saying anything.
Then he let out a quiet breath.
"…She looks different when she sleeps."
Behind him, David shifted on the floor.
He opened his eyes slowly, blinking at the bright light coming from the window.
"…Why am I on the floor…"
"You chose the floor," Ci-n muttered.
David sat up, stretching his shoulders, then followed Ci-n's gaze.
He saw them too.
For a moment, he didn't speak.
His expression softened slightly.
"…She didn't take the pills last night."
Ci-n glanced at him.
"You noticed?"
David nodded.
"She told us she can't sleep without them."
They both looked at the couch again.
Her breathing was slow.
Calm.
No tension on her face.
No frown.
Just sleep.
Real sleep.
Ci-n leaned his head back against the sofa and sighed quietly.
"…Good."
Before either of them could say anything else, Min Jae opened his eyes.
He didn't move right away.
The first thing he did was look down.
Checking her.
Making sure she was still there.
Only after that did he look up.
"You two awake already?"
David nodded.
"Yeah."
Ci-n smirked.
"We survived the no-alcohol party."
Min Jae almost smiled.
"Barely."
Yuna suddenly sat up from the floor like she got shocked.
"Food."
Sora groaned next to her.
"You always wake up hungry."
Jisoo opened her eyes slowly, looking around in confusion before remembering where she was.
Jae Rin moved a little.
Everyone went quiet.
Her fingers tightened slightly on Min Jae's shirt, then relaxed again as she slowly opened her eyes.
For a second she looked confused.
Then she realized where she was.
Her face didn't show embarrassment.
Didn't show panic.
Just a small tired sigh.
"…Morning."
Min Jae smiled faintly.
"Morning."
Yuna grinned from the floor.
"You slept without pills."
Silence.
Jae Rin blinked once, then looked at Min Jae, then at the others.
Realization hit.
Her expression softened in a way they hadn't seen in a long time.
"…Yeah…"
She sat up slowly, stretching her arms, then stood.
Back to normal.
Back to Kang Jae Rin.
"Rehearsal in one hour."
Everyone groaned at the same time.
Sora covered her face.
"No mercy."
Ci-n laughed.
"You're the one who wanted to come on tour."
Jae Rin picked up her cap from the table.
"You two are coming too."
Ci-n blinked.
"…We are what?"
She looked at him.
"You have backstage passes, don't you?"
David smirked.
"This is the best business trip I've ever had."
Yuna pointed at him.
"I like him."
—
Manila — Watson Mansion
The office lights were still on even though it was already morning.
Keifer hadn't slept.
Again.
His desk was full of files he hadn't read, messages he hadn't answered, and coffee that had gone cold hours ago.
He was staring at his laptop screen, but nothing on it made sense.
Numbers.
Reports.
Emails.
Everything looked blurred.
His mind wasn't there.
It hadn't been for days.
Ci-n in LA.
David in LA.
Her in LA.
Same city.
Same time.
He leaned back slowly in his chair, closing his eyes.
"…Why do I feel like something's wrong…"
The door opened without knocking.
Angelo walked in, holding his phone.
"You look terrible."
Keifer didn't react.
"You didn't sleep again."
Still no answer.
Angelo sighed and sat on the chair across from him.
"You keep doing this every time she's in the news."
Keifer finally spoke.
"…It's not that."
Angelo raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?"
Keifer closed the laptop.
"I just… can't focus."
Before Angelo could say anything, the door opened again.
Aries walked in.
He looked between them, then leaned against the wall.
"You're thinking about her again."
Silence.
Keifer didn't deny it.
Aries scoffed quietly.
"You always do."
Angelo looked at Keifer carefully.
"Concert is in LA tomorrow."
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"I know."
Aries crossed his arms.
"You're not going."
Keifer stood up slowly.
His chair slid back with a low sound.
"I didn't say that."
Angelo frowned.
"You already decided, didn't you."
Keifer walked to the window, looking at the city.
"…I just want to see her once."
Aries laughed without humor.
"That's what you said eleven years ago too."
Silence.
Keifer's hand tightened slightly on the window frame.
"…I stayed away for eleven years."
His voice was quieter now.
"I think I deserve one look."
Angelo and Aries exchanged a look.
Neither of them believed that was the real reason.
Keifer turned back to the desk.
Picked up his passport.
Ticket already beside it.
Aries noticed immediately.
"You already booked it."
Keifer didn't answer.
Angelo sighed.
"You really can't stay away from her."
Keifer looked at the ticket for a long moment.
"…No."
He picked it up.
"…I can't."
And for the first time in years, his expression looked exactly like it did back then.
Not CEO.
Not cold.
Just a guy who lost something he never got back.