Twenty-Nine

"That was nicely done!" The MV Director announced once we had confirmed the final shot. "Thank you, everyone, for your excellent work. That's brings the shooting of the MV to a successful close." He bowed and so did everyone else, congratulating each other. The Director then turned to us. "Changmin-ssi, Jeongwoo-ssi, it was flawless. It's just sad that your viewers won't get to see this in person. I was mesmerised through and through. Your chemistry is one of the best that I have ever had to work with."

Beaming, I bowed, taking hold of Changmin's sleeve too as he bowed. "Thank you!"

Manager Nam was waiting for us off to the side with a big smile on his face. Manager Park was with S.T.A.Y and 04:00 am was at the agency so Manager Nam had been able to accompany Changmin and I for the MV shooting. We had finished up according to schedule too.

It had been a very productive day.

"I'm really excited to see the MV." I chirped when we had gotten to the green room and everyone else had left us with Manager Nam and our costume team.

Changmin stared pointedly at me. "You could have at least texted me even if you had not wanted to send pictures. Imagine the shock I had when I came late to the set and found you dressed in black with that hair! If I hadn't known your physique so well, I would not have recognised you from the back."

"It's my normal black hair. You don't need to be so overdramatic about it." I chuckled. I had gotten it dyed black since the blue had faded and I needed a make-over. Since I was most probably going to get another hair colour for the next album anyway, I had wanted to go with black this time. You know, for old times' sake. "Isn't it nice?" I stepped up such that my hair was all he could have seen.

He opened his mouth and leaned in. I saw that coming and moved back in time to save my nose from his teeth.

"It's cute. Your blue hair was what reminded me of your enrapturing charm though." He said.

I recoiled. "So… you had forgotten."

"No. I'd looked away." He placed a hand on my head and then guided me into a tight hug. "I'm never looking away again. And you were so good today! Your emotions were on-point. I could feel everything in the way you danced."

"You were just as good." I hugged him back and closed my eyes. "You were amazing, Hyung."

"Even the director was impressed."

"Mm. I think we are even better with each other as partners than we were before. It's almost like all these years of longing had come into expression."

"Longing? You really don't think twice about the words you throw at me, do you?" He rubbed his cheek against my head and let go before I could respond to that. "Let's get changed. We have to head back too."

"Photo." I stopped him. "In costume."

"We've taken plenty for the photoshoot."

"No. For personal keeping." I insisted. "Hyung, you're looking all handsome in white and that eye-makeup is beautiful. I like my appearance right now too. Let's take a picture, please." Let's stay in this world that we have created for ourselves just a little while longer.

He watched me for a bit and then looked at Manager Nam. "Manager-nim, could you click a photo for us?"

"Of course." He nodded. Changmin gave Manager Nam his phone and stood next to me, an arm around my shoulder while I held him around his waist. I showed a V-sign with the other hand. Changmin just smiled at the camera. Once Manager Nam had taken the photos and we had checked them, we got changed and went back to DayBreak after winding up on set.

I had called Manager Park to inform him that I was done but he told me that the rest of S.T.A.Y were still engaged and that they wouldn't be back in the building for another hour. Since I had had no other commitments, Manager Nam asked me to stick with them till S.T.A.Y got back. I was more than happy to accept that invitation.

"Hey, they're back!" Youngjae Sunbae called out when Changmin opened the door and stepped in. I followed close behind him.

"Jeong-" Minho began saying but then gaped at me instead. "Your hair!"

"Hey." I smiled sheepishly. All eyes were on me in an instant.

"You dyed it black again." Hyeonwoo Sunbae spoke. "Had enough of the blue?"

"More or less." I had not hated it though.

"What brings you here though, Jeongwoo-ya?" Jaemin Sunbae asked.

They were all in one of the meeting rooms on the first floor. They were probably planning for their upcoming album. From what Changmin had told me, they had already decided on the concept and a few other details.

"My members aren't back yet so Manager Nam and Changmin asked me to hang around here." I replied. "If you guys want to discuss, then-"

"No. No. That's alright." Hyeonwoo Sunbae waved a hand and motioned to the empty chair opposite him and to Baekjae Sunbae's right. "Sit down. We're only happy to see you."

"Thank you." I bowed and went in to take that seat. Changmin and I ended up on two sides of the table though, as Jaemin Sunbae had pulled him to go sit next to him.

"So, tell us how it went." Minho sat forward. "Are you completely done with your shooting?"

"Yes, we are." Changmin replied. "The dance was flawless."

"Everything today was flawless." I added. "We're very satisfied with how it has all turned out."

"None of us have seen or heard anything about your song though." Baekjae Sunbae said. "Changmin Hyung's always talking about the perfect lyrics that you've written but we have never been given even a glimpse of what it's really like."

"Jeongwoo, don't tell them." Changmin warned me. "I won't talk to you if you do."

"Hm? Why, Hyung?" I asked in confusion.

"Just don't. I want them to see it without knowing anything."

"Have you ever seen a man as stubborn as our Changmin?" Jaemin Sunbae shook his head.

"He probably likes it that much." Beomseok Sunbae said. "Leave him be."

"Thank you, Hyung." Changmin held a hand out in Beomseok Sunbae's direction. "You're the best."

Did he really like it that much?

"You've shown S.T.A.Y, haven't you?" Minho asked me.

"Not the entire thing but they know what to expect." I nodded.

"Learn some love from him, Hyung." Baekjae Sunbae patted my shoulder.

"Forget it. I'm not telling. Wait just a few more days." Changmin stood his ground. "Let this masterpiece hit you like it's going to hit Coffee and True."

"Oh, please, Hyung. You don't need to put on such a valiant front." Minho scoffed and looked at me. "Jeongwoo Hyung, do you know that we have a challenge going on?"

"A challenge?" I asked. Seeing Changmin get a little flustered and with the dirty glare that he threw Minho, I knew that I had to hear this. "What challenge? Tell me."

"It's nothing, Jeongwoo. You don't need to-" Changmin began saying but Baekjae Sunbae interjected with a smile and draped and arm over the back of my chair.

"Rather than a challenge, it was an ultimatum. Our Changmin Hyung just refused to give us even a glimpse of what you both are working on. We are the kind to understand each other's sentiments so when he said that he wanted us to get our first look at the finished piece, we understood. But then he started getting possessive about it and boasting nevertheless. And he's always been possessive of you. So, we decided to take you hostage."

I'm a hostage now? I couldn't help laughing. "So, you'll keep me away from Hyung when you're all around till he…"

"Till he gives us something to go by." Baekjae Sunbae shrugged. "You catch on fast. You're smart. I like you, Jeongwoo."

Changmin rolled his eyes. "So childish!"

"Exactly." Jaemin Sunbae threw that right back at him.

I was enjoying myself thoroughly. It was a rare sight that Changmin was lost for a comeback. Only 04:00 am was capable of putting him in such a spot.

"Fine. You want to see something? I'll show you something." Changmin took out his phone, scrolled through it and then showed everyone the photo that we had taken in our costumes. "This is our get-up for the MV. Satisfied?"

"Yes." Minho said with a smile and cocked his head to one side. "That looks awesome, by the way."

"Thanks." Changmin put his phone away again and then looked at me. "And I'm not so weak that I'd let you get taken hostage. I allowed you to go sit there because you like Baekjae. You look up to him, don't you?"

Wait. Now you're tossing this into my court?! And why would you say something that embarrassing? "You 'allowed' me? I would have come and sat here even if you hadn't allowed me, if Baekjae Sunbae had called." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Oh! Burn!" Jaemin Sunbae laughed as did the others. It got pleasantly chaotic after that with everyone talking over everyone else and Changmin trying to recover from the blow I had dealt him. It was lively and I was enjoying every moment of it.

"Jeongwoo." Baekjae Sunbae addressed me in between all that. "You know about that movie that I recently finished work for, right?"

"Oh. Mm." I nodded. "The crime thriller, right? I heard that you played the main character again. Congratulations."

"Thank you." He smiled. "The thing is that… we'll be having its first screening next month. The Premier which the cast and staff members get to watch?"

"Mhm. That's nice."

"Yes, so… I'm allowed to bring someone with me if I want to. I have always gone with one of my members form 04:00 am or by myself." He paused. "Would you like to go with me this time? You've never been to a premier before, right?"

For a moment, I couldn't find the words to respond. He really had just asked me to go with him, right? "Is that… really okay?"

"Yes, it is." He nodded. "Besides, we're good friends now. It's also nice to have a fan so close-by."

I could really go then? I beamed. "I'd love to go! I'll let Manager-nim know and keep my schedule open."

"That's great. I'll let you know the details soon." He patted my shoulder with a smile. "It'll be fun."

"Yes." I get to go to the premier of a movie that Baekjae Sunbae starred in with Baekjae Sunbae himself! "I'm looking forward to it!"

Manager Park called me on my phone as soon as S.T.A.Y had gotten back. While 04:00 am did not really discuss much about their new album while I was around, it did not seem as though they were being mindful or cautious of my presence. It felt more like the were using my presence there as an excuse to take a break and unwind. That was quite heart-warming and the entire hour that I had gotten with them was more like a really chill and effective bonding session. With Changmin not sitting right beside me, I got to talk to the whole lot of them. That was when I realised how much my interactions with them revolved around Changmin.

Maybe I should drop by their practice sessions even if Changmin wasn't there…