One Thing After Another

I punched the numbers into my calculator slowly, feeling my eyelids drift again. I slapped myself softly on the cheek to give myself an extra energy boost. I grabbed my pencil and jotted down the answer off the calculator onto the paper. My eyes were closed by the time I’d gotten to write the third decimal of the value, and I felt my cheek meet the desk. I couldn’t slap myself now, my body wouldn’t let me. I breathed in and out deeply, giving into the sleepiness. The blackness of behind my eyelids slowly moulded into a scene. I was watching a movie. The movie I’ve been wanting to see for a while now. I smiled to myself, relaxing into my seat a little more. I turned to my right to see a familiar side view of a person. My heart beat raised a little. Why is he here? When he realised I’d been looking at him, Dino turned to me and smiled cheerfully at me, revealing his cute eye smile, before turning back to the film. In my tired state, I didn’t question it. I leant into my right side and rested my head on Dino’s shoulder. A few seconds later I felt his head rest on top of mine. I felt completely calm…
“Eunnie.”
Who said that?
“Eunnie!”
Is that Dino?
Suddenly the dream’s scene at the cinema whirl pooled into darkness again, and I felt someone shaking me. I opened my eyelids and sat upright in my seat. I rub my eyes as I turned to where the voice had come from. My mother stood looking over me worried as usual. “Morning Mum… why are you waking me up?” I questioned her sleepily. She looked back concerned but sure. I figured the out the question’s answer.
I was late. I jumped out of my chair dramatically and ran around my room grabbing clothes, my necklace and makeup in a rush.
I was never late. I left out my room in a huge rush twenty quick minutes later.
This was so unlike me. “Sorry mum! I really can’t stay to eat, I’ll umm… get something there!” I ran to the door, shoving my feet into my shoes and escaping quickly out the door. Checking my watch, I figured out how long the next bus will be. Two minutes! I clenched onto my bag’s handles and ran for my life, just barely catching the bus. Damn… that dream really had me. I’m blaming Dino for this...

As I pushed through the door to the studio and set, I heard Dohyun’s voice ring out, “where’s Haeun?”
“I’m here! Sorry for being late,” I ran up to Dohyun and Jaehwa sunbae, where all the Seventeen boys has gathered. Some of the boy’s faces lit up with a smile.
“Haeun manager~!” Hoshi said giving me a big 10:10 smile. Out of breath, I managed a smile and I leaned over a little. Sub-conciously, I looked around for Dino, immediately seeing the pair of eyes I saw in my dream. He caught my eyes too, and we smiled at each other.
“Okay everybody back to it! Haeun follow me,” Dohyun almost shouted. The group dispersed slowly, and Hoshi gave me a worried look. I smiled through my worry at him, to assure him I was going to be just fine. But I knew I wasn’t.
Away from the group and almost out of everyone’s hearing, I apologized once again, “I’m sorry sunbae I-“
“What do you think you are doing?” He said in a stern voice, looking at me with despise.
“Huh?”
“You think this job is a joke?” He asked with his eyebrows furrowing in on each other more and more every second. His eyes holding mine strongly, giving me nowhere to run and hide. I didn’t want to apologise or give in again. I didn’t want to appear weak in front of him. I knew I had to be strong, but that’s not how I spoke.
“I was only late, and besides, I haven’t been this late to something in years-“ I timidly said grabbing onto my necklace sitting on my sternum and fiddled with it.
“Don’t think I’ll let you off just because you’re the CEO’s precious niece.” He threw back at me without hesitation. I looked around worryingly thinking someone might have heard. I didn’t think Dohyun would stoop that low as to bring up my Uncle. I hated that.
“I don’t need my Uncle, I never said I did,” I said after a while, still stunned by Dohyun’s comment (even though he’s Dohyun).
“Well he can’t save you here. Not now, not ever,” he finished off our talk and without hesitation, walked away to leave me standing in my own thoughts. I wasn’t feeling fully comfortable with Seventeen and managing them and Dohyun had to go and make it worse by reminding me of my constant, over looking Uncle. He'll be "expecting great things from me,” was his words. My tummy sunk a little at the thought of disappointing him, which reminded me… I hadn’t eaten since I woke up.

“Haeun Manager! Nice to meet you finally since Hoshi couldn’t stop talking about you last night,” Seungkwan said cheerfully as he jogged up to me. He snapped me out of my thoughts and I bowed slightly feeling more positive just at the sight of his smile. Though I was slightly distracted by what he’d just said.
“Nice to meet you too Seungkwan! Hoshi was talking about me?” I questioned him carefully. His smile suddenly fell off his face, as if he’d made a mistake.
“I… probably shouldn’t have told you that,” he said scratching his head nervously suddenly avoiding eye contact. I wanted to question him further but left it as I was distracted by Dino jogging up to me too. The sight of him making my heart beat rise in speed. I suddenly wondered how he was. Did the cold make him sick?
“Eunnie Manager, you’re needed with the Performance team,” he said with lively eyes and a smile playing on his lips as he talked.
“Eunnie? Since when were you two so close?!” Seungkwan looked surprised at Dino’s openness. Dino and I looked at each other contemplating how to explain our closeness after only a day of meeting each other.
“We’re not that close we just-“ My tummy rumbled suddenly as I said this, causing me to clench it with both my hands. I looked back at Seungkwan and Dino to see their faces slowly burst into a small laughter. My cheeks lit up in embarrassment. How unprofessional of me. Though this is partially Dino’s fault as well. If I hadn’t woken up so late I would’ve eaten at home...
“Follow me,” Dino said still laughing as he gestured for me to follow him as he started to walk. I bowed to Seungkwan and jogged after Dino. As I caught up with Dino, meeting up at his side, behind us I heard Seungkwan say, “what the heck, you two are close!”
I looked up at Dino as we walked towards a table, and as if he had heard Seungkwan as well, he looked at me. His gleaming eyes and warm expression made my heartbeat rise and my lips curl into a smile. We both giggled a little at it, turning our attention towards the table full of snacks and food for the staff. Finding a snack I started to nibble on the food feeling a little guilty that I was so close with Dino. Maybe I should be being professional about this, keeping my distance from him. Then why was he in my dream? I couldn’t just ask him… could I?

“Okay guys! Let’s get started!” The photographer announced in a assertive voice. I looked towards the four Performance team members and their outfits and looks. Making sure everything was in check, I did a mental checklist.
“Haeun! Get your members to go first,” Dohyun said across the set to me, grabbing everyone’s attention and pulling it onto me.
“Weren’t you supposed to go first sunbae…” I quietly whispered, quite aware he couldn’t hear me, but I had to try. With dozens of eyes on me, I nodded, complying with Dohyun. Dammit. I’d let him win once again. I cursed at myself mentally, wishing for the millionth time that I was stronger. I turned back to my four members, seeing their eyes on me as well. “So… umm who, wants to go first?” I timidly asked them.
“I’ll go!” Hoshi raised his hand, volunteering very cheerfully. I sighed a little, at his eye smile feeling relieved that he was here once again.
“I’ll go with Hoshi hyung then,” Dino agreed nodding at me. I nodded at both of them, smiling a little showing my appreciation. They walked over to the set and began to pose around the set’s objects as the photographer started to snap away pictures every second. I walked over to the monitor where the pictures were coming through from the camera, and watched as each picture passed by every second. I smiled at the sight of the two of them. Amongst all my other things to think and worry about, I almost forgot that I was lucky to have met the idols I look up to and respect.

Half of Seventeen had been through their shoots and it was Jun and The8’s turn. I looked at both of them and gestured to the set, “go have fun!” They both looked at me and smiled
“Thanks Haeun,” The8 said with his big doe eyes.
“Haeun manager, you are really pretty though,” Jun said flirtatiously, leaning on The8 again who’s expression was one of discomfort and disgust. I scoffed a little and smiled at his cheekiness.
“Get out there you two,” I said laughing slightly. I turned and walked to an empty seat that were surrounding the set. As soon as I sat down and sighed, the two seats next to me were filled with boys. Seungkwan on my left and Hoshi on my right. There being thirteen boys around, made everywhere I turned surrounded by them. Our three chairs in the shape of a semi-circle.
“Haeun manager,” Seungkwan began.
“Yes?” I replied.
“May I ask why Dohyun-hyung is being so mean to you today?” Seungkwan questioned quietly, obviously trying to avoid Dohyun hearing. “Yeah I don’t like way he’s treating you,” Hoshi added angrily and defensively. I laughed at the sight of him with his crossed arms and furrowed eyebrows.
“I woke up late and managed to get here late as well,” I explained to them, looking on at Jun and The8 on set posing.
“You weren’t even that late! You were literally five minutes late,” Seungkwan said in exasperation, before I quickly put my index finger to my lips, gesturing him to be quiet. He covered his mouth with the tip of his fingers.
“That’s no reason to be mean to someone about, I’ve been later than that to things,” Hoshi said trying to comfort me. I smiled through my clouded thoughts at him, remembering my Uncle’s high expectations. The worst part was, Seventeen don’t know I am related to the CEO. I want to keep it that way.
“I’m usually never late that’s all,” I said sheepishly smiling, mentally remembering where I’d left my daily diary planner. In my bag across the room.
“Well you can’t let one mistake take up all of your focus,” Seungkwan said thoughtfully, “don’t worry, you’re doing an amazing job,” he smiled as he finished. I sighed a little and smiled back at Seungkwan. He was right. I worry a lot, but that’s how I’ve been for so long. It’s hard to shake such a deeply buried habit. “I’m glad you’re our manager! I wouldn’t want to have Dohyun sunbae,” Hoshi said a little bit too loudly. I gestured once again to my pursed lips. These boys really weren’t scared. Seungkwan laughed a little at Hoshi while he was still looking distressed at just how Dohyun acted towards me all day.
“Hoshi trust me. I’ve dealt with this kind of thing before,” I reassured him. His once furrowed eyebrows now releasing their tension and his eyes never once leaving mine. My eyes were stuck on his as well, my heart stuck slightly as well.
“You should never have to deal with bullying, not you.” Hoshi said seriously, still keeping eye contact. I blink multiple times feeling taken aback. Hearing it from him made me start to see him in a different light. I pulled away my eyes breathing slowly again. He’d caught me so off guard, that phrase he said kept repeating itself in my mind.
“Hoshi hyung, why are you like this?” Seungkwan asked worriedly. Hoshi often didn’t act like this, even he himself was taken aback.
“Huh? Oh, umm… sorry about that,” he said blinking and moving again. I looked back and forth from Seungkwan to Hoshi. Seungkwan looking just as confused as I was, Hoshi suddenly avoiding all eye contact. “I’m going to go get some snacks,” he trailed off still looking around a little lost. Standing up, Seungkwan and I looked at him walking away, then looked at each other for answers about why he was acting the way he did.

He was acting so out of it, though I didn’t even realise who it was because of...

Notes

hehehe *sweating emoji* so I know the gaps between chapters is a long time but once I get writing i cAN'T STOP i'M SORRY
Hope you enjoy it either way and enjoy your own life atm, even if that means procrastinating a little (being the queen of it, I can allow this).
Thank you for reading once again, I get so excited when I see people read my writing!
Until next chapter, baiii~~