16

Timeline: February 2021

Later that day, Heyoung still hadn't come back yet, making her Ayun-eonni worried-she knew that TXT was done for editing because she was also part of the editing team, who offered help

Ayun wasn't present at the meeting of SEVENTEEN since she was asked to help the TXT editing team.

So, Ayun went to find Heyoung's brother-thinking that maybe he knew where her sister was. Eventually, she found Heyoung's brother, sitting together with a few of the SEVENTEEN members.

"Jaehyuk-ssi!" Ayun shouted.

Jaehyuk looked up and saw Ayun walking towards them. Some members of SEVENTEEN-The8, Mingyu, Vernon, Jun, Scoups, and Seungkwan turned to the source who called their manager.

"Oh? Ayun-ssi, do you need something?" Jaehyuk asked, noticing the stressed look of Ayun. He offered her to take his seat so that she could rest.

"Have you seen Heyoung-ya? I've been looking for her? I mean...she's present at the meeting, right?" Ayun said while taking a sip of water that Jaehyuk offered.

Hearing this, Seungkwan answered Ayun because he also noticed the look on her face. "Ani...someone from TXT's production team excused her due to needing some help at editing."

Ayun took a deep breath like she was having second thoughts, "I was with the production team of TXT, so I was not present at the meeting. Besides, the production team didn't need another hand."

Ayun added, "Who excused Heyoung-ya? Do you remember what he or she looks like? Because there's no single trace of Heyoung-ya going to the TXT production team."

"W-wait...hold on...what do you mean, Ayun-noona?" Mingyu asked.

"I was about to ask her if she wanted to take a break as soon as I arrived at the office since the meeting ended about an hour ago," Ayun said.

"Noona, a guy about the same height as Jun-Hyung with slick hair, excused Heyoung-noona," Vernon said, sharing some chips with The8.

=====

Back to our Heyoung, she is still in the Gemini Cafe with Hanjun.

She's feeling uncomfortable since Hanjun just asked her out in the middle of work-specifically in the middle of the meeting with SEVENTEEN.

She swears that before leaving the meeting room, she saw Scoups had an unreadable look on his face.

She's just minding her business in the meeting earlier, laser-focused on the details and key points for the upcoming projects of SEVENTEEN-maybe later, she could ask his brother.

For now, she needs to remain calm, so Hanjun won't be suspicious of her.

Soon later, Hanjun joined her after going to the counter-Hanjun carried their order and put it on their table.

"Here's your order, Heyoung-ssi," Hanjun said, giving what he had ordered for Heyoung.

"Thank you, Hanjun-ssi," Heyoung said as she accepted the Cinnamon roll and Iced tea.

"Nae, Heyoung-ssi...are you busy on the 14th?" Hanjun asked while taking a bite of his glazed doughnut.

Heyoung thought for a bit before she could answer; she checked her calendar on her phone to see if she had any activities or deadlines on the 14th-seeing that she had a day off on that day.

"Sorry, Hanjun-ssi, but I already made plans for that day," Heyoung said. "Let me go to the bathroom for a second, Hanjun-ssi."

Heyoung excused herself and went to the bathroom.

While she's in the bathroom, Heyoung calls her Ayun-eonni to inform her whereabouts. After a single ring, her Ayun-eonni answered her call.

[ Oh gosh! Heyoung-ya, where are you? I went to your brother and asked him if he knew where you were. ]

Heyoung could hear the worried tone of her Ayun-eonni.

[ Eonni...sorry...Hanjun-ssi excused me in the middle of the meeting. He said that they needed help with the editing. ] Heyoung said.

[ Editing? What editing? I was already with the TXT production team while you guys had a meeting earlier, Heyoung-ya. Besides, Hanjun-ssi isn't with us earlier, too. ]

[ Eonni, what do you mean by that? ] Heyoung felt anxious upon asking.

[ The production team told me that Hanjun-ssi wasn't supposed to be at work right now because he was caught hurting one of the TXT members. ]

Heyoung really felt uncomfortable, knowing that Hanjun really did something like that-what if he did the same with her.

[ Eonni...can you go to Gemini Cafe right now? Hanjun-ssi brought me here, saying that we would be doing the editing here, but as soon as we went here-there was no one from the TXT production. And then, he said he wanted to get to know me better...eonni come and get me out of here. ]

Heyoung rambled. She was on the verge of crying. However, it was soon replaced by comfort as she heard a familiar voice-a voice that was not her Ayun-eonni or her Jaehyuk-oppa-but it was someone who had been on her mind and heart.

[ Stay where you are. Don't go anywhere, Heyoung. I'm going where you are instead of your brother because I'm your safe place. ]

=====

As soon as the phone call ended, Scoups immediately made his way to the Gemini Cafe-ignoring the shouts from his members and manager.

All on his mind right now is his Heyoung.

When Gemini Cafe came into his view, Scoups went inside. As he went inside, he looked around to see if he saw a familiar face or not.

Upon looking, Scoups saw the man who had excused his Heyoung earlier in the meeting.

Before Scoups could approach, he saw Heyoung getting out of the bathroom.

Scoups waved his hand to let Heyoung know that he was there.

Luckily, Heyoung saw him, standing near their table. As Heyoung saw him, she quickly went to their table, where Hanjun was sitting.

"Sorry, Hanjun-ssi...Ayun-eonni called me while I was in the bathroom. She said that... there was an emergency."

Heyoung said, picking up her things and putting her bag on her shoulder.

"Thanks for this, Hanjun-ssi!"

Before Hanjun could talk, Heyoung had already left, leaving him stunned for a moment.

Seconds later, Scoups followed Heyoung out of the Gemini Cafe.

Scoups caught up with Heyoung, and he held Heyoung's wrist. Rubbing his thumb into her palm-saying I'm here...