Chapter 10

Chris

I walk down the marble hall, seeing all the staff sitting at computers as I walk towards JYP's office. As I turn down one of the halls, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and I take it out, my eyebrows raising as I see a message from a random number.

Unknown Number: I've been thinking about your offer

Unknown Number: Could you help me with my project?

Unknown Number: Only if you have time tho ofccc

I stare at the messages in shock, realising exactly who the messages are from, making a new contact immediately. Damn, she's actually asking for my help?

You: Yeah, ofc I have the time

Soph ♡: Ahhh tysmmm

You: Nppp

You: Anytime

I smile as I send the last message, turning my phone on silent and putting it back into my pocket, fixing my shirt before knocking on the door to JYP's office. I can see him gesturing for me to come in through the glass, so I open the door and sit down on the other side of his desk.

"Good afternoon," I smile, shaking his hand over the desk.

"Chan," he begins, re-adjusting his seat. "So, Kevin organised your timetable and you have the ability to go to Australia, or just somewhere on vacation for a few days, just to take a break. It's totally up to you, if you want to keep on working, go for it."

That sounds so good, just what I need right now to be honest... but didn't I just agree to help Sophie this week?

"Have you offered this to all of the members?" I ask, sitting up straight in the chair.

"Yes," he nods back with pride.

Shit... There's no way I'm passing down this opportunity for her, even thinking about it is ridiculous... just no. It's fine, either Han or Changbin would've chosen to continue working, they can help her with uni instead.

"Yes, I'll take it thanks," I smile and he nods back, beginning to type on his computer as I walk out of his room.

**

"Han, are you taking the time off?" I ask him, as I sit down on the dorm couch, a bowl of ramen perched between my legs.

"Yep," he replies, sitting at the table, brushing his hair into his beanie.

"Changbin, you?" I press, getting increasingly more anxious as I await his reply.

"Yeah I am," he answers, shoving a boiled egg into his mouth.

"Fuck," I groan, slumping myself back into the couch.

"What?" Han inquires, both him and Changbin watching over me in confusion.

"I just need someone here," I mutter lightly as I hear footsteps from down the hallway, the two other members turning their heads to look.

"I'm not taking the time off," Hyunjin announces as he walks into the living room, sitting down on the couch beside me. "Why?"

"Would you be willing to help this intern with her uni project?" I grimace, rubbing my eyes as I pose the question.

"Oh seriously Chan?" Both Han and Changbin groan from the other side of the room.

"What? Why are you guys annoyed?" Hyunjin gives them a puzzled look.

"It's that Sophie chick," Changbin widens his eyes as he shoves yet another egg into his mouth.

"What's the project?" Hyunjin asks, deciding to ignore the pair's remarks.

"I think it's just writing a song, just the lyrics you know?" I respond, leaning my head onto the palm of my hand. Hyunjin cringes in response, tucking his long hair behind his ears as he thinks it through. "Hyunjin, you'll be fine. If you need my help, just message me, we have internet in Australia you know?"

"Yeah, yeah, ok," he quickly agrees with no further hesitation. "I'll help her."

"Thank you sosososo much Hyunjin," I stand up, placing the ramen beside me, clenching my fist in celebration before opening messages on my phone.

You: Hey

You: How r u?

Soph ♡: Pretty good, u?

You: I'm all right

You: So

You: I'm gonna be in aus for a huge chunk of next week

Soph ♡: Oh

You: Are you ok with Hyunjin helping you instead of me?

Soph ♡: Yeah, no worries

You: It's just the songwriting project right?

Soph ♡: Yeah

You: Hyunjin should be good

You: Just message me if you need yeah?

Soph ♡: Yeah alr, tysm

"All right, I'll message you her number," I smile at Hyunjin, opening his contact on my phone.

"Thank you," he replies in a sing-songy tone.

**

After saying my last goodbyes to my family in Australia, I walk through the airport's duty-free, my suitcase dragging behind me as photographers line up against the security glass. I notice my phone buzz in my cross-body bag, reaching in to check the message.

Soph ♡: You passed security yet??

You: Yeah

You: I'm in duty-free

I look around me before holding my phone up above my head, taking a selfie of myself pointing to the 'Duty Free' sign. After taking the picture, I quickly hold the phone down again, sending the photo to her.

You: *Sent an image*

Soph ♡: that's hot

You: the duty-free...?

Soph ♡: HELP

Soph ♡: no

Soph ♡: I was talking bout you cutie pie

You: stfu

Soph ♡: no

Soph ♡: eek I can't wait a whole 11 hours to show you the song Hyunjin and I wrote

You: send a recording

You: or AT LEAST the lyrics

You: pleaseee it's getting annoying

Soph ♡: noo

Soph ♡: I wanna see your reaction

Sophie and I have been talking the entire time I've been in Australia, more so than when we are both in Korea. It just started with her asking for photos of shit in Australia, but soon it became her asking for photos of what I was doing and vice versa. She's sent me way too many 0.5x pictures of her and Hyunjin and way too many photos of her eating ramen in her dorm but, I can't exactly complain.

I continue to walk through duty-free, staring at all the different people who are flying out of Sydney today. There's the families with about 18 kids (no less), the girls having an existential crisis in their early twenties and deciding to backpack around vietnam. There's also the business men... and an absurd amount of pregnant women. I stare at one of the dozen pregnant ladies at Sydney International Airport that day and as she looks over my way, I quickly avoid eye contact... not looking to catch a case. As I glance away, I notice the nike store in Duty Free, numerous amounts of eshay clothes on display and I watch over a pair of Nike Dunk Highs.

I glance over, a stupid thought immediately popping into my head. The green details, the vintage look, the high collar, it's perfect for Sophie. She'd love them, I just know it, it just seems like... her? I didn't want to buy her a pair of shoes, that's not what I set out to do... but she needs a pair and I really do think these suit her. 

I grab the pair, taking them to the shop assistant at the counter, who I'm pretty sure was high as fuck.

"Can I just take these?" I ask, setting them down on the surface.

"In this size?" The assistant slurs, tapping the table slowly.

"Oh, um," I take a look inside of the shoe, reading that it's a size US 8. I have no clue what shoe size Soph is... but worse comes to worse I buy her another pair. "Yeah, these are great."

"Sick as," the assistant smiles, launching the pair of shoes into a box before handing it to me, forcing my credit card out of my hand. He scans the card before sliding it across the counter, allowing me time to quickly grab the card and run away before I have to interact with him anymore, taking out my phone as I do so.

You: I have a surprise for you when I get back

Soph ♡: TELL ME

You: Not unless you send me a recording of the song

Soph ♡: AGH

Soph ♡: FUCK OFF

You: Thought so

You: I'm going to board the flight soon

Soph ♡: Ah

Soph ♡: Have a safe flight

You: Thanks, see you then

Soph ♡: See you in 11 hours /:

Authors note

Lazy ah chapter tbhhh... Chapter 11 is sm better lemme tell u rn (; Anyway, hope you enjoyed!! I'll probably also post a oneshot chap tn!! Alr byeee have a good day/night <33

Also I can't be the only one who loves author notes... like I love the fact that authors are human yk (>ლ)