Chapter Thirty-One: Karaoke, Comfort, and a Promise (노래방, 위로, 그리고 약속)

Lee Ji-seo POV (Point Of View)

We got to the Karaoke room, and Ha-ri picked out a song to sing. "Ji-seo, do you want to sing a duet after this?" She asked. 

"Uh, yeah, sure," I nodded. We got snacks before entering, and I was seriously hungry. Taemin turned to me when Ha-ri started singing. 

"Hey, you were a bit in a daze in the museum. What's wrong?" He asked, his face filled with concern. I unlocked my phone and showed him Toby's text. 

"This motherfucker..." He trailed off when he received a glare from me. "I have decided to let him go. Developing a crush for him was probably one of the dumbest things I have ever done." I said, looking at the screen. 

Taemin stayed silent for a bit before speaking up, "Well, you're only human, and you shouldn't beat yourself up for this." I nodded at his words, "Yeah, you're right," I said, and then my eyes started to blur with tears. "Gosh, why does this hurt so much?" 

Taemin sat up and took me in a hug, "It's okay. Everything will be okay." He whispered. I wiped my tears and smiled at him, "Yeah, you're right." 

He smiled at me and adjusted my glasses. Ha-ri finished up with her song, and we all clapped. "By the way, you were terrible, but your bravery to embarrass yourself impressed me." Taemin teased. 

Ha-ri rolled her eyes, then turned to Dae, who had a smile on his face, "Was I terrible, babe?" She asked with a pout. "No, you weren't," Dae said with a smile. Ha-ri's eyes lit up, and she kissed him, then sat on his lap. 

Taemin made a puking sound, "Can you two carry your cringeworthy love out of our sight?" He grumbled. Ha-ri turned to him and stuck out her tongue, "You're just jealous." Dae laughed at her behaviour. "You're so cute. What should I do? How can someone be this cute?" Dae gasped, putting his hand on his heart as if he were dying from her 'cuteness'. 

Taemin threw a pack of popcorn at them in disgust. "Stop that!" He yelled. I smiled at the scene, but looking at Dae and Ha-ri, I couldn't help but think, 'Would I be able to find someone who can love me just like how Dae loves Ha-ri?' 

Ha-ri stood up from Dae's lap and walked to me. She handed me a mic, "Here. Should I pick out the song, or should you pick it yourself?" It was time for our duet. I decided to pick out a song that Ha-ri and I knew, and we started singing. 

Min Taemin POV (Point Of View)

As soon as they began singing, my mind went back to when Ji-seo was crying, "That mothefucker." I said under my breath. I looked back at Ji-seo, who was happily singing with Ha-ri with a smile on her face. 

'I'll make sure you won't lose that smile on your face, Angry Bird.' I promised her. I brought out my phone and took a video of the girls singing. I looked at Dae, who was staring at Ha-ri with heart eyes, and my face scrunched with disgust. I threw a pillow at him, causing his eyes to leave Ha-ri's face. 

"Stop that. It's so cringe." I said. He shook his head and came to sit next to me, "Don't worry, Taemin. You'll know this feeling someday," He said with a smile. "No, I wouldn't. Because I'm sane." I retorted. 

Lee Ji-seo POV (Point Of View)

I finished the last line of the song and turned to Ha-ri with a smile, "That was so fun." The guys clapped for us and we gave them a bow. 

"You did so well, Angry Bird," Taemin said, nodding in approval, "But Ha-ri ruined her parts." He said with a teasing grin. 

"Okay then, since you are so judgy, why don't you come here and sing?" Ha-ri said before shoving the mic into Taemin's hand. 

Taemin looked at the mic in his hands in confusion before looking back at Ha-ri. "You want me to sing?" Ha-ri nodded her head firmly. 

"Okay. Angry Bird, prepare to be smitten by my heavenly voice." He said before winking at me. Ha-ri went to sit on Dae's lap, "Heavenly voice, my foot. I'm sure you sound like a dying house that choked on a frog." 

I let out a short giggle at her words as I sat down, "Okay then. Prepare to be shocked." Taemin said before getting up and choosing a song to sing. 

"This would be fun," Ha-ri said with a mischievous grin, waiting for Taemin to embarrass himself. I took out my phone to record, also waiting for him to embarrass himself. 

A few minutes later, we sat there with our mouths open in shock. Taemin finished his song and turned to us with a grin. 

"I'm so sorry to disappoint you guys. I have the voice and visuals of a K-pop idol." Taemin said proudly, dusting off the invisible dust on his shoulders. Ha-ri rolled her eyes. "Maybe I can give you vocal lessons, Ha-ri." Taemin teased. 

I looked at my phone and stopped recording. Dae stood up to sing a song, and he didn't sound bad. "Woah, that's my boyfriend, guys." Ha-ri cheered, supporting Dae's singing. Taemin rolled his eyes. "Not this again," he said in annoyance. 

"Let's take a selfie," I suggested after Dae was done. Ha-ri nodded her head in agreement. I took a picture of four of us, then I took one with just Taemin and me. Then I suggested that we should take funny pictures, to which they all agreed. We took many pictures, and we did a lot of TikTok videos. 

Ha-ri and I posted the videos on our TikTok accounts since the boys weren't content creators on there. I looked at the time on my phone, "It's getting late. Let's head home." We all agreed and hopped into Taemin's car. 

"Let's head to Dae's house to drop him off, then I can drop you guys off at your house," Taemin said, starting his engine. We agreed. Then he drove off to Dae's house. 

My phone buzzed with a notification, and I saw the text was from Ha-ri. Since I was sitting in the passenger's seat next to Taemin, we had to communicate this way. 

My missing brain cell:

What are we going to do? We can't let Taemin know your house!!

Me: 

I am tired of hiding, Ha-ri. Taemin is my friend now, so I honestly don't care if he finds out. 

My missing brain cell:

Yeah, you're right. But we both know that it must be kept a secret from Arin.

Me:

Yeah, I know. 

We dropped Dae at his house, and Taemin turned to me, "I'll drop off Ha-ri now." I nodded. I could hear Ha-ri's heartbeat increase with panic, and I turned to her with a smile. We got to Ha-ri's house, and she got out of his car and waved us goodbye. 

"So what's your house address?" Taemin asked. I typed it into his car navigation, and Taemin looked at me, "Is that where you live?" 

I nodded, and Taemin stayed silent and drove down to my house. We parked in front of it, and I turned to him and saw he was staring straight ahead. "What's wrong?" I asked.

He turned to me, "I thought you said you were an Alpha." "I never said I was. Min-ho said I was an Alpha," I said nervously. "So are you an..." He trailed off, but I know what he wanted to say. 

"No, I'm not. I'm a Gamma. My dad is a surgeon, and my mum works for Ha-ri's mum. But I guess with my new job as a model, I'll fight to take that Alpha spot. What do you think?" I said, with a glint of mischief in my eyes.

Taemin stared at me before his lips raised into a smile, "Yeah, you have the potential to take the spot, but don't stress yourself on it. It's a stupid thing anyway." Taemin said. "Yeah, I know. That's why I don't give a fuck about it. The only person who is making me worry is Arin. That girl is crazy, but I'm crazier. I don't care if she does anything to me, but I'm worried about what she might do to my parents." I said, fidgeting with my fingers. 

Taemin looked down at my hands and grabbed them, causing me to stop fidgeting with them. "I promise to protect you, Angry Bird. I don't want to see you lose your smile. You're an ugly crier." He teased. 

I smacked his head, "Idiot." Taemin laughed but then turned serious, "But I'm serious about protecting you so you won't lose your smile."

I was touched, "Thank you, Taemin. You're a good friend." I said, then went in for a hug, "I know, I'm the best." Taemin said after leaving the hug. I rolled my eyes and got out of his car. He waited for me to get into my house before driving off.