[12]

| march 14, 2018 | 9 am kst | 8 pm est |

T a e h y u n g.

iMessage (translated)

to: Meliora :)

9:01 am

me:

hey liora

sent 9:01 am

I text Leah while I make my way to the kitchen. I search the fridge for a quick breakfast before practice. My phone buzzes on the counter, letting me know she's texted back.

Meliora :) :

hey tae tae

what's up chap

read 9:04 am

me:

chap? 😂

sent 9:04 am

Meliora :) :

haha i don't know

i've been saying weird things lately😅

read 9:04 am

me:

i like it

i say weird things

sent 9:05 am

(read)

Meliora :) :

you do 😂

i think i'm picking up on your habits

read 9:05 am

me:

you got it from me?

:)

sent 9:05 am

(read)

Meliora :) :

haha so what's up?

read 9:06 am

me:

about to eat before practice

you?

sent 9:06 am

(read)

Meliora :) :

i'm at work

on break right now :)

read 9:06 am

me:

how long do you have?

sent 9:07 am

(read)

Meliora :) :

about 30 minutes

why?

read 9:07 am

me:

just wondering how long i have to talk to you

can you facetime?

sent 9:08 am

(read)

Meliora :) :

sure, one sec

read 9:08 am

I pack my food in my duffel bag and make my way to the car waiting for me outside. My phone buzzes in my pocket so I fish it out and put in my earbuds.

"안녕~ (hello~)" I greet and pop my head into the camera, making her laugh.

"Hey Tae," She smiles, resting her head her palm.

"How are you?" I ask, unable to wipe the smile from my face.

"I'm alright," she smiles. "How are you?"

"Pretty good right now," I grin. Then the doors of the elevator ding open.

"Doors open..." Leah mimics in a silly voice.

I laugh and mumble, "Cute~"

At that moment, I just stare at the screen of my phone, taking in the sight on the other side of the camera. Leah, clad in black and white, sits in a brightly-lit room, her back facing the wide door frame that most likely leads to the kitchen or dining hall. She begins to look around the room, seemingly unable to look at me, even if it's through a screen. Adorable...

I realize I've made it to the car as my driver opens the door for me. "Thank you," I bow slightly to him, respectfully. "Have you eaten yet?" I ask her, returning my attention to her as I finish getting situated in the car.

"I had a little bit to eat earlier," She said biting her lip, and finally moving her gaze back at the phone. "I don't normally have a lot of time to eat here during breaks, so I just eat at home." She finished, huffing a held in breath.

I tilt my head slightly, curious as to why her expressions are radiating nervousness. "Are you okay Liora?"

Her face suddenly breaks into a smile. "You say my name with the cutest accent. It is the best thing I've ever heard," She giggles.

"Do I say it weird?" I chuckle.

"No, not at all." She smiles, widely. "It's so cute." As she says this, one of her co-workers enters the room.

"Hey Leah," They greet her.

She turns her head towards the figure walking through the door frame. "Hey, Harin." She smiles. Though that smile fades away as she checks the clock on the wall. "Ah Tae Tae, I've got to go back to work soon."

"Ah okay," I smile to her. "But I have to tell you something before you go..."

Her perfect brow arches slightly, her expression changing to a playful one. "Okay~"

I take a deep breath, "I'm not sure how often I'll be able to talk now. We have a much more hectic schedule that will be starting soon. So I may not be able to play or call as much I have been..." I return my gaze to the screen after I finish talking. I bite my lip as I wait for her response.

She gives a small, knowing smile. "Okay Tae." I let out a large sigh. She laughs, "Did you think I was going to be mad?"

I laugh with her, "Not really, but I wasn't entirely sure."

"Well, I promise I'm not mad. I have no reason to be," She smiles.

"Okay~ I'll let you get back to work now," I chuckle.

She waves at the screen. "Bye Tae Tae, practice hard." She ends with a large smile.

"Bye Liora," I wave back, returning her grin, and hang up the phone.

<.>

After getting off the phone with Leah, the car ride was quiet. Not an uncomfortable quiet, but a calming type of silence. One that let me get my thoughts in order, clearing them in preparation for practice. We pull up to the company building and I check my phone for the time before exiting the car.

| 9:46 am kst |

I have a few minutes until Keone gets here, but I make my way to the practice room to stretch before the long practice ahead. It takes me about two minutes to reach the empty practice room, the lights flickering on as I enter. I walk over to the resting area and place my duffel on the couch against the wall. Fishing out one of my waters I bring it to the mirrors, where we'll be spending most of our time these next 4-6 hours.

I put my earbuds in and press play on my calming classical music playlist, the first being Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata Mvt.1, and I begin to stretch. The first stretch being the one Yoongi taught me, titled 'lay down-n-rest,' my favorite.

I see the door open through the mirror as I finish stretching myself out. Keone enters the practice room, bag in hand, and nods to me through the mirror. To which I return and take out my headphones. A quick 'good morning' is exchanged between us.

He places his bag down in the corner and walks to the stereo. "Have you stretched already?" He asks.

"I did," I say as I get up to place my phone in my bag.

"Do you want to warm-up first or get straight to the choreo?"

"Either is fine," I mumble, knowing he can hear me just fine.

"Alright," He says and plays some warm-up music. "Let's get started."