Seventy-Eight

5 YEARS LATER

"Give that here." Hanseol reached towards the passenger seat from his usual passenger seat in the car and grabbed Jaehyeon's backpack from him.

"Hey! It really isn't that bad." Jaehyeon protested, turning around to prove his point. "I feel just fine."

"This is your last trip with us for a while now. Let us do this much." Mingyu said and patted Jaehyeon's shoulder. "You can focus on getting your back in order in time for your Military service."

"Like I said, I'm fine already." Jaehyeon reiterated. "You don't need to make such a fuss about it."

"But you're going away, Hyung. We're allowed to fuss about it." Yeojun pouted. "Will you miss us?"

"Why would you ask me that?" He looked back at our Maknae and pouted.

"You aren't allowed to miss us too much." I chuckled. "You have to do your duties properly."

"He needs to get better first." Hanseol rolled his eyes.

"Oh, wow. Would you look at that!" Mingyu suddenly pointed out, eyes fixed ahead. We were about two blocks away from DayBreak Entertainment's HQ. The area right in front of it was packed with people holding up signboards and cheering. 'Welcome home!' 'S.T.A.Y!' 'I love you!' 'We missed you here!'

"This is the biggest crowd yet." Yeojun commented.

"Is there space for us to pass?" Jaehyeon strained to see just as the crowd of screaming True saw us.

"We might have to go around back." Manager Park informed us.

"No. If we can, let us stick to the front, please?" Mingyu asked. "They're here to see us, after all."

Manager Park smiled. "Okay."

The security personnel had sprung into action as we approached. They formed walls on both sides of the way to the parking lot.

They couldn't see us because of the tinted windows and the drawn curtains but we could see them. They knew that too. With such a massive reception, we were all justifiably moved.

We had just completed our third world tour and arrived home. It was always so comforting to return to this familiar place after so many months away. When greeted by such a large home-crowd too, it served as a reminder for where it all started.

It was good to be back home.

Jaehyeon had had to perform the last leg of our world tour seated on-stage because he had hurt his back during practice. That was a couple of weeks ago and he had gotten a lot better, as he was trying to tell Hanseol earlier. We knew that but the four of us had agreed to shower him with a little extra love because we were aware of how upset he was about the whole misfortune. The performances during the last leg were his last stage appearances with S.T.A.Y before he would have to leave for his compulsory Military service. He had had to sit through all of those precious performances. It was hard enough to have to sit onstage while the rest of us were performing. To think that those were his last performances for at least a year and a half was just… In fact, there was every chance that S.T.A.Y might go on an extended break if not immediately, then in another year or so because both Hanseol and I were planning on doing our services around that time. S.T.A.Y cannot continue with just three members even if Jaehyeon were to be back by then. They will most likely focus on their solo careers.

Speaking about the Military, there was someone else whom I had not seen in nearly two years because of the compulsory service. That was another reason (if not the main reason) why I was waiting to get home.

Yoo Changmin.

"S.T.A.Y Sunbaenim!" A voice called for us as we climbed the stairs and reached the ground floor.

"It's Freefall!" Yeojun beamed and waved to our junior group who were further down the hallway, on their way out. "We're back!"

"Thank you for your good work as always!" One of them cupped his hands around his mouth and called out.

"We'll come by to see you soon!" Nao, the vocalist I had gotten friendly with, said.

"Thank you!" Mingyu returned and I waved. They soon disappeared down the hallway.

"They've struggled quite a bit." Hanseol shook his head, feeling just as helpless as the rest of us did regarding their matter. "It's been almost seven years since they debuted."

"They're actually pretty popular abroad." I reminded them. "They just need to work on getting on the right side of the home crowd too. I don't know how their contract renewal will go but... let's hope for the best." They had started off on the wrong foot and there were a few scandals and issues. They had pulled through all of those but the damage to their reputation had been too large to repair easily. And yet, seeing how much they had grown, I had faith in them.

"That's right. Honestly, at this point, there's no telling what might happen tomorrow." Mingyu nodded. "I mean, look at what happened to 04:00 am."

"04:00 am was just…" Yeojun trailed off. "But look at us! We had never thought that we would be here today."

"Right." Jaehyeon nodded, placing an arm around my neck as we continued walking behind Manager-nim towards Kim PD-nim's office.

Our latest album 'Clover' had been a huge success- in fact, it had been our biggest success to date. We had already secured eleven wins for the title track 'On My Way'. None of us had expected that, honestly. We were already proud of the album before it released, albeit anxious, but none of us had predicted such milestone achievements and sold out global venues.

We had outdone ourselves.

True had outdone themselves.

"How are you holding up, Jaehyeon?" Kim PD-nim enquired after the initial important discussions were done.

"I'm good, Kim Pd-nim." Jaehyeon offered up a reassuring smile. "I'm almost back to normal. I'd… already have been had these Dongsaengs of mine not decided to continue treating me like a patient but… I can't say much to them when they're trying so hard to show me all the love while they can, can I?"

He'd known all along. Geez…

"Of course. You'll be missed while you're away." Kim PD-nim chuckled. "But I want you to remember that at all times, take good care of yourself and come back to us as you're leaving us, if not healthier."

"Yes." Jaehyeon bowed carefully. "I will be back before you know it!"

"Jeongwoo, Hanseol, you two better prepare yourselves too." Kim PD-nim looked between us. "We'll try to wrap up all your services fast so that S.T.A.Y won't get fragmented for too long."

"Yes." Hanseol answered and the rest of us bowed.

"Good. I like the enthusiasm." He smiled. "Well, then, what are the four of you planning to do now?"

'Four of you'. That was going to need some getting used to.

"We'll begin work on our next album immediately." Mingyu reported. "We have already talked about it. We already have a concept in mind."

"I see. We'll have a planning meeting as soon as we can then." Kim PD-nim nodded. "For now though, use your two days off really well and catch up on all your rest. Jaehyeon, get back to your prime condition."

"I will." Jaehyeon said and the rest of us agreed as well. After talking a little while longer, we wished Kim PD-nim a good day, thanked him and made our way out of his office.

"You're driving home?" Hanseol asked Jaehyeon.

"Yes. Anyone else wants to get dropped off?"

"Us." Mingyu raised a hand, gesturing to Yeojun as well. "If you don't mind."

"I don't mind." Jaehyeon shook his head. "Hanseol-ah?"

"I'll go on my own."

"Alright."

S.T.A.Y had moved out of the dorm. Yeojun and Mingy were still living together but Yeojun had said that he would be moving into a place of his own soon. The rest of us had gotten our own places. Manager Park usually dropped our younger members and Hanseol while Jaehyeon had gotten himself a car. He was the one who would usually drop me on the days that I did not feel like driving and needed to be dropped.

"Oh. He's here." Yeojun perked up and grinned at me. "He's here."

I was paying attention to Jaehyeon and the others and only faced ahead when Yeojun informed me.

The long brown coat was the first thing that caught my eye. A plain white shirt and blue jeans. His "style statement" cap was perched upon his head and a smile had graced that all-so-familiar face. His hands were in his pockets till our eyes met.

I had been mentally preparing myself for this moment. He had told me that he would come to pick me up but when I actually saw him, just then, I felt something well up within me.

It had been almost two years.

"Sunbae!" Mingyu waved. "Long time no see!"

"Ah." Changmin raised a hand to acknowledge and continued walking towards us. "Congratulations on another successful world tour, S.T.A.Y."

"Thanks, Sunbae." Jaehyeon answered.

I couldn't even think of anything to say.

"How was the Military?" Hanseol asked. "You're looking healthy."

"Oh, I'm in top condition." Changmin smiled. "I'll tell you all my stories sometime later in detail. YoonJae-ya, you're leaving soon, aren't you? Good luck."

"Unfortunately." Jaehyeon sighed, then patted my shoulder and released me. "You're here for him, right? He's all yours."

"Yup." Changmin smiled at me and then looked at the others. "How are all of you going? Anyone needs a lift?"

"No, thank you." Mingyu replied. "We're all set."

"I see. And you have a couple of days off?"

"Yup. Since we're not going to officially take a break anytime now, we've gotten these two days." Mingyu confirmed.

"Good." He then looked at me. "Shall we head home, Jeongwoo?"

"Mm." I nodded and addressed the others. "We'll leave now. I'll see you."

"Okay, Hyung." Yeojun gave me a quick hug and Mingyu nodded. "Get good rest, okay? Sleep all that you can."

"Yes." I smiled. "All of you too. And text in the group when everyon reaches home."

"Okay." Hanseol answered and Jaehyeon gave me a two-finger salute. "Bye."

"Bye." I nodded again and hung back with Changmin who had come to stand beside me as the others left to the basement. We then began walking towards the entrance. "Car?"

"It's out front." He replied, took off his cap and placed it on my head, probably to cover my light brown hair. He pulled on the mask that was at his chin till then. I had seen pictures of him in his Military uniform but the short hair had already grown a little, although it wasn't back to its usual length.

"When did you get here?"

"Just now." He glanced at me. "I had to wait for the front to clear up so I was circling the block for a while."

Ah. True… "It's like the crowd is getting bigger each time."

"That's how it is." He nodded, then chuckled. "How come you're talking now? You were so silent earlier."

That's… "I… did not know what to say." I admitted reluctantly. "It's been a long time."

"We spoke on the phone as soon as you landed though?"

"That's… different from this." I pouted, embarrassed.

"Hm. Then… how about 'Hyung-ah, I missed you'?" Even with the mask on, I could see the smile in his eyes when he took one bag from me, leaving me to carry my backpack and one other suitcase.

No. I'm not saying that just yet.