Chapter Five: Outburst

[Author’s Note: Please, note that this book is rated Mature and is not meant for a young audience (under 17). There will be strong language used and some explicit scenes that will be throughout the book; reader discretion is advised. At no point in time will I allow my work to be republished or translated on the same or different platform and/or site, under any circumstances. This book is licensed by Webnovel and its affiliated company, AnD Entertainment. Copyright All Rights Reserved Lynnifer Ice. If anyone finds my work(s) republished on another site or platform, please, let me know immediately.]

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[ Webnovel ©Lynnifer Ice ]

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I felt just like a kid that had just got caught with their hand in the cookie jar as Namki looked at us for an explanation.

Why do I feel like I did something wrong? Nothing happened so, I should not feel so guilty. That’s right... I want to keep this professional.

“Mind your own business, Namki-ah,” Yunjun spoke up as he brushed by me.

All eyes landed on me, now waiting for my explanation. Although I knew it was just avoiding the subject, I decided to use a common scapegoat. I cleared my throat, making eye contact with Namki, “I am quite sorry, gentlemen, but patient confidentiality is in the contract.”

As Yunjun pushed past Namki, their shoulders colliding, Jin-hyuk grabbed Yunjun’s shoulder. I was surprised, to say the least.

“What the hell has gotten into you today, Yunjun-ah?! You have been acting like a jerk since you woke up this morning,” Jin-hyuk shouted, loud enough to carry through the hallway.

Yunjun harshly pushed Jin-hyuk’s arm away from him, shouting back just as angrily. “Then stay away from me, Hyung! Get off my case!”

I felt a little stunned.

Is Yunjun acting this way because of the short conversation we just had?

Yunjun made brief eye contact with me before scoffing and leaving without another word.

Perhaps it was something I said.

I thought to myself, feeling perplexed, my annoyance fading away. Jin-hyuk then gained my attention with a look of sympathy.

“I am very sorry for all this, Melody-nim... I don’t know what has gotten into him today; he is usually much more level-headed than this...” Jin-hyuk said as he tried to offer an apology.

“I am sure he has his reasons; I think he just needs a little bit of alone time,” I calmly replied, my eyes still watching the back of Yunjun’s retreating form before he disappeared around a corner.

“Do you still want to start today? We could always reschedule for tomorrow,” Namki asked as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

I looked down the hallway that Yunjun had stormed down, letting a small sigh escape past my lips. I crossed my arms, feeling slightly irritated about the situation. If it were going to be like this all the time, it would only make my job more difficult.

Would it be better to wait until all seven of them could be present, or would it be better to start with six and deal with Yunjun later?

I was about to answer when the youngest spoke up, and I could not have been more grateful for his suggestion.

“I think we should continue with today but maybe here at the company instead of home. Hyung probably went back to the dorms, and he does not like feeling cornered,” Jeongseok stated.

“Why don’t you pick out a room then. Do you want to start as a group or go one by one?” I asked, placing a calm smile back on my face.

“I think we should talk as a group and then go individually afterward,” Jin-hyuk chimed in.

“Great! Let’s go and get started then,” I tried to say with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.

It felt like a pit was growing in my stomach as I followed them down the halls.

Would it really be okay to just let Yunjun go without checking on him first? If he were that angry, though, I really don’t think he would even pick up his phone if one of the members tried to call him.

~***~

I was just starting to relax for the night in my hotel room; I was getting ready for bed. It was just past 9 p.m. when my cell phone began ringing. At first, I was confused about who would be calling this late, but my eyes widened when I saw the caller ID. Jin-hyuk and all the others, except Yunjun, had exchanged numbers with me before we departed earlier. Jeongseok was the one who was calling me. I picked up the phone, calmly answering it.

“Hello? Jeongseok-ssi?”

“Noona-nim,” he sounded panicked as he continued, “We need you to come over right away... It’s Yunjun-Hyung.”

“Take a deep breath, Jeongseok-ssi, and slowly let it out...,” I tried to calm him down just a tinge, and I heard him draw in a deep but shaky breath before he slowly let it out. “Now, tell me, what is going on?”

“Hyung almost just overdosed... I stopped him, but I still feel scared. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He has never tried anything like this before. What- What if I hadn’t gone to check on him...? He- He could have...,” he trailed off, choking back on a sob.

I felt my heart plummet into my stomach. “Stay with him, Jeongseok. I’m on my way.”

“Please, hurry, Noona-nim.”

- End of Chapter Five -

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[ Webnovel ©Lynnifer Ice ]

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