It was raining hard and the couple ducked under the deserted bus stop. She smiled up at him, worry twisting her heart. He was quiet tonight.                                                        

“Dongjoon, is something wrong?” She asked.

He shook his head, water droplets flicking in her direction.

“You’ve been very quiet tonight. Are you tired?” She asked. He had picked her up from her drama location and he only one word to her. “Let’s just go home.”

He reached out to her elbow. “Noona.”

She turned, putting her hands on his waist. “Yes?”

“I am so sorry.” He whispered. Thunder echoed behind them.

“About what?”

He looked at her and his eyes were cold. “We cannot be together.”

She was silent for a while. “What?”

“I realized that my love for you will not go over beyond just a noona. I only love you as a sister.” He told her. She fisted her hands and dropped them from his hips.

“What are you talking about, Dongjoonie? This is not funny.”

He stepped back. “You are older than me.”

She scoffed. “I am only 2 years older! What the hell are you talking about?”

His cute face changed into a cold, mean one. “You rejected me before because of my age and now, I am doing the same.”

Nura’s nails dug into her palm. “I didn’t reject you. I told you to wait. And, what? Is this some sort of revenge?”

He sighed. “Of course not. I love you.”

“Don’t be shitting me.” She snapped.

“I do, noona. Just not like a lover.” He said.

Nura reached out to him. “Dongjoonie, why are you doing this? You told me you love me.”

He smiled slightly, taking his arms free from her grasp. “Noona, don’t make a scene. We’re just not suited for each other.”

“We just got together for 2 weeks.” She murmured, tears spilling out from her eyes. Dongjoon jerked forward like he wanted to do something but he leaned back. “I, I love you.”

He smiled again. “Let’s face it. You just broke up with yor boyfriend and I was the closest male party close for you to help you forget him. We both know I was just your re-“ Nura’s slap rang in his ears as he touched his stinging cheek.

“You were not my rebound.” She gritted out. “And, you’re a complete ass who thinks so.”

He rubbed his cheek. “Fine. Be in denial. Anyway, we’re over. Do you want me to send you home?”

“No. I want you to go to hell.” Her shoulders were shaking and she was crying so much.

He reached out to her and she slapped his hand away. “I hope we can still be friends.” He walked out into the rain and Nura dropped on her haunches, covering her face as she cried. Dongjoon took out his phone. “I did it. I broke up with her. Let ZE:A have their comeback.” He said. His heart was hurting so much, he felt like dying.

“Good. In future, you’ll realize what a good decision you’re making. You and Junyoung are the main faces of ZE:A. Naj is an idol, her fans can protect her if ever the news gets leaked out. Nura’s fans, we’re not so sure. You are okay?”

“yeah, whatever.” He switched off his phone and looked over his shoulder. Nura was still hunched over and his eyes began to leak tears. “I’m so sorry, Noona.” He wanted to run back to her, hold her, shouting that he was sorry and stupid to have said those things, to beg her to forget what he said, to love him back again. But, he turned and started running back to the main road where his manager would pick him up.

***

When he entered the dorm, his hyungs jumped on him. “Dongjoon!”

He looked up, his eyes dead. “What?”

“Where have you been?” Junyoung demanded.

“Out.”

“Were you with Nura?” Minwoo asked, the sound of his name sending a slice of pain through him.

“Hm.”

“Where is she now?” Kwanghee asked.

Dongjoon shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“What? You were with her, weren’t you?” Heechul asked.

“I’m tired, hyung.” Dongjoon pushed past them to the bathroom. The hyungs looked at each other.

Minwoo’s phone rang. “Oh, hi, Caryn. Did you find her?” A pause. “Oh. Is she okay?” A pause. “What?” The other ZE:A boys leaned in to listen. “Right, of course. Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”

“What?” Taehun asked.

“Nura just came home. Mikey found her. She’s not talking to anyone.” Minwoo said. “And…”

“And?” They demanded. Minwoo looked at the bathroom door.

“Caryn said that to tell Dongjoon to stay the hell away from Nura.”he said. Dongjoon who heard it in the bathroom, closed his eyes. He rubbed his aching chest, wetness staining his cheeks once more.

****

The vibrations of the mobile phone roused Jessie. She squinted in the darkness and sat up. She shook Naj’s shoulder and reached across the floor to wake Gina.

“What time is it?” Naj yawned and Jessie shushed her. They both glanced at the small sleeping form on the bed. Naj mouthed Sorry and gently patted Caryn’s hip who was curled up next to the form. Gina flopped to the side, refusing to wake up.

“Unnie, wake up.” Naj whispered. Caryn was stirring and she sat up, rubbing her eyes. Slowly, the members of Starfire crept out of the room, careful not to step on the rest of 9starrybyeol  scattered across the room.

They washed up and went downstairs where their manager waited to take them to their fansign. They stopped for doughnuts and ate them in the van.

“You think she’ll be okay?” Gina fretted.

Caryn nodded. “She’s torn up pretty bad, worse than when it was over with Geun Suk but I think she’ll be okay.”

“I wonder if Nashi managed to push her schedule to another day.” Naj said, her face in worried lines.

Jessie looked at her phone, seeing Taehun’s smile. She wondered if she and Taehun will be like that one day. She leaned back on the seat, remembering what happened last night.

“Are you trying to say that all 9 of us are dating ZE:A boys?” Nashi gaped. Mia nodded. “That’s impossible! Siwan had a girlfriend who still writes him letters!”

Jaymee pointed out to Kyra who was currently stuffing a thick letter into an enveloped. “What?” She asked, looking up.

Nashi crossed her arms. “And, who are you dating, Jaymee?”

“Me? The prince of ZE:A.”

“Shikkie? Well, that kinda makes sense.” She rubbed her chin. Gina smiled up at her. “Let me guess. Heechul?”

“How do you know?!”

“You’ve always had a thing for rappers. Taehun doesn’t seem like your type.” At the sound of the name, Jessie sighed and Nashi pinpointed her as Taehun’s.

“Guess mine, guess mine!” Mia clapped her hands.

“Kevin.”

“That was anticlimatic.” Mia pouted. Nashi patted her hand.

“You’re always whispering in english and Kevin made sense.”

“Since obviously Joon can’t speak english at that speed.” Naj poured hot water into the hot chocolate mixture.

“So, I’m left with Moon and Minwoo. Moon is obviously Naj’s. Minwoo is with Caryn then.” Nashi sighed. The bathroom door opened and all of them got up from their seats in the kitchen to Nura’s room where they spent the night with her.

****