Page 65 of When Worlds Collide
And it was strange, because I’d become accustomed to being around Seokmin and Sungmin relatively quickly, althoughadmittedly the transition was eased by several beers, and the surreality of stringing tinsel round a Christmas tree. It had been immersion therapy, in a way.
This felt more unreal though, and as my mind frantically scrambled to turn my world right side up, the conclusion I drew, was because it was all of them assembled in the same place.
The whole group.
All of GVibes, instead of individual people, who just happened to be members of the group.
I blinked rapidly, like I was trying to clear water out of my eyes. As the silence seemed to swell in the now too-small room, I had the presence of mind to consider that this was probably just as strange for them.
Jihoon had told me that none of them had ever ‘brought a girl home’. I was a complete aberration, and while the members had individually dated, they’d never felt the need to introduce them like this; although in a couple instances, that had more to do with the fact that the girl had been another singer, or trainee, and they’d all known each other. So, given that I was neither of those things, this was new for all of us.
Knowing that, however, did not make it any easier for me to unfreeze my entire body, but it did allow me to shake off a little of the permafrost and move a little closer to Jihoon.
My small act of animation seemed to break the shock a little though, as one by one, the other four guys began to move again. Sungmin lightly shoved Seokmin for some transgression, while Woojin put down a white, plastic bag he’d been holding, and wiped his hands on the back of his slacks.
Minjae walked towards us. “Welcome, Kaiya,” he smiled down at me in an expression I felt like I’d seen a thousand times. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
Minjae was the eldest member and the leader, and though he was a little shorter than Jihoon, his authority practically radiated from him. Where Jihoon’s eyes were a warm, coffee brown, Minjae’s were almost silver, the grey, stormy colour surprisingly light. It gave him a politely reserved expression. He didn’t reach for my hand and he kept a respectful distance from us that clearly drew a line. It didn’t make me uncomfortable, as such, but it also didn’t make me feel at ease. It felt like… he was reserving judgment. And honestly, that was fair. He didn’t know me from Eve. I was just some girl Jihoon had met on a solo trip one spring in LA, a self-confessed fan. I’d be wary, too.
“Hello,” I replied, tentatively smiling up at him.
“Are you enjoying Korea?” he asked, and it was such a generic question that I was momentarily caught off guard. I was always expecting people – those that knew – to ask about my relationship with Jihoon, so a question outside of that scope was both a relief and bizarre. I had to consider my answer, which had the bonus effect of easing some of the tension that held me up.
“I would love to see more of it, but so far, yes,” I answered, an exhale making my rigid muscles relax, slightly.
“It was very brave of you to move across the world.”
I couldn’t shake the feeling those rather extraordinary eyes were assessing me.
“So everyone keeps telling me.” My lips quirked up in a wry smile.
“You don’t agree?” He seemed surprised.
I shrugged, but considered his question before I replied. “I guess I just don’t consider moving abroad all that scary.”
“You’re from London, yes?” Minjae tilted his head to the side as his eyes flicked to Jihoon, who opened his mouth to answer, but I spoke before he could.
“Not originally. I moved to London to attend university, before I moved to LA in March.”
“Perhaps you’re just used to moving around. Do you know anyone except Jihoon in Korea?”
“No,” I answered honestly.
“What do you want to do while you’re here? Music studio?” His polite expression never wavered, but I got the distinct impression he had some thoughts that weren’t necessarily favourable.
“I don’t know exactly,” I answered honestly, but carefully. “I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do – long term.”
“And you think you can figure that out in Korea?”
“Hyung!” Jihoon’s sharp voice cut across the three of us as I felt his fingers tighten around mine. I couldn’t help but notice the others had looked over at us, before quickly turning away to continue doing whatever it was they were doing.
“I was just asking a question, Jihoon-ah.” He stared at Jihoon, and though his expression did not change, his tone remained calm and measured, the authority he seemed to naturally have was a clear message. I watched Jihoon’s jaw clench, and feeling a sudden rush of disquiet, I hurried to cover the loaded silence.
“I could probably figure it out just as easily here, in Korea, as I could have in LA, or even back in England. But Jihoon is here. Whatever I choose to do, it will not interfere with him, or any of you. I’m sorry if my being here is an intrusion.” I lowered my eyes, but my voice had not wavered.
“You’re not intruding,” Jihoon all but hissed, and I didn’t need to look up to know what expression he must be wearing.
“Kaiya, please do not misunderstand. You are welcome. It is my job to worry, and Jihoon-ah did not exactly tell us he’d asked you to come.”
