Mystic Radio Ep. 21: Pool Party pt.2
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A/N: Sorry if the quality is bad, I'm still working on myself and trying to get back into writing, Thank you for your continued patience and support. If not for you readers and your kind comments, I don't know if/when I ever would have gotten this chapter done. So, Thank you :)
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MC POV
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"That would be great, actually," I reply with a grin to Jaehee's promise that I wont lose her. A small gesture, maybe, and it might not be reality and I'm just a hopeful fool to think so. But with those words of, 'I promise,' I already feel a bit lighter.
We all spend time together, enjoying the sun, me watching the others splash in the pool while I idly play games on my phone. Occasionally having a conversation with Zen or Yoosung, but I'm not able to be part of the action, so I sit mostly in the background. I don't mind too much, but not being able to join in almost sucks as much as the actual broken leg.
Jaehee comes out between laps to sit with me sometimes, not that I mind. When she does, I always wish I could pull her aside and sneak off to kiss her, but I'm not sure if she would be okay with it. Especially because the guys are here.
The sun starts to go down, and Yoosung yells out "Time for our cookout!" and not a moment too soon. One can only watch anime for so long, and play Choices* chapters so many times, before losing ones mind.
One by one the guys all clamor out of the pool, all but Jumin, and begin working to set up a fire in the pit. Jaehee grabs a towel and sits on the ground next to my chair, laying her head on my leg after wrapping herself like a burrito.
I cant help but coo at the sight. "What are you doing?" I say with a giggle.
She turns her head around so she's facing me and sweetly smiles, "I just felt like it, I like being around you." She then turns back away so the back of her head is facing me.
"Oh Jaehee, you're really cute, you know that?" She doesn't respond but I swear I could feel her cheek heating up a little on my leg, and I cant help but smile down at her. I begin playing with her hair, rubbing her head, purely on instinct. I'm about to stop, but then I notice her humming ever so lightly.
Yoosung shouts over and I jerk my hand back, "Hey Jumin time to start getting the meat!"
I giggle, "Guess that's our cue to help the guys with the cooking huh?"
"Do you not think they can handle it themselves?" Jaehee looks up at me with a twinge of disappointment.
"Remember last time they tried to cook together? Seven almost set the house on fire."
"Well cooking is a hard and compli-"
"Making noodles," I remind her, "Instant ramen noodles, that you plop in some hot water."
"Yeah..." she sighs, "Probably should go help."
With that we make our way over to help the guys cook, or at least watch that they don't set Jumin's backyard on fire. Thankfully, Zen and Yoosung working together, isn't an absolute train wreck.
Jaehee had to talk Seven down from playing with the fire pit a few times, but this time he actually succeeded. With a swift motion, he steals a flaming stick and runs from her.
"I am the fire god!" he screams, chuckling at the distress of Jaehee chasing him while Jumin just lets out a sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose.
I giggle at Seven and his antics which draws Zen's attention. "What an idiot huh," Zen jokes. "Hey, MC, check this out!" He takes his tongs and flips a steak up into the air, then lunges to catch it. His aim is horrible and the slab of meat comes down with a splat on the pavement.
"I- uh," he stutters, "I- well I meant to catch that," he sadly says while looking down at the meat on the ground. His acting skills kick in as he over-zealously starts citing how the animal had lived a good life, and how he was sorry for having sacrificed the steak.
"Did you really have to waste the perfectly good food?" Jumin asks.
"Oh c'mon trust fund, I'm far more upset about murdering the food, you're just rubbing salt in now."
Those two start squabbling just as Jaehee comes back, torch in one hand, dragging Seven by the ear with the other. He complains the whole time and when she lets go he dramatically rubs his ear.
"This is child abuse ya' know," he states.
"Glad you're aware you're a child," she says in a monotone voice, tossing the stick back in the fire. She sees me staring at her and Seven's antics, and rejoins me with a smile. "He deserves it and you know it," she scoffs.
"Oh I'm aware," I chuckle, "It would be a shame if the fire department had to get involved because a crazy redhead was going around committing arson."
"Exactly."
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Jaehee's POV
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Time passes and the sun slowly starts setting, making the light of the fire highlight MC's face. I watch as the flames seem to dance in her eyes, noticing the crinkles when she smiles, listening to her melodic laugh as we tell stories by the fire.
The meal has finally started to come to an end, our chatter having caused whatever's left to have gone cold. But I don't mind, I enjoy hearing how Yoosung got his head stuck between the banisters as a child, and enjoy the twinkle in MC's eyes even more as she talks about the latest incident at the shop. Before I realized, I had become completely taken by her, but I didn't mind one bit.
"Is there something on my face?" she asks, noticing my lingering looks.
I snap out of the daze, "No, not at all. Sorry I was just lost in thought I suppose." I turn back to my plate, hiding the slight smile at my lips.
Zen pipes up, "What's been going on with you guys today? You guys have been... Different. More touchy seeming, is that just how friendships are between girls or something?" He mutters, "Women are so strange..."
MC and I both stammer, trying to find an answer, excuse, anything. "Well you see," she starts.
"Can we just be honest?" she asks. I turn to her, and after a moment of consideration, I give a slight nod. "Well, we're kinda, um, together," she says as I link her hand with mine.
"Oh... Together, like, together together?" Zen asks. "I just, I wouldn't have expected that."
Luciel lets out a whoop, "YES! Finally! You guys finally did it, holy honey chips do you know how badly I wanted to shove you guys together and say 'kiss kiss fall in love,' but couldn't because you both swore me to secrecy?"
"You knew?!" Zen asks in shock.
Yoosung stares in confusion, "They're roommates, of course they came here together."
MC sighs. In the kind of voice a mother would use when talking to a child, I tell him "Not that kind of together, sweetie."
"What-... ooooh. Never mind."
With an unsteady voice, MC asks, "...so? What do you guys think."
Luciel pipes up, "Well you already know how i feel."
"Shut up Luciel," I glare, "not the time."
"Well," Zen lets out a sigh. Clapping his hands on his thighs, he admits, "Frankly im just a little hurt I lost to a lady, but hey all those conversations I've had with her," he nods to me, "the ones that finally make sense. Well, that lets me know she'll treat you better than I ever could. So I'm happy you're happy, MC."
"I mean, you're still the same MC," Yoosung smiles, "Still my gaming partner in crime. Not sure I understand it fully, but I guess if I like women then why cant you?" He's a little confused but he's got the spirit. He narrows his eyes at Jumin who has a set jaw half scowl I recognize all too well. "Jumin?"
Without a word, Jumin stands from his chair so abruptly it tips it over, and walks directly towards the house.
MC tries to stop him, "Jumin wait-"
He turns back on a dime, "Now I see why Jaehee was so happy to abandon her job at CR, to go off with YOU, her little girly play thingy. You changed her, and I knew something was wrong from the start. Now I know what." He starts heading back to the house before stopping, "I'm just... Very disappointed in you both." He looks me dead in the eye with a pained expression I can see creep out from behind his mask, "I thought I knew you better."
Zen calls out, "That was uncalled for you richy rich asshole!" but its too late, Jumin is already in the house. "I'm so sorry, MC," he says with genuine concern. "You too Jaehee," he nods, but we both know MC is more taken aback than I am. I'm used to seeing Jumin in all sorts of moods, just never one quite like this.
"We're all happy for you," Luciel adds, "aren't we, guys?" He shoots Zen and Yoosung a glare, challenging them to disagree, not that they needed the extra push.
They all nod in agreement. "Thanks guys, it means a lot," MC says, but I can tell she's still a worried, and a little shaken, about Jumin.
"He'll come around," I whisper to her, "He was brought up in a really christian setting, its a big adjustment." I imagine his father basically abandoning him for women left and right doesn't help this situation either.
"I suppose," she whispers back. "Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled the rest of the guys approve. I just..."
"I know," I quickly add, "He'll come around."
Jumin was raised surrounded by very wealthy Catholic people. He's always been taught religion and faith is, despite the clashing core ideas, nearly as important as learning the business. But I know him, he despises the idea of people being expendable. After all that time around people hiding behind their masks with their own motives, ready to tear even a child down if it meant getting ahead, he learned how to value honest people. Especially friends.
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MC POV
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The rest of the night goes by in passing jokes and awkward glances back at the mansion. Zen leaves first to head to a late night practice, soon followed by Seven who was being called back by 'Lady Vandy.' Jaehee and I decide its our time to leave, and start packing our things.
When Jaehee leaves to pack the car, Yoosung pulls me aside. "Mind if we talk?" he asks.
"What is it?"
He sighs, "Sorry. About tonight," he explains, "I know I just started being Jumin's assistant not too long ago, but I still feel a bit of responsibility towards him."
"It's not your fault, Yoosung," I tell him.
"I know, I know. But I wanted to say it anyways. We're all here for you, MC, okay?" He gives a comforting smile and I cant help but smile back.
"Thanks, Yoosung," I say, "It's nice to be reminded."
Jaehee swiftly comes back and, after saying goodbye to Yoosung, and... With a bit of hobbling, she helps me get to the car.
We're swept off, back to the shop at last. I stare out the window watching the cars and city lights go by, entrancing me into a fuzzy haze. There's so much that happened today, I'm not quite sure how to process it. My eye catches a stray newspaper fluttering in the warm summer breeze, and I half wish that I could be the one drifting away.
"Being a newspaper sounds so easy," I mutter to myself.
"Did you say something MC?" Jaehee asks.
With a jolt, I reply, "Oh just talking to myself." Thankfully she didn't hear me muttering about being a piece of paper, "Don't worry about it," I tell her.
She gives me a puzzled look but doesn't push any further. Soon enough, we've arrived back home. Once everything is settled back in and our stuff has been put up, I promptly settle into the couch. Jaehee joins me soon after, sitting right next to me.
"I know this isn't how you had hoped this day would go," she says. I know she doesn't mean the pool in particular. She means that, and frankly I don't know what to of hoped for when this day finally came.
"However," she continues, pulling me into her so my head is nestled on her collar, "I trust Jumin will come around. It could have gone a lot worse." She tilts my chin up with her thumb, forcing me to look at her. She goes in for a kiss but hesitates a bit before pulling back and giving me a peck on the forehead.
"Are you saying this for my sake or for yours?" I ask her. I've always been more open about my sexuality, and would have said something to the group long ago if I hadn't been so worried with what Jaehee would think.
She nods her head side to side, pondering her answer. Without looking back at me, she replies, "I guess a little bit for the both of us."
I lean into her, getting as close as I can, resting my head on her chest as we both lean back a little. She tenses up a little at first, but she's getting more used to being touchy feely with each other. Wordlessly, she wraps her arm around me, holding me close.
Past the coffee smell that never leaves the house, I can smell a hint of sweetness and lavender on her. I lay there, feeling her chest rise and fall, listening to the rhythm of her breathing and heartbeat that soon matches mine. Usually I would get nervous, but instead it seems whatever nerves I had from today have suddenly calmed, and it feels like nothing else matters but here in this moment.
I ask her, "Do you regret this?" looking up into her brown eyes that look like pools of chocolate in the low light. "Just, in general. Telling the guys... Us?"
She looks back at me with a sweet smile, and with a hushed voice, she answers "Not a bit." She brushes aside my hair and pulls my face to hers for a sweet, but soft kiss. One that makes my stomach flip, and gets me lost in her presence. "Because, now I have you."
I rest my head back on her chest and she starts humming softly while playing with my hair, until eventually all the exhaustion from the day as well as the calming sensation Jaehee gives me crashes into one, lulling me to sleep.
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Chapter 21. End
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*Possible next fanfiction setting? I just keep going for smaller and smaller fan bases lol. (As is I've done so well keeping up with this one)
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The spaceship's sensors have caught the RFA members meaningless thoughts...
Jumin: "Everyone leaves why does everyone leave..."
Jaehee: "MC is so peaceful and cute when she's asleep... Am I allowed to think that?"
Thank you for reading this chapter of Mystic Radio! If you liked it, make sure to leave a like and subscribe (Especially because recently I've been a lazy a**) so you know when the next update is! Now, go enjoy some Honey Buddha chips, and I'll see you next chapter! ~Des
