Because I'm quite celebrating how I'm now better after a few days of having to stay in bed and not write (LOL), I managed to finish this chapter early and so I'm uploading it early as well! But first, replies. [alex, for more of your hyperness. LOL. Enjoy this chapter!] [juwie1608, thank you! I hope you like this chapter! :)] [Sierra154845, thank you for reading Promise and this as well! Hope you continue to read and review the future chapters! :D]

Chapter 5! Read and review, please! Enjoy!

Shin Woo? Drinking? Tae Kyung thought to himself as he looked out at the balcony of the dormitory.

Indeed, Kang Shin Woo was seated at one of the small wooden tables with a bottle of wine and a glass from which he occasionally took modest sips. Manager Ma, Haruno Ran, and the band had dinner together, and Shin Woo quietly excused himself after. Tae Kyung did not expect to find him here alone, much less looking gloomy. If anything, Shin Woo looked in high spirits these days.

"Ya, Haruno Ran," Tae Kyung suddenly said to the assistant manager who happened to be passing him by.

"Y – yes?" Ran answered, approaching the band leader nervously.

"Are you going home already?"

"I'm not sure."

Ran checked her watch. It was already 8PM. Unless Manager Ma had another assignment to give her after accompanying Go Mi Nam and bringing her home, she was clear for the night.

"Can you stay?" Tae Kyung suddenly said.

"Sorry?" Ran asked, surprised.

"I know it's not your job, but I need someone to take care of Shin Woo."

Ran peered at the ANJELL guitarist and rapper.

"I wasn't aware that Shin Woo – "

"He isn't like this at all," explained Tae Kyung. "That's why I'm worried – what are you smiling at?"

"Nothing," Ran replied, trying to keep a straight face. "I just find it sweet that the usually cold Hwang Tae Kyung worries about his bandmates."

"Ch, I'm just worried it would affect his performance, that's all," said Tae Kyung smugly. "Anyway, I can't be bothered to take care of him, obviously, and Jeremy's too childish to know what to do. Go Mi Nam can't, she's a girl as you already know. God knows what might happen if she takes care of him when he's drunk. So you're the logical – "

Tae Kyung stopped midsentence, realizing that Haruno Ran was, in fact, a girl, too.

"Either way, I'm sure you'll be happy to do it," he said hurriedly. "Won't you?"

Ran stared for a bit, somewhat incredulous with how the band leader got around his own logic that quickly, but did some quick thinking of her own.

"I'll be happy to take care of him," she replied, smiling. "If you tell me something."

"Wh – You can't negotiate. I can easily fire you – "

"No, you can't. My bosses are Manager Ma and President Ahn – "

"Then I'll fire Manager Ma – "

"Can you fire President Ahn?"

The look of frustration on Tae Kyung's face could only mean that Ran won.

"Fine, what do you want to know?"

"You and Go Mi Nam – "

Tae Kyung felt a headache coming on. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Fans have noticed how you two are closer than the rest of the band," Ran said slowly. "As your assistant manager, is there – "

A smirk played upon her lips as she took pleasure in the opportunity of asking the question.

"Anything I should know about?"

"Ah, Ran-noona! Hyung-nim!"

Ran almost punched the wall in frustration, as the ever discreet Tae Kyung merely smirked.

"Go Mi Nam," he said bossily. "Ran has a few questions for you. I'm going to my room to work. No one is to disturb me, understand?"

With that, Hwang Tae Kyung marched off to his room, the two girls staring after him.

"What questions do you have?" Mi Nam asked after a few moments, bringing Ran back to reality.

"What? Oh, that," she said, stalling. Mi Nam was too nice to put in a situation as she had planned for Tae Kyung, so she decided to corner the band leader some other time. "They're not really important."

Mi Nam stared, confused.

"Please don't think too much about it, Mi Nam," Ran assured, smiling.

"Thank you again for today, Ran-noona," Mi Nam said, bowing. "Thank you for understanding."

"Thank you for trusting me, Go Mi Nam."

The two smiled at each other, before Mi Nam noticed Shin Woo outside.

"Ah, Shin Woo Hyung – "

"It's alright," Ran said hurriedly, stopping Mi Nam from going out to the balcony as she remembered what Tae Kyung said. "I'll take care of him for tonight."

"Aren't you going home, Ran-noona?" Mi Nam asked, surprised. Ran made a small laugh before replying.

"It won't make a difference. I live alone, you see, so even if I don't go home every now and then, it won't matter."

"Do you want me to help you?"

"No, I'll be alright. You go and rest now, Mi Nam."

"Well, good night then," Mi Nam said, bowing again.

"Good night, Mi Nam."

After Mi Nam went to her room, Ran looked out at the balcony again. Shin Woo was still drinking, still unaware that someone was watching him. After a few minutes, Ran decided to approach the man.

"Shin Woo Oppa."

"Ran."

Shin Woo did not sound drunk. In fact, he smiled as Ran sat down beside him. However, Ran could tell that something was bothering him.

"Shin Woo Oppa," Ran said again, cautious. "Is everything alright?"

"What makes you ask that?"

"Well, you don't have such reputation," Ran replied, motioning to the wine bottle on the table.

"Just because I don't have the reputation," said Shin Woo as he poured some more wine. "Doesn't mean I can't do it."

"There's got to be a reason."

"I don't know, but drink with me."

Shin Woo offered his own glass to Ran.

"And let's find out together."

Ran stared awkwardly, and then decided to get up.

"I'll get a glass then."

After two bottles of wine (one and a half of which were consumed by Shin Woo) and a few random stories, Haruno Ran still did not know why Shin Woo was drinking on this particular night.

"What is it, Ran?" Shin Woo asked, noticing how Ran was staring up at the sky silently.

"What? Oh."

Ran sat up straight.

"I was just – thinking about how lucky I am," she explained, smiling. "I'm drinking wine at the ANJELL dorm with Kang Shin Woo. Even without this, I'd still be the luckiest fan to be working with you guys."

Shin Woo smiled despite the haze that was brought on by his slight wine-drunkenness. He vaguely remembered how he first met Ran at the ice cream shop.

"But, Shin Woo Oppa," Ran said again, her expression turning concerned once more. "Can you tell me now why – why we're drinking tonight?" she decided to say, thinking that the inclusion would comfort Shin Woo.

"Yes, maybe I'm drunk enough to tell you," Shin Woo answered with a slight laugh. "Have you ever… liked someone?"

Does Kang Shin Woo's problem have something to do with a girl? Ran thought. She found it hard to imagine that someone as popular as the guy would have difficulty to get the girl he liked.

"I'm okay," Shin Woo resumed speaking. "I've given up – no, I've given way – there's the difference right there – "

Ran stared, listening intently.

"It's just that – sometimes, I still… wish I was the lucky guy. But I have no regrets," he said, smiling again. "I've done all I can to win her heart. I gave my all… to the end."

"Shin Woo Oppa," Ran started, feeling obliged to reply.

"Your turn. What's your story?"

Four wine bottles later (three of which were consumed by Shin Woo) and countless stories of their lives before AN Entertainment, Shin Woo finally fell asleep. In his chair. Out in the balcony.

It was already 11PM, so that Ran could not ask for help from the other occupants of the house as they were already asleep in their rooms. The assistant manager looked around for a while, just a little bit groggy herself (Is it from the wine or from exhaustion?), before deciding to clean up the table first.

After clearing the bottles and wine glasses, she looked down at the ANJELL member and did the inevitable. Ran swung Shin Woo's right arm over her shoulders, feeling the onset of a dizzy headache as she did so, and held on to his waist as she brought him into the house. Despite his appearance, Shin Woo was rather weighty, especially for a girl smaller than him.

With a final heave, Ran managed to get Shin Woo in his room. The last challenge was getting him to bed properly. Before she could make another step, however, Ran gagged and realized with panic that she had actually drunk too much. She chose to set Shin Woo down on the floor (or else risk breaking his neck if she suddenly vomited and let go of him) and sat down as well.

Ran closed her eyes and told herself to take deep breaths. After a few inhale-exhales, the vomiting urge seemed to subside, only to be replaced with severe unsteadiness so that she could not sit still.

I need to lie down.

Ran laid down on the carpeted floor of Kang Shin Woo's bed room. She opened her eyes and realized that she was lying right next to the drunk Shin Woo she set down just moments ago. She humored herself with the thought of the other band members, Tae Kyung especially, finding her and Shin Woo in such spot and state.

Hwang Tae Kyung will actually be pleased to see this.

Ran made a last glance at Shin Woo, before letting herself fall into dreamless sleep.

Okay, not sure what happened back there. LOL. What do you think? Comments, comments, comments! Kamsahamnida! :D