$ t w e n t y $
She changed into jeans and a simple white blouse with a long black coat to keep her safe from the cold. Her long brown hair was combed away from her face and tied up into a pony tail. She had wiped off her excessive stage make up and replaced it with something more natural. Once she was done, she left her dressing room and waited for him by the door to the back office, half expecting the night club's manager to decline Jongdae's request to take Mariel out of there for the night.
Many of the other dancers tried to shoot down her spirits, telling her not to get her hopes up with the customers. Mariel ignored them, already knowing that it would likely amount to something not serious with Jongdae.
When he emerged from there, she was quick to gauge his expression, biting down on her own lip with nervousness.
"What did he tell you?" She wondered, a hint of pessimism in her words.
Jongdae immediately flashed her a smile to let her know the good news. "He was hesitant at first, but I promised to have you back early, and I promised to still pay the club's hourly rate for you. He had to make a call to the owners of the club, but it was all settled without much of a problem." Mariel knew that her hourly rate was expensive, and the night club kept fifty percent of all the money she made. She wondered just how long Jongdae was planning to keep her out.
Mariel couldn't help but smile at that. It had been months since she had the freedom to go out with a guy--not that guys were lining up to go out with her. All guys that went to the bar were willing to pay for her company. But none had been like Jongdae who wanted to be with Mariel, and not La Malinche.
Before she could say anything more, he linked arms with her and led her outside.
Once out on the side walk, they stopped.
"What now, Jong Día?" Mariel asked, raising an eyebrow at him with curiosity. She had called him Jong Día--because Dae sounded like day, and the Spanish word for day was día. Even standing out on the sidewalk with him, not yet knowing what they would do with their newfound time together, Mariel felt a new sense of freedom. Something she gave up when she became a dancer at that night club.
Jongdae smiled wide at his new nickname. It wasn't long before he gave an answer. "Have you had anything to eat? I'll treat you to dinner anywhere you want."
Again, Mariel was pleasantly surprised by him. The way that he was so concerned for her, wondering if she had anything to eat. It was merely a simple detail, but it sent her heart into a frenzy. But she was able to keep her calm in order to keep her true emotions from making an appearance.
"Are you sure you're not ashamed to be seen with me?" She asked him, a hint of teasing in her voice. But part of her was genuinely curious as to what his answer would be.
He shook his head with a smile on his lips. "Not if you're not ashamed of being seen with me."
-
Days passed since Junmyeon had stepped down from the alpha position and named Kyungsoo as his successor instead of Baekhyun. The latter had been upset--not because he wanted the alpha position for himself--but because he had felt that he had been treated unfairly for helping his friend. He was quickly able to get over it, but Kyungsoo would never get used to the newfound respect the other members of the pack now gave him.
Even the older ones--Chanyeol and Baekhyun--had to treat him as their superior.
Nothing else had changed. Junmyeon had been assigned the empty position of assassin, which had belonged to Kyungsoo. But there wasn't much for him to do since he didn't leave his house since Hani had been taken away from him. He was only an assassin in title.
The other aspect about being the new alpha that he didn't like was the fact that he had less time to watch over Jagi. Instead, he spent most of his time running the various businesses and getting tactical advice from Baekhyun--who was still serving as the second in command. They had left Miran with Jagi because Baekhyun didn't want to leave her alone at his house, and Kyungsoo needed someone so watch over Jagi while he was away.
The new alpha entered his bed room where he found Jagi still unconscious in bed with Miran sat on a chair by her side. She looked up with a smile when she saw them. "How was the business today, boys?"
Baekhyun was surprised at how easily Miran had adapted to the pack as her new family. He attributed it to the fact that they had all quickly accepted her as their new sister. She still cried at night--afraid that she would be taken from her new family--and Baekhyun was there to comfort her each time.
Kyungsoo nodded thankfully at her question. "Everything went well. Thank you for watching over Jagi while we were gone, Miran."
Miran smiled warmly at him and got back on her feet, Baekhyun immediately moving to stand by her side. Both were now very comfortable with each other and he was tempted to wrap an arm around her waist, but he restrained himself in front of his alpha.
Placing a hand on Kyungsoo's shoulder, Miran informed him, "Try to spend more time with her, Soo. I know you're the alpha now, but I noticed that her face changes whenever you're around. She's much happier." Whenever he was gone, Miran noticed the way her face was tensed, as opposed to when he was in the room and she could hear his voice. His mere presence did her well and her expression relaxed even if she was still unconscious. She needed him.
"You think so?" He looked at the girl in his bed with various machines hooked to her. He couldn't stop the smile from tugging at the corners of his mouth. Over the last few days he had spent less time with her since becoming the pack's new leader. But he always made sure to check on her at night and shared the bed with her to keep her company. He believed that it had genuinely helped her to have someone by her side.
Miran nodded her head slowly. She had spent all day sitting at Jagi's bed side and was feeling tired. Subconsciously she linked arms with Baekhyun and rested her head on his shoulder while she and Kyungsoo talked.
According to the doctor who had been checking on Jagi on a daily basis, she had gotten past the most critical point. Though she had not woken up yet due to her head injury, there was a higher chance that she would survive.
It was only a matter of time before she would wake up.
-
just a little filler chapter for you all.
there is still a half hour left in the year 2016 for me, and i want to let you all know that i appreciate everyone who has been by my side this year. it has meant the entire world for me and i hope that you will all be there for me during the upcoming year.
i want to thank all my friends; mati (my yeo dongsaeng), simone (my darling), joss, cheyenne (my little belgian waffle), brandy, and anyone i forgot to mention bc im still a bit hung over from last night and im tired. thank you for your love and support in my stories.
tomorrow morning i will post another update bc this one is major filler. but i wanted to post something after being m.i.a. for a whole day bc partying.
-clary xx
