Chapter Twenty 

A week has gone by since the news had spread through the Internet like crazy. Things has finally started to cool down after Pledis released a statement that Dino and Hwan Hyejin were definitely not dating. 

SEVENTEEN had their phones confiscated for a few days for safety and every second that has gone by since their phones have been taken away, Dino grew more anxious. He wanted to know how Hyejin was doing, and the only way he could was to text her. 

Much to his dismay, Hyejin has been ignoring his texts lately. Every text he's been sending ever since he got his phone back has only been delivered and nothing more. There were no replies or anything. It was quiet on her end. 

The only time he has ever heard about her was indirectly. It was her company—Waenji Publishing Company—who also gave out a statement to clarify that both Dino and Hyejin were not dating. However, other than that, there was absolutely nothing from her. 

Does she hate me now? Dino wondered as he stared at the screen of his phone at late at night. He wasn't the only one awake. The others—namely Woozi, S.Coups and Vernon—were probably pulling another all-nighter just to think of lyrics and beats for new, upcoming songs. 

Watching them work hard like this made him wonder how much has he damaged. Dino knew that it was mostly his fault that he wasn't careful enough. He let his emotions get out of hand, and this was the outcome of everything. Damages has been made and it was probably thrown towards him more than Hyejin. 

At least, he hoped so. He has been part of this crazy media world longer than she has. He has seen how other idols get into scary articles, some even concerning sasaeng fans. 

Dino lightly gasped. No sasaeng fans would bother her, would they? He didn't want to find out and he was sincerely scared for her safety. He wanted to tell his manager about his concern but remembered that his manager was having a meeting with the other important people—such as the board of directors and the CEO—in a fancy restaurant, probably. 

"Maknae, are you still not going to sleep?" It was then someone decided to climb up the ladder to peek at Dino, who lied on the top bunk bed with his phone in his hands. 

Dino glanced over to the side to see who it was, but it was too dark to make out anyone. "Which hyung is it?"

"Isn't my voice obvious to you, Dino?" There was a slight chuckle. 

After all that has happened, Dino couldn't even remember which hyung was talking and how each of them sound like. A lot has happened. A little too much for the youngest to handle at such an age. 

"Umm..." Dino said in return, unsure. 

However, the SEVENTEEN member wasn't troubled by it. They were, instead, calm and understanding. "It's me, Minghao! Are you not going to go to sleep?"

"Oh, Minghao hyung." Dino massaged his face before screen locking his phone. "No, I'm not that sleepy. I can't sleep, in fact. I have a lot on my mind."

"Here, come out into the living room for a moment." The8 finally decided to climb down the later and quietly opened the door of the room. The light from the living room shone into the dark room and Dino could finally make out The8's figure. The8 caught him staring and quickly motioned him to come. 

Dino quickly climbed out of his bunk bed and down the ladder before he followed The8 out into the living room. It was empty, not even a soul could be heard. The8 was sitting on the floor, looking quite cheery.

Isn't it too late to be happy? It's like one in the morning, Dino thought to himself as he sat across The8. 

"Here, tell me everything that is going on in your head. I'll try to help you," The8 said with a kind smile. 

"How can you help, hyung? Unless you can turn back time, I don't think there's anything you can do." Dino let out a sigh as he rethought about the careless night he had. He should've eyed the area first. Maybe then, none of this would have happened. 

"Talking about it always helps ease the load. Come on. Try it," The8 encouraged, still smiling innocently. It made Dino question why The8 wasn't younger than him. 

"Umm... well, I'm really worried about how Hyejin is doing." Dino wasn't sure why he went on with it, but because of The8's cute eyes, he found himself trying it out. "What if she's not doing as well as I am? What if she's hurt? What if she hates me now?"

The8 nodded along as he continued to listen to Dino's rant—if it was even considered as one. 

"If it takes one video with false accusations to ruin a relationship or make someone you sincerely care for hate you, what could other things do? Will the damage be far worst by then?" Dino felt his hands slowly clench into a fist. Whoever the guy was—whoever took the video of both him and Hyejin—he wanted to punch their face. 

The8 was surprisingly still listening to Dino and nodded along even more. 

"I know I'm stupid for falling in love for a fan. Heck, I even remember myself telling Seokmin hyung that I would never fall in love with a fan because what would happen to the other fans in the fandom then? Wouldn't that do something to the number of fans?" 

"Well, you could lose your fans," The8 said, patting the younger one's back. "It's a good thing you two aren't really dating."

Dino said, "Is it really a good thing? Because I feel suffocated and demotivated knowing she isn't my responsibility. Hyung, I want to protect her. With all my heart. She's just like a fragile flower who could be stepped on any second. I just want to be the one who will shield her away from every single thing that could hurt her."

The8 patted his back once again, giving him a reassuring smile. "I understand that you feel that way. But there are some things in this world that are hard to achieve."

"Isn't that what makes it all worth it in the end?" Dino questioned. 

"Well, you have to know whether or not you're achieving something that is impossible to something that isn't," The8 smartly worded it. "Do you feel better now?"

"Slightly," Dino answered, shrugging. 

"If not, go on. Talk about it more. What exactly is bothering you, other than Hwan Hyejin?" The8 sounded like a therapist to the younger one. He wasn't complaining, though. When else would he have the time to talk about this without getting interrupted by the others or having to go to a schedule?

"Hyung, I'm honestly convinced that I have ruined our group's name. What have I done?" Dino's lips started to quiver. He was afraid he would cry out of nowhere. 

The8 stared at him as if what he had just said was nothing close to true. "You believe in that? Chan, you didn't do anything to harm our group's name. And so what if you did? Do you think that will stop us from anything?"

Dino sniffled. "But... I thought you would hate me if it did..."

The8 pulled him into a sweet hug and said, "Of course not, Dino. We're a group. What matters by the end of the day isn't our group name, but us as friends. We wonder if anyone is feeling down or close to crying and comfort them with a warm embrace and sweet words they want to hear. Isn't that what matters more?"

Dino gave it a thought and nodded. "You're right, hyung. Thank you, again. I feel a lot better now."

"Of course, Dino. Do you want to go to sleep yet?" The8 asked, standing up from the floor. 

Dino shook his head. "I think I want to go outside and get some fresh air."

"Okay, but be careful. We don't want anything happening over night. Jeonghan hyung might get angry if his 'baby' gets even more hurt than he already is," The8 jokingly said before he entered the room. 

Dino sighed and shook his head, disregarding the fact that The8 had once again brought up a haunting memory of Dino. It wasn't his favourite thing to be called a baby by the second oldest hyung, but it was Jeonghan's enjoyment. As long as he was happy, Dino wouldn't do much to destroy it. 

Dino stood up from the floor in their small living room and headed outside of their dorm, admiring the dark skies of the night. It wasn't night, however. It was the early morning. Dino doubted there would be anyone that was up at this time. But he did see a few drunk men loitering around. Some even passed out on the streets as if it was normal. 

Dino shuddered and concentrated on trying to not think about Hyejin, but it ended up being inevitable. His head flooded with thoughts by her and everything concerning her that he forgot to worry about his own self being. 

Is this what being in love is all about? Is it when you care more about someone else other than yourself? Dino thought as he sat down in the quiet and lightly dimmed playground near their dorm. There was a swing swinging next to him, in a slow manner. Why was it that it was swinging? It wasn't even windy. 

But that was the least of Dino's worries, actually. He had bigger things to worry about as of now. 

What if I visited her? Dino thought, but quickly shoved that thought to the back of his head because he knew that would never happen. He didn't know where she lived and she won't even answer his texts or calls. 

"Wait... aren't you Dino from SEVENTEEN?"

Dino immediately flinched at the voice of someone. He had forgotten to at least put a hat on so that he would conceal his face. Or even a mask. He was being far too careless these days. 

"It is you!" 

Dino looked up to see who was calling him and noticed that it was a boy younger than him. But he didn't look too young, however. 

"What are you doing out here?" The boy unconsciously sat down on the swing next to him—the same one that was swinging by its own when there was no wind at all. "Isn't it too late for an idol to be out?"

"You won't take pictures, am I right?" Dino couldn't help but ask. He wanted to make sure no other articles will arise by the morn. As if the recent one wasn't enough. 

"No, I won't. I'm not like those netizens online. In fact, I'm trying to help the two of you. Hyejin, mostly. She's a train wreck because of you, did you know that?"

Dino paused and examined the boy once again before he raised an eyebrow. "How would you know?"

"Oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself with you. My name's Cho Dae Jung. I'm Hyejin's best friend," he introduced, smiling warmly. 

"You're Hyejin's best friend?" It then clicked inside of Dino. Of course, every girl and guy could be best friends. But, for some reason, Dino sensed some sort of burning feeling that was rising inside of him that made him feel anger towards a boy he just met. 

Dae Jung was oblivious to this and nodded happily. "Yeah, I'm her best friend. I practically visit her everyday to check on her. You must be doing better than she is."

Upon hearing that, Dino immediately wondered how broken she was at this point. A few words could her hurt because she was fragile and Dino had to be the indirect cause of it all. "She's not doing okay?"

"I can't say she is." Dae Jung looked afar, as if to remember what Hyejin looked like every time  he saw her. "She thinks you hate her, that's why she's scared of going on the Internet or even checking her phone. She imagines harsh words you're probably saying to her. You don't actually hate her, do you?"

"What? Hate her? How could I ever hate her?" It pained Dino's heart knowing that the girl he has hopelessly fallen in love with thinks that he hates her. "I don't hate her. How did she come up with that assumption? In fact, I think she hates me. Umm... does she?"

Dae Jung looked at Dino with disbelief before shaking his head. "You two... there's something about you two. The both of you thought that you both hated each other after this incident? Gosh, must be something special you two share about."

Dino's ears burned red as he heard his remark. At least he was happy about the fact that Hyejin didn't hate him. 

"Hyejin will be thrilled to hear this. Thank you for not hating on my best friend," Dae Jung said, smiling warmly at him. 

Just before Dae Jung left, Dino called out, "Wait!"

Dae Jung stopped in his tracks and turned around. "Yes?"

Oh, gosh, I'll never live properly if I say this...

"Do you need something?" Dae Jung calmly asked. 

Just say it, Dino. You'll regret it if you don't. "Um, you said you visit Hyejin everyday, am I right?"

"Yeah? What about that?"

"Can you... um... let me meet her?"

Dae Jung's lips pulled up into a smile as he nodded in return. "Sure. Meet me here again later at 9am. I'll see you then, Dino hyung."

+ + + 

Just like what Dae Jung had said last night—or just eight hours ago—Dino waited at the playground with a disguise on. He wanted to start being careful from now on. He has done enough damage. 

Dae Jung wasted no time and came exactly when the time changed to 9am. Dae Jung smiled when he recognized Dino. "You're here already! Let's waste no time. It's time to cure Hyejin's odd depression over nothing."

"She's depressed?" Dino sounded alarmed. 

"No, I was kidding. She's not actually depressed. Or is she? I can't really tell. But she's like a walking zombie," Dae Jung told him as he guided him into a black car, where a kind-looking man was seated in the driver's seat. "Dad, this is Dino. Hyejin's no. 1 idol."

"Ah, so nice to finally meet you, Dino." Dae Jung's father made it sound like it was totally normal to have an idol in the car. Then again, the man looked so calm he could even secretly be a monk who lived in the mountains. 

"Nae, nice to meet you too, Sir." Dino kindly smiled back at the man as he finally removed the mask off his face. 

"I hope you two sort things out," Dae Jung said, leaning back in his seat. 

Dino muttered under his breath in agreement, "I hope so too."

+ + + 

By the time both Dino and Dae Jung arrived at Hyejin's apartment flat, the only thing that filled Dino's thoughts were not words he had prepared to say to Hyejin but instead, the sound of his loud beating heart that beat with nervousness. 

What if she didn't want to listen to what I say? 

"Come on. We're here. Put your mask on," Dae Jung said before he would open the car's door. 

Dino nodded and put on his mask before he opened the car door on his side and got out. Every step closer to her apartment was nerve-wrecking moment for him. 

They had arrived in front of her apartment door in no time and Dino could feel his heart near exploding. His legs were slowly giving up on him just as well. Where were the words he had practiced the entire time? They had all blanked out. 

Before he even had time to think of new words to say, the apartment door of Hyejin's had opened up and revealed the girl he cared so much about in front of him.