▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁

"Your utterly and completely whipped for him, Han Subin!" Yoobin spoke and threw her empty water bottle towards Subin, that dodged it. They had just finished their dance lessons and were packing up their stuff to go back to the dorm when Yoobin started talking about Jung Jaehyun again.

"I am not!" Subin said and stuffed her practice clothes into her duffle bag. Yoobin chuckled. "But you're kinda fancying him, right?" Yoobin asked. "I mean he's tall, talented, handsome and has a really pretty smile— AND THE WAY HE RUFFLED YOUR HAIR!" Yoobin started screaming and Subin gave her a soft shove.

"Stop it, you're embarrassing me!" Subin said and slipped into her coat. "Let's go home. I have a test at school tomorrow." Subin walked over to the door and Yoobin frowned. Subin really had changed during her time at SM. She was so responsible all of a sudden. 

Yoobin sighed and took her bag and ran after her friend.

Subin had made it to the elevator when one of Ok Taecyeon's assistants walked up to her. Yoobin watched the assistant talk to Subin and the girl bowed. Yoobin ran up to her, hearing the last words the assistant said. Yoobin quickly eyed Subin and saw the frown on her lips. "Thank you", Subin bowed and pressed the button on the elevator once again.

The door opened and the tall girl rushed inside, Yoobin right behind her. "Subinnie?" She asked but Subin looked to the ceiling of the elevator. "Talk to me..." - "There's nothing to talk about," Subin said. "I forgot how fast time ran." She pulled the coat over her chest and looked away.

Subin did indeed forget that her internship was only lasting a month. She had started mid-August and now it was mid-September. NCT Dream was slowly finishing their promotions for 'We Go Up' and that meant for Subin to come back to Blue Soda.

She felt sad, leaving SM Entertainment.

She had learned so many new things in that short amount of time. Things she could never do in Blue Soda.

Subin felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away with her arm and continued to look at the ceiling of the elevator.

― 💌 ―

Subin scanned her ID for the very last time and slowly entered the SM Communication Centre. She saw Dahee sitting at her usual spot behind the reception and went over to her. A long sigh left her lips when she rang the bell on the reception and caught the older females' attention.

"Subinnie! Welcome back!" Dahee greeted her with a dashing smile. "Hello Dahee-unnie", Subin said and Dahee looked at her. "What's up with the long face?" - "Today is my last day", Subin only said and lifted up a tiny pink bag. "This is for you. Thank you for taking care of me." She said and handed her the gift bag.

"Oh, Subinnie!" Dahee let out and walked around the counter to pull Subin in a warm hug. "You didn't have to get me something, love", Dahee said and gently patted Subin's head. "I wanted to. You looked after me so well... I felt bad leaving without a farewell present." Subin explained and tried to hold back the tears.

She couldn't believe this was happening. Spending time with the employees of SM Entertainment felt way more comfortable than with the Blue Soda staff. Subin quickly shook her head. "Please enjoy your gift, Unnie. It makes saying goodbye way easier."

With these words, Subin bowed and left, before a tear could drip onto her cheek.

The trainee concentrated on the music in the elevator — for the very last time — and left the elevator with a heavy feeling. She held tight onto the tote bag in her hand, when she knocked on Mr. Yoo's office. "Come in!" The man called and Subin entered with a bow.

Mr. Yoo was sitting at his desk, listening to some raw and unedited recordings when Subin closed the door behind her. "Mr. Yoo", she called and the producer turned around. A sad smile was on his lips, while he eyed Subin. The girl was standing next to the door, wearing her school uniform. Her hands were shivering and she was nibbling on her bottom lip.

"Subinnie..." he said and patted the chair next to him. "Sit down." Subin did what her supervisor told her and sat down on her usual chair — well, what was used to be her usual chair.

"Today must be a hard day for you, right?" He asked and the student nodded her head. "I thought it would be easy. It was a punishment after all... but SM treated me so well and I learned a lot of things." Subin took a deep breath, tears were pricking at her eyes again. "Especially from you, Sir." She said and opened her tote bag.

She took out a tiny wrapped gift and handed it to him. "Thank you for looking out for me like this, Mr. Yoo", she started. "I really learned a lot of things from you and I hope this", she pointed at his hands, "could be useful for you one day." She said and Mr. Yoo stood up and motioned Subin to do the same.

He embraced her in an almost fatherly hug. And that was the moment Subin started bawling her eyes out. She cried while she held onto her mentor that looked after her so well. He taught her things she wanted to do, and even if she made mistakes, he always helped her.

Saying goodbye to Mr. Yoo was the most painful moment the sixteen-year-old girl had ever experienced.

When she left Mr. Yoo's office, her heart was heavy. With heavy steps, she walked to the breakroom of NCT. She still had to say Goodbye to MC Ari and the NCT members.

When she knocked on the door, a familiar voice called her in and she entered the room. "Oh, Subin!" Park Jisung was standing next to the table, munching on a tangerine. "What brings you— did you cry?" The same-aged-boy asked and Subin nodded. She didn't care about her appearance anymore.

"Where's Ari?" She asked and Jisung pointed to the next room. "He's over there with Jaehyun-hyung", Jisung explained and watched Subin walk over to the room, which was right next to NCT's breakroom. Jisung followed her.

"Hello", Subin greeted with a bow, when she saw Ari and Jaehyun.

This time her heart didn't jump with joy when she saw Jaehyun. "Oh, Subinnie!" MC Ari let out and opened his arms so the girl could run and get a hug. "I got the news this morning", the manager said and gently patted Subin's back. "This must be a tough day for you." He continued and Jisung looked up.

He listened to them exchange words and farewells until it dawned on him. "Today is your last day?" He asked, his voice shivering. Subin turned to him and nodded, tears streaming down her face. 

Jisungs chest hurt. All color was gone from his face while he watched the teenage girl hand a gift to Ari before turning to Jaehyun, who ruffled her hair. They spoke for a little while until Subin handed him a gift as well. "Y-You are leaving?" Jisung said out loud and Subin turned around and walked up to him.

"Thank you for keeping me company in the elevator, Jisung-ah." She said and took one last gift from the tote bag. "This is just a tiny something. Since I know how much you love Mari-unnie." She said and gently patted Jisungs arm. "Goodbye, Jaehyun-oppa! Goodbye, Ari-sshi!" Subin turned to Jisung one last time. "Goodbye, Jisung-ah." She said and then left the room with her head low.

Jisung watched the door close behind her and then something clicked in his brain. "No way..." He dropped his tangerine and ran after the girl. He slammed the door of the breakroom open — Jaehyun and Ari yelling and running after him — and ran towards the elevator.

Subin was holding tight onto the tote when she felt someone crash into her. A pair of arms wrapped themselves around her back and a head leaned onto her shoulder. Subin's heart beat faster and she bit her bottom lip. Was this Jaehyun back hugging her? She asked herself.

But that thought disappeared when the boy started speaking; "Subinnie!" Jisung said, holding tight onto the same-aged-girl. "You can't leave like that, I still have so many questions to ask you. I want to spend even more time with you. I want to get to know you!" He rambled when someone pulled him off her. 

"Jisung, don't make this harder on her!"

Subin turned around and saw Ari and Jaehyun. Ari held Jisungs collar and Subin looked down. "Jisung, thank you for being my friend." A tear dropped on her cheek. "I really enjoyed your company." She said and entered the elevator.

When the elevator doors closed, Ari let go of Jisung's collar and looked at the boy. "Jisung, I'm so sorry", Jaehyun said and Jisung looked at his feet. "I liked her." He confessed. "I liked her a lot. A lot-lot." He confessed and looked at his Hyung and Manager.

"And now she's gone."

The way Jisung's heart broke in that moment, was painful. He thought this was the last time he had seen Han Subin.

But Jisung didn't know that this wasn't the last time. He would just have to be patient.