Moving his shoulders to the beat of the music, and singing along the lyrics were the only way to escape the almost boring routine of the bar. Always the same drinks, ordered from the same people… if Taemin wasn’t so easily distracted by small things, he’d certainly get stressed out in a blink. However, on that specific day he had another reason to cheer up, other than the dancing. A group of loud students appeared in the club, adding a different atmosphere to that dark place.

“What have I done this time?”

The feminine voice sounded a bit sad, and although the music echoed loudly throughout the club, he heard her sentence clearly. It was so clear, that for a moment he thought that it was directed to him. Averting his gaze from the surroundings and fixing it on the girl sitting across him. “Um… excuse me… are you okay?” he asked, nonchalantly staring at her bright red hair. “Or were you talking to someone else?”

_{There were days, ah, there were days not even Soojung understood herself and her obsession about doing everything perfectly under other’s circumstances. Days like these all she wanted to do was get away, but the duty’s obligations would never let her do so. And it was just on one of these days she found herself there - staring at the ones around her, the ones she called friends, and wondering what she was doing or had done wrong.}

_{“Um…excuse me…are you okay?”}

_{Her gaze immediately switched from the untouched glass of drink placed in front of her by a stranger, to the voice’s owner. Slowly, her eyes met his and quickly, she moved to the woman behind him - her classmate, the birthday girl, the one that had brought her into this. A soft whine slipped through the red-haired girl’s lips, and her nose lifted up, scrunching and turning into a slight unpleasant face.}

_{Had she really said these words out loud? What’s done is done, foolish mermaid, her mind whispered in a voice she knew well and sounded so clear despite so many years and the loud music almost leading her to deaf hood.}

_{Staring is not polite, another one, softer said, and Soojung tried to soften her face after a sigh. The boy was still there, and without a reply. “Mm..mhm.” The mermaid managed to mumble out, adding a not just to make sure she had convinced him.}