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He was done with practice. It was another long session, but he felt as though he worked hard. After returning to the dorm and showering and changing, he was going to head out and check out that new little place, nearby. It opened recently and he had heard good things about it. So, he was going to take the chance and go there. The other guys were curious, but they didn’t want to go out.

He had a sweet tooth and wants to satisfy it.

“Hyungie’s sweet tooth is legendary.” One of them calls. He smiles and closes the door behind him. He leaves the dorm building and steps out onto the street. The night is somewhat warm, but has a cool breeze. There are still plenty of people out and about. He wears light blue jeans and a dark blue button up. He has headphones over his ears. The little shop he’s referring to is an ice cream shop and cafe. The Cone Above Café is a hopping place. He walks in and there are so many people and it seems bright and warm. He walks up to the counter and looks at all of the different tubs of ice cream. They offer mixing custom ice cream flavors.

“Hello. What can I get for you?”

“I’ll have a strawberry sundae with bananas, pecans and could it be the fresh cream vanilla ice cream?”

“Of course.” The worker starts making the sundae. He looks up and looks at a very pretty woman. She has her long hair up in a high ponytail. She wears a pair of dark orange skinny jeans and a white linen tunic top with royal blue embroidery. She has a messenger bag slung across her body.

“What can I get for you?” One of the workers asks him.

“I’ll just have a vanilla cone.” He orders. The worker nods. The woman walks away, going to sit down. Her sundae comes out as he looks around for a place to sit.

“Excuse me. Could I join you?” He asks. She looks up and nods, holding her hand out to him. He sits down across from her.

They eat quietly.

“What brought you here?” She asks.

He looks at her. “Just a treat after a long day. What about you?”

“Same thing. A nice treat after a long day.” She says and takes a bite of her sundae. He smiles lightly.

“That looks good, but I’m more of a simple flavor type.” He says. She smiles lightly and chuckles.

“Oh, I love sundaes. This is the best kind of treat after a long day.” He nods in agreement there. “I have such a sweet tooth, but I have to be careful because it’ll all go to my hips.” He laughs.

“You’re so skinny though.” He says, trying to be polite, but she really doesn’t need to diet. She’s got a great figure, S-line almost.

“I still gotta watch my girlish figure.” He chuckles and blushes lightly. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to seem forward, but it’s just nice to talk to someone, since I’ve arrived, I’ve been working.” She explains.

“Oh, no. That’s okay. Please, talk away.” He says.

She laughs. “Well, my name is Sonnet.”

“Mm. I’m Hongjoong. Pleased to meet you.”

She smiles. “Nice to meet you too.” She takes a bite of her sundae. “What brought you out? I know a treat after a long day, what kind of long day did you have?”

“Hard work.” He’s trying to avoid talking about it. “You?”

“You want the same answer you gave me, or an actual answer?”

He laughs, a little shy.

She smiles. “I’m a musician. Been in the recording studio all day. Laying down tracks, doing vocals and mixing.” She explains.

“Oh really? You’re a musician?” He’s intrigued.

She nods. “Oh yeah. I enjoy it quite a bit, but some days it’s tiring.”

He laughs and nods. “I hear that.”

“You a musician?” He nods hesitantly. She smiles. “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Just nice to meet a fellow musician.”

He smiles and relaxes.

“What brings you to Seoul?” He asks.

“Working with some trainees. Gave them one of my songs. It sounds amazing with their voices. I’m excited to hear it finally done.”

He smiles. “I hope to hear it soon then.”

“Same here.”

“So that’s the tracks you’re doing?” She nods lightly.

“Yeah. I’m here for them. I was asked by their company to come and work with them.” She explains and crosses her legs, bumping his leg. He jumps.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s okay. It just alarmed me is all.” He says and finishes his ice cream. “So, are you strictly a producer or are you a performer as well?”

“Performer and producer.”

“You perform as well?”

She nods. “Rap and sing.”

“Seriously? That’s amazing. Ever perform here in the city?”

She shakes her head. “Busan, but not up here in Seoul.”

“Aww, I’d love to see that.” She smiles. “I was so excited and nervous when I finally debuted, and we were welcomed warmly.” He says.

“Oh, yeah. It’s always a little bit nerve-wracking, but it’s also exciting, isn’t it?”

“It is. I was like tired but hyped afterwards. It just felt like a dream. I was on cloud nine. We had finally made it, you know?”

She nods. “Boy do I know. I wasn’t well received at first, but I kept trying and I endured.”

“That’s awesome.”

She nods. “I’m sure it’s both easier and harder for musicians here to get discovered and accepted.” He nods lightly, smiling brightly. He runs his fingers through his red hair. She watches him.

“What?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing. Just thinking. Your hair is so fluffy, I’m jealous.” He laughs and covers his face, dropping his head on the table. His hair moves and settles. She chuckles lightly.

He sits up. “Your hair looks just as soft, though.”

“Thanks.”

The two of them enjoy talking to each other for a couple hours. They are getting to know each other. They are laughing and keeping it light, trying not to get too deep, but at some point, they do…temporarily.

He was excited when he found out that she was a famous writer. She had just released her third book in China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, in those languages respectively.

“What genre are you more of?” Hongjoong asks, curiously.

“I love all kinds of genres, but I think the one I do the most is hip hop and EDM and dance.”

“Oh wow. That’s awesome.”

“There’s some rock flares mixed in, but yeah…”

“Have you ever worked in a group or were you always a solo artist?”

“I was never part of a group, like how I’m assuming you are. I’ve worked with groups on individual tracks though. So, to answer your question, I’m a solo artist.”

He laughs lightly. His smile is bright and charming.

“We are going to be closing in ten minutes.” One of the workers alerts them.

“Okay. Thank you.” He says, bowing politely.

They both get up and walk out of the little shop and stand near the door under the awning. They didn’t even know when it started raining.

“Huh. I didn’t even know it was going to rain.” Hongjoong says, looking at the steady rain falling.

“The weather said there was a chance of rain, but that it might also miss us.” She says.

“I guess I should pay attention to the news more, huh?” She laughs and nods lightly. He notices the umbrella in her hand. “You were prepared at least.” She looks at the little collapsible umbrella in her hand. She nods lightly.

“My manager wouldn’t have allowed me to come out without one. He’s such a worry wort.”

Hongjoong laughs lightly. “Well, you gotta stay in tip top form for your performances.”

“You sound like my manager.” He laughs and blushes lightly. “It’s okay though. My older siblings were always worrying about me too.”

“You have siblings?” She nods and holds up three fingers. “Wow. Must be nice and troublesome for you.” She laughs.

“My brothers are far worse than my sister, but that’s to be expected. Brothers are always far more protective over their sisters.” She says.

He nods lightly.

“Yeah.” Their conversation is slowly dwindling down. “Which way do you go?” He asks.

“I’m this way.”

“I’m the opposite way.” He states.

“Ahh.” She takes the little umbrella off her wrist and hands it to him. “Can’t have you catching a cold, now, can we?” He looks at the little umbrella.

“What about you?”

“I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. You are in the midst of your activities, yes? Your voice is far more important.”

After a couple minutes she laughs and puts it in his hand.

“The rain doesn’t scare me.” She says and opens the umbrella for him. She laughs and walks out into the rain, kind of spinning and twirling. Hongjoong watches her, laughing lightly.

“Have a good night, Hongjoong. It was fun talking to you. Don’t work too hard okay?”

“Same to you.”

Sonnet laughs and starts walking. He steps out into the rain under the umbrella and watches her walking down the street in the rain. He laughs and shakes his head lightly and starts walking back towards the dorm.

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