best mistake

“it doesn’t bother me. i know i’m not that smart, that’s okay. i’m good at other stuff,” he assured her, shrugging. he’d been called stupid all his life. it kind of lost it’s sting after about year eighteen.

“repeating that to yourself can’t be good for your self esteem, adonis. even if you think it doesn’t bother you,” andy insisted sternly. “you’re not stupid. you have one of the biggest emotional intelligences i’ve seen in a man, period. stop it.”

“not really. i felt more like the annoying younger sibling the other four got stuck taking care of,” biyi admitted sheepishly. “and terra is different too. i’m the older one. it’s the same thing, except the roles are reversed. no slumber party just….. taking care of songyi,” she laughed

andy giggled. “i guess with the age difference i can see that. both ways, i mean. do you really have to take care of songyi that much? isn’t she an adult? don’t you have a manager?”

“you can call me a dumbass if you want, andy. it’s not the first time i’ve heard it. it’s also kinda true. it doesn’t offend me,” he laughed

“you’re not a dumbass,” andy insisted, shaking her head. “you just don’t always think things through. that doesn’t make you a dumbass. stop calling yourself one.”

“hey, i know. she’s just starting off, too. i’m not gonna do anything that fucks up what she has going,” donny said seriously. he was so happy for yanlei and ahmi, but he saw how their lives got turned upsidedown, and that was with ahmi being in one of the biggest girl groups ever. he loved sola. he didn’t want to put her career at risk. “mom and dad live in a gated community, though. and they have a pool and shit. we’d be able to hang out and relax without causing a scene, i think.”

“hey, i just wanted to make sure you were thinking about it!” andy answered with a laugh. “you can be a little..................airheaded sometimes, adonis. i’m never sure when you’re thinking ahead.”

“i wouldn’t know– my mom never let me have one of those. and by the time i was living with deviant, most of us were getting closer to our adulthood. but those always sounded fun.”

“i suppose, but surely it still was kind of like that, all five of you living together?” andy offered with a sad little smile. “ what about with terra? some of your girls are pretty young-- does it not elicit the same vibes?”

“hey, that’s not fair! i’m a super big deal– it’s only natural that people would make the connection,” donny whined. “right? i think she’d have fun. and it’d be nice– we can be a lot less careful in public back home. no dispatch, really.”

“no dispatch, but lots of fans. kpop is really blowing up back home, you know,” andy warned. “you can definitely be less careful, but i don’t want you getting the idea in your head that you can just throw caution to the wind.”

“sure, an extended slumber party where you’re essentially my carer,” biyi scoffed, rolling her eyes and laughing

“that’s not that far off from other slumber parties-- there was always one girl who was the buzzkill mom friend,” andromeda pointed out

“i love you too,” biyi answered with a sigh. “thank you for letting me stay with you. it’s not practical to have me at the dorm right now, and i feel like i would just be in the way. and really upset. you opening your apartment to me means a lot.”

“stop, biyi. it’s what any good friend would do,” andy replied firmly. “besides-- you’ve slept over before. it’s just an extended slumber party.”

“now, that’s not true. you’re stuff’s too cool for people to forget it. and also i’m your brother, and also cool, so that too,” donny answered, waving her off. “yeah– maybe in the summer or something. that could be really fun.”

“adonis, no offense, but if people only remember who i am because you’re my brother, i think i’d rathr just retire,” she answered, rolling her eyes. “that could be really fun! plus, summers back home are a riot.”

“i don’t know. i’m worried about being on the powerful painkillers for too long. i feel like i won’t know for sure how i feel until i run out, but i’ve been feeling a little better at least? i don’t know. i think a bit of pain is unavoidable at this point,” she admitted

“you’re so valid. i think being nervous about that is good. but i really don’t want you to be suffering,” andy answered, softly, smiling at her friend. “i love you. i’ll pick it all up for you asap.”

“i mean, he’s a good dog. i think both are probably true, but he’s a good, good boy.”

“hyosang, all dogs are good boys.”

“well, that’s trash. you’re a rookie– your first real comeback can’t come a year later,” donny answered with a frown. he shrugged. “i’ll have to talk to her about it. i don’t know what unity’s schedule looks like either– she might be busy with work. i’d like to bring her along, though. i don’t know if she’s ever been to the states before.”

“well, technically it’s my second. but you’re right-- it’s garbage. no one’s going to remember who i am,” andy sighed. “oh, yeah, i forgot that she’s an idol with a job..... well, we’ll find a reason to bring her to the states on vacation someday. bet.”

“sensitive toothpaste, for sure. and if you could find damage-repair hair products, i’d love you forever. extra points if they’re sulfate and paraben free,” biyi rattled off the top of her head, leaning back into her pillows. “also….if you can find painkillers, i’d love some more of those puppies. i’m almost out of the powerful ones the hospital gave me, and i need something to cushion the blow.”

“oh, perfect-- i need to grab some for myself anyway, so i’ll grab extras for you,” andy said with a smile. “that makes sense, i suppose.... are you feeling well enough that the lighter painkillers will help? like, i don’t want you to become dependant on the bigboy ones but..... i also don’t want you to be in pain...”

“True enough–I’ve heard some horror stories over the years about the way some trainers go about things,” Duri said. “Getting an outside opinion is helpful, I’ll probably talk to her.”

“i mean, there’s always gonna be a learning curve when you bring a new dog into a new place, but he’s a smart cookie. he’s got it almost all down already.”

“is he a smart cookie, or are you just an exceptional trainer and owner?” andy teased.