CHAPTER 30 — THE TRUTH THEY DIDN'T TELL
LOS ANGELES — TWO DAYS BEFORE THE CONCERT
For the first time since the tour restarted, Jae Rin went out alone.
No stylists.
No managers.
No cameras.
Just a hoodie, black jeans, a cap pulled low, and glasses covering half her face.
Her long hair was braided and hidden inside the hoodie so no one could recognize her easily.
She told the bodyguards to wait outside the street.
"I just want coffee. Five minutes."
They didn't like it.
But they obeyed.
The café she entered was small, quiet, almost empty.
Soft music playing.
Few people working on laptops.
Peaceful.
Exactly what she needed.
The girl behind the counter froze the moment she saw her.
Her eyes widened.
Another worker looked up… then quickly looked away.
They knew.
Of course they knew.
Jae Rin lowered her head, ready to leave, but the manager walked over calmly.
"We won't say anything," he said quietly.
She looked up.
He smiled politely.
"You deserve a normal day too."
For a second she didn't know what to say.
Then she nodded.
"…Thank you."
She sat in the corner.
Coffee in front of her.
Phone on the table.
But she didn't use it.
She just stared outside the window.
Thinking.
Too much thinking lately.
The tour.
The award show.
Keifer.
Memories she didn't want back.
The bell above the door rang.
She didn't look up at first.
Two men walked in, talking.
"…I told you LA traffic is worse than Manila."
"…You dragged me here, don't complain."
Her fingers froze around the cup.
That voice.
Slowly… she looked up.
Ci-n.
David.
Standing near the counter.
Laughing.
Talking like normal.
Her heart skipped.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Just shock.
Ci-n turned slightly while waiting for his order.
His eyes met hers.
Everything stopped.
His face froze.
"…Jay?"
David followed his gaze.
And went completely still.
"No way…"
Jae Rin stood up instantly.
Chair scraping loudly.
She grabbed her bag.
"I'm leaving."
She walked toward the door fast.
Ci-n moved quickly.
"Wait!"
She didn't stop.
David spoke behind her.
"We didn't do it."
Her hand froze on the door.
Silence filled the café.
Slowly, she turned around.
Her eyes cold now.
"…Do what?"
Ci-n swallowed.
"We didn't help Keifer."
The name hit harder than she expected.
She walked back slowly.
Every step heavy.
People in the café pretended not to listen, but the tension was obvious.
She stood in front of them.
"You were there."
Her voice calm.
Too calm.
David nodded.
"Yes."
"You knew something was going on."
Ci-n nodded too.
"…Yes."
Her jaw tightened.
"And you said nothing."
David answered this time.
"We knew he had a plan."
Silence.
Her fingers curled slightly.
"What plan."
Ci-n looked down for a moment.
Then back at her.
"He wanted revenge on Aries."
Her eyes flickered.
Of course.
Always Aries.
David continued quietly.
"He told us he wanted to make him regret everything."
She laughed softly.
Dry.
"So he used me."
Neither of them spoke.
That silence said enough.
Her chest felt tight, but her face stayed calm.
Ci-n spoke carefully.
"We thought it was just about business… family… pride."
David nodded.
"We didn't know he would go that far."
Her eyes turned sharp.
"You watched it happen."
Ci-n shook his head quickly.
"No."
"We found out after he already started getting close to you."
David added,
"And when we realized what he was doing… we told him to stop."
She stared at them.
"You expect me to believe that."
Ci-n met her eyes.
"I don't expect anything."
Silence.
He continued.
"I just don't want you thinking we wanted you hurt."
David looked straight at her.
"You were the only one in that school who treated everyone the same."
Her expression changed slightly.
Just slightly.
Ci-n nodded.
"You never cared who was rich, who was poor, who was popular."
David sighed.
"And that's exactly why he chose you."
That hurt.
More than she expected.
She looked away.
For a moment she couldn't speak.
Then quietly,
"…You should've told me."
Ci-n nodded.
"I know."
David whispered,
"We were cowards."
Silence again.
Long.
Heavy.
Finally she took a slow breath.
"…Why are you in LA."
Both blinked.
Ci-n answered first.
"Peralta Medical is opening a partnership hospital here."
David added,
"Braselton has investors in the same project."
Ci-n shrugged slightly.
"We ran into each other this morning."
David smirked faintly.
"And he dragged me here for coffee."
For the first time, her lips moved slightly.
Almost a smile.
Almost.
She looked at both of them for a long moment.
Then sighed.
"…Fine."
They froze.
Ci-n blinked.
"…Fine?"
"I believe you."
Relief hit both of them instantly.
But she raised her hand.
"You don't tell anyone you saw me."
Both went serious again.
"No Keifer."
"No Aries."
"No Angelo."
"No Section E."
Her eyes sharp now.
"If they find out from you…"
Pause.
"I disappear again."
Ci-n nodded immediately.
"Deal."
David nodded too.
"Promise."
She watched them carefully.
Making sure.
Then picked up her bag.
"Come with me."
They blinked.
"…Where?"
"To the hotel."
—
LOS ANGELES — HOTEL SUITE
Yuna was lying on the couch.
Sora eating chips.
Jisoo checking schedules.
Min Jae reading something.
Door opened.
Yuna looked up.
"You took forever—"
She froze.
"…Who are they?"
Sora sat up.
"No way…"
Jisoo blinked.
Min Jae stood slowly.
Jae Rin walked in calmly.
"These are Ci-n and David."
Silence.
Sora whispered,
"Section E…?"
Yuna looked shocked.
"You're kidding."
Jae Rin spoke simply.
"They weren't part of it."
Min Jae watched her face.
Then walked forward.
Held out his hand.
"Min Jae."
Ci-n shook it.
"Yeah… we know who you are."
David smiled.
"You dance better than half the industry."
Yuna stood up instantly.
"Okay I like him."
Sora laughed.
"He passed."
Jisoo smiled politely.
"Nice to meet you."
Soon everyone was sitting together.
Talking.
Laughing.
Yuna arguing with Ci-n about choreography.
Sora joking with David.
Jisoo asking calm questions.
Min Jae watching quietly.
Then he looked at Jae Rin.
She was leaning against the wall.
Watching them.
Relaxed.
Lighter.
He walked closer.
"You trust them?"
She looked at Ci-n laughing loudly.
"…I think I do."
For the first time in eleven years…
Someone from her past was in the same room.
And it didn't hurt.
It felt like something broken…
finally stopped bleeding.
The room slowly became louder as everyone started talking at once.
Yuna and Ci-n were already arguing about dance styles.
Sora kept asking David questions about business in LA.
Jisoo sat calmly, listening, smiling once in a while.
Min Jae stayed near Jae Rin, watching her expression carefully.
She looked… relaxed.
Not fully happy.
But lighter than before.
After a few minutes, Jae Rin sat down on the armrest of the sofa and looked at Ci-n.
"…How long are you two staying in LA?"
Ci-n leaned back.
"Five days."
David nodded.
"Same here. Meetings, investors, hospital project, then we go back to Manila."
Her eyebrows lifted slightly.
"…Five?"
David looked confused.
"Yeah. Why?"
She looked at Min Jae for a second, then back at them.
"…We're here for five days too."
Ci-n smirked.
"So fate?"
Sora laughed.
"That sounds like drama dialogue."
Jae Rin shook her head slightly, then stood up and walked to the table where her bag was.
She took out two black envelopes.
Walked back.
Held them out.
Ci-n frowned.
"…What's this?"
"Backstage passes."
Both froze.
David blinked.
"…For your concert?"
She nodded.
"For the LA show."
Ci-n stared at the pass like it was unreal.
"You serious?"
She shrugged.
"You're already here."
David laughed softly.
"You know people would sell their companies for this."
Yuna pointed.
"True."
Ci-n looked up at Jae Rin.
"…Thanks, Jay."
The name slipped out naturally.
She didn't react.
Just nodded once.
Then Ci-n suddenly grinned.
"Well then we have to celebrate."
Sora raised an eyebrow.
"Celebrate what?"
He stood up dramatically.
"Reunion. Forgiveness. Fate. Backstage passes. Everything."
David sighed.
"He wants to party."
Yuna clapped.
"Yes!"
Jisoo laughed quietly.
Min Jae looked at Jae Rin.
"…You okay with that?"
Ci-n pointed at the table.
"We'll order drinks."
Jae Rin shook her head immediately.
"No alcohol."
Everyone paused.
Ci-n blinked.
"…What?"
"No alcohol."
David frowned slightly.
"You… don't drink anymore?"
Silence.
Jae Rin didn't answer right away.
She looked at Min Jae.
Just for a second.
Then looked back at them.
"…I stopped five years ago."
Ci-n tilted his head.
"Why?"
She stayed quiet.
Sora looked at her.
"You don't have to—"
"It's fine."
Her voice calm.
Too calm.
She sat down slowly.
Hands folded together.
"…When I first came to Korea…"
Her eyes lowered.
"I couldn't sleep."
No one spoke.
"I thought it would go away."
She let out a small breath.
"But it didn't."
Min Jae looked down.
Yuna stopped smiling.
Sora went quiet.
Jisoo already knew.
Ci-n frowned slightly.
"…Jay…"
She continued.
"I had anxiety attacks."
David's expression changed.
"I couldn't breathe sometimes."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"So the doctor gave me sleeping pills."
Ci-n froze.
"You still take them?"
She nodded.
"…Sometimes."
Silence filled the room.
But she wasn't done.
"And… five years ago…"
Her voice got quieter.
"I had lung cancer."
Everything stopped.
Yuna looked down.
Sora closed her eyes.
Jisoo pressed her lips together.
Min Jae didn't move.
He already knew.
Ci-n stared at her like he didn't understand.
"…What."
She didn't look up.
"It was early stage."
David whispered,
"You… had cancer…?"
She nodded.
"I was in Korea. Only them knew."
She looked at Min Jae.
Then Yuna, Sora, Jisoo.
"And Percy."
The room felt heavy.
Too heavy.
Ci-n suddenly stood up.
Walked to her.
Fast.
Before she could react, he pulled her into a hug.
Tight.
His voice shaking.
"You idiot…"
She froze.
He held her tighter.
"You went through all that alone…?"
Her hands slowly lifted.
Rested on his back.
"…I wasn't alone."
David walked closer too.
His eyes red.
He didn't say anything.
Just hugged her from the side.
For a moment she was surrounded.
And she didn't push them away.
After a few seconds, Ci-n pulled back and wiped his eyes.
"…We're partying tonight."
She raised an eyebrow.
"No alcohol."
He nodded.
"No alcohol."
David sighed.
"Music then."
Yuna smiled.
"That we can do."
—
An hour later, the suite looked completely different.
Music playing.
Lights dim.
Food everywhere.
No alcohol.
Just soda, juice, coffee, and snacks.
Ci-n dancing badly.
Yuna laughing at him.
Sora recording everything.
David actually smiling for once.
Jisoo clapping along to the music.
Min Jae sitting beside Jae Rin on the couch.
She looked tired.
But happy.
Real happy.
Ci-n pointed at her.
"You have to dance."
She shook her head.
"No."
He grabbed her hand.
"Just once."
She rolled her eyes.
But stood up.
For a few minutes…
She danced.
No stage.
No fans.
No cameras.
Just friends.
And for the first time in years…
She forgot everything.
—
Two hours later.
Silence.
Music off.
Lights low.
Everyone knocked out.
Yuna asleep on the floor.
Sora half on the couch.
Jisoo leaning on a pillow.
Ci-n lying sideways on the carpet.
Min Jae sitting on the couch.
Jae Rin curled up against him.
Her head on his chest.
His arm around her.
Both asleep.
Peaceful.
David slowly opened his eyes.
Looked around.
"…Wow."
He sat up quietly.
Saw everyone sleeping everywhere.
Then his eyes stopped on the couch.
Jae Rin in Min Jae's arms.
Her face calm.
No tension.
No fear.
Just sleep.
Real sleep.
David smiled softly.
Took his phone.
Clicked one picture.
Not for gossip.
Not for proof.
Just… memory.
He looked at them again.
"…You deserve this, Jay."
He put the phone down.
Lay back on the floor.
Closed his eyes.
And for the first time since they met her again—
He felt like maybe…
things could finally be okay.
________________
HEY LOVELY READERS 💗
THIS CHAPTER WAS REALLY SPECIAL TO WRITE BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE STORY, SOMEONE FROM JAE RIN'S PAST MET HER AGAIN WITHOUT FIGHTING, WITHOUT HATE, AND WITHOUT SECRETS. CI-N AND DAVID WERE NEVER REALLY HER ENEMIES, AND I WANTED THEIR REUNION TO FEEL NATURAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ALSO A LITTLE HAPPY. AFTER SO MANY HEAVY CHAPTERS, THEY ALL NEEDED A MOMENT WHERE THEY COULD JUST LAUGH, TALK, LISTEN TO MUSIC, AND FORGET EVERYTHING FOR A WHILE.
YES, THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST TIME JAE RIN TALKED ABOUT HER PAST, HER SLEEPING PILLS, HER ANXIETY, AND HER LUNG CANCER IN FRONT OF THEM, AND IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS HOW MUCH SHE HAS CHANGED. SHE IS STRONGER NOW, BUT SHE IS STILL HUMAN, AND SHE STILL HAS SCARS FROM WHAT HAPPENED 11 YEARS AGO.
BUT THIS CHAPTER WAS NOT ONLY SAD — IT WAS ALSO HAPPY, BECAUSE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, THEY WERE FINALLY SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM AGAIN, TALKING LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE, LAUGHING, AND ACTING LIKE FRIENDS. FOR A MOMENT, IT FELT LIKE THE PAST NEVER BROKE THEM, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW.
AND YES… THE SCENE WHERE EVERYONE FELL ASLEEP AND JAE RIN WAS SLEEPING PEACEFULLY IN MIN JAE'S ARMS WAS VERY IMPORTANT. SHE COULDN'T SLEEP FOR YEARS WITHOUT PILLS, BUT THIS TIME SHE DID. THAT MEANS SOMETHING.
DON'T WORRY, JAYFER READERS 😭
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THERE IS NO JAYFER.
THE STORY IS SLOW BURN, AND KEIFER'S PART IS COMING AGAIN VERY SOON.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE PART WHERE THE PAST IS STARTING TO COME BACK LITTLE BY LITTLE.
NEXT CHAPTER WILL CONTINUE THE STORY, AND WE WILL ALSO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MANILA… AND WHAT KEIFER IS DOING WHILE ALL THIS IS HAPPENING.
PLEASE COMMENT YOUR THEORIES AND SUGGESTIONS 🤍
I LOVE READING THEM AND SOMETIMES I EVEN USE YOUR IDEAS IN THE STORY 👀
LOVE YOU ALL 💗