Isa's Allergy Medicine

Bestie - Jaejoon

Hey I’m outside

Read at 8:15 AM

Isa checks the date on her phone before throwing it aside without answering the text. Saturday morning. It was her favorite day of the week. The one day she got to see her best friend of fifteen years, Lee Jaejoon.

Their families had been close since before they were born but Isa and Jaejoon did not become close until they were about eleven years old, when Jaejoon had given her a bite of his pineapple pizza. Isa spent two days in the hospital and Jaejoon cried the entire time. Since then, Jaejoon made sure to learn everything about Isa’s allergies and had made sure she didn’t eat or touch anything on that list when he was around.

Isa’s allergy list was long and it had only grown as she got older. Eggs, milk, oats, yogurt, cheese, chicken, pineapple, tofu, figs, soybeans, chili pepper seeds, cherries, plums, apples, peaches, melons, pears, and many more. It was easier to list what she could eat sometimes.

Isa yawned and stretched her arms above her head. She could already hear the other members in the living room as she scratched at her newly dyed pink hair. She slowly got off her bed and padded barefoot to the entrance of the STAYC dorm and buzzed Jaejoon in.

“Mornin’, sleepyhead!” Seeun called out from the couch. “Jaejoon-oppa on his way up?”

“Mmm.” Isa replied as she unlocked the front door before taking a seat at the dining table.

After a few minutes the front door opened and Jaejoon stepped inside with grocery bags in each hand. He bowed at the other members as he walked past them. Seeun waved at him happily while the others pointed to Isa at the dining room.

“Morn-” Jaejoon started but froze as soon as he saw Isa sitting at the dining table. Her newly dyed pink hair was messy and sticking up in places but Jaejoon was in awe of how cute she looked despite having just woken up. Her long black hair was always gorgeous but the pink was different.

“You dyed your hair…it looks good, Chaeyoung. Really good.” Jaejoon said as he set the grocery bags down on the counter.

Isa looked up from the table, her eye smiles appearing as she looked up at him. “Really? Thank you, oppa. I wanted a new look for our comeback.” She stretched her arms above her head again, yawning softly. Her breasts strained against the thin fabric of her shirt, the outline of her nipples visible through the material.

Jaejoon quickly looked away, his ears turning a faint shade of pink. He moved back to the counter and began to unpack the bags. Several items that didn't contain any of Isa’s allergens were pulled out and placed in the fridge or the pantry.

Jaejoon had been doing this for Isa for several years. The only times he wasn’t able to was during test seasons in college, during his military service, and the early stages of STAYC’s career. It took several months after debut for the company to allow him to help with Isa’s strict diet. They were reluctant at first but they were able to save money and time, and Jaejoon bought enough for the other members too.

From the living room, the sound of giggling erupted. “Oh Jaejoon-oppa you like my new hair? Do I look pretty?” Yoon mimicked Isa's voice and manner of speech as she flipped her own black hair.

“Mmm, Chaeyoung, your hair looks so good. You're so pretty~” J replied with her deeper voice.

The other members giggled at the impressions and Seeun clapped like she was watching a comedic scene in a drama.

“Ya!” Isa called back, her own smile and giggles betrayed her mild annoyance. She looked back at Jaejoon and shook her head slightly, her eye smiles appearing again.

Jaejoon chuckled softly, shaking his head at the antics from the living room. He continued unpacking the groceries as he spoke with Isa. “Did you sleep okay?” Jaejoon asked, placing a container of rice balls onto the table in front of her. He took a seat across from Isa, picked up a rice ball with a napkin and handed it to Isa, before taking one for himself.

“Mmm… not really,” Isa admitted as she rubbed one eye with the back of her hand. “We had a late schedule until past midnight and I couldn't fall asleep after.” She took a bite of the rice ball and her eyes lit up slightly. “Oh, these are good. Where’d you find these?”

“I found a bakery near my place. I asked the baker to recommend some items for someone with all your allergies and he gave me a list of what I could get. He even said he could make some additional custom items too.” He paused, then added more quietly, “We should go together one day…”

From the couch, Seeun's swooned at the interaction. “Aww they’re so cute.”

“Ahem…Chaeyoung…I was thinking if you wanted to go on a da-” J started again.

“No.” Isa called out from the dining table giving the other members a harsh look. “We’re just friends.” She looked at Jaejoon and smiling again. “Sorry about them.”

Jaejoon smiled weakly back after he finished with the groceries and took a seat across for Isa. “Actually… Chaeyoung, I wanted to tell you that I probably won’t be able to stop by next week.”

Isa took another bite. “What? Why?”

Jaejoon shrugged as he leaned back in his chair. “Yeah… my mom set me up on a blind date next Saturday.”

Isa’s chewing slowed. “A blind date? Seriously?”

“Yeah,” Jaejoon rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s been on my case for a while now. Ever since I came back from my military service she’s been trying to set me up. I tried to get out of it but…”

“You can’t keep saying no to your mom,” Isa finished for him. She took another small bite of the rice ball again. “That’s… really good, Jaejoon-oppa. I’m happy for you.”

She meant it. She did. Isa was genuinely happy that her best friend was being pushed into the dating world. That's what best friends do. They are happy for their best friends when they find a partner. But something didn’t feel right.

“Who is she? Do you know anything about her?" Isa asked, leaning forward slightly.

Jaejoon shrugged again. “I don’t know much. Mom said her name is Minji. She’s apparently really nice. We’re just meeting for coffee. If it goes well then we have reservations at a fancier place on Sunday night.”

“You have a second date planned already?” Isa confirmed.

“Yeah, you know how my parents are. Why?” He ate the rice ball in a single bite.

“Nothing. No reason,” Isa waved her hand dismissively. “So… how are you feeling about it? Are you nervous?”

Jaejoon laughed nervously. “A little, yeah. It’s been a while since I dated. I guess it would be nice to have a partner again….and well you know.”

Isa tilted her head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You know.” Jaejoon asserted.

“I know?” Isa’s confusion continued.

“Chaeyoung. You know…. They know.” Jaejoon pointed at the other STAYC members watching them.

Isa turned towards her members, “You all know what he’s talking about?”

“YES.” “Seriously, Chaeyoung?” “How do you not know?” The members all responded at once.

“He’s talking about SEX!” Sumin called out.

 “Oh…right,” Isa and Jaejoon both turned red, avoiding each other’s eyes.

“Dance practice…. We… we have rehearsal soon and I need to shower and change.” Isa lied. She glanced at the clock without actually checking the time. “So you should probably head out soon too. I’ll walk you to the door.”

“Already?” Jaejoon stood up and followed Isa toward the front door.

“Have fun on your date,” she said as she pushed him out the door. “And text me after! I want to know everything.” She smiled at him one last time before shutting the door.