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Rae shook his head “You wouldn’t get it”

“Excuse me?”

“Take a look around—a good solid look—haven’t you ever seen all of the stores pro to be an ass, but it’s a thing here I had a friend who couldn’t even debut last year because his label said his skin was too dark They even have the opposite of tanning beds—beds to make you white”

Stunned, I had a hard ti I frowned “Well, yeah, I’ve seen some of the commercials and stuff, but…” I switched lanes “I’norance speaking but, your skin isn’t dark, and even if it ho the hell cares?

He shrugged “It’s part of the job, Grace”

I kept driving, gripping the steering wheel,I mean, seriously? That seemed so… I didn’t even have a word for it, but I wasn’t sure it was even appropriate for me to react, so I just asked, “Do fans really care that much?”

“Do they care that much?” He countered “That we’re constantly paranoid fans are going to coh? Or that it will affect the ihter skin will always be better when you’re an idol”

“Okay” I gulped and tried to reign in all the reactions I had Iabout—”

Feeling duht on their behalf over the unfairness and pressure “It was a good idea It’s fine I was just trying to explain our reaction, that’s all”

“Thanks,” I said a fewtime to explain”

His smile was slow as it spread across his face, almost like he was finally able to relax, able to be free “Of course”

The drive wasn’t too long, but since the top was down it was hard to hear anyone other than Rae Poor Sookie was s Lucas into the opposite doorevery once in a while I’d look into my rearviewmy death I felt it in al since we only had five seatbelts? Probably Did I care at this point? No

The guys were on their phones the entire drive to Naksan Beach I’d wanted to take them somewhere they could relax and even packed a tent so they could have privacy, though supposedly the beach was never that busy Then again, I could be totally off base once we get there, but in all o where they wouldn’t be bothered if we just parked, grabbed our food and drinks, and ran to the beach to set up caet her permission because duh intern over here, she said she’d have a security team follow us just in case, and after a few looks in the rearviewsure they were staying back but close enough just in case so happened Thank God for favors like that I knew security alood that they were there just in case

I attehtrounds of what they were allowed to eat It was harder than I thought, picking out all the different foods and drinks and I’d been suddenly thankful that I wasn’t cooking and unknowingly poisoning the guys on a daily basis