tantrum
red velvet 6th member au
when the girls and jaebeom had to step in to convince jaein to take a break
WARNINGS: this is set during the pre-promotion era of "Feel My Rhythm." hope you enjoy this cute domestic moment! ❤️
masterlist 🦋 requests are open feedback is always important to me!
Jaein felt the bass of Red Velvet’s next comeback through her entire body. It was one of the most satisfying sensations she could experience as an idol. She loved comebacks. Every part of the preparation, the rehearsals, the planning, the anticipation, was, in her opinion, even more exciting than the comeback itself.
And, like everyone else involved, Jaein was incredibly excited about this new concept the company had decided to try. With heavy inspiration from different forms of art and the sampling Bach, it was definitely worth all the anticipation.
Jaein knew that, with the pregnancy, she wouldn’t be able to fully participate in this comeback. Luckily, she still wasn’t showing enough for the company to even consider cutting her from the promotional photoshoots.
And, just like she had said in the meeting where she told them about the pregnancy, she wasn’t going to stop until her body told her to. She was just pregnant. That wasn’t the end of the world.
And that was why, when her staff and manager saw her arriving almost an hour earlier than everyone else, just like she always did, they didn’t even bother telling her to go home.
Her members arrived one by one, each of them following the same ritual: greeting Jaein’s almost invisible bump before greeting her. Every time they did it, Jaein felt her heart warm with all the love and support they were giving her, even in the very early stages of her pregnancy.
She knew it wouldn’t take long for the company to start cutting her off. In fact, it was already happening. Subtle things. Leaving her out of certain commercials, the occasional Instagram lives the girls would start without her… things Jaein had never thought would matter that much.
"Feel my rhythm, come with me…" she sang along to the demo as she danced a little away from her members, who were rehearsing the choreography for five members now, not six.
Jaein still followed the movements out of habit, marking the steps just outside the formation.
From her spot, Irene noticed something she couldn't explain herself. Something almost like an instinct.
"Jaein-ssi," she called softly as the choreographer corrected something about spreading their arms wider. "are you okay?"
Jaein blinked, a little surprised by the sudden attention.
"Of course, unnie." she said with a small smile, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheeks. She was already sweating, even though they had been dancing for less than an hour, one of the early symptoms. "Why wouldn’t I be?"
Irene simply nodded and stepped back into position when the demo restarted. It went on like that for about twenty minutes until Irene suddenly clapped.
"Okay! Break!" she said.
Jaein blinked, irritation flickering across her face.
"We just started, unnie."
Seulgi suddenly dropped to the floor.
"I'm so tired." she mumbled.
"No, you're not." Jaein said, confused.
Joy walked over to the speaker and lowered the volume. Then another notch. And another.
"Is it just me or is the instrumental too loud?"
Jaein slowly looked around and realised no one was making eye contact, and that's when it hit her. They weren’t struggling or messing up. They were avoiding her.
Her lips pressed together as she placed her hands on her lower back.
"Are you guys avoiding rehearsing?"
All five of them froze, like children caught in the act. The room fell completely silent.
"That’s not what this is, Jaein-ah." Yeri said quickly.
Jaein looked at her, eyes already glossy.
"Then what is it?" she asked, quietly.
Irene ran a hand through her hair, clearly trying to keep her composure.
"Why would we avoid working, Jaein?" she asked, carefully.
"Jaein, sit down." Wendy said, gently holding onto her arm.
Jaein pulled back slightly.
"Do you not want me here?" she asked softly, her lips trembling.
Wendy’s head snapped up. "What?"
Jaein let out a small, shaky laugh.
"You keep stopping. You’re acting weird. If you think I can’t do this just say it. I'm not fragile." her voice chracked on the last word.
Wendy immediately panics.
"Oh, Jaein, no. No no no."
"I can still dance. I can still sing. I’m not even showing yet." Jaein continued, words spilling out faster now, hands gesturing as if she could physically prove her point. "If this is going to be complicated, I can just step back from this comeback."
"WHAT?" Joy practically yelled.
Jaein’s breathing grew uneven. Pregnancy hormones? Absolutely. Overthinking? Completely. All of it.
"I don’t want to slow you down. If I need to leave the group for a while, I will."
The room goes dead silent.
Seulgi’s eyes filled instantly. "Why would you say that?"
"Because you’re all acting like I’m glass!" Jaein snapped, tears finally falling. "If you wanted me gone you could’ve just said it instead of treating me like I’m sick."
Joy looked seconds away from crying out of frustration.
"No one wants you gone!" she shot back. "Girl, we’re trying to get you to rest!"
"We’ve been begging you to rest for two weeks!" Wendy added.
Yeri crossed her arms.
"You came to rehearsal yesterday after throwing up!"
"That was morning sickness, not death!"
Irene steps forward, calm but firm.
"Jaein," she called out the girl. "I know you are not fragile. But you are pregnant."
There was a silence between them as Jaein tried to think about what to say back.
"And we love you." Irene continued. "More than this choreography. More than any comeback."
Jaein wiped her face angrily.
"I don’t want special treatment." she mumbled.
"It’s not special treatment." Seulgi said, a small, helpless laugh escaping her. "It’s literally basic human care."
Joy sighed sharply. "We’re not delaying rehearsal because you’re weak. We’re delaying it because you won’t stop."
Yeri nods aggressively. "You won’t sit down unless we physically restrain you."
Jaein sniffled.
"You could’ve just told me."
"We DID! A thousand times!" Wendy groaned. "You said ‘I’m fine’ and started doing full-out turns."
They all look at each other. Irene slowly reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Jaein narrowed her eyes.
Jaein narrows her eyes.
"Unnie, what are you doing?"
"Calling Jaebeom." Irene answered.
"Oh, thank you." Joy muttered under her breath.
Jaein let out a disbelieving laugh, wiping her cheeks again.
"You’re all being dramatic." she muttered, turning away from them. "My doctor said I could dance. I’m fine!"
No one answered, and that should’ve been her first sign.
With a huff, she walked over to the white leather couch at the side of the studio and sat down, crossing her arms. Still stubborn, she started moving her hands slightly to the beat, marking the choreography while seated, like that somehow proved her point.
Jaebeom didn't take long. The studio door opened about twenty minutes later, and he stepped in, dressed simply, like he had dropped everything to be there. His eyes scanned the room quickly before landing on Jaein in the corner.
Jaein frozed.
"You actually called him?" she protested, turning to Irene.
Jaebeom didn’t say anything right away. He greeted everyone with a polite bow, then walked further into the room, calm and steady, like he always was.
"Hi." Jaein said, trying to sound casual. "What are you doing here?"
He stopped in front of her. Up close, he could see the flushed cheeks, the watery eyes, the way she was still slightly out of breath.
"You’ve been crying." he said simply.
Jaein scoffed, looking away and crossing her arms.
"I’m pregnant. I cry about everything now."
By then, the girls had gathered around them, forming a loose circle like they were witnessing a live intervention. Jaein let out a small laugh at the absurdity of it.
"Guys," she saidm mid-laugh. "I swear, I’m fine!"
"We know you think you are." he replied, still completely straight-faced. "But you've been overworking, my love."
"I have not." she protested.
"Yes, you have!" five voices echoed, at once.
"I am not leaving." Jaein said, looking away.
Jaebeom looked at her. Then at the girls. Then back at her.
"Okay."
He shrugged, before seating right next to her, on the floor.
Jaein blinked.
"What are you doing?"
"I’m waiting."
"For what?"
"For you to finish your little tantrum."
The room exploded. Joy doubled over laughing. Wendy literally dropped to the floor next to Seulgi. Yeri slapped the ground like this was the funniest thing she’d ever seen.
Jaein stared at him, betrayed.
"... this is bullying." she said, her shoulders dropping.
"Yeah, maybe." he said with a small smile, clearly relieved she was finally easing.
Jaein stared at him for a second longer.
Then, with the most dramatic sigh known to mankind, she stood up and started gathering her things from the couch, making everyone cheer.
Jaebeom got up right after her, stepping closer and pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head while she shoved things into her bag a little too aggressively.
Everyone cheered.
"You're tired." he mumbled.
Deep down, she knew it was true.
Her feet ached, her back was sore, and the thin layer of sweat on her skin made it clear her body wasn’t keeping up the way it used to. But she was too proud to admit it.
"Let’s go home, babe." he said, gently taking her bag from her hands and throwing it over his shoulder. She didn’t argue this time.
Jaein mumbled her goodbyes, giving quick hugs to the girls, who looked both relieved and amused. Even the choreographer was smiling like he had just watched the best reality show episode of his life.
Jaebeom opened the door for her, following right behind.
As they stepped out into the hallway, he glanced down at her.
"You good?"
Jaein nodded, leaning lightly against his shoulder, her lips forming a small pout.
"…yeah."
A pause.
"But don’t come that fast next time."
Jaebeom let out a soft laugh, nodding.
"Okay. Noted."
