Chapter 127: 로꾸거!!! (Rokkugo!!!)

I squinted at the light as it flashed again.

“Let’s go,” Yun Ho said as he stood up.

My vision cleared and it turned out the light I saw was from the flashlight of the janitor.

“Komapseumnida,” we bowed as we walked out.

“Ye,” the guy answered and shut the door after we walked out.

“Are you alright?” Yun Ho asked me as I wobbled alongside him.

“I kinda fell asleep, so I feel a bit woozy now,” I explained.

“Then hold on to my arm,” he said, and I obliged.

As we neared the main entrance, we realized that a small group of reporters were gathered there.

“Shit,” I said, under my breath.

“Reporters,” Yun Ho said. “Someone must have tipped them off.”

“What do we do?” I asked him.

“I’ll go get the car and you wait at the side exit for me.”

“Okay,” I said, and we split up.

As I walked towards the exit, my phone rang.

“Where are you?” Jae Joong asked me as soon as I picked up.

“HQ,” I said.

“Didn’t you say you were coming back more than an hour ago?”

“I left my phone in the conference room, and Yun Ho drove me back to get it. Then some fool locked us in the room.”

“Again?” he said incredulously.

“Yes… again,” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“Neo chigeum odiya?”

“I’m on my way out the side exit.”

“Side exit?”

“Someone tipped the reporters off that I was at the HQ with Yun Ho,” I said.

“And where’s Yun Ho?”

“Gone to get his car. He’ll pick me up from the side exit.”

“This is not a good idea. You should stay there,” Jae Joong said. “Call Yun Ho and tell him to come home. I’ll come over to pick you up.”

“You’re already home, why trouble yourself?” I asked him.

“It’ll be more trouble if you and Yun Ho’s photos get into the papers,” he pointed out. “Stay where you are, and call Yun Ho. Araso?” he said.

“Arasoyo,” I said.

“See you in awhile,” he said.

“Okay,” I said, and he hung up.

I dialed Yun Ho’s phone and he picked up after the 2nd ring.

“I’m on my way,” he said.

“Jae Joong said he’d pick me. He said it would be better if we weren’t seen together,” I said in one breath.

“He did? Well… good idea,” he replied.

“So I’ll see you at home,” I said.

“Sure,” he said. “You want me to come in and accompany you till he comes?”

“No,” I said. “It’s fine. Go on. Make sure you’re showered before I get home.”

“Ne oma,” he laughed, and hung up.

“Sierra,” a voice said as I turned around, and I screamed at the face that popped up in front of me. “Calm down!” he exclaimed.

“Hee Chul,” I said as I tried to catch my breath. “What are you doing here?”

“I had some work to do,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for Jae Joong to pick me up,” I said.

“Aww… the power couple of SM is still so loving… isn’t that beautiful,” he teased.

“Shut up,” I laughed and punched his arm.

“Right!” he suddenly exclaimed. “Jae Joong is driving, isn’t he?”

“Yea. Then he can take me home,” he said.

“What happened to your baby?” I asked.

Hee Chul recently bought a new car and always referred to it as his baby.

“My baby’s at the doctor’s,” he said.

“So soon?”

“I think he caught a cold.”

“Did you take him out for a spin in the rain?” I asked him.

“I couldn’t help it. I wanted to get him home sooner, but the rain just had to come,” he smiled.

“Why am I even having this conversation with you?” I laughed.

“Yea… why? So can Jae Joong give me a lift?”

“Can anyone say no to you?” I raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t think so,” he grinned.

“So why bother to ask?”

“It’s fun!” he exclaimed.

“Sure… sure… and remind me why I have to call you oppa,” I said as I walked towards the waiting area to sit on the benches.

We spent the next few minutes gossiping and complaining about of schedules, until my phone rang.

“Omo… how sappy can you to be?” Hee Chul said when he heard my ring tone, Girlfriends’ ‘Maybe I Love You’.

I stuck my tongue out at him as I flipped open the phone to answer it.

“Ye,” I said.

“Come out the side exit,” he said.

“I’m coming,” I said as I stood up. “And we’ve got company,” I added as I walked towards the exit, with Hee Chul trailing behind me.

“Mwo? Nugu?” Jae Joong asked.

“He wants to surprise you.” I said.

“He?”

“Just wait and see,” I said and I hung up.

“I can’t believe that is your ring tone!” Hee Chul started again and chattered all the way to the car.

I opened the front door and plopped onto the seat. Hee Chul did the same in the back.

“Annyeong,” he said in a girly voice and waved shyly, as if he was in awe to see Jae Joong.

“Hyung!” Jae Joong exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“Duh… working?” Hee Chul replied, now in his boyish voice.

“I think he was just loitering around the building. Since when does he need to work?” I joked. “Kim Hee Chul is a cash spinning machine. He just needs to sit and wait for people to feed him and take care of him.”

“Oi!” Hee Chul exclaimed. “That’s enough from you, little girl,” he said as he tugged my hair playfully.

“Omo… please don’t kill me, ajeosshi…” I giggled.

“Keumanhae… this is noise pollution!” Jae Joong laughed.

“You drive,” I said. “This is between me and Hee Chul ajeosshi,” I said as I turned around to poke Hee Chul.

“Who are you calling ‘ajeosshi’?” he said.

“You’re not ajeosshi? Mianhae haraboji,” I said.

“You… you…” he said as he pointed at me whilst pretending to be having a heart attack.

“Get a life,” I said in a mean voice.

“You… evil…” he gasped and ‘fainted’.

“Finally,” I said in a rapturous voice as I clutched Jae Joong’s hand, “we’re alone.”

Jae Joong laughed softly and traced my wrist with his thumb.

“Aha!” Hee Chul pretty much yelled as he bounced up between the seats. “I’m back!”

“Really…” I said as I rolled my eyes, then I laughed.

“So what’s kickin’ bro,” Hee Chul asked Jae Joong in English, black rapper style.

“I was ready to get into bed when Sierra kongju called,” he said. “I’m always rescuing her.”

“Why did she need to be rescued tonight?” Hee Chul asked.

“Because this ogre named Hee Chul was about to attack me,” I replied.

“I was talking to Jae Joong, not you,” Hee Chul retorted and I stuck my tongue out at him and crossed my arms.

“She was stuck in the building with Yun Ho. I asked him to leave without her so that they didn’t start any rumours,” Jae Joong explained.

“Good thinking,” Hee Chul said. “So what were you and Yun Ho doing at the HQ so late?”

“I left my phone behind, then some maniac locked us up in the conference room.”

“Again?” Hee Chul exclaimed.

“Yea… I told him I was with Yun Ho and asked him to come lock us in.”

“That’s not what I was getting at,” Jae Joong said.

“Neither was I,” Hee Chul said.

“No?” I said. “Seemed like it.”

“Keugo aniya…” Jae Joong said. “Hwanajima,” he added.

“Hmmph,” I said and turned to look out of the window.

“Don't mind her, Jae Joong,” Hee Chul said. “Talk to me.”

“I can’t do that, hyung. She’ll kill me when we get home,” Jae Joong said in a worried tone.

“You’re such a wuss,” Hee Chul said.

“Aniya… I just love her more than life itself. So I have to make sure she’s happy,” Jae Joong said in the sappiest way he could, and I cracked up.

“You’re such a liar, Jae Joong,” I said and smacked him on the arm.

“Yea… but my obvious lies get me what I want most of the time,” he laughed.

“Okay… I am starting to follow this weird relationship you two have,” Hee Chul said in the kind of tone a therapist would use.

“Huh?” Jae Joong and I said.

“You, Sierra, get upset. And you, Jae Joong, be sarcastic and make statements you obviously do not mean. Then Sierra’s anger vanishes, and you’re lovey-dovey again,” he concluded. “Mwoya?” he exclaimed at the end.

“You obviously have not dated enough,” I huffed.

“Yea,” Jae Joong said.

“Excuse me… I’ll have you know that I have many lady friends, and none of them are weird like you,” he said and he poked my head with his index finger at the end of his line.

“Oi!” I said as I rubbed my head. “Who are you calling weird, gay boy...”

“Gay boy?!” he screeched.

“Hey… hello… my ears,” Jae Joong protested, but we just ignored him and carried on bantering.

We finally arrived at Hee Chul’s apartment, and Jae Joong was only too happy to unlock the door and heave Hee Chul out of the car.

“Bye,” Hee Chul waved at us as he ran in.

“Bye,” we said in unison and wound up the window.

“Thank god…” Jae Joong sighed with relief, and when he turned to glare at me, I knew I was going to get a good lecturing from him.

“Hehe!” I giggled. “He started it,” I said, and all Jae Joong could do was roll his eyes and let out a sound of exasperation.

Chapter 126: Him & Me II

[Yuk Hee’s POV]

I watched from my window as Vanness’ car pulled out of the apartments’ compound.

“It’s not over yet, Jang Kyu Jin,” I said to myself.

He’d started avoiding me like a plague the moment he got back to Taiwan, and I could only guess that he’d realized what I was up to. I can’t imagine why he didn’t want to give us a chance. Did our childhood mean so little to him?

Sure… I’d put him at the back of my mind the moment I left Kwangju. I remembered how we tearfully said goodbye the first time we had to part; when his parents sent him to America. I remembered how I found him to be better looking when he’d just gotten back to Kwangju. But when my parents told me we were moving to Taiwan, I thought nothing about Skye and I decided to make a new life for myself. That was until I saw him on the television in one of S-Cube’s MVs. I knew that I still hadn’t forgotten him, and that he was meant to be part of my life.

I cannot believe that this Hae Rin is so important to him and that he would choose her over me. I’ve seen her pictures and her MVs. She was the usual sweet and delicate beauty. The kind with the big eyes, and reminded you of Japanese anime characters. I found her cuteness annoying. She reminded me of the girls who were the bane of my existence in high school; the girls who made fun of me because I was tall and plain. If it wasn’t for my father’s money, I would not have the face I did today. I denied it whenever someone asked, but it was true that I’ve had some work done. Only my parents knew the truth.

I tapped my manicured nails on the wine glass I held, contemplating my next move. Maybe it was time I went into show business. I had the physique all along, but lacked the face. Now that I had both, I should just go for it. It would help me get closer to Skye. I made a mental note to call the agent who’d approached me sometime ago. He’d probably be able to get me into one of the entertainment companies in Seoul.

“Jang Kyu Jin… you’ll come to your senses soon enough,” I said softly as I stared at the red liquid in the wine glass. “You don’t know it yet, but you’ll be mine… you’ve always been mine.”

[Sierra’s POV]

Another grueling day had ended, and Yun Ho and I headed back home; my temporary home with TVXQ.

“Tired?” he asked me.

“Ani,” I smiled and started rummaging through my bag.

“What are you looking for?”

“My phone,” I said.

“Did you lose it?” he asked me.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “I just suddenly wondered where my phone was.”

“Is it at the HQ?” he asked me.

“Maybe,” I said. “I can’t find it in my bag.”

The phone was a present from Jae Joong. He’ll probably get upset if he found out that I’d lost it.

“Let’s turn back,” Yun Ho said and he made a U-turn at the next traffic light.

“Komawo,” I said.

“No problem. I know Jae Joong gave you that phone,” he said.

“How did you know?”

“I helped pick it,” he said.

“Oh…” was all I could say.

“Aren’t you going to tell me that I have good taste?” he joked.

“You have good taste,” I smiled.

“Thank you. That was a very sincere comment. It touched my heart,” he said with a straight face, and I had to giggle.

“Someday… some girl is going to be very lucky,” I said.

“Lucky? Why?” he asked.

“Because she will marry you, and you are the perfect man,” I said.

“If I were the perfect man, you’d still be with me,” he smiled.

“Well… Jae Joong’s pretty perfect himself, so now that I have him, you have to be someone else’s. I can’t be too greedy,” I said.

“True…”

“And you are perfect…” I said. “There are also flaws in perfection.”

“You’re doing it again,” he laughed.

“What am I doing?”

“Twisting your words to make them sound logical… you do it so much that eventually you even lose your train of thought and it ends up as a huge incoherent concept.”

“I do not,” I said.

“Yes, you do,” he laughed. “I used to tell you to stop. Remember?”

“You just didn’t want to listen to me. There’s nothing wrong with my theories,” I said.

“Yea… and you never back down.”

“Jung Yun Ho…” I said.

“Ne?” he replied.

“Keumanhae,” I said.

“Araso,” he laughed. “You always win.”

“Yes, I do,” I laughed.

We reached the HQ building and thankfully, they were not closed yet.

“We left something behind,” Yun Ho told the guard as we walked in, and he just nodded as we rushed in towards the meeting room we were in, earlier.

I flipped on the switches and started looking around for my phone.

“Found it,” Yun Ho said as he held up the phone for me to see.

Just then, the door closed with a loud bang, and we could hear someone punch in the codes from outside to lock it.

“Not again?” I groaned.

“Yah!” Yun Ho yelled and banged on the door. Then we heard the sound of footsteps as the person walked away.

“I can’t count how many times this has happened,” I said.

“Well… at least we’re not in darkness,” Yun Ho said, and he’d spoken too soon.

Just as he finished his sentence, the lights went out.

“Yun Ho…” I called out.

“Yea… I’m right here,” he said and he flipped open my phone so that we had some light.

I walked slowly towards him and reached out for his arm.

“Sit down,” he said, and he pulled out a chair for me.

As I sat down, he started dialing the number of the building’s front desk on my phone.

“Yoboseyo… ye… choneun Yun Ho-imnida. Ye… Dong Bang Shin Ki leader, Yun Ho-imnida.”

As he explained our predicament to the front desk, I rolled the seat towards the table and lay my head on it. I took a deep breath and sighed. Why was I always the victim of such predicaments?

“Ye… please send someone to open the door quickly. Ye… komapseumnida,” he said, and he hung up.

“Anyone coming?” I asked him.

“They said they’ll need to call the supervisor in. Apparently he’s on leave today,” he explained.

“Then who the hell locked us in?” I said.

“I don’t know… but you seem to attract such people,” he laughed.

“I really hope this is an accident,” I said. “I can’t take another anti-fan prank.”

“I don’t think you have that many anti-fans,” Yun Ho said as he pulled out a chair to sit beside me. “Your phone,” he said as he handed it to me.

“Komawo,” I said. “If someone was here, I may have to change my number again. He probably saw my phone.”

“Yeah… We can run to the shop and get that done tomorrow,” he said.

“It’s fine,” I replied. “I’ll go with Jae Joong before you guys leave for Japan.”

“Worried?” he asked me, after a brief moment of silence.

“Mwoga?”

“Are you worried about him being away?” he asked.

“Ani,” I said. “I just worry if he works too hard. You guys work extra hard when you’re in Japan.”

“It’s not home ground. We need to,” he said.

“I understand.”

“You can come visit,” he suggested.

“I have a drama to film, remember?” I said.

“What a coincidence…” he said.

“Yep… life’s full of coincidences.”

“Well… if you had no drama to film, you have no money either. You’ll just need to bear with your schedule.”

“I know,” I said. “Why do you always speak to me like you did when I first debut?”

“Why?” he said. “Because it still feels like it to me. I still find that you haven’t been able to adapt 100%.”

“I’m fine,” I said. “I’m practically a veteran now.”

“3 years does not make you a veteran,” he smiled.

I was starting to be able to see his face now, in the darkness, since my eyes were adapting.

“Arayo… sonbae,” I joked.

“Choayo… nuna,” he teased me back.

“You’ve never called me that,” I giggled.

“I think I should. With you dating Jae Joong and you being older,” he said.

“You don’t even call Jae Joong ‘hyung’.”

“Right…” he said.

“You even had me call you ‘oppa’ in the past.”

“Ah… yes… those were the days,” he laughed.

“3 years…” I sighed. “It’s been 3 years already.”

“Missing home?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “I’m just wondering what I have been doing in this past 3 years. It seemed as if I’d just gotten off the plane yesterday.”

“Yea… and dated me and Jae Joong in 1 day,” he laughed.

“Hehehe… chaemin-anikka?” I said sarcastically and punched him lightly on the arm.

“Waegeurae?” he whined, but was still laughing. “You’ve done a lot in these 3 years. Why do you sound so disappointed?”

“Something’s missing,” I said.

“Your grand wedding?” he said.

“Maybe…” I said wistfully.

“You’re not serious, are you?” he asked me.

“Of course not. As if Jae Joong and I can afford to do that now.”

“Right…” he said, and there was that silence again.

The room was starting to smell musky from the carpet and lack of ventilation, and I suddenly felt feverish. I rubbed my eyes and stretched, trying to shake off the feeling.

“Waegeurae?” Yun Ho asked me, sensing I was uncomfortable.

“I’m feeling feverish, and a bit dizzy,” I said.

“I think it’s because the room is stuffy,” he said. “Come here,” he added and he rolled over and pulled me gently towards him so that my head rested on his shoulder.

“Yun Ho,” I protested and tried to pull away.

“I know how you are when you don’t feel well,” he said. “Don’t tell me you don’t need this.”

“It’s more of I can’t,” I sighed, but stayed there anyway.

“We’re just friends. This is nothing for friends,” he said.

“Single friends, maybe,” I said, and I just closed my eyes and pretended it wasn’t Yun Ho I was leaning on.

I think the both of us fell asleep in the darkness and in each other’s comfort, because when the door was finally opened, we didn’t pull apart in time. Just as I managed to open my eyes and try to pull away, we were greeted with a flash of light.

Chapter 125: Him & Me I

[Sierra’s POV]

The MV finally ended, and the crew applauded. Yun Ho and I stood up and clapped our hands with them, bowing, and thanking them for their efforts.

“Komapseumnida,” we said at interval as we bowed.

“Everyone is invited for some refreshments in the next room,” the producer said as the applause died down. “Sugohaseyo,” he added before he walked out.

“Kaja,” Yun Ho said as he stood beside me and waited for me to get up from my seat.

I got up from my seat and he held me lightly by my elbow as we walked out of the room.

A small conference room had been set up with food and drinks. We walked towards the buffet and Yun Ho picked up a plate and handed it to me. I picked up some mini kimbap and some cold glass noodles mixed with vegetables.

“That’s all you’re eating,” Yun Ho asked me as we huddled in a corner with our plates.

“You know me,” I smiled. “Picky…”

“And you’re gonna go home and have instant ramyun?” he said.

“Might not,” I said as I slurped the noodles. “I should go on a diet. Ever since Yoo Chun’s birthday, it’s like I’ve caught the glutton bug.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve been eating non-stop since then. I keep snacking. I’m gonna get really huge if I keep this up.”

“Not if you spend enough hours in the gym,” he said as he chewed his food.

“You know I’m not into the gym, or yoga… or any exercise…”

“You dance…” he pointed out.

“Dancing is different. It’s not exercise to me cos I like doing it.”

“So you should increase your training hours,” he smiled.

“Don’t you dare,” I wagged my finger at him when I saw the glint in his eye. “If my training hours are increased, I’ll know it’s you behind it.”

“Araso…” he laughed. “I was just thinking it was a good idea since you loved dancing so much.”

“I love it… so don’t kill my love for it,” I said.

“Sure…” he smiled and sipped his drink.

[Skye’s POV]

We’d just finished filming another episode of Now Music, and we’re packing up for the day.

“Yo, Skye!” Vanness called out as he walked towards me. “Did Yuk Hee call you?”

“Nope,” I said. “My phone was off.”

“Dinner at her place, tonight,” he said.

Ever since I came back to Taiwan, we’d been having lots of dinners with Yuk Hee. Most of the time I obliged was because Vanness was interested in her. I was trying my best to keep my distance to avoid her further misunderstanding our relationship.

“If you want, I can skip it, then you can spend some quality time with her,” I joked.

“Would you?” he exclaimed happily. “You’d do that for me?” he said. “Aww… bro…” he added, and hugged me.

“You’re crazy…”

“Yea… I’d be crazy, if I believed you,” he laughed. “So are we leaving yet?”

“Sure,” I said.

He didn’t know how much I’d wanted to get out of tonight’s dinner.

“Skye! Vanness!” Yuk Hee smiled when she opened the door.

“Why is it always Skye before Vanness?” Vanness complained as we walked into Yuk Hee’s apartment.

“Erm… doesn’t ‘s’ come before ‘v’ in the alphabets?”

“It does,” I smiled.

“See,” she laughed.

“I should’ve named myself Robert... just to be 1 alphabet before Skye.”

“Don’t be childish,” I said, and he made a face at me.

“Come on, guys…” Yuk Hee said, and we followed her into her dining room.

Yuk Hee lived in a spacious 3 bedroom apartment in one of the wealthier districts of Taipei. Her parents lived in the penthouse of the block next to hers.

“Are your parents home tonight?” I asked her.

“Why?”

“I’ve not visited them in awhile, and I probably should before I head back to Seoul next week.”

It’s been more than a week since I got back to Taipei. I have a week more to go before my assignment with the music program ends and I will leave Taipei for Seoul. I felt quite relieved that my duration here is ending soon. I’ve missed home, I’ve missed Hae Rin and maybe it’s because of our time together, I’m missing nuna and Shoei a lot too. Days without Hae Rin and not being part of S-Cube have been pretty drab. Not that being with Vanness was a drab, but I still didn’t feel as close to him.

Yuk Hee’s attitude has been nothing short of confusing. I’ve given her plenty of signs that our relationship was not what she’d expected of me, and yet, she seems as happy as always to be around me, and Vanness, whom I felt she had been using to get me to meet up with her. Whenever Vanness met up with her, I was obliged to follow since she was my friend.

“Mokja,” Yuk Hee said as she sat down, after placing the last dish on the table; a bowl of steamed egg.

“As usual, you’ve outdone yourself,” Vanness praised Yuk Hee, and she smiled.

“This is nothing. So many girls are much more capable than I am when it came to cooking,” she said modestly.

In actual fact, for someone with a life as fortunate as hers, it was quite a surprise to find that she was able to do so many domestic tasks. I’ve always pegged her as the rich girl who’s never lifted a finger, but she has so far proved me wrong.

“Whatever it is, I think Skye and I feel lucky enough to be served so well,” Vanness said.

“Easy on the compliments, dude,” I laughed. “You’re gonna make her big headed.”

“Nah… Yuk Hee is a modest girl,” Vanness smiled and he continued to eat.

“So you’re leaving next week?” she asked.

“Yea. That’s why I wanted to meet your parents; at least to say ‘goodbye’.”

“They’re away on business, in Japan. But they might be back during the weekend.”

“Good,” I said. “Just keep me posted.”

After dinner, Vanness and I relaxed on Yuk Hee’s couch; in front of a huge plasma television. Some Jacky Wu game show was on and Vanness was laughing like crazy as he watched it. Jacky Wu was a funny guy. I’ve met him once or twice, but because of the language barrier, we never got far. I missed out a lot of good television programs because of my poor Chinese.

“What are you watching?” Yuk Hee asked as she came to sit down with us after cleaning up in the kitchen.

“Something that I don’t understand,” I said.

“We could always put on a DVD,” she suggested.

“It’s okay. I wouldn’t dream of tearing Vanness away from Jacky Wu,” I said.

“What?” Vanness said and turned to look at the both of us.

“Nothing,” I said. “Pay attention to Jacky,” I laughed.

“No, no, no… I want in on the secret. Spit it out. What were you two talking about behind my back? Don’t think just cause you’re speaking in Korean I can’t guess what you’re saying,” he said.

“We’re just talking,” Yuk Hee giggled. “No one’s bad-mouthing you.”

“I don’t believe you,” Vanness said.

“Sui bien ni ba,” Yuk Hee replied in Mandarin.

“Ya… who taught you that?” Vanness exclaimed.

“I’ve been living here for 3 years. You think I wouldn’t have picked up any Chinese?”

“Not bad… not bad,” he laughed. “I guess I can take you home to meet my mom now,” he said.

“Who’s meeting your mom?” Yuk Hee said and made a face at him.

“You heartbreaker,” he said as he got up from the couch.

“Where are you going?” I asked him.

“Kotjongman… I’m just going to the loo,” he said.

“Michoso…” Yuk Hee laughed the moment he closed the bathroom door.

“He likes you though,” I said.

“He’s just a player,” she said as she swirled the red wine in her wine glass.

“I still think he’s kinda taken by you,” I said.

“Are you trying to match make me with Vanness?” she asked me.

“Maybe,” I smiled.

“I already have someone in mind,” she said nonchalantly, and sipped her wine.

“Nugu?” I asked her.

“Time will tell,” she said cryptically.

A few hours later, we left Yuk Hee’s place and headed back home.

“Wanna go for a drink?” Vanness asked me.

“Where?” I asked.

“I know this quiet bar,” he said.

“Sure,” I said as I stretched in my seat. “I’m not that sleepy yet.”

“Great,” he said, and off we went.

The bar was almost a private one. They played chill out music and the booths were designed in a way that provided some privacy to its occupants. It would be a great place to make-out in since each booth had a small canopy surrounding it. Too bad Hae Rin was back in Seoul. I should bring her here someday.

Vanness and I each ordered a bottle of beer and we just sat there, slouching and sipping from our bottles.

“So what’s up with you?” he asked me.

“What do you mean?” I said.

“You seem a bit down lately,” he said. “And you’re avoiding people.”

“Like who?”

“Yuk Hee?”

“I wouldn’t go to her place if I were avoiding her,” I pointed out.

“No… but you try to. And you’re speaking less to her. You used to be really animated and talkative with her. Did something happen when you guys went back to Seoul?”

“It’s nothing,” I said.

“Come on, brother… You can’t keep me in the dark like this,” he said.

“You’d hate me if I told you,” I said.

“Why would I hate you? Unless you’re telling me that you have a crush on Yuk Hee,” he laughed.

“The opposite actually,” I said, and he stopped laughing and stared at me.

“Mworago?” he said.

“I suspect that Yuk Hee is trying hard to get close to me,” I said.

“Whoa… how sure are you?”

“The paparazzi took some pictures of her hanging on my arm at the airport; my girlfriend wasn’t happy.”

“So?”

“And then after nuna pointed out that Yuk Hee might be trying to get close to me… to turn the friendship we had in the past into a relationship.”

“Now why would she do that?”

“I don’t know, but she’s behaving very weird. She called me up almost every day when we were in Seoul, asking to meet up and all.”

“Are you her only friend in Seoul?”

“I don’t think so. And I did tell her about my girlfriend.”

“So what’s the problem now?”

“I told her on our way to Seoul, and when we got there, she still called me each night, even when I told her I needed to spend time with my girlfriend.”

“Dude… maybe you’re being a little too paranoid,” Vanness laughed.

“I just don’t want to lead anyone on,” I said. “Better safe than sorry,” I added.

“Shall I take her off your hands then?” he joked.

“If only she liked you more than she did me,” I joked back.

“I’ll make her,” he said. “Just wait… I’ll relieve you of this beautiful pain in your butt,” he winked, and we cracked up.

UPDATED: Broken T_T

Bad news... my PC is behaving weirdly, and I can't stay on a website for more than 10 mins at a time cos my Internet Explorer will freeze.

I'm taking the week off and hopefully by this Sunday (7 Oct), my PC will be fixed and I can put up a chapter :P Choesonghamnida...

I can only access the net briefly at work... T_T So... I'll at least keep this post updated on when I'm posting again. Check back, aight?

******

Wooo hooo!!!! I got the new job!!! I'm now a store manager for Yishion (HK clothes store) ^_^ I start end of this month.

I'll try to keep up with posting, and as promised... I will post a chapter tomorrow... wait for it.

Might be busy with my new job... but I'll see how it goes and reschedule my posting schedule to suit my new work schedule ^_^