Erika’s POV

The drama has now officially ended its recordings. All that is left for the actors is participate in variety shows to bring attention to the drama. But for now, all the staff and actors that helped produce the drama where throwing a goodbye party.

We were in a separated room set up just for the actors and filming crew. We are all sitting at a long table full of food and beverages before us. I was sitting between Seunggi oppa and Jaejoong oppa almost half way of the table facing the entrance. Like most gatherings there was a lot of liquor at the table, from soju to makgeolli to beer to wine and even more drinks I could not recognize since I was not the biggest drinker. The environment was really lively; the room was full of laughter and loud conversations across the table. We all ate as if there was no tomorrow, and to be honest I did not care much about my diet tonight. I was ready to enjoy this night to the fullest.

I followed Jaejoong oppa’s eating style: I got a piece of meat from the grill in front of us and put it on top of a lettuce leaf and perilla leaf and then added some mustard sauce and another brownish sauce and a bit of rice, I balled it up and put it all in my mouth. I thought I was not going to be able to eat the entire lettuce wrap because of how big it was, but fortunately I got the hang of it after several tries. I then took a spoonful of kimchi soup and rice and savored it. I am the type of person who eats really fast and ends up full the fastest so when I felt like I could not eat anymore I was the only one not eating. Everyone else kept eating as if they had two stomachs! How can they eat so much? I thought to myself. I feel like I am about to burst!!

I sat back a bit to feel more comfortable and Seunggi oppa noticed I was no longer eating.

“You're full already?” He asked bewildered.

“Yes, I don’t think I can eat anymore,” I said with a pout.

“Ok! Then here,” Seunggi oppa handed me a shot glass of soju which I received with both hands. “One shot!” he clanked his own shot glass onto mine and I turned around to face completely back before I took the shot.

I felt the liquid rushed down with a burning sensation as it passed down my throat. This was the first time I tasted soju and it was so strong I almost gagged, but I held it in. The only types of liquor I have ever tried were wine, whiskey which was diluted with soda, beer and pecan rompope (a type of Mexican liquor) and that was it, and none were as strong as this shot of soju.

Since I did not make a big reaction Seunggi served my glass again and once again I had to take that shot as well to be polite. This time I was not able to hold back a small cough. Both Jaejoong oppa and Seunggi oppa saw the way the liquor made me act and they let out loud laughs since they saw I was rather inexperienced.

“Ya! Have you never drunk soju before?” Jaejoong oppa asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No,” I shook my head.

“Woah! It’s your first time drinking soju?” Seunggi asked astonished. “I would have thought you already had some experience with soju since you love everything about Korea and you are now of legal age to drink! Aren’t you 22 years old now?”

“I am 21 years old internationally, but I was still underage for drinking back in America before I came over to Korea,” I explained.

“Oh…,” Seunggi seemed to understand. “So you have never drunk any liquor before?”

I blush a bit, “I have had wine and beer, but that was only once a year when I would go over to Mexico with my family and was legal since I was 16 years old! Heheh!”

“OOH! Bad girl,” Seunggi oppa and Jaejoong oppa both said simultaneously. “Oh! Jijibong (Jinx)!” the exclaimed again.

The whole room was roaring with action. Some were just drinking, others talking, others just eating. Jaejoong started to peer pressure me into the drinking more soju shots with him, it soon was changed into drinking beer with soju shots then to bowls of makgeolli and soon enough I could feel my head spinning. Jaejoong was also a bit tipsy but he was a much better drinker than me by far.

After several hours the room started to lose the huge commotion as people started to leave to their homes or hang out with other worker at the 2^nd round of the party. The last of us consisted of Seunggi oppa, Jaejoong oppa, Yoohwan oppa, Nam Jihyun unnie and me.

Seunggi got up from his seat, “Guys! Let’s go!” he announced. “This party is not over yet!”

“2^nd round is on me!” Jaejoong oppa announced.

Yoohwan oppa looked up and stood up and helped Jihyun unnie up as well. Seunggi oppa was the one trying to hold me up but I felt like I was standing crooked…. Hehehe! Crooked…. Oh! Why must G-Dragon’s song come to mind now? I subconsciously started to mumble the song.

“Hahaha! I think someone can't wait to go to the noraebang (karaoke)!!” Jihyun unnie teased as we walked out the restaurant.

--

We were all in a dark small room with sofas on three sided of the room, a big TV at the front of the room and a smaller one on the back wall, a stand-up mic was at the front of the room on a slightly more elevated floor and two other wireless mics on the small table in front of the sofas. We had spent half an hour in the room already and Seunggi oppa was almost lying on one of the sofas, exhausted. Jaejoong oppa was just watching whoever was singing at the front of the room, not really participating. Nam Jihyun unnie was literally passed out in the other sofa and Yoohwan was at the mic. I was sitting with Jaejoong oppa and I did not participate much, but the “party” started to get boring.

I stood up abruptly startling Jaejoong oppa and making Seunggi oppa sit up straighter. I walked over to Yoohwan oppa with one of the other microphones at hand. “Oppa!” I screamed over the loud music. “Let’s liven things up!”

“Shall we?” Yoohwan oppa smirked and turned off the slow ballad he had been singing to. “Then you choose. Which one do we play?”

I thought for a second, I didn’t want to be too much of a fangirl and start playing random KPop songs, but those were the only songs I knew. I punched in the name of the song into the huge control full with small buttons and easily found my song and started to play it.

“Yo, yo, YO!! Everybody! Let’s make this meeting to a PARTY!” I shouted on the microphone not caring about my manners. I start clapping along with the song, “Oh~ oh oh OH~!!”

Yoohwan started to sing the first part of the song and I came in when the chorus hit. “BANG, BANG, BANG!!!! Bang-ya, bang-ya, bang-ya!!”

Big Bang’s Bang Bang Bang boomed thought the speakers and our voiced became louder. We were all standing up and jumping around the room like crazy people. Even Jihyun unnie woke up and lulled her head to the song.

Now that everyone was up and alert, I took the initiative to sing the next song, but this time I chose one by JYJ to make Jaejoong oppa sing. I knew that the last thing he would like to do at a karaoke bar was sing his own songs, but that was the only thing that came to mind when I wanted him to get up and sing. I started to play Back Seat and motioned for Jaejoong oppa to stand up. He reluctantly took my hand and walked to the front as Seunggi oppa and Jihyun unnie both started to cheer for him.

Jaejoong sang his own part, Yoohwan took charge of his brother’s part and I sang Xia Junsu’s part. At first Jaejoong oppa was just singing but when he saw the way I was dancing along to the song he smiled and also did some provocative body rolls.

Oh my gosh! My head was screaming as I partially covered my face before I started to blush. I must be in heaven! I walked over to the small table and took a glass of water. I drank the content in one shot since I was really thirsty and how much I regret not having sniffed the liquid. It was not water at all, it was pure tequila which I have no idea how it got on the table in that glass in the first place. I cough a bit since it burned my throat. I went back to the TV screen. I was so out of my mind that I started to sing Junsu’s part and did several body rolls trying to copy Junsu’s original dance from the music video.

Somehow, an hour and a half later we were out of the room and into our cars being driven by a daeri (I don’t know what they are called in English, but they are the drivers that get called to take someone somewhere if they are unable to) that Seunggi had called up. Jaejoong was in his car and he was going to take Yoohwan oppa and Jihyun unnie to their houses while Seunggi oppa took me to mine.

A couple of minutes after sitting in the back of the quiet car I started to drift asleep. It felt like less than a minute had passed before I felt someone shake my arm slightly.

“Erika, wake up,” I heard someone whisper. “Let’s get you home.”

“Juss tweenny mo minusss (just twenty more minutes)…,” I slur half asleep.

“Come on, get up,” this time I could recognize the voice to belong to Seunggi oppa and he was louder.

“Ugh…” I complain as I stumble out of the car. Seunggi oppa takes one of my arms and puts it around his neck as my head lulls onto his shoulder without strength. He half carries, half drags me up to my apartment and once he manages to get me in my house I just slump on the sofa.

“Go to bed, it’s late,” Seunggi oppa states as he walks back to the front door. “I hope you had a fun day. Good night!” Before he leaves completely he yells something else with a chuckle, “Good luck with that hangover tomorrow morning!”

The apartment becomes completely quiet after Seunggi oppa closes the door. I look up through my disheveled hair and try to stand up, but I end up falling to the floor. Mmm… this carpet is soooo soft… I think as I the living room mat and dose of again.

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12 Days Later

The day after the party I woke up with a huge headache, something I can only guess was a hangover since I had never experienced something like it. And to make matters worse I had to listen to my manager’s lecture of how undisciplined I was becoming. How first he finds Mino and I sleeping in the same bed—even though we all know nothing happened—and now I come back from partying to god knows what hour and just pass out on the living room mat. Two days after that, I went to film for Hello Counselor with Yoohwan oppa and Jaejoong oppa. Jaejoong oppa was now allowed to be on TV broadcasts SM did not have anything to hold them back as it did in years past—even though it was illegal…. Most of the broadcast was pretty much centered on Jaejoong oppa since it was his very first official appearance on a talk show since his discharge from the military earlier this year. Yoohwan and I talked as much as we could: Yoohwan was a bit nervous so he only talked when needed to, and I was afraid of saying something that could cause trouble.

Three days after our filming at Hello counselor, all three of us were joined along with Jihyun unnie and Jung Jinyoung sunbaenim to film for Happy Together. I was supper excited that day because I finally got to meet Yoo Jaesuk, the Nation’s MC! Park Myeongsoo was very loud as usual and the women MC’s were being mesmerized by Jaejoong oppa’s beauty, which I could not blame them for at all. Again, Jaejoong oppa was asked many questions and I can completely understand. Jung Jinyoung sunbaenim also participated in the conversation quite a bit. Jihyun unnie has only recently gained popularity so she was also very talkative. Yoohwan was trying his best to have his own camera time as well. As for me, I was just glad I was in a room full of people whom I never would have thought I would meet. I did get a chance to show my abilities, such as speaking in English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese—everyone in the room were very surprised that I knew Chinese. The filming went by fast and smoothly and finished in a good note.

And finally, after great anticipation from my part, today Jaejoong oppa, Yoohwan oppa and I were going to go film for Running Man! The show was like never ending, and it was still equally entertaining after all the years of everyone’s hard work.

The Running Man crew was all on set and in front of the rolling cameras. It was the introduction of the show. It is the middle of December on a clouded evening and it is freezing cold at the moment. Everyone is in huge coats trying to fight of the biting burst of wind. Yoo Jaesuk is standing in between the other Running Men as he opens up the show. To his right is Ji Sukjin, Song Jihyo, and Lee Kwangsoo in that order, leaving Kwangsoo at the far right end. To Jaesuk’s left, Kim Jongkook, Gary, and Haha are standing, leaving Haha to the far left.  As they begin to chat among each other, Jaejoong oppa, Yoohwan oppa and I huddle together like penguins.

We are currently right outside a coffee shop. I can see the steaming hot cups of coffee in the hold of those inside. If we go in there I want an icy Caramel Macchiato! I think to myself.

I am staring so intently that I almost get left behind when we were called out for if it had not been for Yoohwan oppa pushing me out after Jaejoong oppa, as he followed from behind. We greeted everyone as if we had known each other for years. I bowed and extended my hand to greet everyone.

“Stand here,” Jaesuk-sshi spoke softly as he motioned for us to stand to his left. I am now standing in between Jaejoong oppa and Yoohwan oppa to my right and left respectively.

“I will now announce the teams,” the PD said to catch everyone’s attention. “There will be two teams, the Detective Team and the Criminal Team.” Everyone nodded and waited to hear the team members, ‘Yoo Jaesuk, Park Yoohwan, Gary, Song Jihyo and Kim Jaejoong are the Detective Team. The Criminal Team is Kim Jongkook, Ivy, Haha, Ji Sukjin and Lee Kwangsoo. You may now go ahead and head inside the coffee shop.”

We moved into the second floor of the coffee shop as instructed to. It is really warm in there and I took off my coat. When we walked in the room I saw that the coffee tables were put together to make a long table. There were 10 chairs aligned the wall behind the tables and facing the cameras. We all sat with our teams, which left me between Jongkook and Kwangsoo, not that I was complaining.

“Would you like something to drink?” A waitress came to us.

The Running Man members all ordered their own preference of coffee—all hot since it was winter. Jaejoong and Yoohwan also ordered their favorite coffees.

“Can I get a cold Caramel Macchiato?” I spoke up after everyone made their orders.  Everyone went quiet for a bit and I could sense all of them staring at me.

“Iced coffee in the winter? Are you crazy?” Haha was the only one to ask.

Jaejoong oppa muffled his laugh behind his hand. He shook his hand and said, “Of course you would.” He knew how much I hate being hot, and hot coffee makes me hot. I do drink hot coffee, but only if I know I will be somewhere cold while I am drinking it.

Soon everyone went on chatting about random things.

“So,” Kwangsoo was the first to speak up. “Do you know Running Man?”

I nodded in response.

“Wh-Who is your favorite member?” Kwangsoo asked curiously.

“Yah, why are you even asking?” Haha teased Kwangsoo. “It’s not like she will choose you! Hahahaha!!”

“Anyo, actually, my favorite Running Man IS Kwangsoo-sshi,” I stated loud enough for Haha to hear.

“Eh?” I heard several people say as they turned to look at me.

“This girl is a bit strange,” I heard Jaesuk-sshi say.

I lightly laughed at their reaction.

I saw Kwangsoo’s mouth widened as he slowly brought his hand up to cover it in shock. He was just pointing at himself as if unbelieving. “Ahahaha!!” After a while he laughed and clapped, “Ahaha! You heard that?”

Just then our drinks came and I was happy to take my icy cup in my hands. I drank some of my coffee and set it down. Soon the PD told us that we will be playing several games in order to gain points as an individual which will help us in the final race. First, we will be playing something similar to Jeopardy. There are 6 main themes which there are only 5 questions for each for a total of 30 questions and the harder the questions were, the more points they were worth. The topics where: English, Literature, Entertainment, History, and Non-Sense questions.

After an hour of filming we wrapped up at the café. For this round there were three persons who got 10 points: Yoohwan oppa, Jiseok-sshi, and Jihyo sunbaenim. Three others had 12 points: Jaejoong oppa, Gary-sshi, and Haha-sshi. Two were tied to 3^rd place with 16 points: Kim Jongkook and Kwangsoo. I was in 2^nd place with 24 points and Jaesuk-sshi was 1^st place with 28 points.

For the second race, we moved to a mall that was reserved for us for the night. There we were supposed to collect as many hidden stars which were worth points. The easiest ones to find are worth less than the ones harder to find of course. We did not have any other missions during the time limit given to us, but we were allowed to steal stars from other members.

Without even knowing because of all the excitement I had while searching for the stars the time was over. We all stood in front of the camera crew and PD-nim to hear what our next race would be.

PD-nim cleared his throat before he spoke, “I will now call out each person’s rank. In last place with 16 points total is Park Yoohwan; in 7^th place with 20 points is Kang Gary; 6^th place with 21 points is Ji Sukjin; 5^th place with 22 points is Lee Kwangsoo; 4^th place with 24 points is Song Jihyo; tied for 3^rd place with 25 points are Kim Jaejoong and Haha; 2^nd place with 36 points is Kim Jongkook; and tied for 1^st place with 43 points each are Yoo Jaesuk and Ivy.”

“Wahh~ Ivy-sshi beat Jongkook hyung?” Kwangsoo spoke up as he rubbed it in to Jongkook that I had beaten him. “Wahh~!”

I looked over at Kwangsoo just in time to see Jongkook hit him upside the head. I couldn’t stop myself from giggling at the sight.

“From the total points of each team, the Criminal Team will get an advantage over the Detective Team for having more points,” PD-nim continued. “Here are the instructions to the last mission.” He handed the card to Jaesuk-sshi.

“The last race will be a Nametag Elimination Race,” Jaesuk-sshi read off the card. “The individual with the most points out of each team cannot be ousted until the other team members are ousted first. The only person who can oust the top individual of a team is the other top individual of the opposing team, if that does happen then the game is over.”

When Jaesuk-sshi finished reading several guys in all black walked towards us and placed a blindfold over our eyes. I felt myself being escorted to some place in the mall. I could hear Haha and Kwangsoo make a commotion over being taken away. I smiled and walked quietly, I would not want the opposing team to know where I was being taken. After several minutes and an elevator ride I was stopped and my blindfolds were removed. I squinted at the bright lights of the hallway. I looked around myself and saw that I was at a dead end of a hall.

My VJ was standing in front of me as he recorded every second of my actions. The body guard that brought me to this place handed me a shirt that looked exactly like the one that I am wearing right now only I could see that the nametag was different.

“Change into this shirt, ma’am. Once you are done wait until instructed to begin searching.” The body guard informed me and left.

I looked around and fortunately I saw a door to the left of the hall. I peeked inside and was met with an unoccupied room. I walked in and changed my shirt quickly. When I was done I walked out the room and looked around to make sure nobody was around.

“You can start searching now,” the VJ told me.

I nodded and walked close to one of the walls along the hall. I reached the opening to the rest of the mall and I looked to both sides. I bent over to be partially covered by the things around me as I rushed to the other side of one of the stores on the floor. I can feel my heart beat increasing as the time passes. I have never felt this nervous before, well apart from the YG audition, but it was different now. I was not alone in this race, I am the life of my team, and if I am ousted so are they. I peek from behind a counter and I spot the same purple shirt as mine with the diamond shaped nametag of one of my teammates. I look around to make sure nobody of the opposing team is around. I basically crawl to my teammate.

Just when I am about to reach who I can now distinguish as Haha I see Yoohwan oppa running towards him at full speed. Haha is looking the opposite way and is oblivious to the danger. I get ready to run in case I am spotted. But then an idea comes to mind. I crouch behind a couch in the furniture store I am in and wait for Yoohwan to get nearer.

Just then Haha slightly turns around and sees Yoohwan ready to rip his nametag off. As Haha tries to defend himself from Yoohwan I rush out at the sight of Yoohwan’s back to me and target his nametag.

“Park Yoohwan OUT! Park Yoohwan OUT!” the intercom of the mall announced after I ripped Yoohwan oppa’s nametag.

“I'm sorry, oppa!” I said apologetically as I run off with Haha right behind me.

“Ivy, hold up!” Haha yelled as he caught up to me. “Where are you going?”

“To find the rest of the team.”

“I know where Jongkook hyung is.”

“Where?” I looked at Haha.

“Follow me,” Haha led the way.

Even though I was with Haha I kept a cautious eye out in case someone from the other team surprise attacks us. I need to get to Jongkook in order to join forces and eliminate the rest of the opposing team.

“Lee Kwangsoo OUT! Lee Kwangsoo OUT!”

“What? We lost Kwangsoo already?” I said bewildered.

“Ji Sukjin OUT! Ji Sukjin OUT!”

“Kim Jaejoong OUT! Kim Jaejoong OUT!”

“Jongkook-sshi must have ousted Jaejoong oppa. We need to hurry,” Haha and I sped to find Jongkook.

We were about to turn a corner when we bumped into Jihyo sunbaenim and Gary.

Haha stood in front of me with his arms extended, “You won't oust her!” He yelled in his raspy voice.

“They can't oust me,” I quietly informed him.

“Oh!” Haha put down his arms. “Take her!” He then pushed me toward Jihyo sunbaenim and Gary as he ran away.

“Haha!!” I yelled in surprise to his betrayal. I looked at Jihyo sunbaenim and bowed. “I'll be going then…” I took off to a different direction as Haha. I could hear Jihyo sunbaenim yell out for Haha as she and Gary rushed to get Haha.

I sharply turned a corner and almost bumped into Jongkook.

“Woah~ careful,” He said as he took hold of my shoulders to stop me.

“Omo kkamjjakiya!! (Oh my, scared me!)” I placed a hand over my chest. I thought my heart would burst out any second.

“Come on, let’s go,” Jongkook took my wrist and led me out of the hall and into another store.

Just then the intercom announced, “Gary OUT! Gary OUT!”

“Oh no, Haha was being chased by Gary-sshi and Jihyo sunbaenim,” I said worriedly. “If Jihyo sunbaenim was still with Gary-sshi then Haha-sshi is at risk of getting ousted.”

“I know,” Jongkook stated. “But we have to move on.”

“Haha OUT! Haha OUT!”

“Oh no! What do we do?”

“Don’t panic, we are even now. Follow me.”

I kept my eyes on the lookout making sure Jaesuk-sshi and Jihyo sunbaenim don’t ambush us. Right then I see something move to the right through my peripheral vision.

“I think they—” I am cut off when Jongkook stops abruptly and I hit his back. I lean to the side to see what made him stop and I can see Jihyo sunbaenim standing in front of us. It was a split second, but I feel someone at my back and turn around to see Jaesuk-sshi trying to rip my nametag off. I stand back-to-back with Jongkook.

“Be careful,” Jongkook states as he grabs hold of Jihyo sunbaenim.

I take this chance to wipe around Jongkook and try taking off Jihyo sunbaenim’s nametag. It was a fail. Jihyo sunbaenim evade by throwing herself to the floor. Just then I see Jaesuk-sshi go after Jongkook’s nametag. I run to Jaesuk-sshi’s side and try to tear off his nametag, again, a fail.

“Woah~ Ivy-sshi, I didn’t know you were a fighter,” Jaesuk-sshi spoke up.

The remaining Running Men had been speaking all along, but I could not hear anything. I could hear my heart beat in my ears. The adrenaline rush was making me blank everything out, but the fact that I have to take off the opponents nametags.

“Ivy,” I hear Jongkook yell as he put all his force in pulling Jihyo sunbaenim off the ground. I lay on the ground and ripped her nametag from under her.

Just when I took my attention from Jaesuk-sshi he took the opportunity to rip Jongkook’s nametag. Jihyo sunbaenim and Jongkook were taken away to “jail” by the body guards from earlier.

“It’s only you and me, now,” Jaesuk-sshi said.

“I'm a big fan of yours,” I replied with a hand extended to him.

He took my hand and I took this chance to pull him and try to grab his nametag. I failed. He retreated some steps. “Yah, is that how you do handshakes?”

“Yes, we usually give each other pats on the back, too,” I said.

“Let’s make this easy,” Jaesuk-sshi stated. “Just turn around.”

I knew what he was planning but I decided to play dumb. “Ne?” I asked as if I did not understand.

“Turn around, like this,” Jaesuk-sshi turned around.

He fell too easily. I took my chance and grabbed a hold of Jaesuk-sshi’s left shoulder as quickly ripped his nametag with my right hand. It all happened in a slip second.

“Ah! Ugh!” Jaesuk-sshi complained as he realized what he had done. “You are a tricky one.”

“Ne,” I bowed and followed the body guards as they led us to “jail”. I tucked Jaesuk-sshi’s nametag behind my back and walked in as I faced my teammates with a crestfallen face.

“What happened?” They asked several times. I walked to my team and pulled out Jaesuk-sshi’s nametag.

“WAH~~~!!! I got it!” I jumped up and down in excitement. I was joined by my team as we celebrated our win.

“You did it!” Kwangsoo yelled as he hugged me.

Haha and Sukjin-sshi high-fived me and Jongkook gave me a side-hug.

“Today’s victory goes to the Criminal Team!” PD-nim stated.

This day will be in my memories forever! I thought to myself as I smiled brightly. Thank you for making my wishes come true!

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Happy Thnksgiving everyone! And thank you so much to all my subcribers!

I hope you like this chapter! Enjoy!!