Title: Somebody Posted: 20 September 2015 AN: This one-shot is a sequel to Senses and Sentiments. Reading while listening to this song is highly recommended.   It was already late in the evening when Sunny came out of the bathroom with a bathrobe on. One of her hands was drying her wet hair with a towel, the other rummaged through her bag for something to sleep in. Her hand pulled out an oversized tee and short pajama pants as she eyed the camera on the corner, making sure that it was not recording the whole time she was in her bathrobe. Sure that it was off, she pulled the sash of her robe and wore her sleeping attire in silence. When it was done, she lied on the bed, waiting for sleep to take over her body.   Another tiring day, another night of sleeping in a foreign country and waking up in a different time zone, but she didn't mind – she was used to it. But if there was one thing that she was not used to, it was keeping her thoughts from wandering around so she could rest properly. Her body needed plenty of it for the upcoming concert the next day. Apparently her busy schedules had had taken its toll on her knees and ankles that she had to wear braces. It was an old injury that acted up every time she got too tired and had very little time to rest her legs. But that was not her main concern at that moment.   The injury made her think about a lot of things – things that had always occupied a corner of her mind and had not been resolved yet.   Things like her future.   About her future as an SNSD member, for example. Albeit it had been years of hard work and hardships as a group, her injury reminded her that there would come a time when she would have to retire as a performer who dance and sing in front of thousands of people. Nevertheless, she knew she wouldn’t stop doing her job as an entertainer. It’s a family trait, she figured, since her family and relatives had had some kind of experience in the business, and so was she. It was what she wanted to do, and still was, and she couldn’t imagine doing something else as a job.   Her injury also reminded her of a special friend who used to be her partner in crime for lazing around during training because of their frail bodies. But she was not around anymore, and sometimes she still didn’t realize that. There were times when she did a head-count for the members in her mind, and her head looked around for the missing person. But when the managers motioned her to move, she was reminded that she was not in the group anymore.   That eight was their complete number.   When it happened, she would just plug in her earphones, letting the songs in her playlist distract her mind because she knew what happened was for the better. It was hard to accept that both parties were better off in separate ways at first. However, her love for performing with her members and the fans overcame her pain, and she had learned to cope. The endless support was what made her stronger.   Being grateful towards what seemed to be never-ending love and support from the fans was one thing, and the other was wondering when it would end. At this point she didn’t know which member would get married first – heck, it could even be her – but when that moment comes, she knew it would eventually mark the end of a generation, and a start of a new one. Then the one million dollar question would be: what would become of her?   What would become of Lee Soonkyu?   The group had had a similar conversation about what they would do should the group disbanded. It was no secret that each member had more than one talent and there were plenty of career choices they could choose in the business. For instance, Hyoyeon could start teaching dance or start her own fashion line; Yoona could continue being an actress and CF Queen; and Sooyoung – being the multitalented one of the group – could be a model/actress/MC since she’s a natural in front of the camera no matter what she does. It was a few things among plenty of things they could do, and funny enough, when it came her time to say what she wanted to do, she still couldn’t decide.   There were plenty of things she could do: continue being a radio DJ, start pursuing a career in musical productions – although somehow she felt the maknae was more fit to this career –or maybe even start learning in college. It worried her how much time left she had to decide what she wanted to do next. Should she continue the family business then? She had no idea, but maybe her parents would want her to do that.   How about starting a family? She was bound to find a good spouse and settle down – her parents had been nagging her to do so. It didn’t help when two of her older sisters had settled down and had their little families to take care of, and being the youngest and yet no ‘candidate’ to be her future spouse yet, it worried her family. What they didn’t know was it worried her as well.   What did she really want?   And more importantly, who did she really want to be with?   A deep sigh.   It always came out whenever the question plagued her mind. Recently it almost always took her to the night a few months prior when she promised someone she would be celibate until both of them decided what would become of their relationship next. She kept true to that promise, and she trusted the other person that the promise remained. That was, until today.   It was not in her nature to be jealous, but she silently did, and she berated herself for it. There was no real proof that she should be, but the little things piled up to a huge pile of annoyance and were then identified as the green jealous monster in her head. She hated it, and had no one to blame but herself for having such absurd thought in her mind.   Before anger took over her mind, her hand reached her phone for a distraction. With a few taps on the screen, a radio app was launched, and an old American song faintly played in the once silent room. She didn’t know what song it was, but she didn’t need a familiar song, or a song that she would understand the meaning of the lyrics. She needed a good music, and apparently the station she randomly chose was playing old singles for their late night listeners. Putting the phone on the bedside table, she resumed her position on the bed, looking at the ceiling above her.   Kim Taeyeon.   When she first said that name the day they shook hands in the training room, she thought it fit the person well. The pale, thin girl in front of her said nothing else, only flashing a subtle smile to her. She reminded her of a frail little chick in story books she read when she was a child, and that remained as a first impression she would never forget.   The ‘quiet girl’ impression was soon changed the moment she conversed with said girl. Being the oldest one in the bunch, Taeyeon was definitely more mature than the others. Her mind, however, was both older and younger than girls her age. One second she would be wise, giving just enough words to settle the situation, while at times she would act as a jokester who laughed like an old lady. It was fascinating, and it didn’t take long until she was drawn to be closer and get to know her better. The feeling was reciprocated, and they were ‘best friends’ in no time, taking the name Danshin Duo due to their mutual hatred towards tall(er) people.   Her fascination towards the March-born girl was what opened herself up, admitting her feelings towards the guys she had dated and the broken-heart that followed. They shared stories about past loves and first kisses with the guys they thought would spend the rest of their lives with, and ended up being a disappointment.   Their midnight conversations would end in laughter, and often times in tears. The walls of their rooms were the only witness to their comforting hugs for each other, and the promise to ‘always be there for each other’. They shared the bed and hugged each other to sleep, with the knowledge that they could lean on each other for support.   It didn’t happen every single night, there were times that they would just sit in silence on respective beds doing stuff they liked until one of them announced that they would sleep first. Most people would wonder why their roommate acted that way, but not them. They respected each other’s boundaries, giving enough space that they needed. It was a comfortable silence they needed for themselves.   In front of the other members, she tend to be quiet, only said things that would end the bickering. Not in front of Taeyeon. She could spend the night talking about things she saw, listen, or read, and Taeyeon would listen and give a piece of her mind in return. The discussion could last for days if they wanted to, even. But it was after talking about the most random topics that made her realize that the girl sleeping beside her was really comfortable to be with.   At times she would test how much Taeyeon would respond to her ideas. She wondered if Taeyeon would accept her no matter what and support her ridiculous way of thinking. That way, she would know whether the older girl was being honest with her opinion or not. But even with the most absurd ideas or views, the older girl still lent her ears to listen, slowly keeping up with her.   When she was finished explaining, and Taeyeon opened up to speak what she had in mind, she could only hear the honesty with each word choice. She openly disagreed, but instead of undermining her, she gave reasons why she didn’t have the same opinion. Their views had clashed in the past, but Taeyeon taught her to be more understanding and accepting towards things that were different.   Things like Taeyeon dating a girl, for example.   She was the first one to know, by accident. At that time, she thought the two girls kissing on the alley she passed after drinking with her friends looked a lot like her leader. Her slightly blurred vision was shrugged off, thinking that she had one glasses too many that night to think that Taeyeon would do such thing. In the morning of a terrible hangover, however, she was woken up by her roommate who walked in on their shared room wearing the same outfit she saw that night. She didn’t question, and instead waited for the explanation to come from her short ‘buddy’ herself.   Although, in the back of her mind, she wished that she saw it wrong.   When Taeyeon finally told her a few days after, she just sat there, listening intently. Apparently she was the second member that Taeyeon told to about the relationship, after Tiffany. In her mind she questioned why, and as if Taeyeon could read her, the latter explained that with the American’s cultural background she thought Tiffany would be more accepting. She didn’t question further, and let her roommate told her about this…girl.   She was no artist or idol, just a regular girl Taeyeon met one night when she was out with her friends. Throughout the explanation, Sunny questioned why Taeyeon would go out with this girl. What made her different? What made her interesting? What made Taeyeon kissed her against the wall of a dark alley where anybody could spot them?   Why…couldn’t that girl be her instead?   The question pierced through her like a knife, her conscience battling against her brain. She was not gay – never would she think about dating a girl bef0re. It’s not like she hadn’t tried – she had had some dates in her all-girls high school – and she felt nothing. Then why would she even be remotely jealous?   Was she really? Jealous of what Taeyeon and that girl had?   Why would she be? She should be happy for her friend.   Even that meant she had to put on an act that she supported the relationship, setting aside her jealousy.   The relationship ended in a few months – seemed like years for her – but she still denied her feelings. Countless numbers of guys she met, kissed, and dated, and she couldn’t shake her feelings. Every time she knew Taeyeon dated someone new – either a boy or a girl – she would frequent the clubs more, numbing the feelings with shot glasses.   The frustration was channeled to bottles of alcohol, fooling around with guys, until eventually, to Taeyeon herself.   They got into unnecessary arguments, mainly triggered by Sunny’s newfound habit of clubbing and going home wasted.   As much as she hated herself for having such absurd feelings towards Taeyeon, she