epic fail writer is back after a long hiatus ;_:
I MISS WRITING AND MISS YOU GUYS!!!
so so sorry many things happened beyond my control.
but fret not cause im back for more (:
shan't rattle on and on but get started!!! :D
sit back, relax and enjoy~

to all out there, don't forget to comment okay.
even if it means giving me criticisms TT~TT

a happy manufacturer receiving comments manufactures more quality love~ <3

continuation of the previous chapter!
love vending machine,
begins manufacturing now.

//recap//

I recalled our bet and taemin's expression isn't helping.
I was starting to worry what he'd request from me.
to help him run errands for a week?
a month?
to help him get the school's popular girls' number?
to accompany him to his dance practices and act as his little assistant?

I began to conjure up many thoughts.
taemin beckoned me to go closer as he tried to whisper in my ear.
I tried to control my heartbeat due to our closing distance and felt my heart skipping a beat when he whispered the words one by one.
"what I want from you is really easy."

//recap ends//

"i just want you to be my prom night partner!"
after which, tinges of pink crept up both our cheeks.
it was my first time seeing him like this.
i stared for him a long while before realising i hadn't given him my reply.
"does a long pause mean that you're thinking whether to agree to my request?
he let me warn you sung yu ki,
this is a request,
not a question."
he added in playfully and it matched his playful expressions really well.

"oops, haha.
i was just mentally scrolling through the list of guys who invited me to prom.
well, i guess i'd go with you at the end of the day~"
in my mind,
i was grateful that my prayers were heard.
a prom night partner,
out of all the other gorgeous girls in school,
ME?

and of course taemin knew that i hadn't gotten any other prom night offers.
"are you sure you had to choose?
i'm like the best catch around, bestie."
taemin stuck his tongue out and teased me.
i could see his genuine happy expression as well.
"yaah what do you mean by that,
i have my own line of suitors okay!" i retorted.
the retorts turned into a little chase and it was me chasing him this time round.
"horang-i (tigress) yuki~ no wonder no one asked you out~"
he said in a sing-song fashion and disappeared around the corners of his biology classroom.
"anyway see you prom partner!!!"
he'd better be thankful that i'm not a biology student,
if not i'd...
i'd... catch him in the biology classroom and...
*shakes weird thoughts off*

two days later...

i heard the chuckles and giggles of the school's flower 4 (aka f4) not far away.
the f4 are infamous for all the things you can and you can't imagine.
i think they got too brainwashed by boys over flowers,
thinking they too could issue red cards to those whom they dislike,
and making hell for other girls who talked to their eye-candies.
yes mind you,
eye-candieS spelt with capital S at the end.
they basically have a new one everyday.
i clenched my fist tight as i remembered how they used to trip me with soap water in the changing room.
causing me to fall flat on the ground in front of the senior boys.
all just because i talked to taemin.

i walked in the trail of the voices,
almost hearing taemin's voice in the background as well.
taemin said he disliked those bimbos so there was no way he was hanging out with them,
right..?

to my "surprise",
i saw rihae, yunhee, kijeon, sukyeon fawning all over taemin.
they were asking him who he picked to be his prom night partner.
"you'd pick one of us right minnie?" r
rihae, the "queen bee" of the team was tugging on to taemin's tie gently.
the sight made me feel like puking.
what on earth did she think she was doing?
for once the words "minnie" sounded so disgusting.
well, taemin didn't look like he liked it either,
but he wasn't pulling back.
he gave them an eye smile and answered,
"anyone would find it hard to choose between you four.
this is one tough decision."

i fought back my tears which threatened to fall down any moment,
and walked away.
fists still clenched tight.
i have never feel so cheated before.
prom is just tomorrow and this is happening?

three days later (prom day itself)...

i ignored all the texts taemin has sent to me these few days,
refused to see him even when he came to my house,
rejected 52 of his calls,
logged off msn once i saw him coming online,
and did all the mean-est things i ever could to ignore him.
i didn't want to hear him explain how he chose another prom night partner,
after making his "tough decision",
and decided to stay home for prom night,
lest i humiliate myself at prom.
without my partner.

i was fiddling with my champagne coloured prom dress i got one week ago,
and looking at it fondly,
thinking how it'd match with taemin's tuxedo suit that i had helped him choose.
i sat on the edge of my window,
looking down at the pedestrians outside,
who were merrily walking hands in hands with their loved ones.

sigh.
taemin's white suit and inner champagne blouse would have matched mine just nice.
i wonder if it'll match this well with his new prom partner's outfit.

SUDDENLY,
i saw him standing there in that exact same suit i was thinking about.
lee taemin, yes.
that suit, yes.

he beckoned me to open my window.
after much battle with my emotions,
i slid it open slightly,
enough for me to talk and hear him from the gap.

"why are you not talking to me?
its been three days since we last talked!"
"didn't feel like."
"why aren't you getting changed?"
"don't feel like going."
"really? so where you wanna go instead?"
"stay at home."
"hey sung yuki, you're really acting weirdly.
please dress up and come down!"
"leave me alone taem.
please?"
"i don't care,
i'll see you in the park in half an hour okay.
take your time to dress.
if you're not coming,
i'm going to wait till you do anyway."

knowing taemin and his temper,
and how he waited an entire 18 hours outside my house the day we had our first squabble and caught a bad flu,
i didn't dare underestimate his waiting abilities.
reluctantly,
i smeared some light makeup on myself,
neatened up my hair and slipped into that dress.
i knew i wasn't going to that prom.
just doing all these,
so at least when taemin comes clean with me that im no longer his prom night partner,
i can retreat beautifully,
not like some slob wearing my everyday home clothes and looking like an ahjumma.

i went to the park in dreaded footsteps.
as soon as i saw taemin,i
 couldn't help but remark sarcastically,
"so prince charming,
where's your cinderella?"
"she's here, finally." he said and walked towards me.
very funny,
he still wants to play with me,
thinking i know nothing about his dates with one of the f4 girls up till now.
"no, i mean where's one of those f4 that you're bringing to the prom?"

taemin looked at me.
and laughed.
sung yuki,
you're defeated even till this moment,
lee taemin your bestie,
laughing at you.

"silly girl." he ruffled my hair gently.
"you overheard the conversation?" he asked.
i blinked and my eyes widened.
"im wondering what those 4 lame girls are doing now.
waiting at their porch for me to pick them up.
told them to stay there till they saw me,
and if they left without me,
im never going to talk to them again.
helped school get rid of pests at prom,
and helped you in your revenge.
wonderful lee taemin killed two birds with one stone."
he rattled off proudly.

i stared at him in amazement.
"you didn't ditch me for prom?"
he took up both of my hands and bored into my eyes,
"would i do that to the girl i love?"
my heart skipped a beat,
two beats,
a gazillion beats.
did i hear him wrong?
"so you're saying...?" i couldn't believe my ears.
"in case sung yuki didn't hear it properly the first time round,
or needs a rephrase,
i love you.
that's what i said.
c'mon you didn't think i'd be so happy being with you all the while,
just cause i treated you as my best friend right?"
he smiled the gentlest smile ever.

"so i'm not the only one feeling this way towards you?"
i asked carefully.
he answered me with a warm hug.

"sung yuki, yes i love you.
would you dance with me,
this very dance that i have saved for you?"
it was late and we missed the prom,
but neither of us cared.

in the very park,
underneath the gentle moonlight,
we forgot where we were,
but only remembered who we were with.

i saved my dance and my heart for him,
only to know he did for me too.

end.

it's been such a longgg while,
and this story is completed YAY!
COMMENTS are more than welcomed.
please do let me know how this is going and if anything needs to be changed!
JustWinter unnie, hows it! (:
hope I've not disappointed you.
so sorry i dragged yours for so long,
but you being so kind hearted,
never failed to send me encourages.
saranghae!!!
till the next manufacture,
I love all of you who're taking time to read.

love vending machine stops manifacturing temporarily for the day.
XOXO,
rinchyeon/rinnie