Word Count:  4,264

 

"CHOI MINHO, STOP RUNNING!  THIS ISN'T A MARATHON!"  Jonghyun shouted as he tried to catch up to him.  Everyone was jogging in the early morning because Minho was getting ready for a soccer game in the afternoon.  Everyone else was helping him with encouragement, though they were tired, except for Minho.  

 

Unfortunately, they all had to walk to school because of the class time schedule.  Well, more like jog to school.

 

Minho snickered and turned around, jogging backwards to their destination.  "So far as I can see, hyung, you're the last one to catch up!"  he hollered back.

 

Jonghyun slowed down his pace as he realized what Minho said was true.  Right after Minho was Key, who was practically walking really fast while Taemin ran beside him.  Onew trailed behind them, more likely following Key because he made fried chicken for lunch.  Even Byul was ahead of him, specifically trying to jog inbetween Onew and Jonghyun.

 

He ran faster towards Byul, who looked like she was having trouble breathing.  "Cheonsa, are you okay?"  He managed to wheeze out through his own pants.  

 

Byul nodded and tried to run even faster, but this time Jonghyun stopped her.  His breathing slowly went back to normal as they stopped to rest, but he noticed again how Byul was still breathing harshly, as if she was trying to breath.

 

It took him a long moment to figure it out, then turned towards the group, that was about already 20 feet away from them.  Thank God I have a big mouth, Jonghyun grimaced as he thought about it.  He inhaled deeply and began to scream for Key.

 

"KEY!!!!!!"

 

Said man flinched and stopped running, causing Onew to bump into him and fall backwards on his .  Key turned around and frowned at Jonghyun.

 

"WHAT?!?!"

 

Jonghyun sighed in relief and held Byul by the shoulders.  "I NEED YOUR INHALER!"

 

"WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU NEED IT FOR?!"

"CHEONSA IS ASTHMATIC!!!"

"What??"  Key gasped and ran towards Jonghyun & Byul after giving his basket to Taemin.  "Tae, make sure Onew hyung doesn't eat all of it!"  He shouted towards the group.  "Leave without us!"  Minho nodded and lead the group to school.

 

Key reached towards the others and leaned down to check Byul's breathing.  "Are you okay?"  he asked softly.  Byul slowly nodded and tried to move forward, but her legs gave way and she nearly fell if it wasn't for Jonghyun behind her to catch her.

 

The blonde man sighed and pulled out an inhaler from his messenger bag.  "Relax, I have asthma, too..." he told her as he helped her use the inhaler.  "Jjong, give her some water."  he instructed the shorter man.  Jonghyun nodded and took a water bottle from Key's bag, helping Byul drink.  

 

When Byul slowly started to breath normally, both Jonghyun & Key sighed in relief.  She started to walk again, but Key stopped her.  "Oh hell no.  We're late for class,"  he informed her and squatted down in front of her.  "Hop on." he commanded.

 

Jonghyun & Byul blinked at him in response.  "Ummm, Key, I don't think - "  "I'm the Almighty Key!  Now HOP. ON."  Key commanded louder, scaring the girl a bit as she climbed on his back.  Jonghyun shrugged and took Key's bag, since he wasn't really carrying anything else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn't until they arrived at school in time that Jonghyun noticed the girly pink boxer shorts that Byul was wearing underneath her new uniform skirt.  He couldn't help but blush.

 

"Key, why is she wearing a uniform?"  He looked around the university and realized everyone else was wearing regular clothing.  Only Key, Byul, and the rest of the guys were wearing uniforms.  "Err....don't you think you guys all stick out?" he asked a bit uncertainly.

 

Key whipped his head around to glare at Jonghyun, with Byul still clinging onto his back.  "The Almighty must dress in style!  And we are judged according to circle of friends, so no.  We're alright, Jjong." he reasoned out and turned back to face the school.

 

Jonghyun still looked uncertain and looked around the group that's currently separating ways.  Minho went to the school gym, Onew took Taemin & Byul (he had to quickly grab her from Key, since he looked like he didn't want to let go) to the dean's office, and Key simply stood in front of him.  It was then that Jonghyun realized how 'authentic' Key's uniform is compared to the others.

 

Key's blazer had pink silk lined at the edges and different kinds of buttons sewed onto it.  Other than that and the black chain hanging on the side of his belt, his and the rest of the group's uniforms were matching black blazers and navy blue pants/skirt.

 

The brunette coughed and awkwardly took a step back away from Key.  "Well, it's best if I get going - "  

 

"Oh no you don't~"  Key sang out as he clung to Jonghyun and linked their arms together.  Jonghyun groaned as university girls passed by them and squealed, whispering loudly at how cute he & Key looked together.  "Key~ let go!" he whined as he struggled from his grip.

 

Key simply ignored him and cackled loudly, earning strange looks from a few of the guys walking towards the entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"That's not fair!"  Taemin argued as he crossed his arms over his chest.  He was standing in the classroom after his class was done at 12:58p.m.  He had one more class to go to later, but right now he was in a heated discussion with his classmates.

 

Kim Jiyeop, a 5th year college student, smirked at Taemin.  "Rules are rules, Lee Taemin.  You'd have to be 22 in order to participate in the dance show.  It's due to contest regulations, and as I recall, you're still a minor." He let out a smug smile as he said stated this.

 

Byul, who was now registered as Choi Byul in the university, searched for Taemin's last class because of Key's instructions to bring him over to the cafeteria.  She heard shouting and glanced at a classroom with an open door.  She leaned nearby the wall and couldn't help but eavesdrop as she heard Taemin's voice.

 

"But I'm mature enough to dance!  It's just dancing and I have a passion for it!  Why would you kill this spirit, Jiyeop-sshi?!"  Taemin yelled at them.

 

Park Jaebum sighed and patted Taemin on the back.  "Tae, I know how much this scholarship means to you, but we all decided that only the comitted ones will be able to participate in this part of the show.  I'm sorry, but unless you can prove to me within the next 2 weeks your dedication to the arts in this school, you can't join the dancing portion of the Chinese New Year Dragon Festival,"  he advised the younger student as president of the Dance club.  "You've been ditching too much practices lately, so I had to add the minor rule.  Maybe you're not ready yet, so please just grow more maturely."  And with that, Jaebum left the classroom.

 

Jiyeop snickered with his friends, Lee Minyoung & Yang Seungho.  "See?  The rich guy always wins in the end, maknae.  Best believe that."  He brushed past Taemin's shoulder and left, with Minyoung & Seungho trailing after him.  Taemin sighed and sat down on one of the desks.

 

Byul decided then to walk inside the classroom silently.  It was only when she started writing something on the blackboard with the squeaky chalk that Taemin barely noticed she was there.  He flinched and nearly fell off where he was sitting.  

 

"Jeez, stop being mysterious!  You gave me a heart attack!" he complained irritably.

 

Byul stepped away from the blackboard so Taemin could see what she wrote.  Why do they say you're too young to dance at a festival?

 

Taemin grumbled as he remembered the conversation just now.  "The whole club apparently doesn't like my immaturity for ditching class and stuff...."

 

Byul thought for a moment before writing down something again on the board.  Why did you ditch?

 

"Because.....I don't know.....everyone else was doing it, so why shouldn't I?"  Taemin retorted and shrugged.

 

What's the festival theme?

 

"Apparently the university wants to celebrate Chinese New Year on a Friday two weeks from now, even though it was yesterday - yah, why're we communicating like this!  Can't you see I'm not in a good mood to play with you?!"  He yelled at her, causing her to flinch slightly.  She frowned and wrote one more thing quickly before setting down the chalk on the teacher's desk and stomping out of the classroom.

 

"Tsh, what's wrong with her?"  Taemin muttered under his breath and sighed again, reading over what she last wrote.  She wrote pretty long for only a quick minute.... he thought to himself with slight amusement.

 

There are days when we are immature because we tend to take advantage of what is being given to us.  We only mature from our mistakes and strive to work harder and better at what we have a strong passion for.  What are you willing to do for yourself to feel mature?  Age doesn't make a difference, according to most people.  We mature by attitude, not by age.

 

"............huh."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taemin ran towards his older brother, who looked like he was about to leave campus early for work.  "Jinki hyung!" he cried out in desperation.

 

Said man turned around to smile at him. It had been a long while since he was called by his real name, and it felt good to hear it.

 

"Yes, Taeminnie?"

 

Taemin took a deep breath and looked at Onew straight in the eye.  "I'm going to use the dance studio tonight........with Byul-sshi.  It's for a performance at the festival,"  he partially lied to him.  He wasn't allowed to dance with the Dance club, but that doesn't mean he wasn't allowed to dance at all onstage during the festival.  He already planned to have the dean of the university put him in one of the stage acts with Byul for 'first-hand experience of campus activities'.

 

Onew nodded in understanding, thinking he was still in the Dance club, and ruffled his hair.  "Alright, but don't stay up too late - Key's going to stay over again and make spicy bulgogi." he told the other and said goodbye before leaving the campus.  Taemin grinned, feeling accomplished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Aish!  WHY CAN'T I HANG OUT WITH HER?!"  Jonghyun whined at Minho & Key back in their 'home'.

 

"Because we said so."  They both replied in unison.

 

Jonghyun pouted and regardless sat on the floor behind the front door, waiting for Taemin & Byul to come back from the dance studio.  Key sighed and shook his head.  "I can't deal with this.  I'm going home to see my dad for the night, Minho.  Can you watch this puppy?" he asked in favor.  Minho nodded and turned to Key, who immediately took a helmet. 

 

"You're going to ride the bike to your mansion?" he asked out of curiousity.  Key nodded and stepped over Jonghyun to walk out of the flat.

 

"Wait, Key,"  Minho called out to him and quickly took a pamphlet on the coffee table to give to the other.  "Don't forget - 1:30p.m. is when Taemin & Byul are performing tomorrow."

 

Key nodded and headed out the flat, slamming the door shut behind him.  Jonghyun continued to sulk on the ground and started complaining.  "It's been about 2 weeks worth of not seeing my angel~ when is she coming home?!"

 

Minho sighed and shook his head before going to Onew hyung's room.  He knocked on the door 3 times before entering.  He found Onew taking care of the bills on his bed.  "Hyung, did you know about Taemin getting suspended from the Dance club?"

 

Onew nodded.  "Since I saw the brochure pamphlets showing the performances.  He's not one of the representatives for the Dance club,"  He casually told Minho as he counted the last bill on the bed.  "Wow, ever since Byul came in our lives, we actually have enough money earned to pay for next month's rent as well."  Onew couldn't help but mention it in amazement.

 

"Really?"  Minho leaned against the doorway, still watching Jonghyun from that angled position.  "How did you and dinosaur over there get enough money so fast?"

 

"You know, I think she's like a lucky charm or something,"  Onew voiced out in amusement as he leaned back on his bedpost.  "I immediately found a part time job as a club/party planner here in Itaewon.  The pay's really good and I even get fried chicken after the parties are done.  As for the dinosaur...."  He was interrupted by a loud shout coming from the hallway.  "YAH!  I CAN HEAR YOU TWO CALLING ME A DINOSAUR!"

 

Minho & Onew couldn't help but laugh.  Jonghyun fumed and turned around to glare at Minho leaning against Onew's doorway.  "And for your information, I actually got a decent job as a performer!" he shouted.

 

"As a drag queen, Jjong.  As a drag queen,"  Onew shot back loudly.  Jonghyun blushed in embarrassment and turned back around, sulking in irritation as he heard Minho's booming laughter.  That was when the front door opened and Taemin & Byul entered the flat, watching the scene before them.

 

Taemin tilted his head in confusion.  "Hey, why does Jjong hyung look like he's about to - "  Jonghyun pouted and ran away to his & Minho's bedroom.  The rest of the people in the flat heard a cry of frustration a second later.  "......cry?"  Taemin finished his sentence lamely.

 

Onew then walked out from his room and shook his head.  "He doesn't like his previous job, so he's a bit pissed that he can't find another job that's open for him," he explained nonchalantly and smiled brightly.  "Now who wants fried chicken?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key grumbled in irritation as he tried finishing his math homework back at his mansion.  There was a knock at the door and Mr. Kim popped his head inside his son's bedroom.

 

"Hey, son.  What are you - is that homework I see?!  Are you finally being a good boy?!"  Mr. Kim exclaimed in excitement and rushed over to his son's side.  A bright red pamphlet on the table caught his attention and he couldn't help but pick it up and read through it.  "What's this, Kibummie?"

 

Key looked up and flashed his father a bored expression on his face.  "Oh, nothing.  Just a festival held tomorrow.  There's going to be a stage where people are performing." he flatly informed him and tried concentrating on his homework for once.

 

Mr. Kim nodded and smiled brightly as he opened the pamphlet.  He was always fascinated with the Chinese culture.  "Kibummie, are you going to be in it?"

 

"Actually, there's a small portion in the festival of a fashion show, and I'm a part of it, yes."  Key gave up on his homework and sighed frustratingly, turning to his father and pointing at a list in the pamphlet.  "It starts after the performance stages, so I have enough time to watch Tae."

 

Mr. Kim raised an eyebrow at the names Key pointed out.  "Lee Taemin?  Is he the short person in that photo of boys you hang out with?" he asked his son.  Key's eyes widened in surprise.  "You remembered that photo I showed you?  And the names of my friends??" he asked incredulously.  

 

His father laughed and patted him on the back.  "Of course I do, son!  You're my only child and I care about you, and besides, I have photographic memory!" he proudly announced as he picked up the framed photo on his son's desk.  "This is the one, isn't it?"

 

Key laughed as he remembered what his father asked a while ago.  "The short one that looks like a puppy and a dinosaur is Kim Jonghyun, dad.  Taemin is the one who's second tallest in the group - the one who looks feminine and blonde like me, see?"  He stood up and pointed to his father who Taemin was in the photo.

 

"I see......"  Mr. Kim smiled and read off the pamphlet.  He blinked as he came across the name of who was performing with Taemin.  "Who's Choi Byul?"

 

"Ah, that's not her real surname.  My friend, Minho, wanted to give her his surname so she'd be enrolled at the university we go to."

 

Mr. Kim's eyes widened as he stared at his son.  "You mean she's an orphan who doesn't know her surname?  And more importantly, you made friends with a girl??" 

 

Key nodded.  "If you want....."  He was shy to suggest this but he went with it anyway, even though he knew his father was a very busy man.  "....you can come to the festival...?"

 

Mr. Kim's eyes lit up and he hugged his son.  "Really?!  YES!  I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE YOUR CREATIVITY, KIBUMMIE~!"

 

Key's face scrunched up in irritation and embarrassment.  "OKAY, LET GO, OLD MAN!  I HAD ENOUGH SKINSHIP WITH JJONG ALREADY!" he yelled at him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"And now - WE SHALL START WITH THE DANCING PORTION OF THE PERFORMANCE STAGE!"  The host of the festival shouted over the crowd with her megaphone.  Everyone in the audience cheered in excitement.  The festival was being held outside the university at the front.  

 

Jonghyun & Minho clapped with smiles on their faces as Onew bit his lip in anticipation to see his brother perform.  Just then, Key came along with his father. "Hey, dad, these are the guys.  Guys, this is my father."  He briefly introduced them and pushed his father on the empty seat next to Jonghyun.  Key then walked over to Minho and patted him on the shoulder.  

 

"Taemin will be performing in two performances later.  I need you to wear one of my designs NOW." he demanded.  Minho nodded and got up to follow him.  Mr. Kim couldn't help but stare at Minho's height as he left.

 

One performance later, Jinyeop, Minyoung, & Seungho were next up to perform onstage.  Jaebum, the Dance club president, coincidentally sat where Minho's chair was.  Jonghyun & Onew glanced at him in uncertainty.  "Ummm.....sorry, dude, but someone is sitting there already...." Jonghyun spoke up, but he trailed off as Minho came back in an oriental blue costume to match the Chinese theme.  The only difference was that Minho's outfit appeared more modern-like with black cargo-pocket pants and the numerous embellishments & style lines.

 

Everyone, even Mr. Kim, strained their necks to look up at Minho.  Minho held his hands up in the air.  "Don't worry, Jaebum hyung.  I can take the seat behind you,"  He reasoned out, "If we were to switch, you'd never be able to see the stage."  Jaebum, who was about to stand up, slowly nodded and awkwardly sat comfortably in his seat.

 

Korean music suddenly came on, puzzling everyone, especially Jaebum.  Jinyeop, Minyoung, & Seungho started dancing their routine, and although people were liking the performance, they were all skeptical of how this had anything to do with the Chinese festival.  Jaebum shook his head.  This isn't what we rehearsed at all!  he thought furiously.  Is the scholarship all they think about?!  But they copied the moves from the original artists of this song - there's no creativity here!  Once the group was done with their performance, half the audience cheered for them.  The rest were in confusion with what just happened.

 

Key scoffed.  "Geez, you can so totally tell they're not into this whole festival!" he complained loudly.

 

His friends and father, except for Minho, yelped and whipped their heads towards him.  "What the heck, Kibummie!  You nearly gave me a heart attack!"  Key's father exclaimed and clutched his chest dramatically.  Key grumbled in incoherent words as his friends, excluding Jaebum, made fun of the nickname that his father gave him.

 

"And now, here is a special performance by Lee Taemin & Choi Byul!"  The host announced over the megaphone.  "Choi Byul is a new student of Konkuk University and wants to experience first-hand of the campus life, so Lee Taemin here is helping her grow accustomed to this school!  Let's give them a round of applause!"  Everyone clapped and cheered in support as Taemin & Byul went onstage.  Key's father gaped at Byul, who wore one of Key's outfits for the fashion show.  She looks like.....her......God, it's been so long since I've seen her... he trailed off in thought, but this girl's young......there's no way it can be her....

 

Meanwhile, the rest of the group noticed the outfits that both Taemin & Byul were wearing, then turned around to give Key a look.  "What?"  He put on an innocent act and crossed his legs in a diva style.  When no one bought the act, Key then remarked, "Hey, we're allowed to advertise at one event...."

 

The music came on, and to Jaebum's relief, it was an actual Chinese song.  Taemin actually took a microphone and started singing.  The host gave Byul another microphone and quickly ran offstage.  

 

Everyone's jaw dropped at the sight, especially Jaebum, as the two on stage started singing, swinging to the beat a bit until they reached to the refrain of the song again, when they started to dance their own private routine.  It was a mix of popping, contemporary hip-hop, and ballet.  Jaebum was pretty much shocked with the outcome of these incorporated moves.  Mixing these in a duet dance?  .....it's not bad, actually.  Tae's been working pretty hard these past two weeks, huh?

 

He smiled as Taemin & Byul continued to dance while singing, then at the rap/bridge part of the song, they stopped singing from the mics and held onto them as they started dancing more to the music.  Taemin danced solo on the rap part then Byul joined in right after it ended.  They continued dancing as if it only required two people.

 

Once their performance ended, everyone clapped and stood in applausing encore.  Taemin blushed and bowed while Byul shyly waved before they ran offstage.  

 

The host came back up with a megaphone once again after all the performances were done.  "Okay, folks!  Now, Tang Zhutao, the chairman who supports our university from one of China's best universities, will give out one scholarship for the performances today!  This scholarship will not only fully cover the lucky performer's finances to attend this university, but he will also travel abroad next year for one semester to Hong Kong!"  Jinyeop had a confident grin on his face backstage while Taemin was distracted with Byul.  The two were immersed in a crossword puzzle that they found in the school newspaper.

 

"And the winner to receive this scholarship is....."  The host gave the microphone to Mr. Tang, who happily accepted it.  He checked through the list and smiled as he found the name he was looking for.  "Lee Taemin!" he announced proudly.

 

Taemin froze as he heard his name being called out.  "Byul-sshi, did you hear that?"  He turned to her in confusion.  Byul simply grinned and pushed him lightly over to the stage, where everyone cheered at him.  Jinyeop was pissed off and simply walked away in rage, leading his friends away from the stage.

 

The boy was still in shock as the chairman handed him the award in recognition that he had received and deserved the scholarship.  He scanned the crowd and nearly cried in tears of joy seeing his friends and brother applaud him and make loud noises.  He was shocked to find Jaebum sitting amongst them, simply grinning at him and giving him a thumbs up gesture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key said goodbye to his father after the fashion show.  He got a call from work right after it ended, so he sadly had to leave the festival early.  Key wouldn't admit it to anybody, but he really admired his father.  The only thing he hated about him truly was the fact that he was too naive to figure out about his mother's true desires.  According to his father, he believed that he was at least in a content life with his mother.  Key's mother only cared for money, and his father failed to see that because he was too busy with work.

 

Key sighed and turned towards Taemin, who got another ice cream cone for being so good at school lately, along with working hard for the performance.  Onew declared earlier that he'd be treating everyone to food, to which everyone quickly agreed to before he changed his mind.

 

The diva spotted Jonghyun sitting on a bench, who glared in his seat as he watched Minho win a large stuffed teddy bear for Byul from one of the festival game booths.  He sighed and walked over to him, patting him softly on the shoulder.  "Jjong, people are giving you looks because you look as if you're about to murder someone." he informed the other.

"Then give me my angel and we won't have this problem."

"I will NOT sacrifice Byul to you."

"Sacrifice?!  What do you think of me as?!"

"Honestly?  A dinosaur."

"YAH!"

 

A hand tugged on the side of Jonghyun's shirt.  He whipped around to find Byul standing beside him with a smile on her face.

 

"Here!  I got this personalized for you!"

 

She pulled out something from behind her and reached up to Jonghyun's neck to put it on him.  After she was done, Jonghyun took the pendant of the necklace and realized it was a black dog tag of an angel wing.  He flipped it over and found 2 Chinese characters.  "What does this mean?" he asked her.

 

Byul giggled and replied, "Xiao Gou!  (Puppy!)"

 

Key bursted into laughter and Jonghyun couldn't help but blush and smile.