Chapter 7

[The Next Tale]

(special thanks for the beta by: Yocaterpillar)

“You work here too?” Heechul casually asked.

Jessica frowned and shot him a cold glare. She was not exactly the type of person who held grudges, but it was nearly impossible to deny the obvious: her dislike towards him. She supposed she was mature enough, but she also understood perfectly the line between people she could accept, and people she couldn’t accept. It was more about the lack of chemistry, not that she had a baseless bad sentiment towards him.

“You work here?” he repeated.

Ignoring his question, she asked back, “You’re the model?”

“Yah, you should be more respectful, you know? How old are you? Twenty? Twenty one? I’m almost 27. You should call me with the right honorifics.”

Jessica tried to rationalize why age suddenly became important. She thought she could understand, but it was harder to do when it concerned him. She had to take her words back: it was not only the lack of chemistry; it was indeed a baseless bad sentiment.

Ryeowook tried to calm his older cousin and answered on Heechul’s behalf. “Yes, Jessica-sshi. Heechul Hyung is the model. And you’re here as…” the boy paused and his gaze fell to the hanger in Jessica’s hand. “…the stylist?”

She nodded briefly and quickly shoved the photo shoot’s attire to Heechul. “Your clothes,” she told him in a self-explanatory tone.

Heechul rolled his eyes and muttered, “Be grateful that I’m in a good mood today.”

She already did her job in handing him his attire. There was no need to be in the same room with him anymore. Turning around, Jessica then walked out of the dressing room.

“Hae!” Heechul exclaimed giddily as he entered the photo shoot scene. Donghae and Yoona had already changed their clothes for the group photo, while the photographer was having a word with the other model, Sora. Donghae cracked a helpless smile, Yoona’s eyes twinkled in amusement, and Heechul... being Heechul, he did not give a damn about people's reactions and took his place between Yoona and Donghae.

“I’m so glad to work together with you again! Too bad, I cannot be Heesica now. We would make a great couple if I did.”

Before Donghae could reply anything, Yoona playfully slapped Heechul’s shoulders. “Oppa, you really are something.”

“Oh hi, Yoong. Didn’t see you there. Move aside. I’d definitely make a better partner for Donghae than you.”

Yoona laughed and merely shook her head. “You are a guy, Oppa.”

“So? I’m still prettier than you if I’m in my Heesica mode,” challenged Heechul. “Right, Hae? Beautiful people like us belong together.”

Donghae smiled. “You really are very pretty as Heesica. But I am straight and –“

“Nah, does not matter. I might be bi, so what’s the matter?”

“Heechul Oppa, don’t bother Donghae Oppa like that…” scolded Yoona as she maintained her wide grin. Heechul might not have been people’s favorite due to his bizarre persona and hot temper, but she found herself often being amused by his antics.

What Heechul did later did not amuse her though.

The weird man grabbed Donghae’s chin and he directed his lips to Donghae’s.

Yoona’s eyes went wide as she watched the action. Donghae’s reflex was pretty good as he turned his face away so that Heechul's lips only landed on his cheek.

It still horrified Yoona though. “Oppa! You cannot do that!”

Heechul turned his attention towards the doe-eyed girl. “What, Yoong, jealous? I like you too, don’t sulk up too much,” he said idly as he pulled the girl’s body closer to him and laid a chaste kiss on her lips.

It happened so quick, that no one really noticed other than Yoona and Donghae. Donghae blinked and he gaped his mouth open when he witnessed Yoona slap Heechul’s face.

Heechul groaned as he held his reddening cheek. “What was that for?!” he shouted, drawing everyone's attention.

“What was that for?!” Yoona shouted back as she rubbed her lips. Her first kiss… taken in such a careless, ruthless way…

“What, the kiss?” Heechul innocently questioned. “You were jealous of my affection and so I gave you the same treatment.”

The disbelief, shock, and anger drove her to shove Heechul away until the man’s back hit Donghae in the process. Yoona then dashed away, murmuring something to the photographer to be excused for a moment.

Heechul frowned.

Ah, wrong move, lover boy.

Snorting at his own act, Heechul hid his own awkwardness by hugging Donghae again.

Jessica was washing her hands in the ladies’ restroom when she noticed someone else had barged into the restroom, swung the door closed, and locked it. The Jung girl narrowed her eyes in mild confusion as the other woman –none other than Im Yoona – approached the sink and washed her lips in a hurry.

Yoona did not even seem to realize Jessica’s presence, which was pretty weird, because throughout their encounters, Yoona always looked like someone attentive and positive enough (totally Jessica’s opposite). The girl who was frantically washing her lips beside her was nothing like the image in Jessica’s mind.

“Go away, go away…” Yoona murmured as she continuously washed her lips with water.

Jessica shot one cautious look towards the other girl. It was a valid theory then. The people associated with Der Märchenclub were all weird.

Even though it was her grandmother’s orders, unless very, very necessary, Jessica would not want to delve herself into the Club's members any further. Having this thought affirmed in her head, Jessica walked towards the door. She snorted in annoyance once she realized that Yoona had locked the door. Her hand was about to unlock the door, but she stopped midway when she heard it.

Sobs.

Jessica slowly turned her body around to look at Yoona. She watched as the younger girl still continued her vain act in washing her lips, with tears already b in her eyes. Yoona’s shoulders trembled in her attempt to hold back her tears.

Jessica frowned. She really did not want to be involved in any of this, but…

“Are you alright?” the Jung woman found herself asking.

Yoona was startled by the question and she hurriedly straightened her posture. Her lipstick was smeared and she looked g