Chapter 12.

“You didn’t think this through, did you?”

“Just give me time to figure this out,” Changsun told me and I nodded casually, trying not to laugh at the predicament. “This is actually your fault Yoomi.”

“How?!” I got frustrated. “Because I dragged you out shopping?! I remember you agreeing, and yeah okay you spent a fair bit of money but don’t blame-”

“You were in charge of decorating, yet you forgot to point out we’d need linen for the bed.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s your bed.”

“And how exactly are we meant to keep warm in here without blankets tonight?” he countered and I sighed. I didn’t know what our solution would be either. It was late out, and although some shops would still be open, it would be busier for Changsun to be out in the evening crowds. If I was alive I would have easily been able to go buy some.

“Oh I don’t know. Let’s just go back to the dorm then!”

Changsun shook his head stubbornly. “No, we have to figure this out.”

“Changsun-ah, you have no bedding, no pillows and no food. How do you plan to solve any of these issues?”

“I can order food,” he rebutted, seeming satisfied with himself. Then he glanced back at his bare mattress and groaned. “But you have to help me figure what to do here.”

“Ring your Mum. She can bring you some over. Or your manager!”

He shook his head. “Hyung is probably busy with the others at their radio event and Mum’s at some spa retreat with her friends.”

“You have other managers. What about a coordinator from the company. MBLAQ has lots of staff, surely you can ask for a small favour?”

“Ah! You’re genius!” Changsun whipped out his phone and travelled down the staircase to make his call. I could hear his voice in the hallway talking to someone whom he addressed cutely as Noona. I scrunched up my nose, not liking his aegyo use on the woman. Finally the call was over and he returned back upstairs. He was grinning. “We shall have bedding in twenty minutes!”

“Yay.” I wasn’t enthusiastic. Walking down the stairs, I then went and sat down on the new red couch. Changsun soon joined me in the living area, going over to the television box that we had yet to set up. He opened a side and slid it out. His face made me think of a kid looking at the biggest chocolate cake he had ever seen. I was sure that the television was the one item that Changsun had no qualms in paying for, not to mention it was one of the more expensive buys of the day too.

I rolled my eyes again. Boys and their toys.

I watched all the same and started smiling at the engrossed expression upon Changsun’s face. He was one of the few men I had come across who actually read the manual before touching the device, though I wasn’t sure he actually grasped what it said, when he suddenly picked up a screwdriver and examined the back panel.

“What are you about to do precisely?” I asked, edging forward for the discarded manual on the floor. “Why do you need the screwdriver?”

“To secure it to the TV stand I need to screw it in. I’m looking for the slot.”

“Surely it wouldn’t be at the back, but on the base,” I suggested and Changsun nodded in response, his eyes darting down. I shook my head lightly and jumped at the sound of a knock on the door.

“Can you get that?” Changsun ordered distractedly and I folded my arms across my chest. There was another knock at the door and the boy finally looked up at me. “Yoomi, I asked-”

“How exactly do I answer the door to a living person Oppa?” I was intrigued at his slip up. He groaned to himself and got up, jogging over to the front door. Turning around, I attempted to see passed the taller boy.

“Noona, thanks so much for this!”

“It was my pleasure; it is typical of you to forget something so important. Besides being the daughter of a department store chain makes it easy for me to do favours like this.” She stepped inside the house and I continued to stare. She was taller than me and well proportioned, with a slim face. I couldn’t help but be a little jealous of her beauty. “Woah, this place is really nice Channie.”

I repeated the nickname to myself and Changsun shot me a look before smiling at the woman. “It’s nothing much, but I’ll make it my home.”

“I’m envious,” she breathed and placed her hand on his arm. I could tell there was more than just friendly vibes coming from her. “You’re really moving up in the world now.”

“Well uh.” Changsun rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and then grinned. I gaped at the boy, shaking my head at his obvious infatuation with the woman. I should have figured he would call a favour on someone like her.

Glaring at the television, I wondered how much effort I would have to use to break his new toy. Though in the presence of that woman, I felt as if it wouldn’t affect him much. That only made me want to do it more. I sighed heavily and told myself to calm my newfound jealousy. Getting up off the couch, I went to the bathroom and went through the door that Changsun had left ajar. Stepping inside the room, I shut it firmly, hearing the fright of the woman at the sudden noise. I hadn’t even meant to shut it in that realm too.

“Oh well,” I told my annoyed reflection and reached forward to connect with the mirror. I touched it lightly and then sat down on the toilet. I heard voices coming my way, though paid little attention and so it was my turn to get a fright when the bathroom door suddenly opened. I glanced up at Changsun, who had an indescribable expression on his face.

“What was that all about?” he enquired and I tried to look confused. “Don’t play games Yoomi; you clearly shut the door so it scared Jihyun. I just don’t get why.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” I honestly admitted. He stared hard at me. “I felt uncomfortable so I came in here to give you privacy.”

“Privacy?” He shook his head. “Why would I need that with her? We were just talking.”

“Uh huh.”

He let out an incredulous laugh. “You got jealous!”

“So?” I wasn’t in the mood to lie about it. Even I wasn’t that happy with my reaction.

“Why did you?”

“You’ll never understand. So don’t bother trying,” I stated shakily, amazed at how emotional I was becoming. I told myself not to start crying, or I’d really look pathetic.

“Yoomi I-”

“I need fresh air, I’ll be back soon,” I cut in and shifted from the house down to the street. I knew Changsun would be frustrated, but I was more aware that if I hadn’t left then I would have cried. And after he had just spent time with a woman like Jihyun, me crying like a baby would only prove to him more that he ought to be glad I wasn’t alive and pursuing him.

I started walking mindlessly, not bothering to look where I was going. It had happened a few times in the past by accident, where a living person had walked through me. It was an uncomfortable sensation, but right now I was embracing the translucent state that I truly was to the mass population.

“I told you, Lee Joon contacted me Soomin-ah!” I snapped my head up at the familiar voice and realised I was by a bus stop. I took a seat beside Jihyun and listened to her phone conversation. “He wanted me to bring some bedding over to his new house. It’s really nice, but of all the people he called me! It’s clear that despite me breaking up with him last year, he still has feelings for me!”

It was more than I needed to hear and her elated laugh only grated my nerves further. “Maybe I was too harsh at shoving him off. I mean, he seems to have matured a little now. I’m thinking I should approach him again.”

I got up and stalked back to Changsun’s home, planning to tell the boy of my discovery. By the time I got to the front door and stepped back inside I was close to exploding with anger.

And there was Changsun waiting in the hallway for me, his eyes widening at my return and he shot forward. “Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine.”

“Why did you leave? Don’t you realise how much I’d worry, especially since its late out?!” He took a deep breath before continuing. “You know, it’s not like I can contact you in any way like I could if you were alive. You have no mobile phone for me to ring Yoomi!”

I merely stared back at the distressed brunette and knew if I told him about Jihyun right then he’d only get furious with me. I hadn’t even realised just how much I affected him until that moment. Changsun took me in his arms and I froze momentarily, barely paying attention to the words still coming from his mouth. Instead I buried myself into his chest, and took a deep breath. For a moment I wanted to feel like I could have a chance to remain here forever.

“A-are you really okay Yoomi?” Changsun asked with a hesitant voice and I didn’t reply, instead wrapped my arms around him tighter and tried not to cry. I wanted to believe he had been worried about me for more than friendly notions. However Changsun pulled away, looking a little awkward and then tried to smile.

“I’m hungry; do you want to order in now?”

I nodded softly and watched as the taller boy retreated to the couch and pulled out his mobile phone to look for something to get delivered. Although we were in the same room, I felt as if he put the distance between us to prove a point.

I wouldn’t be able to have my chance. But as I nodded firmly, I made a promise to myself that I would ensure that Jihyun wouldn’t either.

Even if I had to play dirty.

________

Author's Notes...

So, how does everyone like Jihyun? She's rather "lovely" right? We all knew the cuteness of both Changsun and Yoomi couldn't last forever without some form of competition. And here she is, though not yet in all her glory. However it was cute to see Changsun's reaction to Yoomi, right?! 

Replies...

@vanaja; hehe thank you!!

@Healthie; thank you for taking the time to read, hope you like the new update! I post every Tues and Fri for reference, though with uni there has been the interference here and there!

@FlyingHigh; well as you've found out, a new character has arrived! And Changsun's worry for Yoomi. Thanks for reading! 

@Kate; You ! Haha of course its ONLY because of that ;)  Thanks hun!

@E_magine; No, Sanghyun is Cheondoong. Park Sanghyun is Thunder's real name :) So don't worry, he's in this fiction! ^_^ 

@Maggie; Oh no, are you feeling any better?! Hehe I love their chemistry... it's different to Changmin/Kaia, so I really like writing them. Haha well, I'm sure a lot of weird things will happen >_> Changsun likes having Yoomi to himself. I just wrote a chapter (I ACTUALLY WROTE TWO CHAPTERS LAST NIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS IN CAPS HAHAH!) that amplifies that sentence. You'll just have to wait a few weeks to read it, hehe! The celebration has been and gone, yip! Was pretty good actually, got some neat photos! I hope your Dad has a good birthday. My Mum's isn't actually until the 25th of this month (a week after mine) but she opted to have her party early. Cheeky really, cos she now gets more than one cake hehe! Much love to you <3