Jinyoung's POV

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“Jinyoung-ie~~~~”

A familiar voice screamed at my back and I turned around like a superstar to face the culprit. “Sungjong?”

“Yup… I’m the bes-“

Before Sungjong could brag about himself, I pulled him for a tighter hug. I so miss my best friend.

“Hey, hey, you’re choking me!”

“I’m sorry. I just missed you! Where have you been these past few days?

“Here and there…”

“What’s with that ‘here and there’? Dish it out!”

“Okay, okay. I was going to tell you this anyways. But before that, let’s eat.”

“You’re right. I’m hungry too.”

“Just when you are not?”

I pouted and put my arm over his shoulder and we walk to our favorite place in the campus, the café. Sungjong was still struggling to get rid of me.

~~~

We have the usual casual talk with Hoya and Dongwoo when we ordered over the counter. We ordered two slices of chocolate chiffon cake and tow large iced Americano and sat on our usual seats.

“So, what’s up?” I eagerly asked him.

Sungjong eyed me as he dig in to his huge back pack and showed me these glossy posters and I grabbed one. It says “Daekyung University Search for Mr. Freshman 2012”.

“Wait. Would you mind explaining this to me?” I shook the poster in front of his face.

He pouted. “I’m part of that so I’ve been very busy these past few days”.

“You’re joining?” I gasped.

“I just wished”. Sungjong blew his bangs. “BUT no. Prof. Nam assigned me to be one of the student assistants for that contest.”

“You mean Prof. Nam from our literature class?”

He nodded.  “No one else. He’s the master of this event”

My mouth formed an ‘O’.

“So are there any contestants who have participated on the registration?”

“Well, there are many who registered but only few can only pass my standards” he scoffed. “Anyways, I’m thinking about Hoya joining the contest”. Sungjong’s eyes travelled like a lightning bolt and spotted Hoya who was busily working on the counter.

“Hoya?” I followed Sungjong’s eyes.

He nodded with a smile forming on his face.

I smiled as I scanned the posters. It also says that the contestants should have their talent shown for the competition and should be ready for a question and answer portion. The criteria for judging the contestants are 30% looks, 20% talent, 40% intelligence and 10% audience impact. That’s pretty fair, I thought to myself. Hoya seems much qualified for this competition except the fact that I haven’t seen his talent, may be for dancing or singing or whatsoever, and it would be so exciting if he’ll join the contest.

“Invite him to join the contest!” I said to Sungjong who was busy putting adhesives of the edge of the posters he will be posting up to the university’s bulletin boards and walls.

Sungjong rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue. “Of course! Leave it to me. I’ll make him join.”

“Join what?”

Myungsoo with empty trays on his hands suddenly butted in our conversation and leaned forward to the two of us.

“Oh hi, Myungsoo!” I greeted him.

“Good morning Jinyoung!” he smiled. “And to you, Sungjong”

“Good morning too,” Sungjong awkwardly greeted and smiled at Myungsoo. I notice him turned to me with his questioning eyes. I just answered Sungjong with a smile and gave him an ‘I’ll-tell-you-later’ look.

“Oh, about this?” I grabbed the poster and Myungsoo nodded to me.

“Our university is having a ‘Search for Mr. Freshman’ this year and Sungjong here is part of the committee. And they were looking for contestants”. Sungjong nodded into my every correct word.

“Oh, I see”

“Why don’t you join Myungsoo?”

“Me?” he pointed his index finger to himself. “Me?”

I nodded.

“It wouldn’t hurt to join Myungsoo-ssi” Sungjong stated.

Myungsoo sighed. “Hm. Is there any cash prizes or something?”

“Is there?” I asked Sungjong.

“Of course there is. Aside from free tuition for the whole school year, the winner of the first place will also receive a modelling contract as he will become the face of our university for this school year.

“Plus…” Sungjong trailed on to his words making Myungsoo gasp a little as he paid close attention to Sungjong’s every word. It seems like he was interested on joining the contest which I have no doubt that he has the chances of winning.

“You could also be discovered by some entertainment agencies”

“Whoa” I can’t help but exclaim.

Sungjong just nodded. “Yup. Prof. Nam told us that he will be inviting some sponsors and some will come from famous entertainment agencies in Korea. I don’t know if he was just bragging or not but anyways, it would be a great opportunity if ever, right?”

“It really is” I agreed to him. “So what do you think Myungsoo?” I turned to him. He was just staring at the poster.

“Registration’s until this Friday by the way” Sungjong added.

“Ah. Okay. I’ll think about it. Thanks for informing me.” He was firmly holding onto the poster. “Can I have this?”

“Of course you can. We still have tons of copies available.” Sungjong shrugged.

“Thanks”. Myungsoo smiled and folded the poster and put it inside his apron’s pocket. “I’m gonna get back to work. Thanks Sungjong. And see you later, Jinyoung!” Myungsoo dashed away from Sungjong and me. We shared a moment of awkward silence as Sungjong finally broke the ice.

“What’s with those smiling?” he ogled at me.

“Huh?”

“Don’t pretend that you don’t know what I mean here. Jinyoung, tell me, since when?”

“’Since when’ what?”

“Aish!” Sungjong blew his bangs and sipped onto his drink. “What exactly did I miss between you and Myungsoo?”

 “Nothing at all”

“But what are the sudden smiles and all? It’s like yesterday, you don’t want to see his face and you’re cursing him for existing into your life and today, you were both smiling and talking to each other… mind explaining?”

I sighed as I was being caught red-handed. Sungjong knew me hating Myungsoo to death but he still doesn’t know that Myungsoo and I are, how should I put this, are getting close.

“It just happened”

“What happened? Enough with the beating around the bush. Tell everything straight to the point.” I could see Sungjong becoming impatient than ever.

“You! I saw you with another girl the other day and you were like lovey-dovey and all, what’s with that?” I pretty made up some stories trying to shift the hot seat to Sungjong but he just gave me a strong glare.

“I’ll tell you my issue later so don’t you try changing the topic” Sungjong poked my arm and I crinkled my nose.

“Wait, you. It’s true? The girl. Lovey-dovey? Really?” I mumbled.

Sungjong threw me again his fiery glares.

“Okay, okay. I give up now”. I raised my two hands like I was caught by a policeman for doing something against the law and have to explain myself to him. Sungjong crossed his arms and leaned forward to hear what I’d say. And I have to tell him everything from scratch - from how Misun omma and Sunggyu oppa set us up to how we somehow shared our first date to how we became comfortable with each other after talking to the phone and such which then resulted into this. While I was sharing each and every single detail on the story of Myungsoo and me, Sungjong was squealing and cringing at the same time - throwing comments here and there.

“Oh my God Jinyoung! You were meant for each other! I knew it. I so, so knew it”. Sungjong cried out and wiping his fake tears while squeezing my hands. “You have to thank me for giving your number to him, Jinyoung. I was the one who helped you and Myungsoo got closer like that! Credits to your best friend”

“Okay, okay, I’m thanking you. But I still don’t know what’s going on between us or how should I put our relationship into words”

“A soon to be couple, that’s what you guys are!” Sungjong clapped his hands.

“W-What?”

“Hello, Jinyoung, it’s pretty obvious that Myungsoo really likes you, okay? Don’t you sense that?”

“Well, I don’t”

“O.M.G. Jinyoung. Blame it to your all-girls school schemes and you hadn’t experience anything about guys”

I sneered. “Sorry about that” I pouted. “But how come you can say that Myungsoo’s, you know, Myungsoo likes me?”

“It’s obvious. Guys ask for girls’ phone number if he’s interested. After some thinking, he’ll call you if he’s into you and will know more about you. Things like those. Whatever. Anyways, all I knew is that he likes you, no further explanation. Just look into his eyes and you’ll know even better.”

“Really, that’s it?”

“Come on Jinyoung”. Sungjong exhaled loudly. “So, do you like him in return?”

“I still don’t know”

Sungjong moped and sipped on his drink again. I did the same as I suddenly feel the seriousness forming in Sungjong’s face. After that, Sungjong threw questions like a machine gun.

“Do you feel happy when you’re talking with each other?”

“Yes”

“Do you feel upset when you don’t see him?”

“Yes”

 “Do you have the feeling like there were butterflies roaming inside your stomach whenever you’re together?”

“Somehow, yes”

 “Does your heart goes ‘dugeun dugeun’ whenever you’re with each other, especially when you are alone together?”

I bit my lip. “Yes”

“Do you think about him very often?”

I nodded.

“Do you want to see him always?”

I nodded.

“Do you want to be with him all the time?”

I thought for a while and nodded afterwards.

“Then, it’s love. You have fallen in love with him, Jinyoung.”

“WHAT?”

Sungjong rolled his eyes. “Yes. Jinyoung. And I have to tell this over and over again so your little brain could process it a little better. You have fallen in love with Myungsoo. YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH KIM MYUNG-!”

Before he could almost broadcast his last sentence to each and every customer of the coffee shop, I have swathed his blabbering mouth with my hand, strangling him a little bit making him beg for his life. And we pretty draw attention from other customers. Hoya, Dongwoo and Myungsoo also looked at the two of us but they knew that we’re not seriously fighting so they pretty ignored us and just smiled and continued working.

Sungjong slightly screamed, no squealed like a little girl, as I kept on covering his mouth, with much force as I somewhat got up from my seat.

“Yah! Shut up guys. Continue your squealing game outside. Such a mess.” a gorgeous but -looking lady snarled at us as she passed by to get herself and her other -looking friends seats. “Go get yourself a stage and show your pathetic little drama outside.”

I stared at her before faking an “Oh, we’re sorry” and rolled my eyes at them. I immediately released Sungjong’s mouth as he catches his breath. The es were still looking at us as Sungjong and I composed ourselves.

“You want to kill me Jinyoung?” Sungjong glared at me.

I just laughed, shaking my head ‘no’.

“You’re the one who wants to kill me though” I said in a more serious tone.

Sungjong moped.

“Come on, let’s go back to school and post those up!” I suggested.

“You’re helping me?”

“You don’t need my help? Then okay…”

“No, no, of course, I need your help. Look at these posters, hello?”

“Come on now,” I grabbed my back pack and hushed my tone “before those Cruella Devilles might kill us with their ooh-so-death glares”

 Sungjong laughed and then we left our seats, ignoring the group of mean girls.

“Wait, I just have to give this to Hoya first!” Sungjong said.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you outside”

A/N: Is she "falling in love" with Myungsoo? Omona~ Sungjong's killer instincts! Will Hoya and Myungsoo joing the contest? What do you think will happen? lol
I hope you like my update. So sorry if it took me too long to update. I have to focus on my undergrad thesis. Ugh! The pressure is killing me. Omona~ But I know you'll support me guys, am I right? Hoho. Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you all have a very nice day! Saranghaeyo yoreobeun! ^^