December 20th 2012

SHIN MIN JUNG’S POV

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Since the D-day for the ballet teaser performance is just around the corner; I re-arrange my schedules and keep them balance between working in the company and practicing.

It’ll be so tiring, but I still can take care of myself and I believe everything will goes well, so no problem.

But not until today… during our lunch break…

“Min Jung-ah, are you okay?” Yoon Hee looked at me with a worried face.

We are at a restaurant nearby, having our lunch.

“Hmm, waeyo?” I asked, slightly touching my face. “Do I look pale?”

“Yeah.” Yoon Hee nodded. “Have you been seeing Dr.Bryan lately?” she continued.

“Well, not yet. Maybe later.”

“Oh, maybe you should go, Min Jung-ah.” Yoon Hee said. “You have been so busy recently, and I’m so worried. Perhaps you shouldn’t join the ballet performance.”

I smiled to calm her down. “No worries. I took my pills daily, I’ll be fine.”

Yoon Hee took a deep sigh. “Alright. But tell me if you don’t feel well, okay?”

“Sure will do.” I replied. “Keokjeongma*.”

----------------------

That was 4 hours ago.

It’s now 4:02PM, and I’m off to my ballet practice.

I don’t even realized that being busy all day can really drained my energy. I started not feeling well when I arrived at the venue.

I feel a little hard to breathe, but then seeing Dong Wook oppa and all the dancers make me feel better.

I’m just tired. There should be nothing serious.

My phone rang right before I went up on the stage to practice.

“Min Jung-ah. Are you busy? Don’t forget our dinner tonight^^ I’ll be picking you up at 7. What’s your new apartment’s address?” – Sungmin oppa texted.

Ah, matda. I’ll be going out for dinner tonight. I originally planned to go home as soon as possible and take a rest after the practice, but then...

Of course it’s impossible for me to cancel the dinner.

“Hey!” Dong Wook oppa tapped my back.

“Oh, oppa.”

“Seems like you’re not in a good mood today.” He said.

Me?

“Jinjja? Do I?”

“Hmm.” He nodded. “What happened?”

“Ah… maybe because I’m nervous about the performance.” I said, not sure myself.

“Doesn’t look like it.” Dong Wook oppa looked at me carefully. “You shouldn’t be nervous, it’s just a practice. I know you’ll perform the best.”

I smiled. “Well, I haven’t been on stage for some time, so I’m feeling a little bit nervous.” I replied.

The truth is I’m feeling tired. I have just practice for 30 minutes but it’s already so hard to catch a breathe.

“Is there something that really bothers you today? or are you thinking about someone?”

“Not both.” I replied. “I don’t know.”

“Dancers, gather now~” I heard Yerin seonsaengnim said, while clapping her hands twice asking us to gather.

“Kaja.” Dong Wook oppa said.

“Oppa, you go first. I… have to do something.” I replied.

“Oh, geurae.” Dong Wook oppa left.

I quickly took my pills before someone else noticed. I took my pills already this morning, but since I’m not feeling so well I guess I have to take some more.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CHO KYUHYUN’S POV

I’m hungry.

So hungry.

Actually I can have dinner together with the members, but I am too lazy to get up and go upstairs.

I can ask Shin to come and cook for me. That’s my second option.

But what time is this? 7:02PM. She is still having dinner with Sungmin.

Sungmin… Sungmin…

Is their date going well?

Has Sungmin tell Shin his feeling towards her?

Nah, why am I so cranky like this?

Aish. Maybe I should go upstairs to join the members.

I was about to close the door when my phone rings.

I walked back inside and look at the screen. Oh, Shin is calling?

I smiled seeing her name up on the screen, and refuse to think why am I feeling happy inside.

“Yeoboseyo?” A male voice went.

Oh?

“Yeoboseyo?”

“Is this Kyuhyun-ssi?” I can hear the panic in his voice.

“Yes. Who am I talking to?” I asked him back.

“Ah, Dong Wook imnida. So it’s like this, Min Jung fainted after the practice and we’re now in the hospital.”

“Mwo? Which hospital?”

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Although it’s hard to drive with one hand, I still drive as soon as possible so that I’ll arrive faster.

After parking my car, I rushed into the hospital and find the room Dong Wook-ssi told me just now.

I walked through the corridors and found a man with a worried face sitting on the bench.

I walked faster towards him, but he stood up and was about to enter the room when I stopped him.

“Dong Wook-ssi?”

He turned his head. “Ah, Kyuhyun-ssi?”

I nodded. “Where’s Shi- I mean, Min Jung? Is she okay?”

“Her condition is quite stable now, but she is not conscious yet.” Dong Wook-ssi replied.

“What did the doctor said?”

”The doctor said she is just lack of sleep. Too tired.” Dong Wook-ssi answered while opening the room’s door and let me in.

“I contacted you through her phone. I saw your name first on her recent calls.” Dong Wook-ssi stood beside me while watching Min Jung.

I nodded once again.

Aish, Shin Min Jung.

I’ll die faster if you keep on making me worry like this.

“Alright. I’ll take care of her. You must be busy right, Dong Wook-ssi?” I said.

“Ah, I’m not. I can stay here tonight, but I need to take my things first.” He replied.

“Oh, you don’t need to. I’ll be the one staying.”

Dong Wook-ssi doesn’t say anything for some seconds. He seem like thinking, and I thought he will insist on accompanying Shin here but then he said, “Geuraeyo. If it doesn’t bother you.”

“No, of course not.”

“Okay. Contact me anytime if there’s something happen.” Dong Wook-ssi stood up and writes his number on a small piece of paper.

“I’m sorry to meet you on this situation.” He said, before leaving.

“Me too.” I bowed a bit. “Thanks for taking care of her.”

“No problem.”

“By the way, can I know what’s your relationship with Min Jung?” I braced myself to ask.

“I’m a best friend of her.” He smiled. “And I know Min Jung is helping you with the housework. Please take care of her well.”

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Next Day

The doctor said that Shin is okay, she is just tired and need to consume more vitamins and stuff, but why am I feeling that the doctor is hiding something?

“Yah, Cho! What are you thinking about?” Shin nudged me in the elbow.

“Oh, nothing.” I replied, while wearing my seatbelt. “Today you’re going to have a total rest at home, so don’t you dare to go anywhere without my permission.”

The doctor let Shin out of the hospital today, so I drive her home.

“Yah! Since when you have the right to do that?” Shin looked at me in horror.

“Since yesterday.”

“Tsk. Then let’s go somewhere. Together.” Shin said.

“Why?”

“Because you don’t let me go out by myself, then we should go together, right?”

“Alright… Where do you want to go?” I’m giving in.

“Let’s go to buy a small Christmas tree and some cute cookies and cakes!” She said, looking like a kid asking her mom to buy her present for Christmas.

“Why are we buying Christmas tree?”

“To decorate your apartment. Your apartment will look brighter and nicer.” She smiled.

“I don’t need a bright apartment. I’m too busy to decorate it.”

“Ahh~” Shin pouted. “Let’s go~ we’ll decorate the Christmas tree together, it’ll be fun.”

“I don’t want to. Let’s just go home.” I said.

Shin gave me an annoyed glance and she looked out of the window without saying anything.

“By the way, what do you want to have for lunch?” I asked.

Shin is looking out of the window, not replying.

“Shin… Hello?”

She still won’t turned her head nor talking to me.

“You don’t want to talk to me?”

No answer.

I sighed. “Arasseo, arasseo. We’ll buy a Christmas tree and some cookies.” I said, finally.

“Yeayyyy!” Shin smiled happily that I can’t stop myself from smiling too.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

We bought the Christmas tree, and the salesman said it’ll be send to the apartment tomorrow.

Shin said she knows a bakery that sells really nice cakes and also cookies, so she shows me the way and I drove.

Since when our position reversed?

I do something she asked me to.

I don’t know. I just found myself happy when she is happy, so yeah… once again, I refused to think why I feel so.

“Here we are!” Shin clapped her hands.

“Shin, I don’t know that you’re this feminine.” I said, looking at the decoration of the bakery. “Why are you choosing this bakery?”

“It’s cute, right? Well, I don’t really like pink but they have the best cakes and cookies in town, so I especially love this bakery. Now let’s go in.” Shin replied, getting out of the car.

“I’m not sure…” I said.

The bakery is ALL pink! The ribbon, the paint, and the everything…

Sungmin will be so happy to see this, but not me. I don’t hate pink but err… isn’t this too feminine for a guy?

“Oh, come on. Just get in.” Shin slipped her hand on my arm and pulls me inside.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

LEE SUNGMIN’S POV

“That bakery in the end of the street?” Sungjin asked.

Aunt is coming from Japan today, she wants to spend Christmas with the whole family this year.

She loves the cakes from “Mom’s Bakery” so much, and because it’s been quite a long time since she pays a visit to Korea, eomma asked us to buy a cake for her.

“Yeah. It’s so crowded there, we might not get a parking space.” I said. “Let’s just walk.”

We both get down of the car and walk to the bakery.

We are just three steps away from the bakery when Sungjin tapped my arm. “Oh, hyung, look! Isn’t it Kyuhyun hyung? And who’s the girl beside him? His girlfriend?”

I can see Min Jung is talking to the shopkeeper, while Kyuhyun is just looking at the cakes which are displayed in the bakery.

Then Kyuhyun gesticulate his left hand -which is holding Min Jung’s right hand- to get Min Jung’s attention. Min Jung turned her head towards Kyuhyun, listening to what Kyuhyun said for some seconds, then she laughed and hits Kyuhyun with her hand.

After that small conversation ends, Min Jung turned her attention back to the shopkeeper.

I don’t really pay attention to Kyuhyun’s expression, but I clearly saw Min Jung’s expression when she looked at Kyuhyun.

Her eyes…

The way Min Jung looked at Kyuhyun makes me feel disappointed. My chest feels heavy.

Seeing Min Jung looking at Kyuhyun in that way makes me realized that she likes Kyuhyun.

She likes Cho Kyuhyun, more than she likes Lee Sungmin.

Min Jung might smiles and acts the same when she is with both of us, but the way she looked at Kyuhyun is clearly different.

Because eyes can’t lie.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

*Keokjeongma = don’t worry