“And…Eight..Nine…Eight…Nine..Ten!” Gyuri exclaimed, flunging her hands in the air. The rest of Kara mirrored her dance moves. “Okay that’s a wrap for today then” she said dabbing at her forehead sweat

“Oh Thank God!” the girls crashed on the floor.

“Manager-nim” Hara cried out like a baby “I am hungry”

“Me too” Nicole chirped

“Me three” Jiyoung shot up

“Take us somewhere good to eat” Hara said, exhausted

“Mianhe girls…we are running short on budget.” Shin, their manager  sighed “With DSP’s present condition, we don’t have sufficient funds…rather we don’t have ANY funds…I am afraid”

The girls looked down. They were aware about their present situation, their future, whether KARA will continue—it was a very touchy subject for them. After the arrest of the chairman they sat down to discuss about KARA’s prospects, the funds had stopped and in such a scenario they had to carry on everything on their reputation and on a low cost. They were going on all the variety shows, whoever called them and at fees that was half their previous one. The situation was not good but the girls didn’t give up. They wanted to carry one as long as they could and as long as their fans wanted them to.

“It’s okay manager-nim” Gyuri said

“Yes! Yes! Don’t worry about it!” Hara assured “And anyways outside food is not good for our diets” she said though her stomach grumbled otherwise

Shin looked sadly at them. He was not doing any better too. His salary was gone but he still wanted to stay because of the girls. “C’mon let’s go back” he said “I’ll make you guys ramen”

They were about to exit the rehersal hall when the door swung open and Jungmin came in with two of his bodyguards closely behind with big plastic bags

“Hello girls! I have brought you dinner” he announced

The girls jumped and Jungmin lovingly handed out the food parcels to them. The girls gladly took them one by one but when it was Seungyeon’s turn Jungmin turned away and, to her disappointment handed out the last parcel to Manager Shin

“Yah! What about me?” Seungyeon cried, her empty stomach adding an extra shrill to her voice

Before Jungmin could answer, Gyuri cried “Oh for God’s sake! you’re his girlfriend! He is not going to give you parceled food!” she said rolling her eyes and turned to Jungmin,”This kid is so thick-headed! “ she said hungrily gobbling the food “I dunno how you put up with her! “

“It is a herculean task, I admit” Jungmin joked

“Hurry up now you two! Get going!” Hara said with a mouthful of food “Thanks for the food hyeongbu!”

“Kamsahmhida!” the girls cheered

Seungyeon and Jungmin sat in his car with her bag resting between them.

“How was your day?” Jungmin asked

“Good. Hectic…but good” Seungyeon replied

“Went on any show?”

“Just Running Man. It took up the whole day”

“You guys went to rehersing after Running Man. But that show is exhausting!”

“Well we are running low on budget…so we have to push ourselves” she said and looked out the window.

Jungmin looked at her—she appeared tired. Without the mask of her makeup her bare face exposed  the black under her eyes and her once cuddly cheeks were starting to stick to the bones of her face. She was not in good shape. None of them were. He had spoken to their manager in private and handed him some cash. The girls needed to be fed properly, going by their present excessive schedule. Jungmin looked down at Seungyeon’s bag sitting between them and suddenly in one swift movement, picked it up and put it on his other side. He moved closer to Seungyeon and grabbed her head, placing it on his shoulders.

“Sleep. I will wake you up when we get there” Jungmin said

Seungyeon finished her plate and let out a sigh of content.

“You ate a lot” Jungmin joked

“I have a good metabolism” she said sticking out her tongue.The waitress arrived to clear the plates. She shot her a look as she picked up the empty plates from her side. “I have a good metabolism” she taunted at her

Jungmin pursed his lips to control his laugh. “You are something!” he chuckled when the waitress left.

“Thank you for the food” Seungyeon said, smiling lovingly. Jungmin narrowed his eyes “Not for this one..the one for the girls”

“They are my cheoje..I need to take care of them.” He said grabbing his wallet and jacket “Who else will I have an affair with, when I am bored with you”

Seungyeon hit his arm as he rose up. “Hey you forgot your key” she said pointing to the shiny golden object resting beside her glass

“Umm…that’s not mine” Jungmin said, hesitantly

“Yes it is…I know your key…see your number is also there…301” she pointed to the carving on the key

“I have mine here” Jungmin dug into his pocket  and held up his key

“That’s strange…they are absolutely identical” she said comparing the two

“They are…cause they are keys to the same apartment” Jungmin said, avoiding eye contact

“But why would you—“ Seungyeon stopped midway through her sentence  “Are you asking me to….move in…with you?” Seungyeon said carefully weighing out each and every word

“Yes! Took you long enough, thickhead” he sighed hitting her forehead gently. Seungyeon turned quiet and looked the key. “So?”

Jandi and Jihoo had just arranged their luggage in their honeymoon suite when one of the crew members suddenly came forward and approached Jandi

 “Miss Gaeum..we need to do a Q&A with you in the other room” the man said in a hushed voice, Jihoo barely undertood.

Jandi nodded and with one quick glance at Jihoo, left the room with a few crew members

“What is it?” Jihoo asked the others

“They are gonna record her responses” one of the chirpy crew women said, her crush on Jihoo evident from the red blush on her cheek

“So Jandi what do you think of your husband?” the interviewer asked

The involuntary blush at the word ‘husband’ appeared on Jandi’s cheeks. “He is good. We have known each other from before..” she remembered their time together. It was accompanied by the nightmares of her attack and the hellish experiences she has had ever since. She waved the thoughts away. You have to do this Jandi. Don’t let this get into your head. She continued “So that helps”

“Did you know Jihoo has become quite popular because of his fashion sense and physique” the interviewer informed

“Has he now? Well…he has always appeared very charming to me. And yes the recent gymming is showing its effect” Jandi and the interviewer giggled

“So what can we expect from you guys?”

‘We have everything going for us Jandi, we could give them golden footage but your inefficiency is the only thing hindering our paths.’

Jihoo’s harsh words rung in her ears. “I think we’ll give you golden footage” she said quoting Jihoo.

The interviewer rose out of her seat and Jandi did too when suddenly the crew member who had earlier approached her held out a red envelope. Jandi, then noticed,that the camera hadn’t stopped rolling and the man was standing behind the camera in such a way that only his hand and the envelope was visible on the camera. She took the envelop and held it up, her face asking for clues as to what she shoud do now. The crew member spoke “you’re being given a secret mission”

“Secret mission?” Jandi squinted her eyes and looked down at the envelope. After a moment’s consideration she pulled out the parchment inside it. The crew members prompted her to read it out loud

Jihoo had just come out of the washroom when Jandi arrived. He noticed Jandi twich as their eyes met but, frankly, he was used to it by now.

“The water’s warm. You can take a shower if you want” he said as he strode across to the balcony rubbing his wet hair with towel. A bath really changes everything, Jihoo believed. If one has the right bathroom environment and the correct wash items—all  the ill feelings and bad moods can get washed away with body dirt. He knew he had been extremely rude to Jandi up until now, though for her own good, he wanted to give things a fresh start, now that Jandi’s head was in the right place.

“Jihoo-sshi”

Jihoo turned back to find the same crew member calling out to him. He rose up and fully faced him.”De?”

“It’s time for your interview” the man said

“Oh sure…” Jihoo said and walked with them to the other room.”What’s your name again?” he asked the man. The man introduced himself as Park Young as they proceeded to the adjuscent room

His interview ended and he was handed out an envelope as well just like Jandi

Jandi sat, in her sweatshirts, in the sofa at one end of the room. She hadn’t seen Jihoo for quite a while now. Not that she was complaining, with him gone, she could give the excuse that he wasn’t available for the….kiss. Just as she was thinking the door of their room opened and Jihoo came in.

“Are you going to sit there all day like that?” Jihoo sighed. Jandi blinked furiously. “If you’re gonna sit idle…atleast do that fashionably, wear something fancy” he said walking across the room, to the wadrobe beside the bed  “You are given an entire wardrobe , make use of it!”

“I didn’t ask for it” Jandi protested, rising up

“I know. They gave it so you look pretty and not your ordinary dull self”

Jandi opened and shut it again. She exhaled looking away. “Is that jealousy talking?” she said finally turning to him

“Why would I be?” Jihoo asked “Because of this?” he waved his hand throughtout the scale of the wardrobe. Jandi nodded and Jihoo let out a laugh. “Clearly you haven’t seen mine”

“You have one too?” Jandi asked, confusingly. She had seen only her stylist come in and put her clothes. She hadn’t seen any male clothes so she thought Jihoo’s suitcase was all he had.

Jihoo pushed one side of his cheek out with his tongue and smacked his lips. Jandi hated these actions of his, these times when he thought he knew better and what was further irritating, is that in most cases he was correct. It wasn’t a thing she hated now, in the times they spent together earlier he showed these signs and even then she loathed it. Suddenly his facial expressions changed and he wore a serious look. “The other couples..” he said looking away. “I saw-saw some of them are out” Jihoo rubbed his nose from time to time as he pointed to the door avoiding eye contact.

 Jandi knew this behavior, she had seen it before but she couldn’t put a finger on what it really meant.

“Why don’t we go out too?” he said tilting his head sideways and looking at her for a split second.

 Jandi studied his face trying to decipher any secret message it slipped out.

Jihoo noted her watching him. She might be suspecting…Quick! Jihoo! Before she reads deep into this…”So that we can get some inspiration” he looked her straight in the eyes now. “I know we have been giving them wonderful footage till now” he said rolling his eyes sarcastically

Jihoo appeared from the adjuscent room, where the interviews were held earlier, wearing a long coat that also acted like a cape.”It’s cold” he breathed out, smoke coming out of his mouth as he tightened the muffler round his neck. “Should I not do it on the rooftop?” he thought “But she likes being under the stars” Jihoo remembered once discussing such a topic with Jandi before her attack. She turned and found Jandi’s stylist Sharon coming out of their room “Ah noona…have you taken out a coat for her? It’s gonna be cold”

Sharon giggled “Yes I have Jihoo-sshi” she nodded “But I hope she gets cold still…you can give her yours then…it will be very romantic”

“It  perhaps would but then there wont be anymore Shillang” he joked

Just then Jandi appeared wearing a black and red dresscoat with black stockings. Her pearl white skin was accentuated by the dress and her short brown locks cupped her face perfectly. Jihoo was dazzled momentarily but soon he recovered watching Jandi get abit nervous.

“Where are we going?” Jandi asked

“To look for the other couples”Jihoo said calmly and started walking

“Do you know where they are?” Jandi timidly followed him, her heels making her a tad bit slower

“We’ll walk and hopefully bump into them” Jihoo halted suddenly. Jandi almost collided with his back. “It’s a really starry night” he said looking up at the sky. They were at the outward corridor and could see the sky clearly

“Ah de..” Jandi’s eyes followed his up the sky before getting lost in the twinkling web that spread across the sky. Jihoo surreptitiously glanced at her—she was happy, he got his motivation to bear with the cold.

Jihoo’s surprise dinner, despite all his doubts, went surprisingly well. Jandi was abit uncomfortable in the beginning but barbecued beef just made all her walls drop. They started talking like they used to and Jihoo was content. They were walking back to their room when one of the crew members separated them to record their reactions.

“I need to put the barbeque back. Can we do it after that?” Jihoo asked as Jandi walked away with the other half of the crew.

“Sure. We will be waiting for you in Room 402”

“402? We are not doing it in the same room as before?”

“Ah ani…that was temporary. It’s used as Storage now, for props and costumes. Infact keep you barbeque there. The hotel staff will collect it tomorrow for cleaning”

“Oh..you’re back” Jandi mumbled as she saw Jihoo enter the room. ‘You’re mission is still pending Jandi’ the crew’s warning rung in her ears “What do I do?” she thought “Should I thank him for dinner and..?” she stealthily looked at him. Jihoo was kneeling before his suitcase, fishing for his night clothes. She went up to him “Mmm…thank you for the dinner”

“Ah you’re welcome” he nodded, looking up at her

“Aish! The angle isn’t right…How can I kiss him like this” Jandi thought pursing her lips. “Urgh! Dang it!” she thought and knelt down beside him. “It was lovely” she said. Jihoo was slightly taken aback but managed a nod “The beef was yum” Jandi continued trying to get closer.

“Yea I know” Jihoo didn’t even look at her, this time. Instead he rose up as he finally got a suitable shirt and pajamas.

“Ah I cant do this…I am pathetic!” Jandi cried to herself “I have never kissed anyone! How can I kiss him?”

“Hey listen…my phone’s acting pretty weird” Jihoo suddenly said taking out his phone

“That makes two of us then..” Jandi muttered under her breath

“What?”

“Nothing...what is it? What does it say?” Jandi rose up, her back facing Jihoo, when Jihoo went over and handed her his phone

“Some authentication error. You’re pretty good with technology…have a look” he said from behind her as Jandi watched the mobile screen

“You need to authenticate your Google account..are you giving the right password?” she said. “What was it again? Abcd1234?”

“You remember?” Jihoo nodded

“That’s like the dumbest password ever, by the way” she said keying in the credentials

The homescreen of the phone showed up with a clink

“Ah there you go! It’s unlock—“

But Jandi couldn’t finish her sentence because as she turned she came face to face with Jihoo and their lips collided in the softest embrace. The phone slipped from her frozen hands but Jihoo magically caught it mid air parting the momentary kiss.

Hello everybody!

Sorry for the late update(again)..So since the big wedding is coming up and I need to write it out in detail...meanwhile I am going to give you snippets like this to keep you guys sated.This one is totally about Jungmin+Seungyeon and Jihoo+Jandi. I'll try to write a few for the other couples too ( I know I know I'll do Hyunmin too!)

As for updates. my work is taking up alot of my time but some bigger endevours are gonna begin  for from August...so its my goal to finish this before that. As of now I'll try my best to update this monthly atleast. But I am gonna quit my job in April so maybe I'll write more then.

Let me know your comments!