DING DONG

Somin opened the door to find a panting Hyunjoong standing outside

“HYUNJOONG!” she exclaimed as her eyes grew big in shock

“Could…could you…come out for a while?” Hyunjoong managed to say

Somin was puzzled to see him like that so she nodded and went out.Hyunjoong drove and halted before the same park where he has confessed his feelings for Haera to somin

“Remember the last time were here?” Hyunjoong sighed

“Mmm” Somin nodded “you confessed how you feel about Haera” Somin said looking away “Does she know you’re here? With me?” she asked after a momentary pause

“No”

“Then I think I should go back” Somin said and turned to open the door

“She doesn’t know cause she doesn’t need to know” Hyunjoong said hurriedly

Somin stopped struggling with the locked door and turned around to face him. “She’s your girlfriend and your future wife-to-be. She needs to know and as far as I know she wont like—“

“She was” Hyunjoong said alittle loudly

“Wha-What?”

Hyunjoong turned to her with narrowed eyes “She was my girlfriend. We broke up”

“Aah! Now I get it” Somin started laughing “You broke up with her so you came to me for entertainment right? Tomorrow you’ll break up with me and go back to her or someone else! That’s how you roll right?”

“NO! I BROKE UP WITH HER CAUSE I LOVE YOU!” Hyunjoong shouted leaning closer

The statement silenced Somin.  These words—she had waited for them so long! Yet now when finally Hyunjoong spoke them they hardly had any impact on her. She should feel happy right?Then why wasn’t she?

 Suddenly her phone vibrated. The phone’s vibration broke their silence as Hyunjoong leaned back in his seat and Somin took her phone out. She opened it to find a new message.

‘Had a great time. Goodnight and sleep tight. See you tomorrow :)  –Jihoo ’

A slight smile automatically formed on Somin’s face but then she felt Hyunjoong’s eyes on her. She quickly closed her phone.

 “I need to go” Somin said as she again resumed to unlock the door

“ Do you like Jihoo?” Hyunjoong asked

“Even if I do that’s none of your business” Somin said looking away “Now will you open the door so that I can go back home”

Hyunjoong couldn’t believe what was happening. From his childhood he has always got what he wanted. He wasn’t spoilt but whenever he wanted something he got it on his own. This was the first time he was facing defeat. Somin was the person he wanted to be with the most but he couldn’t have her! He never felt this helpless!

“Yah!” Somin snapped her fingers and brought Hyunjoong out of his daze. “Would you please care to open the door”

“Put on your seatbelt I’ll drop—“

“I can take care of myself! Just open the door!”

“WOULD YOU JUST STOP BEING CHILDISH!” Hyunjoong yelled in frustration. Not only did Somin bluntly rejected his proposal but she now doesn’t even want to be with him! It was enough to make him lose his tether. Somehow he composed himself and said in a low tone, “The roads are not safe at this hour. I took you out so its my responsibility to drop you home safely. So please co-operate”

Somin sighed and put on her seatbelt. Hyunjoong felt relieved when she did so and he quickly started the engine lest she changed her mind again.

Haera cried herself to sleep on Jihoo’s chest. When Jihoo found she wasn’t moving anymore he carefully picked her up and laid her down on the bed. As he tucked her in he looked at his sister’s tear-stained eyes. Her mascara was all smudged and the liner dripped down her face along with her tears. Jihoo caressed her cheeks with his thumb and finally left her room.

Jihoo went into his room and locked the door behind him. He stood there,for a while holding the doorknob,looking at the ground. He remembered his sister—their childhood together. He had always been her guardian angel. Whenever anyone bullied her, Jihoo used to break their teeth and make them wish they were never born. Jihoo closed his eyes

*FLASHBACK*

“Hey Hae what’s wrong?” Jihoo asked as he found Haera looking gloomy

“Nothing” Haera replied in a low tone

“Yah! Mareba…just the other day you were so happy that Hyunjoong proposed to you but now you look sad. Did you two have a fight?”

“Ani hyung. Its not hyunjoong its Somin.”

“Somin? Isnt she your friend whose also from Busan?”

Haera nodded “But I guess she’s not my friend anymore”

“Waeyo?”

“Somin likes Hyunjoong. She used to always stick with him. Initially I let them be even though I loved Hyunjoong since she was my friend and I wanted her to be happy. But when he proposed me I felt I shouldn’t turn it down cos he chose ME! She had her chance to win him over but she couldn’t! “

Jihoo nodded “You did right so what?”

“But now she’s blackmailing and tormenting Hyunjoong! She’s ignoring him,not attending his calls to draw him towards herself. And Hyunjoong also,being the innocent and loyal friend he is,is falling into her trap. That girl is a witch hyung! I dunno what to do! You know yesterday Hyunjoong went to her place without telling me!!”

Jihoo thought for a while and then finally said,“Well leave it upto your hyung! I’ll get  that witch out of your way! Don’t worry”

“Shincha?” Haera’s eyes got big in excitement “Oh! I love you hyung!”

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Jihoo took out his phone and opened a picture of Somin he took while she was working. After a while he found himself caressing the screen as Somin’s picture flashed on the screen

“Why….why did it have to be you?” Jihoo sighed and collapsed to the floor. He was torn. For the first time in his life, he knew he wasn’t on the right side but he couldn’t help it—Haera was his sister. He had to be with her or not be on any side at all! Finally he opened his eyes and went on to type a message

‘I joined the crew primarily to protect my sister but now the only one I want to protect is you. I didn’t realise when it happened or how it happened but I have fallen irrevocably in love with you Somin’

Jihoo looked at the text again and read it numerous times to himself. He wanted to hit the SEND button but he just couldn’t finally he erased it all and typed again

‘Had a great time. Goodnight and sleep tight. See you tomorrow :)’

DING DONG

“Who could it be at this hour?” Young saeng cried as he got up

“That too in such rain!” Kyujong turned to the door worriedly.It was true outside it was raining cats and dogs and it was almost midnight. The SSboys had returned to Youngsaeng’s place after Hyunjoong harshly throwed them out of his changing room. They were very upset with him specially Jungmin.

Youngsaeng opened the door and gasped,”HYUNG!”

Hyunjoong was standing outside totally drenched and shivering—his lips had turned blue due to cold.The SSboys rushed to the door hearing Youngsaeng’s gasp. They were shocked too seeing Hyunjoong like this. Finally recovering,they pulled him into the house as Hyunjoong remained totally frozen.

“Hyung what happened? What’s wrong?” Youngsaeng shook him but he remained silent with his gaze fixed on the ground

“Why the hell is he here? After kicking us out like that—“ Jungmin started to complain but Youngsaeng stopped him

“Jungmin not now!”he said sternly “Kyu take out the brandy from the fridge.” Youngsaeng dragged Hyunjoong to his room. Once there, Youngsaeng locked the door behind him and turned to Hyunjoong.

“Hyung…”Youngsaeng asked softly and held his shoulders.

But Hyunjoong broke into tears and hugged him “I lost her. I lost her Youngsaeng! I lost her!” he said between sobs.

Youngsaeng patted his back and said,” Hyung get a shower or else you’ll get sick. We’ll talk later”

Youngsaeng pushed him into the bathroom with a towel and went out.

When he reached the hall where the remaining SSboys were waiting for him he told them,”Guys I think you all should go now. It’s late”

“What? You are also kicking us out?” Jungmin shrieked but Hyungjun held his shoulders firmly. Jungmin turned to him and  Hyungjun signalled him to be calm. Jungmin turned to Kyu for support but he also signalled the same so he finally complied and left with Hyungjun and Kyu.

As they headed for their dormitory Jungmin couldn’t hold it any longer.

“Why did you stop me?“ he asked Hyungjun and Kyu

“Cause Hyunjoong hyung looked troubled and in situations like this he always seeks for Youngsaeng’s comfort” Kyu explained

“Jungmin we are all younger than him. Only youngsaeng is of his same age and knowing what a private person Hyunjoong is he can only share his troubles with Youngsaeng” Hyungjun told Jungmin

Jungmin calmed to a certain extent “But I’m still upset with him” he said with his arms crossed