“Yeah…” all of the debuted artists and the trainees of SM gathered in LSM’s mansion to celebrate Ri In’s successful debut. They guys were having beer, wine while the girls just have sips of juices.

“Yah Jang Ri In, you scared us to dead,” Jaejoong slightly pushed against her forehead as he sips his white wine. “You started so softly with those hands shaking so hard then suddenly performed so well…”

“We thought you would screw up,” Hankyung teased as he elbowed Siwon.

“What does that mean?” Ri In pouted.

“Because at the very beginning,” Siwon hesitated, holding back his laugh. “Your voice was horrible!”

“YOU…” Ri In placed her glass of apple juice down as she started chasing after Siwon.

She was running so fast that she didn’t see Taeyeon was coming her approaching way, not knowing Ri In was having fun with Siwon. They bumped; Taeyeon fell seated on floor while Ri In was always surrounded by a guardian angel as Junsu pulled her back from falling.

“You clumsy,” he pushed against her forehead. “Be careful.” His eyes never leave Ri In even though everyone could see that Taeyeon was looking sadly at the couple.

“Jang Ri In!” a stern masculine voice averted everyone’s attention to the left. It was LSM. “We’ll have a conversation in the study room,” he walked away once his words escaped his mouth.

“I’ll be right there,” Ri In withdrew her hand from Junsu, giving him a comforting smile as his face suddenly filled with worries. “He might have something to talk about the award…”

“Hyung, will it be okay to let her go alone?” Yoochun tugged on Yunho’s polo tee sleeve.

“Can’t you hear? He wants to have a conversation with Ri In, only her alone. We can do nothing even if we want.” Yunho looked at Junsu to see him still having stares on Ri In.

“Mr. Lee,” Ri In stepped in to the room, a room which she always spend time with her guardian back to the time she just arrived Korea. LSM open forth his arms to welcome her into his hug.

His hand run smoothly up and down through her silky hair, “You must have been through difficulties through out this time. No one here, call me uncle.”

“Uncle Soo Man thanks for giving me this opportunity.” Ri In can’t help but to let a few drops of tears drenched her face.

Pulling Ri In off to face her directly, he asked sternly, “You need to be honest to this question.”

Ri In held on her left hand and giving it a squeeze as she feels the seriousness of the person stood right in front of her. Someone who love her so much and she respected so much.

“Are you and Junsu going out together?” LSM queried.

Initially, Ri In wanted not say anything just remain silent, nevertheless, this will help nothing as she knows once he asked a question, he expected to get an answer.

“Of course, we are going out together. The promotion involved the both of us, without him…Uncle Soo Man what are you talking about.” Ri In stuttered.

“Li Yin, you’re way too smart to understand the meaning behind the question of mine,” he placed his hand on her shoulder, “I just want to know.”

She lowered her head, face filled with fears. “Yes…we have been together for almost two years now.”

LSM was rather taken aback to hear, ‘two years’. It has never come to his mind that they were so good in hiding things. In the past no one in SM could get to hide any relationships from him but this little girl here, had really surprised him.

“You said two years,” LSM shook his head in disbelief, “That’s mean during the time you were their assistant…”

“We’re serious with this relationship,” Ri In cut him off as she held on his wrist trying to convince him.

“I can see that from your eyes,” he said, his voice softened from the initial intense voice. Caressing on her hair, “What about Junsu, I know he won’t see this as a game but as for his parents.” LSM love and care for Ri In very much, “Not being mean but you’re a Chinese, can there accept you? And what if the fans know? You’ll be facing something really bad that you might not be able to withstand.”

Ri In was happy to hear her uncle did not mention any possibility of me ruining the boys’ career instead worried that I would face obstacles with his parents and also the future.

“No matter how hard it would be to save this love, we’ll not give up,” Ri In said, her eyes look so convincing that filled with maturity. “Every obstacles ahead us, we’ll go through it without any hesitations for our love.” She said, firmly.

Pulling her into his fatherly hug again, he whispered, “I don’t wish to see you get hurt in this relationship.”

-

“What did Mr. Lee said to you?” Junsu asked; voice filled with concerns as he looks around Ri In as if any part of her body injured.

“Yah, you think Mr. Lee would hit me or something?” Ri In laughed at his childish face.
Coming out from the kitchen, Yunho passed Ri In a glass of warm milk, “Really, didn’t mention or reprimand you, anything?”

Ri In nodded her head, with smile. “He just tells me that there would be more hard work ahead of me. Just ask me to be prepared.” She shrugged.

Junsu interlocked the fingers of his with hers, “Even if he stop us, I’ll not let go this hand.” He brought up her hand and kissed on her back palm, “You’re destined to be with me forever.”

A smile escaped both their lips. But no one will know what would happen the day after today. Whether can they really be together forever, it is all lies on their hands. It’s hard to believe that actually whenever someone so close to happiness, they will somehow realize, it is actually still out of reach. Never did this come to their thoughts; that something is bound to hinder them from holding tight to this love.

-Mnet KM Music Video Festival, 2006 Korea-

“Whey, where are you?” Ri In hides in the ladies washroom to call Junsu. “What takes you so long to come here? The ceremony already started.”

“Didn’t they tell you?”

Ri In rolled her eyes in annoyance, “How would they when you had already asked them not to!”

“Good, they keep their promise. You better get back to the seats; the first award will be New Solo Artist, bye.” He hung up the phone.

“Ri In, where have you been,” Hankyung slightly held on her wrist and sits her down next to him, in front of DBSK’s seats.

She shook her head as she seated down, “Nothing…”

Jaejoong leaned over her place as she held on her shoulder, “Even if you don’t get the new artist award, you are still the best new artist to all of us.”

“And the winner of Best New Solo Artist of the year is,”

Everyone was shouting for Ri In’s name. JANG RI IN was the only thing people in the Olympic Stadium could hear. The lady presenter hardly gets to say a word even if she did, no one could hear. Time passing by swiftly, finally the guy presenter took the winner envelope and read out:

“‘Timeless’, Jang Ri In…” while the crowd shouted wildly as the chorus of ‘Timeless’ was played. The four guys seated behind her all stood up to share a handshake while Hankyung kept patting on her back. Ri In bowed really low as she passed by the other artists on the way ambling to meet her very first award in her career.

“Thank you…” a moment of silence made the entire crowd shout aloud the name of her love one, Junsu, indicating her to thank him. “I…I would…” she stuttered. “Thanks to SM Entertainment, thanks to Mr. Lee Soo Man who made me fall in love with music. Thanks to my manager, all the crew, my very small fans club, thanks. And lastly, thanks a lot to this person who helped and supported me so much, Kim Junsu. Thank you, I’ll work harder.”

The moment Ri In said out Junsu’s name, what she said after his name no one could hear as the fans all gone wild. Jaejoong and Yoochun covered their half smiling lips. Walking back to the dressing room, Ri In wrapped her arm around Manager Min’s shoulder gratefully. As she opened the door to her dressing room, Ri In’s eyes widened to see Junsu stood right in front of her. She rubbed her silver shiny eyes to see is she dreaming or the person in front her is only a mannequin she hallucinate is Junsu.

Pulling her into the room, his head peeped out to see is there anyone around before closing the door. Not even giving a chance for her so say a word, Junsu leaned in and kissed on her lips.

“Congratulations,” Junsu stared down into her eyes. “I knew you will win…”

“Why are you here instead sitting with the guys?” Ri In was so happy to see Junsu that she didn’t realize a drop of tear have flow down.

“Because, I wanted to be the first person to hug you after you win this award.” He kissed off the tear.

Ri In turned to her left as she hears the ‘canon’ musical box music filled the room. “Isn’t the musical box spoilt? Why it is functioning again?”

“Another reason that I’m here is to show you this.” He took the musical box in hold and said, “I know this means a lot to you. Aside from being the thing that had witnessed us became a pair, it also reminds you about your dad.”

She held on it as more tears flowing down, “Thanks…”

Junsu pulled her into his embracement gently, “Silly girl, don’t cry. You still need to go out watch us get more awards.”

“What if I didn’t win this? You would have waited here dumbly, isn’t it?” Ri In slightly wiped off the tears.

“If you did not, this present will replace this trophy to make you smile happily, just like now. Saranghae…” Junsu gently pinched on her cheek.

Ri In did not utter a word but just felt so touched. Walking back to the artist’s seats, before Ri In walked to her seat, Junsu whispered to her, “Do not stay too close with Hankyung or I’ll get jealous.” Ri In smiled to him with her squinted eyes as she hissed.

Upon sitting down next to Yoochun, he elbowed Junsu, “Went on smoothly, huh…”

Moving into the very last part of the presentation, it is the last and final award, Best Artist of the Year. DBSK had gained successful result through out the year by their third album. As the clip of the nominees ended, the lady who presenting the final award seems to be stalling a little in order to make the nominees more nervous. It was SG Wannabe again that became the strongest rival for the boys.

“And our winner is, Dong Bang Shin Gi…” she said aloud.

Ri In stood up and turned around to see five of them burying their face with hands. They won as expected. Not being able to retain the best music video award but they won this, an award that symbolizes them the best artist of the year. Junsu was the first person to make his move to the stage. As he passes by his fellow brothers, he gave them high five, manly hugs. Seeing Ri In, he can’t help put pulled her into a loose hug.

“…ah, I can’t continue,” Yunho stepped back. Jaejoong as the oldest in the group stepped up and thank all the people who helped them through out the process especially their fans ‘Cassiopeia’. He sincerely thanked his parents. He had been a hard year with the law cases. Yoochun did not cry emotionally like last year but he refused to give any speech as he knows he wouldn’t be able to hold back once he speaks.

Junsu who still holding on the trophy said, “There are so many people we need to thank, perhaps, an hour wouldn’t be able for us to finish thanking them. Nevertheless, there is someone I can not don’t thanks. Ajumma, thank you…”

This has startled Ri In. The SJ boys slightly peek at the surprised Ri In with half smiling face. It has never come to her mind that Junsu would thank her in this kind of open event. Although he did not thank her by her name, however, in fact ajumma was his name for her at the very beginning.

-

On the next day, supposedly all of them could have a day off. However, they were all called to meet in the office main meeting room. As they arrived, LSM and the CEO had already seated with an intense facial expression. Last night, after the music presentation ended, they went for supper and it ended very late. SM turns up becoming the biggest winner with DBSK, SJ and Ri In winning awards tonight. Winning so many awards of course the paparazzi would follow them closely. The moment they stepped out from the restaurant, the paparazzi non stop taking pictures of them especially Junsu and Ri In who are holding hands. It became more complicated when Hankyung stepped into the screen.

CEO Kim threw the newspaper on table as he sighed heavily, “This is what happens when there are no managers accompanying.”

All of their eyes goggled upon seeing the pictures printed on the newspaper. There were pictures, mostly Junsu, Ri In and Hankyung. It was a picture where Junsu wearing in the ring for Ri In, then another was pecking on her forehead, the worst was the one Hankyung holding tight on Ri In’s hand while she asleep soundly on his shoulder in the bus. The others were pictures of them coming out from the night club.

BEST NEW ARTIST JANG RI IN, WHO DO YOU LOVE? A LOVE TRIANGLE BETWEEN THE SENIORS AND JUNIOR

Hankyung turned to Ri In and looking at her stunned reaction guiltily while Junsu just stare at the both of them with worries and anger mixing in his mind at the same time. As for the main actress of this headline, Ri In, she just stares at the newspaper.

Presented by Celestine Blue
//Forsaken Love//

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oh no...the news were sprad out...
what will happen next?
will they be able to overcome this obstacle and hold on tight to this love of theirs?
stay tune for chapter 10 where Taeyeon will try her best in stepping out, Hankyung will explain his feeling for RI In to the netizen...as for Ri In, she begins to doubt that she's an obstruction to Junsu...
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