Chapter 8: “Everything I need is right here by my side- Taylor Swift”

-o0o-

The morning was high, and her covers were shielding her from the beams that entered through her window. What time was it? What time did she sleep last night? So many guests with so many questions...where did they all go? What happened to them? Slowly she raised her head; eyes squinted at the surroundings, finding the clock at the far end that told her it was 30 minutes after ten. Still sleepy, Jessica opened her eyes forcibly to see where she was.

Back in her room? She didn’t remember sleeping here at all. She rubbed her eyes, getting up and wearing her slippers. The blonde, yawning, dawdled downstairs, finding her boyfriend awake and watching television. With his legs crossed and an arm by the armrest, Onew was so focused on the channel, already wearing his t-shirt and every day shorts. Without even knowing it, he felt someone crawling towards him, obviously something with blonde hair and skinny arms. He was still motionless, eyes on the TV.

She pecked his cheek a good morning, wondering now what her breath must have smelled like. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” Onew replied, not minding her company. “How do you feel?”

She felt a little blessed for someone who often asked how she felt that time. She paused, thinking and feeling her heart thump. “Wonderful. And you?”

“You’re not drunk anymore, are you?” Onew turned off the TV, smiling at her and kissing the side of her head. “You smell like it too. What happened to you last night?”

Sica’s expression changed from happy to confused, rather lost in his own explanations. “I was hoping you can help me about it.”

Onew laughed, pushing her down the couch. “Seriously, you don’t remember?”

“When you’re drunk, I suppose your nerve cells are affected by the substance contained in the alcohol. It can also send your eyesight from blurry to bizarre, hallucinating is possible too---”

Stopping her with a long hard kiss, Onew helped her up, knowing that she was rough in this kind position. “Don’t be sassy on me with those words. I’m not as smart as you.”

“Yes, because you’re smarter,” Sica told him, hugging him as luck would have it. “Now, tell me. What happened? We didn’t do anything wrong, right?”

Onew nodded, messing around with her hair again. “Nope. I had to drive your mom and dad home that night. Before I left, you were still on the table with the rest of your friends. When I got back, nobody was there anymore. I found you asleep on the bed.”

“Really?” Jessica wondered, struggling to recall last night’s incident. She couldn’t help but smile at how she escorted everyone out, all her friends and some of Donghae’s old pals left too. She remembered waving at them, waving at Tiffany and Taeyeon who were carrying the twins on their backs, as Sungmin held Jinhye by his arms since Sunny out-drunk her husband in a couple of shots. A few of them were staggering to walk, but they were guided back to their cars. After that...total blackness. Nothing but the wind that swept her hair, and the soft sheets she laid in...

“I remember falling asleep outside,” Jessica muttered to Onew who led her to the kitchen to eat. “Are you sure I was in bed by the time you got back?”

“You were still wearing your dress so I assumed you dropped yourself there,” Onew said, handing Sica a sandwich he made for breakfast. “Eat up. We have to attend mass today. Can we have it this afternoon?”

“It’s a Sunday, right?” Jessica asked, rubbing her wrist serenely as she accepted the food. She wanted to ask Donghae about the blood samples in her lab, if ever he touched them again like the last time. No other doctors could enter Jessica’s lab at the hospital except Donghae and herself. She didn’t even know why it was in the first place. Donghae must have a spare key to the lock, or because he usually sneaked up on her when she would lock it, snatching the keys from her coat as swift as any pick pocketing key thief.

But maybe he would go to church today as well. Donghae’s mind was clouded the very minute, overcoming his state and changing to sober again. It was a quarter past ten; Sica still hadn’t called him how she was doing. Last night was exhausting for her, he noticed at once by the way she curved her smile. She faked it; everything she presented was bogus. And he knew because she was so tired that day to look just as pretty, to the people who looked up to her.

“Hey,” he gazed at his seatmate, mind still on Sica. “Is something bothering Donghae-sshi?”

He shook his head, closing his eyes and craning his head on the seat. The bus was good to sleep in. “Nothing, Sunye. Just a headache.”

She took it as a warning not to disturb him anymore, so quietly she laid her head on his shoulder, as she closed her eyes to dream. Donghae wanted to know if Sica’s hangover was okay, but his mind begged him to let it go. Jessica could take care of herself. He mustn’t worry that much for she was 31. She was rather heavy that night, as Donghae tried his best to carry her back to her bedroom. Sica was struggling to get out of his strong arms but he held her tightly, and told her to keep still and go to sleep. Jessica was smiling ecstatically due to the consequences of alcohol she drank that night.

“Oppa! Oppa! Let’s party!” he remembered her muttering, eyes already closed. What an idiot.

Donghae resisted her push and pulls, at times kicking him with those momentary tantrums of hers. He made her lie down and take a nap, but after which she refused again. He would forgive her for that, but he couldn’t understand one thing she was persistent. It had pained Donghae, the comparisons of judgment she used. The term love was heavy on him indeed.

“Onew-oppa! He is the sweetest man I’ve ever known,” Jessica told Donghae who was already heading outside. He stopped yet again when she started confessing random stuff. “Have you met him?”

Donghae couldn’t help but giggle. “Yes, I have. A very nice man indeed, Jessica.”

“But he’s so kind and loving and he would never give up on you,” she told him snuggling her pillow as she suddenly fell quiet. “I wish...I wish you could be like him. He’s amazingly perfect.”

“Perfect,” Donghae stated after her, sighing at her remarks. “You’re right. But I can’t.”

He closed the door behind him, his emotions beginning to give him a hard time again. It was long over with Jessica, long before medical school started. But with these endless childish games, it would seem that his mind could go tamed under the powerful Venus’s innocence and beauty. Sica knew Donghae better than anyone did, even Sunye who he had been with for almost 4 years. They were engaged; Jessica wasn’t yet but would soon be, he thought. He should forget.

-o0o-

They were in an isolated room, far from the real set, a private conference room in the studio. Leeteuk was gripping his cell phone while the rest of the people inside fell quiet, waiting the director to start speaking to them again.

Teuk looked up, clearing his throat. “Shall we continue?”

The crew nodded, some fixing their glasses, others gulping at his awkward state, while the rest simply avoiding Eeteuk’s eyes. He drummed his fingers as if pretending to be excited about the new drama the Waegyun was going to present. Why did he forget? He was so...shocked to see Kim Kibum again, along with little Yoona who was favored in most commercial films she starred. It would be a great success if these two really clicked, making the company even known outside of Seoul.

The two of them, alongside with the rest of the cast for ‘All for you’ (the title of the story), were patiently wondering what kind of person would be shouting like that to Leeteuk, who was very caring at work.

“Hyung,” Kibum spoke, his hands on the table. “I have a question.”

“Go on, Kibummie,” Eeteuk said.

He hesitated at first, feeling Yoona glancing at him. His insides were twirling.

“Have you finalized yet who would be casted as Kim Jo Seok and Shin Hyunae?” he wondered, already knowing Eeteuk’s inside plans earlier than the rest.

The director laughed. “Would you believe me if I told you you’d be playing the main role, Bummie-sshi?”

 All of them clapped, a not surprised look glued to Kibum’s face, expecting exactly those words would be released. He simply smirked, keeping the crowd down. Another one, a very curious face, raised his hand, wondering what role he got.

Leeteuk was still giggling. “Aigoo, the best friend of Kim Jo Seok, of course.”

They cheered for him happily, giving handshakes and such. This particular person was absolutely interested that he asked another question that made Kibum’s heart flutter.

“But...who is playing Shin Hyunae? The leading role for our Kibum?”

Eeteuk gazed at Yoona who was waiting for it the whole time when she got during the audition. She was crossing her fingers for this role, wanting her fame to go higher than most Korean stars. For the sake of it, she loved acting, and she wanted this shot so badly because it would have her celebrity reputation better than the last time.

The rest were all glancing at where Teuk was looking, sensing now that it was her all along, so predictable. But Leeteuk stared at the ceiling, smiling with those deep dimples.

“Yeeun’s playing Shin Hyunae,” Teuk exposed, and there were a bunch of gasps in the room. “She’s the newest member of WG.”

Kibum too looked sideways; just next to Yoona was a girl with black wavy hair and intelligent dark eyes that were even sparkling bright in the sunshine. Her smile was enchanting it had Kibum star-struck at the sight of her limitless charm. Magnetized, Kibum was gaping and was pretty much looking forward to working with her.

She was surprised at the director’s decision, as all of them clapped. The girl beamed, standing up and waving at them cheerfully, still surprised---Yoona congratulating her with the prize. But Yoon had something inside her that she couldn’t explain, some sort of defeat that had her flying across the globe.

“See, Yeeun!” Yoona said, feeling happy still for Yeeun who got the part. “You’re audition was better than mine!”

Yeeun was very ecstatic. “Hello everyone, I am Yeeun. But I like being called Olivia. I graduated college in SMEU, being the head of the drama club. I am very happy to be of help and I hope you show me love through the whole taping. Thank you and good luck to us!”

Kibum clapped the loudest, somewhat disappointed that it wasn’t Yoona, but he was enthralled by Yeeun. Yoona then held her hand out, willing to ask Eeteuk about something that bothered her.

“Oppa, what role did I get?”

Eeteuk crossed his arms across his chest, leaning back on his chair. “See, most of you read