She smirked at me, telling me that she’s honest on what she’s saying. “Taemin, Sulli’s not,” I said. Before I can finish my sentence, Sulli swiftly covered my mouth with her porcelain hands. I tried to continue talking, but Taemin twitched his eye and can’t seem to understand me. It seemed like I was talking gibberish.

“He’s just saying that he’d love to be with me in Busan,” she explained and laughed. She quickly faced me and made an unexplainable expression.

“Really? I think he’s saying something different,” he said as he smiled. I widened my eyes and tried to nod. “See! I think you need to let go of your hands.”

“Ani, ani. He’s actually happy. That’s why his eyes became big like a frog,” she said. I shook my head hard and tried to remove her hands from my mouth, but it was too strong. It felt like her hands were glued to my mouth.

“Aish,” Taemin said in confusion as he scratched his head. “I’ll just go to the dorm. Bye!” he said. He went closer to Sulli and messed her hair again. What’s with him? “Welcome back, Ssul!”

Ssul. I thought I’m the only one who called her that.

“Ah, yeah. Goodbye,” she said. Taemin continued walking on the hallway as he gets far from us. I removed her hands from my mouth and my eyebrows pulled in irritation.

“What was that?” I said in an unexpected high volume. She placed her index finger in front of and made a long “sh” sound. “What was that?” I reitarated with a lower volume.

She swayed and looked down. I’m quite surprised and happy that she never changed her childish actions. “If I said that we’ll go somewhere near, he’ll tag along.”

“So?” I asked.

“Frankly, I consider him as family, but… sometimes, he becomes too pushy,” she said. “Be quiet with that, arasseo?”

I nodded. “So, you’re really not going to Busan with me?”

“I will,” she mumbled. I got confused again as I stepped back and widened my eyes.

“Why? You have a busy schedule!” I said.

“For this weekend, I don’t have anything to do.  And, you said your umma’s at the hospital. I’m worried, you know,” she explained.

“Are you sure you’re going to be permitted by SM? And everyone will recognize you when you get there.”

“First, yes, I’m certain that I will be permitted because I don’t have anything lined up for this week. And second, have you heard of the word ‘disguise’?” she said and laughed.

It looked like that she really wanted to go to Busan. It’s not that I don’t want her to come; I’m just being concerned on her schedule and safety.

I took a deep sigh and muttered, “Fine.”

“Jinja?” she said in excitement. I nodded weakly and she jumped in excitement.

“Just be sure that you get permission and do your ‘disguise,’” I said flatly.

“Ne, ajussi,” she teased me and laughed hard that she almost fell on the floor. My eyes squinted and gave her a bad look.

“You never changed,” I muttered. “Let’s meet at the KTX terminal later at 5PM. I need to be at the hospital as soon as possible.”

She nodded and gave me her phone number. I left the building and went directly to the condominium to pack up. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see Krystal in the kitchen, cooking.

“How did you get in?” I asked her in surprise.

“Uh, I just told the receptionist your name,” she said.

“How can the security here be so low? Aish,” I said as I walked towards the telephone and grabbed the handset. I dialed the number of the receptionist and it started ringing. Surprisingly, Krystal grabbed the handset and placed it back on its original position. “Why?”

“Oppa, I…” she mumbled.

“Huh?” I said as I started to get puzzled.

“I… duplicated your key secretly, oppa.”

“Mweo?” I exclaimed.

“Mianhae, oppa,” she said as she grabbed my arm. I was quite surprised and annoyed on what she did. “I just wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, you surprised me, but I got annoyed also,” I said in the calmest way possible.

“I just wanted to bake you a cake,” she said in decrescendo.

“Give me the key. Don’t do this again,” I said as I sighed. She gave me the key immediately.

“Arasseo. Are you in a hurry, oppa?” she asked me as she locked her right arm to my left.

“Ne. I need to go to Busan,” I said as I walked towards my room. She let go of her lock and stood on one corner of the room as I grabbed my big brown rucksack.

“I heard from your appa that your umma is sick. Do I need to go there with you?” she asked me.

“Ani. It’s okay. I’m fine to go there… alone,” I said flatly. I opened my cabinet and started grabbing a few tops, shorts and underwear that’s enough for the whole weekend. I placed the check Director Kangta gave me earlier in a safe place in the bag.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” I continued fixing my bag as she left my room and continued baking.

“You won’t eat the cake I made?” she yelled. I wore my bag and went to the kitchen.

“Ani. After you’re done with what you need to do here, just leave and lock the door,” I said. As I was about to exit the unit she held my hand. I faced her and saw her pointing her cheek, suggesting that I should kiss her. I paused for a while, thinking if I should. I pecked her on the cheek and she squealed.

“Goodbye, oppa!” she said blisfully.

When I was inside the terminal, I bought a ticket to Busan. I checked the time, and it was already 5PM, so I decided to text Sulli.

            To: Sulli
            Message: Where are you? ^^

After a while, someone nudged my left shoulder. I turned and saw a woman wrapped in a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants, holding a black bag. Her face is hardly unrecognizable because of the hood. “Boo,” she said. It was Sulli.

“What’s with the look?” I asked as I was weirded out with her outfit.

“It’s called the ‘disguise’ of the stars,” she said as she winked at me.

“Have you bought your ticket?” I asked. She nodded in excitement.

The train arrived at the exact time and we both boarded it immediately. I let Sulli have the seat next to window to protect her.

Minutes after, the train started moving. “How has it been, Minho?” she asked me as the hood is still in her head.

Still madly in love with you even though you left me eight years ago with no reply. “I’m good. You?”

“Aish. It’s obvious that you don’t watch me on TV,” she said lightheartedly as she hit my head lightly. “I’ve been good, but tired recently.”

I nodded lightly and smiled as I faced front, avoiding her stare. We’ve been silent for quite a long time. Awkward.

“I see that you’ve removed your glasses. Since when?” she asked me to break the awkward silence.

I gulped and said, “Just recently. I decided to wear contact lenses instead. You?” Why am I being like this? “Ah… what I meant was… your skin became whiter…”

I’m becoming the shy and nervous guy again. Why? “Yah! I was really white back then, right?”

“I-I-I don’t know,” I said flatly as I avoided her stare. What’s wrong with me?

“Are you sweating?” she asked me as her face became closer to mine.

“Ah, r-r-really? I-I-It’s summer,” I said as I wiped my sweat from my face.

I’ve realized one thing. Just as when we’re about to go back to Busan, one thing’s going back, too—the old me.