JONGHYUN   FNC Academy, 8:45AM   “Ya!” Yonghwa hyung called to my attention as I kept on pacing back and forth inside the practice room. “Stop doing that. You’re making me dizzy.”   UGH! I couldn’t keep calm!   I finally managed to sit down on the empty stool standing just right beside Yonghwa hyung who was busy tuning his electric guitar.   “Can you tell me what’s going on?” He said as he placed his instrument down and sat down on the stool opposite mine.   “Hyung can’t keep calm because he’s finally meeting his future girlfriend.” Jungshin said smugly as he stood up from Minhyuk's drum set.   “Ya!” was the only thing I managed to say.   For a tall guy like him, I didn’t even know he was there.  Or was he already there since we came in? Wait, we came altogether, right? Or was I the first one to come here?   Aish! Face it, Jonghyun! You really are distracted!   “Wait a second.” Yonghwa hyung said as he put his right hand up, as if to interrupt the upcoming debate between the maknae and I. “This girl is the reason why you got so late in coming back the other night from the grocery store, isn’t it?” He said as he eyed me suspiciously.   I just grinned at him in respond.   “I actually still can’t believe that you almost exchanged our dinner for some random girl you just met.” He said with arms crossed.   Mehehe, looks like hyung and the dongsaengs still haven’t gotten over what happened last Wednesday night. I remember when I got back at practice room, they all instantly dashed towards me and grabbed the plastic bag that contained our dinner, not even bothering with the greetings anymore. It was only until the middle of dinner that they managed to ask what took me so long, and of course, I explained to them what happened.   They all wanted to strangle me when they found out that I’ve been stuck for so long just because I offered my help to some girl I just met.   “Oh come on! Was I really gone for that long?” I asked, trying to hold my laughter. “And she’s not just any random girl, hyung. She seems different.”   “Of course she’s different. She’s not Korean.”  Yonghwa hyung said and I heard Jungshin snort.   There goes the trolling Yonghwa hyung.   “Apart from that.” I let out a sigh. “She’s different in a sense that I really find her interesting.”   “That’s because you have a lot of girls to compare her with.” He said matter-of-factly and then his face suddenly had this mischievous look on. “Oh yea, you don’t.”   “Ya! I may not have been dating lately but mind you, I had ten girlfriends before.” I said smugly.   Well, it’s not that I’m proud to have that many failed relationships but hey… it’s a guy thing! Kekeke.   “So you’re really planning to make her your girlfriend, hyung?” Jungshin piped in as he stood in between Yonghwa hyung and I.   “I suppose so. It wouldn’t take Jonghyun an hour or so to come back from a five minute walk grocery store, considering that he only had a few things to buy if he wasn’t serious about the girl.” Yonghwa hyung snickered as he straightened his jacket.   “I hope she won’t be the eleventh ex-girlfriend.”   “Oh you got that right, Jungshin-ah! This girl better be worth it cos our stomach sacrificed a lot too!” Yonghwa hyung interjected.   Clearly, he’s still not over the whole I-got-late-in-bringing-their-dinner thing. That could just mean one thing…   “Aish! Dinner’s on me again next time, happy?” I blurted aloud defeated.   Yonghwa hyung and Jungshin had victorious smug looks on their faces.   “I wasn’t really expecting you to say that but since you insist, then so be it.” Yonghwa hyung said complacently. “But then seriously speaking,” He paused as he cleared his throat and shifted to a more serious and sincere tone. “I really wish you the best for this one, Jonghyun-ah.”   “Nado hyung. I hope she’s the one.” Jungshin added as he and Yonghwa lightly punched each side of my arm.   I couldn’t help but smile. Honestly, I am touched. These band mates of mine are like brothers to me. They know much this means to me.   “Well, we’ll see about that. Don’t be too excited. You guys might jinx my luck. If things don’t work out today, you will be the ones to treat me dinner.” I told them as I stuck my tongue out at them and they just shook their heads sideways, laughing.   I don’t know either but there’s something about this girl that makes me want to know her more. Could it be mere coincidence that I’ve crossed paths with her or could it be fate’s work?   I wouldn’t have met her for the second time if it didn’t really mean anything, did it? Yea, I might actually be one of those ers who believe in destiny.   I was broken out of my reverie when the door of the practice room flung open with a hyperactive looking Minhyuk on the entrance.   Err…what happened to that drummer boy? Last time we checked, he said he was just going to the restroom. I wonder what took him so long.   “What happened to you?” Jungshin remarked at him as he looked at him from head to toe.   “Um… Jonghyun hyung?” He said in between heavy breaths, ignoring Jungshin’s comment.   “Ne?” I responded, as I stood up from my stool so I could recheck my red electric guitar if it has the right tuning before our practice begins.   “Is Zee noona the girl you’ve been blabbing to us about non-stop?” He asked in an innocent manner, with that kiddie-look on his face.   I saw Yonghwa hyung and Jungshin exchange confused with a hint of teasing glances.   Zee noona? As in Super Junior Heechul hyung’s girlfriend?! What’s gotten into Minhyuk to ask such question!   “What on earth are you talking about?!” I snapped at him. “Do you want Heechul hyung to kill me?”   “Well, she’s outside right now. You said you were going to meet someone at around 9am right?”   “Yea but I swear Zee noona has got nothing to do with this!” I said as I got on my foot and walked out of the room.   I might as well see this for myself. I walked as fast as I could until I reached the lobby and through the glassed entrance door, there really was Zee noona standing with her arms crossed as she observed her surroundings.   I wonder what she’s doing here. Does Heechul hyung even know she’s here?   As I opened the door and was on my way approaching Zee noona, she saw me right away and gasped at the sight of me.   “Jonghyun-ah!” She greeted me with a smile yet her puzzled expression was still very evident.   “Zee noona!” I greeted back as I slightly bowed my head to her and shook her hand. “Don’t take this the wrong way but what are you doing here?”   “I was about to ask you the same thing.” She said as she returned the gesture to me.   “Well, this is where the band and I practices whenever we have performances. We’re preparing for our Music Bank performance later.”   “Oh! I see. Good luck for later. Send my regards to the others.” She said with a smile. “Anyway, I’m just here to drop off a friend.”   Drop off? A friend?! Wait a second! Could it be…   “Noona, is that friend of yours a girl?” I asked her, unable to hide my curiosity and amusement.   “Yes. She is. She said she’s meeting someone here.” Zee noona replied with a surprised expression and then she suddenly gasped as if a sudden realization had hit her. “Oh my god! Don’t tell me you’re—”   I gave her a meek smile and nodded my head so as to confirm her speculation.   She gasped once more as our hands let go from one another’s grip.   “Such a small world, isn’t it?” I joked to her so as to get her out in her state of shock.   “Yea. I wonder if Kyuhyun knows about this.” She said in a soft low voice, which I still managed to hear, her index finger placed on her lips as if she was musing about something.   Eh?   “Kyuhyun hyung?” I asked her as my eyebrows furrowed out of curiosity.  “Why? What does he have to do with it?”   Zee noona looked surprise yet again as she bit her lips. “Err, did she tell you what her exact story is?”   To be honest, I was starting to feel nervous about how strange Zee noona was starting to act. Hmm…   “Nope. I don’t even know her name yet actually. Is there something I should know?”   “This is getting complicated.” She said in a low voice as she narrowed her eyes as if she was thinking about something deep.   “What’s complicated?”  The clueless me just had to ask yet again.   “Well, you see she’s—   Before Zee noona can continue what she had to say, from the corner of my eye, I saw a walking figure headed to our direction and the curiosity that was starting to build up in me earlier became irrelevant right now.   My eyes lit up at the sight of her. She’s really here! She really showed up and what’s even more amusing is that she’s a friend of Zee noona! How small could this world be! Her long brown hair is tied up in a half-ponytail as she was wrapped in a khaki-colored coat with a white long tee that is good enough to be a mini-dress inside matched with what seemed to be a pair of black leggings and black ankle boots.   I waved to her so as to let her know that I’ve acknowledged her and she returned the gesture to me with a smile as she made her way to our post.   “Listen noona, can you please not tell her about who I am? I want to tell her myself.” I told her in a low rushed tone.   Not that I don’t want her to know about my status as a celebrity but I don’t want our meeting to be awkward or anything. I don’t want to overwhelm her with that idea. I want her to know me for who I really am, not as the lead guitarist and vocalist in some uprising rock band. Besides, I’m not planning on keeping the idea from her for too long.   “Sure thing. But wait… you’re not planning to trick her or something, are you?”   I chuckled at what she said. “Of course not, noona! If I did, I’d probably throw that idea out now that I’ve found out that you’re her friend.”   Relief seemed to have dawned upon noona’s face as she placed a hand on mine. “That’s good then. Anyway, just a little reminder. Please do take care of her. She’s prone to accidents.” She chattered back to me quickly and just as soon as Zee noona said the last word, the girl I’ve been dying to know was already there, standing just a few meters away from me.   I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her who seemed delighted to see me as well. Her radiant smile wasn’t able to stop me from finally making my way towards her. I let go of Zee noona’s hand as I reached it out to her.   “Hey, you came!” I told her cheerfully and I could feel the corner of my lips reaching up to my ears.   I won’t deny how extremely happy I am right now. I then felt her warm, smooth hand on mine as she shook it and said, “Well, I just happen to be the type of person who keeps her word. Besides, you know this is the least thing I could do for you after everything you’ve done for me.” She ended with a wink and I felt my hand tightening on her grip even more as I smiled at her.   We were both locked into one another’s gazes and smiles until we heard Zee noona clearning . Whoops. It’s only then that the girl and I let go of one another’s grasp.   Noona turned to face the girl and placed a hand on her shoulders. “I have to get going now. I’ll see you later. You know where to find me, right?” The way that Zee noona was talking to her made it seem like they’re sisters.   The girl just nodded to her in respond with what looked like a reassuring smile.   “And you.” Zee noona called to my attention. “Please take care of my friend.” She reminded me once again after telling me what a magnet her friend is to accidents.   I gave her a two thumbs up and smiled confidently, remembering the short deal I had with her earlier. “Not a problem!”   “Very well then. Have fun!” Zee noona winked at her friend and gave me a slight nod before heading off.   After noona sped off, it was only this mystery girl and I left on our own. I glanced at her again as she watched Zee noona’s car swiftly disappearing from our sight. When it was completely gone, she turned around to face me. Her side profile mesmerizing me even more and I was broken out of my reverie when she turned around to face me and broke the silence that was filling between us.   “So before I forget. Can I know your name now?”   I chuckled at her, amused how naturally cute she looked. “Well… ladies first. You still haven’t told me yours too.”   Her lips formed into a pout as she said, “No fair! I asked first.” She countered as she stuck her tongue out at me.   Wow! Her aegyo seems natural.   “Fine! Fine!” I said as I raised my hands in defeat. “I’m Lee Jonghyun. You can call me Jonghyun. And you?” I said with a matching hand gesture as if to say ‘after you’.   I noticed how her brows furrowed as if she was familiarizing herself with my name. Well, she’s a foreigner. So obviously, it’s the first time she’s heard that kind of name.   “I’m Angela.” She finally said with a sweet smile.   Angela… Her name fits her perfectly.   “Well, finally I can address you by your name now.” I told her with a wide grin and honestly, I could feel my cheeks hurting from doing so.   What? I can’t help it.   “Same here.” She replied shortly.   “So Angela.” I began and I felt a smile forming on my lips yet again. What? It’s the first time that I’ve addressed her with her name. “Shall we go now?” I offered her my hand as I waited for her to take it.   She looked at it with a questioning expression before deciding to put her soft hands on mine. “Where are we going?”   I pulled her along with me gently as we went through the entrance door. “Some place where you’ll become a part of my world.” ANGELA   I was seriously left speechless as Jonghyun tugged me inside the building and it was only until we stopped infront of this wooden built door with what seemed to be a soft cushion on its surface that I managed to have the guts to ask him what he was really up to.   Frankly, what he said earlier kind of made the hairs on my arms and neck raise. Not that I’m dissing him or anything but I just found it to be very cheesy. Hahaha! But still, I think Jonghyun is one sweet guy. It’s quite too unfortunate that his name sounds like Kyuhyun and I couldn’t help but get reminded of him too. Err.   “Jonghyun, seriously, what are you up to?” I looked around the place, trying to get a clue of where we were but I can’t seem to figure that out since all I see are closed rooms. There weren’t much people, to be honest.   It looks like an office for me though. The carpeted floor, that certain fresh scent that gives out a business-y atmosphere, it pretty much reminds me of our family’s office back in the Philippines.   Okay. Moving on.   “You’ll see in awhile.” He said as he placed his other free hand on the bronze colored knob. “And just relax, okay?” He said, his eyes crinkling as he shows me a comforting smile while his warm hand gave mine a light squeeze.   Err, he must have felt how