November 2, 2013

Ilana woke early as was her habit even if she had stayed up late.  JungMin and Suzy hadn’t arrived until almost eight P.M.  Having taken the scenic route back to Ilana's apartment building they showed up on her doorstep with Korean fried chicken and beer.  The two women squealed and hugged each other and (of course) cried and they all ate until bursting and laughed until they cried some more.  Ilana had to repeatedly pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

 - "Wae did you guys have to ignore me for weeks?  I get a scrapbook from you and then silence," Ilana pouted.  "Actually, you guys ignored me even before that."

 - "You think Maknae would have been able to keep it a secret?"  YoungSaeng said.

 - "Na could have hajiman you guys said Na wasn't allowed to talk to her."

 - "You're the one who wanted to surprise her," JungMin jumped in just to torture his buddy.

 - "Saengie Hyeong agreed with me!"  HyungJun defended himself.

The constant bickering was music to Ilana's ears; she was grinning from ear to ear like a dork and didn't care.  "Yah!  Gwenchana!"  Ilana had to break up a throw pillow fight that had just begun. "You're here now and that's all that matters.  Kansamnida," Ilana said quietly and getting misty-eyed.  YoungSaeng pulled her closer to him on the couch and leaned his head to hers.

They had talked about everything and nothing and finally called it a night around midnight.  Ilana looked over at Suzy who was still asleep.  "It really wasn't a dream," she whispered.  Her friends had come a long way just to spend a few days with her; this swelled her heart with joy.  Figuring her friends would sleep 'till noon, Ilana got herself dressed for her morning jog/walk.

Happily distracted reminiscing the evening, she completely forgot to set her stopwatch and went further than she normally did.  Before going upstairs to her unit, she stopped at a little market by the apartment building.  Groceries in hand, Ilana walked in on a surprised KyuJong & HyungJun.

 - "Princess!  We thought you were still asleep?"  HyungJun said.

 - "Where did you Agassi go?" KyuJong asked.

 - "I went for a light jog and stopped to pick up extra supplies for breakfast."  After her reply, KyuJong looked at Ilana disapprovingly.  "Yah, KyuJong Oppa!  Don't look at me that way," she smiled at him.

 - "Ilana-ssi, you promised to take care of yourself."

 - "I've done my best and...When I feel like I'm on a downward spiral, I usually manage to pull up before I hit the bottom."  HyungJun blinked a few times, his eyes suddenly shiny; Ilana gave him a soft smile.

 - "What are we going to do with you?"  KyuJong sighed.

 - "Just keep being nae Oppa, deh?"

 - "Aww Princess, you can't get rid of us that easy."

 - "Chuahyo.  Now, since you guys are awake and able, you can help make breakfast."

 - "Hajiman we're on vacation,” HyungJun complained.

 - "Chuahyo, I'll take you all out to breakfast then;" she was not going to let them spend their money.

 - "Anieyo kwenchanayo!   You win," KyuJong waved his hands in surrender. Ilana quickly put them to work fetching ingredients. 

Once pancakes and bacon were cooking, HyungJun opened the bedroom doors so the wonderful kitchen smells would wake the rest of the gang.  It worked.  Ilana's two helpers were just setting the table when the others started to come alive.

 - "What's that smell?"  Suzy said groggily.

 - "Something is making me hungry," YoungSaeng came out rubbing his eyes.

 - "Anjayo, sit down and eat guys.  Should we give Min a few more minutes before waking him up or let him miss breakfast."

 - "Everything looks so yummy, Unnie,” Suzy surveyed the table laden with blueberry pancakes, chocolate pancakes, and plain pancakes, along with bacon and sausage.

 - "He can skip breakfast," YoungSaeng greedily surveyed the food.

 - "Hungry, Oppa?"  Suzy giggled.

 - "Deh."

 - "Oppa's not a shy prince when it comes to food," Ilana teased.  "I'll wake JungMin-ssi."

 - "Andwae!!"  All the guys shouted at once.

 - "Waeyo?  It can't be that bad."

 - "Princess, it's like having a nightmare," HyungJun shook in mock fear.  “I know, I'm the one that always has to wake him up."

 - "I agree, how bad can it be?"  Suzy asked.

 - "You up for the challenge?"  Ilana asked Suzy as she stood.

 - "Deh, kaja."

The guys tried to block their way, but the girls still managed to get past them.

 - "Ilana, sit on his legs," Suzy instructed.  Ilana sat just above his knees, while Suzy removed his panda eye mask and earplugs, tucked the blankets tight around him and sat on his chest.  "Jagiya!!  It's time to wake up or you're not getting breakfast."

 - "Put a pillow over his face," HyunJun suggested, handing a pillow to Suzy.  Doing as she was told, she nervously held a pillow over his face.  As his air began to get cut off, he tried to punch whoever was assaulting him but Suzy's legs had his arms pinned.  He also couldn't kick because Ilana was on his legs.  Suzy heard mumbling under the pillow and cautiously removed it.

 - "Mworago?"  Suzy asked.  JungMin broke their hold on him and sat up knocking Ilana off the foot of the bed and Suzy, the side.

 - "Jagiya!"  JungMin now awake thanks to both girls screams.  “Ilana-ssi!  What are you two doing?"

 - "Trying to wake you up," Ilana said.  Suzy was too busy laughing to respond.

After eating and cleaning up they all went for a walk.  Suzy and Ilana had already enlisted JungMin's aid so they could have some time alone and shop for YoungSaeng's birthday.  Ilana had already ordered him a cake from a bakery in Union City close to Abigail's restaurant.

 - "What do you get a guy who lives on a ship and wears a uniform all the time?"  Ilana asked Suzy.  They had gone into Bloomingdales and were looking at accessories.

 - "He got his gift, Unnie; he just wanted to spend time with you."

 - "Suzy-ah, jaebal."

 - "Wae?  Unnie needs to move past whatever hurt you before, don't keep opening the wounds.  Saengie Oppa is a good namja, he really likes you.  I don't know what happened to you but it's done.  Live your life, you deserve to be happy."

 - "He deserves to be happy with a woman who can complete him.  I can't give him that, I'd be a burden on him and he'd hate me...I couldn't bear that."

 - "Pabo!  You're killing yourself slowly, don't you see?"  Suzy was trying to make her friend see reason.

 - "Better me than him," Ilana's eyes had alighted on the colognes and was able to put a temporary ceasefire on Suzy’s ranting.  "Kaja, I have an idea.  Call JungMin-ssi and tell him we're going to Sephora, it's only a little way across the street.  They can join us or meet us later."

 - "You're changing the subject."

 - "Anieyo, I have nothing more to say."

 - "Unnieeee!"

 - "Gomawo, chingu, I know you mean well," Ilana hugged her friend.  Walking the short distance to Sephora, Ilana blinked back tears and Suzy was resigned herself in defeat.

Everyone arrived back at Ilana's apartment tired and hungry.  From Sephora, they had decided to walk to the Koreatown in the Midtown West section of the city. It ended up being a little further of a walk than they anticipated, but the MS Amsterdam crew (minus YoungSaeng’s complaints) was used to walking.  Having purchased groceries in Koreatown, Suzy and Ilana made vegetable jaepche and steamed rice, while the guys grilled some meat outside.  With the fire pit blasting, they sat quite comfortably outside; eating, laughing and joking they enjoyed a camaraderie they all knew would not happen again soon.

 - "I have something to say," JungMin announced.  Once he had everyone's attention he began.  "Abeoji has added Suzy to the Park family registry."

 - "Wait!"  Ilana was the first to react.  "Doesn't that happen right before or after you get married?"

Suzy giggled.  "Abeonim wanted to add me while we were still in Korea.  Umma and Eomonnim are already working on planning the wedding."

 - "Yah, Suzy-ah, Na leave you out of my sight for a few days and nae assistant comes back practically married," KyuJong teased.

 - "Omo!  Suzy-ah, I'm so excited!"  Ilana squealed.

 - "While we have you all together," JungMin said.  "We'd also like to have all your blessings."

 - "Unnie will be my maid of honor?"

 - "Guerae!"

 - "Chukahae!" The guys shouted.

 - "Maknae, be my best man?"

 - "Wau…Greomyo!"

 - "Well, since we have everyone's approval...I better propose to the bride."

 - "Mworago?  What happened to the 'charisma' part of 'y Charisma'?"  KyuJong teased his dongsaeng.

 - "I'm getting there, be patient;” JungMin knelt before Suzy, to shouts of 'fighting' from one corner and 'Suzy say no' from another corner.  JungMin was wrong in thinking the most difficult part was over; his palms were getting sweaty again.  He took a deep breath to start but Maknae interrupted.

 - "Pali!  The camera is getting heavy," HyungJun had run back in for the camera and was now poised and ready to capture this momentous occasion.

JungMin just glared at the grinning Maknae and then continued.  "Suzy-ah is the only yeoja who, for me, is worth fighting for.  When Na first confessed on Valentine’s Day, Na thought for sure you would tell me to get lost."

 - "You should have," YoungSaeng teased.

 - "Omo!  Quit interrupting guys, you're only here three more days.  I'm sure Suzy would like to hear what he has to say," Ilana had to run interference.

 - "Suzy-ah, naega glad you didn't tell me to get lost.  Kansamnida, for giving me a chance; I've never felt as complete as Na have with Suzy-ssi on my side.  You push me to do better, you believe in me, more than I do myself.  Suzy smiles at me when Na talk about nae dreams but nae dreams are no longer my own.  I want them to be our dreams; without Suzy by nae side, it's not worth dreaming.  Jagiya, if you let me, Na want to be a husband you can count on, not only to support you financially but also emotionally.  Na want us to build a future together.  Na want to be there to love you, to make you laugh or comfort you when you’re sad.  Na want to see your beautiful face each morning when I wake up and each night when I go to sleep."  Ilana, Suzy, and HyungJun were all teary-eyed at this point.  YoungSaeng and KyuJong were grinning from ear to ear.  JungMin took a small box from his jacket and opened it.  "Will Suzy-ssi make me extremely happy and marry me?"  JungMin's hand was trembling as he waited for Suzy to find her voice.

 - "Deh," Suzy answered so quietly he wasn't sure he had heard her.

 - "Deh?"

 - "Deh, pabo!"  Having now found her voice, Suzy screamed her response.  JungMin wasted no time in slipping the beautiful vintage style ring on her finger.  It had a radiant cut one Karat diamond surrounded by three petite diamonds on each side. He stood and picked her up and swung her around.   Shouts of chukahae and clapping erupted from their spectator's

.

 - "Kiss, kiss, kiss...," everyone chanted.  JungMin leaned in for the kill, only to and everyone with a kiss on the forehead.  Complaints rose up from the spectators but JungMin continued placing unhurried kisses all over her face until ending with his prize:  her lips.

 - "It seems to be a night for announcements," KyuJong said sometime after they had given JungMin and Suzy a break from their teasing.

 - "Wae, hyeong?  Did you meet a yeoja back home?"

 - "Ani," he laughed.  "Na ran into Maknae at the recruiting office."

 - "What were you doing at the recruiting office?"  Again Ilana was a little slow in grasping the situation.   Everyone else was already nodding their head in acknowledgment.

 - "When?"  YoungSaeng asked.

 - "July," KyuJong said.

 - "May," HyunJung responded.

 - "We'll leave the ship a few weeks before to spend time with family," KyuJong added.

 - "On the bright side..," Maknae announced.  "Umma introduced me to a yeoja.  Sorry, Princess, we'll have to break up."

 - "Aww, Oppa, how will I face each day," Ilana playfully put the back of her hand on her forehead.  "Who am I losing you to?"

 - "Ara, it's hard," he patted her shoulder.  "Mianhae, I'll always have a place for you in my heart."  The two began to laugh at their silliness.  "Her name is So YiHyun and we went on two dates.  She's nice, down to earth, and she likes photography and she says she likes my playful personality."

 - "At least someone does," JungMin picked on his dongsaeng.

 - "Min, don't be mean," Ilana scolded.  "Hyung Oppa, she sounds lovely; I can't wait to meet her.  I'm a little sad that you guys have to go to the military, but it's only two years.  It will go by quickly right?  I can't believe it's almost a year that I've known you guys."

 - "We can have a big party when we're done," Maknae suggested excitedly.

 - "Guerae!"  Everyone agreed.

They stayed out on the patio until late into the night, laughing, talking, teasing, and arguing as usual.  Occasionally they would demand kisses from the newly engaged couple, which they blushingly complied.  In a rare minute, when everyone was quiet at the same time, Ilana thought she heard music.

 - "Listen," Ilana said quietly, straining to hear the melody.  "Do you hear that?"

 - "It's a violin," YoungSaeng said.

 - "Every now and then someone can be heard playing.  It's usually the same tune but I can tell by the way he's playing if he's sad, happy, or angry."

 - "It's beautiful but wae does Cinderella think a man is playing?  You said 'he'."  YoungSaeng didn't know why a little two letter word bothered him.

 - "Did I?"  Ilana shrugged.  "Mollah?  Appa used to play, maybe that's why.  His playing wasn't nearly as good; this is New York Philharmonic good."

 - "Ilana-ssi," Ilana looked at YoungSaeng startled.  He never called her by her name.  "Ilana-ssi can play an instrument and read music, can't you?  You probably have a lovely voice too.  Eomonni was a concert pianist and vocalist, how can her daughter not share those gifts?"

 - "Is that true Princess?" HyungJun and KyuJong broke off their own conversation, curious to hear the answer.

 - "How...?"

 - "Enrique-ssi…your story is on the foundation website."

 - "What foundation?" KyuJong asked.

 - "It's Kike's," was all Ilana said.  She sat quietly for a bit, remembering; her memories were always bittersweet.  She hated the bitter part.

  - "Gwenchana, you can tell us another day," YoungSaeng placed an arm around her shoulders and wiped away the tear that had escaped.

 - "Gwenchana, it's true.  After...the accident," she sighed.  "Music was just noise to fill the silence.  It no longer brought me joy or comfort; I couldn't even tell one note from the other. Kike would make me sit and watch and his group practice but it was still just noise.  It wasn't until the Queen's Lounge concert that I suddenly woke up.  I could feel the music again, every note:  happy, sad, angry, sweet, adagio, andante, allegro, forte, piano, Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Te, Do," she was smilingly again.  "I owe it all to you guys and Kim HyunJoong.  I thanked him when we were on the way to the airport in Chile, and you guys were asleep.  I know I couldn't explain very well what I was feeling back then; he probably thought I was fangirling.  Maybe he did suspect something because he asked me if I was a musician.  I said no and he said I should be."

 - "Sunbae recognized you as a kindred spirit and saw right through you.  We'll have to ask him," JungMin said.

 - "Hajiman Unnie, can you really play and sing?"

 - "I played to see my parents happy, I sang because I was singing with Umma, and it felt special.  After, it was all just noise.  The very people whom I wanted to play or sing for were no longer there.  I've never had the desire to touch a piano or sing a single note since then."

 - "You'll sing for me, one day," YoungSaeng gave her a challenging smile.

 - "Deh, Unnie, you never thought you'd laugh again and look at you.  You've laughed lots of times."

 - "Since Hong Kong and the jade market!"  YoungSaeng remembered.

 - "Aish!  Oppa!  You had to bring that up," she giggled, knowing she was blushing and buried her face in YoungSaeng's chest next to her.

 - "We know you're blushing, Agassi, there's no use hiding in Hyeong,"  KyuJong teased.  Ilana's shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter.

When the teasing stopped everyone went back to their subgroups.  Even the violinist had stopped as well.  Ilana was very tired; it was sometime close to midnight.  She and her friends had walked a cumulative three miles before catching a train back toward Ilana's apartment.  That was the most activity she'd done since her arrival in New York.  Not to mention she hadn't gotten any rest in the last few weeks; it was all catching up to her now.  Yawning unashamedly, she snuggled deeper under the blanket on her lap.

 - "Go to sleep, Agassi," YoungSaeng told Ilana.

 - "Shirro, I'm not sleepy."

 - "Yah, gueron wae were your eyes closed," KyuJong pointed out.

 - "Anieyo, it's just the shadow from the fire," she grinned.

The conversation continued and Ilana struggled to keep awake and participate.  Soon, the warmth of the fire and the sound of everyone's voices lulled her to sleep.

 - "Cinderella didn't answer my question," YoungSaeng hadn't realized was asleep.

 - "Saengie Oppa, she's asleep," Suzy said.  "Let's clean up, hokshina she'll wake up before we're done."

They picked up everything, smothered the fire, and Ilana didn't even twitch.   Suzy had gone inside to drop off their drinking glasses.  Ilana had bought the guys and Suzy soju glasses while they were in Koreatown and of course, they had been put to good use.

 - "I turned down the bed," Suzy said.  "Can someone help me get Unnie back into the apartment?"

 - "I'll do it," YoungSaeng volunteered.  "Cinderella, it's past midnight, time to go to sleep."

 - "Not sleepy," she mumbled.  The others laughed around her but still, she didn't wake.

 - "Jalja Oppa, JungMin-ssi," YoungSaeng spoke in a high pitched voice while waving Ilana's hand at them.

 - "Yah Saengie Oppa, what are you doing?"  Said an annoyed Suzy.

 - "Anieyo," YoungSaeng grinned.  "I was making sure she wouldn't wake up."  He scooped her into his arms and thought she felt lighter than before.  Once in the room, Suzy helped remove Ilana's gloves, scarf, jacket and sweater before YoungSaeng laid her gently on the bed.  For a moment it appeared she would wake up but she didn't.  Suzy and YoungSaeng laughed at their sleepy friend.

  - 'I'll take her shoes off," Suzy was already removing Ilana's half boots. "Go ahead and make sure your dongsaeng aren't breaking anything."  

YoungSaeng leaned over and gave Ilana a kiss on the forehead.  "Jalja, Cinderella," he stood to leave but then took her hand tenderly "Cinderella, let me be your prince and I can carry you to bed every day."

 - "Oppa!"  Suzy scolded.  "Kayo!" she pushed him out the door, while he chuckled to himself.

Suzy closed the door, "Oppa Shy Prince isn't so shy when it comes to Unnie," Suzy smiled to herself and got ready for bed.  It was past one A.M. and they had made reservations at Abigaíl's restaurant for noon.  Six people had to get ready again with only two bathrooms; Suzy was glad she and Ilana had the master bath all to themselves.  "The boys can fight for the other bathroom again."  Thinking of the arguments that would occur in the morning, she fell asleep with a smile on her face.

Totally felt the love last chapter, I hope I'm able to give a repeat performance.  3,800 views!  Kansamnida, everyone, for sticking with me.  From the very 1st subscriber to the most current.  I can't thank you enough.  YoungSaengie Oppa’s Birthday is next.