Soobin’s POV

“Soobin!” I heard this manly voice before I heard a sneeze. I opened my eyes groggily during a weekday morning. It’s my only late class to top it all off.

“What?” I answered as loudly as I could as I almost fell back asleep.

Before I knew it, I was hauled up from my laying position only to get the shock of my life. My roommate, Kim Haemin was down with the cold. The almighty Kim Haemin who never gets sick.

I’m Park Soobin, studying my final month in Seoul National University. And my Roommate Kim Haemin is just like me but to top it all off, she is Miss Popular in school while I’m a nobody.

Back to the situation, Haemin was looking at me as if she could pierce my heart with her gaze. This doesn’t look good. The look she gave me is not such a pleasant one. Please don’t ask me to help her with something. Please!

“I need your help.” DAMN IT! I knew nothing good was coming up out of this conversation.

“With?”

“the most important interview of the year. Duh.” She said and I flopped back onto my bed.

“Please Soobin! You know how long I persuaded him before he agreed! We need this interview!” She begged. What have I gotten myself into?

“Does it look like you’re giving me a choice?” I asked with a half hearted smile as she pulled me into a bear hug.

“THANK YOU! I totally owe you big time for this!” With that, she gave me a notebook, a recorder and a camera.

I am suppose to interview the School’s number 1 popular boy, Lee Hyukjae, also known as Lee Eunhyuk. Whichever it is. I really do not care. He’s being featured in our School’s Graduation photo book as so you call it and he’s required to give a ‘Speech’ so here I am being offered to do the job. I don’t even know why girls swoon over him. he’s rich, handsome, talented, but he’s also cold rude and heartless.

I don’t really know him but judging from how he reject girls outright, he must be that cold. I went to get dressed to prepare for this ‘very important interview’. I was about to leave the house before Haemin pulled me straight back into my room.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She said.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You’re going for the year’s most important interview in a tee shirt and shorts and to top off the casual look, Slippers?!” Oh boy

“Why not? It’s just an interview.” I said before Haemin told me to not leave my room till I wore something decent.

Opening my close, the most decent clothes I have was a knee length skirt and a chiffon top. I guess this will have to do.

After changing, Haemin nodded her head in approval as I left our dorm. That guy lives like 20 blocks away. How far can that get?

When I got to the boy’s dorm, the environment was quiet as I think everyone must have went to class. I found my way to Eunhyuk’s dorm just in time.

Knocking on the door, it opened without hesitation. However, it was Eunhyuk. Great.

“You are?”

“I’m Park Soobin, doing a report on Hyukjae or Eunhyuk as you all call him.” I said as the guy invited me in.

“Hyung! Park-sshi is here!” He exclaimed.

“Who is Park-sshi? I believe the person who bugged me for 3 straight weeks was a Kim-sshi” I heard as he appeared in the hallways.

“Morning. I’m Park Soobin. Haemin… I mean Kim-sshi is sick so I came in her place.” He looked at me slightly bewildered before he composed himself again.

“Alright. I guess we can do it in my room.” He motioned me to follow him as I did.

His room is really neat and clean. Did he clean it up on purpose, knowing there will be an interview going on? I think that should be the case. Their living room is not even this clean. What awed me was not the cleanliness, but the trophy shelf.

There are trophies big and small. From school competitions to state competitions to nationals. How talented this guy must be.

“Sit.” I heard as I went to take a seat which he offered.

“I’ll make this quick.” I said as I fumbled through my stuff. I shouldn’t have brought a bag. I should have just brought the materials need. I could feel his gaze boring into me as I clumsily took out my things.  When I got them finally done, I cleared my throat and looked at him and he nodded. I started the recorder and our interview began.

“Thank you so much. Hyukjae-sshi” I said as I was out of their dorm door. Maybe ee Hyukjae was not that bad after all.

“I’m glad to be of help.” For the very first time, I saw his smile.

Before I start to go head over heels for him, I left. I know where all his charms for girls come from. But I remembered he didn’t seem so nice to them in school.

“So how did it go?” Haemin asked as I passed her all the things.

“All here.” I said as she squealed in delight before she went to her room and started typing. That girl is seriously a workaholic.

Looking at the time, I had an hour more before my class starts. Talking about rest. I sigh as I sat back down on the couch, waiting for time to tick by.

After the week passed, I was so uptight with my exams. I really hope to be able to get into a good design company after I graduate. I’m a design student while Haemin is a literature student. That’s why she’s so good with words.

“How’s the article coming?” I asked as I finally see her around.

“It’s great the information is fantastic. It’s more than what I needed.” She smiled as she rushed off for her things again.

After countless weeks of mugging and sleepless nights, I was finally done with my exams.

“Want to go out for a drink to Celebrate?” Joong ki, my best friend asked.

“Why not? We’re free!” I exclaimed.

“Hey! Don’t rub it in!” Joong ki said. He needs one more year before he graduate so we’re sort of leaving him behind in school.

“You’ll do fine.” Haemin encouraged him.

Joong ki is in the acting Major. His skills are totally perfect. He really has a talent for it.

That night however, something unexpected happened. We were all having fun, too much fun and had too much to drink. I know I was drunk and so was Haemin so Joong ki had to send us back. Even though I was all hazed out, I remember what he said that night.

“I love you Soobin, I always have and always do.” And he kissed my forehead.

I know Joong ki has been having this crush on me ever since high school, but we’ve talked it out years ago and agreed to be friends. He’s the nicest and sweetest guy I’ve ever met, but he’s just not the one I’m looking for.

The next morning, I woke up from the constant ringing of the doorbell. A hangover and ringing doorbells doesn’t go well together.

“Flower delivery.” The man said. I was about to cal Haemin because it’s definitely for her, but to my surprise, it wasn’t.

“It’s for Park Soobin.” He said and my jaw almost dropped.

It’s a bouquet of blue roses. Who would send me blue roses? Joong ki? Blue roses represent Mystery, attaining the impossible, love at first sight. Who would have that kind of impression of me?  It is definitely not Joongki for sure.

I left it on the coffee table and I stared hard at it for at least 5 minutes, but nothing came out of my mind. However, there’s a card. I hope it writes who it came from.

‘You are my blue rose’

It was the only thing written in the card. Who could it be?

I hid the flowers in my room before Haemin comes into her interrogation mode and ask me all about who it came from when I have not a single clue.

The flowers started to be forgotten slowly as graduation came. Haemin herself had also gotten herself busy with the school jock, Lee Donghae. He for one seemed like a nice guy. Not to forget, he’s the brother of Lee Hyukjae.

From the interview I came to know that Lee Hyukjae and his siblings were adopted. No wonder they all looked different. There are 4 of them. Lee Donghae, Lee Sungmin, Lee Soon Kyu and Lee Hyukjae. All beautiful and all talented.

Seeing Haemin so happy with Donghae makes me happy. However, Haemin can never stop pestering me about my love life. She’s just like my older sister who’s worried that I’ll never get married.

“Soobin-ah, you’re beautiful. Men are dying to date you. Why don’t you see that? You always say that you’re a nobody. But you will definitely be a somebody to your boyfriend.” Haemin always say the same thing to me over and over again. I know what I’m capable of and what I am. I know Haemin is encouraging me and I really am thankful to have such a great friend like her.

I know Haemin and I’m nothing like her. Beautiful, smart, talented, outgoing. I have always been hiding in my own comfort zone. No one will notice me and I would like to stay that way. However, I have been spotted by blue rose.

On graduation day, it was the best day of my life. My Appa came in a suit which I have never seen before and my Omma was so happy that I had done well in school. I couldn’t believe that school life had ended just like that. Haemin was chosen to do a speech as always.

“Dear fellow student, this would or might be the last time we are to stand here altogether. Once we leave this school, everything we’ve done here would be part of our memories. Some of us might come back here, but others might never have the chance again. All the fun time we have, all the friends we’ve made, the experience we’ve gained will be etched deep in our heart. During our years in school ,there must have been many ups and downs, causing us to stumble and maybe fall. However, it is because of this school that we’re here today and because of our hard work, we are here today. So let us all strive harder in society and make SNU proud! Thank you!” and the hall erupted with cheers, hollering and applauses. Haemin did it again.

The moment I remembered the most was that we all threw out graduation caps in the air and I noticed a blue rose in the air as well. So blue rose graduated too?

One year passed.

I’m working for a fashion apparel company and it has been going well for the past year. From a mere executive assistant, I am now lead designer in a short period of one year. Life has been amazing but busy and Haemin has been constantly nagging at me even though her lifestyle was somewhat similar to mine.

“You should find time to relax, date a guy, chill out.” Haemin said as we went to a nearby bar at our house.

“I’m chilled enough. My job keeps me running.”

“You’ll never get married at this pace you go.” Haemin nagged.

We are still roommates but we barely had time for each other so we grab drinks every Wednesday to chill out.

The next morning, I arrived at my office late, but the receptionist left me a note.

“You’ve got delivery. It’s on your desk.” Seohyun told me.

“Ok thanks.” I said and went to my table.

There, laying beautifully on my table, a bouquet of blue roses.