The sun had began to move its way straight above Seoul, shortened dark silhouettes cast by its warm force. Almost midday. A double storey, suburban, modern-day cottage lay amidst the morning heat, its exterior walls gleaming a blinding white, its black tiled roof and rectangular pipes now a sort of burgundy from the color of the sunlight.

Inside...

"JAEJOONG, YOU HAVE GROWN SO HANDSOME!" Yeonhee's mother squealed in delight as she clasped her warm hands upon the blonde-haired man's glowing red cheeks. "And look out your body, you’re just like a roman statue!, so perfect!" for my daughter... she wanted to add, but noticed her husband's stern don't-you-dare expression form on his ageing face, his glare pinning back her every hidden motive.

Embarrassed from the attention, Jaejoong couldn't help but smile nervously at what seemed like a compliment from his old friend's mother. "Ah..." He managed to sputter out as he bowed courteously. "Thank you for inviting me over Mr. and Mrs. Lee."

"Oh no," the overly happy woman laughed, "the pleasure is all ours!", her hands now clasped together, inches away from her cheek, still awing over what a fine, young man her best friend's son seemed to have become.

Mr. Lee opened his mouth to continue the conversation until a sound of jingling keys was heard from outside the front door, a muffled "Friggen hell..." audible from the other side. "Ahh, that's surely our daughter finally arriving!" both parents laughed nervously, forced smiles on their faces, clenched fists by their sides. She's late!! they thought.

Shuffling over to the entrance of the house, Jaejoong offered to greet the Lee's only child, only to find the door kick open, almost smacking his face. He allowed his left leg to step back for support from the unexpected attack, accidentally sliding the brown rug he was stepping on backwards, sending a sweaty young woman across the hall, her plastic bags flying up into the air.

- - - - -

(Flashback)
"Sorry I'm la-- aaaah!" Yeonhee felt the brown rug underneath her feet slide infront, her body crashing down against the wooden floor boards as she witnessed her mothers groceries fly into the air in slow motion, her arms stretching out to catch them, accompanied by a deep, distorted "NooOooOooooOooooo..."

She noticed a familiar figure grab at the flying groceries, swiftly sweeping them into the plastic bags in which they came from.

(End of Flashback)

- - - - -

"Are you OK?" Jaejoong's hand reached out in front of Yeonhee as she blinked in awe, bottom still glued to the floor.


"J...Jaejoong?" She managed to stutter questionably, squinting her eyes slightly, unsure if they were playing tricks on her or not. She blocked a rising memory from her mind from the last time she was hallucinating.

"Long time, no see, ne?" the looming man spoke as Yeonhee grabbed onto his hand, an affirmation that he was real. She was returned with a firm grip as Jaejoong helped her to her feet, the plastic bags dangling from his wrists. Forcing her legs up, Yeonhee glimpsed at Jaejoong's hairless, arm before double-taking, jaw dropping down slightly allowing for an invisible trickle of drool to seep out as she gawked at the biceps bulging from the force of her weight. Noticing Yeonhee's eyes shift to his upper arm, Jaejoong waited until their eyes met, before winking at her smugly.

(Did... Jaejoong just...... WINK at me?!...)

"Let me take that." Yeonhee's dad offered as he untangled the plastic bags from Jaejoong's grasp.

(He WINKED at me!!!...)

"Ah, thank you." Jaejoong bowed at the 46 year old man before following Yeonhee's parents into the kitchen.

"...GROSS!!!!"

Silence fell upon the house.

Yeonhee felt three pair of eyes stab at her direction. Turning her flushed face to the side, she winced, mentally smacking her palm against her forehead for thinking out loud. OK Yeonhee, think of something quick!!!

"I smell gross?" Wrong move. "I mean to say... is that... I... smell... gross," the volume of her words fading into the distance, "because.... I was... running!" her voice heightening in volume again, as the engine in her mind labored frantically, ".....In the heat! ...out..side." she concluded, the last word barely audible. A cold sweat slid down the side of her face, a grin forced its way on her dumb expression, before releasing a nasal sort of half sigh, half whimper.

Silence. And raised eyebrows.

Before anybody could break the awkward shift in the air, a pair of feet scurried up the carpet stairs. The red-faced figure that stood before them suddenly disappeared.

Unsure of what had just happened, all three witnesses stood motionless, only allowing their eyelids to flicker once.

"So..." Mrs. Lee attempted, "Jaejoong, what would you like to eat, dear?" a nervous smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

+ + + +

Unsure of what the heck just happened downstairs, Yeonhee flung herself on her bed, waiting for her pink and yellow covers to swallow her whole, and shut off any light from revealing the red glow underneath her skin. Grimacing as she wallowed in self pity and shame, she spun her slim figure on her stomach, her face buried into the pink elephant print of her soft, thick blanket, the ebony strands of her hair spread across all directions, curtaining off the light to enter her escape. Heaving a sigh, she attempted to steer clear from the inundating memories of moments ago as she forced her mind to think of anything that avoided thoughts of ...him. OK, she thought, dog. Jaejoong loves dog and owns one. DAMMIT!! she cursed. OK, water. Jaejoong soaked in water is hot and y.

She felt herself failing the challenge.

Torn like a schizophrenic with hormones, Yeonhee fought back the promiscuity within her mind --the side of her that was attracted to her old friend, physically -versus- the side of her that only saw him as an old friend; an old best friend; her mother's best friend's son; an older brother-like best friend who she grew up with... friend.

...But he's definitely been working out these days --NO, WHAT AM I THINKING?! "EWW!!!!" She felt her voice gasp out loudly as she released her face from her covers. Sitting up, Yeonhee turned to reach for her towel, only to notice the subject of her thoughts leaning against her bedroom door.

"What are you 'ew'ing about this time?" A dorky grin returned Yeonhee's stunned expression.

"YO' FACE!!!" Yeonhee blurted out without thinking.

"....."

"....." Think fast! "I mean.. your face...is.. it's .....so ...pretty?" She snorted. Well, she wasn't lying.

Shaking off the awkward riff between them, Jaejoong walked over to his childhood companion and plopped himself beside her. "Yeah, you still look like a guy." he teased, making sure Yeonhee caught him glancing at her chest before chuckling to himself.

"I'm not that flat!" she cried, attacking his upper arm with her fist.

"OK, so maybe you grew one centimeter from the last time I saw you." he smirked, rubbing the place of attack.

"I was twelve, you idiot."

".....Exactly."

"....."

Before Yeonhee could pull at his blonde hair, Jaejoong noticed a small tuff of white fur poking out from behind Yeonhee's pillow. "Is that...." his eyes widening as he reached over towards it, before pulling out a white hamster "...MY HAMTARO!!! I can't believe you kept it all this time!" he laughed, his large orbs examining the soft toy in his hands as he caressed it with his fingers.

A calm smile fell upon Yeonhee's face, her eyes soft. "'The white symbolises hope. The hope of meeting you again.' I remember your words clearly when you gave him to me ...just before I left."

Touched by the nostalgia accumulating in the warm air, Jaejoong shifted his gaze towards the woman staring at the white ball of fluff in his hands. "You know," he started, "I tried to contact you when you moved to London," he paused, "but it was the wrong number and address." the tone in his voice tinged by sadness.

Yeonhee glanced up to find a pair of large, goggling eyes meeting her own. Breaking the awkward gaze, "You also moved houses." she replied meekly, looking down, avoiding any eye contact with possibly, the biggest pair of eyes on a Korean man. Not only were his pools-of-brown gigantic enough to dive into, but his mesmerizing gaze was enough to melt the Atlantic ice in a matter of seconds. She was in no position to evaporate into a puddle amidst his presence. "So.. how did you find out about--"

"I bumped into your mother yesterday." Jaejoong laughed lightly, "So she invited me over."

"But I saw you yesterday at the in store event! In fact," the softness in her voice started to fade, "I called out your name! And being the deaf-head that you always have been, didn't hear me?!"

Taken back by the sudden change of tone, he paused to think. "Oh... that was YOU?!"

- - - - -

(Flashback)
Back at the instore event...
Feeling a light tap on his Jaejoonglder from the tall man behind him, "Yo, that girl just called out your name!"
A worn-out Jaejoong turned around to notice Yunho  point to the direction of two security guards dragging a kicking and squirming girl towards the exit. Curious, Jaejoong searched the girl for a face, only to become flustered as the muscular builds of the guards were blocking it from his view. Too tired to care, Jaejoong shrugged it off before retreating into the back room.

(End of Flashback)

- - - - -

"Jaejoong-oppa, you really !"

"I was exhausted!"

"You still !"

"Naw, you just love me too much." he winked again, accompanied by a playful smirk. "It's alright, my little minion... I love you too." he added, before bolting down the stairs into the kitchen, escaping another knuckle fist attack his arm.

Downstairs, Mrs. Lee's specialty dish was awaiting them.

+ + + +

3:34PM.

Thanking Yeonhee's parents for inviting him over for lunch, as well as sharing quality time catching up on the eight years they missed together, Jaejoong gained approval to take Yeonhee out for the the remaining hours of the day.


"So... where are we going again?"

"You'll see!" Jaejoong replied smugly as he grabbed hold of her hand amongst the crowd in a busy Seoul crossing, dodging people as he dashed through. "Hurry your slow before the place closes!" Jaejoong Jaejoongted back at Yeonhee trailing behind, puzzled from the sudden rush.

"WAIT WAIT--WAIT!!" Yeonhee cried out as she felt her yellow slipper missing from her right foot. Scurrying back a meter down to retrieve it with Jaejoong's grip still fastened tightly around her hand, they hurried back onto track before suddenly running into two familiar faces. One had long, wavy brunette strands tipped crimson, her 5 months-pregnant body hidden underneath a slimming black t-shirt. The other with shoulder length, black layered hair, with a tiny physique.

Before Yeonhee could greet her cousin, and before Dami could open , a voice snapped in the air between them.

"Jaejoong! Who may this be?" the pregnant woman questioned, examining the girl whose hand was latched onto Jaejoong's, her voice solid, and stern.

Quickly releasing his grasp from Yeonhee's, "She's just a friend." Jaejoong assured.

Offended by the woman's tone of voice, Yeonhee felt the need to attack back. "And you are...?"

The sun had began to move its way straight above Seoul, shortened dark silhouettes cast by its warm force. Almost midday. A double storey, suburban, modern-day cottage lay amidst the morning heat, its exterior walls gleaming a blinding white, its black tiled roof and rectangular pipes now a sort of burgundy from the color of the sunlight.

Inside...

"JAEJOONG, YOU HAVE GROWN SO HANDSOME!" Yeonhee's mother squealed in delight as she clasped her warm hands upon the blonde-haired man's glowing red cheeks. "And look out your body, you’re just like a roman statue!, so perfect!" for my daughter... she wanted to add, but noticed her husband's stern don't-you-dare expression form on his ageing face, his glare pinning back her every hidden motive.

Embarrassed from the attention, Jaejoong couldn't help but smile nervously at what seemed like a compliment from his old friend's mother. "Ah..." He managed to sputter out as he bowed courteously. "Thank you for inviting me over Mr. and Mrs. Lee."

"Oh no," the overly happy woman laughed, "the pleasure is all ours!", her hands now clasped together, inches away from her cheek, still awing over what a fine, young man her best friend's son seemed to have become.

Mr. Lee opened his mouth to continue the conversation until a sound of jingling keys was heard from outside the front door, a muffled "Friggen hell..." audible from the other side. "Ahh, that's surely our daughter finally arriving!" both parents laughed nervously, forced smiles on their faces, clenched fists by their sides. She's late!! they thought.

Shuffling over to the entrance of the house, Jaejoong offered to greet the Lee's only child, only to find the door kick open, almost smacking his face. He allowed his left leg to step back for support from the unexpected attack, accidentally sliding the brown rug he was stepping on backwards, sending a sweaty young woman across the hall, her plastic bags flying up into the air.

- - - - -

(Flashback)
"Sorry I'm la-- aaaah!" Yeonhee felt the brown rug underneath her feet slide infront, her body crashing down against the wooden floor boards as she witnessed her mothers groceries fly into the air in slow motion, her arms stretching out to catch them, accompanied by a deep, distorted "NooOooOooooOooooo..."

She noticed a familiar figure grab at the flying groceries, swiftly sweeping them into the plastic bags in which they came from.

(End of Flashback)

- - - - -

"Are you OK?" Jaejoong's hand reached out in front of Yeonhee as she blinked in awe, bottom still glued to the floor.


"J...Jaejoong?" She managed to stutter questionably, squinting her eyes slightly, unsure if they were playing tricks on her or not. She blocked a rising memory from her mind from the last time she was hallucinating.

"Long time, no see, ne?" the looming man spoke as Yeonhee grabbed onto his hand, an affirmation that he was real. She was returned with a firm grip as Jaejoong helped her to her feet, the plastic bags dangling from his wrists. Forcing her legs up, Yeonhee glimpsed at Jaejoong's hairless, arm before double-taking, jaw dropping down slightly allowing for an invisible trickle of drool to seep out as she gawked at the biceps bulging from the force of her weight. Noticing Yeonhee's eyes shift to his upper arm, Jaejoong waited until their eyes met, before winking at her smugly.

(Did... Jaejoong just...... WINK at me?!...)

"Let me take that." Yeonhee's dad offered as he untangled the plastic bags from Jaejoong's grasp.

(He WINKED at me!!!...)

"Ah, thank you." Jaejoong bowed at the 46 year old man before following Yeonhee's parents into the kitchen.

"...GROSS!!!!"

Silence fell upon the house.

Yeonhee felt three pair of eyes stab at her direction. Turning her flushed face to the side, she winced, mentally smacking her palm against her forehead for thinking out loud. OK Yeonhee, think of something quick!!!

"I smell gross?" Wrong move. "I mean to say... is that... I... smell... gross," the volume of her words fading into the distance, "because.... I was... running!" her voice heightening in volume again, as the engine in her mind labored frantically, ".....In the heat! ...out..side." she concluded, the last word barely audible. A cold sweat slid down the side of her face, a grin forced its way on her dumb expression, before releasing a nasal sort of half sigh, half whimper.

Silence. And raised eyebrows.

Before anybody could break the awkward shift in the air, a pair of feet scurried up the carpet stairs. The red-faced figure that stood before them suddenly disappeared.

Unsure of what had just happened, all three witnesses stood motionless, only allowing their eyelids to flicker once.

"So..." Mrs. Lee attempted, "Jaejoong, what would you like to eat, dear?" a nervous smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

+ + + +

Unsure of what the heck just happened downstairs, Yeonhee flung herself on her bed, waiting for her pink and yellow covers to swallow her whole, and shut off any light from revealing the red glow underneath her skin. Grimacing as she wallowed in self pity and shame, she spun her slim figure on her stomach, her face buried into the pink elephant print of her soft, thick blanket, the ebony strands of her hair spread across all directions, curtaining off the light to enter her escape. Heaving a sigh, she attempted to steer clear from the inundating memories of moments ago as she forced her mind to think of anything that avoided thoughts of ...him. OK, she thought, dog. Jaejoong loves dog and owns one. DAMMIT!! she cursed. OK, water. Jaejoong soaked in water is hot and y.

She felt herself failing the challenge.

Torn like a schizophrenic with hormones, Yeonhee fought back the promiscuity within her mind --the side of her that was attracted to her old friend, physically -versus- the side of her that only saw him as an old friend; an old best friend; her mother's best friend's son; an older brother-like best friend who she grew up with... friend.

...But he's definitely been working out these days --NO, WHAT AM I THINKING?! "EWW!!!!" She felt her voice gasp out loudly as she released her face from her covers. Sitting up, Yeonhee turned to reach for her towel, only to notice the subject of her thoughts leaning against her bedroom door.

"What are you 'ew'ing about this time?" A dorky grin returned Yeonhee's stunned expression.

"YO' FACE!!!" Yeonhee blurted out without thinking.

"....."

"....." Think fast! "I mean.. your face...is.. it's .....so ...pretty?" She snorted. Well, she wasn't lying.

Shaking off the awkward riff between them, Jaejoong walked over to his childhood companion and plopped himself beside her. "Yeah, you still look like a guy." he teased, making sure Yeonhee caught him glancing at her chest before chuckling to himself.

"I'm not that flat!" she cried, attacking his upper arm with her fist.

"OK, so maybe you grew one centimeter from the last time I saw you." he smirked, rubbing the place of attack.

"I was twelve, you idiot."

".....Exactly."

"....."

Before Yeonhee could pull at his blonde hair, Jaejoong noticed a small tuff of white fur poking out from behind Yeonhee's pillow. "Is that...." his eyes widening as he reached over towards it, before pulling out a white hamster "...MY HAMTARO!!! I can't believe you kept it all this time!" he laughed, his large orbs examining the soft toy in his hands as he caressed it with his fingers.

A calm smile fell upon Yeonhee's face, her eyes soft. "'The white symbolises hope. The hope of meeting you again.' I remember your words clearly when you gave him to me ...just before I left."

Touched by the nostalgia accumulating in the warm air, Jaejoong shifted his gaze towards the woman staring at the white ball of fluff in his hands. "You know," he started, "I tried to contact you when you moved to London," he paused, "but it was the wrong number and address." the tone in his voice tinged by sadness.

Yeonhee glanced up to find a pair of large, goggling eyes meeting her own. Breaking the awkward gaze, "You also moved houses." she replied meekly, looking down, avoiding any eye contact with possibly, the biggest pair of eyes on a Korean man. Not only were his pools-of-brown gigantic enough to dive into, but his mesmerizing gaze was enough to melt the Atlantic ice in a matter of seconds. She was in no position to evaporate into a puddle amidst his presence. "So.. how did you find out about--"

"I bumped into your mother yesterday." Jaejoong laughed lightly, "So she invited me over."

"But I saw you yesterday at the in store event! In fact," the softness in her voice started to fade, "I called out your name! And being the deaf-head that you always have been, didn't hear me?!"

Taken back by the sudden change of tone, he paused to think. "Oh... that was YOU?!"

- - - - -

(Flashback)
Back at the instore event...
Feeling a light tap on his Jaejoonglder from the tall man behind him, "Yo, that girl just called out your name!"
A worn-out Jaejoong turned around to notice Yunho  point to the direction of two security guards dragging a kicking and squirming girl towards the exit. Curious, Jaejoong searched the girl for a face, only to become flustered as the muscular builds of the guards were blocking it from his view. Too tired to care, Jaejoong shrugged it off before retreating into the back room.

(End of Flashback)

- - - - -

"Jaejoong-oppa, you really !"

"I was exhausted!"

"You still !"

"Naw, you just love me too much." he winked again, accompanied by a playful smirk. "It's alright, my little minion... I love you too." he added, before bolting down the stairs into the kitchen, escaping another knuckle fist attack his arm.

Downstairs, Mrs. Lee's specialty dish was awaiting them.

+ + + +

3:34PM.

Thanking Yeonhee's parents for inviting him over for lunch, as well as sharing quality time catching up on the eight years they missed together, Jaejoong gained approval to take Yeonhee out for the the remaining hours of the day.


"So... where are we going again?"

"You'll see!" Jaejoong replied smugly as he grabbed hold of her hand amongst the crowd in a busy Seoul crossing, dodging people as he dashed through. "Hurry your slow before the place closes!" Jaejoong Jaejoongted back at Yeonhee trailing behind, puzzled from the sudden rush.

"WAIT WAIT--WAIT!!" Yeonhee cried out as she felt her yellow slipper missing from her right foot. Scurrying back a meter down to retrieve it with Jaejoong's grip still fastened tightly around her hand, they hurried back onto track before suddenly running into two familiar faces. One had long, wavy brunette strands tipped crimson, her 5 months-pregnant body hidden underneath a slimming black t-shirt. The other with shoulder length, black layered hair, with a tiny physique.

Before Yeonhee could greet her cousin, and before Dami could open , a voice snapped in the air between them.

"Jaejoong! Who may this be?" the pregnant woman questioned, examining the girl whose hand was latched onto Jaejoong's, her voice solid, and stern.

Quickly releasing his grasp from Yeonhee's, "She's just a friend." Jaejoong assured.

Offended by the woman's tone of voice, Yeonhee felt the need to attack back. "And you are...?"