Hyorin didn't know when it started, or how it happened, but the next thing she knew, she couldn't speak in front of him anymore. Backstage, she found herself tongue-tied, and she blamed it on her parched throat. Hyorin just watched him from afar, admiring his physique.

Junsu wondered where Hyorin was. He was cast on "Immortal Song 2," and now he had an opportunity to socialize with his fellow idols more--mainly her. He hadn't seen her, with the exception of being on stage together, since he was a member of the show. If he didn't know better, he would think she was avoiding her. But that was okay, he tried to assure himself, because they weren't best friends or anything in the first place. Just acquaintances that eventually drifted apart due to their hectic work lives.

"Oppa...hello! Oppa!" Jieun waved her hands in front of Junsu's entranced face.

"Huh, what?" He refocused his eyes on Jieun. She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"You spaced out for a minute there."

He smiled awkwardly. "Sorry about that. I've been kind of stressed lately, busy with our comeback and having to sing on the show."

She nodded. "Totally understandable. So, back to what we were talking about. Hyorin was telling me-"

Junsu's head shot up. "Hyorin? What about her?"

Jieun raised her brow again, in suspicion. "Uhh, I was just getting to that. Hyorin and Yesung seemed really cozy the other day. It seems like they're becoming awfully close..." She glanced at Junsu, waiting for his reaction.

His hand curled up into a fist, and his chest felt heavier. He didn't know why he was feeling so angry all of a sudden, but he that was because he didn't want to admit it to himself.

Kim Junsu was jealous.

"Wow, are you alright? You look sick and your face is turning red." Jieun said.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. I think I'm just nervous." He managed to sputter out.

They stood there, neither of them saying anything. "I have to get ready. So I'll see you later?"

"Alright. See ya." Junsu walked away, breathing deeply, while Jieun sighed and chuckled.

Hyorin came out of her hiding spot behind the curtain, having listened to the whole conversation. Jieun smiled at her, her eyes gleaming. "Oh, he's jealous alright. I think our plan worked, Hyo!"

She smiled to herself. So, Junsu still cared about her a little bit. All she needed to do was to muster up the courage to talk to him again.

~~

Junsu was still fuming after hair and makeup. Hyorin and Yesung. Yesung and Hyorin. Just thinking of the possibilities that could have arose when they were together made his blood boil.

So she was avoiding me after all, he thought to himself.

He couldn't believe it. When they were trainees, they were inseperable friends, and Junsu admired Hyorin so much. He admired her now even more. Hyorin grew up to be a beautiful girl, and Junsu went on to becoming a member of 2pm. Hyorin finally got her big break with SISTAR and Starship Entertainment.

They walked on the same paths in life, yet the paths were so different from each other.

Junsu wanted to talk to Hyorin again. To be able to laugh with her, play with her hair, trace circles on her arm and-

He gulped. Maybe he was getting a little ahead of himself. Baby steps, he told himself.

No, the more that he thought about it, he needed to talk to her.

"Junsu, you're going on in five."

"Ne. I'll be out there in a minute."

He hoped Hyorin would be watching him perform. After all, he had been doing that for the past two weeks too.

~~

"Hyorin-ah. Your performance was breath-taking. It's no wonder that you snatch the number one spot every week." Yesung grinned at her, looking down at his feet. 

Hyorin blushed. She was giving Yesung a chance to get to know her, but strictly as friends. She didn't think of Yesung in that way. Turned out, he was funny and charming, and Junsu was out of her mind whenever she was with him.

"Thanks, Oppa. Your song was great, too. I wish I could sing like that."

"Oh, you want my voice? Here you can have it, I'd rather have yours anyday." Yesung joked.

Hyorin laughed loudly without knowing, and Junsu could hear it. His head whipped around to see Hyorin laughing with Yesung, both of them looked very close. For the second time today, he felt angry again, mainly at Yesung for being able to make Hyorin laugh and smile--her gorgeous peals of laughter and that brilliant smile. 

Before he could slap himself, his feet carried him swiftly to where the unlikely couple was standing.

"I was wondering if you wanted to have a drink after this, Hyorin-ah? I know this great place with the best cocktails ever."

Hyorin was about to say yes, but she heard footsteps behind her. That shuffle sounded so familiar.

Oh, no. Not right now, Junsu, she recited in her head. She didn't want to think about him anymore. She couldn't take it.

"Actually, Hyorin will be in my company tonight, so I don't think that's possible, Yesung hyung." Junsu said through gritted teeth, flashing him a fake smile.

Hyorin and Junsu's eyes met, and a flame engulfed them both. Junsu couldn't take it. He had to take her out of here, and properly talk to her, asking for a long-winded explanation.

"Now, if you'll excuse us, I have to talk to Hyorin for a minute." He grabbed her wrist, an electric spark traveling up her arm, and he dragged her off to an empty dressing room. He locked the door, and swiftly pinned her on the wall. Her eyes grew wide, but she couldn't speak. Again.

"What is your relationship with Yesung." It was more of a statement than a question, but Hyorin couldn't bring herself to answer.

His grip on her wrists grew tighter, the tension becoming thicker in the air. "Answer me, damnit."

She her lips, and spoke. "How is that any of your business? Last time I checked, I'm a woman who doesn't have any inhibitions. But since you're so curious, we're just strictly friends. I think that answered your pressing question."

His expression became softer, knowing that they weren't involved in any romance. "Why are you avoiding me Hyorin?" His voice was barely above a whisper now.

She sighed, knowing that she had to tell him everything now. "I'm scared."

"Scared of what? Being friends again?"

"I was scared of becoming close. I thought you didn't want me anymore." Her raspy voice trembled.

"What? How could you ever think that? I thought you hated me. I just wanted to talk again, to try to restore some of our friendliness from before."

She inhaled deeply, catching a whiff of his intoxicating scent. Here goes nothing. "I was also scared because I wanted more than friendship this time."

He didn't believe she was confessing to him. The confession sounded so good to hear, and he couldn't help but smile.

"Do you want me to tell you what I really want, Hyo?" His forehead was so close, it was touching hers lightly.

When she didn't answer, he kissed her fiercely, tasting the sweetness of her lips. "I want you." Junsu said huskily.

He let go of her wrists, and she cupped his chin. "Gosh, do you know how long I've waited for this day?"

They both laughed, kissing again, but this time, both of them were as hungry as the other.

He could finally make her laugh and smile again--her gorgeous peals of laughter and that brilliant smile.