TWENTY ONE

A few hours ago…

They never expected something peculiar would happen during that typical special stage they were about to shoot on top of the broadcasting company building. Instruments were set, the technical crew was setting up their equipments and the cameramen started rolling. They were in the middle of the ordinary chaos testing their own instruments. Everything was normal until a helicopter landed on the helipad close to the filming site.

Consequently, three men in black suits descended and ordered the crew to stop filming and do nothing if they want the CodenameBlue to remain safe. They took out their guns and ushered the astounded boys into the waiting aircraft.

There was no commotion as everybody seemed taken by the surprise and helpless by the suddenness.

“Hyung! What is happening?!”

“Shhh… be quiet, just follow.”

“We can take them all down.”

“Do you have a death wish?!”

They were all quieted when one man-in-black climbed up and sat beside them.

“You all shut up if you don’t want any bullet through your brains.” He said and spoke on his earpiece, “We’re all set.”

Yonghwa could not help but sigh remembering the event that occured; especially how frightened he was with the thought that his life was about to end. Good thing it was nothing but a bluff; still, he couldn't help but think of possible ways to get back at the people who did that to them. 

But then again... maybe not, for without them, he won't be standing where he was at that moment. 

Yonghwa scanned his surroundings as he stood in front of the open beach hut that seemed to be floating in the middle of the placid sea. The boardwalk that connects the hut to the beach was illumined by the small lanterns and those tiny string lights that hang everywhere made the hut glowed like in some kind of a dream. A table for two was set up in the middle, with a bottle of wine cooling in a bucket and a bouquet of red roses waiting for Seohyun.

Squinting his eyes, he tried to adjust his sight from the gradually dimming beach ahead especially when he caught sight of a familiar form walking towards him. At last, the tiny flickering lights revealed Taeyeon silently taking little strides towards him. A warm yet cunning smile greeted him and all he could do was to greet her cautiously, “Hi…”

“Hey…” Taeyeon gave him a small nod and circled the table obviously inspecting the set up before finally standing beside him. “I heard you panicked while being brought here.”

“I did— we all did,” Yonghwa couldn’t help but grin when he recalled what happened a few hours ago. “I should have expected it from you and Jessica—or better yet, from all of you. You never aimed for a simple entrance… it always has to be grand.”

“But of course,” Taeyeon beamed haughtily remembering how excited she was when their plan was being carried out that moment. The girls orchestrated a faux-kidnapping scene of the blue band while the latter were made to believe that they were shooting a special stage for a music show on a helipad of the broadcasting station. Their company knew about the plan and went along with it since the weekend was actually given to them as a free time. “I want this to be memorable for all of us.”

He nodded watching the small smile playing on Taeyeon’s lips. Once upon a time, she was the girl he would die to see every day. Taeyeon had always been a fascination for him— she’s tough, self-reliant and stern; but despite that exterior, he learned how gentle and caring she can be especially for the people she loved the most. Taeyeon would move mountains if she had to just to make them happy. Because of that fascination, he failed to see the silent beauty that was always beside him all those times. And, he will never ever make the same mistake again.

Seohyun.

The thought of her, even the sound of her name in his mind has caused him to smile despite himself. Her memory made him sprawl countless words and notes until they ended into songs.

“I hope we can all enjoy ourselves today and tomorrow. Leave who we are behind for two days. Yes?”

“Yes,” he smiled and nodded, “Thank you for this.”

“Don’t mention it, I’m setting things right so try not to mess any of this.”

“I won’t…”

“She doesn’t know about this and she’s been hesitating about you… whatever you are in her life right now. This is your chance to let her know where she stands.”

“I know that… it would be hard for me and most especially for her if she agrees to have a relationship with me but there is nothing more I want in my life…”

That made Taeyeon smile wider and reached out to pat his shoulder, “And there’s nothing more I want to hear right now.”

~~~

“Unnie, is this really necessary?” Seohyun asked gently amidst the bantering that was happening beside her.

“I told you to blindfold her later when we get closer!”

“Duh, then she would see what she isn't suppose to see yet!”

“Look how far we still are!”

“Whatever, she’s blindfolded… it’s done so shut up!”

“Unnies, I just hope this surprise doesn’t involve ice cream or anything that melts because by the time we get there I won’t be able to enjoy that surprise.”

“Do you think the surprise would melt?”

“By the way Seobaby looks right now? That’s highly possible…”

If only Tiffany and Jessica could see that she rolled her eyes when they giggled like crazies. Seohyun just found herself sighing as she allowed her Unnies to lead her through the sandy path with careful steps that they ended up walking seriously slow.

~~~

“So, you haven’t had vacation lately?”

“Yeah, it has been in awhile,” Yonghwa watched Taeyeon moved to the side of the table where the dishes waited and took two wine glasses. She then opened one extra bottle of wine, poured each glass a generous amount and handed one to him. “It’s nice to see that the boys are truly enjoying themselves too.”

“I know, right?” Taeyeon snickered as she took a sip then nudged him playfully, “You look tensed though, lighten up!”

“I can’t help it… I haven’t seen her in weeks.”

“Yeah, she told me…” she nodded and emptied her glass in one go then turned and took notice of the three girls making their way into the boardwalk but she decided not to mention it to him yet, “They’ll be here in a few minutes so you better start relaxing.”

“That made me even more nervous.”

She laughed, “Then you better drink up, buddy.” Yonghwa did so and she took his empty glass setting them on the table. “Here she comes…”

Yonghwa turned and saw Seohyun being guided by Jessica and Tiffany towards them. He found himself smiling. The girls really know how to create that kind of atmosphere and he knew that it was surely a way to make Seohyun’s heart flutter. It was a challenge for Yonghwa, to outdo this event someday. Maybe he should start plotting something special for Seohyun in the future, something he could proudly say that he did all by himself.

He smiled some more.

Seohyun was beautiful and he thought so not because Tiffany and Jessica, or Taeyeon for that matter, had donned themselves in the most modest fashion. She was glowing. The blue dress fitted her perfectly and he couldn’t help but notice that Jessica really did choose a pair of sandals for her so as not to compromise his height; he could almost laugh at the thought.

He felt like giggling—he felt like laughing, actually, not because there was something funny but he was just too excited like that.

Yonghwa couldn’t contain that said excitement and he found himself taking the remaining steps that separated them. Jessica rolled her eyes when he walked closer, Tiffany just giggled and Taeyeon must have stridden behind when he decided to meet the new comers.

Subsequently, he felt a hand on his arm that he stopped and turned to see Taeyeon with her forefinger on her smiling lips shushing him.

Jessica then smiled, “Are you ready for your surprise, love?”

“I am, but please tell now that my ice cream has melted so I won’t be too sad,” Seohyun said with a little sarcasm in her voice yet a smile played on her lips.

With that, Tiffany pulled one end of the shawl that the fabric fell gently on her hand.

“Ice cream?”

Seohyun gasped in astonishment when she heard that voice. And the moment her eyes fluttered open, she realized that her eyesight didn’t need adjusting. “Oppa…???”

“Surprise,” Taeyeon finally said and chuckled when her sister just stared at Yonghwa like he was the only one around.

“Hi…” Yonghwa took another step.

“Uhm, hi…”

Jessica was just itching to break the magical moment that was making her feel like vomiting so she decided to go for it, “Uhm, Yonghwa? Do you mind picking your jaw off the ground?”

“Yeah, we don’t want to step on it,” Taeyeon chuckled as she joined her two friends behind her sister. “Oh well, I think our work here is done…”

Finally, Yonghwa looked at the three girls and mouthed a thank-you and they just waved and retraced their way back to the beach.

Taeyeon looked behind one more time and smiled when she saw Yonghwa leading her sister towards the hut. She could almost feel how nervous Seohyun was and probably, excited and happy. She wished for that… for her sister to be happy like that. Suddenly, she felt Tiffany’s arm snaking on hers as they walked on.

“You did a great job, kitten.”

“Thanks to all of you…”

“Just because you have the most ingenious plans, my love,” Jessica took Taeyeon’s free hand and entwined her fingers with hers. “We just have to make these kids happy, right?”

“Yeah,” Taeyeon looked at Jessica with a smile. She was glad to have Sica back on her side. “Hmmm… how should we make the rest of you happy?”

Fany laughed, “Now off we go to the next project? How about we start plotting for you to be happy?”

“I am happy, Fany-ah. You and Jessica and Yuri and Hyoyeon and Sunny and Yoona and Sooyoung and Seohyun… having you all here… I am happy.”

“Awww, my dear, I may have gushed all over you for that but haven’t you heard that martyrs usually have their heads cut off?”

“Ewww, gross!” Tiffany gasped.

Taeyeon just laughed as she shook her head, “So, what now?”

“You see, the whole resort is ours for the weekend…”

“Ohhh! Skinny dipping, anyone?!”

“What?!”

“Shut up, Tiff! Look, Taeyeon’s already nosebleeding with the thought!”

“Aww, don’t start now, you idiots!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

last three chapters! hang on tight! thanks for the comments~

">ㅅ<"