Chapter Seven:

 

Siwon, Minye and Leeteuk were eating together in a small restaurant. The place wasn't that expensive looking. In fact it looked like a local fast food joint. An unlikely place that you would expect famous persons such as them to be eating at. Leeteuk was not wearing his mask so people weren't able to recognize him. (* Leeteuk wears a mask that makes his face look different from his actual face so that he wouldn't be recognized as Park Jungso* )

 

“I don't understand why you like this place so much...The food here is terrible.” Siwon said placing his plate away from him after tasting the food.

“I don't come here for the food. I come here for the peace and quiet.” Leeteuk said lying back on his seat.

 

It had been 3 months since Leeteuk arrived home. It's also been three months since Talent signed Star in their company.

 

“Jungso, I want to talk to you about the new band that we just signed in.” Minye said to Leeteuk with a serious expression.

“They're not ready.” Leeteuk answered without a hint of interest.

“Just see them at the very least.” Minye said.

“They haven't proven themselves yet.” Leeteuk answered shrugging his shoulders.

“How can they when you won't give them a chance. You're the one that told me to sign them.” Minye argued with her voice rising a pitch causing Leeteuk to raise an eyebrow at her.

“If you're not satisfied... why don't you train them?” Siwon suggested when he saw the tension between the two rising.

“No. I think I'll pass.” Leeteuk answered.

“Then what will we do with them? You won't let them perform. You won't meet with them. You won't let them be trained by our trainers...” Minye said exasperated.

“Jungso... don't give Minye a hard time.” Siwon started to say trying to calm Minye down.

 

Siwon was well aware how stressed Minye was lately and the last thing she needed was Leeteuk's stubbornness. Leeteuk looked at his cousin and gave a deep sigh. He knew he was giving her a hard time and she didn't deserve it.

 

“Fine. I'll train them with one condition.” Leeteuk said finally giving in.

“What's that?” Siwon asked him.

 

Leeteuk just smiled at them and drank his drink.

 

_______________________________________

 

Haeyin unloaded the last box and placed it inside of the cafe. Onew had been busy helping their uncle to go to work. It's been three months since Star had signed in at Talent and yet they still haven't done anything. Time was money and she was glad that their manager had allowed them to keep their original jobs. They moved to their dorm a week ago and have yet to fully settle in.

 

“Haeyin, you can go for the day. I'll be fine managing the cafe.” The owner said to her.

“It's okay sir. I can finish oppa's shift.” Haeyin told him.

“Go on. I can handle things here. Why don't you continue to move your stuff at your new dorm?” The owner said to him.

 

Since the owner kept on insisting that Haeyin leave she had no choice but to leave early. Besides their family the only person that knew that Star had been signed on at Talent was the cafe owner who treated the members like his own children.

 

Haeyin went to their home and gathered some of her stuff and went to their dorm to unpack the boxes that were sent there earlier. When she got there she tried to remember what the security code was.

 

Damn! What was it again?

2340? 2304? 2403?

Aish! Why am I so poor at remembering things like these?

 

Haeyin groaned out loud frustrated that she couldn't get inside their dorm. She sat in front of the door and scratched her head. She buried her face in her hands and tried her best again to remember what the stupid code was. She was in deep thought that she hadn't noticed someone standing in front of him. The person cleared his throat and Haeyin looked up.

 

“Are you okay?” The person said looking at him with his eyebrows furrowing.

“Um... yeah... I just forgot the security code. I'm new here so...” Haeyin started to explain.

 

Is this someone famous?

He has to be he's good looking...

Almost angelic.

 

Haeyin couldn't help but stare at him for a long time.

 

“Hmmm... that is a problem. Come on... let's go to the information desk and you could ask for the code from the managers.” He said giving a hand out to her.

 

Haeyin snapped out from her daze, nodded her head and grabbed the man's hand. The two of them went to the information desk and asked for help. But since the clerks didn't recognize Haeyin, they wouldn't give her the security code. They also didn't recognize the guy with her.

 

“I guess I'll just go back to the cafe.” Haeyin said with a sigh.

“Why don't you wait in my dorm? I'm sure my roommate wouldn't mind.” The guy said.

“Thanks but I don't think so. We don't even know each other's name.”

“Oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Park Jungso. I'm a vocal trainer here at Talent. I just arrived from New York. I'm guessing you're Onew?” The guy said introducing himself.

“How did you know my name?”

“Your name's on your nameplate.” He pointed out.

 

Haeyin looked at the nameplate on her right chest with her brother's name and scratched her head. She forgot that she was still wearing her brother's uniform. Jungso smiled and took Haeyin's hand. He led her to a door just a door opposite Star's dorm.

 

“You live across us?” Haeyin asked him.

“Yeah. I guess I do.” Jungso said opening the door of his dorm and lead Haeyin in.

 

Haeyin’s mouth gaped wide open when she saw the room. It was a big room with two floors. It had a wide living room, kitchen, dining room and there was a grand piano found on the center of the first floor. There was also a small garden that can be seen outside. Haeyin's couldn't believe that they were on the second floor.

 

This guy is loaded... rich...

 

Jungso lead Haeyin to the living room and told her to sit while he went to the kitchen to get some tea.

 

“Here have some tea while you wait for your friends. Have you called them yet?” Jungso asked her a few minutes later.

 

Jungso sat next to Haeyin and handed her a cup of tea.

 

“I just did. They'll be able to meet me here later after their work. You have a great place here. You and your roommate must be really rich or something.” Haeyin said to him.

“My roommate is but I don't think I am, though.”

“Mind if I ask who your roommate is?”

“Park Leeteuk.” He answered simply.

 

Haeyin spat out her drink when she heard Jungso say Leeteuk's name. Jungso was lucky enough to have moved away other wise he would have been wet.

 

“Di-did you just say Leeteuk? Park Leeteuk?” Haeyin exclaimed.

“Yes. I guess you've heard of him?” Jungso asked him handing her a box of tissue.

“I do. Who doesn't?” Haeyin said.

“I'm helping him with a few matters then I guess I'll be going back to New York. Have you met Leeteuk yet?” He asked.

“Yes. I did.”

“Wasn't he a prick?”

“Pardon?”

“That guy's a bit of a snob, isn't he?”

“Well...”

“He knows very well that he's an .”

“How can you say such things about your roommate?”

“It's the truth isn't it?”

 

Haeyin didn't say anything for a while. She couldn't believe how direct Jungso is and how he could talk about Leeteuk like that. She never heard anyone talk bad about Leeteuk. No one dared.

 

“Yes. But I'm not the type to talk about him that way. Star owes him a lot. I heard he was the one that convinced the president to sign us.” Haeyin finally said after a few moments.

“So, you don't hate him?” Jungso asked her.

“I didn't say that.” Haeyin said looking down on her feet avoiding eye contact with Leeteuk.

“Your friends don't like him either?”

“They admire him. One particular member hates his guts.” Haeyin said referring to herself.

“Let me guess... that member is a girl.”

“How did you know that?”Haeyin asked him surprised.

“Leeteuk is never good with girls. I've known him long enough to prove that.”

“I find that hard to believe since he's very popular among them.”

“He's popular but... that doesn't mean he's a lady-killer.” Jungso said rolling his eyes.

 

Haeyin nodded her head. The mere mention of Leeteuk's name made her head boil. She looked at Jungso who gave her a dimpled smile. She couldn't help but blush. She had never met a guy that made her blush like this. Jungso seemed like a nice guy. Contrary to his roommate. She then noticed the piano in front of them.

 

“You play the piano?” She asked him changing the subject.

“Yes. I often use the piano to teach.”

“I've always wanted to learn to play. But I could never afford to have lessons.”

“Why don't I teach you? You can come over here whenever you're free.”
“No. That's okay. I wouldn't want to impose myself.”

“I insist. I would be more than willing to teach you and since we're both guys it's not a problem if we're alone in the dorm. Leeteuk is hardly around so you can be comfortable here.” Jungso said to her.

 

He smiled again which made Haeyin completely forget what she was about to say next.

 

Why does this guy affect me so much?

I can't seem to think properly.

 

Before Haeyin could do anything else her phone rang. She quickly answered it and stood up.

 

“My friends are outside.” She said to him.

“Okay, I'll show you out.” Jungso said handing her bag.

 

Jungso took her hand and they went to the front door.

 

“Thank you so much for letting me hang out.” Haeyin said to him.

“No problem. If ever you need anymore help let me know.” Jungso said opening the door.

 

Haeyin let go of his hand and turned around to walk outside. As soon as she was out she leaned on the wall and breathed deeply. Her heart kept pounding hard.

 

Jungso....

 

Haeyin thought while she walked to where her dorm was. Her friends were already there talking amongst themselves. They noticed Haeyin’s strange expression and stopped talking.

 

“Yah! Haeyin! Are you okay?” Key asked her waving his hands in front of her face.

“I'm fine... I'm more than fine.” Haeyin said to him smiling like an idiot.

“Jeez... and I thought Onew was weird. You're worse than him.” Key said rolling his eyes.

 

Haeyin ignored what Key had just said and turned her head to the direction of Jungso's dorm.

 

I hope we can meet again..