Album No. 9 Side 1

:: Track 01 ::

At that moment, I stood still like a mannequin and couldn’t believe the question he had asked me.
My eyes were a little wide and my lips a small distance parted. I felt pretty okay except for the fact that I couldn’t breathe.

“Is LiYin going?” Kim JaeJoong repeated with an empty stare, being completely oblivious to my reaction. We had both stopped walking and I closed my mouth to force a smile.

I blinked a few times at him before I spoke softly. “Why? Are you planning to ask her to the fall ball?” I tried my best to sound casual. I was hoping that Kim JaeJoong wouldn’t detect my voice cracking. I swallowed a lump in my throat and clenched my fists, waiting for his answer. Somehow a part of me didn’t want to hear it.

“Nah,” he answered and a wave of relief washed over me. I felt a little better but then he dropped another bomb. “I was wondering if she would be my date for my mom’s birthday party. It’s the same day and Omma insists that I bring a partner that night.”

Kim JaeJoong turned around and started to swing along on his crutches towards the house. I hesitated to follow. It wasn’t long until he noticed that I wasn’t beside him and he eventually turned around again, yelling from afar.

“Yah, pabo!” The sound of his airy voice didn’t lift my spirits. Why was I so bothered anyway? This was all perfectly normal. Nothing is wrong. I should be happy. LiYin was going to be asked by two guys to two different dances but then it hit me. She can’t be in two places at once!

I ran up to where Kim JaeJoong was and put my hands on my hips.
“You know, LiYin is going to the fall ball with Junsu,” I told him but I gave myself a mental slap on the forehead once I finished my sentence. Was it okay for me to have said that out loud? I wasn’t sure if Junsu wanted to keep it a secret. Well too late for that…

Kim JaeJoong pursed his tinted cherry red lips and readjusted the crutches under his arms.
“Oh, really?” he asked with a slight jerk of his head. “Ch, that Junsu. He never told me. I’m so going to later~” He sounded pretty nonchalant about it. So maybe…
He started walking again and this time I followed. I started to really wonder.
“Hey Kim JaeJoong!” I called and he paused to turn his head at me.
“What?”

I shifted my eyes towards another direction and played with my diamond heart-shaped earring. Just ask, Kwon BoA! Ask now!
“Do you…” My tongue felt itchy and I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Kim JaeJoong laughed and furrowed his eyebrows.
“What?” he repeated in a curious voice and stared at me intensely. That didn’t make the situation any better.

I gulped lowly and shut my eyes tight, embracing for the worst. “Do you like LiYin?!” I didn’t even know how loud I shouted it out and why I even did but it didn’t matter. What was important was the answer.

The first thing I heard after that was the sound of Kim JaeJoong’s scoff. I opened one eye and then the other, seeing him smile down at me since he was taller.
“How did you come up with that, smart one?” Kim JaeJoong questioned and I had a feeling I wasn’t supposed to reply. I felt myself blush.

“You’re really such a pabo,” he added and ruffled my light brown hair. “Chongmal.”
I looked at him with a pouty-lipped sad-eyed expression. “Then why did you want to ask LiYin? Why didn’t you ask m–“ I bit onto my lips hard before I put myself in danger any further. My heart started to pound like there was no tomorrow.

“Mwo?” Kim JaeJoong made a questioning noise and then he smirked. He leaned closer to my face. The nearer he got, the warmer my cheeks were. “Yah~ Kwon BoA, did you just ask why I didn’t ask you to be my date?”

I simply blinked at him and acted clueless. “Wha-wha-what are you talking about Kim JaeJoong? Why-why would I ask such a dumb question?” I shot back and felt the need to just run into the house, away from the humiliation. But of course, Kim JaeJoong grabbed me by the wrist before I could even walk off.

I stared back at him wildly and he gave me a gentle expression. I really did want to know why but it wasn’t like I would say it. Kim JaeJoong, how could I say it?

“I did think about it,” Kim JaeJoong confessed and in a flash my angry eyes fell soft.
He let out an amused sigh to the sky and let go of my hand. “You were actually my first choice,” he added with a small smile and scratched the back of his head. I started to hear my heart beat quicker again and then Kim JaeJoong stuck out his tongue.

“I mean since I don’t have many friends who are girls,” he shortly added with a slight blush. He was blushing, right?! He’s got to be!
“But then I realized,” he continued and I was on the edge of my toes.
“I can’t bring someone else’s fiancée as my partner. Duh.” My heart instantly fell. What the heck?! That’s why?! “Besides wouldn’t your soon-to-be husband ask you to the fall ball?”

I seemed to bounce back from my miniature case of depression and slapped Kim JaeJoong continuously on the arm.
“That’s such a dumb reason, Kim JaeJoong! Who cares if he asks me! I don’t like him!” I screamed but he continued to laugh, just as hard as I blushed.
“Haha, why? He’s a good guy! And you’re acting like you actually want to go with me. Very funny, Kwon BoA,” Kim JaeJoong said with a grin and I froze once more. What if I–
“Even if you do – which you don’t – you can’t, Mrs. Future Park Yoochun.”

I gave him my super mean glare and he scoffed. “Then just go ask someone else!” I yelled in his face, making sure he got the best of my fury. I turned the other way and crossed my short arms together.
“Pft, no thanks,” Kim JaeJoong replied with another one of his annoying scoffs. “Other girls do not act normal when they’re around me. And besides~”

I stared at him through the corner of my eyes and made sure he knew that I was mad.
“I already have a pretty girlfriend,” Kim JaeJoong claimed and sighed dramatically to the side. “I can’t randomly go around with other girls when I’ve got such a pretty girlfriend right?”

I bit my lips again, this time to refrain myself from smiling. Though a feeling of happiness swelled up inside me, I couldn’t have felt more confused. What do you want me to think, Kim JaeJoong? What?! You don’t make sense!

Not knowing what to do, I randomly made a quick move to grab one of Kim JaeJoong’s crutches. I stuck my tongue out at him as I waved it back and forth in the air.
It was funny to watch him look so shocked. “Yah! Give that back! I need it to walk, pabo!”

I sprinted down the cobblestone path to the door of his house, laughing the whole way there. I knew he was trying to catch up while I ran. That’s what you get when you mess with me!

When I turned around, I saw him with his bright grin.
“Pretty girlfriend, do you want to die?” he yelled in a playful manner and from the distance, I secretly smiled. “Watch Kwon BoA, when I catch up to you, you’re dead!”
I cupped a hand around the side of my mouth and happily shouted, “We’ll see about that, Kim JaeJoong!”

:: Track 02 ::

Once I got home, I ran up to my room and jumped on the bed, landing on my Hello Kitty plush toy. It was huge, like three feet tall, therefore it made a very good hugging device. I then rolled over, lying down on my back and put the doll over my tummy. Patting its head and fixing its whiskers, I started to giggle to myself.

Dummy Kim JaeJoong. I really don’t know what’s going on in his mind but I couldn’t help but feel really happy whenever I saw him. Even when he makes me sad and even when he makes me angry, somewhere inside I was always still very happy.

Geez, what does this all mean? Did I really… seriously… fall… for him? Ah, no way!
The thought of that made my heart tingle. I hugged my giant Hello Kitty and glanced up at the ceiling while letting out a long sigh.

Didn’t I promise myself I wasn’t going to let myself do this again? Fall for another guy? But… Kim JaeJoong. He wasn’t like those other guys right? He’ll take care of me right? He’ll always be my side right?

I then grumbled and rolled over again, laying flat on my stomach. I scrunched up my nose and squeezed the plush toy on the nose in between my fingers. “Why am I thinking like this? Aish, stop thinking about him, Kwon BoA! Stop thinking about him and everything will be fine!” It was ridiculous how even at home, in my very own room with no one watching, I still tried to hide a blush.

Out of nowhere the doorbell rang and I perked up, putting my Hello Kitty to the side. Who could it be? Not surprisingly, it rang again and so I jumped off my bed to run down the stairs.

Once on the first floor I flung open the door without thinking. I stood still, completely caught off guard by who it was. Better yet, who they were.

“Omma, Appa…” I gave them a weak smile. “You’re home.”

:: Track 03 ::

Honestly I had gotten so used to being alone that I forgot about when my parents were coming home. I guess I should be glad that they made it back from Tokyo on the day that they said they were going to.

I gave them both hugs at the door like the good girl I was and helped them bring their bags in.
“It’s okay miss, I’ve got it,” a voice that I couldn’t see the owner of said and in walked Bada. Ah, good ol’ Bada!

Without a warning I attacked her with a big embrace. “OMO Bada! Do you know how much I missed you? And your super awesome cooking?!”
I heard her let out a soft chuckle and felt her pat me on the back. “I’m guessing a lot, Miss BoA.”
I eventually let go of her and wiped the nonexistent tears from cheeks, acting dramatically as if I was so happy that I cried. “Yes Bada. Exactly a lot.”
She let out another laugh and then whisked my parents’ luggage away, bringing them up to their room.

When she walked away, I turned back to my parents who were relaxing themselves on the couch in the living room.
“So Omma, Appa, how was the trip? Everything went well I suppose?” I asked just to be polite. I approached them and sat down on the comfy chair next to them.

“Yes, everything was great, dear. I see you really took care of yourself and the house,” my lovely father said and gave me a soft pat on the head. “I’m proud of you.”
Heh. Did I mention how much I love my dad? Even when I was used to being alone and ‘taking care of myself’, he always told me how proud he was that I could do it on my own.

“Thanks, Abeoji,” I said and gave him a wide smile. I then knitted my eyebrows at my mom. She seemed to be searching for something important in her purse. I let out an unsure laugh before I spoke. “Omma, what are you doing?”

“Aish~ Where is that thing?” she hissed under her breath and seemed to be frustrated for a moment. “Ah, got it! Look at what your Appa and I came across when we were in Japan!” My mother whipped out a pink sheet of paper and unfolded it. She shoved it in my hands and I quickly scanned it.

“What? A piano playing competition?” It read that young aspiring musicians from all over the world are invited to take part in this contest and that was all I could let my eyes take in.
“Omma, you’re kidding right?” I couldn’t help but scoff at the idea. Right now, Kim JaeJoong and I were just going over notes and scales and this hell of an international competition was probably expecting its participants to play unbelievably difficult songs.

“No, no. BoA I’m serious,” my Omma said and there went her annoying smile again. Oh how I didn’t miss it when she was in Tokyo. “Now that you’ve got Ongaku’s number one teaching you, I’m sure you can win this! Or you could at least try, sweetie. It doesn’t hurt to try.”

Uh. YES, it does! I’m not going to embarrass myself in front of all these piano playing geniuses! It’s already humiliating enough to attempt a song in front of my family and friends. How will I look in the music world when I show off my stupid skills that aren’t even skills to begin with?!

“Ahnee~ Omma, I’m not doing this and you’re not making me,” I argued and gave her back that dumb piece of paper. She and my father exchanged glances but I didn’t care what they think. I’m not going to do this!

“You know what Appa? Omma?” I asked and made a fake yawn. I also stretched my arms out towards the ceiling for an added effect. “I’m kind of tired so I’ll be going to my room! Good night~” I got up as fast I could to make an escape.

“BoA, wait,” my father spoke up and I let up an inward groan. I reluctantly turned around on my heel to face my parents again. Oh how oppressed I felt when they were home.
“I think this is a really good thing for you. I mean we’re not expecting you to snatch first place but at least you can gain experience from it. And maybe you can get discovered by some really nice sponsors. That’s how your mother and I made it.”

“Yeah but Appa, you and Omma are good! I’m not good~ I practically just started!” My voice got louder but I just couldn’t hold it in. Why do they always make me do things I didn’t want to? Is it like in their systems to make obstacles for their children?

“Don’t worry, BoA~” my mom tried to make me relax. She pulled me by the forearm and made me sit down next to her. “This competition isn’t until much later. You have plenty of time to practice and learn a good song, dear. Just try it, okay?”

My mom stared at me with a gleam in her eyes and my heart felt all weird. I turned away so I didn’t have to see her but then I met eyes with my dad on my other side with the same pleading look. Gosh, what is wrong with the both of them?

“…Aish, fine!” I answered unwillingly and heaved a sigh. Like I had a choice. My mother clapped and hugged me while my dad patted me on the crown of my head. I don’t get what’s so good about this competition. Was there even a prize if I won?

“And there’s a really nice prize if you win honey,” my father brought up like he read my mind and I tilted my head to the side. Really? Well that made things different! Muahaha, I like winning prizes. He unfolded the paper once more and pointed to a specific line. “It says here that the first place winner gets to go to London and open for the Grand Orchestra.”

Oh my gosh! Whatever to the Grand Orchestra thing, but London?! I’ve always wanted to go there but my parents never have the time to take me.

“Didn’t you always want to go there BoA?” my dad questioned and I nodded with a cheerful look.
“See, BoA? It’s perfect for you, dear,” my mom added and hugged me with one arm around my shoulders. “Just keep your eyes on the prize and you can do it! Hwaiting!”
I smiled and put my fist in the air. Now with that nice London package, the contest was a whole different ball game. How quickly I change my mind, right? “Neh! Hwaiting!”

:: Track 04 ::

Before I knew it, Friday was here, the day of the fall ball and Kim JaeJoong’s mom’s birthday bash. I think I was the only one who wasn’t amped about the school dance because I was probably the only one not going, minus Kim JaeJoong who had a good excuse.

Talking about Kim JaeJoong, he had been trying to convince me to go to the fall ball with Yoochun ever since the Saturday that he promised he would continue our piano lessons again. I told the dummy that I didn’t want to and he simply rolled his eyes each time, arguing back that I should. I don’t even understand why. Why is Kim JaeJoong on Yoochun’s side?

Whatever. Nothing was going to change my mind, even when Yoochun was sincere about taking me. I couldn’t tell him no on the spot, so I told him I would think about it.

This whole week, LiYin has been telling me to go to the fall ball too. Ch, she’s just excited that Junsu was taking her. I told her that she and Junsu could have fun by themselves but she insists that it’d be fun-ner if I was there too.

Honestly, I didn’t feel like going at all. To me, it’d probably be more fun if I just stay home and pig out on a gigantic bucket of green tea ice cream while watching Korean dramas on my widescreen TV. Oh yes, now there’s a plan, right?

Another thing I hate to admit is that I’ve actually been waiting for Kim JaeJoong to ask me to go to his mom’s birthday party. I mean, he does need a date right? And he did say he wasn’t planning to ask anyone else. Who cares if I’m Yoochun’s supposed fiancée? It’s not like anyone would know me there. And really, I wouldn’t mind helping Kim JaeJoong out. He always helps me so one little thing like this wouldn’t hurt, right?

:: Track 05 ::

“So~” I said and rocked on the heel and toe of my feet. School was over and I met with Kim JaeJoong at the entrance of Ongaku. I tried not to sound too obvious about the whole ordeal. “Do you have anything to say to me? Or you know, ask me? Anything?”
Kim JaeJoong narrowed his eyes at me with confusion and scratched his jaw. “Do I?”
I blinked at him a few times, hoping that he would come up with something.

He then clapped his hands loudly and pointed at me. “That’s right! I can’t teach you today because of my mom’s birthday party!”
My eyes fell flat and I let out a sigh. Yeah, dummy. I knew that already.
“Yes but is there like… anything about your mom’s party that you might, uh, want to talk to me about?” I asked and blinked at him innocently.
He stared at me again with furrowed eyebrows. “Um… OH! I do have something to ask you!”

I smiled a little to myself and looked up at him excitedly.
“Are you going to the fall ball with Yoochun or what?” Kim JaeJoong asked with a smirk and nudged me lightly on the arm. “Huh? Huh? Mrs. Park Yoochun?”

What the heck?! NO! A sudden fire lit inside of me and I pushed Kim JaeJoong away. I hated being called that! I am not Yoochun’s!
“NO!” I barked at him and he gazed at me with wide eyes. He looked really scared. I let out a cry of frustration and rapidly stormed off in the other direction. What the heck is wrong with Kim JaeJoong? Doesn’t he get it? Doesn’t he understand anything?!

Lo and behold, I bump into my favorite person right outside the corner of Ongaku.
“BoA?” Yoochun asked me in a worried voice and I felt him hold onto my shoulders. I looked down to avoid his gaze. It was the wrong time for me to see him.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly and I on the inside of my cheeks. I guess I had no choice but to face him.

Slowly I looked up and pulled on a very false but happy expression. “Yeah~ I’m fine,” I answered and combed my hair behind my ears to look casual.
He then gave me a gentle smile and let go of me to get a bouquet of flowers from his bag. Were those for me?

Yoochun looked up and grinned shyly as he put the daisies before me. “BoA, these are for you.”
I gulped and blinked at them a while. They were nice but…
“Take them,” he offered and grabbed my hand. He forced me to take them.
I smiled back at him with a small wince. “Th-thanks.” Should I be really doing this to him?
“Um… so about the fall ball…” Yoochun then brought up much to my discomfort. “Did you think about it?”

I gave him a look and he simply stared back. Truthfully, I hadn’t thought about going with him at all. How was I supposed to break it to him?
“Um…” I mumbled and peered to the floor in thought. “I, uh… I don’t think I want to go, Yoochun.”
“Hm?” he asked. I suppose he couldn’t hear me since I was practically speaking to the sidewalk.

I glanced up at him and let out a deep breath with my response. “Sorry Yoochun. I decided that I don’t want to go.”
Of course he immediately looked upset. I felt bad for doing this to him, time and time again but he’s got to face reality one day. I really had no feelings for him. Not in the way he had for me anyway. Why didn’t he get it? He’s just as dense as Kim JaeJoong.

“Oh…” he muttered and dodged his eyes around the place in nervousness. He then broke into a small smile that I knew was not a happy one. “Well that’s fine. No big deal I guess.” He started laughing a bit but I can tell it hurt. Sorry, Yoochun.

For a moment, there was nothing but tension and silence between us.
“Well,” Yoochun spoke up again after he cleared his throat. “I’ll get going now. I won’t bother you. You probably have other things to do.”

He’s just trying to make me feel bad, isn’t he?
“Okay, bye,” I said shortly and started walking home by myself. I’m sure that what I was going was really terrible to Yoochun but if he gets the false impression that I liked him or something, it’d be even worse. At least this way I’m letting him down slowly. Besides he should be getting the freaking message by now, right? I’m not being mean! I’m just being truthful! And indeed, the truth hurts.

:: Track 06 ::

Once I got home, I saw the postman, who was about to put a stack of letters into the mailbox. I greeted him and he handed the pile to me instead to save time.

I walked in casually into my house and set my knapsack and flowers on the living room coffee table. I then dumped all the letters onto the couch and sat next to it, picking them up one by one to read. Most of them were my parents’ bills and fan mail. I really wasn’t expecting anything for myself because none of my friends use snail mail anyway but two interesting things from the mountain of letters caught my eye.

I pulled out the first, only to see that it was the postcard that Yoochun sent me like a week ago from Tokyo.
Hi BoA! Sorry I didn’t tell you about my trip to Japan but I wanted to send this to you because I thought the picture looked pretty. I know you like cherry blossoms so I hope you like it! I’ll be coming back soon! Wait for me, Yoochun.
I let out a soft sigh and flipped the postcard over, taking a closer look at the image. It was pretty, just like Yoochun said. And I did like cherry blossoms. I let out a long sigh. Gosh, why did he have to be so nice to me?

Feeling terrible again, I placed the postcard on the arm of the couch and took a peek at the second envelope. It looked all fancy with silver decorative swirls on the outside and a gold sticker seal on the back. It even had my name written super neatly in calligraphy on the front, probably with a quill or something.

I carefully peeled off the seal and took out the cream-colored card.
Dear Miss Kwon BoA,
You have been cordially invited to attend Mrs. Kim’s Birthday Celebration at the Crystal Hall on Friday, October 9 at 8:00PM.
Rejoice with Mrs. Kim for this special day. There will be fine cuisine and special musical performances.
Please arrive in appropriate attire for the occasion and bring this card along as proof of your invitation.
We look forward to seeing you there. Thank you.

My eyes grew ten times larger by the time I finished reading the message. Mrs. Kim?! Isn’t that Kim JaeJoong’s mom?!
I then stopped and smiled to myself. That dummy. He said he didn’t want me to go and yet here was an invitation to the party, right in my hands.
I jumped up from the couch and hurriedly scrambled up the spiral stairs to my room. If I was going to go to this thing, I better get ready!

:: Track 07 ::

I hurriedly darted to my room and ransacked my wardrobe closet like a mad woman, throwing the stuff that was too casual or just not formal enough out of the way. In no time, I made a colorful mess of dresses and accessories on the floor – I’ll leave that to clean later.

I then took a quick glance at my clock and knew that I had only two hours to get ready. Two hours, two hours. Was that even enough?!

“Come on Kwon BoA, think, think!” I said out loud and tapped my chin repeatedly. I stared at the dresses that remained hanging up and dodged my eyes back and forth between them. “Black, white, pink and white again. Gah, which one?!”

I first threw out the black one. Though it was sleek and strapless, someone might just ask me who I was mourning for. Hm… the first white one wasn’t so bad but it looked like it was too much. After all I was going to a birthday party, not going to get married. Pink, pink, pink. It was a cute and soft pink… but the second white one was pretty too and it had the shine of a pearl…

“White shiny pearl one it is!” I exclaimed to myself excitedly and took it off its hanger. I hugged the dress in my hands and rushed in to the bathroom. I still had to take a shower, do my hair, put on my makeup and jewelry and make sure the dress fitted right. This was going to be one heck of a night but I just know that it was going to be worth it.

:: Track 08 ::

After the crazy rush of getting ready, I finally made it to the Crystal Hall, clutching my matching white purse with both hands. The shiny pearl dress fitted well and I put on a cute ribboned headband and pearl earrings in two of my piercings. I didn’t fill the rest of my piercings in, thinking that it would look better to leave my ears plain and simple. Everything was fine except for the glass heels. They were a little tight and squeezed my toes really close together. Oh well, I guess I’d have to deal with it for the sake of tonight.

Aish, I wasn’t going to lie. I was really nervous. I kept on thinking, what was I going to say when I saw Mrs. Kim? Or Kim JaeJoong? My heart started to palpitate weirdly, skipping a few beats now and then. Since it was all last minute, I realized that I didn’t even get her a present. I scrambled around the house looking for something that I could regift but in the end I just grabbed Yoochun’s flowers off the coffee table and ran for it.

“Oh crap,” I muttered to myself as I neared the podium where they asked for the invitations. Did I even bring mine? I quickly scrambled through my purse and searched through it at least three times. I forgot it at home! Aigoo, why do things like this always happen?!

“Miss, your invitation please,” the man at the stand asked and held out his hand, waiting for me to give the card to him.

I smiled weakly at him. “Heh heh… I, uh, I kind of sort of forgot it at home, sir but I promise! I promise I was invited to this party,” I tried to claim convincingly and put my hand up. “I swear that I know Mrs. Kim. I’m even a student of her son’s!” The man gave me a strange stare and I shook my head frantically. “Oh no~ No, I mean he’s not my teacher at school! He teaches me piano!”

The man then whispered to a person behind him. A person who looked quite large, buff and scary. I widened my eyes as I glanced up at him and let out a small whimper.

“Pabo?” a voice called out from my right and I turned to face it. Of course, it was Kim JaeJoong. And I thought I’d never say this but thank God! “What the heck? It IS you!”

“Kim JaeJoong!” I exclaimed, almost too happily and trudged over to his side. I then smiled at the man and the mean-looking security bouncer guy. “See? I know him!” I said and stuck out my tongue at them. They practically ignored me and started to pay attention to the other guests that were coming in.

Kim JaeJoong then dragged me further inside the hall and when I gazed back at him, he had an eyebrow raised and his mouth slightly open from surprise.

“Yah, Kwon BoA. What are you even doing here? I thought I told you that I wasn’t going to ask you to come,” he said but I got distracted by his dark chocolate eyes and had to blink a few times to get out of them. I peered down and saw that he was looking really good in his angelic white tux. White. I didn’t want to but I blushed and not lightly either. Once again, we matched.

I fluttered my eyelashes and shot my gaze up again. “What do you mean? I got your invitation,” I argued back. I would have taken it out and showed to him too if only I didn’t leave it at home.

“…Are you sure?” Kim JaeJoong wondered out loud and dodged his eyes toward the ceiling in thought. “But I didn’t –“

“I invited you,” an older female voice spoke and I turned to see Mrs. Kim looking beautiful in her white elegant toga-like dress. She approached me with a gentle smile and I then remembered my stupid present, which I didn’t even buy.

“Oh, th-thank you, Mrs. Kim,” I bowed with shades of pink in my cheeks and put up the white daisies that I held behind my back. “These are for you. Happy birthday~ I hope you like them.”

Once I gave her the flowers, I heard Kim JaeJoong make a noise of discomfort by my side. For some reason, he looked embarrassed and was scratching the back of his neck like I shouldn’t have given those to his mother. Oh gosh! Didn’t he say that she didn’t like flowers?! That’s why he gave me the roses last time! Oh my god~

I then winced at Kim JaeJoong’s mother, thinking that she was going to be appalled by the gift that I presented to her, but instead she was smiling, and it looked like she was smiling really genuinely too. Ah, she must have been pretending to like them to be nice. Aish, how could I have messed this up?

“Oh you didn’t have to get anything but thank you so much for this, BoA,” Mrs. Kim answered and held the bouquet of daisies like they were the most precious things in the world. She was really good at acting. Like mother, like son. “How did you know that these were my favorite flowers?”

Ehhh? I widened my eyes from the shock and put a hand over my mouth. Favorite flowers? But how? I stole a sidelong glance at Kim JaeJoong, who purposely avoided my gaze. He lied?

Mrs. Kim then placed a hand on my shoulder. “Ah you know I have an amazing garden that I started to take care of ever since I got married to Joongie’s father. It’s been almost twenty years and it’s still growing nicely. Joongie probably told you that daisies are what I treasure the most, right? I have a whole bunch of them right in the center field.”

Psh, what Kim JaeJoong told me was like the exact opposite. He said that she didn’t like them at all! So that meant… he gave me the roses because… because of what?

My heart then picked up in speed and I tried to catch JaeJoong’s gaze. He was completely turned away from me, like he was trying to give us time for private talk, but he obviously knew that I had just found out about his intentions with the roses. I wanted to let out a stupid girlish giggle but it seemed weird if I did it now.

“Anyway, I’m glad you came dear,” Mrs. Kim said and patted me on the back of my hand. I felt very accepted and very comfortable around her. It was a nice feeling. “You look so adorable,” she complimented me as she fixed some of my hair, making me blush even more.

“Th-thank you, Mrs. Kim,” I answered with a sweet smile and bowed. “You look really wonderful too!” I added shortly and maybe a little too excitedly. She laughed and might I add that even her laugh was elegant.

“Welcome, welcome all to Mrs. Kim’s birthday celebration!” a man on stage suddenly announced and everyone started to clap. I glanced around the crowd and noticed that they were all rich, upper class, older men and women. I saw a few young faces in the crowd, all of which were girls. Hm, I wonder if they brought their daughters to get with Kim JaeJoong. I’ve got to say I wasn’t happy about that. Not jealous! Just not happy.

“Come sit with me, BoA,” Mrs. Kim offered and before I could even answer, she tugged me along to her VIP table and sat me down. I glanced at the other people there with wide eyes and bowed to each one of them. I felt like I didn’t belong and plus, I didn’t know who the heck they were…

“N-nice to meet you,” I said in a nervous tone but they were friendly and smiled back at me. I looked to both corners of my eyes, hoping to find Kim JaeJoong nearby but he wasn’t. Where did he go?

“And now we have a special performance by our very own, Kim JaeJoong!” the announcer man said and my eyes grew tenfold. The crowd clapped even louder and some even got up to cheer. Say what?!

Even throughout all the noise, I could hear my heart begin to beat super loudly. Kim JaeJoong walked on stage from the left and waved his hand in the air. He smiled handsomely and the girls I noticed before giggled, like those three in my music history class.

“Thank you, Mr. Cho,” Kim JaeJoong said into the microphone in his airy voice as the so-called Mr. Cho walked off and out of the way. His voice never sounded so smooth, so alluring. Ugh, what was I thinking?!
“Um, I’d like to dedicate this song to my Ommeoni,” he continued and I perked up some more. That’s so sweet. “It’s called ‘You’re My Melody’ and I hope everyone enjoys it! Happy birthday, Omma!”

I saw Mrs. Kim beside me beam proudly at him and blow him a motherly kiss in the air. He grinned brightly once more and then sat down in front of a sparkling black piano. It was so polished that I bet I could see my own reflection in it.

I then gasped when I saw his fingers about to hit the keys. The moment seemed to freeze just as he was about to start. I bit my lip and folded my hands together nervously in my lap, twiddling my fingers over and over again. This was it. This was the first time I was going to hear Kim JaeJoong play.

He cleared his throat and tapped the microphone set right above the piano. Eh?! Microphone?! Wait, he was – he was going to sing too?! My muscles tensed and I sat up straight, opening my ears and eyes. I had to catch this moment. Once he began, it felt like everything else around me faded away. It was only Kim JaeJoong that I saw and it was only him that I heard in my own little world.

♪
Closing my eyes, listening to the sounds around me
Your soul, your tiniest thoughts
I couldn’t hear them because of the static in my heart
Sorry, sorry

The times when you shed tears is now history
Don’t worry because

You’re my melody
I’ll perform for you (on and on)
You are my song
The soundtrack in my life
I love you
You lighted up the stage of my life
(I’ll sing it again) You’re my song…
♪

His eyes were closed and his facial expressions were so focused, so concentrated. I had never seen him so gentle and passionate about something before. Sure, I didn’t know him for that long but – but I wasn’t expecting this. Kim JaeJoong… he’s really…

♪
I’m not willing to say ‘I’m sorry’
I’ve got lots of pride yet my heart’s empty.
When my soul runs dry
When everything falls apart
Will you come to me

The sad times will end like a song because

It’s your love your love
You told me the meaning of love (and on & on & on)
You’re my rhythm
A gift in my life
Giving me beautiful dreams
Always by my side
I’ll sing it again
You’re my song~
♪

I couldn’t help it. My heart was thumping right to the beat of the pretty music that he was single-handedly creating. The piano, the lyrics, the song, his voice. It was allso entrancing and beautiful. My cheeks had never been so hot before. Kim JaeJoong, I –

♪
The many sad love songs
Seem to be singing of us

Protecting me by my side during this time
You are more important than anything

Listening to the sounds around me when I close my eyes
I’m calling out to your heart now

You’re my melody
I’ll perform for you (on and on)
You are my song
The soundtrack in my life
I love you
You lighted up the stage of my life
(I’ll sing it again) You’re my song~
♪

If I wasn’t mistaken, his dark chocolate eyes flickered towards mine right at the last line. For that one moment, I felt… I felt like I was… I was...

I bit my lip and stared intensely as Kim JaeJoong broke the one-second-stare to bow to everyone. When he looked up again, he smiled right at me and my heart did a somersault.


Kim JaeJoong... as much as I hated to admit it...




I think that I’m in love… with you.

♥

Album No. 9 Side 2

::Track 01::

"Thank you," I said into the microphone and got off the stage with a wide grin. It was the first time I performed in a long while and I knew that it was the first time I played in front of BoA.

I couldn't help but repeat to myself, 'What does she think? Does she like it? What will she say?' I didn't even know why I kept thinking about it. Why did it matter to me anyway?

As I walked across the polished wooden floor, I kept my eyes on her, radiant in her white flowing dress. She struck me as the most beautiful girl in the room. Even prettier than my mother, who was the real star of tonight.

The way she was innocently standing there, staring back at me with her large clear eyes. The feeling of just rushing up to her and holding her in my arms washed over me, it was so weird. Wait. What did I just say?

I approached her with my charming smile, looking directly into her brown eyes.
"Yo pabo, what'd you think?" I asked playfully and nudged her with my elbow, only to see her cute little face grow sour. Her fair cheeks turned red and it made me surprisingly happy that she would blush for me. Well it wasn't a big surprise. For some reason it always made me happy when she blushed. I don't even know why. Aish, there must be something really wrong with me. These days, it’s only getting worse.

Her brown eyes dodged around the venue and blatantly resisted from looking at mine.
"You were amazing," she muttered under her breath and my heart yearned to hear her say it once more. Louder.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I asked, like the jerk I was, but I couldn't help but to . She was so adorable when she was embarrassed and especially when she got angry. Call it a weird but I was addicted to that part of her.

"I said you were amazing!" she answered in a bigger voice and then swiftly turned away so that I couldn't see her all shy. But I wanted to see it. I grabbed her by the wrist and spun her around. She had a hand over and she was looking down. I narrowed my eyes at her and bit my lip. Something about the way she was acting was a little different. She isn't usually this shy, was she?

"Pabo –"
"And now, the mother-son dance!" I heard one of the enterprise's employees announce at just the right time – not. I looked back at BoA and she looked at me blinking ever so innocently.
I gave her a weak smile and let go of her hand. "I'll be back. Don't get into trouble, pabo," I told her and ruffled her light brown hair.

I stayed for just a second more to see her puff up her cheeks and yell, "HEY!" Her hands flew up to her head and she fixed the strands that jutted out because of my doing.

...Why can I feel my heart beating so fast? Stop it. This is unmanly stuff!

I smirked and gave BoA another small smile before I walked up to my mother, leading her to the dance floor.

::Track 02::

Okay, so I wasn't an expert at dancing or anything but I did know a thing or two about a waltz. You kind of have to learn it growing up as a rich kid.

From the corner of my eyes I can feel my mother staring at me with a wide smile as I kept glancing back at what BoA was doing. It saw a figure of a man talking to her. I think it was my dad. Should I be concerned?

“She’s a beautiful girl,” my mother told me and I snapped my head in her direction, gazing at her in surprise. “I approve, honey. BoA is a good catch,” my mom teased and I just let out an uncomfortable laugh.

“Omma~” I whined in my boyish voice as we continued to step around to the soft classical music playing in the background. “What are you talking about?”

My mother knitted her eyebrows at me and smiled with amusement. “You know what I’m talking about, JaeJoong. Aren’t you two dating or something of the sort? You and BoA make such an adorable couple.”
I pulled my head back and gazed at her with a strange feeling inside my chest. “…You think so?”

“Yes. And the girl was in your bedroom the first time I met her for crying out loud,” Ommeoni responded and my face grew ridicuolously hot. Stop it JaeJoong. Man up.
“Omma, you know it wasn’t anything like that,” I quickly responded and she let out a comforting chuckle.

“Araseo, araseo~” she replied with a smile and pinched my cheek. I let go of her back and rubbed my face. “But if you two aren’t together then you better hurry and make BoA your girlfriend. You never know who will go after her and take her away before it’s too late.”

Ha, funny. I know who would… Park Yoochun. And do you know what the greatest part of it all was?

…That I was helping him.