JOOHYUN

She ran to the bathroom and had what was probably the shortest shower of her life.   Grabbing her white jeans and the SKKU hoodie that was Yonghwa’s. She grabbed her sneakers and got the smallest shoulder bag she could find – dumping her house keys, a handkerchief, her mobile and wallet into it. 

She looked at herself in the mirror.  She didn’t have even a slightest bit of makeup on and Tiffany unnie would scold her for sure. She only had time to put some moisturizer on and dab some lip gloss when her mother was knocking on the door. She hastily put the pearl head band on her still damp hair.

“Hyunnie – your friends are outside.  You got home so late last night now you’re going out again?”

“We’re just going to Yoona’s house Omma – some more girl time.” Joohyun opened her door. She pulled the sleeve of her hoodie down so that her mother wouldn’t notice that she was wearing her bracelet.

“You look about Grade 12 with your outfit.” Her mother said as she eyed Joohyun up and down.

Don’t lose your cool Seobaby! She’s just being your Omma!

“I don’t need to dress up – it’s only my unnies. I might not make it to dinner Omma” Hyun kissed her mother and was running down the stairs.

“If you need to be fetched Dong Il will be here at around 5 this afternoon – just give me a call.” Her mother said.

“No need – Hyoyeon can take me home” She was out and running towards the gate.

Tiffany and Yoona gave her amused glances as she got in the back seat of the car.

“You keep looking like that and Yong’s going to be accused of child molestation!” Tiffany remarked.

“Unnie!” Hyun responded. Her nostrils flared and she rolled her eyes. "Oppa told me to hurry up and this was the only outfit I could think of.  I told my mother that I was just hanging out with you in Yoona’s house – if I dressed better then she would have asked more questions.”

“Do you have any idea where we’re going to meet your boyfriend?” Yoona asked.

Joohyun shook her head and for the first time noticed what her unnies were wearing. They were both wearing dresses and had light make up on.

“Ah, this will never do – let’s go back to Yoona’s house.  I’d rather be dead before I’m seen with you wearing that. “Tiffany made a very illegal u-turn and roared to the direction of Yoona’s house.

“Where are we meeting Oppa?” Joohyun asked.

“You mean he didn’t tell you?” Yoona exclaimed.

“No he didn’t he just said to come with you and meet with him.  Where are we meeting him?”

“We’re having brunch at Banyan Tree – you know where he had the golf tournament on Valentine’s Day. I can’t believe he didn’t tell you!” Tiffany said in an exasperated tone.

“Check you mobile maknae – Yonghwa Oppa just texted the location to me.  Maybe you didn’t notice his text?” Yoona held her own mobile up to show Yonghwa’s text.

Joohyun looked at her mobile – there was a text from Yonghwa – she must have been so busy getting herself organized that she missed it.

“Don’t worry – you and Yoona are about the same dress size. Hopefully one of her shoes will fit you.” Tiffany parked the car haphazardly in front of Yoona’s gate.

“Be quiet okay – my Appa’s still asleep.” Yoona led them to her room.

“Let’s see –“Tiffany flung the cabinet doors wide and started looking thru Yoona’s closet.

They made Joohyun try about 4 dresses before her phone started to ring.

“Oppa!” She answered breathlessly.  “Yes, we’re almost there.”

“The boys and I are here already. Hyoyeon and Taeyeon just got here. Palli! Can’t wait to see you Joohyun!” Yonghwa said.

They had just decided to put her in the pale blue dress with a white belt. Yoona was shorter than Joohyun so the dress was short as well. This made Joohyun very conscious.

“Stop fidgeting – your dress last night was even shorter.” Tiffany swatted her hand away from the hem of the dress. “Yoona – do you have any white shoes? Not too high – this girl isn’t used to them yet.”

Thankfully Yoona’s shoes fit Joohyun.  They made her wear low heeled white sandals.

They all hurried back to car.  Yoona drove while Tiffany put some light makeup on Joohyun. They left her hair to curl naturally because Tiffany thought it was feminine.

“Unnie – must I wear make-up?” Joohyun pouted.

“YES! How many times do I have to tell you – there are a lot of eyes where we are going – you are Jung Yonghwa’s girlfriend.  You must learn that it’s a given that you will always have to be at your best – not just for you but for him.” Tiffany finished dabbing Joohyun’s lips with gloss and surveyed her handiwork.

“Thankfully you have beautiful skin.” Tiffany smiled. “Our maknae’s so pretty.”

Yoona looked up at the rear mirror and gave her a thumbs up sign.

They handed the car keys to the valet and proceeded to the members’ lounge.  Several heads turned to look at them as they walked by. Three very pretty girls – Tiffany in her bottle green shift, Yoona in her soft lavender dress and Joohyun in her pale blue belted dress.

Tiffany unnie wasn’t kidding when she said there were a lot of eyes.  I can feel them looking at us.

Joohyun fervently hoped that she would pass the test.  She never wanted Yonghwa to be criticized about her appearance.  It was his world and she would have to adapt.

YONGHWA

He knew that the girls had arrived by the way the waiters and the other people turned their heads.

Yonghwa stood up with Jonghyun to meet them.  Their 2 maknaes were already at the buffet table getting their food together with Taeyeon and Hyoyeon.

 She looks so fresh and lovely.

He smiled and kissed Joohyun’s forehead before taking her hand and leading her to their table. Jonghyun did the same for Yoona.

“It’s so hard not to have a boyfriend!” Tiffany sighed theatrically as she followed the couples to their table.

“Oppa – it’s good you’re smiling.” Joohyun smiled up at him.

Ah – I keep showing her my bad side!

“Sorry about that – let me show you Sunday’s society section. When Min Sun showed it to me this morning I saw red.  I had her keep the newspaper so that my mother wouldn’t see it!”

He pulled Joohyun closer to him and opened the newspaper.

Park Shin Hye and Jung Yonghwa: Power Couple?

The article showed pictures of Yonghwa with Shin Hye at the golf tournament, at her birthday supper and at the club.  It hinted of a budding romance between the chaebol heirs. The writer even went so far as to write that things were getting serious judging from the pictures showing Yonghwa and his parents with Shin Hye and her father.

He studied her face closely as she read the article.  He didn’t miss the slight frown on her forehead and the way she ever so lightly bit her lower lip.

Ah my Joohyun – how complicated your life has become since you met me!

“Seobaby don’t feel so bad – we all know who fed the article to the writer.” Minhyuk patted her arm in a very brotherly way. He had to take his hand away quickly because Yonghwa glared at him.

“Are you ready for the next one?” Yonghwa leaned closer to her.

“What next one? There’s more?”

“Yup – one that will really make me go to war.” Yonghwa said. He turned the newspaper to the entertainment section.

Joohyun’s eyes widened when she saw the headline.

Lee Min Ho’s newest girlfriend

This time the article showed pictures of her with Yonghwa, Min Ho and Shin Hye taken during their arrival at the party. There was another picture of her with Yoona and Tiffany talking to Min Ho and Max. And lastly a picture of Min Ho holding her elbow taken while they were talking at the bar. The article speculated on her identity as Min Ho’s agency declined to provide it.

“Now you know why I said she just declared war on me. On us! It’s okay if it was just me – I can explain to my parents but she had to drag you into this and I just won’t stay still.” Yonghwa said in an angry voice.

“My parents will be so angry when they see this.” Joohyun said.

“But it has a good side you have to admit.” Taeyeon said as she took a spoonful of her yogurt.

“In what way?” Jonghyun asked.

“Well it will make her parents realize that she doesn’t like that Kyuhyun guy.” She smiled at them.

“That’s true unnie – but you know how many fan girls will hate her now? She’ll have a hard time in school!” Hyoyeon exclaimed.

“That’s the very bad side of it.” Tiffany agreed.

“The thing is none of this is true! Shin Hye just wants to cover up her relationship with her boyfriend at our expense. I hate that!” Yonghwa’s hands balled in to fists.

Joohyun covered his hands with her own.

“Calm down – remember she told us that she was desperate right? In her mind she’s solving her problem.”

“At our expense? At your expense?” Yonghwa was getting angrier by the minute.

“Okay – okay let’s eat first. And plan strategies after.” Yoona ever the mediator patted Yonghwa lightly on the shoulder.

They were choosing food from the buffet table – Yonghwa was his usual attentive self.  He put food on Joohyun’s plate and carried her plate for her while Joohyun held two glasses of fruit juice. He felt that everyone was observing them and fervently hoped that Joohyun wouldn’t notice.

 “That’s probably your 3rd plate Jungshin!” Jonghyun remarked as the younger man plopped down on his chair with a full plate.

“I know- they serve the best brunch here!” Jungshin said happily as he wolfed down his food. He high fived it with Minhyuk who was also busy digging into his 2nd plate.

Note to self – kill the maknaes for suggesting this place. I could have just gotten a function room in a hotel!

“I know you’re getting conscious of the people looking at Joohyun.  Don’t worry –it’s good that you’re seen with her – it makes Shin Hye less credible” Tiffany whispered to Yonghwa.

He nodded his agreement.

Just then a very pretty girl parked herself in front of them. She was gorgeous even if her face had a scowl. Her arms were crossed and her eyes were shooting daggers at Yonghwa.

“Uhm..Oppa – I think she’s looking at you.” Joohyun squeezed his hand to get his attention.

“Oppa! I told you not to give that girl the time of day but do you even listen to me?” The girl’s fists hit the table. All the cutlery and plates rattled – everyone stopped eating even Jungshin.

Great – could my morning get any worst!?

“Everyone – meet my sah-chon Bae Su Ji AKA Suzy” Yonghwa glared right back at the girl.

“Hmph – now you introduce me.  I could murder you for that article in the newspaper! Now do you see why I don’t like her?” The girl named Suzy pulled a chair and sat down in front of Yonghwa and Joohyun.

“Hello” Joohyun said shyly. She was the only one who greeted the girl because everyone else was so surprised at the way she talked to Yonghwa.

‘You must be Joohyun – Oppa sent me a picture of the two of you.  I’m his first cousin Suzy.  My mom and his dad are siblings. I plan to study at SNU next year.” She smiled like an angel to Joohyun.

“You mean you’re bumming around and just spending your Dad’s money.” Yonghwa smirked.

“How could you like him? He’s mean and nasty and always made me cry a lot when we were little.” Suzy asked Joohyun.

“That’s because you’re a spoiled brat. Everyone spoils you and thinks you’re an angel. But you’re actually a monster!” Yonghwa started laughing.

“Just wait – Yunho Oppa is meeting me here and I’ll tell him you’re mean to me again!” Suzy snapped at him.

“So get your plate and eat already.  What are you going to do here?” Yonghwa asked.

“I’m having brunch then a massage after an hour.” Suzy responded.

Yonghwa pulled out card and called the manager. He gave instructions to charge all their meals and Suzy’s massage to his account.

“He actually spoils me you know – he just pretends to hate me.” Suzy told Joohyun.

“Brat! Stop bothering my girlfriend and go eat! Call Yunho Hyung and tell him to eat with us.” Yonghwa told her.

“Will do! Can I eat here with you? Yunho Oppa is going to be late again I’m sure.” Suzy did an aegyo that made every male in the table except for Yonghwa gasp.

“Stop that! They’re not your victims!” Yonghwa stood up and gently pushed Suzy to the direction of the buffet table.

 “Hyung! You’re cousin’s daebak!” Jungshin remarked.

“Careful – she’s deadly.  She’s a brat but we love her to pieces. I have only 2 female cousins. And maybe she could help us with Shin Hye. Suzy hates her with a vengeance.” Yonghwa sat back down and grabbed Joohyun’s hand.

“Why does she hate Shin Hye?” Joohyun asked.

“She’s best friends with Park Min Young, a theater actress – Min Ho’s ex-girlfriend. Suzy claims that Shin Hye stole Min Ho from Min Young by making Min Ho think that she was two ti