[kyle's notes: tada! how's that for a fast update? this one is shorter though.. and because i don't have any spare chapter left, it'll take me longer to post the next.. bear with me.. bear with me (repeat 1000x).. writing isn't the only thing i do in my everday life :3 and the tissues i mentioned in the previous chapter, how about we'll have them on the next chapter instead? hihihi]

 

WARNING: lots of ERRORS ahead

 

 

 

Hyun Joong watched as So Min’s brows furrowed, relaxed and then furrowed again, before she gave her glance to him. “Why am I reading this again?”

 

 

 

“Because we’re attending.”

 

 

 

She looked at the peach scented paper on her hands once more, but obviously not reading it. Hyun Joong noted the emergence of black small circles under her eyes. ‘Her sleep must have been not enough.’

 

 

 

“Oh, dear. Is that for the birthday party of Sir Robert Lao?”

 

 

 

“You know him?” So Min looked up at Auntie Dina who just entered the dining to place more toasts for their breakfast.

 

 

 

“So Min, my sweet. How long have you been living in Korea? Robert Lao is from Singapore who holds majority of the stocks from all the companies present here in our country. He’s the biggest investor and his yearly party seems a bigger celebration than that of the country’s own president.”

 

 

 

Unable to do anything more than a nod in the absorption of such information, So Min placed down the invitation on the table beside her plate and resumed eating. These people in the business were never included in her list of interest. She didn’t care if he was from Singapore; whatever stocks he’s holding; and most importantly, the birthday celebration. She couldn’t comprehend why she had to attend, other than the reason of being the wife of a Kim heir. She sighed at the thought. She hated those kinds of gatherings. Lots of fake, plastic people. It’d be like a repeat of their wedding. She felt her facial muscles stiffen just thinking of the bogus smiles she had to sustain.

 

 

 

“Do you understand why we’re expected to be there?” her husband’s query made her look at him in confusion. “Since Auntie just explained it, this year’s birthday is no exception, and it was the chosen day for the bands of the various universities to be introduced to the public.”

 

 

 

So Min had to reach for her glass of orange juice to drain its contents in order to prevent the bread from clogging , as the components of her brain rumbled altogether. With shaky hands, she grabbed the glittery paper after placing down her glass. “But it says here it’ll be this Saturday!”

 

 

 

“Yep.”

 

 

 

So Min’s face immediately lacked the natural color as she viewed Hyun Joong’s indifferent state. ‘Yep?! That’s it? No explanations?’

With a frustrated sigh, she gathered her remaining strength to elucidate, “Isn’t that tomorrow?”

 

 

 

Hyun Joong casted her a somber glance that told her how ridiculous she sounded. “If today is Friday on your calendar, then yes, that’s tomorrow.”

 

 

 

The sarcasm didn’t go past her senses. ‘Oh yeah, he hates me. Why will he bother explaining?’ With another heavy breath, she picked up another toast and arranged her bag. “I’ll be going then.” She turned to the older female in the room. “Thanks for breakfast.”

 

 

 

Auntie Dina looked up at her with a frugal grin and watched until she was out of the dining area. “Don’t your classes start later than your wife’s?”

 

 

 

So Min was already at the front door but she still heard it. No, she didn’t have classes that early. It was just a routine to wake up before her husband did, so that she would be out of the house when he woke up. But that Friday morning was an exception when he woke up earlier than she did. It was actually the kind of task that she had to endure—to have breakfast with him on the same table for the first time.

 

It also gave her something to ask which Auntie Dina did for her. “Why did you wake up at an earlier time then? Are you going to bring your wife to school?”

 

 

 

So Min’s feet came to an abrupt halt. The door was already wide open, waiting for her to dash out of it. But she couldn’t move. It seemed she was nailed on her spot, waiting for some good words to hear.

 

 

 

“I’ll be at Yu Jin’s to bring her to the univ.”

 

 

 

And So Min’s hearing senses sank to the bottom of a pit, bringing her heart along. Just what the hell did she expect?

‘You’re funny,’ her brain’s voice whispered. Yes, she was funny for presuming something that wouldn’t happen. Ever.

With hefty steps, she willed herself to move, closing the door gently. A good walk to the school would help ease her nerves.

 

 

 

And her heart.

 

 

 

***************************************

 

 

 

“So how are you and your babe?” Seung Ah pinch Shin Hye’s left waist.

 

 

 

“SHUT UP!!”

 

 

 

“Shh! Quiet! This is a library, you know!”

 

 

 

“Sorry,” Seung Ah whispered to the rest of the students who looked their way due to Shin Hye’s scream. Really, trust the girl for such reactions.

 

 

 

Shin Hye threw a warning glare at Seung Ah who simply nudged her on the knee, pointing to the other side of the table using her lips. Shin Hye followed the direction of her pout to the sleeping lady with them on the table. The two exchanged knowing glances and both sighed.

 

Their other best friend had been so far away from them for the previous days. They knew there was something that must be stressing her, but being perfectly aware of her silent nature, they chose not to budge much for they might push some wrong buttons that could backfire at them.

 

 

 

“I can’t believe So Min still hasn’t told us about her bandmates. It’s been a week.” Shin Hye twirled some strands of her mid-length hair in her finger and also pouted at So Min’s direction.

 

 

 

“She told us, you just weren’t listening. Besides, it’s not even a week. It’s just Friday today!”

 

 

 

“Still a week for me! A week of school days! And I mean their names, you kill joy.”

 

 

 

Seung Ah snickered, tightening her hold on her best friend’s arm. “You know Hyun Joong’s name. What are you still complaining about?”

 

 

 

“Hyun Joong?” Shin Hye glared and tried to escape from their hooked arms. “Is Hyun Joong the only bandmate she has?”

 

 

 

“It’s not like you know the rest even if she tells us. Now, stop whining. Besides, you already have your Geun Suk babe to keep you busy.”

 

 

 

Shin Hye widened her eyes, faking a shocked expression. “Thanks for the reminder. Now, I don’t feel like eating for the rest of the day anymore.” That guy has gotten on her nerves. And more so each day, especially that he made it a habit to lurk around the College of Education just to bug her. And she had been trying her best to avoid his presence through a pseudo Hide and Seek game, which so far, had been succeeding. But she didn’t know until when she could escape.

 

 

 

“Hey, speaking of eating, can we have dinner outside later? At the mall?”

 

 

 

“With So Min? I don’t think she’ll agree. Look how deep her slumber is. She hasn’t even confided to us for some days and I feel like we’re not important in her life anymo—OUCH! SEUNG AH!”

 

 

 

“QUIET!!” a group of lads glared at them.

 

 

 

Seung Ah lowered her hand that she used for smacking her friend on the head and gave out apologizing glances to the students. Leaning over to her side, she muttered, “We’re supposed to get the gift later, not listen to your whines.”

 

 

 

“Really?” Shin Hye grinned and whispered back, “And we’re supposed to meet your boy-space-friend too?” She watched in delight as Seung Ah’s cheeks got redder than its natural blush. At least there’s something to look forward to this evening.

 

 

 

***************************************

 

 

 

So Min had to be thankful that there was no band practice on her schedule. They were told to rest so that they could all prepare for the big day the next day. The thought was horrible, considering she was still on adjustment period for being in the band. There had been no problem with the bandmates. No, it was not them, it’s her.

 

Just during yesterday’s practice while they were on break, Kyu Jong had to ask if she was single and she choked on her water. She couldn’t give an accurate response until Il Woo saved her, telling Kyu Jong not to push his luck into throwing himself at her. Those boys were more than acquaintances for her, but less than friends. She had to be more comfortable for them to be considered as friends. Il Woo might be an exception though. She had to admit, the guy had charmed his way to her heart. He was such an enticer.

 

So Min rolled her shoulder blades backwards repetitively as she heard her tendons click and her muscles scream in anger. She sat on a bench at the bus station while she waited. She had been working for five days yet it seemed each day had always been tough with all the people buzzing around the shop. She might as well get used to it.

 

 

 

With no traces of incoming bus, she grabbed her phone from her pocket and saw one message each from her friends, though those had similar contents, saying they miss her despite the fact that they had been together wherever they went around the campus. It almost brought her to tears, thinking of the past five days wherein she either slept or did her assignments during their vacant hours. They used to spend those hours eating, relaxing and chatting about the updates in their lives. But now, she couldn’t do the same for she was battling against a full schedule. Academics, work, band—all three activities had been strenuous in all the body systems in her humanity and she found leisure with her friends slowly drifting away.

 

She’s an introvert as Si Wan said during her wedding reception in Chapter One. Unfortunately, being occupied with the above-mentioned endeavors have been pushing her back to the shadows, almost shielding her to socializing. If it hadn’t been for the natural boisterous personality of her bandmates, Jung So Min could even pass being a mute.

 

Of course, when the word bandmates was written, it didn’t mean her husband was included. In fact, she had been in her quietest state when she’s with him a.k.a. the times when they’re at home.

 

She decided not to push any good thing that happened the previous Sunday. It would just give her high hopes which could possibly go down the drain once reality hits her hard. And perforates through her heart.

 

In addition to the incident that morning, So Min has seen Yu Jin waiting beside Hyun Joong’s car on all succeeding evenings after Monday, much to her dislike. She ignored it though, for she didn’t want to block the cheery aura emitting from her husband, which she assumed was coming from his special friendship with the said girl.

 

The routine was predictable—be with Il Woo in the convenience store while they wait for his brother; or ride the bus with him during evenings when his brother couldn’t pick him up. The curfew was totally forgotten and her mind refused to register that it’s because Hyun Joong didn’t give a sh*t about it anymore.

 

So Min stilled on her seat upon noticing where her mind had meandered. She shouldn’t be having these lines of thought. She did not have the rights to.

 

Rubbing her fingers across her forehead, the sound of a bus’ honk made her look up. She stood when it stopped in front of her, but the man who got down from it prevented her into riding the vehicle.

 

 

 

“So Min?” the guy steppe