30 | Sleep over

 

***

 

Confused, Mr. Im put his phone down the table after he got a call from his daughter. However, he still can't get over how his daughter sounds so happy talking about his ex-girlfriend. 

 

Is he missing something?

 

Or is does his daughter still not over the princess?

 

Opening his phone back, he opened Seohyun's first and last message she sent to him when she arrives.

 

Her Royal Highness: Mission completed.

 

Although it was in a playful way, he knew the meaning of the message. "I miss be mistaken only. She confirmed it to me." Doesn't believe what he felt earlier, he shrugs and returned to listen to the speaker in the seminar he is attending. 'Five months only though. So I'm pretty sure Yoona hasn't move on. Better hang out with her soon.'

 

 

***

 

 

The event is doing good so far. Everyone are enjoying and having fun, especially that the Seohyun and Yeri are also entertaining the people, not just the event organizers. They're all smiling, exchanging words to teens, kids, adults and senior citizens. The weather is good too, making it more beautiful day to spend the festival with families and friends.

 

But out of all the events happening in one place, the eating contest is an attraction. Hence, the King is participating the event.  Last year, he also did and won the grand prize. But as always, he is kind enough to give the money to the people.

 

That's why, everyone are excited to see if he will win again this year.

 

"I'm glad I only have bread earlier." Yoona on the other hand is an amateur to the contest. But being a food lover, she thinks she can have a chance to win.

 

She hastily took her seat after she was allowed to take the stage. She's the third person who registered, so she took the table three. Grinning widely, she's getting so much hype as one by one, contestants are taking the stage.

 

The moment the King is entering the event, she never missed and stands on her feet like the others. She especially bowed, which not all are doing. But being respectful as she is, she always shows it. Especially that it's the father of her girlfriend.

 

The King casually gives her a pat in the shoulder as he also takes his seat - which happens to be next to Yoona's.

 

"Omo." Yoona gasps to see the King taking the second table. 'How on earth he has to occupy the table?' she thought at the back of her head, as she followed to also sits down.

 

"Nice to meet you, finally." The King suddenly said, without looking to Yoona.

 

"Y-Yes. Me too. It was nice meeting you, his royal Highness." Yoona almost instantly replied. She beamed in her smile, as she felt happy to hear that it was the King who talked to her first. She wasn't even nervous. It's more like excitement and she's looking forward to talk to him more. He sounded friendly after all. She couldn't think of any negative vibes about him.

 

"We better hang out later." The King continues.

 

"Sure. It would be my pleasure his majesty." Yoona replied with all excitement. This is what she had been waiting for after all. Knowing the father of her girlfriend. She is sitting in her chair so comfortable. The King on the other hand smiled, as he glances to Yoona. He is glad to see the person who had been her daughter is cheering on her game.

 

The MC then take on the stage and announces how will the contest works.

 

"The contest is simple. We will have three stages. First, out of ten contestants, three who eats more plates within 10 minutes will move to the second stage... which is will determine again for the two contestants that will continue to the finals. Second stage will have 5 minutes of the time. And in the finals, we will 3 minutes of the time to determine who will win this years food festival eating contest."

 

"That's not all, in our first stage, the contestants will eat the same food. For the first stage, they're going to eat dumplings. Each plates will have 5 dumplings that will be serve for them later. A total of 20 will be serve to each of them. It's like an appetite for the second stage, which is... spicy chicken. In each plates, there will be 10 pieces of spicy chicken. In the last stage... we will reveal it later. Are you guys ready?!"

 

"WHOAAAA!!!" The crowd in the audience roared automatically.

 

Yoona gulped upon hearing it's her favorite. It made her stomach growl already. And she can no longer wait.

 

"Who are you rooting for?"

 

"KING SEOOO!!!" Most of the audiences are rooting for the VIP guest. Yoona isn't surprise anymore.

 

"IM YOOONAAAAA!!!" But she was surprised when she heard a familiar voice from the audience. She face palmed when it came as Seulgi. "I'M YOUR NUMBER ONE FAAAAAAN!!!" She also has a banner waving. 

 

"Aigoo... Seulgi."

 

"Your friend?" The King asked without missing a beat.

 

Yoona was a little surprised with the question. "Y-Yes, your highness. " that she stutters to answer.

 

"Good."

 

Yoona's ears perked when she heard that one word. She tilt her head to face the elder, and wonders what does he means about that. He wasn't staring at all, but she can him smiling... smiling to the audience. Or what? "That's weird." She decided to just brush it off. She turned to the audience again and smiled, like the others are doing.

 

Just then, Seohyun and Yeri appeared, entering the venue still in their hanboks. Heck, their eyes are surprised to see one familiar doe-eyed in the stage, smiling to them, as they made their way to the second row of the seats. Both princesses soon smiled and silently cheered on her with their two fists. The King in the side also smiled to her daughter as the two also cheered on her.

 

As soon as they had take their seats comfortably, The MC let the chefs to serve the plates to each contestants. While the stage is busy, Seohyun took the chance and snapped a photo of her girlfriend on the stage. Of course, with the view of her father in the side. And she also made a heart over her head, earning a giddy smile from the doe-eyed.

 

"Are you guys ready?" The MC asked, more on the contestants after five of their total plates.

 

"Yes!" All of them except Yoona replied. Because apparently, Yoona is amazed by the dumplings, busy eyeing them one by one. Her stomach had been constantly growling, and it gets worse now that the foods are in front of her.

 

The King is almost the same. He never had breakfast earlier to prepare for this event. It gives him more reason to eat a lot, now that it was served in front of them. 

 

'20 plates. I think I can finished them all in 10 minutes.' Yoona thought biting her lip.

 

'Five minutes of this only will do.' comes the King's thoughts as well. His appetite is definitely so big.

 

"At the count of 3..."

 

Both gulped and prepared them selves, as their eyes are focus to each of the dumplings.

 

"2..."

 

Both are rubbing their thumb and index fingers respectively, waiting for any moment... 

 

"One! Go!"

 

Yoona almost instantly picked one dumpling and shove it to her opening mouth. One is not enough, so she take another one and started munching them inside . Just 5 seconds that passes, she shoves another dumplings, munching them with happy smiles. 'It's been a while since I've eaten this.' she thought at the back of her head. The King is doing the same as her. But he looks faster than her. Yoona unconsciously notices and frowned to see it. 'The King is a shikshin too?'

 

Pressured, she didn't think twice and fastens also her pace. After three minutes, she already finished 5 plates and so as the King. The chefs serves 10 plates to their table again.

 

"Whoa, it looks like our King has a competitor this year. Yoona is on her tenth plate while our King is on his ninth plate after 6 minutes already." The MC announces, watching intently in the side. The audience are now cheering the both of them. 

 

Seohyun sure has nothing to say. She's all speechless. She had been aware her girlfriend is a shikshin, but she didn't expect she could actually compete with her father who is also known to be a shikshin.

 

Yeri is the opposite. She's cheering so hard for the two persons she liked to win. Seulgi, she's cheering for Yoona only while at the same time, taking pictures like a real photographer.

 

After 10 minutes on time, every time stopped. The MC checks on their table one by one, but only three contestant made it to the second stage, The King with 18 plates, Yoona with 17 plates and a student from Dongguk with 15 plates.

 

"I want more!!! I'm ready for spicy chickens!!!" Yoona suddenly whines while stomping her feet under the table. "Pweaseeeee!!!"

 

"Whoaaaa!!!!" 

 

"She's so cute."

 

"Adorable." Everyone in the audience are amazed by her fighting spirit.

 

The King who was drinking his water almost even spilled his water. Yoona's aegyo voice just made him cringe. He turned to him with a chuckle.

 

"Let's go for the finals, your highness." Yoona showed a thumbs up, earning a thumbs up also from the latter. Yoona stretch her hand forward and fist pump with him, making everyone cheered again.

 

"Aigoo. Childish." Seohyun face palmed.

 

-

 

Three minutes since the second stage have started,

 

"Omo.. Omo...Yoona is on third!" The MC and the audience are surprised to see the doe-eyed girl is having a hard time to catch up.

 

The King is still first with his unbelievable five plates of spicy chicken already. The second is having her fourth plate while Yoona is trying to catch up with her third plate already.

 

Everyone are holding their breath as they watches intently, the time and the two contestants that are competing for secons spot for the final round.

 

"What happened to Captain Im Unnie?" Yeri can no longer cheer a lot while watching.

 

Seohyun take a glance to the time. There are few minutes left before it will end. And Yoona just reach for her fourth. The Dongguk student is still in her fourth plate, but she already have half left to finish it. As seconds passes, Yoona suddenly slowed down, as she keeps on drinking her bottled water. Perhaps of how spicy it is. "Come on Yoong!!! You can do it!!! She's slowing down already!!! You can't give up, Yoongie-ah!!!" She instinctively cheered so loud when she noticed the opponent is doing the same. She had unconsciously got on her feet.

 

"Yah!! You can do it Captain!!!" Yeri stands up after her sister's lead.

 

"Come on!! Go! Go! Go! Im YOONAAAA!!!"

 

Upon hearing the loud cheers that came from Peng, Yoona got energized. Especially that half of the entire audience followed her lead. She gives a glance to the student behind, she's still half way and she's near to catch-up. It got hef really strong again and she fastens her pace of biting and munching.

 

Seohyun was happy to see the doe-eyed is on it again. She keeps on cheering for her no stop, didn't noticed her father's eyes are on her while he is finishing his sixth plate.

 

20 seconds left, they're head to head. Both are on their fifth plate.

 

"Yoongie!! Treat this like a football! You need to have a lot of air so you can still go on until the end of the game. Think of the pleasure to compete with my father in the finals. GO GO GO! You are doing it well!" Shouts and clapping of hands can be heard from Seohyun already. "Come on, come on, come on, you can do it Captain!!!"

 

Whilst, the audience are quite, intently watching on who will win.

 

10... 5...

 

"Keep going Captain Im!!!"

 

"That's it Yoongie!!!" Seohyun is getting excited as Yoona can now be seen taking her sixth plate and the Dongguk student is lagging. As soon as the time went to zero, the audience erupted for Yoona's last chicken she finished, making her move to the finals. Seohyun and Yeri are especially randomly dancing in celebration, as if it's them only in the place. The King just couldn't believe what just happened and just smile while drinking on his water.

 

"We will take on a break for thirty minutes to give our top two finalists a chance to breath." The MC announces, earning groans from the audience. But each one of them are slowly leaving the venue for a while.

 

Yoona can no longer take the hotness of her body and she eventually pour the remaining bottled water to her head.

 

"What are you doing?" The King Chuckled, as he watches the doe-eyed girl doesn't care if she's already wet and soak.

 

"Yoona are you okay?" Seulgi and Seohyun asks in unison, surprised what is happening.

 

Yoona finishes all the water with a deep sigh of relief. "My body had been so hot, I need to cool it down." she embarrassingly explained with a cute pout, earning smiles of amusement from everyone.

 

 

***

 

 

Mr. Im is in the middle of searching for a book in the library when he suddenly heard a soft familiar voice from somewhere. He searched for it and finds out it was Eun Jeung, his colleague and his wife's friend, talking with the staffs of the library. He shrugs and continue searching for the book he is searching for a while now.

 

"Are you looking for that new edition of earth and life book?"

 

He turned and let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, you caught me." It's Eun Jeung, giving him a weird look.

 

"Come with me. It's not there." Eun Jeung said and leads her friend to a different book shelf. The latter followed her casually. She then took the book at the end corner of the shelf, handing it to her friend. "Wait - How's Yoona?" However, she retracted back her hand when she thought about the doe-eyed.

 

"She's good. Doing very well both in her studies and varsity life." Mr. Im proudly informs. "Why do you asked?"

 

"You know that... news a while back?" Eun Jeung carefully mentioned.

 

"Oh yeah, that with the princess. What's... the matter?"

 

Eun Jeung raised his brows. "Aren't they... dating?"

 

A bit taken aback by the straightforward question, Mr. Im got the book from his friend first before he answers. "That was back then... right now, ever since the princess have went back, there's nothing going on between them anymore." He confidently shared.

 

It came as a surprised for Eun Jeung. "Chincha?" I thought she will follow my advise.' She said at the back of her head.

 

"What's so surprising?"

 

"I... just didn't realize it would be like that." Eun Jeung crosses her arms as she looked else where. 'Do I have to call the princess' attention again?'

 

"Wait, how'd you know they're dating back then when it was being denied?"

 

She smiled playfully. "Actions speaks louder than words, Tae Kyung. How do you expect me to think about it? And it's interesting to see both princesses are close to each other. You know, the history?"

 

"I'm not liking how this is going, Eun Jeung." Mr. Im dryly replied. The mention of 'history' made him shivers a little. And he's not in the mood to talk about it. He bowed his head a little and turned around. "Thanks for the help." He takes five steps forward only as he stops to hear his friend's voice.

 

"Taekyung-ah... It's been a decade. How-"

 

"Let's just put it this way... That family can't get involve for the future of my daughter. That's what I am only protecting."

 

"You know she loves her."

 

He turned around with a fierce look. He stepped forward and whispers, "But that love will kil them. So as far as I am concern, I will keep my daughter away from any harm. She doesn't deserve to leave so young from this world just because of that curse. To think, there are still better girls out there she can date and settle down. So don't you dare think she's the only girl in this world. You hear me?"

 

"You know about the curse?" Eun Jeung gasps, as her eyes widened.

 

"Don't think I wasn't aware of the past... I'm just quiet about it." Sighing, Mr. Im turned away and left his old friend dumbfounded.

 

However, shortly, Eun Jeung fished her phone out and sent a message to the princess.

 

 

***

 

 

Seohyun was in the middle of watching intently the finals between her father and her girlfriend when she noticed in the corner of her eyes, Director Shin is signaling her to come to the corner. She ignored it for a while and continue her viewing when Director Shin didn't stopped from calling her. 

 

"Ugh." She groans in protest. Yet, she get on her feet and approaches him in the side. "What? The game is already ending." She couldn't hold herself and hiss in annoyance.

 

"You received a message from Miss Kim." Director Shin handed the young princess' phone right away.

 

Seohyun takes it and reads the message. She sighs as she founds out the latter is asking for an appointment today.

 

"Should I be worry or not?" Director Shin asked. The last time the princess talked to her, it left him concerned because she came out that office with tears in her eyes.

 

"Should this be a perfect time?" Seohyun meaningfully asks, glancing to Yoona on the stage. The timing is good - Yoona is with her. And she plans to spend the rest of the day with her. 

 

"What do you mean?" Came Director Shin's confused question.

 

Facing back her beloved second father, Seohyun made up her mind. "I think I should also bring you too, Director. It's time for you to know also."

 

"Chincha." Director Shin gulped his saliva nervously.

 

Seohyun gives the elder a pat on his shoulder and gives her phone back to him before she went back to her seat and resumes what she had been into.

 

Unfortunately, it was on time the game ended. Her father won as expected, but before the King can get on his feet, Yoona suddenly fainted. Everyone gasps upon seeing her on the floor. Including Seohyun who just jumps to the floor to check the pale doe-eyed girl.

 

"Yoongie wake up. Wake up. Wake uuuuup!"