“I’m gonna go now, grandma!”, yelled Min as she picked her bag up from the floor and put the strap over her shoulder.

“Will he not come to send you?”, asked Min’s grandmother as she walked closer to Min.

“He’s busy, grandma. You know how busy idols are~”

“Well, he used to send you everytime.”, replied Min’s grandma as she gave her a peck on the forehead.

“Things change, haha! I’ll get going now before Eunbin wakes up. I’ll be back before dinner.”

“Okay, take care. Buy some milk before you come home, okay?”

“Alright, grandma. Bye!”

Min walked to the door and rode the elevator down the building. She took her phone out and typed on it:

Buy milk for Eunbin.

She set the note as an alarm for 5pm as well to remind her later. She then typed again to send a text message:

Oppa, don’t come to my house. I have already left. Hehe~ :P

She sent the message and the elevator door opened. She walked through the lobby and headed to the bus stop. On her way, she saw a teenage couple holding hands while walking. She stared at them for a moment and made a face before continuing walking. She stood on the bus stop amidst people waiting. She took her iPod out and plugged her earphones in. She browsed through the artists but then decided to just shuffle her music.

I don’t understand why… See it’s burning me to hold onto this…

Min easily recognized the intro and smiled. She had loved this song since it was released.

It was in 2004 and it’s now 2009… Wow, 5 years of listening to this song.

She couldn’t help but sway to the beat of the song. She tried hard to fight urges to pop her shoulders and just freestyle right there. Luckily, the bus arrived before it was too late. She sat in the middle row by the window and looked out. She saw a girl holding a bouquet and a boy giving her ice cream. On the next block, she saw a boy holding a big pink heart-shaped balloon.

I guess love is in the air?

Min rolled her eyes and snickered.

Nothing lasts forever. Everyone should know that.

Suddenly, Min felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She took it out and saw her best friend calling. She pulled her earphone out and answered, “Yoboseyo?”

“YAH!! Why did you go without me?? Where are you now??”

Min’s ear hurt from the loud voice from the other end. “YAH!! Stop yelling! I’m on the bus now.”

“Are you with grandma?”

“Nope, I’m—“

“WHAT!! You’re riding the bus alone??? YAH, Lee Minyoung, if anything happens to you, I swear I’m gonna eat your cheeks!”

Min laughed to herself, “Don’t be silly, Hwang Chansung! You’re an idol; you don’t need to take me everywhere. Besides, after Thursday’s incident, we should change our daily routine.”

Chansung has always accompanied Min wherever she would go. He would sneak out of JYP just to fetch her from work and bring her home. When he can’t accompany Min, he would ask one of their friends to do it for him. He never asks any other guy to do it though. But last Thursday, Chansung was recognized by three teenage girls when he was sending Min to the dance studio. The three begged Chansung for dozens of photos and asked Min if they were dating repeatedly. It was funny but it had caused both Min and Chansung to be late for their schedules.

“But what if something happens to you, Minnie? I’m worried.”

Min could hear Chansung’s concern over the phone through his soft voice. Min smiled and thought she was really lucky to have Chansung as her best friend. He had been there through her lowest and he never failed to make her happy.

“I’ll be fine, oppa. I’m not wearing revealing clothes, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Good. You should never wear them unless I’m with you.”

Min heard the smirk in Chansung’s voice.

“YOU !!”

“What??” Chansung laughed. “I am not a !!”

“Tssh! Don’t you have to go to JYP or something?”, asked Min coldly as she rolled her eyes.

“I won’t ever be a to you, Minnie. Trust me. I’m better than that.”

Min couldn’t help but smile. She knew Chansung wouldn’t, but the thought of men lusting over her always makes her cringe.

“Anyway, do you wanna go to Hahn river tonight?”, asked Chansung.

“Hmmm~ I don’t know… I promised grandma I’ll be home before dinner. And I’ve got to take care of Eunbin.”

“But today’s Valentine’s day, Minnie! Come on!”

“Oh… Really?”

“Yeah, didn’t you know?”

“No, haha! Okay, I’ll ask grandma. I’ll let you know later. I got to go now, my stop’s here.”

“Take care, Minnie. See you later~”

“Yeah, bye, oppa~”

Min hung up and put her phone in her pocket. She stood up as soon as the bus stopped and carried her bag with her down. She walked to the building nearby and smiled at the guard on post. The studio where she would teach was still empty.

I still have about 30 minutes before the students get here. I better go change.

Min went to the locker room to change. She had been teaching Dance in this studio since a month after she went back from the States. She stopped teaching for about 5 months though and has just gotten back this week. She feels like she’s gone rusty to teach her students that’s why she had been practicing dancing at home whenever she can.

Min went back to the studio to find the majority of her students waiting for her. They started the class after a while with some warm-up and stretching exercises. She teaches Hiphop and every Saturday, they focus on Popping. Min had been dancing since she was in primary school, and with her best friend, Hyoyeon, they entered a dancing school when she was 11 (Korean Age) to help them improve their popping and locking skills. And after 8 years, she’s now teaching at the same school where she had learned.

The class went by smoothly like always. Min doesn’t have any student that lacks passion for dancing so there’s no soul that goes astray. She said goodbye to her students and went to the locker room to have a shower. After her shower, she changed back to her casual wear and fixed herself.

Her alarm then went on. It filled the locker room with its sound as Min struggled to find it inside her bag.

Should I buy now or buy it together with Chansung later? Hmmmm… I’ll go buy now then since he won’t get out for another hour. I can go have donuts!! 

Min fixed her things and went to the nearest convenience store. She picked up a large can of powdered milk and took 2 boxes of fresh milk. She decided she would get herself some banana milk and for Chansung as well. She hugged the can of powdered milk and held on to the fresh milk with her right hand. She was struggling to hold on to everything since she has a small hand but she didn’t want to go and make two trips to the counter. She held the boxes and can close to her and walked to where the small banana milk was. She reached for the door handle when the can slipped from her hug. She waited for the sound it would make when it hits the floor but it never came.

Min saw that a man had caught the can. The man stood up and smiled at Min, “Need help?”

The man didn’t tower over Min which surprised her. She was normally surrounded by tall men that made her feel more of a midget than she actually is. She also saw how the man’s arms seem to be too large for his frame.

“Oh, thank you!” Min smiled and lowered her head. “It just slipped but I think I can handle it.” Min held out her hand to take the can from the man. The man shrugged and gave Min the can. He watched her hug it and tried to open the door once more but couldn’t.

“Here.” The man opened the door for Min as Min smiled at him as a sign of thanks. She took two packs of banana milk and said thanks to the man who had then closed the door. Min made her way to the counter and put the things down. She felt her shoulder ached and moved it.

“You should’ve just let me help you.”

Min turned around and saw the man who had helped him holding bottles of Red Bull. She only smiled at him, paid the cashier and walked out of the convenience store. She walked hurriedly to the bus stop to catch the bus leaving for the Hahn River.

She sat near the back as the seats in front were already occupied. She heaved a sigh and looked out the window. Just then, she felt a figure sat next to her.

“Hey!”