I'm really sorry that I haven't been updating much. But for you guys, I'm gonna do a double update today. =]

So, yeah. Even though there's exam on Monday, I'll be doing this for all of you readers. =]

Please keep the comments and subscriptions coming, and thank you very much. =]

So, here's Chapter 29 with the soundtrack of "A Yearning Heart" by AST'1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IBRDet2-Ik

= = =

January 8, 2011

There had been breaking news that faced the K-Pop industry. Along with the comeback of Dong Bang Shin Ki, other articles surfaced about another talent emerging from under the wing of the SM entertainment company and the international company Sonic Entertainment. This was said to be by both the companies, and lucky previewers of the artist's performances, as "BoA's Little Sister" because of the range of talents that you can attribute to BoA herself.

A teaser had been posted in the articles along with the introduction of who this new talent is. A supposed vocal talent-dancer-rapper-and actor commbined, this person is surely going to make waves in the K-Pop Music Scene.

Comments had already been posted by many netizens, showing their intense interest on who this "BoA's little sister" could be.

On AllKpop.com:

@583: If she's supposed to be like Boa, then this one would definitely be a big star. I'm excited.

@644: Wow. I could say from the teaser that she's HOT! I'll definitely be watching her debut.

@755: Very talented in vocals, exceptional dancing, and with a great stage presence, she'll surely shock us when she debuts.

@870: The articles said that her name is Selene, right? Well, it suits her, goddess-like traits, just like the goddess of the moon herself.

@935: She's debuting under two companies, and SME allowed it? Wow. She must really be something different.

On KNewsHive.Net:

Netizens and fans of different groups have now clearly expressed their desire to know who this artist is. Well, everyone should look out for her, as her debut is scheduled on the 22nd of January. Her debut single "Ain't No Other Man" had been said to be a showcase of her musical talents, as well as her skills in the form of dance. The single would be released on the 23rd.

Stay tuned for more news on "BoA's Little Sister" and how she'll make waves in the K-Pop Music Industry.

K!NewsToday.tv:

@1044: Wow! I'll definitely be waiting for January 22! She's so cool!

@1145: I'll be waiting for her single. I LOVED the teaser!

But behind those comments and expectations, known by every artist who already debuted, the artist can never rest at ease with just good feedback. They should always yearn for good feedback that stays. No artist can take a breather until he or she has seen how great the impact of their debut is.

And as for me, I'm one of them.

= = =
January 8, 2011
2:35 P.M.
SME Practice Room

"And we cut it from there."

I heard the voice of JaeLi Sunbae-nim pierce through my concentration as I did my final pose on Ain't No Other Man. Panting, I tugged at the hem of my top, finally feeling the relief running through my whole system.

"Okay, you can rest for a bit now. You can take your lunch as well. Just be prepared for another round of rehearsals, with the back-up dancers now, though." She told me, and I nodded, followed by the exit of my Korean Choreographer.

I huffed a deep breath as I took my water bottle and chugged the contents down. As the liquid inside lessened and lessened, I took a deep breath once more.

"Do I have time to rest nowadays?" I asked out loud in the silent practice room, and without any reason, I laughed.

I must really be a robot. A cyborg by the least.

If I wasn't as bionic as I thought, then...

How was I able to keep up with this schedule?

Going to and from the different media companies to schedule my appearances, planning for the last touches on my music video and a packaging a special edition of my single. I was confused with how SME and SE is acting about my debut, it's like they're preaparing too much for just a rookie.

Me.

But they told me that their preparations aren't going to go down in vain. They told me that I would be great when I debut. They had very hopeful eyes, high expectations, and truthfully, I fear these stares.

What if I fail all of their expectations?

What if they wouldn't like me?

The thought made me stand up on my feet again, and turn the music up. As the song came through, I tried my best to move along to the music. But alas, my body finally yielded to its constantly suppressed desires... and I rested.

I couldn't take the faitgue any longer, and I laid down on the floor of the practice room. I closed my eyes, feeling my hands getting colder by the second, and my temperature rising. Man, I hope I don't get sick now. There are only 14 days.

Exactly 2 weeks remaining before I officially debut.

I released the sad and tired sigh that lingered on my lips, and hoped for the best. I kept my eyes closed, and my other senses open. Who knows if JaeLi Sunbae would come back here again?

Silence settled all around me, and I took another deep breath. I know that minutes have been passing me by. I should eat lunch now, I guess. After all, I'll be in for another set of strength-taxing activities later.

I found the drive in myself to stand up once more only when a hand I knew very well held mine.

"Come on, stand up and get ready, child. JongHyun-ah's waiting in the lobby for you."

The arm that had been on my eyes withdrew from its position, and I saw the face of the man I respected so much. The face of the one who took me in like I'm his daughter the moment my dad passed away came into my view.

"LeeMyeong Abeonim..." I said, and a smile spread across his face. He took my hand and made me stand up, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat that formed under my eyes.

"My daughter, I see that you're really tired now. You are no machine, and you are no robot. You are not bionic, so, I'll be doing my job as your dad, and I'll cancel your rehearsals today and tomorrow. I already told JaeLi-yah." He told me, and evident joy crossed my features.

"You know, JongHyun-ah has been debating with himself whether to see you or not outside the building. He was sitting inside the group's van with the door open. But once I saw him and told him about how tired you are, he even volunteered to take you out and bring you home afterwards. You should be very thankful that your sunbaes are like that to you." He said, and with a smile on his face, he gave me my bag, and motioned for me to begin fixing myself.

After all, I wouldn't want to keep JongHyun Oppa waiting, right?

= = =

I felt a light touch on my forehead and a soft brush on my cheek.

In that moment, I realized my eyes were closed and I dared to open them.

I saw that JongHyun Oppa was just withdrawing from kissing...my forehead?

"JongHyun Oppa?"

His name slipped from my lips as I realized where I was.

Oh yeah. I fell asleep from too much fatigue after fixing myself. I was seated on the chairs in the corridor, where I was supposed to be fixing my footwear.

"Hey, ShiRin-ah." He told me, now kneeling in front of me with one knee, keeping his body level with mine.

"Jeongmal Mianhaeyo, JongHyun Oppa. I fell asleep." I told him, sighing tiredly, and shook my head.

"LeeMyeong Sunbae-nim told me about that. Come on, I'll take you out for today. I wouldn't have that much to do, anyways, since the company wanted me to rest my ankle and stuff." He told me, and I nodded. He then placed his hand on my knees to help him push himself up and stood in front of me with his hand outsretched.

"Come on. Let's go." He told me, and with a smile, I took his hand. He slung my bag, which was formerly on a chair beside me, on his shoulder and held my hand as we walked out.

"Where are we going?" I asked him as our steps fell into a constant beat.

"Out. Just out. Walk down the streets, or go to a park, or, just... anywhere for that matter. I could buy you lunch, too." He told me, and with a chuckle, I replied a soft 'Okay'.

As we went out the doors, he smiled at me and released my hand. Instead, he wrapped his arm protectively around my shoulder and brought me to SHINee's van. We both climbed in and sat beside each other at the back.

"Oppa, I think I'm already hungry. I want to eat already." I told him, and with a soft chuckle, he answered me.

"I thought you wouldn't have an idea about that." He told me before telling the driver where to go.

"To Dae-Yon Grill, Hyung. I think I'm craving for some galbi today." He said, and laughing, the driver nodded and brought us to where we wanted to go.

= = =

"Aigooo, Oppa! Why feed me so much?!" I exclaimed as JongHyun Oppa held out his chopsticks once more to place food inside my mouth.

"It's because you're gonna need it! Look, you might be great in your body figure, but that doesn't give you licence not to eat much! Seriously, you'll be looking like a walking stick insect in the near future if you don't eat a lot!" He told me, and I sighed, giving up. He smiled as he placed the food inside my mouth, and as I chewed the food down, I looked at him.

He was staring straight at me. It was like he was searching deep into my eyes for something.

"Wae? Is there something wrong?" I asked him, as I withdrew from my gaze and continued to eat from my own bowl. If I don't, I wouldn't know what I could've thought.

"Nothing. It's just that... I think you're really beautiful." He told me, and with that, I raised an eyebrow.

"O....kay... What's with the cheesy lines right now, Oppa?" I asked him jokingly, and I was shocked with what he did next.

He leaned close to my ear and kissed my cheek.

"You know, ShiRin-ah. I just wish time would stop right now. At least then, I would have this moment with you forever." He whispered to my ear, and I gasped as I pushed him away.

"What are you saying, JongHyun Oppa?" I asked him, now freaking out internally. Those words were certainly unexpected.

"What I'm saying is that, I want everything right now to last. I want to just stay here with you, though we both know that in two weeks, it would be impossible. I just wished that maybe, just maybe, I could be able to show you how I feel without having to risk my carreer and yours." he told me, and I just smiled sadly before placing my hand on his.

"Oppa, not all wishes can become reality. We should just accept things as they are. We have to stay in a platonic sunbae-hoobae relationship, and we have no rights to be able to show our real selves. We might be truthful in front of the camera, but there is always a limit to how much we can show." I told him, using this opportunity to once again make it clear to him about my intent for us to just stay as friends.

"Don't we get a choice? Can't WE have a choice?" He asked me, his voice now growing sadder, and I saw his eyes getting watery.

Good thing we were in a special room, far away from the eyes of the public. When celebrities eat at Dae-Yon grill, there is a room specially constructed for them, for which, right now, I'm really thankful for.

"JongHyun Oppa, don't cry." I said, trying to soothe him from his tears. He just withdrew from the table where we were eating and went to the corner of the room. I followed him and continued calming him down.

"Can't KIM JONGHYUN have a say in all of this?!" He shouted despite my words, and pulled me close to him.

"It hurts me more than you know to be constantly facing the fact that I can't have a relationship with you. I feel jealous with all those guys who can come close to you, and I'm jealous of those future fanboys of yours who could be able to at least hold your hand in your performances or have a picture with you in fanmeetings, all coming with a fact that they wouldn't be involved in an issue with you. Why can't I have the same situation?" He asked me while in the embrace, and I felt him cry silently.

And in that moment, I swore I felt tears rolling down my cheek as well.

"Oppa, the moment we both chose to become celebrities, we had no say over our lives anymore. We couldn't live like before because that's the price of living under the limelight. We could never take it back." I told him, but he just tightened our embrace.

"I don't know what I should do, ShiRin-ah. I wanted to freely tell them that I'm no longer involved with anyone. But the moment I tell them, I know I wouldn't be the same again. Maybe the blingers will increase again. But what if I tell them that I love someone else now?" He asked me, and I pulled back from our embrace.

"I don't know what to answer to that anymore. I think you should ask the company for this kind of issue. They say that I'm intelligent, but not all things are known by an intelligent person, for we are not all-knowing or omniscient." I told him, hurriedly wiping the tears from my eyes.

"Come on, let's just eat lunch now. I still have a schedule to go to MBC later on. Even if my rehearsal is cancelled, I'm pretty sure I couldn't escape THAT." I told him, and I wiped the tear tracks on JongHyun Sunbae's face before motioning to him that we should resume eating now.

He complied with a sad face, and a soft sigh.

And truthfully, it made me wonder.

Is he really that sad that we wouldn't be able to act like we're really close anymore?