Because I read about JongHyun crying in Taiwan, I decided to update despite school hogging much over my time.

Again, comments and subscriptions are essential for me to keep this story ongoing. This is STILL an experimental story.

Thank you for the recent subscribers, and this update is for you. =]

The second one of the two suspenseful chapters.

So, please listen to "Last Gift" by SHINee:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gO4XS7f75A
= = =

"J-J-JongHyun-sshi?"

"The one and only." The man said before going inside the rehearsal room, the fire still in his eyes, the evidence of anger in hs movements. He questioned me from a low voice, increasing in intensity.

"You think you're smart, huh? You think you can predict the life of any celebrity? Now that what you said came true, are you happy?!" He shouted the last question as he pinned me to the wall, one of his hands tight around my neck.

His grip on my neck was so tight, and I began to get deprived of air. He could kill me in this state.

It wasn't until I heard a familiar male voice that air flew back into me again.

"YAH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HER, HYUNG?!"

I saw someone who's most unlikely to be in this situation, pulling JongHyun back from literally killing me and punching him in the face.

"You might be my yeobo in SHINee, but killing ShiRin-ah is WAY too much." He said, before turning to me.

"Key-ah.." I murmured as he checked how I am, looking around my neck for how hard JongHyun-sshi's grip was. His eyes were clouded with worry, and concern.

"Are you okay? Can you still breathe well? His grip was tighter than I thought..." He said as he suddenly pulled me into an embrace. From the corner of my eye, I saw JongHyun-sshi stand up and dust himself off.

"Right, Key-ah. Protect HER. Who the hell does she think she is, waltzing in our life just like that, and with a few words, changing almost EVERYTHING there is among us...almost everything you think about me?!" He shouted, and unable to hold back anymore, tears began to roll down my cheeks.

"She didn't do anything wrong! How the hell could she?! It's you who risked yourself being a relationship, it's you who should be responsible for it!" Key-ah said to the still fuming JongHyun.

That isn't true, Key-ah.

"No. I did something wrong." I said, breaking away from his embrace, and looking straight into JongHyun-sshi's eyes.

"I did something wrong. It's because I meddled in your life. I accidentally saw you hugging SeKyung-sshi then. Believe me, it was an accident. I interfered in your personal life when I still wasn't in the position to do so. I'm not your friend or anything, so I was wrong to just give you a warning like that." I continued, noticing how the expression of JongHyun-sshi became calmer and calmer. When I was done, I quickly went to where my bag was, grabbing it by the strap, hurriedly slinging it over my shoulder, and running away from the two members of SHINee, all the while, tears were falling down my eyes.

I heard a voice in the distance calling my name, but I decided not to pay attention and turn around. I don't want to talk to anyone right now.

Seriously. I want to be alone.

= = =

November 9, 2010

"Hey, ShiRin-ah. It's Key. I know you won't call me back, but, I just wanna say sorry on JongHyun's behalf again. I know he's been under too much stress, and things aren't going well for him and all of us. I hope you understand him. I want to talk to you, too. I tried chasing you back then, but you wouldn't turn around. Well, I guess that's it. Bye."

Tears began to build up in my eyes as I listened to the 27th voicemail left by Key-ah in my phone. I haven't been answering any calls for the past week, ignoring text messages by the SHINee members, only answering calls from either my manager or LeeMyeong Abeonim. I have been locking the door of the practice room when I'm rehearsing, never letting anyone else in except for the choreographers, LeeMyeong Abeonim, and my manager, Park Hee Sung, who happens to be my cousin.

"ShiRin-ah, please pick up. I'm really worried about you. Is your neck okay? I'm sure bruises showed up, and I want to see them, so that I could see what I can do to make them go away faster. I'm sorry, and I don't know what I'm going to do if you continue to ignore me and my calls like that. They don't call me umma for nothing."

I couldn't hold back my tears any longer when I listened to the next voicemail. Key-ah's voice was very different from his previous voicemail. In the other one, he was a bit confident with his speech, but in this one, it's like he's close to tears. I didn't know how much Key-ah worries about me before, and to hear his voice break twice in the whole voicemail, it made me cry even more.

I was still crying when suddenly, a new voicemail arrived in my inbox, and pressing the listen button, my eyes widened.

"ShiRin-ah, I'm here outside your door. If you don't open your door for me after I end this voicemail, I'm surely going to make a scene. I know you don't like that. So, answer the door and let me in."

Even before the voicemail was over, I quickly opened the door...

to find myself facing Key-ah.

"I knew you are bound to open the door sometime." He said, smirking, before taking me into his arms. I hugged him back, not holding back on the tears any longer.

"Key-ah, why spend so much time in trying to talk to me?" I asked him softly as I let him enter in my apartment. Closing the door behind him, Key-ah sat on the couch and patted the space beside him. I complied, and in less than a second, Key-ah began inspecting my neck.

"Well, it's because I can't take it anymore." He said, and with confused eyes, I looked to him.

"The other members might not notice it, but ever since we talked to you about Jjong's issue, you've distanced yourself away from us bit by bit. You've been so much into your training that you forget us. It's like you're trying to forget SHINee, most especially JongHyun-ah. It's understandable if you avoid him, but why avoid us as well?" He asked me, and I swallowed the lump on my throat, noticing how keen he is with everything. He saw right through me.

"I guess the bruises are now starting to fade. Good." He said, before smiling at me. I smiled back, noticing how umma-like his actions are.

"Don't lock the door to your rehearsal room tomorrow, okay? The others want to see how you're doing." He told me, and I nodded.

"But, Key-ah... is HE still mad?" I asked him, softly, and as he looked straight into my eyes, he shook his head.

"Nope. He's been staying inside our bedroom most of the time, if not walking out with SeKyung Noona. Ever since the day he cried in Taiwan, he's been debating internally whether to call you and say sorry or just ignore you. I can hear his self-debate inside the room, believe me, that's why I know." He said, smiling even wider, and I broke out into a soft chuckle.

"Thank you, Key-Umma." I jokingly said to him, and he laughed before hitting my shoulder lightly.

"Yah. I'm not an umma to you. I won't EVER be. I'm better off being your sibling. Your OPPA!" He exclaimed at me before breaking out into a laugh.

"Did you know that I'm still shocked whenever I think about you and I having the same age...?" He told me, and now, it was my turn to laugh.

"Sure-sure. You still are frustrated that I can't call you Oppa." I said sarcastically, causing us both to laugh louder.

"Thanks for making me laugh, Key-ah. I never knew how we got close so quickly, but thanks again. I don't know how to repay you." I told him, looking down at my lap.

"Well, you can repay me by buying me face cream and lotion..." He suddenly said, and shuckling, I playfully slapped his shoulder.

"Yah! You're bad! Don't joke like that! I was serious back then!" I told him, laughing, while he started to laugh as well.

"Yah! I'm serious too! You can repay me by that!" He said, continuing to laugh, and I playfully . I pouted my lips and stood up, going to the door. I heard Key-ah's motions as he stood up and followed me.

"Ei! ShiRin-ah! You know I was joking! You don't have to buy me anything." He said, before wrapping his arms around my shoulder, restraining my movements. He made me face him, and looked at me.

"But you can repay me by smiling and texting me more. Answering my calls can be a good start." He said, serious this time, before smiling at me as I nodded.

- Suchyeoganda geu saram soneul jabunchae... moreojyeoganda jogeum jinhan hwangjangul hago... -

Suddenly, my phone began to ring again, and Key-ah and I looked at each other curiously before I took the previously abandoned phone and slid it open.

Unknown Number.

My eyes furrowed in confusion as I tried to think of anyone who would call me that I wtill wouldn't be able to recognize. I already had the phone numbers of the four SHINee members in here. The numbers of my relatives, my trainers, and even my choreographers are already stored here. So, who could it be?

Risking to hear who the mysterious caller is, I answered it.

"Yeoboseyo?"

"ShiRin-sshi..?" The voice replied, and immediately my eyes widened. This was a very familiar voice, and as I let my fear take over me, I panicked.

I quickly took the phone from my ear and hit the 'end call' button immediately, trying not to break down as I caught Key-ah's worried gaze.

"ShiRin-ah, wae-yo?" He asked me before taking my phone and looking at the number. His eyes immediately widened at the sight of the 'unknown number', like it's a number he knew well.

"How the hell did HE get your number? I made sure that NONE of the other members gave it to him." He began murmuring softly, and I had to grab him by the shoulders to make him face me.

"Do you recognize the number of the one who called me just now?" I asked him, and slowly, he nodded.

"Then, who's number is it?" I asked, and he looked at me worriedly, my eyes widening as I understood and answered my own question.

"JongHyun-sshi's."