June 14th, 2003

"I don't want you going near her."

Jongin was never on close terms with Hyungi, which is expected since the latter is a senior in high school and Jongin was, for lack of a better term, a mere brat. Jongin couldn't blame Hyungi for being angry, but he needed to apologize to Seulgi.

"I didn't mean for it to happen," Jongin explained weakly.

"You don't think I know that? What kind of human would you be if you actually meant for it to happen? Because you had an emotional little outburst, Seulgi can no longer-"

"Hyungi, that's enough."

Mr. Kang's voice rang out in the quiet hospital hall. Jongin bit his lip, expecting a storm to come. He couldn't start crying again; that was what got him in trouble in the first place. Mrs. Kang followed her husband, her cheeks tear stained. Jongin's father loomed in the far distance down the hallway. where he had just been profusely apologizing to the Kangs and negotiating compensations. Fear rose in Jongin's throat as he noticed the dark fury on his father's face.

Hyungi threw one last final glare at Jongin, his eyes still glassy. He opened the door to Seulgi's hospital room and closed it behind him. Mr. Kang now stood before him, looking down at him with a face so neutral and stoic that it scared Jongin. What he had done was inexcusable and Jongin expected Mr. Kang to lash out at him.

"Jongin, I sympathize with your current situation and I am well aware that it was an accident. However, I would like you to distance yourself from my daughter from now on."

His voice was hard and flat as he looked at Jongin with his dark, worn out eyes. Jongin swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, bowing to a 90 degree angle with his head low and eyes focusing on Mr. Kang's suede loafers. "I understand. I am deeply, deeply sorry for the trouble I have caused." Tears formed once again in his eyes as he remembered what he had just done to one of his closest friends.

"Very well." Mr. Kang said and went into Seulgi's room with his wife.

Jongin did not rise up from his bow as they left and then he heard footsteps. His eyes stayed glued to the floor and a pair of shiny black dress shoes came into his line of vision. Jongin did not want to raise his head.

"Stand up."

The command was bitterly cold and gruff and the lump in Jongin's throat only grew bigger.

"I said, stand up."

His father all but spat the words and Jongin had no choice but to comply. He rose slowly, unable to look his father in the face and he couldn't even imagine what kind of punishment he was going to receive for what he had done.

"Look at what your emotions have done. I told you, caring is not an advantage"

Jongin could hear the anger in his voice and he shook.

"If I hadn't watched you grow up, I wouldn't believe that you are my son."

And with that, Jongin's father turned and walked away.

***

"Yo."

Jinri waved a hand in front of Soojung's face. "You're spacing out."

"Sorry." Soojung flushed when she realized that she was lost in thought.

"You're not changing?" Jinri pointed at the red dress she had been wearing the whole night.

"Nah. I like it."

"Where'd you run off to? You're twenty minutes late to work and your heads been up in the clouds like an idiot." Jinri eyed her suspiciously.

"Nothing." Soojung bit her lip as she repolished her makeup.

Not nothing, per se. Soojung, of course, was lying unless the multitude of butterflies colonizing in the pit of her stomach was nothing. She hadn't felt this kind of feeling since she first started going out with Myungsoo.

"She hooked up!"

Jeongyeon squealed, popping up behind Jinri with her hair pulled up into two space buns.

.

"Of course you did! Who was it?" Jinri clasped her hands and squealed.

Soojung scoffed. "I didn't-"

"She hooked up! She hooked up!" Jeungyeon chanted and by now, Yerin had joined in, twirling around a feather boa.

Soojung stood up abruptly and made her way to the door. "I don't need this kind of abuse!" she screamed before slamming the dressing room door behind her.

"What are you guys woofin' about?"

Cigarette smoke filled the already heady air and the voice certainly wasn't Jiyong's.

"Namjoon." Soojung said wryly and brushed past him. She hadn't seen the tattooed, smug bastard in a couple months. Jiyong and Namjoon sort of co-owned the place, where Jiyong ran it and Namjoon mostly did background stuff, like paying for stuff and providing liquor and food. The rules were a little blurry since they were cousins and formalities were non-existent.

"You haven't changed at all, have you? Stone cold as ever." Namjoon smirked and followed her to the bar. "And just as bangable."

"You're disgusting," Soojung replied. "Now, if you'll off, I have work to do."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I meant it as a compliment."

"I don't know what kind of girls you'd know that take that as a compliment, but I sure as hell don't." Soojung glared at him.

Namjoon laughed and leaned against the bar. "I like you," he said, pointing his cigarette at her.

"Whatever."

"Anyways, on to business. Gayoon and Doyeon are already with their regulars and uh... Fresh meat is going around, some guy getting a feel for everyone.. oh, right. Your first guest is in room five."

"Is it the old man with a toupee or the office guy?" Those were her regulars at this hour.

"Neither, actually," Namjoon said with a grin. "Toupee came in, but I sent him away. Told him you were sick."

Soojung gaped at him. "Namjoon, what the ?"

"Relax. You should actually be thanking me. I sent him away because one particular guest came in and offered more money than all your regulars combined."

Jongin instantly flashed across Soojung's mind. He certainly had the cash to spare and she supposed that it was possible that he was breaking the rules and deciding to visit her at work now that they were semi-dating. She could bring him a nice glass of scotch or a martini and put on some nice music and then-

"Krys?" Namjoon snapped.

For 's sakes. Soojung was going to make Jongin pay dearly for this.

"Huh?"

"I said it's a chick." Namjoon was grinning.

"So?"

Namjoon looked a little surprised. "Oh?"

"It's probably not someone looking for entertainment. The only time I've had any women come in here looking for me is because they're pissed that their boyfriends or husbands would rather spend time with me than with them." Soojung shrugged. "Did she seem mad or upset in any way?"

"Not really. I couldn't really tell, actually. She was all bundled up. Sunglasses, a scarf covering her face, big coat. You should hurry."

"Why?" Soojung didn't like to be rushed.

"She actually came like twenty minutes ago. I tried to recommend one of the girls working at the time, but she insisted on you and I managed to squeeze some extra money outta her."

"Namjoon." Soojung crossed her arms and looked at him with disapproval.

"Don't look at me like that. The girl's loaded, I tell you. Loaded. She can afford to lose a couple bucks." Namjoon raised his hands in a defensive manner. "Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, Krys. Dolce and Gabbana."

Soojung shook her head and rolled her eyes, filling her tray with the necessary materials: tissues in case of crying, a nice bottle of Chardonnay and a glass. She walked down the hall to her destination and swung open the door.

Soojung wasn't really expecting what she saw.

No tears threatening to fall. No angry veins threatening to pop. The girl was sitting with her coat and scarf folded expertly beside her with the said pair of D&G sunglasses topping the pile of fabric. She was sitting with her back straight, shoulders relaxed, chin lifted and eyes forward. Her hands were resting on her thighs and her feet perfectly flat on the floor with her knees together.

"Are you Krystal Jung?"

Soojung set the tray down on the rectangular coffee table and took a seat on the L-shaped couch- the side opposite of the girl. She looked kind of familiar.

"Yes, I am," Soojung answered.

The girl's lips twitched. "I see."

"I assume you will not be giving me your name then."

Soojung squinted at the girl, trying to place her. Where had she seen her before? Long shiny brown hair the colour of roasted chestnuts and sharp features; she certainly had the type of face to turn heads in a crowd.

"Trying to place me?" the girl asked.

"Bingo."

"My name is Seulgi."

That didn't really give any clue to who she was, given Seulgi was a pretty common name. Even so, Soojung still felt that she was awfully familiar.

"So what kind of business do you have here?" Soojung popped open the bottle of Chardonnay and poured herself a glass. Seulgi refused a drink.

"I'm here concerning my fiancé," she said shortly. "I would like for your relationship with him to stop."

Fiancé? What the ? Which one of her customers could it possibly be--

Then it clicked. Her voice, her name, everything clicked.

"You wouldn't happen to be the girl that showed up at Jongin's apartment that night awhile back, would you? The one he told me was his childhood friend?"

Seulgi stiffened.

"Ms. Krystal. We have been engaged for quite some time now and I am aware that you've met with him on several occasions." Seulgi said. "I would like for you to stop contacting him."

Now, wait a ing second. Why was this girl talking to her like she was the one chasing after Jongin? Like she was the tramp going after some girl's fiancé? No, that's not things worked. Jongin was just as much of a part as she was in their relationship and Soojung did not ing appreciate Seulgi making her the antagonist.

Of course, Soojung knew that she and Jongin would have to have a serious chat later, but this she needed to deal with the problem at hand.

"Congratulations. You have to tell me how you did it."

"Pardon me?" Seulgi's lips twitched.

Soojung grinned. "Well, I mean, just a few days ago, Jongin told me that you weren't even his girlfriend and now you're his fiancée? I'm impressed."

Seulgi's face darkened.

"That's none of your concern."

Seulgi reached into her purse and pulled out a fat envelope, giving Soojung an instant sense of déjà vu. Seulgi slid the envelope over the table and Soojung didn't have to check to know that the inside of the envelope with was filled with money.

"I'm sure we can work out some sort of compromise," Seulgi said a little too triumphantly like she had beaten Soojung.

As if.

"I'm not sure we can," Soojung replied and slid the envelope right back to her. "Contrary to what you people like to believe, I won't be bought and to put it simply, I don't believe you."

"Pardon?"

"I don't believe you. This is your side of the story and until I hear it from in Jongin's own words as well, I won't believe it."

"Alright, say Jongin and I are not engaged yet. I've known Jongin all my life and the probability of us getting married won't change. Our families approve, as well as all of those around us," Seulgi said as-a-matter-of-factly. What do you have to offer? You have no social standing, no prestigious background or money. On the off chance that you and Jongin do make it to the marriage stage, do you think his family will just welcome you with open arms? He and I are already-"

"You're in love with him, aren't you?"

It was so obvious that Soojung felt stupid that she couldn't see it right from the beginning, So much for priding herself on being able to read people. The way Seulgi's face lit up when she said Jongin's name, the way she spoke so highly of him, the fact that they've known each other since childhood, and how Seulgi had gone to visit Jongin in the middle of the night.

Of course.

"That's none of your concern," Seulgi said once again.

"Oh, but I think it is. See, when you come to my workplace and accuse me of being a and a homewrecker and ordering me around while insulting me, it becomes my problem. My relationship with Jongin is between me and him. He's made it very clear to me that he is single and I have had no reason to doubt him, so don't you dare make me the bad guy in all this. And really, you may want to find yourself a better man because if you truly truly are as close as you say you are, then why would he send you away that night you went to his apartment so that he could get it on with another woman?"

Seulgi's face was unreadable as she listened to Soojung. She sat still as a statue, her hands still folded in her lap.

"If that's all you want to talk about, I will take my leave and I suggest you do too." Soojung finished.

Soojung gathered everything she brought with her onto her tray and as she neared the doorway, Seulgi called out to her.

"Jongin has been with a quite a few women, Ms. Krystal, but he always gave them up for me. Do you plan on continuing your relationship with Jongin as if it has a future? With me as your opponent?"

Soojung paused for a moment to consider what she said.

"Well then as your opponent, I say bring it on."

***

"It's 3 in the morning, Jongin. The are you doing here?"

Kyungsoo was never one to mince words and Jongin appreciated him for that. The diner was actually pretty packed, with wasted customers hovering over glasses of water or coffee.

"Is that any way to talk to your customers?" Jongin asked.

"You would be a customer if you came here to buy something, which you almost never do. You're here to talk about this ty concept known as feelings and for that, I will talk to you however I want, dickwad." Kyungsoo scowled as he crossed his arms.

"I'll have an Earl Grey then, asshat." Jongin returned the glare. "Happy?"

"Not quite. I'd be happier if you ordered 10 croissants with that tea, but I'll take it." Kyungsoo said before disappearing into the kitchen and coming out moments later with a huge to go cup of tea.

"A to-go cup?" Jongin asked. "How subtle."

"I was pretty blatant in my 'the are you doing here' earlier, but you stayed." Kyungsoo shrugged. "Can't you go pour out your feelings elsewhere?"

"What makes you think I'm here to pour out my feelings?" Jongin took a seat at the counter. Kyungsoo wasn't technically wrong, but if there was some sort of tip or act that made him so readable, he wanted to stop himself from doing it.

"Because you look all moony in the eyes like someone shoved a handful of unicorn dust up your ."

"Thanks," Jongins replied dryly. "How you find work and stay unpunched with that ing potty mouth is beyond me."

"Well, go on. I don't have all night. Drunk people need service."

", I feel like I'm about to sprout a ." Jongin was never able to get too in touch with his emotional side and even now, he was uncomfortable sharing his thoughts with anyone besides himself.

Kyungsoo rolled his eyes. "What? Since when was it emasculating for a man to talk about his feelings?"

"You literally just all over me for having feelings."

"No, I just don't want you coming to me with your feelings."

Kyungsoo only laughed when Jongin flashed him the middle finger before disappearing back into the kitchen, leaving Jongin alone with his thoughts.

.

It was the happiness hangover now; the part where he had to think about all the crap that he ignored before. The thing was, if he and Krystal were just normal people, he wouldn't have the headache he had now. His mother wouldn't be the happiest person on earth if he brought Krystal home, but if it was what Jongin really wanted, she would learn to accept it.

His dad would be livid.

"Livid" would actually be an understatement.

He would flip the out. Why? Because she wasn't a multi-millionaire, but just a regular person.

Jongin rolled his eyes. The pretentious, pompous son of a .

There was also Seulgi.

How long had he ignored this reminder in the pit of his stomach, telling himself it wasn't true. Seulgi should hate him for what he did to her. She did get angry and she should've stayed angry. It was Jongin's fault really. He should've left her alone when she yelled at him to leave her, but he felt obligated to be there for her and stay by her side as a friend to make it up to her as much as he could.

What good that did.

Before, Jongin w