CHOI MINHO?!

It couldn’t be, but everything else screamed that she was.

“L-LEE SO YURI?!”

She was dressed in bell bottoms and a shirt that reminded me of my grandmother’s. Her face was pale, with absolutely no color other than the deep purple from the frighteningly large circles under her eyes. This could not possibly be SoYuri.  Everything that she made fun of, ugliness, unwealthiness--that’s exactly what she became, and it was shocking, to say the least. She was my goal, the reason I pushed myself to change, to become something I wasn’t and slowly adapt. Looking at her now and seeing that she was my reason for all my troubles in the past was unnerving, a point that no person can accept.  The irony from all of this was so convoluted, something only you could imagine from a low budget romantic comedy, but for some reason, became a major part of my life.

Well, at least she was still jaw dropping.

“WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!”

Hah, I remember those words slipping from our mouths at exactly the same time.

Aaaand then we got kicked out.

It was kind of awkward, sitting out in the lobby, alone, not uttering a single word to each other. I guess both of us didn’t have the guts to say anything--but, I SWEAR, I was about to make the first move RIGHT when the secretary beckoned us to return.  At that point, I had totally forgot why I was called in the first place, but my memory returned back into me when in front of me stood...her: her long reddish ringlets and waves of hair creeping down past her shoulders, her white blemish-free face, and her soft hazel eyes slowly disappearing in her white, toothy, perfect smile. Even the way small dimples formed when she gave her smile made her an eye-gaping masterpiece from above. 

The charisma in this girl-- I could see it was impeccable. Her warm,  magic-like presence was enough to give one goosebumps. With a face, I can tell this girl wasn’t into makeup, but that’s okay, because her natural beauty was better than all of SNSD's combined. The way she laughed at the secretary’s dry, senseless jokes and the small rasp in her voice when she spoke between giggles, even the way she flicked her hair when it got in her way was breath-taking. She was perfect. 

And I...I was lucky.

In the fifth week of school, homeroom teachers were supposed to assign a student--one with intelligence and benevolence--to be the homeroom representative in the student council. I was chosen (duh),  and one of my responsibilities was to show noobies around. Randomly, the secretary would pick someone to do so, and luckily, it was my turn.

Ah, even her name was enchanting. Yuna

Nam Yu Na came all the way from Georgia--in America! She speaks English and Korean, plays tennis, and, quote, “ a killer at the viola,” end quote.

And best of all, she was single.

We immediately started clicking right after the introduction: we had all our classes together for the first part,  we sat together at lunch (along with my fan club of clingy girls, who kindly welcomed Yuna to the school), I helped her in math class, (which is, by the way, her weakest point! She scores 90’s, while I get 100’s, if I may say so myself), and soon, we were bonding so much that we exchanged numbers--all in a matter of FOUR DAYS.

And when we spoke on phones, it was NONSTOP. We would sometimes stay up untill 11:00 if our parents weren’t there. The things we talked about--hahahaa. You know, it would seem like all beautiful, smart, asian girls were  goody-two shoes, but that didn’t apply for this little lady. She was a, quote “BEE-YOTCH,” end quote, at her old school. Everyone was jealous of her because she had the brains of a mad scientist and the looks of a model, and these effective characteristics made it as easy as pie (although baking a pie is quite a challenge) to snatch a couple of boyfriends, but she never intends on doing so! She truly is an angel, but she just attracts the wrong attention, and sometimes she falls for the men with the angry ex’s.

But she wasn’t the only special girl I spoke to.

“S-so, SoYuri...I haven’t heard from y-you in a while...”The stutter in my words was quite unfamiliar; I hadn’t heard it out of my mouth in months. I flipped my hair to the side and put on my shades to regain my composure.

“Yeah, same to you!” she replied with that same ‘I’m-better-than-anyone-and-everyone’ queenka voice, but....what happened to that ‘I’m-better-than-anyone-and-everyone’ queenka LOOK? Why,in all things high and mighty, was she dressed like a nanny? What the hell was she wearing?

But more importantly...where is that love I had for her? Love can’t flutter away that easily. I mean, it’s just her clothes...right? The burning flame of desire I had for her for several years couldn’t have died out that easily, could it?

The talk was awkward. I couldn’t help but to stare at her and her dramatic fashion sense at everyone chance I could, and she--she didn’t even say a word after that. It sorta was like she was mumbling unsure of what to say next while her eyes roamed the room snatching a glance at my clothes every time she could.  So in simpler terms, it was an apathetic staredown.

I thank all goodness that there is a bell for homeroom.

“Oh, looks like it’s time to go!” she said.

“Yeah, well, nice talking to you.” I replied, coolly, even though all she did was babble unaudibly.

“Actually, Minho, I was wondering-- I just have too much on my mind and we didn’t really make use of this time very well.”

“Yeah, I know, heh, heh.” I’m GLAD she took notice of that. She may have changed physically, but she’s still that same smart- of last year.

 “So, I was wondering...if we could talk more. Maybe Saturday? We can have a little coffee.”

A date? A coffee date? Well, this was an opportunity to examine her...everything, really. I needed to know what exactly happened to her, and if she’s still my queen, my dying love, so I can accept her back into my life. A little talk over coffee sounded sophisticated yet exciting. “Sounds great.”

I hope it’s worth it.

______________________________________________________________________________

“There has to be more than that.  I mean, did anyone, you know, inspire you to change? Like, a girl?” SooYuri countered, batting her eyelashes up and down.

She’s so full of herself it’s slightly amusing, but I mostly pity Yuri.  She lost everything, and doesn’t seem to realize it.  All her little worries are probably just floating around and she doesn’t care because she trusts everything will be alright.  Being stuck in a naive world is probably natural to her because she’s been living that way her entire life.  If anyone were to help her, the best they could do is burst her bubble--get her out of the trap that every thing's fine.

Get me out of the trap of thinking she is my everything.

“Now that, is for me to know, and for you...not to know.  What’s with all of these obnoxious questions?” I bit my lip immediately after I said that, hoping I didn’t come off too harsh.  I grabbed my coffee and drank it gently.

“Well, I’m sorry, for actually trying to start a FUN conversation with you,” she sassed. I guess I overdid it...“Guess  you’re too sophisticated for that kind of talk. You know what they say, once a nerd, always a nerd.”  

The sudden change in attitude caught me off guard, but words don’t hurt me anymore, princess. If you want a game, I'll play along.

“I guess the saying ‘once a queenka, always a queenka’ can be used now too. Even if the queenka doesn’t look like a queenka anymore.”

I looked up from my watch to see her staring at me. This chick was scary. She looked like the Jason Vorhees serial killer on crack. Things between us were getting more awkward the more time passed by, but instead of breaking the silence, I joined her in her serial killer stare off.  The game, though so time consuming, allowed me to examine her once more.  Her eyes were blank, but had an angst fire feel, and you could really tell she had been through crap.  A person’s eyes see everything and experience everything first hand.  SooYuri’s eyes showed that she was still her usual conceited preppy self, but because of whatever incident, it seemed that she was  as confused and upset as my teachers are when I catch them in their foul play of grammar usage. Fools.

The stare game, after some loud ticks of my watch, seemed like a never-ending game until--

“Oh, Minho oppa, you’re just too much for me!” Yuri exclaimed between laughs.

I stared at her with a bewildered expression until I just decided to go and pay for the drinks. She offered to pay at first, but she barely had any money for her own drink (her hungry wallet said it all).  I payed for everything and headed out of the coffee shop. I quickly dismissed myself afterwards and took a deep breath of fresh air as I dialed Yuna. I had met her when I helped her around the school because she was a new student, and had gotten to be close friends. The conversation went on as usual, until the question I had been fearing was brought up.

“No problem. But one question?” she asked after some dialogue.

“Yeah?” I replied timidly, already knowing the question she had in mind.

“Have you thought about it?”

The real question is, when do I ever not think about it.? I’m just as confused and upset as Yuri when I have to full on decide whether I like her...or Yuna.

“...Yeah,” I replied shakily.

“Well?”

“I...I don’t know yet. Can you give me more time?” I truly didn’t know, so at least I was honest. What if I still have feelings for Yuri? What if this is all a phase?

“Sure. Anything for HO HO!” Ugh, my “pet” name.

“Thanks. And you need to stop callin me that. We’ve only known each other for less than a week, and you’re calling me names!”

“Haha, well, time for homework! Bye, Minho.”

“Bye, Yuna.”

I’m never the first to click END; I always wait for the other person on the receiving end to hang up. That way, if there is any last minute important discussions, I won’t be able to miss it.

So I waited a couple of milliseconds, and noticed she hadn’t hung up yet. 

But then finally, a voice was denoted into the speaker...

“I love you HO-HO!” 

And then a quick CLICK from her end.

I paused in my tracks. I didn’t know what else to do. Thoughts were vigorously roaming inside my head, almost to escape my brain and shatter my skull...

Yuri was my first love and first loves are always meant to be! I know she may be...ew at the moment, but...

I may love you too, Yuna...

But then again...I also may still love Yuri...okay?

Oh, hormones....

______________________________________________________________________________

These past few days, something’s been off. The parties came and went, as usual, with the fan club throwing themselves at me, me sometimes, sometimes not, accepting girls that came my way.  

But there was still something missing, that I can’t really place my finger upon...

The feeling of desiring for avoiding was gone.

The emotion of pitty was gone.

The confusion that dwelled in my head had disappeared for some time...

Thus, I figured, this feeling--it wasn’t because I was missing something, but rather, someone...

I gasp as I noticed:

Yuri had skipped. Four days.

It was uncommon for the queen bee, as optimistic and snobby as she was, to skip. She was a smarty after all, just not as smart as I.

But within a heavier note, I took a gander at the hallways, with busy body students traveling to their homeroom, and then found out, she was here today. To tell the truth, I couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

 I noticed her snooping around the hallway from afar, wearing knock offs, once again, but that wasn’t what ticked me; it was the fact the she looked observant--sort of like she was looking for someone. Her eyes were rapidly switching from left to right in search...

She looked like a starving peasant.

Suddenly, a tug was made, pinching my leather jacket. I turned my neck to find out it was my princess, Yuna. My eyes immediately lit up, and my lips cringed into a smile.

Her hair was darker  than usual today, with a black sequined baret atop,  and her big beautiful eyes were practically smiling. A huge grin was placed below that small perky nose of hers, and she was wearing tightly fitting clothing with a mini skirt and some brown boots that came up to her mid thigh. y, yet classy, my favorite.

“HO HO!” she said, with that amazingly cute voice, as she wrapped her arms around me.

“Ugh, you’re calling me that name again,” I whined.

We broke our embrace, and immediately she was giggling.”Yeah, yeah. So what’s up? How are you?”

I was glad the first thing she said wasn’t, “have you thought about it HO HO? HMMM? HMMMMMM?” Because I still don’t know what to do.

“I’m good, a little tired, though. Practicing my off.”

“Oh yeah, your rehearsals!” I had told her about the auditioning for SM some time ago, and that I hired a personal trainer and the works. Yuri’s been asking about it almost every time she calls; and every time she pleads to hear my singing voice. And every time, I say no. 

“When is the big day?” she asked. 

“Next week Saturday,” I said with a sigh. “Nervous already.” Well, I wasn’t really nervous, I hardly thought about it much. Too much pressure.

“Ah, I see. Well, I will be cheering you on! HO-HO Hwaiting!”

I couldn’t help but to blush a little. “You seriously need to stop calling me that,” I said with a small playful chuckle.

“And you seriously need to sing for me!” she replied.

“Yeah, that’ll happen,” I shot back.

Sh scoffed. “Ugh, whatever, but wait, Joon and Jiyoung are having a pool party. Come over here, they’ll give you the deets.”

Deets...what were those again? Hmm............oh yeah, details! Duh, Choi.

She tugged on my sleeve again beckoning for me to follow, but I didn’t budge. One thing that I miss from my nerd years is the LACK of parties. I hate being invited to parties and having people anticipate your entering every three days. What with the loud music, and people just throwing themselves at each other grinding, some smoking, some drinking--it’s not really all that antagonizing as it sounds. Naturally I’m an introvert, and going to parties isn’t something I would list as a fun activity--more like a punishment now that I fit in with the ones I despise.

“What’s wrong?” she asked in English.

I explained to her the problem, also adding the fact that some of the parties cut into my rehearsal time.

“Oh.” The excitement in her eyes had fallen. She looked rather disappointed. “Well, I’ve never actually been to a party with you, and I wanted this to be my first. A-and we can leave right when you want to, it’s fine with me. Pleeeeaaaaaasseeee?”

Agh, the puppy eyes, my biggest weakness.Couldn’t help but to say yes. 

“Yaaaay!” she clapped a little and practically jumped with excitement.

“Aish, calm down, Yuna,” I hushed. “It’s not a big deal.”

“‘Not a big deal’,” she mocked. “Your catchphrase.”

I was fond of saying that for some reason...”Whatever, now let’s go.”

“Yes,sir,” she said in a gruff voice, saluting like a soldier and grabbing my arm.

Joon and Jiyoung and their crew were a bunch of underachievers. Judging by their loudness, their careless laughter, their efficient amount of poise and their “who-cares-what-you-think” attitudes, you could tell their highest marks are probably 93’s.

My lowest are 96’s.

There is probably one person in the clique that is on my level--Joon. He’s really good at chemistry and physics, and can compute two digit math problems 3 milliseconds faster than me. We have been tied as first in math for three consecutive years. Joon is probably the only one in the group that I can relate to , but we hardly talk.

Jiyoung, on the other hand is a straight up play boy. I see him everywhere at the parties I attend, always dancing with a load of girls. In class he’s a troublemaker, always trying his best to be a distraction so that he can avoid work at all times, but, no, he wasn’t always like this. Why, just last month he visited America: Compton, California... I guess that’s pretty much self-explanatory.

They calmly welcomed me into the group with the ghetto handshakes,  “whattups,” and ignorant English attempts, although it wasn’t an attempt for Jiyoung, or “G”, his “street name.” Jiyoung was almost bilingual with English. Who knew you could learn that much in a month?

Jiyoung slipped me an invite, which was in a black envelope with sticker of an apple on the flap and on the back, engraved in gold were the worlds “YOU’RE INVITED” in that little annoying capital letter font that literally stabs my eyes.

I wasn’t sure if I should say thank you or not--saying it would kind of sound girly of me. Perhaps thanks? Nah, that’s wimpish as well. 

“Cool,” I said, figuring that was the right word to say at the time, not girly at all. I slipped it in my pocket.

“Sho’ is!” Jiyoung said in English, purposely disregarding enunciation, therefore sounding like a baboon.

“Are you coming with Yuna-yah?” Joon asked me, with decent pronunciation, thank God.

“YUP!” Yuna exclaimed proudly, slinging her arm around my waist. I did the same to her and smiled.

“Aww,” the group choired. “How sweet!” Jiyoung exclaimed in English over the others. 

They acted as if we kissed.

“BUT, BUT...” Yuna interjected, “WE are NOT official!”

Yees, I’m glad someone could clarify...before I could.

The ladies in the group cheered. I suppose they were more members of my fan club.

But it’s all stupid though. They see my arms around another girl and cheer for when it’s announced that we’re not dating. If I were a girl, I’d be pissed.

Ten minutes before homeroom, you could see me laughing at their lame jokes, just waiting to leave. This group didn’t make a dent in my interests. Most of them were just laughing and talking about teachers, and when it got rude, Joon stepped in, the only one with brains and manners in the group excluding Yuna and I.

Half of the stuff said I zoned out on due to my lack of interest, and just laughed when everyone else was laughing. The other half was when Joon was speaking, so I tuned back in. He was having problems with his Dad, and his father threatened to kick him out yesterday. I asked why and he told me that ever since he told his father he wanted to become a singer, his dad lost it. Time came, and he revealed himself, saying that he might be  trying out for SM. I was simply astonished; someone other than me was trying out for SM, the most rigorous record label in all of Korea. Just thinking of auditioning for SM says that you have guts.

But then again, this also says I had some hometown competition...

After more disrespectful jokes and erse laughter, the bell rung and it was time to disperse. I bid the group adieu in the most slickest and non nerdy-ish way I could, and pulled Yuna into a hug. 

Finally free from the group of underachievers, my mind was also free to stress about my upcoming auditions, thanks to Joon. The thought of competing with so many others, and having to be better than them in something else but academics was so unfamiliar to me, it made me uncomfortable in the worst ways.  I needed to make it in.  The burning intensity of my competitiveness was building again, and I was eager to practice as much as I could just to get accepted Just you wait, SM  Choi Minho is coming to you guys soon.

A/N:Uh, oh, Minho’s new focus is on his audition coming soon next week, and along with that, he still has two girls he really can’t chose from at the moment...

Ruki here, sorry for the LATE update. This was a filler in Minho’s POV. Thank you all for waiting. Sorry it’s AWFULLL, but we started this LOOONG time ago...and our plot bunnies started runing away. You guys will read better chapters in the future, scouts honor...whatever that means.   Oh yeah, and thank you Rini6189 for your wise words of wisdom and critiquing our writing. We appreciate it mucho :D Thanks everyone! 

A/N: D: seriously, waaay too long. sorrryy. and to think that this was supposed to be a New year’s special for you readers. xD 

sorrrrry again. and THANK YOU to all the faithful readers that havent gotten sick of waiting for this. :) -robyn