| Beer at the Balcony |

A Familiar Stranger
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The cool September air can be felt as the nine members along with the staff hop off the bus. Even before anyone could unload their luggage, everyone’s eyes had widened and their jaws had dropped, the beach was mesmerizing. The blue water looked like it was adorned with tiny diamonds on the surface as it twinkles from the soft sunlight. The cool breeze, hitting the palm trees, creating the perfect sound as their feet walk on fine white sand. This put everyone in a good mood. Even Song Ji Hyo who got stuck sitting between So Min and Kwang Soo in the back of the bus. It wasn’t like they had left her out of the conversation, but when they said things like “remember when...” or “you know that time that...” Ji Hyo just couldn't relate, all because she simply wasn’t there. She felt left out. Just the fact that her and Kwang Soo used to be the closest members in the cast, made her feel like . Kwang Soo saw the way her lips creased into a thin line, so he pretended to fall asleep to ease Ji Hyo’s annoyance without being too obvious about it. But the moment they got off the bus, Kwang Soo had offered his hand to help her off the coach. He even offered to carry her luggage to her rented hut. The actress then realised that he must’ve felt guilty and was trying to get back on her good side. 

 

“Eh hyung, why did you bring this? We're a month away from the cold season!” Jae Seok scolds Seok Jin while pointing at the duck-shaped pool floatie he brought. 

 

“Wae? I thought we can have fun while we shoot.”

 

“Hyung, you know you have to keep that in your room right? It’s gonna take up so much space” Jae Seok was only in the middle of discussing all the cons of bringing the pool floatie when Kim Jong Kook had already started deflating it.

 

Seok Jin sees this and marches to the singer. “Ya! What do you think you’re doing?!”

 

“Hyung, you’ll thank me later!” Jong Kook confidently folds the now deflated duck.

 

Seeing how the eldest member was still sulking, Kwang Soo leaves Ji Hyo and So Min’s side to nudge Seok Jin and mischievously whisper, “Hyung, I saw an air pump from the reception that we can borrow, let’s inflate it again later!”

 

Both Ji Hyo and So Min had heard their childish plan and giggled along with Kwang Soo and Seok Jin who seemed to be too pleased about their plans for the floatie.

 

Jumping up and down, So Min approaches the actor. "Oppa! Should we try that jetski thing tomorrow after the shoot?”

 

Before giving an answer, Kwang Soo looks at Ji Hyo to see if she approves of this, knowing how she had seemed left out in the bus. They make a brief eye contact, then she continued busying herself with organizing her things because she felt bad that he even felt guilty for having fun with someone else.

 

He looks down at So Min and sees how expectant she was so he replies. “Geurae. We will ask the rest of the members later, arasso?”

 

Watching Kwang Soo and So Min, he did look more like a patient older brother to So Min than anything. This makes Ji Hyo feel much lighter, able to enjoy the nice view again.

 

The members each have a personal hut which were all interconnected by a bamboo bridge, located in the

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kwangsooxkyungsoo
I should really edit the earlier chapters, shouldn't I? Every time I read them, I can't help but think that I need to edit them to make the flow of the words better, especially for the new readers. I'd hate it if they stop reading half-way through because the first few chapters are iffy. Lol

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Chicha27 #1
Chapter 60: This chapter very sad :(( . Thank you for the update!!! Can't wait for your next update^^
maisie010 12 streak #2
Chapter 60: My heart breaks for Kwang Soo *sigh*. Thank you for the update!! ^^
maisie010 12 streak #3
Chapter 58: "And though it was spring again, the bed didn't feel as warm as she thought it would be." I like how this sentence perfectly encapsulates how she really feels.

Didn't realize I'm already at the end of the story! I will wait for updates ^^ Fighting!
maisie010 12 streak #4
Chapter 56: It's like the World of the Married! I feel so sad for both of them. I feel like it's all just a misunderstanding. Kwang Soo couldn't possibly.. :(
maisie010 12 streak #5
Chapter 54: I feel so sad for this chapter huhu I dread the next one. Jealousy and insecurity can really make one think irrationally. :(
regzlim
#6
Chapter 58: I guess Dong Wook was there to pick up the pieces after the dissolution of the marriage.

I really enjoyed the way you wrote about Ji Hyo waking up to the sight of a sleeping Dong Wook. It invoked a sense of warmth in the scene's sweetness, and I can feel Ji Hyo's affection for him. Yet, reading further, one gets the impression that Dong Wook is nothing but a replacement. A rebound love. And I find that somewhat sad, and I feel myself pitying the man and rooting for him. NOOooo! LOL.

But I digress. I think deep inside Ji Hyo knows this. Knows that she is treating him as a replacement and is trying to compensate for it. She definitely is trying to convince herself about the rice. To me, the bibimbap scene is an analogy of their relationship. She wants Dong Wook's bibimbap to be like Kwang Soo's. She wants it to be good, she convinces herself it is as good. She wants Dong Wook to be like Kwang Soo. She wants their love to be the same as what she had with Kwang Soo. I found that tragic and heartbreaking.

The last paragraph infuriates me though. I would never answer a loved one's question on whether I loved her by giving her another question, even if her previous statement about meeting her ex surprises me.

"What kind of question is that?" Yeah, Dong Wook. I could ask you the same. It comes from a woman who is insecure, and wants reassurance. An answer like that says a lot about a man. He isn't confident enough in his love for her.

Darn it, I am confused again. And that's a testament on your writing skills! Good job!
alwayskpoplover
#7
Chapter 58: Aigoo... Dongwook should have gave a proper answer! I hope Ji Hyo isn't too bothered. Then again, being woman, woman overthinks way too much so... >< aigoo!!
Lmoonlight #8
Chapter 57: Why am I crying like this?? gosh they don't deserve this I hope that ji hyo would find out that it's just a misunderstanding
And im curious how kwang soo adopted the girl
Tasyakamila27 #9
Chapter 57: Why? Why? Why? This is very sad! I feel that there is still love between them but because of that misunderstanding.........
I just want them to resolve the misunderstanding all this time.

Can they still be together again? And I want them to get back together!
alwayskpoplover
#10
Chapter 57: Damn! I'm crying yet again! How ironic how life is! Once the person you thought you couldn't live without had suddenly become more than a stranger and that hurts! Aigoo!