As soon as Hyunjoong got down from his car, the swarm of reporters flocked to his side. The reporters seemed more aggressive than usual today and even Hyunjoong, even after so many years of experience, fell back a step with the onslaught of the flashes. Thankfully, Siwon appeared just in time with his formidable form and firmly cut out the path for Hyunjoong as he walked up  to the door.

DING DONG

A panicky Granny rushed to the intercom next to the door. A nervous Hyunjoong flashed on the screen and Granny hurriedly opened the door

“I came as soon as I could” Hyunjoong entered the house, panting. Granny nodded and urgently  shoved the door closed as the reporters tried following Hyunjoong  into the house.

“Hyunjoong-ah!” Somin rushed out of her room hearing his voice. Hyunjoong swiftly turned in time to embrace her in his arms

“It’s gonna be alright…” he said patting her head over and over

“They have been going about it, since morning” Granny said picking up the remote control. She pressed the button and the screen to show a beautiful lady news reporter  calling out:

”Geum Jandi, an ordinary girl from Busan came to Seoul to be a part of SS501’s reunion showcase but never did she realize that her visit here will change her life foreover..”

DING DONG

The three of them turned towards the door. “That must be the boys” Hyunjoong said and verified the intercom before opening the door. The boys somehow managed to rush inside before any reporters could follow them and force themselves in.

“It’s more chaotic than I imagined! The papparazi has gone totally bonkers!” Jungmin cried

In the other room, Jandi sat quietly in the middle of the bed embracing her legs. The paparazzi flashes blinked through the window as she trembled in fear and uncertainty. Suddenly her phone vibrated

‘Are you ok?’ the message simply read. The number was unknown and Jandi hesitated. After a few moments the phone began to ring—it was the same unknown number

“Ye-yebuseyo” Jandi timidly answered after consideration, fearing it to be one of the crazy reporters queued outside

“Jandi! Are you alright?”

Jandi was relieved to identify Jihoo’s voice at the other end.”Mmm kinchana” she said “But..”

“But?”

“They are all hogged up outside. We cant go out…the flashes scare me…”Jandi’s voice trailed out

The reporters had gone wild by now. They were now thumping the door and shouting out their questions. “This is insane!” Granny exclaimed “I don’t think the lock is up for it.” She said doubtfully as the door knob twisted and turned under pressure from outside

Hyunjoong followed her gaze and observed the knob struggling from the force of all the mad reporters outside.It really could give up any minute ‘Siwon’ he turned to his most trusted man ‘Guard the door, will you?’

Siwon nodded and got out immediately

“I’ll put HwangSoo to it too” Young saeng said calling up his driver/bodyguard

DING DONG

Everyone stared at the door.

Hyunjoong signaled Somin to sit down as he stepped forward “Who could this be?” he murmured as he stepped up to check the intercom

He was surprised to find Jihoo show up on the intercom screen. He opened the door and Jihoo walked in hurriedly. He took a look at the people gathered in the living room and his expression clearly stated they weren’t the ones he was looking for.

Somin understood and stood up,”She is in my room”

As soon as heard that and before anyone could ask him anything, he rushed further inside. Hyunjoong looked at him in confusion

Jihoo opened the door of Somin’s room and finally found Jandi curled up in a ball in the bed. He rushed inside. Hearing his sudden movement, Somin called out to the others and they all hurried inside

“Jandi! Jandi!” Jihoo shook her and looked up to find a smaller crowd of reporters flashing their cameras at them  through the curtained windows. Jihoo suddenly felt Jandi shaking in his arms. He looked down to find her eyes rolled up, her lips curved up baring her teeth with her own tongue threatening to pierce through it forcibly.

 “JANDI!!!!” Jihoo yelled fearfully.

Hyunjoong Somin along with others entered the room hearing his loud scream. As they entered the camera flashes intensified and so did Jandi’s shaking. At this point, Jandi’s trembles became so extreme that Jihoo could hardly hold her but if he let her go she was bound to injure her spine.

“SPOON! GET ME A SPOON!” Jihoo cried

The rest was so shocked to see Jandi this way that they could hardly move. Jihoo yelled louder, this time tears falling out involuntarily.

Somin, recovered from the shock, and looked around. She picked up the spoon on her bedside table with trembling hands and somehow managed to give it to Jihoo. Jihoo pressed the spoon forcibly in between her upper and lower set of teeth forcing her tongue back. But now, due to the intense convulsions, the tongue threatened to roll back and choke her.

Jihoo dropped the spoon and put his own index finger into to align the tongue. The convulsions made Jandi bite into his finger but Jihoo ignored the pain and kept her hair and sweaty forehead. It was a Herculean task but he tried to make her lie down in a comfortable position so that she didn’t hurt herself.

By this time, though they had recovered from the initial shock they were still pretty stunned and had no clue what to do with Jandi. Jihoo tried to embrace Jandi so that he could place her properly on the bed but her severely shaking body prohibited him to do that. Youngsaeng and Hyunjoong rushed and firmly held her head and clutched her kicking legs respectively. Jihoo looked up and his eyes met with Hyunjoong’s. Hyunjoong managed to give him an assurance nod though he was as clueless as he was. Jihoo grunted and finally was able to embrace Jandi fully. When the three men  finally managed to lay Jandi down on the bed, Jihoo’s eyes had turned red from all the tears it had shed and he was as sweaty as the shaking girl he held in her arms.

As soon as Jandi was laid the reporters getting a good angle of the situation and a possible record breaking headline pounced onto the opportunity and started snapping even more pictures. By this time the crowd of reporters hogging at the front door had also come to join them.

Jihoo felt more and more infuriated with the constant blinking of lights and the ‘snap’ sounds. “GO AWAY!!!” he yelled uncontrollably “LEAVE US ALONE!!”

Hyunjoong had an inkling that the reporters were making Jandi’s condition worse so he instructed Siwon to call police while instructed the SS Boys to guard the windows.

By the time the police arrived, Jandi’s shaking had stopped but she was still unconscious. Kyu had called up SeJung who was now checking her vitals.

As Sejung put away her equipments, everyone gathered around her.

“SeJung what happened to her?” Jihoo gripped her hand in desperation

“Her pressure is normal..pulse as well” SeJung said patting his hand

“Then what happened to her?” Kyu asked

“I need to speak to her before I deliver my diagnosis” SeJung said thoughtfully

“Why?What—“ Jihoo asked frustrated with her inconspicuous response

“Jihoo! Please be patient” SeJung said, though her voice was low but it had authority

“Hyunjoong-sshi” someone called out from the door

Hearing his name being called out, Hyunjoong strode to the door. The police inspector bowed upon seeing him. Behind him 2-3 officers held the reporters captive

“Situation is under control sir” the police super inspector reported

“THIS IS WRONG! THIS IS ILLEGAL! YOU CANT CAPTURE MEDIA LIKE THIS!” one of the held reporters yelled

Hyunjooong walked past the inspector and stood infront of that reporter, his eyes piercing into the reporter’s “Illegal huh?” he said through gritted teeth “After repeated requests you intruded my privacy! Do you think your PRESS ID gives you permission to do that?!”

“I think you’re forgetting Hyunjoong-sshi….You’re an idol…privacy is a luxury you’re forbidden to have!” the reporter threatened

“I know my privacy is compromised” Hyunjoong faultered momentarily but recovered quickly “But I still have the right to sue the channel hiring you” he strongly tugged at the reporter’s dangling ID “for causing harm to my friend with a medical condition”

Beads of sweat formed on the reporter’s forehead

“That’s not all” Hyunjoong stepped back and looked at every reporter gathered “if a single line about today’s events gets published me or any of my members will ever have any association or give interview to your channels. So you can very well kiss sky breaking TRPs goodbye” he threatened. Hyunjoong turned around and walked inside instructing the inspector to take the reporters away.

As Hyunjoong walked inside he found Somin in the kitchen. He glanced at her room where Jandi was still lying unconscious and then entered the kitchen. He found Somin had put the bowl of tea mix on the gas. Somin was looking blankly at the wall infront of her as the liquid was on the verge of pouring out. Hyunjoong rushed to her side and turned off the gas. His sudden movement brought Somin out of her daze “Aish!” she murmured stirring the tea in the bowl. Hyunjoong massaged her neck in an assuring way and Somin gave out a sigh.

“It was scary…really scary” Somin whispered “seeing Jandi like that”

“I know” Hyunjoong kept squeezing her neck gently as Somin gradually relaxed. It was interesting how their relationship had transformed. Initially they were completely clueless about the other’s feelings until it was completely spelled out for them and now they hardly needed words to understand each other. They had gone much more physical and emotional rather than verbal.

“I am proud of how you handled things” Hyunjoong said rubbing Somin’s head, remembering how she handed Jihoo the spoon in time.

“I hardly did anything” Somin whimpered “Thanks for taking care of the reporters” she smiled proudly but Hyunjoong wasn’t pleased “What’s wrong?” she asked

“Today’s incident just made me realize how much of a vulnerable position I have placed you in” Hyunjoong said regretfully as he recollected the condition from earlier

“Don’t you dare say that!” Somin cupped his face in her hands “If there’s anything you have done to me, is make me happy” she said but Hyunjoong wasn’t convinced. Somin pulled both his cheeks so that his lips curved into a smile “EEE!” she imitated smiling broadly “Cheer up my Little Prince”

Hyunjoong beamed and nodded and embraced her in his arms.

“Ahem..are you going to serve us cold tea?”

Hyunjoong and Somin opened their eyes to find Hyungjun looking at them grinning mischievously. Somin  leaned away quickly and stared at the tea on the gas. Hyunjoong rolled his eyes and glared at maknae

“I-I am bri-bringing the tea” Somin stuttered

“Take your time Hyungsoo. I was kidding about the tea…but” Hyungjun voice turned serious and both Hyunjoong and Somin looked at him “Jandi is waking up” he said