Sooyun sighs as she flips through the 5 page fashion spread for GQ Korea that Shin had done a few months ago.  The beauty salon is slow today because it’s a Monday, but by noon, the salon will be filled with girls.  All the schools are off for summer vacation now and the salon is always filled with teenage girls and young women in their 20’s.

                Thankfully, her skin has cleared up to some extent…  At first, very few clients would let Sooyun touch their skin or do their makeup.  Most of them were scared that she would infect them or something.  That had made her feel discouraged about getting proper experience, but Shin encourages her everyday to continue on.  Now that her skin has calmed down and cleared up a bit, they don’t mind because they know that she does a good job.

                Sooyun didn’t get into the makeup artistry school she applied to, but that was expected.  She knows that she can try again for the winter session when she’s done with her Biology Associates Degree from Seoul Community College.  And, by that time, she will get enough experience to get into the school as well. 

                She stares intently at one of the pictures of Shin.  He was looking directly into the camera, oozing with charisma and dark mystery, completely different from the boy he is in real life.  Without thinking, she lets out a laugh.  She quickly looks up and her 2 co-workers, Jae and Mimi, gave her questioning looks.

                “Sorry, I was thinking about something funny…” explains Sooyun, with a smile.

                “About your boyfriend?” asked Mimi, as she glances down at the magazine.

                Even though Shin has a lot of modeling jobs in the last few months, it’s not like people actually recognizes and points him out on the streets…  Well, unless if they’re EXO fans or is in his small fanbase, then they will say something.  But, besides the .5% of the Korean population, no one really knows him.  But, Sooyun doesn’t mind because she knows that she’s not hindering his modeling career.

                Sooyun continues to smile.  “Yeah…” she answers, meekly.

                “Is he working today?” asks Jae.

                “Not really…  He has some singing and dancing lessons later, but that’s it.” Sooyun replies.  His modeling agency has asked him to start taking acting, singing, and dancing lessons so he can branch into other sectors of the entertainment field in a year or so. 

                “Is he going to join an idol group?” asked Mimi, excited.

                “No.” laughed Sooyun.  “Oh, the horror of that.”

                “You can never be with him for sure if that happens.” said Jae.  “Thank God that he’s only a model because they’re not as popular as idols and actors in Korea.”

                “I know.” nods Sooyun.

                “And, be glad that he doesn’t come pick you up during the rush hour.  It’ll be horrible if customers find out that your boyfriend is Shin.” adds Mimi.

                The rush hour was usually at noon until 3 pm for those and then it starts again at 6 pm to 8 pm.  Even more comes in on Fridays and the weekend, so Sooyun is given most of the busy days.  She only works 4 days a week for 5 hours each given shift.  Today she is working one of the slower shifts since she has been given a lot of rush hour shifts lately.

                Sooyun sighs.  “I don’t want to care, but I know I should because he’s getting more and more jobs lately…”

                “Soon, he’ll be everywhere…  Especially if he starts acting or singing.” states Jae.  “Or worse, join an idol group.”

                Sooyun laughs.  “That will never happen.” she says.  “He didn’t even want modeling jobs from Korean magazines because he was worried about our relationship…”

                Jae and Mimi flash her smile.  “He seems to really love you.” they say, in unison.

                Sooyun rolls her eyes.  “You guys always say that.  It’s annoying!”

                Sooyun let out a small yawn as she stares at the endless brands of ramyeon.  At the corner of her eyes, she could see someone standing at the end of the aisle.

                “Yah!  Shin, you’re the one that wants to eat ramyeon!  Why don’t you pick which one we-” she asked and then turned to look at him, but quickly dropped the sentence.

                It wasn’t Shin, it was…  Park Chungho.  He flashed an awkward smile.  “Uh…  Hi…” he muttered through the forced smile.

                Sooyun couldn’t respond, even if she wanted as she looked away from him.  The last time she talked to him was 4 years ago, when she had openly expressed her heartfelt feelings for him.  He had rejected her with a cold smile.  They were good acquaintances until her confession and he started to give her the cold shoulder afterwards.

                “How have you been?” Chungho asks, making the atmosphere less awkward.  She saw him briefly last year and he acted as if he didn’t know her.  Why was he suddenly starting a small talk?  “I’ve moved to Daegu for a year now…  And, I’m back visiting my family.”  Sooyun can careless about what he has been doing as she stares at the Shin Ramyeon in front of her.  “I…  I heard from a friend that you got a boyfriend now.”

                Sooyun glances over at him.  What do you want?, she thought.  You never really cared so why should you start to now?

                Chungho’s eyes met hers and flash the same cold smile he wore when he rejected her.  “Is he as good looking as me?” he asks, rudely and bluntly.

                Sooyun rolls her eyes.  If this is what you want, then yes!  He’s much better looking than you’ll ever be in your whole life, she thought.  She opened to respond.

                “Y-” she started.

                “Oh!!  Sooyun!  Who’s this?” asked Shin, suddenly at her side.

                She turns to look at him and blinks slowly.  Her boyfriend glances back and forth between Chungho and her.  She looks back at the guy and his face is priceless, with a hanging jaw and a scrunched up face.

                Sooyun links arms with Shin and smiles.  “A sunbae.” she starts.  “Chungho Sunbae, this is my boyfriend, Moon Shin.   Shin, this is my sunbae, Park Chungho.”

                Shin smiles brightly at him and sticks out his hand for a handshake.  “It’s nice to meet you!” he says, as they shake hands.

                Chungho smiles back, weakly.  “It’s nice to meet you too…” he replies.

                “You and Sooyun went to the same high school, right?” questioned Shin.

                If Shin read all of my diaries, then he should know who this Park Chungho is, thought Sooyun.

                “O-Of course.  We used to go to the same high school…” answers Chungho.

                Shin smiles and nods his head, then he turns to look at Sooyun.  “Baby, just grab 2 cups of whatever ramyeon brand you want.” he suggests.

                She lets out a groan of frustration.  “Fine!  We’ll just eat Shin Ramyeon then!” she says, as she grabs 2 cups of the brand and turns to her boyfriend.  “It’s great to see you you’re doing, Sunbae.”

                “Y-Yeah, same here.” he manages to say.

                And, with that, they headed down the aisle to pay for their things.

                Sooyun and Shin happily finished their ramyeon while watching the sun set by the Han River.  As soon as her shift was done at the beauty salon, Shin had come by to pick her up to go with him for his singing and dancing lessons.  He had convinced the singing and dancing teacher to teach Sooyun too, somehow.  Not that she minded much because she’s obsessed with her music and had always wanted to learn how to sing and dance properly.

                After Shin took a sip of water, he clears his throat.  “OK, I’m going to sing a song for you.” he says.

                “What?  Why?” laughed Sooyun.

                “I had always thought that this song is perfect for our situation…” smiles Shin.

                “Really?” asks Sooyun.   He nods his head.  “What is it?”

                “When I ride the wind, I land into your world.  The white wind, circling around you.  You ask me where I came from; I smile and reply that it’s a secret.  As long as we keep walking together, Heaven is anytime and anywhere.” starts singing Shin, softly.  Automatically knowing the chorus, Sooyun smiles at him.  She reaches out and takes a hold of his hand.  “You are more dazzling than an angel to me.  I will not allow anyone to unjust you.  This restlessness as if I was stepping into the Garden of Eden for the first time.  Let me gaze at you, everyday.  My heart can’t stop thinking about you.  Little bits of dust and sand, I won’t let any harmful things come near you.  I will protect you.  I’m eternally love.”

                “You know how to speak Mandarin?” asked Sooyun, surprised.

                “Well, yeah.” scoffed Shin.  “Dad programmed me to know Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, and English…”

                “Why didn’t you tell me?!” asked Sooyun, angry.  “I wouldn’t have to wait forever for EXO M interviews to be subbed in Korean!!”

                Shin just smiles.  “Do you really think I like it when you’re fangirling over Lu Han during those interviews all the time?!” he asks, with a laugh.

                “W-Well…  Ugh!!!  SHIN!!” yells out Sooyun, as she tries to hit him.

                He got up quickly and took steps away from her, laughing evilly.  “I’m a man, Sooyun!” he reminds her, as he breaks into a jog away from her.  “I don’t like seeing my girlfriend ogling at a guy like that!  Isn’t my handsome face good enough?!”

                “OH MY GOSH!  Are you serious?!” asks Sooyun, as she tries to chase Shin down with a smile.  “All I do is stare!  I don’t even touch!  Why are you so jealous, Shin?!”

                He just laughs in response.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

                HELLO, HELLO!!!  It’s been a long time!!!  And, I hope you all enjoy this new update!!!  :)

LOVE,

loveFORyunho