To be honest, he was more than happy to know that he was going to meet her. She was that amazing girl he had been admiring for sometimes. He loved to see how she would look cute without even realizing it. He loved the sensation she brought to him, that heartbeats would never make him forget. His heart was always beating like crazy whenever she was around.

But he never had any chance to meet her longer than just a greeting. And what made him disappointed even more that she only greeted once when she was walking in hurry, only nodded and gave him that gorgeous smile. He only could say “Annyeong.” As the reply.

As fast as the greeting, she vanished that fast too. He couldn’t wait to meet her in one of the variety show they would attend together. He smiled, couldn’t help but feeling that his heart was thumping even wilder than before.

“Why are you smiling by yourself?” Mir asked, patting his shoulder. Confusion was drawn on his face. Taeyang only chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. He still couldn’t get used with the way people treating him in the show. “Ah..I just thinking about the guess..” Taeyang finally admitted.

“Are you nervous to meet SECRET?” Mir laughed loudly. He didn’t understand why Mir laughed but he just covered it by being a shy boy. He nodded, his cheeks even turned out red. “You’re so funny, do you know that?” Mir laughed again, but this time Taeyang didn’t stay cool. Instead, he was asking back to Mir with the innocence he had.

“What’s so funny about that?” He asked, in that serious voice of every leader has. “Ah, sorry, didn’t mean to laugh.” Mir apologized, took a seat beside him. “So? Is there someone you’re nervous to meet among all of the SECRET’s members?” Mir asked, tilting his head to examine Taeyang’s expression.

Taeyang coughed a bit, feeling awkward to get questioned about his feeling. “Oh come on, if you have a crush on one of the member, I don’t mind to hear it. I do have one too!” Mir said, chuckled by his own statement. Taeyang widened his eyes, he turned around to face Mir while his head was busy questioning who would it be. “Ah calm down. I’ve liked Hyosung for a while. Well, I’m looking for a chance to get her though. But that hyung of mine would never let me touch her.” Mir said with a pout.

“So, now tell me who do you want among all of the members?” Mir continued to , smiling widely. “Well.. I think Zinger is quite attractive..” He mumbled. Mir coughed hard hearing his confession. “You like HER?” He tried to be sure by asking it again. “Yeah.. Why?” Taeyang asked back blankly, didn’t understand why Mir could be that surprise.

“Boy, you have liked a wrong girl.” Mir stated, rubbing his palm on his forehead. “And why is that?” “Because Zinger noona is a tough girl, she’s so hard to be impressed.” He said almost sighing when he accidentally caught Taeyang’s face. “Ah.. Sorry, but you still can try!” He said, reassuring the older boy.

“Uhm.. Yeah..” And thus, the awkward silent surrounded both of them. “Mir, can I get your help?” He slowly asked, he bowed while saying it. “I’ll try to help you, what is it?” Mir asked back, Taeyang more breathe as he tried his best to say what he needed then. “Could you make me get her number?” He asked anxiously.

Mir went dead silent for a moment, looking at him with his eyebrows cocked perfectly. “Well.. Let’s see. They just got their cell-phone this year, so maybe you could get her number after the show.” He finally said, calming the elder with the deal.

“Thank you so much!” He hugged the younger tightly, earning a chuckle from the boy. “It’s alright, let go of me,” He simply said and Taeyang obeyed, still with that pabo smile on his face. He would love that day. As he thought so, the girls walked in, greeting them before getting ready for the show. His heart beating fast when he caught the sight of the girl. He looked so beautiful, she looked like a woman more than a girl. He sighed, how much had the time flown by?  How could she transform so fast like now?

He pushed away the thought and decided to just prepare himself for the show. Once or twice, he would glance over the girls. All of them are pretty but still, that charismatic girl was the one who took his heart. He felt envy when Mir joined the group, talking and joking around happily. Mir accidentally looked at him, their gaze met and then at the moment, Mir knew what he had to do.

“Taeyang hyung ! Park Taeyang hyung!” Mir called for him, so he turned around to look at him. He saw that all of the girls were looking at him curiously. “What?” He replied back, instead of replying Taeyang’s question, Mir stood up before dragged him to the group. “Wh..What? Mir! Let go!” Mir ignored him, this time with more power on him.

“Ah, annyeong Taeyang oppa,” All of the girls greeted him, bowing their heads in respectful manner. Stuttering, Taeyang replied with the usual greet. He tried to calm himself but seemed like he couldn’t do anything to make himself calm. Mir noticed this and he silently stepped himself on Taeyang’s feet.

Taeyang screamed, feeling the pain on his foot. All of the heads turning to him, watching him in worried. “Are you alright Taeyang hyung?” Mir asked innocently, Taeyang cursed him in his mind while glaring him with what-was-that-for look. Mir just shrugged a little, grinning at him. Meanwhile, the girls’ eyes were still on him, looking at him questioningly and also worriedly.

“Are you alright oppa?” The unexpected question from the unexpected girl made his heart jolted. It was Zinger who asked him, and it was something he didn’t wish before. He didn’t know the chance would come this fast. “Uh.. I’m fine……I think…” He replied back, blushing in progress.

“Auw, oppa.. You’re blushing?! Waeee??” The girl he identified as Sunhwa squealed on the corner, looking at him with her smile. “Sunhwa, don’t . He’s getting redder.” Hyosung, he knew her, warned the magnae. “Maybe you want to sit oppa? Or are you nervous to meet us at this moment?” She gently said, making him blushing even redder. “If you can blush even redder than this, I think that you will explode..” Zinger said from his left. He coughed while the others laughing on the joke.

“Mianhae..” He bowed. “It’s awkward here.. Kyaaa.. I hate awkward situation,” the cutest girl among all whined. “Taeyang hyung, that’s your fault.” Mir blamed him immediately, he pouted, glaring on the younger. The girls once again laughed on his silly act.

“Please get ready!” The Staff shouted, they all nodded. “Fighting!” All of them said unconsciously before going away to their own direction. “It was helping right?” Mir whispered to Taeyang. “Next time, I like something which has been planned well.” Taeyang growled.

***

 He watched patiently ever question the MCs gave to the girls, he also silently watched on her. He wished a good chance would happen between them, well on him actually. Because he still didn’t know how she felt on him, it would be a shame to call her his lover while she actually wasn’t one.

He felt sorry for her when she didn’t get too much part between the others but he had nothing to do with that, he was in the same state with her, so why he should complain? He sighed a bit, while keeping that smile on his face. He felt his heart racing when Zinger answered about type of man she would like to appear with in WGM. When she answered it with the “Big muscular man” he felt his heart dropped. He wasn’t that type of man.

And that would be hard for him to workout, so he once again had to gulp the slight pain. It was his turn to be asked about his role in the group, and he suddenly answered it as rapper. He caught a glimpse of proud smile on Zinger’s smile and couldn’t be happier than now. He remembered that she is a rapper too.

“Then who did you like the most among the SECRET members?” The question caught him off guard for a moment, but his mouth seemed not to be corporate with his brain when he answered the question. “I liked Zinger-ssi very much.” He wanted to slap himself for the very honest and immediate answer. When Zinger answered it that she did watch on of his show in the past, he felt the relief approached him. And when she said that she liked him the most in the show, he couldn’t hold the proud smile. He didn’t need to be told twice when one of the MC asked them to come out, he used his instinct to rose up and shook hands with her. He felt his heart racing even faster, he felt her hand was in his grip. Her hand felt soft and fragile for a tough woman like her.

Immediately, Mir, that bastard, shouted out loud. “Oo..Did they just do skinship?!” . He wanted to punch him so much, but knowing that the act had double meaning, he only laughed shyly, to cover up his blushing face.  Taeyang couldn’t believe his ears when they once again teased them, saying about the fate game. He was guided to be back-to-back with Zinger, he looked hesitated to Boom, he only voiced his question in a low tone.

When they read the question, he heated up. “ ”Even when the program ends, I still want to keep in contact with Zinger,” If you feel that way, all of you need to do is turn.” He gulped. When they counted it to 3, he turned a bit, only to see that Zinger turned also. He blushed, along with the rapper girl.

It made a chaos in the room, even the PD laughed along with the idols. They bowed, with the wide smile on their face they walked away from each other. He really wished that maybe she would gratefully give him her phone number, it was just a game actually but he knew it was his chance to win something bigger. Mir silently gave his approval nod from the MC’s side.

“Ah! We have a new couple here..” They all said, giving him another hard time to recover from the incident earlier. He bit his lips from the urgent to smile even wider than what he had done right now. Fortunately, he could manage himself to keep calm as long the show was.

He knew he was being crazy when it was him who felt hurt when the appearance ranking was shown. He half heartedly put her name in the 4^th place, knowing from her expression that actually she was hurt.

When it was the time for the girls to dance, he couldn’t help but jaw dropped while looking at Zinger. She was just too good with the pelvic dance, if it was possible, he might get nosebleed right at that time. He felt disappointed along with her when she didn’t get picked as the winner. But geez, he only wanted to watch something more from Zinger. The way she moved her body was really something, that was no way he could watch her like that in real anymore except if he had made her his.

That was his lucky day when suddenly the MCs once again told the girls to dance. They all knew that SECRET loved women’s things also, they’re y in their own way. And that was what they wanted to watch, it was a rare chance for them as SECRET known to be protected very well by their company.

He grinned ear to ear when Zinger showed her solo part in “Poison”. That part when she did her solo rap, moving that damn pelvic of her, he shyly admitted that he had thought something dirty while watching her doing her part. He knew he was out of his mind when voted Zinger out of Hyosung, but well.. When you like someone, you can just ignore another people.

Felt exhausted after the spectacular day, he couldn’t let go his eyes from her simple look. He didn’t know what to do nor say if he really had to ask her phone number, wishing that it would be much better than at that time, he exited the studio.

Before he could go much further, a voice called for him, “Taeyang oppa!”. Without being called twice, he his heels to face Zinger. His mind seemed to be blank when once again he realized that it was Zinger who was standing in front of him. She was smiling brightly to him, showing that smooth aura around her.

“Ah.. Ye? What I can help you?” He mentally slapped himself, how could he ask her that kind of question?! It sounded too formal for both of them. To his surprise, Zinger didn’t need too much time to recover, she chuckled with the formal speech before looking at him with curiosity in her eyes. “You’re funny oppa.” He felt heat rushed to his cheeks when she said about him being cute. “I’m here to ask if you really want to exchange your number with me? Of course, it’s a stupid idea of mine, I know you were lying back then. But uh.. well.. Maybe we can be friend? I know it’s awkward.” He laughed on her shy speech but also thankful that he had got the chance he had wished for.

“I’m sorry..” Before he even had finished his sentence, Zinger had cut him. “Oh! It’s okay! I know I shouldn’t ask it in the first time. Mianhae, Bye oppa!” She was already walking away when he processed her words. “No! Zinger-ssi!” He growled, regretting his late reflect as he ran after her. “Zinger-ssi!” He was finally able to catch her arm, pulled her close to his body as he talked in the low tone. The tone was low enough until it was only both of them who could know the whisper.

“I will be glad to know your phone number and also become your friend. Maybe something more in the future.” He wanted to look at her face so bad, but with their position it wasn’t possible. Even if his brain kept telling him to kiss her, he had to prevent himself for doing something impolite like that. “Uhm.. Sure oppa..” He noticed that she didn’t struggle to let go from his grip, somehow, it made him glad.

***

“Hyung!” Taeyang only nodded as his response, tearing between replying the chats and trying to give some attention on the callers. When he could sense that his dongsaeng was looking at him, he finally gave up. “What is it Heejae?” He finally torn his eyes from the chat and that time, Zinger decided to send him her answer. “,” He cursed lowly when he read the reply.

“Hyungggg.. Did you just curse on me??” Heejae whiny act continued, making him felt guilty. “No, Heejae, I wasn’t cursing on you. So, what’s up?” He pushed his phone a bit, focusing on the pouting dongsaeng in front of him. “I can’t sleep,” Heejae simply said. There was a brief moment of silence as Taeyang looking at him with that heck-that’s-it? Look.

“Can I sleep with you?” Heejae once again asked, looked so innocence in Taeyang’s eyes. Taeyang couldn’t ignore it, he nodded in agreement, letting the younger to slip into his blanket. “What are you doing hyung? Why are you still holding your phone at this time?” Heejae asked from Taeyang’s bed. “Just sleep Heejae..” Taeayang replied ignorantly. “You’re mean hyung!” Heejae suddenly said, caught him out off guard. “What do you mean?” Finally Taeyang turned his body to look at him.

“You’re so careless lately, even to Dongmin who you loved the most.” Heejae tried to explain while kept his pout on his face. “What’s so wrong with that?” Taeyang innocently asked, not getting the point where it was heading to. “What?! Of course it’s wrong! You care and protect Dongmin the most! But you look like a broken heart guy these days!” Heejae said in frustrated manner. “Even Doohwan agreed on me ! Only Hyunsung hyung and you who decided to be blind about everything!” Heejae pouted became worse.

“Alright, I get it. Stop pouting.” Taeyang couldn’t hold Heejae’s pout at the time they should be serious. “Fine, but you have to tell me what’s happening to you!” Heejae pushed him over the edge, none of s knew about his crush to Zinger nor that he had been wanting Zinger for a while which caused him to be gloomy these days.

“Urgh.. It’s about girl..” He simply said, looking at his dongsaeng with the hoping eyes he had. “Continue it, hyung.” Taeyang sighed, he knew this time would come. “I like someone right now. I want to ask her out but too scared. Can we stop it here? I’m blushing!” Taeyang complained, only to get another disagreement from the younger. “What? I have told you the truth!” “You didn’t mention her name.” Heejae simply said, pointing out to the main problem.

“Itszingersecret.” He said it fast, hoping that Heejae wouldn’t hear it. “Aigo?! Do you like that rapper girl from the SECRET group?! The one who has the best pelvic dance?!” That was it, he had been caught red handed by his own dongsaeng. He covered his mouth, only to hide the shy smile that suddenly appeared despite the fact that he didn’t want to smile at all.

“You have a nice choice about girls, hyung. Actually, if you want to get her, why don’t you just tell her directly?” “Yah! Are you nuts, Heejae?! That won’t happen!” “Oh, don’t lie to me Taeyang hyung.  You will do it, very soon…” Heejae smirked to Taeyang before lying comfortably and slept.

“This kid!” Taeyang hissed. He was about to go to sleep too when his cell phone buzzed. He didn’t expect anything but the text content somehow made him happy.

“Good night oppa, have a nice dream. Dream of me tonight, and I will dream about you also! - Jinggeo”

***

“Be brave, can’t you?” Hyunsung voiced coldly from his side, shocking him. “What are you doing in my room?!” Taeyang almost yelled if he didn’t remember that it was almost midnight. “I’m here to sleepover,” Hyunsung replied back, shrugged as he approached the bed. “What?! Are you all taking role to sleepover in my room?” Taeyang asked annoyed

“Before we can see a significant development from you and her, we will do it everyday.” Hyunsung mumbled, holding the pillow near to his head. “Are you crazy? I can’t make a move on her!” Taeyang ruffled his hair in frustrated. “What do you mean by that ?” Hyunsung raised his eyebrow in confusion.

“I can barely meet her, you know.” Taeyang said honestly and in a-matter-of-fact tone. “Set a date with her, what’s so difficult about that?” Hyunsung snapped, didn’t give the leader to think longer. “Yah, you can ask her out for yourself if you really think that’s easy!” Taeyang pouted.

“Fine,” Hyunsung took it as a challenge as he grabbed Taeyang’s cell phone from the desk and started typing something in a very fast motion. “Hey!” Taeyang yelled, trying to get back his cell phone but failed as Hyunsung was much stronger at the moment. “Hyunsung! Don’t do something stupid!” Taeyang yelled, struggled to get closer with Hyunsung and once again failed.

“Hoho hyung, instead of doing something silly, I have helped you with her.” Hyunsung giggled, giving the cell phone back to the owner. Taeyang took it harshly, he started reading the conversation Hyunsung had sent to Zinger. “!” He muttered when finished reading.

“Don’t waste my help, hyung. I’m a very good boy until I can help you just like that.” Hyunsung sang and soon fell asleep. Taeyang continuously cursed as he reading the text again.

“Zinger-ya, let’s meet on Friday at the nearest park by your dorm. I will pick you up at 8 p.m if you accept it. Reply it fast! – Your lovely oppa, Taeyang.”

“Ah, what happens oppa? Kekeke.. Alright, I will be ready for you at 8 – Jinggeo-ya.”

“Hyunsung, you’re dead!”

***

Taeyang walked around the dorm, sometimes took something from the fridge, sometimes looking at the clock with his nervous face and even once, he accidentally opened the bathroom where Dongmin was taking a bath. Of course, didn’t need to tell that Dongmin nagged on him afterwards.

He smiled widely when he ran back to the kitchen. The other members could hear some noise from the kitchen, they got curious as the leader seemed to make some more noise.

“Is he alright?” Heejae asked to none, gazing to the kitchen direction. “I hope so.” Hyunsung said back, a worried expression was on his face. “What day is it? What happened?” Donghwan also asked to none, and silence immediately approached. “Wait… THAT’S IT!” Hyunsung suddenly yelled and stood up, grinning happily as he found the answer about the leader’s weird behavior.

“What?” The others asked in curiosity was drawn clearly on their face. “It’s Friday! He has a date with Zinger tonight!” Taeyang’s head suddenly appeared from the kitchen room, looking at them deadly. “SHUT UP!” He told them with his cold yet scary tone.  “What was that?” The magnae whined.

“Well, we have something to do with him. We need to help him,” Hyunsung stated, looking at the others happily. “What? Why us?” Heejae growled in dissatisfaction. “Cause it was me who had made him to have a date with Zinger,” Hyunsung said almost like an innocent kid. Almost.

“Yah Hyung!” The three chorused, looking at him annoyed. “What? I do a good job, don’t I?” He chuckled. The other just glared on him. “Fine, let’s help him.” Donghwan gave up.

“Hey! Leader!” The sudden call made Taeyang turned his head from the cake he was making. “What?” He replied shortly before turned back his attention to the cake he was trying to make. “Hyung, if you’re going to make it tasteless, you better ask for our help,” Donghwan said from his back, slapped Taeyang’s hand before he was able to put some cream on the cake. Donghwan took care the cake, it made Taeyang confused by the sudden disturb by s.

“So, what do you all have in mind until come and help me with this?” Taeyang leaned on the kitchen table, facing the rest of the members.  “Nah, we wanna know your plan for Zinger tonight.” Heejae said from his left. “Huh? What do you mean by plan?” Hyunsung sighed, not knowing that the case would be much harder than what he thought. “Listen hyung, you can’t ask her to be yours just by giving her the cake.” He shifted a bit before continued, “You need a plan, hyung.”

Dongmin seemed to avoid the conversation when Taeyang glanced on him. He walked to Donghwan and helped Donghwan to decorate the cake. Sighing once again, he faced the duo in front of him. “Alright, so what now?” “Well.. Maybe you want to use our idea..” Heejae started.

***

“Hello oppa!” Zinger was still a few feet away from him but yet, she had been greeting him. Taeyang coughed a little, feeling awkward with what he was facing right now. “Are you alright?” Zinger was right in front of him, she was looking at him as if he had get fever or something.

“I..I’m fine. Why? Is there something wrong with my face?” He shuddery asked, he wanted to slap himself so bad because the nervous answer he gave. He had expected Zinger to laugh on him but what happened next shock him. “Are you sure?” She softly asked, put her palm on his forehead.

He could hear some whispers behind him, in the bushes around the park. Damn, those kids couldn’t keep quiet, could they? “Ah, your skin is so cold,” Zinger’s sudden talk startled him. He blinked in surprise as he tried to adjust himself with the situation. “Didn’t you listen to me?” Zinger laughed cutely.

“Uhm.. sorry,” He shyly mumbled. He lifted his eyes only to meet with Zinger’s smiling face. “It’s alright, so what do you want to tell me earlier?” Her soft voice was enough to drive him crazy. “Oppa?” Once again Zinger had to wake him up from his daydreaming.

“Uh, mianhae.. I.. I wanted to ask you if you like sweets ?” He brushed his neck in an awkward manner, looking down in shame. “Of course I do!” She giggled happily, clapping her hands in anticipation. Before he was able to answer her, Heejae showed up from nowhere, surprised Zinger. Without even saying a word, he gave Zinger a white box. Zinger smiled and nodded to the boy with her eyebrows raised up.

Before Zinger could ask Heejae any question, he had disappeared as fast as he came. “What was that?” Zinger turned her question to Taeyang. Taeyang replied her with his sweet smile, pointing to the box, “Open it.” Zinger obeyed him and soon she was grinning ear to ear to see a delicious and beautiful cake was in the box.

“It looks delicious.” Zinger said, smiling thankfully to him. “Wait!” when he said that, everything they had planned started to work. He started singing accompanied by the group’s members. One of them brought guitar along with him. “What..What are you doing?” Zinger asked confusedly.

“Just listen.” Taeyang shushed the girl softly.

He once glanced to Zinger but she had no reaction. After some thinking, he finally realized that she was bowing. When the song ended, he held her hands, talked softly to her. “Do you like it?” She slowly lifted her head, Taeyang could see that she had been crying for a while.

“No,” His heart stopped beating, couldn’t believe what she had just said. “But I love it,” it was enough to bring his heart beating like normal again. “Then.. What’s next?” Zinger asked, giggling in process.

“Well.. Would you be mine?” He asked shyly, coughed smoothly as he said the word. Without even answered it, Zinger tiptoed and kissed him for a few seconds. “Of course I will. I like you, remember?” She whispered slowly. Taeyang grinned, kissing her some more, ignoring his friends’ coughs behind.