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¦ problematic ¦

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Studying at an art school was one of the main purposes of avoiding having a job as a business man. But there he was, sitting in his office, staring at some documents. He didn’t major in dancing for nothing. But he just needed to hold his dreams, especially when his father experienced a fatal accident four years ago. His family relied on him now, his parents relied on him now.

 

He turned his gaze to the board in front of him. He never belonged in his position, not even after three years of experiencing it. The burden was just too much.

 

It was just one of those days where he would doubt himself as a CEO. And just like telepathy, the moral support he needed the most in one of those times came just in time. His phone rang and his thought stopped.

 

“Hello,”

 

“Teuk-ah, are you at the office?”

                       

“Hmm,”

 

“Why? Are you having another mental breakdown?”

 

Leeteuk chuckled, “You got me again.”

 

“I’ll always do.”

 

“Yeah, whatever. What is it, Chul-ah?”

 

“Kibum called me, he found another one.”

 

Leeteuk straightened his back, apparently this topic always managed to get his attention, “Where?”

 

“At school.”

 

“Arasseo, I’ll see you in a bit,” he then hung up the phone.

 

Part of him was excited in hearing the news, part of him was worried. Of course he didn’t want another one to turn out to be like him, like his kinds. It was something dirty, something filthy and evil, something sinful and not worthy of forgiveness.

 

He leaned his back again and closed his eyes. A flash of memory came to his mind. Those beautiful eyes he never forgot. Those beautiful eyes that had been mesmerizing his mind.

 

Excuse me, I believe this is yours.

                Thanks.

 

It was the most beautiful one minute of his life.

 

His train of thoughts was stopped yet to another disturbance. Someone knocked on the door, and without waiting for his answer, the person opened the door.

 

“Hyung, let’s go.”

 

He closed his laptop and folders before piling them up in one stack. He put on his coat and grabbed his case before leaving the office.

 

After giving some last instruction to his secretary, he went to the elevator and pressed the button. Once the door opened he stepped in followed by the man who knocked on his door earlier.

 

He was his favorite dongsaeng, that’s why the guilt never left his heart. He looked to his side and smiled.

 

“Sungmin-ah, how’s Sunny?”

 

The other guy just stared at the metallic door, “I’d rather not talk about it, hyung,”

 

Leeteuk dropped his head slightly, still feeling apologetic and guilty as hell. But the smile won’t leave his tanned face. He knew it so well when his dongsaeng was lying.

 

“I’m sorry, Sungmin-ah,”

 

“Hyung, this is the fifteenth time you said it this month. And this is the fifteenth time I say this that it was never your fault,” Sungmin replied with a stern voice.

 

Another smile carved in Leeteuk’s face.

---00---

 

 

A huge mahogany door was opened when Leeteuk was only meters away with Sungmin.

 

Eight other people, the first borns of their generation gathered in an enormous rounded marble table looking casual like every day. Something seemed to be bothering his mind, but he managed to make a normal face, not wanting the others to ask.

 

He sat down right beside Heechul and let out a big sigh that didn’t go unnoticed by the guy next to him.

 

“What is it?”

 

Leeteuk just shook his head, “I don’t know.”

 

Heechul decided that it was not yet the time to push any further question to the worry looking man.

 

Suddenly all the lights were dimmed, leaving only a few spotlights right above the rounded table, enough for them to identify who was who. Leeteuk straightened his back up and put his interlocked hands on the marble table. The talking stopped and all eyes were on him.

 

Leeteuk sensed something different with one of his dongsaengs.

 

“So you turned twenty-five today, Kyuhyun-ah?”

 

The said man could no longer hide his face. He lifted his head and glanced at his hyung. He landed his back on the backrest looking as apathy as possible.

 

“I had to do it hyung, I couldn’t think of anything else. She was about to go home.”

 

“So I was right, you do look a year older than before.”

 

“I am not really sure it was something you could notice, Yuri.”

 

Yuri was about to argue but just in time Leeteuk stood up from his oh so expensive majestic chair and started walking around the table.

 

“So, Kyuhyunnie, tell us everything.”

 

Kyuhyun rested his interlaced palms on his stomach and blew some air out.

 

“She’s Kibum’s classmate. My classmate too. I talked to her but I couldn’t sense anything. I already invited her to my house this Thursday to do some project. Or at least that’s what I planted in her mind,” he rolled his eyes, feeling regretful he had to use his power on such a trivial thing.

 

“Heechul, you do it.”

 

“Why would I do that?” the said guy widened his eyes yet remained poised.

 

“Because I have a feeling that you need to.”

 

“And why would I trust your feeling? They can sometimes go wrong. I didn’t teach Kibum for nothing, you should know that. Besides, it’s exhausting and I am too important to do such a job.”

 

The chamber was spacious enough to let a ‘tsch’ to be echoed inside. Heechul turned his head to the voice maker and gave an icy stare.

 

“You do it then, Yuri.”

 

“As much as I’d love to, we all know she’s a Kim, oppa.” she shrugged her shoulders.

 

“Chul-ah, please? I have a strong feeling about this.” Leeteuk pleaded.

 

After a silent minute or two, Heechul finally groaned in defeat. He knew best when he had to trust his dear friend.

 

“Aishh. Fine. Just call me when she’s at your place.”

 

Silence went again. This time was not because of the lack of topic, but because the next thing to discuss was a crucial one.

 

Still walking around behind the people sitting on the chair, Leeteuk rested his arm on his chest while the other one was rubbing his temple, feeling slightly stressed.

 

“Sungmin-ah,”

 

The said man just sighed in irritation as he knew what the oldest was going to talk about.

 

“Hyung, the fact that we are still here breathing only means that she didn’t tell anyone about this.”

 

“You are still seeing her aren’t you, Sungmin?”

 

Sungmin looked up to the speaker and looked at him with piercing eyes.

 

“You know I hate you beyond your abilities, right Heechul hyung?”

 

“Same here, pretty boy. You should learn more on your retardation then.”

 

“And you should learn to leave my mind alone—“

 

“Come on, guys!” Leeteuk accidentally raised his voice. But then again, it was the only way to stop the two quarrelling men.

 

But the leader’s shouting apparently wouldn’t stop the two from fighting. Nothing would. Not when it comes to the Lees and the Kims.

 

Kyuhyun was quick enough to duck his head when a vase was flying from across the room, definitely aiming for Heechul. But the vase stopped right at the center of the marble table and just float in the air as if it was attached in some kind of a string.

 

“I’ll take this,” a girl said while initiating in taking the flying vase. She then put the vase right under the table.

 

“Thank you Yoona. Next time you do that again, I will make sure you two to be locked up in the dungeon and beat each other to death.” Leeteuk glared at the raging Sungmin, whose eyes were already dark red.

 

Chul-ah, leave him alone. This is an important matter. Please.

 

“Fine.” Heechul said, after exchanging stare with the leader.

 

“And nobody here is going to use the retardation on Heechul. It’s for our own good.”

 

Rather than nodding their heads, the rest of them would just stare down, enough to inform the leader that they had understood.

 

“Now, Lee Sungmin. Is it true you’re still seeing her?”

 

Not leaving Heechul’s stare, he decided to just tell the truth to everyone.

 

“I see her occasionally.”

 

“Hyung, you know very well you shouldn’t—“

 

“Easy for you to say, Siwon-ah, Tiffany is one of us,” Sungmin turned his head to the said man, his tone was still full of rage.

 

“Look, Sungmin-ah, we all trust you. It’s her that we’re afraid of.”

 

“I trust her, hyung. That means you should too.”

 

“Oppa, it’s no use, this conversation will never come to an end. As long as she keeps the secret, I think there is nothing to worry about.”

 

“Sica dear, we don’t know her. We don’t even know if she plans to sell this out to people. To the mortals.” Heechul tried his best to speak with a not so irritating note to his lover.

 

“By the way, I saw her today with that Kim girl. She was observing us at the cafeteria.”

 

“Don’t worry Fany, Donghae hyung over heard them. She didn’t say anything she wasn’t supposed to say.” Kyuhyun butted in.

 

“Alright, alright. You need to fix this, Sungmin. Before our parents find out about this.”

 

Sungmin didn’t say anything to confirm the leader’s order. But he knew better than anyone else in the room that he had the full responsibility in this.

 

Leeteuk then turned his gaze to a shy looking young girl next to Yuri.

 

“Seohyun-ah, how are you doing?”

 

“Huh?” Seohyun was completely awakened from her thoughts. “Oh, I just—I’m fine, oppa. The inkling and the visions are still haunting me, but other than that I’m perfectly fine,” the youngest smiled the most innocent smile.

 

“Don’t worry, it’s only four months until you ascend.” Leeteuk smiled back. “If you ever need anything just call me, okay?”

 

Seohyun just nodded.

 

“Are we finished now oppa? I have things to do.”

 

“Yes, Sica we’re finished. The rest of you may go home too. Chul, don’t drive her home late.”

 

“None of your business, nosy head.” Heechul left the chamber after Jessica.

 

Ah, this guy. There was nothing even the leader could do to change his attitude. He’s quite something though. Though Leeteuk himself wasn’t sure how Jessica could ever fall for him.

 

Despite his arrogance and his stubbornness, there was only one person he would listen to. And that is none other than his own best friend, Leeteuk. Growing up together for more than twenty-five years, Leeteuk could easily win Heechul’s heart. With just one plead and convincing look, Heechul would give in. He knew it best when he needed to trust Leeteuk’s words.

---00---

 

 

After making sure everything was locked, Leeteuk lazily went upstairs to the common room. There he saw his favorite dongsaeng was leaning on the wall, looking at his feet. Although he didn’t see his expression, he knew best that the shorter guy was stressful.

 

“Sungmin-ah,” he called.

 

The said man lifted his head and looked at the leader. It took him mere second to transfer his message to the oldest as Leeteuk already gestured him to follow him.

 

Soon they reached Leeteuk’s study room and he asked Sungmin to lock the door.

 

“Is uncle not home?”

 

Leeteuk poured his favorite white wine into two crystal glasses, then he handed one of them to the younger.

 

“No, it’s still early for him to come home.”

 

Sungmin took a seat on one of the most pillowy side of the velvet couch. He took a sip of his wine followed by a blank stare at the crystal.

 

Leeteuk just leaned on of the counters looking at his dongsaeng with so much concern. He knew how much it hurt for Sungmin. He experienced it once. And somehow he felt sorry that all this had to happen again to his brother.

 

“What will you do?”

 

He actually tried so hard to think of a solution, but sadly he failed. “I honestly don’t know hyung.”

 

Leeteuk finally took a sip of his wine and felt the slight burning sensation running through his throat.

 

“What did you do hyung?”

 

The older tried so hard to maintain his composure. Whenever anyone would bring that topic again, he felt like wanting to break down. But he knew best he needed to be strong for Sungmin. Because the younger needed him as his hyung.

 

“I did the stupidest thing ever. I let them erase her memory.” He couldn’t help but to release a bitter smile.

 

Sungmin chuckled his frustration away, “Tsch, really? I almost thought it was the best choice. I don’t want another Kim Hyoyeon hyung.”

 

“I know. Me too.”

 

Sungmin put down his glass on the table and buried his face on his hands. Saying that name really bring his head to such ache. The memory he tried so hard to erase, although he knew he wouldn’t be able to, just came straight to haunt him.

 

“I can’t believe I was the one who did that to her hyung. I’m a monster.”

 

“We all are, Sungmin. We all are.” The leader took another sip of his wine.

 

“Still. I’m the first among us to kill such an innocent girl.”

 

“It had to be done. She knows too much.”

 

“Sunny knows just as much as that Kim girl. I don’t want her to end up like that too.”

 

Leeteuk also put his glass on the counter and crossed his arms on his chest.

 

He was thinking of one most absurd thing. He tried so hard not to suggest it to his dongsaeng, but he clearly understood what the younger was feeling. He might regret himself for saying this, but then again, Sungmin was always the wisest. He believed Sungmin would know what’s best for him. And for Sunny.

 

“Turn her.”

 

Sungmin just laughed softly at his hyung’s words. He couldn’t believe what he just said.

 

“Bite her, Sungmin.”

 

“You are not seriously telling me this hyung. You of all people?”

 

“You’ll get the best of both worlds. You won’t lose her, she gets to live.”

 

Sungmin definitely couldn’t believe what he just heard. He raised his head and stared at his hyung. How surprised he was when he found those reddish brown eyes were staring back at him with so much determination.

 

“But,”

 

Ah, of course, there’s always a silver lining whenever it’s with Leeteuk.

 

“It is not the option I would choose.”

 

“What would you choose?”

 

“I would give the privilege of choosing to her.”

 

A long pause. Sungmin was one of the brightest, so he must’ve understood what Leeteuk was trying to say.

 

“Let her choose, Sungmin.”

 

Leeteuk didn’t say another word, instead just left the room with his wine. He wanted Sungmin to think for himself, and he also wished for Sungmin to choose the wise option.

Taeyeon-ah…

 

Hmm?

 

I like you…

 

But I don’t like you, oppa…

 

What…?

 

I love you…

---

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Taeyeon was not the type of girl who could easily mingle with everybody. She was the shy person, but she was not the insensitive one. She was trying to lay low at the school because she didn’t like to stand out. But somehow she felt like some eyes were watching her.

 

But because of her self-convincing skill, she managed to tell herself that it was all just in her head. After all, who would notice a new student like her.

 

She happily walked down the corridor towards the cafeteria. She felt happy knowing that Sunny, her new and only friend, was already there waiting for her.

 

Just when she was about to enter the hall, a slim figure with beautiful long mahogany brown hair bumped into her. She managed to say sorry but when she looked up to the girl’s eyes, there they were, the brown, with splash of red, eyes just like Cho Kyuhyun’s.

 

Knowing the person in front of her, Taeyeon didn’t expect a smile or what. She just walked past her and went to Sunny in a fast pace.

 

“You’re right, she’s an ice princess.”

 

Sunny looked totally dumbfounded, “What?”

 

“Jung Jessica. I bumped into her earlier. I said I was sorry but she just stared at me like she wanted to eat me.”

 

Sunny unintentionally spit her cola upon hearing her friend’s saying.

 

“Are you okay?” Taeyeon said while rubbing her back.

 

“I’m okay,” she wiped with a napkin, “Don’t worry, they won’t eat you though.”

 

Huh?

 

“What’s that?” Sunny pointed at Taeyeon’s sketch book, which she gladly showed.

 

“My sketch book.”

 

“I don’t know you can draw? You should’ve just applied to the Fine Arts Department, Taeng.”

 

Taeyeon was definitely flattered by Sunny’s appraise. But drawing was never her passion, it was just a mere hobby whereas she could release her stress.

 

“Who is this?”

 

Taeyeon looked at the drawing Sunny was staring.

 

“Handsome isn’t he?” Taeyeon smiled proudly.

 

“Do you know him?”

 

Sunny never intended to be sounded so surprised, even though she was, but wouldn’t cooperate with her.

 

“Do you?”

 

Sunny didn’t answer. In fact, she didn’t know how to react.

 

“Lately I have been having these dreams about this man. He’s just so handsome. Frankly the dream seemed to be so real.” Taeyeon couldn’t help but to beam like a sun.

 

“Is this his name?”

 

“Not really. Whenever I was thinking about that man, that name just pops out in my head. I don’t know what that was though.”

 

Sunny looked closely at the Korean letters that were written just at the bottom corner of the paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jungsoo.

 

 

 

 

to be continued~