Tae Hee struggled into her room. Her umma [mom] had gotten so excited when she had saw her and Yunho in his car. What a major misconception. Just wait ‘til Tae Hee broke the news to her (about “dating” Jaejoong and tonight’s function). She shuddered at the thought.

 

There was a knock on her bedroom door. “Tae Hee? Are you in there?” Her mom opened the door and gasped. Suddenly, she started crying.

 

Concerned, Tae Hee walked over to her mom and hugged her. “Umma? Are you okay?”

 

“Yes. Yes. I’m fine. It’s just that...my daughter’s so grown up now!!” her mom stopped sniffling and shot her head up. “Yes, why ARE you wearing such formal wear and such expensive jewelry?” Tae Hee smiled, of all people, her mother was the most random.

 

Grimacing, she began explaining.

 

 

 

“OH THAT’S WONDERFUL! OH AND LOOK AT THE TIME!! You better get down there and show Kim Tae Hee to the world!” her mom exclaimed, jumping up and down in anticipation.

 

Almost simultaneously, the doorbell rang. Sprinting to the door, Tae Hee’s mom opened the door.

 

“Oh... you must be Kim Jaejoong. Tae Hee was telling me all about you!”

 

Jaejoong shot a suspicious glare at Tae Hee, who was standing right behind her mother. “Oh yes, Mrs. Kim, it’s nice to meet you. I would love to stay and chat, but we’ve really got to get going.” Turning to Tae Hee, he handed her a bouquet of flowers. “These are for you.”

 

She obviously was surprised. “Err... thanks.”

 

 

*****

 

Silence. Tae Hee stared out the car window. Jaejoong kept his eyes on the road. “I’m BORED. Entertain me,” she ordered. Kicking off her heels, she rested her feet on the dashboard.

 

He glared at her and smacked her leg. Tae Hee’s leg automatically shot back down. “Don’t you DARE do that EVER AGAIN.” He rubbed the dashboard sorrowfully. “Sorry, dear, I’m so sorry for making you suffer. I won’t ever let you smell that monster’s nasty feet again.”

 

“WTHCK?” Under her breath, she muttered, “Geez, I knew he was messed up, but I didn’t know he was like THAT.”

 

“WHAT DID YOU SAY?”

 

“ENTERTAIN ME, you idiot.” 

 

She poked him on his side. He flinched.

 

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! THE OH SO GREAT JAEJOONG IS TICKLISH!” Tae Hee laughed hysterically. 

 

“SHUT UP.”

 

She looked grave. “Now tell me...a joke.” She began giggling again.

 

He turned towards her and raised his arm, as if to strike her. Gradually, his arm descended. Calm down Jaejoong, he ordered himself. How will you ruin the girl if you don’t get her to fall for you first? After a bit, he grinned at her. “How ‘bout I tell you a blonde joke?”

 

Tae Hee stopped chortling and sat up in her chair. “REALLY?”

 

He took a deep breath. Gosh, this was a first for Kim Jaejoong, telling lame blonde jokes. He was actually kind of nervous, but of course, he uneasily laughed it off. “But after I tell it to you, you have to promise to control yourself at the function tonight.” Tae Hee nodded. “Well okay, so a blonde and a brunette are skydiving. The brunette jumps---“

 

She studied her nails. “Heard it already. Next.”

 

“Err... ok. There were three people stranded on an island, a brunette, a redhead, and a blonde.”

 

“Next.”

 

 

By this time, Jaejoong was beginning to get frustrated. “Okay, so there’s this blonde who was riding in her boyfriend’s car. The blonde annoys the heck out of the guy. And in the end, she gets thrown out of the car where she gets attacked by wild animals.”

 

“That’s really disturbing...it’s not even funny.” Tae Hee was shocked, and then she studied him circumspectly. “That’s not a blonde joke, is it?”

 

“No, it’ll be you in about five minutes if you continue to bother me,” he snapped at her.

 

She continued to whine. “But I’m BORED.”

 

“BUT I DON’T CARE.”

 

“You know, if you weren’t driving, I would’ve head butted you a long time ago?”

 

“WTHCK?”

 

“Humph.” Tae Hee slumped in her seat.

 

After a bit of peace, Jaejoong added, “I don’t care how you act right now. But remember the agreement we made. You’re to behave when we get there.”

 

“But---“

 

“I already told you the joke.”

 

“But it wasn’t even funny!”

 

“Too bad. A joke’s a joke. Just like an agreement is. Now shut up and let me drive.”

 

She frowned and crossed her arms. Some joke that was. More like a threat.

 

And so, for the rest of the time, they rode in silence---well that is, other than the “few” times Jaejoong snapped at her to put her feet down and when he informed her about all the things expected of her AKA “manners”.

 

 

*****

 

She stepped out of the car as Jaejoong opened the door for her. Tae Hee stuck her tongue out at him. “You . Remember that,” she whispered to him as they approached the entrance.

 

He smirked. “Oh shut up and smile.”

 

Almost immediately, swarms of reporters attacked them.

 

 

Is this your new girlfriend, Mr. Kim. Or you fiancée?

 

What are your views on tonight’s outcome?

 

Are you ready to become KPC’s new CEO? 

 

 

And all they did was grin and speed walk away.

 

 

*

 

“Gee, who knew you were so popular.” She rolled her eyes.

 

“Oh, I’m only popular when I have a beauty next to me,” he replied sarcastically. He turned to an elderly couple and shook their hands. “Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Lee! How are you enjoying tonight? Hopefully, it’s exceeded your standards.” Tae Hee smiled at them, not knowing what else to do.

 

“Oh yes. Excellent party, I must say,” Mrs. Lee complimented. “And who might this young lady be?”

 

“Kim Tae Hee, my partner. She’s quite a charm.” Jaejoong replied. She continued smiling as they walked away from them, but she couldn’t help but overhear what they said.

 

 

Interesting girl. I wonder why Jaejoong chose her; she’s nothing compared to Jang Ri In.

 

 

“Mr. and Mrs. Lee: bankers that continuously fund us,” he whispered in her ear. 

 

She shrugged and ate a pastry. “Like I care. But the food’s good.” As if she had read his mind, Tae Hee continued, “So I’ll behave.”

 

For a while, that was all they did: host the function. It was a never-ending cycle: greeting the guests, smiling, replying, smiling, hearing nasty comments about Tae Hee, pinning Tae Hee down (so she wouldn’t retaliate and hurt the guests), smiling, entertaining more guests... until Junsu, Changmin, Yunho, and Yoochun FINALLY appeared, saving Tae Hee from the evident boredom.

 

“WHA!? Just this afternoon you were a normal school girl and now? An elegant young lady!” Changmin exclaimed, surprised at the drastic change. 

 

“Haha, thanks.” Tae Hee grinned. “Let’s go get some food!”

 

She attempted to extricate herself from Jaejoong’s grasp, but to no avail.

 

“Told you Jaejoong would find the way,” Yunho added. Jaejoong smirked. Music started playing. “Hm... time for you and Jaejoong to go do the usual dance. You do know how to ballroom dance, right?”

 

Before she could shake her head, Jaejoong had already whipped her onto the dance floor. “Jaejoong... I don’t...know...how to ... dance!” she whispered anxiously.

 

However, he didn’t seem to be unnerved at all. “Just follow my lead; you’ll do fine.” He kissed her forehead and began waltzing her around the floor. “The function’s almost over. You just need to do this dance and it’ll be over before you know it.” 

 

And that was how the function ended: her tripping over his feet. JUST KIDDING. Jaejoong was a natural leader, and Tae Hee was obedient---the perfect combo.

 

 

A waiter held a tray in front of the two as Tae Hee and Jaejoong each took a champagne glass. 

 

“Gosh, I’m so thirsty.” Tae Hee sipped (more like chugged, but in an “elegant” way) the drink before Jaejoong could stop her. “Haha. *HIC* Jaejoong? Why do I feel dizzy? *HIC*” He couldn’t help but roll his eyes at her. Such a low tolerance level! Who ever heard of getting intoxicated on champagne? 

 

He laid her down on a nearby sofa. Now what? He called his friends over. “Um... would her parents kill me if I brought her home drunk?” he asked. Sure Kim Jaejoong had gotten some girls (whose parents were good family friends) drunk before but never a commoner girl.

 

“Hm... Let’s see...YES.” Yoochun answered sarcastically.

 

“So now what? What do I do now? Do I just leave her here?”

 

“Uh...no. I don’t think so,” Yunho said slowly. Changmin nodded in agreement.

 

“I KNOW!” Junsu nodded happily. “I’ve got the best solution ever. You can just bring her to your house. It’ll be like a sleepover!---‘cept with a drunk person... T_T But still. She’s your girlfriend anyway, even if you don’t like her.”

 

Jaejoong eyed him awkwardly. The plan was plausible, but it still felt weird, taking advice from their innocent little Junsu.

 

“Okay. Then it’s decided. I’ll bring her to my house, and keep her there until she becomes sober.”

 

 

 

 And that was how Tae Hee ended up in a total stranger’s bed, instead of her own.