- A Decision
||| Short Stories - Angst, Sad, Fluffy etc |||
| 09 Mar 2014, Birthday Party |
"Saengil chukha hamnida!!!!"
The guests wished her as they entered the party venue.
It's Taeyeon 26th birthday party.
She wanted it to be an usual day, so she can just laze around and relax at home. But her 8 sisters insisted to throw a party for her since she hadn't had one since 2010. Together with their sister band f(x), the girls put up a special party for her. Banners, flower decos, cakes, wine, food, music..... all to Taeyeon's likings. Besides those from the same company, Taeyeon's close friends from the industry were also invited.
Shortly, their own company groups SuJu, SHINee and Exo arrived the venue.
The guys happily greet the birthday girl, while her close oppas Kangin and Heechul gave Taeyeon the biggest birthday hug ever. As they did that, there were cheers and jeers coming from the background. "I want a hug too, noona!!" Sehun requested naughtily. Taeyeon smiled at Sehun's request as she released the hug from Heechul. "Come here..." She opened her arms to welcome her favourite maknae of SM family and Sehun graciously wrapped her into a quick hug.
Taeyeon patted the arms of each and every member from the group, and that's when she noticed someone is missing...
"Thanks for coming by, guys. The food are there, the wines are over there. All of you are legal now. So have fun!"
Taeyeon watched her labelmates as they make their way into the party before she took a last look at the entrance to make sure no one is being left behind. The entrance is empty. Seems like most of the invited guests has arrived.
Letting out a little sigh, Taeyeon walked back into the party.
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"Junmyeon..." Taeyeon called as she joins Suho picking up some wine from the bar. "How's things going?" Taeyeon asked. "Hey, noona. Fine, i guess. Have been busy with practices and schedules." Suho replied with an angelic smile. "How about the kids? Having hard time controlling them?" she asked. Suho thought for awhile and nodded. "It's not easy to be a leader, but I guess I have them under controlled." He laughed. Taeyeon nods as she listens and smiled hearing everything seems good with her juniors.
"Erm, how come I don't see Baekhyun here?" Taeyeon asked. "Oh him, he said he is tired. So he decided to stay at the dorm to rest." Suho replied. "I see, tired...." Taeyeon casually remarked with an awkward smile. Seeing Taeyeon's reaction, "Erm y-yeah, actually he wanted us to say Happy Birthday to you on his behalf, but I think most of us have forgotten about it ... opps!" Suho added with a little laugh. "Got it, say thank you to him on my behalf then." Taeyeon bit her lips and replied, before she took her wine and walked away.
Taeyeon knew and she guessed it. Tired, of course she understand how tired those boys are. She's being through that, and she's still undergoing the tough practices and hectic schedules that S.M puts up for each and every of it's artistes. But tired is not a good enough reason. The other boys are tired too, but yet they came.
It's obvious that Baekhyun is still avoiding her. And he has been doing that since.....
||| FLASHBACK 1 |||
It was SMTown Singapore/BKK, Nov 2012. All S.M artistes were preparing for the SM town world tour performances. At the backstage, since it was their big senior Kangta's birthday, SHINee has prepared a birthday surprise for him. Onew, the leader from SHINee called upon all SNSD and Exo members to gather before giving Kangta the surprise.
"Yo boys!!"
Taeyeon greeted the Exo boys as usual when she sees them. All of them bowed and responded to her, except for one person who just gave a slight bow before walking away. Taeyeon noticed and stopped him.
"Baekhyun-ah"
Baekhyun stopped and turned around. Taeyeon walked towards him with a smile. "Nervous about the performance? I heard you have a collab stage with Ryeowook oppa and Onew." she asked. "Deh." Baekhyun nodded and replied with a short yes. Taeyeon tilted her head slightly with a curious expression on her face. "That's it?" She thought to herself. That's so unlike him. Baekhyun is usually a person with more than a few words. In fact, he is consider talkative but in a nice way. That's why Taeyeon always finds him more approachable than other members in Exo, even though she knew the others for a longer time since they were trainees.
"Is something bothering you?" Taeyeon decided to come straight with her curiousity. Baekhyun looked up with a straight face. "Bothering me?... nothing. I'm just..... a bit tired, maybe...." He said coldly. Taeyeon knitted her brows at the toneless answer she got from him. But before she can ask more, they were called upon by S.M staff to have a group picture together with the birthday boy, Kangta. "Ara. Ara." Taeyeon replied the Staff and wanting to call Baekhyun along. But she turned around to find Baekhyun already made his way to join the rest getting ready for the pic... without her.
"What's wrong?"
"What's got into him....?"
Holding on to that thought, the SMTown world tour concerts in Singapore and Bangkok came to an end.
All artistes are waiting at the airport to catch a flight back to their home nation. Watching Baekhyun from far at the waiting room, Taeyeon couldn't help but kept thinking what could have happened for him to behave so coldly to her these two days. Something must have triggered him to behave this way. Trying to recall, there isn't any unpleasant things happened between them. In fact, Taeyeon thought they grew closer....... but it looks like she may be wrong.
||| FLASHBACK 1 to be continued..... |||
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"Happy Birthday...!"
A familar voice whisper into Taeyeon's ears.
Cringed alittle by that voice near her ears, Taeyeon turned her head to it.
Yes, it's someone familiar indeed... someone who is very close to Taeyeon. Even closer than what most people here knows.
"Jay??" Taeyeon's mouth slightly opened in surprise. "What are you doing here?" she asked softly with widen eyes. "Your bestie Tiff invited me. It's your birthday party, of course I need to be here." He smiled. Taeyeon quickly dragged him to a corner. "Tiff didn't tell me that. Why didn't you let me know in advance that you are coming.... you surpr.."
"Shhhh...." Jay put his fingers on her lips to cut her words. "I know what you are worrying about." He said with a small grin. "Don't worry. I'm here cause I'm a good friend of yours. Just like any other invited guests here... Wooyoung, Jonghyun, Yonghwa, Byunghee.... I'm just one of your "good" friends." He assured Taeyeon.
Jay Park , an ex-member/leader of 2PM. An American-Korean who made a comeback after he left JYP a few years ago . He's not only known for that notorious remark he made which resulted him to leave 2PM, he is also known for his close friendship with people like GDragon and they are known together for their crazy acts and party lifes. No one would ever guessed the SNSD leader is close to Jay Park... and close in a way that no one would have guessed it.
It was almost 1am when the party came to an end.
Most of the guest started leaving the venue, some still sober while some others half-drunk. Taeyeon sees every guests to the door and thanked them for coming. Her 8 sisters and managers are the last to go. "Unnie, you coming with us?" Seohyun asked. Taeyeon turned her head and found Jay is still around. "It's okay. You gals go ahead first. I drive today so I can make my own way back." Taeyeon said and gave her girls hugs before sending them away.
"Why are you still around?" Taeyeon walked towards Jay. "Waiting for you." He replied with a naughty grin. "It's your birthday, I don't think the night is going to just end like this, right?" He said. Taeyeon joined him on the couch. "Then what do you expect?" she asked. Jay raised his hands and start playing with her hair. "Where's your boyfriend?" He asked. Taeyeon gave a little laugh. "I'm still single." She said. "That's sad... you are SNSD's Kim Taeyeon. Why is it so difficult for you to find a boyfriend?" He commented. Taeyeon removed his hand on her. "Don't do this. There might be still other people around." She warned. "Well, then let's go somewhere where we are alone...." He whispered into her ears.
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He stepped back.
Seeing her leaving with her shades on, she isn't alone. Following behind is not her manager, neither someone from S.M. That man following her is wearing a beanie which covered his entire head and a shade which covered half of his face. But the tattoos on his right arm gave him away. It's not surprising that Jay Park is here at her party since he's known to be an old friend of Taeyeon's. But why are they alone? It's already 1 am and the party has ended. Where are they going?
Standing at a corner, Baekhyun gripped tightly onto that blue Tiffany & Co. box in his right hand.
He was not late for the party.
It was a late decision he made after struggling for the entire evening alone in his dorm.
In that Tiffany & Co. box, it contains a necklace with a "T" pendant. It was a gift Baekhyun prepared more than a year ago, long before her last birthday. It's also a gift he wanted to supposed to discard, but he couldn't bear to...
||| FLASHBACK 2 |||
It was 20 August 2012.
Baekhyun and s stopped by for some shopping after their schedule ended. Most of the guys were shopping for clothes in major outlets like H&M and Forever21. They were still rookies so the boys can't afford too expensive clothes yet. Besides, most of the time good clothings are already provided for when they go for schedules or performances.
It was then when Baekhyun passed by the famous jewelry shop and a pendant on the showcase caught his attention. He asked the boys to go ahead first without him so he can take a closer look at it. Baekhyun approached the showcase and stared closely at the "T" pendant. It brought him back to just 2 days ago when he had the most wonderful time in his entire life - SMTown Seoul.
"She will look good in this..." Baekhyun smiled to himself like a pabo with his nose almost touching the window case. "It's August now. Still 8 months more to her next birthday. Is it too early to prepare a gift now?" Baekhyun asked himself. Shifting his head to peep at the price tag. "5654900.00 KRW!!!!" His eyes widened. "Hell, this is like my entire month's pay, there is no way I can affo..."
"Young man, may I help you?" A noona salesgirl approached Baekhyun. He quickly lowered his head so she can't tell his identity. "Are you looking at this T-pendant?" She asked. Baekhyun embarassedly nods while hiding his face discreetly. "You have a good taste. This is our company's limited edtion pendant and this is the last piece we have in Seoul." She said. Baekhyun instantly raised his head. "L-last piece??" The noona nods. "If you are interested, we are having a promotion now and you'll get a 10% discount...." She said.
Baekhyun joined s back in the H&M store. "Hyung, what took you so long?" Sehun asked. "Huh, I..I.... had a stomache." Baekhyun lied. Sehun nods briefly as he took a T-shirt and placed it on Baekhyun. "Buy this. You'll look good in it." Sehun suggested. Baekhyun took the shirt and placed it back onto the rack. "No thanks." He said. Sehun knitted his brow. "We are idols now. Look what you are wearing, it's time to enhance your image." The visual of Exo advised his hyung. Baekhyun sighed. "I know. But I need to tighten my pocket this month. I'm broke now..." His volumn faded as he held onto his jacket's bulging pocket with a Tiffany & Co box hiding in it...
||| FLASHBACK 2 ends |||
Looking at the little gift in his hand, Baekhyun watched her leaving with the notorious Jay Park.
His eyes closed with disappointment.
The disappointment is not with Taeyeon, but himself.
It's all because of a decision he made.......
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| 10 Mar 2014, 4am, Jay Park's Apartment |
Taeyeon grabbed the bathrobe and put it on before she got off the bed.
She familiarly made her way to the kitchen to get herself a drink. Standing there, taking sips of water, she felt a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. "How was it... birthday girl?" Jay whispered into her ears while placing soft kisses on her neck. Taeyeon turned around and pushed the half- man away alittle. "Stop it, I'm drinking." she said. Jay smiled and removed his arms.
"Your bed hair looks hot." He commented while staring at her as she drinks. "Cut it. Save all these sweet words for your girlfriends." Taeyeon gave a small laugh. Jay smiled. "Aren't you one of them?" He asked. Taeyeon walked away and sat on one of the bar stools. She shooked her head. "I'm different." She said. Jay walked over and surrounded her with his arms and tattoo-ed body. "How different? Likewise for my so-called girlfriends, we had one day, and we became friends the next day. I don't see any differences." He joked. "Of course there are differences. You basically changed partners every night. But I....."
".....I'm your only partner?" Jay cuts Taeyeon's words. "Wow that's my honour." He added. She knitted her brows. "Don't put it this way. We are more than that." Taeyeon said as she cupped his cheeks. "I know... friends with benefits. That's how you put it when we first did it." Jay said. Taeyeon smiled and pat on his head. "Right, friends with benefits. And your friend, me has a schedule in the afternoon. I gotta go." Taeyeon breaks through Jay's wall and attempt to make her way to the bathroom. But Jay pulled her back and grabbed her into a rough kiss.
Taeyeon struggled from that kiss and that pair of strong arms around her body. She struggled for awhile until she finally managed to pull herself away from him. "What was that for??" She hit on his arms and Jay laughed. "I got a feeling this is the last time we are doing this, so... I can't bear to let you go." He said. Taeyeon titled her head with questions on her face. "Just kidding." Jay laughed. " But you can't blame me. Your morning look is irresistable. You know you are becoming hotter and hotter each day, Taeyeon." He added. Taeyeon rolled her eyes and break away from his hug. "Stop being cheesy, Jay. It's creepy." she said.
Taeyeon turned around and make her 2nd attempt to the bathroom. But Jay's words stopped her.
"Who's Baekhyun??"
Taeyeon stopped and turned around facing him again. "What?" She asked. Jay his lips and leaned against the wall. "It's embarassing for me, but I still have to ask." He said."You were calling that name when we......". Taeyeon's jaw instantly dropped and her eyes blink into the blank. "And it wasn't just last night...." Jay added.
Taeyeon stood in daze.
She couldn't recall herself doing such an awkward and embarassing thing. And that was certainly insulting for Jay.
"I......" Taeyeon tougue-tied.
"Is he someone you liked or is he your ex-boyfriend?" Jay asked.
Taeyeon bit her lower lips before she tried to explain. "I'm sorry Jay. I didn't know. I.. I'm really sorry. He's just.... he's just a nobody. You can ignore that." She explained. "Well, if I'm your boyfriend, I'd probably blow up the matter and kill that guy. But we are friends. Though it's still insulting to me but I can choose to ignore. How about you? You can't possibly act like it didn't happen.." Jay said. "He must be someone who's important to you. Or he must have an important place in your heart for you to react that way...."
Taeyeon looked down.
Watching her in silence, Jay felt bad seeing the gorgeous national girl group leader looking sullen all of the sudden.
"Was he at the party just now? Is he someone I have met but couldn't remember?" Jay asked. Taeyeon shook her head slightly. "No, he didn't came to the party." she said softly. "So I'm right. He is someone huh." Jay commented. "Are you guys together already? I mean if you are, then why did you still come with me..." Taeyeon cuts his words with a cold tone. "No, that person... we will never be together ever..."
"Why not?" Jay asked carefully.
"I'll never be with someone........ who chose fame over me."
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||| FLASHBACK 1 continues... |||
SMTown Singapore/BKK, Nov 2012.
Watching Baekhyun from far at the airport waiting room, Taeyeon couldn't help but kept thinking what could have happened for him to behave so coldly to her these two days. Something must have triggered him to behave this way. Trying to recall, there isn't any unpleasant things happened between them. In fact, Taeyeon thought they grew closer....... but it looks like she may be wrong.
Taeyeon then made her way to the washroom.
On her way, she overheard a conversation between 2 Exo managers...
Manager1: Done with that matter?
Manager2: Yeah, it wasn't too difficult. That boy is smart. He knows what's best for him.
Manager1: LOL we expected that, didn't we? One of these boys definitely will have problem dealing with feelings for other labelmates.
Manager2: And my guess is right.
Manager1: You guessed that boy is going to be Baekhyun?
Manager2: Deh, I guessed that. He is the only Korean trainee who undergo less than a years training. That's why he is the easiest target to be star-strucked by our beautiful ladies from SNSD.
Manager1: Especially if we are talking about the charming leader.
Manager2: Right... the leader who even Kim Junsu and Park Jeongsu couldn't resist. How can a boy like him resist her kindness, beauty and charm? But this boy is interesting. Maybe he is still "raw" from the S.M system. He is straightforward. He comes clean when I asked him about his feelings.
Manager1: Really??
Manager2: I gave him two paths to choose. To get mesmerize by someone who will never love him back, or stay away from her and work hard to earn his fame and succeed as an idol.
Manager1: And he chose the latter?
Manager2: Yeah, quite easily.
Manager1: "When you became successful as an idol, you can have any women you want." That's what I told him.
Manager2: Well, I guess every wise man will take that option..... LOL
||| FLASHBACK 1 ends |||
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Standing by the Han river, Baekhyun opened the box and removed the necklace from it.
The necklace he bought long before her 25th birthday, and yet failed to give her on both her 25th and 26th birthday.
"Perhaps everything is destined...." Baekhyun thought to himself.
Just one week after he bought the necklace, he was called upon by his manager. His lack of image management and lack of disguise gave him away. His manager saw through his feelings for his senior and confronted him. That took place just a few months after his debut. There were already so much uncertainties and questions about his future as an idol. Those were enough for him to worry about. There were no rooms for something more. Besides, he has a contract with S.M, his family will never be able to compensate S.M in any case if he breached the contract in any ways.
No, at that point, Baekhyun couldn't afford to lose his career.
And so, he made a decision - he promised his manager to focus on his singing career and kept a distance from all possible troubles.
Picking up the "T" necklace.....
"Probably it's time for me to move on whole-heartedly...."
Baekhyun took a last look at it...... before he turns the necklace into a ripple.
"Saengil chukha, noona."
- Story Ends -
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Sorry to have a bitter ending and limited interactions between Baekhyun and Taeyeon,
but it's still a story between them...
Wait for my next update...and pls comment. Annyeong!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0sTpC2sUyY&list=PLEtFYnUYDSY3xhsP9KmZulbvI5agOwB8w
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