song: Who R U - Nine Muses (love this song! xD)     ---   'Who are you, that I kept thinking of someone I've never met? That I'm more concerned about you even when I'm the one hurting? That I'm tempted to break the walls that had kept me safe all my life? That I kept gazing into the night, pointlessly? Just who the hell are you?     ---     'Must be quick. I need to get out of this place before she sees me. I had no idea I would be asked to sing as well and I didn't know it would be damn awkward and embarrassing when those ahjussis whistle and cheer like crazy for me. Ugh. Dirty old erts. I feel like I could throw up at any second. How am I going to carry on? But the pay is better than what Kwanghee told it would be...aish, the important thing now is to pack things, get change and go to hospital. Chulhee must've been waiting. I thought it wouldn't take this much time... Aish.'   Heechul's mind was a mess as he tried to find amongst his scattered items inside his backpack to find clothes to get changed before going to the hospital. Worries and regrets awashed him at the realization that his little sister probably had waited for him until she fell asleep since it's already passed midnight. Just as he was about to take off his wig that was tightly clipped by Gyuri to make sure it wouldn't come off when he dance, there was a familiar voice from behind him, at the door. A very familiar voice he knew by heart that made him froze in fear.   "Excuse me...do you have any food? There's emergency!"   He waved his hand and shook his head repeated without turning to face her nor saying a single word. Even though Gyuri had forced him to swallow a shot of liquid medicine or some sort of substance to make his voice sounded more girly for a few hours - a medicine he never knew existed, he still felt afraid of being found out. Of all people, not by her. He couldn't afford that.   "No? It's alright then. Sorry for bothering you."   He felt relieved. It will be hard to keep avoiding her inside this club since she works here, and he needed to keep going on for the pay. But he didn't want to think about the future difficulties for now. He just didn't want to be found out by her and he would think of the way when time and situation calls for it.   "Heechul-ah!!! You did a fantastic job! I never knew you could dance like that!"   "Oh, God...no." His eyes shut in annoyance and dread at Kwanghee's booming voice that had to appear right when Noeul hadn't left. 'Why? Why now? Why can't you wait? Why can't you come in and make sure there's no one inside if you want to call my name? Or just don't call my name, you bastard!'   When Kwanghee became aware of Noeul's existence inside the doorway, as he cheerfully jumped in, his eyes grew wide and his palm landed in front of his lips, remorse immediately filling inside him for being so careless and forgetful to watch his mouth. He himself, was clad in normal waiter clothing today, and not in his drag queen dancer outfits. Maybe that was why he forgot not to call Heechul by his real name. It was a pointless excuse, but he needed one to feel less guilty.   "Heechul?" He gulped as Noeul raised one of her eyebrows and then turned to the woman who had her back facing them.   "I mean...Julie. My friend from...Japan!"   "Liar! Kwanghee-ya, you don't have any female friends. You don't even know Japanese to have a Japanese friend."   "Hey, I...I do have girlfriends, okay!" He stammered, trying to look as convincingly relaxed as possible. He had to try, even if he knew Noeul's smarter than himself to spot his lies from miles apart.   "Heechul?" She approached the woman who still refused to face her. But the woman vigorously shook her head, possibly sensing her approaching steps. Noeul was undaunted and kept inching herself closer until she was just one step behind the woman. She contemplated, whether to confront Heechul and ask him why he refused to acknowledge when she called his name, and why he kept this as a secret from her. Had she been such a bad friend, for him to feel like he couldn't trust her and his absurd new job from her? Had she ever been unsupportive on him or say any degrading hurtful words? Did she ever say that she would look down on him if he dressed as a woman in skimpy clothing and dance ily on stage to find money to continue living? Had she? She couldn't remember if she ever had said or done any of those things? So, why? And it hurt her to see how he was this embarrassed of facing her when Kwanghee seemed to know all about it. Why? The question kept hitting her head endlessly without an answer to end it all.   "Do you bring any food, Heechul? There's...a guy outside who passed out because he hadn't eaten anything it seemed. And you know this club doesn't serve food after ten..." She tried to sound casual, and like she didn't care. Because she couldn't think of other ways to make him feel less horrible. Even though she felt badly hurt to see him in such a state, treating her like a stranger when she thought they're friends who would share all the joys and woes in their little pathetic life. She tried to understand. Because not everyone could survive being in Heechul situation. His life is different than anyone she knew, so she tried to understand.   Slowly, he handed a plastic container to her from inside his backpack.   "Thanks Heechul. I know I can count on you." She stopped, wondering if that was enough to make him feel better, and added, "Yah, don't forget, you still need to cook this for me. Come on, Kwanghee, your help is needed in case that guy is still unconscious or can't walk, you'll have to carry him to the hospital."   "What?! Me?!"    "Yeah. Come on." She dragged his arm out of the room, leaving Heechul alone, sighing at the rude awakening that she wasn't the least bothered about his sudden change in appearance that he kept away from her knowledge. That could only mean she didn't care, and he's just a nobody to her. At least, that's what it looks to him.   "Of course it doesn't matter."     ---     It was late night. There were less nurses on duty, and the lights inside the wards have been turned off. But a certain young girl roamed at the main lobby that was one of the few places i