March 23, 2013

Saeng il chuk ha ham ni da

Saeng il chuk ha ham ni da

HyunJoong began and other voices followed singing happy birthday.  Ilana was startled and stepped back bumping into YoungSaeng, who was also singing.  He gave her a gentle push into the center of the room where everyone was coming out of hiding.

Sa rang ha nuen Ilana

Seng il chook ha hamni da!!

 - "Surprise!"  Everyone shouted when they were done.  HyungJun came at her wheeling a cake with sparkler like candles.  Ilana had still been slightly confused up to this point.

 - "Make a wish, Princess."

 - "I don't know what to wish for!  I have everything and you guys just gave me more!”

 - "Pali, before the cake melts!"  HyunJoong shouted at her from the TV screen.

-  "Hana, Dul, Set!"   Everyone shouted and she blew out the candles, wishing for the only thing she could:  To always be as happy as she was at this moment.

While tears streamed down her face, everyone clapped and HyungJun rushed over to hug her.  He was soon elbowed out of the way by his Hyeong’s, YoungSaeng and KyuJong, followed by an overly excited Suzy and JungMin.

 - "Na can't hug Ilana-ssi,” HyunJoong said.  "Hajiman, Na give you my sincerest wishes for the happiest birthday."

 - "Kansamnida!  Kansamnida!" Ilana was shaking her head in disbelief.  "How?"  Was all she could say?  "Am I dreaming?"

 - "Ani."  HyungJun pinched her to make sure.

 - "Ow!"  She laughed and so did everyone else.

 - "Guys!  Na will be leaving first, Na have schedules today.  Na will see you all next time.  Na haven't forgotten that Na owe Ilana-ssi dinner when you come to Seoul."

 - "I don't know when that will be, but okay."

 - "Annyeong!"  Everyone said goodbye to HyunJoong.

 - "Mokda!  Let's eat!!" Suzy called the party to order.  They had several different Korean sides that their Umma's always sent and made fish stew as well.  The kitchen Ajummas always gave the guy’s free reign of the kitchen because of their impeccable manners; their sweet smiles also helped.

 - "This is wonderful!"  Ilana was stuffing with rice and kimchi.  “I still want to know how you knew it was my birthday."

 - "Yah!" Suzy hollered.  "How did Unnie even think about hiding it?"

 - "Cinderella forgets, Na have seen your passport several times; last time being a few days ago."  YoungSaeng reminded her.

 - "You guys are too much!  I can never repay you for everything you've done."

 - "Paboya!  Wae would Ilana-ssi have to repay us,” KyuJong scoffed.  Ilana's eyes were tearing again and Suzy and HyungJun were following suit."

 - “Why do you have to cry?  We're having a good time, maja?” JungMin rolled his eyes at the three criers.

 -"Yah!"  Ilana and Suzy shouted, earning laughs from the other guys.

 - "Besides, I never cried before I met you guys."  Ilana defended herself.

After they thought for sure they couldn't eat another bite (not that there was much left anyway).  Suzy announced:

 - “We still need to have cake and Ilana has to open her gifts”  Normally, in their culture, they didn't open gifts in front of guests but living on the ship for the last few years, they'd become accustomed to the excitement of seeing the gifts opened.

Next to the cake was large object covered in the same cloth that decorated the room.  "Guys, you're spoiling me!  I'm not going to want to leave the ship."

 - "That's the point!"  YoungSaeng shouted.

Ilana carefully undraped the object.  She was stunned to see a beautifully decorated basket with all the things that had been purchased in Victoria and also a magenta colored Sari scarf and a short sleeved lamb’s wool cardigan purchased in Mauritius.

 - "I love it...everything."  Ilana was overwhelmed by the care and detail that her friends put into the gift; right down to the lovely jewelry box.  She began to cry, again.

 - "Princess, will you stop making me cry!  Let’s cut the cake."

 - "Arasso, mianhaeyo, Oppa.  I'll stop,” She started to cut into the chocolate cake, her favorite.  She had cut several large pieces and wiped the knife clean with her finger.  "Delicious!  Did you guys know chocolate is my favorite?"

 - "You may thank me, I figured that one out.  You always get chocolate for dessert."  JungMin said giving a slight bow.

 - "JungMin-ah, kansamnida; it's delicious."

They ate their cake with coffee that JungMin had made; joking and laughing the entire time.

 - "It's game time!"  HyungJun announced.  They all worked together in tidying up the food table and replacing the lids back on the food containers.  Everything else was disposable and thrown away.  With the table cleared they introduced Ilana to a Korean card game.

 - "We usually play for money," KyuJong explained.  “But since it's Ilana's first time playing and your birthday, we'll just play for bragging rights.”  The card game easily entertained them for hours until Suzy won the bragging rights.

Now reaching midnight, the evening had gone by quickly.  They all made quick work of cleaning the lounge, removing the decorations, and restoring it to its previous order.

 - "Kajayo, Unnie, we'll help you take your things to your room.”

 - "Gomawoyo, Saengie Oppa," Ilana turned to give YoungSaeng a hug.  His room was next to the lounge; therefore, he would not be one of her escorts.

 - "Ka, Cinderella, before your coach turns into a pumpkin."

 - "Too late, Oppa, the horses have turned into mice."

This earned giggles from Suzy, earning a "Mwoh?" from the others.  They helped Ilana take all her gifts and set them on the table in her room.

 - "Kansamnida!"  Ilana hugged them all good night.  They had gone out of their way to make her day special.  She didn't have the words to express her gratitude.  She hoped 'Kansamnida' would do.

 - "I'll pick you up at 9 for our walk," KyuJong told her.

 - "Oppa is kidding, maja?"

 - "Ilana-ssi is the one that wanted to build up her strength."

 - "Arasseo," She sighed.

April 2, 2013

 - "Please be careful tomorrow?"  Suzy admonished the guys; all she needed was someone to come back with a mauled limb from a hungry lion.The next week and a half passed in much the same fashion.  KyuJong picked Ilana up every morning for a walk and later in the day she would spend time helping Suzy enter records into the computer.  This was actually an excuse to get together and scheme for JungMin's birthday.  Occasionally KyuJong would overhear their scheme but was sworn to secrecy on point of death.  For some reason, he had no trouble believing Suzy would kill him if he revealed her plans.

 - "Wae?"  HyungJun asked.  "Does Suzy think we're going to get eaten or something?"  His answer was a raised eyebrow from Suzy.  Even Ilana knew the answer to that question.

 - "Jagiya, Na promise we'll come back with all our limbs intact."

 - "No drinking until after you get back into town."

 - "Deh, Ajumma," YoungSaeng teased Suzy.

 - "Yah!  If you guys come back with even just a scratch.  You're dead."

 - "Deh, Ajumma!"  All four guys saluted Suzy.

The guys had left in the late afternoon on a short flight to the Sabi Sabi game reserve, where they would be staying at a lodge.  Upon their arrival at the lodge, they ate dinner with those that had come back from the evening safari.  Afterward, they enjoyed the spa and relaxed before sleeping.

 - "Who's going to make sure the birthday boy wakes up tomorrow?"  HyungJun asked.

 - "That's Macknae's job," YoungSaeng told him.

 - "Andwae!  I'm tired of getting punched."  JungMin was the worst of all of them to wake up and HyungJun was usually the first up.  He woke everyone else up by default.

 - "Let’s play rock, paper, scissors," KyuJong was always their problem solver.

 - “Kai-Bai-Bo," all three had different hands.

 - “Kai-Bai-Bo," YoungSaeng won

 - "Kai-Bai-Bo," HyungJun won and KyuJong would have to wake JungMin in the morning.

 - "Naega giving you until five fifteen or I'm throwing you to the lions for breakfast.  Suzy-ssi will be a widow before she's married."  Laughter ensued from the other two guys and a glare from JungMin.

After only a minor battle trying to get the birthday boy out of bed, the guys dressed in their hiking clothes.  It was a chilly fall morning in South Africa but bolstered by hot tea and warm muffins, the guys happily boarded the vehicle.

While the sun rose, the reserve came alive with birds on the hunt and groups of animals coming out to drink and eat.  It was almost like a scene out of 'The Lion King'.

 - "I wonder where Rafiki is?"  HyungJun whispered to JungMin.

 - "Shh!"  JungMin shushed his Maknae; they had to speak quietly, per the rules, in order not to disturb the wildlife.

 - "Just saying..."  He whispered a little louder, earning him a smack from YoungSaeng.

The scenery was lined with animals of all sorts not minding the jeep as it rumbled along slowly.  This excursion had been worth every penny and one they had wanted to do for the last year; elephants walked only a few yards from the moving vehicle and a leopard could be seen scouting in a tree.

The guys returned to the lodge, for a hearty breakfast and to get ready for their bush walk, which promised even closer animal sightings.  They were rewarded by seeing a rhino drinking water and a lion lounging just a little too close to them for comfort.  On their way back to the lodge they tracked a giraffe.  When they had almost given up, the ranger stopped walking.  A short distance away, if you looked closely, you could see the giraffe camouflaged so perfectly against a tree.  If you blinked you would easily miss it.  Their walk had been a great success and HyungJun took hundreds of pictures.

After lunch, there was no time for a nap, needing to get their things ready for the early flight back to Cape Town.  Napping would be done on the plane.

MS Amsterdam:  Cape Town

Prior to opening the Doctor's office, Suzy and Ilana were scheming with the bartender on duty at the Crow's Nest.

 - "We can set your immediate party in that corner."  He pointed to a corner nook of a few couches and chairs.  "Right next to it is where you'll want the Karaoke set up and there is room for dancing too If we group the rest of these small tables closer.”

 - "I like it," Suzy pictured it in her mind.  "I want green, beige and white tablecloths.  We can decorate a little right?"

 - "As long as you take it with you at the end of the night."

Ilana was staring at the corner; her dormant creative side suddenly came alive.  "Are we allowed to hang a backdrop?"  She had seen the pictures of the room HyungJun had sent them and thought it would be fun to recreate the effect.

 - "Just in your corner; get maintenance to lend you the ladder."

 - "You'll have the tea candles out, right?"  Suzy asked.

 - "We should get some larger candles for our area," Ilana was already creating a picture in her mind.

 - "Good Idea, we can get those from the wedding department,” Suzy too, had tapped into her creative side.

 - "The staff can help some since it's for the boss.  Get all your decorations and we can start about five thirty."

 - "There's a craft store in Cape Town.  I'll go get some supplies.  Will you be alright in the office without me?"  Ilana was looking at her phone.

 - "I'll be fine, what about you?  Be careful."

 - "I'll be fine.  I'm on a research mission; my specialty.  Tonight’s party will be more frightening."  Ilana was able to withstand large crowds much more than she used to, only as long as one of her friends were with her.

That evening:

Ilana and Suzy arrived at the Crow’s Nest to decorate.  While in town Ilana purchased a ‘Cricut’ machine that cut paper into different shapes and had been busy all afternoon playing with her new toy.  They had also ignored the guy's numerous phone calls all afternoon.  They wanted them to think they'd forgotten about them.  Neither one would be in their room when they arrived.  They would be waiting for them at the Crow’s Nest.

By six thirty, they were done with decorations.  Ilana hung a mosquito net as a backdrop behind their table and around the posts.  She purchased some stones and bamboo twigs for decoration around the candles.  For the small tables, she had cut black paper to simulate animal stripes and spots.  The two surveyed their handiwork and thanked the bar staff for their help.

The guys arrived back at the ship, tired but happy.  They had a great time and would have stories to tell for a long time.  The only thing spoiling the birthday boy's mood was his girlfriend not picking up her phone; he thought for sure she would be there to greet him on his return.

 - "Suzy-ah?!  We're back, where are you?"  JungMin left the tenth message that afternoon on Suzy's phone.

 - "No luck?"  HyungJun asked.  "Princess isn't picking up either."  They had all tried calling and texting both girls all afternoon and not once did they pick up.  They were annoyed, angry and not a little worried.

 - "Let's drop off our things and check their rooms," JungMin said, getting just a bit irritated.

As they each got to their rooms there was a pink leopard print note on their door:

Invitation
For:  Mal's Birthday Bash
Where:  Crow's nest, back right corner
Time:  7pm
No RSVP required.  Your presence is mandatory.
 

The guys frantically started calling JungMin?

 - "Did you...?" Kyu Jong was the first to call.

 - "Yes, I received the invite."  He smiled, so this is what his girlfriend and her new bestie were up to.

 - "I'll text the others and we'll meet back at your room before we go."

Party Time

Party Time

It was 7 PM and everything was ready.  Suzy arranged for different appetizers to be brought every 15 minutes, the cake to be served at eight fifteen and Karaoke to start after that.  All that was left was for the guys to show up.  Just then, there seemed to be a commotion at the door; Ilana and Suzy looked at each other and laughed.  The guest of honor and his 'entourage' walked in line together, with a determined gait, like they owned the place.  It was like a scene from a drama or a red carpet event; greeting people as they went.  After all, the ship's head bartender was quite popular, not to mention he and his friends were very handsome.  They headed straight for the decorated back corner.

 - "Sangil chuka hamnida!"  Suzy greeted her boyfriend with a smile and kiss on the cheek.

 - "Happy Birthday, JungMin."  Ilana handed him a gift bag as he sat down, she rarely spoke to him in the polite Korean she was being taught and he always spoke to her in English or banmal (casual speech).

 - “Nice!”  JungMin took out a Fossil leather cuff watch with a blue face.  "Gomawo, you didn’t have to."

 - “I wanted to.  You’re kinda nice, so I figured why not?”  Ilana .

 - “Nice setup!"  HyungJun said, looking at all the decorations.  "Princess and Suzy put the pictures I sent to good use.”

 - "This is where nae jagiya has been hiding all afternoon?"

 - "Not all afternoon..."

 - "You guys couldn't answer your phone?  We were starting to get worried,” KyuJong asked the two girls.

 - "Mianhaeyo, Oppa, but what trouble could we possibly have gotten into?"  Ilana answered.

 - "Hah!"  They guys all answered.

 - "Waeyo/What?!"  Ilana and Suzy answered at once.  “Never mind us, let’s eat and enjoy your party."  The first round of drinks and food were brought out.

The guys recapped their trip with excitement, to a captive audience.  Occasional exclamations of 'chincha', 'cool', 'nice', and 'jeongmal' could be heard from those listening.

It was soon time for cake, presents, and Karaoke.  Suzy stood up from where she was seated, leaving a perplexed JungMin behind. She walked to the microphone, trying not to blush, she began to speak.

 - "I just wanted to wish Park JungMin a happy birthday.  Today is a happy day because you were born."  With that said she gave a nod to the KJ. Ilana gave her a 'fighting' sign as she had seen the others do several times.  They all looked at her funny and then back to Suzy wondering what was happening when the music began. "Born in the winter, this beautiful you..."  she began to sing very sweetly to JungMin.  "Clean like snow, you who belong to me..." The guys were over themselves cheering for Suzy.  The birthday boy was surprised at first, but then a shy smile appeared on his face and a suspicious glistening in his eye appeared.  He was very much touched by Suzy's voice.

 - "Kisseu, kisseu, kisseu!"  The entire bar chanted, led by YoungSaeng, KyuJong, and HyungJun.  JungMin happily obliged the crowd, making Suzy blush.

 - "Na have a gift for you, Na hope you like it."  She wanted to give him his gift in somewhat privacy, so the area behind the KJ's booth seemed the most private at the moment.  She waited patiently for him to unwrap the spoon bracelets.  "I need a spoon to eat and I need JungMin in nae life...," she exhaled, face now crimson.

- "Saranghae, jagiya.  Choah."  He took her bracelet and fastened it to her wrist and she did the same for him.  They spent a few more minutes holding hands and gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes and JungMin bent down to steal a few more kisses.

 - "Park JungMin, front and center," the KJ announced.

 - "Let's go back...," JungMin put his arm around Suzy. "...before the others send a search party."

They were greeted with applause and whistles.  The cake was brought out and everyone sang Happy Birthday.

The rest of the night was spent eating, drinking, and singing.  Ilana refused to sing no matter how much aegyo, pouting, or threats she received.  She gladly cheered them on, but they couldn't get her to budge.  "Sorry guys," she thought.  "I just can't join you."  She shook off the approach of a sad memory and smiled and clapped for her goofy friends.

Anyway, it’s the close of April 3rd and Ilana has 24 more days on the ship.  Will it be smooth sailing? 

Comments are very much appreciated, I usually reply.  If you like this story even just a bit, please subscribe and vote.

Something to think about out:  What will Kike's reaction be when he meets Oppa's? 

Please humor your author and use your imagination and substitute JungMin for Taecyeon.  It was either this video or a live performance with EunJung.  I think this one was better for the mood of the story.  Also, it's spring not winter, but the point is she's singing to JungMin and making him know how special he is to her