5

Nana

            This whole Goddess thing had its perks – boys who fell for my beauty (in some cases it was taken literally), acknowledgement (one thing I’d never had before as Im Jin-Ah), and easy access to trendy clothes a.k.a. Jiyeon’s wardrobe. But don’t get me wrong; keeping myself pretty 24/7 seven days a week is serious work! Harder than algebra! Also there’s this thing to behaving like a YG Goddess, eating like a YG Goddess, socialising like a YG Goddess, and even breathing like a YG Goddess. Stupid, I know. But I guess it’s the price you pay for being forever beautiful.

            These contacts to top it off were seriously killing me! They caused my eyes to be itchy probably because they weren’t accustomed to such a thing. Every time I raised my hand to rub it, Seohyun would always be there to slap it away constantly repeating ‘a YG Goddess does not rub her eyes!’. It was unbelievable! There was a rule to every little thing I could possibly imagine; for instance if I so much as raise a pinkie, she’d be giving be the most frightening stare-down. It was then that I realised being a YG Goddess was not an easy thing to be.

            “Nana-ya!” A familiar voice called from behind. I turned to see and noted it was none other than the infamous playboy Seung-Ri “You’re practising your routine by yourself?”

            “What’s it to you?” I looked away and continued stretching down; observing him from the mirror’s reflection.

            “Whoa calm down! I was just curious is all” I ignored him and didn’t say a word. I could tell he was busting to ask me something, but I felt a little teasing might be in order “Nana-ya talk to me! Why won’t you talk to me?” There was nothing but silence “Okay fine don’t talk to me” He turned facing the opposite direction with his arms folded, impatiently tapping his foot while awaiting my reply. However instead of giving a reply I quietly sneaked to grab my bag and headed out of the dance studio. After a few seconds he turned back around and noticed my departure, causing him to run out and catch up to me in the hallways. As he caught up to where I was, he blocked my path standing in front of me “Okay, seriously Nana. I just want to ask you one thing, please?! Just one question!” He pleaded.

            “What?” I was now curious to know.

            “I just … I just wanted to know why … why you don’t … umm …”

            “Like you?”

            “Well … yeah? Pretty much”

            “It’s because you’re a total !” Seung-Ri was astonished by my choice of words “At first, I thought you were cute – really cute, I seriously would’ve done anything for you. I even thought about us as a couple. But it wasn’t too long until I saw the real you – a big-headed, self-centred, narcissistic, arrogant womaniser who completely obsesses over external beauty, to the point where you classify ‘uglies’ as a totally different race of people!” The room fell silent.

            “I didn-”

            “Not long ago I was one of them Seung-Ri! A week and a half ago you never so much as tried to pay attention to me! In fact instead you tried to avoid me! But I guess now that I’ve slapped myself on some lip gloss and dyed my hair blonde I guess I’m good enough for you now?” I stepped forward a bit leaning my face closer to his so he could clearly get what I was trying to get across “You aren’t something a woman like me dreams of now. In fact, you are what we try to escape from” I instilled fretfulness into his eyes “Don’t bother asking me to date you Seung-Ri. You can try, but your chances are indeed very slim” I gestured a small space between my thumb and index finger; soon after a while I continued my walk down the hallway and out the exit leaving behind a horribly-rejected Seung-Ri still standing in the same position.

 

…

 

Taecyeon

            After lunch, it was time for drama class with Miss Gyuri. Before when I was still with Yoona, we usually sat here in the back with her head lying on my shoulder. Instead this time it was Suzy; everyone knew about us now and so we came out in the open as a couple (not by choice of course).

Yoona was up near the front with Seohyun and Yong-Hwa; things have been seriously awkward between us since a week ago. Whenever we walked past each other in the hallways at school or in the dorms, I’d try and say hi but she would look straight ahead as though I was just a space of air.

Every class we had together whether it was vocals, dance and even drama, the teachers allowed Yoona to switch partners with anyone but me! In dance, Miss Kahi allowed her to be paired up with Daesung, and in drama she teamed up with that recently new student from JYP High across town – Jay Park.

“Yoona and Jay” Miss Gyuri called them out to the front “Please, demonstrate what you have put together for this week’s assignment” This week’s assignment was to be done in pairs and the theme was romance (which was ironic really, considering it was what Yoona and I fell out of). We were to act out an original love scene whether it revolved around tragedy like Romeo and Juliet, or a basic confession.

They set up a table in the middle of the stage along with two sets of coffee cups on saucers, soon after they seated themselves then began. They got off to a fairly decent start; from what I perceived they were in a coffee shop – Yoona was jealous because Jay had been seen talking with another girl, hence her silent treatment towards him. However they weren’t dating according to the storyline.

“She’s my lab partner! How else am I supposed to get those chemistry results?” Jay exclaimed.

“Oh and I guess you giggle when discussing chemistry results? Like what the hell is funny about hydrogen? Other than blowing her up with it?” She murmured that last bit.

“Wait a minute, are you jealous?”

“Humph! Don’t be ridiculous” Yoona scoffed.

“You are! Aren’t you?! This is more than her being my new lab partner and not you anymore! You’re jealous!”

“No I’m not!”

“Yes you are! How long has your attraction towards me been going on for?” Jay grinned. Yoona stood up and grabbed her bag almost leaving him behind, until he clutched onto her wrist preventing her from departure.

As her ex, I’d seen very clearly she had gotten so much better at acting – whenever we were together she was never focused when it came to our drama performances. But since now, she has been behaving more of a woman than a little girl – her maturity had skyrocketed at this point. Our breakup really did her some good, which was awesome for her and me too. I got to be with the woman I loved and Yoona is now grown I guess. I’m happy! She’s happy! Therefore I guess there’s no need to feel heart ache anymore.

But still, I felt something deep down within me; I couldn’t help but think of Yoona as my girlfriend still. Snap out of it Taecyeon! There’s no way you could be still in love with Yoona. Suzy’s your girl now and what’s done is done! Don’t go chasing the past.

“Ya! Let me go Jay!”

“Not until you confess!”

“Alright, I confess that I have never liked you at some stage or another. You’re still just gum beneath my shoes”

“Am I a sweet piece of gum?” Yoona struggled to escape from his strong grasp, until he pulled her neck in and gave her the most passionate, most intimate kiss I have ever seen. His hand brushed down along her hair, reaching to grab a hold of her hand. But as I watched, Yoona did not look one bit uncomfortable – both of their eyes were closed and countless moments went by when they were still kissing. I don’t know why, but I instantly stood up and was about to shout out ‘Stop it!’ to the both of them. However just before I could, Miss Gyuri raised her hand signalling them to stop.

“Alright you two lovebirds you can stop now, that was good” She ceased their performance.

“Taecyeon-ah, kwaen chana?” Suzy asked.

“Huh? Oh yeah, I’m alright” I sat back down silently. There’s no way I’m still in love with Yoona. I thought. But then I contemplated even further, deep down and kept going over the figures in my head. And it was at that moment I realised, I was jealous – jealous that Yoona was able to kiss some other guy who she had known only for a few days, the way we used to kiss. I sighed and admitted it to myself, I’m still in love Yoona.

 

…

 

Jiyeon

            JB and I once again found ourselves practising our routine in the dance studio. We’ve both been working really hard and I’m actually kind of glad we’re getting along. Ever since Woo-Young happened, it has been getting easier to talk to one another, and as it turns out we’re really not that different.

            “You want to go again?” He reached out his hand.

            “Sure” I took it then stood back up. JB was more of a hip-hop dancer himself, but for some reason he wanted to try something different – for the routine he wanted the both of us to perform a contemporary dance. I didn’t ask why, I just agreed.

            We danced the most complex movements; at first it was hard but with his guidance it became a lot easier. I’d never seen him dance this style before; considering he’s renowned more for his hip-hop panache. But I felt tranquil as I danced with him, a few of our routine’s moves created intimacy and skinship between the two of us – he held my hips from behind as the sides of our faces touched for a brief second, then I felt his lips lightly caressing my neck downwards then out along my arm.

He twirled me out and right on time did he grab a hold of my hand spinning me back within his grasp, and ultimately I was dipped as JB supported my upper body with one arm.

The music stopped and at this stage we were both puffing; my arm was still wrapped around his neck as we were still in our dipped position. I felt kind of weird as I looked into JB’s eyes; I was involuntarily getting butterflies in my stomach, my heart was racing fast and I didn’t really want us to disperse from this position. Soon, we both heard a sudden, but slow-paced clap at the dance studio’s door – it was Woo-Young.

“Great dance!” Woo-Young chortled “Really I thought it was great! Especially the way you dipped her in the end; that was spot-on. It just reminds me of our times in bed huh Jiyeon?” JB felt provoked and was about to move up and hit him, up until I halted him.

“What are you doing here?” I asked irately.

“There’s that new horror movie with Lee Byung-Hyun in it, and long story short I have an extra ticket” He held two of them in one hand “I want to take you out on a date Jiyeon”

“Thanks but no thanks. I’ve already got plans that day”

“I didn’t even tell you when this date’s going to take place”

“Fine, I didn’t want to hit you with it but I’m already going to see that movie with someone else”

“Oh really? Who?”

“Well … He’s, umm … He’s …”

“He’s me” JB interrupted, stepping forward then holding my hand “I’m taking her to see that movie” Woo-Young sniggered.

“You? Come on Jiyeon, this guy’s a joke. Why don’t you go out with a real man like me?”

“Real men don’t carry one and a half inches of length in their pants” I teased. JB giggled silently while Woo-Young scoffed dejectedly.

“I’m going to be seeing you real soon” He pointed to JB hostilely “And Jiyeon,” He turned to my direction “you’re still mine. I don’t care what this guy says, you know deep down you and I are meant to be. I will make you love me back, whether you see it yourself, or I make you” He turned back around to exit the dance studio, leaving the atmosphere humourless and uncomfortable.

“Jiyeon-ah” JB turned to face me “Promise me you’ll stay by my side”

“JB what are you-“

“Promise me you’ll stay by me! I won’t let you of my sight you understand me? Not while that guy is out threatening your safety” I nodded seriously.

Somehow our relationship had developed from ‘sworn-enemies’ to JB being my protector. In his hands I felt safe, even from the likes of someone resembling Woo-Young’s fearsome traits. I couldn’t help but look at him differently now – he hasn’t managed to change in shape or size or colour, but one thing I did know was that my heart beat at a different rhythm when I was around him.