Yuri’s POV

The last experiment would be performed tonight and I knew I wouldn’t have an excuse to see Jessica anymore. I wholeheartedly dedicated myself to do seventy five percent of Amber’s jobs not because of the salary but to be with my princess and maybe make her fall for me. But no matter how much time I spent with her in the lab, no matter how many words we spoke between us already, no matter how much effort I exerted to reach out to her, I just always find myself at the start; 0% progress. For Jessica-shi, I’m just a mere substitute thesis assistant but for me, she’s the love of my life. And I didn’t know how to turn this one-sided love into something mutual anymore. I just used to count 1, 2, 3 to pick a girl up but with Jessica, I might have to count to positive infinity.

Amber knew already what I feel and she tried to set me up with Her Royal Highness even more when she refused going back to work. I knew how disappointed Jessica was since she treated me like she didn’t want my assistance in the lab, making my heart suffer even more. Tonight, all the physical, mental and emotional hardships would come to an end. It might be the end for me and Jessica too.

Give up, find a new girl, and move on. Just do it like that, Kwon Yuri.

We met again for the last time; she greeted me with her casual ice cold smile and just started to work as usual. The experiment was estimated to finish in an hour but I purposely worked slowly and took me two hours to finish it. Jessica didn’t seem to notice since she didn’t complain and the next thing I knew, we were about to leave the lab. Do we really have to end it this way, Jessica-shi? Why does everything have to be so fast? *sigh*

“Yuri-shi,” I got frozen the moment she mentioned my name as we walked our way out of the Chem Institute building. “Thank you for everything,” she told me in a sincere tone as her cold gaze met mine. I could really see deep gratitude coming from her eyes that it made me want to cry.

“You’re always welcome, Jessica-shi,” I just replied with a faint smile and turned away to avoid her eyes. It’s always a pleasure to help you, Your Highness. I felt tears starting to form in my eyes that I just walked ahead of Jessica. But I froze once again when I felt her icy hand on my arm this time.

She pulled out a white envelope from her shoulder bag and handed it to my trembling hands. “I know it’s not that much but I’m really thankful for your help all this time, Kwon Yuri-shi.”

“I-It’s n-nothing, really. I-I’m glad I w-was able to h-help,” I replied, stuttering as she looked at me with those ice cold eyes that I feared the most. Then she smiled. For the first time, Jessica-shi smiled at me! Gaaawd. Is this a dream? Please don’t wake me up if it is! Her aura seemed to be cold but she got this warm smile that could melt hearts. And there goes my heart, free-flowing like a liquid after that smile melted it.

“You were supposed to work for me just for three days but it ended up as three weeks. Your stupid roommate left all the work for you,” she said with a grin. Omo! She just laughed! My heart fluttered like crazy already when she laughed, how much more when she kissed me? But you kissed already and almost ended up in bed when you two were drunk! But I couldn’t help but imagine what I would feel to be kissed by her for real in a sober state of mind of course.

“Yuri-shi, are you okay?” she asked me, making me snap out of my crazy thoughts about her.

“Uh, yeah. Uhmm. Just hungry,” I lied. But of course I was hungry; I didn’t eat anything since lunch. Then this silly ‘Ask her out for dinner’ idea popped up inside my mind. Just ask her, Kwon Yuri. This is your last night together. Fighting!

“You should eat then. You look so pale,” she replied as we went back walking, almost out of the campus gate this time.

Spit it out, Yul! Ask her! C’mon!

“J-J-Jessica-shi.” Just by calling her name, I was stuttering already.

“Yes?” She turned her beautiful face to see me and I felt a lump on my throat as her eyes set on me.

It’s now or never, Kwon Yuri. You’ve got to do this.

I let out a deep sigh before asking her. “Uhmm. I-I w-was just wondering if uhmm we can eat dinner...t-together.” Finally, the words came out from my lips even in the most stupid way. Now I just had to prepare my heart for being rejected big time.

“Oh, sure. I was thinking to ask you too but you asked me first,” she said, curving a smile on her beautiful angelic face.

“Huh? Are you serious?” She thought of asking me too? Gaaaawd. Does it mean that she’s thinking about me too? Yay! A smile automatically drew upon my face at the thought.

“Do I look like I’m joking, Kwon Yuri-shi?!” she glared at me, creeping the hell out of me.

“N-No!” I denied immediately. Oh my. Her Royal Highness is so scary. “Uhmm. There’s this restobar called Tresto downtown. The food is great and they play cool music.” Oh yeah, the relaxing ambiance there is perfect for my stressed ice princess.

“Okay, let’s go there.”

September 20, 2013. I asked my love Jessica Jung to eat dinner with me and she said yes. If this is all just a dream, then just wake me up when September ends.

Jessica’s POV

My thesis was almost done, thanks to Kwon Yuri who made it all possible. That Amber Liu who messed my heart, almost messed my studies too but thanks to her kind-hearted and patient roommate, I could defend my thesis next week and graduate on time.

As for Amber, that dork, I still love her. But she didn’t seem to be the same Amber as before when she got into that accident. Yes, we occasionally see each other in campus but it’s just not the same anymore. She felt so awkward and my heart bled even more because of that. And Krystal, she seemed so happy yesterday when she got home. I didn’t bother asking anymore since the answer was obvious. She had a ring, she had a necklace, and maybe they’re back together. *sigh*

Kwon Yuri didn’t seem to look as smart as Amber but I admit; she never failed to impress me when she managed to pull off even the most complicated experiment. During the times when my heartbreak wounds were still fresh, Yuri was there to comfort me. She even did most of the lab work on her own when I was feeling weak because of Amber’s comatose condition. I’d like to give credit to those things she had done and befriend her. Not only because she knew a lot about Amber but also because she cared about me. Does she really care? Or am I just imagining things?

She took me out for dinner on Tresto which was fully packed of people, mostly lovers because of the place’s refreshing ambiance. I admit I liked Yuri-shi’s choice of place.

“Jessica-shi, try this.” It was Kwon Yuri herself who pulled me off from my lonely thoughts. She put slices of grilled squids on my plate and was smiling at me like an idiot.

“Thanks,” I simply replied with a smile and ate a piece of squid. “Woah. It tastes good!” The food there was really delicious and I enjoyed eating them with Yuri. My substitute assistant was really fun to be with, I never got bored talking to her about random stuffs and I found out a lot of things about her. Even just for a while, she made me forget about Amber. But it was Yuri too who mentioned Amber’s name.

“I think you should let Amber go,” she told me without meeting my eyes. What she told me did piss me off but I was too stressed out to be angry at the moment.

And what’s with that concerned look, Kwon Yuri-shi? Uh. Jessica Jung, you’re hallucinating again.

“Uhmm, and Jessica-shi. You’re beautiful, smart, thoughtful, and though you really are scary sometimes, I know someday you will find the right person,” she told me shyly. Yuri did quite look funny when she’s shy; I never thought that she had this side of hers. Haha! But seriously, I felt better when she praised me. Wait, am I just blushing?!

“I hope I find that person soon, Yuri-shi. I just can’t stand the pain anymore,” I answered with a faint smile. “How about you, Kwon Yuri-shi? Do you like someone right now?”

My question seemed to surprise Yuri so much that she choked and coughed badly. “Oh, I see you’re guilty. Haha! How about you introduce her to me next time?” I couldn’t help but laugh at Yuri’s face which suddenly turned into a tomato.

“Uhmm I-I’m i-in love with s-someone,” Yuri, still red-faced, stuttered like a child. “B-but that person loves s-someone else already,” she told me in a serious tone full of despair.

“Aw. I guess we’re on the same shoes, Yuri-shi,” I sighed and told her. We just smiled meaningfully at each other until our attention was caught when someone spoke on the microphone in front.

“The band will be performing its third set in ten minutes. For now, the stage is open to anyone who wanted to dedicate a song to his or her special someone,” a guy in black suit who seemed to be the bar manager announced in front. “Enjoy the night, everyone! Couples, stay in love! Singles, get drunk and hook up!”

“Aw, does he really have to shove in my face that I’m single?” Yuri said in a funny childish tone with pouted lips. Aigoo. How cute.

“Yah, you’re not the only single person here!” I told her then laughed heartily. This idiot Kwon Yuri was really making me laugh all night. “Hey, don’t you want to sing?” I asked her. I wonder how her singing voice will sound like.

“Hell no! I can dance, yeah, but I can’t sing you know,” she replied.

“C’mon. Maybe someone will hear your precious voice and hook up with you tonight,” I kidded.

“Nah. I don’t mind being single, just don’t make me sing in front of those people,” she strongly disagreed no matter how much I forced her. “Why don’t you sing then, maybe Amber will hear you and have a change of heart.”

Because of Amber, my heart was going through such pain that no one can ever imagine. But I would love to sing one song for that llama right now; a song that would pour all my feelings for her to ease the pain I was feeling inside.

“Kwon Yuri-shi, please dial Amber’s number and let her hear this for the first and last time.”

And I walked up the stage.

Yuri’s POV

A bitter smile just curved upon my face when Jessica-shi stood up and walked towards the stage. I couldn’t believe that she would take what I said seriously. She really did go up in front of the microphone to sing for Amber. Remembering what she told me, I, the mighty martyr Kwon Yuri, dialled Amber’s number to make her hear my Jessica sing.

“Yeah, Kwon Yuri?” Amber picked up from the other line.

“Amber, don’t hang up, okay? Just listen to this,” I told her and let her hear Jessica.

(Click this link for Jessie's song for Amber.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHRFDGpcul4

Jessica-shi sang an English song that I didn’t understand anything except for the word ‘love’.  She had this golden voice that gave me goosebumps and every word she uttered pierced through my heart. I felt the song through her voice; I could feel her pain, her longing for someone, her hopefulness of finding someone better than Amber. I cried at the same time as Jessica’s tears started to roll down her eyes. That feeling, I knew very well how she felt.

I just wanted to hug her the moment the song ended so I stood up as well as the others clapped their hands.  But I was frozen on where I was when a familiar figure joined the standing ovation of the audience and left a mobile phone on our table.

Call 1 Kwon Yuri

She heard you, Jessica-shi. *sigh*

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Author's Note: Happy birthday to our dear Soojungie! I'm gonna celebrate her birthday with my friends tonight. Be sure to greet her too, okay? :))

PS: Authorshi is sorry for this sad chapter. :(

PPS: The original singer of the song sung by Jessie is a Filipino like authorshi. :D