[13]

Kyuhyun was busy cleaning is room when he heard a knock at his door. He put down the wet rag in his hand and went to opened it. He was greet by a smiling Ryeowook, “May I come in?”

He smiled and stepped aside, “sure, come in.” He shut the door after Ryeowook stepped in. “Take a seat. Do you want anything to drink?”

Ryeowook shook his head and he studied Kyuhyun’s apartment and settled on sitting on the chair in front of Kyuhyun’s computer, “I wouldn’t be long.”

“What is it?” he dragged a chair from his kitchen and sat across from Ryeowook.

Ryeowook smiled, “Remember that game you gave to Amber to try out?”

He nodded, “What about it?”

“Well gave she it to me try it out, but I wasn’t a gamer so I gave it to my friend. He loves this kind of stuff,” Ryeowook pulled his bag up to his lap and pulled out a brown envelop. “Well it happened that this friend is a game developer and they want to work with you. Here’s a contract. Have a look at it and you can contact the number on the card inside.”

He stared, wide eyes at Ryeowook, but took the contract anyway, “This is real? I’m not dreaming?”

Ryeowook shook his head and chuckled, “No, you want me to punch you to test it out?” He nodded and Ryeowook complied.

“Ouch! That hurts!”

“You asked for it,” Ryeowook shrugged and stood up from his seat and headed toward the door. “I think it’s a great opportunity for you. You’re future is in your hand now. It’s up to you to do what you will do with it. Good luck with everything.”

[*][*][*]

She rung the doorbell and a smiling face answered the door, “What are you doing here, Amber?”

“Can I come in?” she asked.

He quickly looked back into his apartment, “Err ... it’s a little messy right now.”

“That’s okay. I’m just here to see how you are doing,” she smiled. “So are you going to let me stand here in the hallway like this?”

Jonghyun laughed and stepped aside for her to enter his apartment, “come in. Do you want tea?” She nodded, as she took a seat at the kitchen table.

He took the seat opposite her and placed a cup of warm tea in front of her, “I’m fine see!” He waved his injured hand around.

“Really, you’re so reckless,” she chuckled. “But it’s good to see that you’re doing better.”

He looked down at the cup in his hands, “Amber, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“I really mean what I said in the ambulance,” he nervously clenched his hands around his tea cup. “I will stay by your side. Will date me?”

Amber felt her face redden. She wasn’t sure whether it was because he saved her life or because she felt something for him, but that was the word that escaped “... yes” He jumped up from his seat at her answered and ran over to embraced her. All she could do was smiled. However, she felt something deep down inside, something that wasn’t quite right. Was this the right choice?

[*][*][*]

“Cheers” the five glasses clashed together, as the five of them shout out the word.

“Congratulation on getting your game contract, Kyuhyun,” Seohyun said.

Jonghyun got up from his seat, his face redden as he stared at Amber and then the rest of the group, “I have some announcement to make too.” Amber looked at him in alarmed. Her faced redden, but Jonghyun continued. “Amber has agreed to date me.” He grinned from ear to ear, like a child that had gotten the best gift of his life.

Amber glanced over at Kyuhyun, who was sitting right next to her. He was smiling weakly and somehow the fun atmosphere turned awkward.

Ryeowook raised his glass, “Congratulation you two.” The rest of the group followed, but she felt that the congratulation that she received from Kyuhyun wasn’t sincere.

She decided that she would excuse herself, “I need to use the washroom. I’ll be right back.”

“I’m coming too,” Seohyun wrapped her arms around Amber’s arm.

[*][*][*]

He watched as Seohyun dragged Amber off toward the washroom. He was happy for the two of them. However, he felt torn inside. It was a revelation, he was jealous because he likes Amber.

Ryeowook had gotten up from the table and went over get more drinks from the bar. Kyuhyun decided that this was the timed to talk to Jonghyun, “Please take care of Amber.” Jonghyun looked up at him curiously. “I kind of feel weird by asking you this but...”

Before he could continue Jonghyun bowed at him, “I will take good care of Amber. I’m actually touched that you ask me to take care of her.” He couldn’t understand why Jonghyun was touched. He expected him to be mad. Technically he overstepped his boundaries as a friend.

[*][*][*]

The party was over and everyone went their own way. Jonghyun insisted on take Amber home, but she told him that she would be fine. She told him that Kyuhyun lives closed to her and that she will go home with him. There was no need for him to go out of his way for her. With a lot of persuasion he agreed.

He had kept his distant as they walked home together. Amber turned around and looked at him, “Why are you walking so far away from me? Walk closer.”

“I’m just afraid that Jonghyun would be mad at me if I walk close to you,” he nervously rubbed the back of his head.

She laughed at him, “What are you talking about? It’s fine.”

He moved closer to her and she smiled that beautiful smile of hers at him. He felt prang of pain in his chest, “I’m sorry that I didn’t help you the other day.”

“That’s okay.”

“Are you still going back to the team? I sure you’re afraid to face him by yourself. Do you want me to go with you?”

She stopped and looked down at her foot, “You know me too well. I’m afraid to face him. I don’t know what he will do to me, but I must try to figure this mess out on my own.”

He couldn’t help but smiled, “I don’t really know you all that well, but I think everything will turns out fine.”

“Thank you,” she smiled.

“You know there’s a glow about you now,” he couldn’t help but noticed it. “Is it because of love and being with Jonghyun?”

“Hmm ... properly,” she started to walk again. It was a good thing that she didn’t turn around to look at him, because he didn’t want her to see the pained expression he currently had.

He bit down on his bottom lip, “Amber!”

“What?” she turned back toward him.

“I just wanted to see if you would look back.”

She shook her head and smiled, “I will always look back when you calls.” Her face reddens after she said that. “I just said something weird, didn’t I?” She turned and quickens her paced. He was extremely happy with what she just said and quickly followed her.

[*][*][*]

She can’t face Kikwang after what had happened. There are not ties between them, but to get away from him she has to quit her team. She had to face the problem herself. She had called the coaches and told them that due to personal reason she can no longer work with Kikwang.

They told her that if she doesn’t work with Kikwang it would mean that she can no longer be on the team. She told them that she understood. That was the end of her basketball career. Aimlessly she walked around, trying hard to stop the tears that threaten to fall.

She wasn’t sure that urged her to pull out her phone and called him. “Hello.”

“Amber? What is it?” he answered.

His voice was like the key to the flood gate and as soon as she heard it the flood gate opened up. Her tears wouldn’t stopped, “my career ... it’s done. Over ...”

“Where are you right now?” he inquired with worried in his voice.

She looked around and noticed that her legs had led her to the bank of the Han River, “... Han River”

“Stay there, don’t move!” Amber was about to asked him why, but he had already hung up the phone on her. Her eyebrows tied together into a quizzical knot. She put the phone back into her back pocket and walked over to sit on a bench that faced the river.

When he arrived he was patting heavily. It was like he had run all the way from work to where she was, “Are you okay, Kyuhyun? Don’t you have to work today?” He shook his head. He sat down next to her on the bench. He tried hard to catch his breath. “Do you want some water? I’ll go and get some.”

She stood up to leave, but he held on to her wrist, “we ... can ... head ... to the ... convenient store ... together.” He breathlessly said.

“Are you sure?” He nodded and got up from the bench. “Okay then. You really don’t have to work today?”

“I did, but I decided to skip,” he winked at her.

“Why?”

“You ... you were crying. Plus, I was going to quit that job anyway, now that I have the new job that Ryeowook helped me with.” He smiled at her.

She felt the heat in her face and turned away from before he could see her flushed, but as she turned she realized that he was still holding her wrist, “Kyuhyun.”

He tilted his head to the side, “Hmm?”

“Can I have my wrist back?”

 He looked down at their hands and quickly let go, “Sorry.”

She couldn’t help but laughed. The atmosphere felt lighter when she was with him. Somehow she didn’t feel like her whole entire life had just come crashing down. He took her to some arcade and beat her at every game that was there, well apart for the basketball shooting one. She totally forgotten what happened earlier that day.