“Hey!” Hyoyeon poked at the lump, “how did I get here?”

“Can we please save the 20 questions for later? Seriously..” she was starting to sound annoyed.

“Mian.. just tell me and I’ll let you go back to sleep and I’ll even make you breakfast.”

“Pfft fine!”

The curled up ball slowly uncurled itself and got into a half sitting position, “I give you 3 minutes. Shoot!”

“So,” Hyoyeon sat up in front of her with legs crossed, “how’d I get here?”

“Hyukjae oppa carried you – bridal style,” Sica buried herself deeper within the comforter, sticking just her head out like a turtle – her tone bored and eyes barely open.

“What? All the way from the park?”

“Yeah, the anchovy apparently has muscles. And before you kill me, I told them to just wake you up but the two Lee brothers insisted I let you sleep. Something about you looking like an innocent little baby.” A giggle finally escaped the sleepy girl as she cocked an eyebrow in her best friend’s direction. “You really look so peaceful and non violent when you’re sleeping Hyoraengi!”

“Says Princess Violence!” Hyoyeon pushed her lightly with a throaty laugh and leapt off the bed.

“So are you satisfied? Can I go back to sleep please?”

“Fine! Lazy hostess. I’ll leave you pancakes on the counter.”

And with that Sica went back to her beloved bed and Hyoyeon – off to shower.

Once she was done getting ready and eating her breakfast, Hyoyeon slowly let herself out of Sica’s house. The Jung family had gone to their grandmother’s in Busan for the weekend leaving Sica to take full advantage of her favourite hobby – sleeping.

But Hyoyeon hated wasting her days or rather couldn’t because her body seemed to love the early morning sunshine. And it was a very pretty morning with birds tweeting in their nests, the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the crisp air and the tree branches doing a slow dance to the wind. Walking down the pavement, she felt like she was the protagonist in some drama where the world was hers for the taking.. or something like that.

It was a great feeling.. and she wasn’t even sure why.

****************************************************************************

Three hours later, she collapsed on the wooden floor of the basement auditorium gasping for breath.

She had just completed her first dry rehearsal.

As she lay there blankly staring up at the light adorned ceiling, the phone beside her backpack rang shrilly.

“Yeobosayo?”

“Are you done practise already?”

“Neh oppa.”

“Mind if I come by?”

“Of course not!”

“Great, I’ll see you in half an hour.”

Hyoyeon jumped up quickly, her exhaustion gone with the wind. This was a different kind of adrenaline – the kind that made her heart beat funnily and her insides all jello-y. 

‘Half an hour, eek!! How do I fix this bird’s nest that’s my hair?’ Muttering incoherent words to herself, she raced towards the shower.

She continued to mumble nervously as she got dressed in fresh clothes, spritzed her hair and put on light make up. Standing back to gaze at her reflection in the frosty mirror, she tweaked an eyebrow critically. ‘Not ideal but he will probably be seeing me gross and sweaty on a regular basis, so might as well ease him into it!’

Twenty minutes later she was running back to the room and the thumping in her heart only got louder when she saw that the door was open.

He was kneeling down with his back facing her in a hoodie and black hat, browsing through the CDs she had left strewn on the floor.

She took a calming breath and sweetened her voice, “Annyeong hasseyo, oppa.”

“Well annyeong to you too! Something wrong with your throat?”

An amused voice greeted back.

Hyoyeon immediately felt herself relax. “Ah it’s just you!”

Hyukjae stood up and walked towards her, “Hey, try to sound a little more disappointed, why don’t you!”

Hyoyeon stuck her tongue out before putting her arms around him, “Good morning bestie! You know I’m always happy to see you.”

“Uh huh, but actions speak louder than words, just so you know!” He patted her head affectionately and Hyoyeon giggled as she tightened the hug with all her might, “this loud enough?”

“That hurts, appeuda! let go let go!” he squealed like a girl. Hyoyeon was quite famous amongst the trainees for her strength… Hyukjae .. was not.

She finally let go and observed him curiously, “Ayee.. someone told me that you have strong muscles… I might have to let them know that they are mistaken.”

Instantly, came the protest, “hey I’ll have you know that my muscles,” he patted them in a paternal way, “are just a little sore from carrying a certain Princess Fiona up and down the street and them some stairs cos Sica’s elevator was broken.”

“Ah,” Hyoyeon’s face colored guiltily. “About that.. thanks! But you should’ve just woken me up!”

“You think I didn’t try?” Hyukjae stared at her incredulously but burst into laughter two seconds later because he couldn’t handle Hyoyeon’s embarrassed face anymore.

“I’m just kidding dummy,” he put his arm around her and walked them both towards the benches at the end of the room, “you looked so tired, I didn’t have the heart to. Have you been making sure to take those herbal drinks my mom sent you? Do you feel better today?”

“Eung” she nodded.

“And how’s the piece? All ready to be performed?”

“I think so.. I just have to tweak it a little. First dry rehearsal was today..”

The pair continued to talk seriously.

It was moments like this that made the two best friends. Everyone else always thought they were drawn together because they were both childish, bickering overgrown kids who liked to tease and prank each other but their connection was much deeper. Away from their bigger group of friends - in the dance practise room that was just theirs – they had quiet conversations, shared fears and let out the serious side that they couldn’t with others.

 “Thanks again, oppa.” She smiled at him.

“Just keeping my promise,” he smiled back and seeing her confused expression elaborated, “I’ll always take care of you, remember?”

Hyoyeon had never noticed it before but his eyes crinkled at the sides when he smiled and just then, seeing those smiling eyes focused on her alone, Hyoyeon felt that strange overwhelming rush of emotions again..