16 | Audition

 

***

 

After a while of being in a silent shock zone, Seohyun cleared and speaks up, "D-Daniel Henney. I mean, he's Daniel Henney... a friend." lying as always. "Um, Daniel-ssi, she's Im Yoona. The childhood friend I've also been telling you."

 

Daniel held out his hand down to Yoona. Both for introducing himself and to help the girl stands up. "I'm Daniel. It's nice meeting you, Miss Im." He said with a friendly smile.

 

Yoona feels a bit strange, but she took his hand nonetheless. Getting up on her feet in the process. "It's nice to meet you too. I'm Yoona." she flashed a simple smile.

 

"So how is this possible? You're, your high--"

 

"She's my roommate!" Seohyun quickly butted, as she jumps to Yoona's side, holding her arm eventually. Daniel looked at him with a surprise look. She shook her head a little towards him, sending message that he should refrain calling her in her royalty. "Yes, it seems. Right, Yoongie?" she turned her head to Yoona, beaming.

 

"Y-Yes. I am... staying the same dorm. So you are too?" Even though it's obvious, Yoona also asks.

 

"It's her dorm ever since last week." Daniel replied in behalf of the princess. "I'm glad it's you who will be her roommate. She had been telling about you, Miss Im."

 

"Oh, Please stop calling me formally. I feel so old. Just call me Yoona or... Yoong." Yoona felt so awkward upon hearing herself being called 'Miss'. She felt like rich being called like that. When she's not.

 

Daniel smiled. "Okay. Yoong would be great. It's nice meeting you again. But wait... are you alright now? Joohyun here called you're unconscious earlier?" He quickly changed his call for the princess after understanding the doe-eyed doesn't know her identity.

 

"Hehe, I was earlier... but later it's starting to be okay. Yet, I still can feel my stomach aching." Yoona rubs her tummy, pouting towards the younger girl. Seohyun whispered 'sorry' to her.

 

"What did you eat?" Daniel curiously asks.

 

"I found a soup on the table... I think my roommate made that soup?"

 

Seohyun lowered her gazes. "Sorry, Yoongie." as she vocally apologized.

 

"You made a soup?" Daniel softly chuckles, earning a nod from the young princess. "What kind of soup?"

 

"An experimental soup. It has no name." Seohyun lowly replied, looking up to meet her bodyguard's gazes on her. She turned to Yoona, only to see her poker face. She doesn't like what she heard, does she? "I'm sorry Yoongie. I'm really so sorry. I shouldn't have put the soup there. I should have--"

 

"It's okay. It was me who can't stop myself and have a taste of it." Yoona cut Seohyun's words before she can hear her blaming herself more.

 

"Do you have a medicine, Joohyun?" Daniel asked, earning the two girl's attention.

 

"Yes, I have. For the stomach ache." Seohyun released her hold over Yoona's arm after she just being reminded. Hurriedly she headed to the bathroom.

 

"I'm glad you're okay now. I thought I could bring you to the hospital."

 

"You. You... are her friend? Why I just know? I mean, she never told me about you." Yoona grabs the chance to ask the taller guy. She can't deny it, he's handsome. And knowing Seohyun has another friend made her curious.

 

"Oh, I'm from Cambridge University as well. We meet there."

 

"That explains. So you're her new friend." Yoona sighed in relief. Because if it's an old one, Seohyun must be so close with him already.

 

"Absolutely." Daniel beamed. But at the back of his head, 'Why do I have to lie again? Her majesty is really weird. Well, I hope this girl will not freak out in time she'll discover.'

 

"Here. The medicine, Yoongie." Seohyun went back with the medicine. Yoona took it and flicks her forehead twice. She pouted cutely saying 'sorry' again.

 

"Since everything is okay. I guess I have to go now, Joohyun."

 

"Y-yeah, Thanks for your time, Daniel-ssi. I'm sorry for bothering you." Seohyun can't stop apologizing.

 

"It's okay. Nice to meet you again, Yoona. Joohyunnie, don't make another nameless soup. Otherwise, your roommate will leave this dorm that soonest." Daniel teases, fondly. Before he can hear an answer, he left the second floor and the dorm completely.

 

Seohyun sighed. "He's really such a teaser." shrugging her shoulders in the process.

 

"So he's your new friend from Cambridge." Yoona mutters, as she also left the second floor.

 

Quick, Seohyun followed. "Yes. So sorry... about the soup-"

 

"That's cool. You're making new friends." Yoona dryly said, as she opened the ref and took that pitcher filled with water.

 

Seohyun suddenly back hug the doe-eyed girl. "Yeah, but it's cooler we're roommates, Yoongie." she happily exclaimed. "I thought this night is really special. Because we reunited again. Never thought this would actually happen. I really miss you~"

 

Yoona almost want to pour the water to Seohyun's head after being surprised of a back hug. "And you welcome me with your soup. The best soup I've ever taste." she mocks, playfully. Reaching for the glass from the counter, she poured water on it and take her medicine.

 

"That's why I'm so sorry." Seohyun sighed. 

 

"Stop apologizing." Yoona turned to face the younger girl, whose arms are still around her waist. Oh how much she loves how close they're at the moment, but she couldn't hug her back. "Because it's not really you. It was me. I'm just really a shikshin." she admitted with a pout lips. "But thanks for the medicine, I think it's affecting me now." she smiled and once again cupped her face. She missed touching her puffy soft cheeks. "And...I miss you too, Peng." she whispered, affectionately.

 

Seohyun pulled Yoona for an embrace. "I do too, Yoongie. I really do." she whispers back, can no longer hold back her tears and let them dropped from the corner of her eyes. It's overwhelming to see her childhood friend back. The longing to hold her close is finally happening. She might be so selfish and she only wants Yoona to hug like this.

 

Yoona sighed, wrapping her arms around the younger girl. Suddenly, she thought about something. "Peng."

 

"Hmm?"

 

"Peng." Yoona pulled back. "I haven't hand you back your Penguin." She exclaimed, and hurriedly headed to the living room. Seohyun followed suit. "She also misses you a lot, Peng." She took the stuff toy from back pack and handed it to the owner, finally. "Tada. Our family is finally complete. hehe."

 

Seohyun automatically grabs her penguin stuff toy around her arms. "I miss her too. I'm glad you took care of her so well, Yoongie."

 

"Like I've told you, she's just like you. So who wouldn't take care of her as well?"

 

"Yeah..." Seohyun squeezed the stuff toy as she giggles. "Her smiley sticker is still here, eh? You didn't take it?" She realized the sticker in Peng's cheek is still sticking.

 

"It's mine. That would never happen. Peng and the sticker shouldn't leave each other. Oh, now I believe what you said in the airport are true."

 

"Which one of it?"

 

"That... if I'm with Peng, we will see each other no matter what. And look, we didn't just reunited, we are living in the same dorm. This is truly all because of Peng. She leads me here." Yoona pulled Seohyun for yet another tight embrace. The girl giggles as she hugs her back.

 

"Did you know about this though?"

 

"I wouldn't be surprise right now if I do. Aigoo."

 

Seohyun and Yoona both can't hold them selves and squeezed each other. They're quite, savoring each second of their warm hugs, they have definitely missed. Their idiotic smile are there, as they felt happiness all over again. The search is finally over for both girls. Seohyun especially is the happiest because it took 3 days for her. Whilst, Yoona only had half a day.

 

-

 

After changing on her comfortable pajama pair of clothes, Yoona walks out the bathroom, stretching her arms. It's been an hour and half since the incident and her stomach is already well. The only thing that bothers her now, her stomach is hungry. She release a lot earlier, it's not surprising she's hungry again. Seohyun's soup definitely emptied her stomach.

 

"Aigoo." Rubbing her stomach, she walked to her bed and sat down at the edge of it. She noticed, the next bed is empty. Then she also noticed the study room's door is ajar. She got up and casually walked to it. Peeking behind the door, she didn't see anyone unexpectedly. "Hmm, where is she..." 

 

Just then, she heard noises downstairs. Her instincts quickly made her move so fast. "What?! Why are you cooking at this hour?" There she saw Seohyun on the kitchen, busy by herself.

 

"I thought of making midnight snacks. As a real welcome for you." Seohyun grinned while she's frying something.

 

Yoona tried to look at the pan but she pushed her gently away from the hot pan.

 

"Yah! Are you sure of that?!"

 

"It's not like my soup anymore! How could you not trust me on this?!" Seohyun spats.

 

"It smells bad. You might be just playing again." Yoona really can't be careless, as Seohyun looks like she doesn't know how to cook.

 

Seohyun scoffs. "Don't you really trust me? Your friend? Yoongie?"

 

"Of course I trust you. But I just got well from your soup. I want to eat a delicious food." Yoona explained herself firmly. "Please, Peng... It's my first night." she clasps her palms, begging.

 

"So you are hungry? Then let me cook for you." But Seohyun still persistent.

 

Yoona nodded. She tried to have another peek on what her friend is cooking but Seohyun once again pushed her away. "That better be a good food." She pouted her lips, worriedly.

 

"Don't worry. It tastes good. It's Peng's recipe anyway." Seohyun winks. Confident of her cook.

 

Yoona chuckled. "Really, eh?" As she crosses her arms near her chest.

 

"For your information, that soup is just like an experiment, like I've told you. I know how to cook!"

 

"What about the mess earlier?"

 

Seohyun turned around. "That was part of my... you know... carelessness." She bit her lip, for being defensive herself. And honestly, she knows she's lying to herself.

 

"Fine. If you would like to cook. What's that anyway?" Yoona creased her brows, as she can see a lemon in the side, white rice, butter and others she doesn't know. "That smells good already." But she can't help it and praise the smell, when she added onions on the pan and that leads for more ingredients. When she heard nothing from the younger girl, she shrugs and walked to the ref. "Can I have some fruits then?"

 

"That's all for us from now on. Feel free, Yoongie." said Seohyun, instantly. She flashed the older girl a bright beautiful smile.

 

"Okay." Yoona picked up that pack of pineapple. She tore the plastic covering it and takes her seat, while Seohyun's busy enjoying her cook. "I hope that's good. Otherwise..."

 

"Just shut up!"

 

Yoona giggles. "Okay, Seo Penguin. I won't judge your cook base on your experimental soup from now on." She just put her attention to the slices of pineapple for the next minutes. Until she keeps on glancing now to Seohyun, standing on her apron. The sight made her heart felt giddy. And it was that moment she flashes back their memories in Paris... until her realizations about having feelings for her. Her heart skips a beat and her smile unconsciously draws in her face. 'Aigoo, Yoona...what you just entered. You are going to see her always from now on... what a fate. But... your feelings... what will you do about this? No, give it some time. Keep it for a while. Until it's really the time, you must let it out... Oh, my lovely Peng. You don't know how much you made me so happy tonight, despite your soup. This must be the feeling of falling for you, it doesn't know how to hate you, eh? But that guy, I should know him first. I can't trust anyone you just met yet. I hope he's a good friend.' 

 

After a couple of minutes, Seohyun finally finished cooking. She turned and walks to the table, putting that one plate of cheesy lemon white rice in front of Yoona.

 

"Taste it first." Yoona suggests.

 

Sighing, Seohyun did as what the older girl said. "It's good." she said while munching gently.

 

"Really? Okay, I'll take that." Yoona grabs the spoon from Seohyun's grasp and take her turn. So far, it taste good. So she did another try and try until she ends up eating loving the taste; cheesy and sweet. "This is so good. What's this by the way?"

 

Seohyun crossed her arms in pride. "Cheesy Lemon white rice." she informed. But to be honest, it's the first perfect food she did. She had been eating it since the day she had perfect the food.

 

"No wonder there's a lemon. Okay, so I want more, Peng." Yoona grinned, handing back the now empty plate.

 

Seohyun frowned. "You eat so fast."

 

"And you emptied my stomach earlier! One plate is not enough!" Yoona stated fact.

 

"You serious?" Seohyun's turn to think twice over her roommate's big appetite. She just realized it now.

 

"You have to make up what I've release you know. One more plate would be enough, my Peng." An idiotic smile plastered Yoona's face. Being a shikshin is not bad at all. She just need to be careful from now on.

 

"Fine. It's easy though. But glad you liked this." Seohyun smiled happily, taking the plate and once again went back to the pan. It's not yet late to make another one for her hungry roommate, nonetheless. And to think, she has to make it up indeed for her.

 

Yoona let out a satisfied burp after a couple of seconds. "Excuse me." She giggles when Seohyun turned her head to her, with a frown on her face. 

 

-

 

"So I just realized something."

 

Seohyun is rubbing on her damp hair, walking out her bathroom on her towel wrapped around her body only when she heard Yoona is saying something. "Hmm?" She walks to her vanity and take her seat in front of it.

 

Yoona had been lying on her back on the bed for few minutes now, as she flipped on her chest. "There's no presence of your Uncle, cousins and sister? Are they also the same like my father? I mean, my father only accompanied me in Paris for vacation and flew back to Seoul after the vacation."

 

"Oh that... " Seohyun pause as she thought of her next word. "They only dropped me here, in London. And took another flight back to Seoul... and... " she pause to turn her head behind, so she can see Yoona is now lying on her chest, head is on her arms resting. She sighed and proceeds, "About my Uncle's strictness... I apologize for that, Yoongie." her voice is soft and apologetic.

 

"You... You know?" Yoona almost instantly sat up. "How?"

 

"He admitted it before they left. Aigoo... I couldn't believe still why did he did it." Seohyun sighs, returning her head to see her reflection in the mirror. "But I hope you understand he just want to protect me. It's just that... it's not easy for him to trust in anyone."

 

"He's weird, isn't he? But... that's okay. If I were him, I would do the same. You know, you just meet me, Peng. And you can't say I'm a good person right away." Yoona sadly said, while staring to Seohyun's reflection in the mirror.

 

"Aww, Yoongie. Don't say that. I know you're a good person. Even from the start we meet. My Uncle is just really so strict. He has nothing against you, I'm sure of that." 

 

"I don't know what to say. But except for... thank you. Thank you that you never judge me." Yoona's smile went back. At least Seohyun never listened to her Uncle. 

 

"Let's forget about that. The important now is that... we have reunited again. It's amazing, isn't it?" Seohyun flashed a bright smile through Yoona's reflection on her mirror.

 

"Yeah..." Yoona can't agree more. It was definitely true. She could totally see what's ahead of them. She lied again while grinning idiotically towards Seohyun, whose now busy brushing her hair while smiling oh so lovely. Her heart beats are that fast again. Never really missed to admire the beauty of an angel. She closes her eyes tight and clutch into her chest and scolded herself, 'Yah, Im Yoona. Stop staring. Stop staring. Stop that... Peng. You're giving me a weak heart again... Oh God... Oh God help me... help me with this girl.' She ends up scolding Seohyun at the back of her head.

 

Seeing the expressions of the doe-eyed, Seohyun turned her head in alarmed. "Yoongie? Are you alright?"

 

Yoona's eyes automatically opened. "Yes? Of course. I am."

 

"Why are you clutching in your chest?" Seohyun asks in concern.

 

Yoona hastily pulled the blanket to her chest. "What? I'm okay. My chest is just.. making weird butterfly feelings. Hehe." she embarrassingly covered her face.

 

"Like what? Omo, don't tell me it's part of the effect of my soup?" Seohyun gasps, thinking of the possibility.

 

"No! That can't be!" Yoona chuckled. She peek from the blanket and saw Seohyun's puzzled face. "Weird feelings means other things. Like, you're happy or something."

 

"Huh?"

 

'This girl is seriously so innocent. Aigoo, she's so adorable though.' Yoona thinks. "You just told me what matters most is you and I reuniting, right? So this is because of it." she lamely explained herself. 'Dang, if I'll confess, what would be her reaction? She's really so innocent. You have a big problem, Yoona.'

 

Seohyun giggles. "I am happy too, Yoongie." as she returned brushing her hair again.

 

Yoona pulled her blanket again to her face and let out a sigh. "I hate how she just seems really seeing me as a friend. Or what? Geez." she mumbles to herself, which didn't reached the younger girl's ears. She shook her head to stop herself from thinking negative again. Little did she know, Seohyun is enjoying watching her from the mirror, making weird actions under the blanket.