Chapter 13

 

Vicki was standing at the front gate, leaning against the wall and waiting patiently as she started thinking if there was anything she wanted. Preferably, something expensive. Yuri grinned at the thought of it.

 

Diamond? Too boring.

 

How about sponsoring her trip to Hong Kong?

 

Not bad, she had been thinking of going to Hong Kong as her graduation trip. Thirteen days? Or fifteen? Or a month?

 

In the middle of her thoughts, Yuri was joined by Tiffany.

 

“What took you so long?” Yuri asked. Actually, Tiffany should have arrived at the same time she did but because Tiffany said she had something to do, she could only join her later.

 

“You don't know how long I have to queue. It's so hot.” Tiffany said, taking out the photos which she bought not long ago and happily showed it to Yuri. They were pictures of some of the most popular guys in the university. Like them, they were also in their last year. Yuri raised her eyebrow as she glanced at the pictures, “What are these?”

 

“Pictures as you can see! Do you know how much it costs me?!” Tiffany exclaimed, “It's all your fault for not listening to me. We are going to be damn rich if you managed to get photos of Jae Oppa and that...” Without forgetting to make a disgusted face, she said quite reluctantly, "Jeongsu Oppa. You don't know how much that girl earned from selling all these photos. Big bucks. If we managed to get ahold of Jae Oppa's and that Jeongsu.” Tiffany said, sighing dreamily, imagining the money they could have earned, money that was throwing itself at her and being surrounded by dollar notes. Money she could have thrown up and then dropped down at you.

 

Yuri was totally speechless. The amount of money and time they spent on such stuffs. The extent they were willing to go to for those hot guys. She didn't know whether to admire them for their determination or mocked them for their stupidity and foolishness!

 

“I don't know how she got it. Yul, so how about it? Do you want to consider our proposal? It will definitely be a very successful business venture, especially since it's their last year. No more appreciating such fine guys anymore after this semester. So those girls will surely buy it.” Tiffany persuaded sweetly, “My first step into the business circle, you know. The success of this proves my potential to be a successful businesswoman.”

 

Yuri raised her eyebrow suspiciously, “I don't see the connection. In the outside world, I don't think it's that easy. Didn't you pay attention to your lectures? In school, things are much more simple, especially when the target customers are such easy prey.” Initially, she wanted to say stupid or gullible but decided better not, in cases she offended Tiffany or sounded rude!

 

“Yul.” Tiffany said, nudging her.

 

“I thought you hate Jeongsu Oppa a lot? Why the sudden change?”

 

Tiffany looked at Yuri as if she was crazy to even have that kind of idea, “Yul, that is two different matters. Just because he has some uses which could help me earn some money thanks to his fine looks which god was so biased as to grant him that, though I will never understand why, doesn't mean I must change my attitude and opinion towards him.”

 

Yuri snorted and remarked sarcastically, “So impartial, huh? Business and personal don't interfere with each other.”

 

“Of course. Who in the world will throw away any money-earning opportunity?” Tiffany said, smirking proudly. Yuri rolled her eyes in resignation.

 

Suddenly, another voice appeared, “What money-earning opportunity?”

 

“Minnie Oppa, why are you so late?! A gentleman should never let a lady wait!” Yuri grumbled.

 

“I'm sorry. Something came up.” Changmin apologized sincerely, “Later, my treat.”

 

“It should be your treat in the first place.” Yuri said, not accepting his apology, “We are helping you in the first place.”

 

“Then name anything you want.”

 

Yuri grinned, circled her arms around his and said, her voice coated with honey, “Thanks, Oppa. You are the best. I love you.”

 

Tiffany clapped her hands, catching their attention, “Stop getting distracted. Let's go find a cafe to discuss our plan. Don't forget our purposes.”

 

At Beans Bins, Yuri and Tiffany were happily eating, enjoying the ice cream waffle.

 

“I love the ice cream the most.” Yuri remarked contentedly, “Indeed quality for money.”

 

Tiffany nodded in agreement.

 

This treat cancelled off Changmin's debt, “Girls, don't just happily eat and forget our purposes here.” Changmin reminded them, a little worried that they would forget from the way things look.

 

“Don't worry, Oppa. We will discuss it; just wait until I'm done with the ice cream.” Yuri replied.

 

“Yul."

 

“Okay, okay.” Yuri compromised. After one more spoonful, Yuri faced him and focused on their purposes for this meeting.

 

“Actually, it's very simple.”

 

Changmin looked at them, puzzled.

 

“Just one simple word.” Tiffany said secretively, holding him in suspense.

 

“Which is?”

 

“Jealousy.” Yuri answered, and took another mouth of her ice cream.

 

“Make her jealous?”

 

Tiffany and Yuri nodded, “No one in this world who have been in love ever escaped from that. No jealousy equals to no love. It happens because they care. They are envy that the other party is closer to the person that they love than they are. Partly, we can say they felt threatened or insecure. I don't know. Humans are possessive by nature. It's just the extent of it. As long as she shows some reactions other than indifference or happiness, the plan will be considered as a success.”

 

“What if the plan failed?” Changmin asked, a little unsure and worried.

 

“Then I will give you my greatest sympathy and I don't mind giving you a big tight hug too, and encourage you to try harder.” Yuri joked.

 

“Yul.” Obviously, this wasn't a nice joke. At least to Changmin it wasn't as he could see Tiffany's heart-shaped glossy light pink lips curved up.

 

“At least you know the result and then work on it from there, right? What's the point of guessing here and there and don't know where to start?” Yuri explained, “This can be the first step to develop the relationship further or the beginning of a relationship. Whatever it is, I think this is necessary unless you are brave enough to talk to her personally in the office or after work since both of you are in the same company.”

 

“So how? Doing it or not? Everything comes with a risk and as a businessman for some years, you should have known it better than us. Isn't it better when things are clearer?” Tiffany said, smiling. She really had a potential to be a lawyer or counselor. The way she talks sometimes can be so persuasive that you couldn't help but be convinced and conceded defeat. However, that was only if the business weren't hers. Tiffany shook her head as she thought about Jaejoong and Yuri and how dense and thick-headed she was towards Jaejoong. He was quite a poor guy actually. Maybe she should say very.

 

Changmin finally got persuaded and nodded his head. He decided to take the chance. Like what Yuri said, it would be better if things were clearer and from there, he knew where to start. He was right about her after all. He knew she was a sharp and intelligent person. It was just that she tends to drift off to her lala land which had the tendency to give people some misconceptions.

 

"So, what’s the plan?"

 

“We will tell you after we reach some agreement.” Yuri said, grinning broadly.

 

“Agreement?” Changmin asked, lifting his thick eyebrow.

 

“Yes, agreement.” Yuri said, her smile even sweeter than before and more innocently-looking, too.

 

Changmin sighed resignedly, 'A bit too smart for her own good.' Changmin added inwardly, “What reward do you want this time?” He asked, straight out. He should have known better when she was suddenly so kind in helping him.

 

“So smart. Indeed worthy to be one of the promising businessmen and the heir to the family business.” Before asking anything, it was essential to praises the person first. Why? Simply so when you ask for a greater reward, it would be easier to get it and also, it was important to let the person experienced some sweetness first so he or she wouldn't feel so heartbroken for the money they had to spend.

 

“Spare me with the sweet talks.” Changmin said, rolling his dark brown, almond-shaped eyes. As if he didn't know the hidden meaning behind it. Fortunately, he had the money to afford it. If not...

 

Changmin didn't even want to think of it.

 

No, maybe it wasn't a good thing.

 

He would never understand why Yuri didn't ask from her parents when her family was as rich as his, not to mention, she was the only child of the family. There shouldn't be anything she lacked of or couldn't afford to get, “Sponsoring our graduation trip to Hong Kong.” Yuri answered, direct and honest. What's the point of trying to be nice and sweet when the person knows the truth behind it?

 

“Our?”

 

“Fany and mine. If it’s not called ours, then what is it?” Yuri said, blinking innocently at him, “Take it or leave it?” How could Tiffany, being her best friend, be left out for such a good thing?

 

“I don't have a choice, do I?”

 

“You do. You can choose to accept it or not, isn't that considerate of me? Only if you don't, naturally the plan was out of the question, too.” Yuri replied, not guilt-ridden but instead, a tinge of pride and smirk was detected. Changmin snorted, “That's what I meant by I have no choice.”

 

“Just the air-ticket and the lodging. Not much, right?”

 

“If you don't stay in a five-star hotel and only stay for a few days, it's not.”

 

“You sure know me well.” Yuri said, grinning, not guilty or felt bad for asking him to pay such a big amount of money because he can afford it. It was a minor thing to him anyway. Not when he earned billions of dollars for the company and who knows how much he earned monthly. However, to be featured in fashion net korea magazine as one of the most promising young businessmen, one of the eight most wanted bachelor and the achievements he made for Shim cooperation, the amount he earned monthly definitely wasn't small. She wasn't so evil as to ask him to afford something he couldn't. She had some heart. Being sly didn't mean the person had no heart. It just meant the person had a brain, was smart and knew how to uses it well, used it to her own advantage and to achieve her aim. People always had this misconception, Yuri shook her head.

 

Blame the guys for their stupidity! They weren't sensitive enough and not smart enough to know what a woman was like. So she, Kwon Yuri, grabbed that opportunity and that weakness of theirs to earn some money from it. Unlike Tiffany, she didn't even have to try to take photos and sell it to those guys-crazy girls. She was extremely grateful to god for making men and women different, world apart in thinking. If not, where could she get this chance? Like Tiffany said earlier, who would give up any money-earning opportunity? However, hers was harder to earn, although in one time could earn quite a lot. She had to meet the right person at the right time with the right problem. How could she be so bad as to wish all her guys friends had love problems? She had a heart.

 

“And I assume I have to give you a birthday present.”

 

“So smart.”

 

“So, what's the plan?”

 

“Be my partner for my birthday party.” Yuri said, winking and then she started telling Changmin the plan she and Tiffany had discussed and what to do, how to act and other necessary details.

 

“Fany, stop giving me that look.” Yuri said, annoyed when they were on the way to the bus stop after finishing their ice cream and discussion at beans bins while Changmin return to work.

 

“Yul, you know what?” Tiffany queried.

 

“What?”

 

“The words you said to Changmin Oppa, you should say it to yourself, too. It doesn't only apply to him.” Tiffany said meaningfully.

 

“Eh?” Yuri said, looking at her confusedly, “What are you talking about?”

 

“You will know soon, Yul. Very soon.” Tiffany hinted.

 

“What the?” Yuri sulked.

 

Just then, the bus arrived, “Let’s get on the bus.” Tiffany said.

 

“Wait! Explain what you meant just now!” Yuri called out, as she got on the bus along with Tiffany.

 

Yuri was at the roof of her mansion again, leaning against it, staring up at the sky, enjoying the wind breeze that was blowing at her.

 

What did Tiffany mean by that?

 

She had been bugging her for an answer but remained tightly shut. So she could only give up and let it go. Appreciating the beauty of mother nature was better than thinking fruitlessly about what Tiffany meant. With that in mind, her head was much clearer and the cool wind breeze added to the calming effect. Yuri smiled contentedly.

 

While she was indulging in her own little world, Jaejoong was on the way home and saw her lying on the roof. His heart stopped right there. Although it looked safe, he couldn't help but worried.

 

“YUL!” He shouted, “Get down right now!”

 

His voice traveled through her ear but not his fear. Yuri got up, looked down and saw Jaejoong standing down there, looking quite angry, “Jae Oppa?”

 

“Get down right now!” He ordered.

 

“But it's so comfortable up here.” Yuri explained, not listening to him. How long had it been since she had last stayed at the rooftop? Lately, she had no interests in going to the school rooftop. In fact, she was avoiding it at all costs. How she had missed the breeze of the wind. How she had missed being at the top, being closer to the sky and seeing the clouds, the blue sky so clearly.

 

Just then, voices were heard from afar. Her mom. Oh, ! The advantage of staying at the top was to be able to see far away quite clearly and estimate how long it would take for her mom to reach her. In her attempt to get down quickly in order to avoid being caught by her mom, she suddenly lost her footing. She missed a step and fell down. Yuri closed her eyes, waiting to hit the hard ground. Fortunately, Jaejoong caught her.

 

“I swear, you are not going up there again!” Jaejoong scolded sternly. Yuri groaned. One more people added to the list. Great. Just great.

 

All of a sudden, scenes of him and Sooyoung slipped into her mind. Immediately, she struggled herself out of his arm and smiled as naturally as possible. This was the second time he caught her. The warmth was exactly like the previous time and so clearly felt even after she was away from his grasps. How could she remember it so clearly? Yuri was surprised. Usually, she couldn't remember things so well. To make things worse, there’s also one big difference between the previous one and now. The rapid beating of her heart.

 

“Yul.” Jaejoong said, wanting to talk but it wasn't the cases for Yuri.

 

“Mom.” Yuri said, running towards her mom and hugged her around the waist, “Welcome back.”

 

“Darling, you came out to welcome me?” Mrs. Kwon asked, smiling “Hi, Jaejoong.” She greeted, when she saw him behind her daughter.

 

“See you, Oppa. Mom, let’s go in. Today, I’m going to help you with dinner.” Yuri said, dragging her mom into the house as Mrs. Kwon could only follow her along, “Bye, Jaejoong.” Mrs. Kwon said, waving at him.

 

“Jae, just tell me straight out what’s troubling you! Don’t start halfway and then stop!” Jeongsu scolded, irritated “You should confess to her, tell her directly since she's too denses to notice it!”

 

“Maybe it's better that she doesn't know.” Jaejoong whispered, as he thought of the scene he saw yesterday at the school front gate. Who's that guy? It had been bugging him for one whole night. Maybe he had lost the chance long ago.

 

Then, the door opened. Jaejoong and Jeongsu turned and was surprised to see the person standing at the doorway. They never expected her to find them at all. Jeongsu frowned and glared at her with hostility which Tiffany returned back with equal fervor.

 

“Why are you here?!” Jeongsu demanded rudely.

 

“None of your business since I’m not looking for you anyway!” Tiffany retorted, “As if I want to be here where you are.” She mumbled.

 

However, it still got into Jeongsu's ear, “Then get out of here.”

 

“I will. The moment I have said what I want. Not to you so don’t worry.” Tiffany said, sticking her tongue out at him childishly and then turned to faced Jaejoong, “Do you want to know what Yul's feelings for you are?”

 

Jaejoong stared at her wide-eyed, unable to believe what he heard. He scrutinized her expression, checking if there was any joke or not. All he saw was seriousness, some slyness and anticipation, too.

 

Seeing Jaejoong here only confirmed her suspicion on why Yuri stopped coming here. She must have met some unpleasant experiences here, “Do you want to or not? No need to give me any rewards, too.” Tiffany said, because seeing Yuri and her reaction was already the best gift a best friend could have. It was time for Yuri to experiences some real and serious relationship. Tiffany tried to stop the smile from showing on her oval-shaped face as she imagined what would happen.

 

“What’s your motive?” Jeongsu asked suspiciously. Towards Tiffany, one must be extra cautious and careful. Never let your guard down.

 

“What’s your decision?” Tiffany asked, ignoring Jeongsu.

 

“What’s your idea?”

 

“Wise choice.” Tiffany said, grinning and then walked towards Jaejoong and the both of them immediately went deep in discussion, leaving Jeongsu out, “This is what you should do.”

 

A/N: last night i have been thinking, for the new yunfany fanfic, will be different from all those other sweet yunfany stories i have wrote. this time, i want to do something like when i wrote jaefany's fanfic, with a little angst for a change so stay with me and don't go anywhere *wink*