Chapter 5

 

"Jae, are you sure it's not because of Sooyoung?"

 

"Jae, what's the real reason for your sudden change?"

 

"Is it really because you want to concentrate on your studies?"

 

On his way, Jaejoong was being bombarded with questions from his friends and junior. They all couldn't believe that Jaejoong had really changed for the better. It was already close to one semester. Exams were coming and until now, there was still no sign of Jaejoong dating at all. The students started believing what Jaejoong said one month ago.

 

"I'm repeating it for the last time, it has nothing to do with Sooyoung but purely on my own decision. I just want to have a break from it and set my priority straight. Now, I feel it is more important to concentrate on my studies as it is the final year." Jaejoong explained calmly.

 

"But last year, you also started a relationship in the middle of exams." One of them questioned.

 

"That's because last year isn't the final year." Jaejoong answered smoothly, and then turned solemn, "So everyone, stop asking anymore questions. I'm officially taking a break from it."

 

The seriousness and resolve in his tone and expression made it hard for people to doubt him. At this moment, they were totally convinced and accepted the fact. Nodding satisfactorily, Jaejoong walked away joyously as he saw peaceful days ahead.

 

From one spread to ten, from tens to hundreds and then from hundreds to thousands, the news was spreading like wild fire. Soon, everyone in the school learned about it. That was the power of the human tongued. Girls were disappointed by it and grieved over the news but there were some that didn't give up and continue to hope quietly and believed that Jaejoong would turn back.

 

Looking at Jaejoong amusedly, Jeongsu couldn't suppressed the smile from showing on his small, oval-shaped face though the sparkle in his dark brown, almond-shaped eyes betrayed him.

 

"Say what you want. Just don't look at me like that." Jaejoong said, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

 

"I can't believe that this day will actually come. You have already decided to give up?" Jeongsu asked curiously, "After trying for so many years, you finally got tired of it?"

 

"Are you trying to mock me?" Jaejoong asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

 

"Of course not." Jeongsu said earnestly, but Jaejoong wasn't convinced but didn't want to probe any further. He was very tired today for some reason.

 

"What do you intend to do next?" Jeongsu queried pointedly.

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"Your dream girl. Are you not going to take any actions? You are just going to end stuff like that without any further development? Are you sure you can let her go just like that?" Jeongsu asked, rolling his eyes as if it was so obvious, "What do you think?" Jaejoong questioned back, not giving any definite answer.

 

"Anyway, I'm going off." Jaejoong said, standing up.

 

"What? The lecturer is coming soon. Are you going to skip lesson?"

 

"Yeah, since I want some peace. Just make up whatever excuses you can think of if he ask." Jaejoong said, taking his olive color travelon anti-theft classic sling bag and walked out of the classroom openly like it was very natural to skip lessons, not worried if any students were whispering about it or if he would bump into the lecturer anytime.

 

At the highest level of the business block where it was free from all the buzzes in the school, Yuri laid there relaxingly, enjoying the nice and quiet space. Not long ago, while they were on the way to class, there was a huge crowd blocking their way. As a person who dislikes crowds and hated that she had to force her way through, Yuri informed Tiffany that she would be back later and told her to go first.

 

She didn't know how it started but since elementary school, she loved to stay at the rooftop, the highest level of the school and that continued until now. Whichever school she attended, the first thing she would do was to figure out how to get to the rooftop. Whenever she was there, it gave her a senses of serenity and calmness. There, nothing seemed to matter at all, including the passing of time. She felt free and totally at ease. Like now, whatever happened downstairs didn't affect her one single bit, as if it was disconnected from the world.

 

Once again, her out-of-the-world moment was interrupted by the same person for the second time. When Jaejoong entered, he wasn't at all surprised to see her there. In fact, he expected it when he didn't see her in class. Looking at each other, Jaejoong and Yuri exchanged a polite smile, "The crowd finally dispersed?" Yuri asked. Thanks to him, she was reminded that she had a lesson waiting for her. Looking down at her gold/white marc jacobs 'fergus' round bracelet watch, she realized lesson was starting in a few minutes time.

 

"You saw it." Jaejoong stated, a little embarrassed.

 

"Too obvious to go unnoticed." Yuri replied, with a shrug. After a few seconds of silence, Yuri spoke again, suddenly remembering something that Tiffany asked her to do, "Is it true? The news that had been spreading around campus for weeks? Are you really concentrating on your studies?"

 

The question that everyone had been asking and the answer that everyone had desired to know. If it wasn't for Tiffany who had been continuously telling Yuri about it and nagging her to ask Jaejoong, Yuri would never thought of asking.

 

If it were other people who ask him, he would just repeat the monotonous answer that had already been deeply imprinted in his head, "Will you believe me if I say yes?"

 

Towards Yuri though, he only felt defeated.

 

"There's no reason for me not to. If its true, then I'm really happy for you." Yuri said sincerely, "It's good to hear that you are finally serious in your studies. Auntie Kim will be extremely happy when she hears about it."

 

Looking at the time again, she noticed that she was already three minutes late. Picking up her berry color travelon anti-theft react medium crossbody bags and her belongings, she said, "Anyway, I have to go soon. I'm already late for Mr. Tak's lesson and don't worry, I won't tell him where you are." Yuri promised, with a wink, "I can understand that you need some peace. I, myself, am usually late and skip lessons, too." Yuri added, with a sheepish laugh. Waving him goodbye, Yuri left, leaving Jaejoong to watch her disappearing shadow.

 

Yuri dashed to the classroom in her fastest speed and by the time she arrived, she was panting heavily and five minutes late, "I'm sorry Mr. Tak. I'm late." Yuri apologized, bowing.

 

Mr. Tak shook his head resignedly, already gotten used to her being late or missing his class, "Go and take your seat." He instructed coolly.

 

"Thanks." Yuri said, bowing one last time before walking towards the place where Tiffany was sitting while Mr. Tak continued from where he had stopped.

 

"You are late again." Tiffany whispered, "So much for saying you will be back later. Indeed, very later."

 

"You know me. Whenever I'm there, I will lose track of time." Yuri said sheepishly. It was something that she was totally helpless with. Until now, that habit of hers hasn't change. She, herself, couldn't explain it, too.

 

"Really?" Tiffany asked, as she stopped eating her pizza, too astonished by what she had just heard from Yuri, "So, the rumors are really true then?"

 

She was quite skeptical about it despite the fact Park Jeongsu, Kim Jaejoong's best buddy had confirmed the rumors. Her instinct just told her so. It wasn't as what it appeared to be. More like it was a mask to hide a secret that they didn't want anyone to know and she, Tiffany Hwang Miyoung, loved delving secrets.

 

If it was Yuri then it was most likely true. Somehow, she knew that Jaejoong would never lie to her, based on her observation throughout the years she had been with Yuri.

 

"Are you sure?" Tiffany asked again. She couldn't be wrong. To be more exact, her years of experiences, plus observation and more importantly, her instinct as a woman. Although, she wasn't as experienced as Jaejoong, Tiffany was confident that it was enough to know if a guy has feelings for the woman or not.

 

Yuri tried to recall what Jaejoong said hours ago at the rooftop and then she noticed something, "Uh...Jaejoong Oppa just said, 'will you believe me if I say yes?'."

 

Tiffany almost wanted to faint, hearing what Yuri told her. There was a big difference. Now, she had to doubt Yuri's credibility in what she said just now.

 

"But it's the same as he's concentrating on his studies, isn't it? Although, a bit indirect?" Yuri asked unsurely, "What do you think?" Tiffany answered her, with another question.

 

"Yes, even if it was a bit ambiguous. I'm not that stupid as to not read between the lines. If it wasn't true then why would he ask me if I would believe him if he said yes?"

 

Indeed, the answer wasn't very clear. Giving Yuri the benefit of doubt, Tiffany decided not to jump into conclusions too quickly. For now, she was going to maintain her stand. One day, she would get to the bottom of this matter. One, it was to confirm her doubt as she hated ambiguity and two, if it was true, she couldn't wait to see how things would develop. It was going to be real interesting and fun, she strongly believed so.

 

The sight of Kim Jaejoong facing a setback seemed to be extremely appealing. Getting back her appetite, Tiffany continued eating happily while Yuri only looked at her weirdly, confused and clueless by the quick change in her mood.

 

Time by flew quickly and soon, it was the beginning of the semester exams. Rumors also began to die down as students were cramping their brains and busy studying for the papers. The school was abnormally quiet. No more chit chats as everyone was forming study groups, studying together, trying to catch up any lessons they had missed, making notes and cleared out their confusion. The library that was usually quiet suddenly became packed with people. All the study tables were occupied with notes, papers, books and stationary scattered all around.

 

Yuri and Tiffany were no exceptions. The only difference was that instead of studying at school, they studied at each other's house. Today, Tiffany went over to Yuri's place.

 

"Ah! I give up!" Tiffany yelled in frustration, raking her beautiful waist-length, dark brown hair. The nicely curled hair that she was so proud of where she spent at least eighteen minutes daily before going to the school on it, excluding the numerous of times she went to the toilet to check on her hair during school hours, maintaining it painstakingly became in a mess in just seconds. Now, she didn't even have the mood to care how her hair looks like.

 

"Fany, relax. The more frustrated you are, the harder you will remember and understand." Yuri advised patiently, "How can I when there are hundreds of pages of information to study for tomorrow's paper?" Tiffany asked, glaring at Yuri.

 

"And where did I stop? Just the first chapter and I already want to die."

 

"Who ask you not to pay attention to Mrs. Chang's lesson. I have already warn you that her module was difficult." Yuri said indifferently, not pitying Tiffany at the situation she was currently in.

 

"Stop gloating."

 

"Okay you. I will be nice and go down and get some snacks and drinks for you okay? Get some rest and later, I will help you with all your doubts." Yuri said, chuckling.

 

"That's better." Tiffany said, grinning happily and gave Yuri a big bear hug, "I love you."

 

Minutes later, Yuri came in with a tray of biscuits and cookies, plus a liter of ice tea and two glasses. While Yuri was getting their food, Tiffany was looking outside curiously at the house opposite of Yuri's for any signed of Jaejoong, "Where's Jaejoong Oppa?" Tiffany asked curiously. The distance between Jaejoong's house and Yuri's house was neither far nor near. It was just enough to see whether there was anyone inside or not and give an outline of what he was doing.

 

Pouring the ice tea into the glasses, she took a bite of her favourite double chocolate chip cookies, "I don't know. Why?"

 

"Seriously Yul, you are so dumb. You have been neighbours with him for like what? Almost all your life and not even once did you notices if he brought his girlfriend home or whether they did it or not. If I were you, I will definitely check it out and even better, uses this against my advantage. Gosh Yul, you are really incorrigible. Missing out on such a great opportunity." Whenever she thinks about it, Tiffany couldn't help but grieved over the wasted opportunity.

 

Hearing what Tiffany said, Yuri rolled her eyes inwardly. She had been hearing it for so many years and she really had to surrender to Tiffany's persistence. She wasn't tired from complaining but she, herself, was tired of hearing it.

 

"Fany, this is also known as intrusion of privacy. Its his personal life so why should I notice it? Everyone has his or her own privacy and I respect that. He lives in any way he wants it and I live the way I want it. We have no right to say anything about other's business at all. Even if I did say something, he might not even listen to it. So why bother? And even if he did ever do it, he will know how to close the curtains." Yuri said, "You really love to interfere in people's business, huh? School rumors and gossips isn't enough to satisfy your curiosity?"

 

"I'm more interested in Jaejoong Oppa's business." Tiffany said secretively.

 

"Why?" Yuri asked, giving her a puzzle looked.

 

"Because it's fun."

 

"In what aspect?"

 

"Everything."

 

"Fany, can't you say it more clearer?"

 

"I'm already saying it as clear as water. Any clearer and the fun are lost. Blame yourself for being thick-headed and blur." Tiffany said, making Yuri sulked.

 

"Anyway, let's watch something. After studying for hours, I need a break." Tiffany suggested, stretching her aching arms.

 

"Aren't we having one now?" Yuri stated dryly.

 

"Plus television make it all the merrier." Tiffany said, grinning impishly.

 

"Fany, I think you are the incorrigible one." Yuri remarked, as Tiffany took the television remote control without even asking for permission and started browsing through the channels for any interesting show.