Chapter Ten August 15, 2008

Chapter ten.

Kim Jun Su really hit the blank spot. He wished making friends were just as easy for him as solving a mathematic problem. You just need to add when there are numbers to be added and minus when there are something to be minused.

People aren’t numbers.

How do you want to add yourself in a group of friends that are already established?

Kim Jun Su had decided that if he were to introduce himself in this click, he might as well start from Lee Li Yin. He felt the most comfortable with her anyway.

Lee Li Yin could still hear the gossips from people around her in the campus but it had died down. Her problem hadn’t been solved yet but she had decided to finally tell her dad. Maybe both of them could work things out.

Stephanie was right. It had always been better to talk to someone.

Now, Lee Li Yin could even chuckle at the silly rumours spreading around.

It was time again for her psychology lecture. Last week, she had missed her lecture out of anger and this week, she was planning to compensate it. She was going to pay full attention. She had arrived early and then, labeled good seat with her bottom. Once the bottom was down, it was her.

HA! There won’t be you, nasty sunlight.

Someone sat next to her. Out of curiosity, she turned and looked at her partner.

It was Kim Jun Su.

She grabbed her books and started stuffing it into her bag. Now, she had to find a seat that the bothersome sun and Jun Su won’t be able to reach.

And then, the professor had to come in.

Just at the moment, she was escaping for her life.

Kim Jun Su could see the frown on her face. He smiled to himself. He had deliberately arrived in the lecture hall after Li Yin. Then, he stood at the exit and looked out for the professor. Once he could see the professor, he walked down and sat next to her, forcing her to be seated next to him.

The professor cleared his throat and then, he started to scan the hall for his usual audience.

“Last week, it had been about the higher nervous activity according to this theory of humorism and how physiologists had tested out on dogs…

The lecture went on.

It was about the humorism thingy again. The lecturer was refreshing his students’ minds by quoting some experiments done on dogs. Of course, he said, human can’t be categorized as dogs but the same principle does exist for human. Based on how fast a dog can learn a new condition, readapt to another new environmental surrounding and giving appropriate reactions to these surroundings, they were categorized into groups termed according to Hippocrates.

People are the same too. They were categorized.

The lecture had finally ended. Li Yin yawned and stretched herself, totally oblivious to a pair of eyes looking at her. Then, she started to collect her notepad and her stationeries. The guy next to her, Kim Jun Su started to do the same. She excused herself and walked passed Jun Su who was still packing. Jun Su groaned since he was too slow and well, why did he even brought an umbrella when it didn’t even rain.

Stupid weather forecast.

Thanks to his unwillingness to get wet, she had left. Grumbling, he continued packing or rather stuffing all his belongings into his bag. It was then, he found something that was not his belonging. It was a car keys. He was sure that his car keys didn’t have a key chain like that. The key chain was a teddy bear. Jun Su wasn’t that kind of person that hangs a teddy bear around his car keys.

It was a doing of a girl.

It was her.

So, now, Jun Su quickly poured out his stationeries and his papers. Then, he sat down until he could hear light footsteps outside. Then, he quickly went into his acting. He pretended to slowly pack his bags, arranged his papers and pretended to be not noticed she being there.

She quickly asked him to give some space for her to pass. He then put on a surprised face to see Li Yin there. He then asked her why she returned. She just glared at him.

So, being friendly wasn’t working very well for her.

Chapter Nine August 15, 2008

Chapter Nine.

Kim Jun Su gotten a headache. He shouldn’t have started like that. Now, Lee Li Yin seemed to be further away from him. For the first time, he learnt that sometimes, knowing their background doesn’t mean that it is everything about them.

The friendship they had tempted him.

He wanted to join in the three of them too.

Stephanie didn’t gave a single thought to Jun Su anymore. Jun Su had just excused himself and left Jae Jeong and herself with Li Yin. There were more pressing matters that she had to ask Li Yin. But she was aware that she couldn’t ask it in front of a total stranger, Jun Su.

She had hoped that Jun Su would be smart enough to know he didn’t belong.

At the seconds he walked out of the café, Stephanie started her interrogation.

“Why were you looking for a job, Li Yin?” she asked directly.

Jae Jeong quickly diverted his attention to the both of them. He could snift hesitation brought out by the question.

“Is it because of money?” Stephanie asked quietly and gently.

Li Yin could only nod.

Jae Jeoong had to admit that Stephanie was doing a better job than him. Jae Jeong can’t stand all this emotional stuff as he was very new in it. Jae Jeong will just let Stephanie handle it.

“For what?” Stephanie continued.

“I can’t tell you,” Li Yin answered.

Stephanie could understand Li Yin in this point. There was desperation in Li Yin’s eyes. Li Yin apparently had not wanted the both of them to know her financial situation. Somehow, she must had been worried also. Even though, Stephanie had thought that they were close enough friend, Stephanie had to admit it was a bit disappointing for her.

That Li Yin had not come to her.

Jae Jeong however, seemed to be unable to contain the disappointment from showing.

“Why? I don’t understand, Li Yin. You ought to be rich. Why is it that you have financial problem? You never did spend much,” Jae Jeong protested.

“It is for others,” she said timidly.

“Oh, yeah? For who? Can’t you have asked from your dad? I bet he is rich,” Jae jeong said with a louder voice.

“It is for my grandmum,” Li Yin said, softly.

It was amazing how that tone she used managed to drain the anger Jae Jeong was feeling. Jae Jeong suddenly detached himself from being angry and focused entirely on Li Yin.

A drop of tear fell onto the table. Li Yin quickly wiped her tear near her eyes, preventing herself from being so obvious. Stephanie started smacking Jae Jeong hard. Jae Jeong wailed in pain. Waiting her two silly friends, Li Yin finally laughed.

“Sorry, Li Yin. Jae Jeong was just being a worried mom. He didn’t mean anything else. And besides, I whacked him hard enough already,” Stephanie said.

“Yeah, and Stephanie was just being a pain …

Jae Jeong quickly stopped his words from coming out as he had earned a glare from Stephanie.

“Look, Li Yin. I know it is hard. Life is hard. But what are friends are for? Jae Jeong, as a dumb ass and I will listen even thought we can’t contribute much. You have no need to hide it from us,” Stephanie reassured.

“Thanks. I just don’t want to make you guys worried,” Li Yin said.

“Come on. A hug,” Stephanie demanded.

Li Yin stood up and hugged Stephanie. Li Yin was glad that she had Stephanie sometimes. Jae Jeong suddenly felt left out and tried to squeeze his way in between the both girls.

“What are you doing? Are you trying to take advantage, you pervert?” Stephanie yelled, extracting another laughter from Li Yin.

“Oh, come on. Mama felt left out,” Jae Jeong reasoned out.

“You want to die?” Stephanie threatened.

“Fine, mama doesn’t get a hug. Cheapskate, papa,” Jae Jeong pouted.

Li Yin laughed louder. She was glad she had friends like them.

Chapter Eight August 8, 2008

Chapter eight.

Stephanie was sitting next to Jae Jeoong. It was more accurate if it was stated that she dashed to sit next to Jae Jeoong. Like Jae Jeoong, she became somewhat involved and well, somewhat interested. Stephanie didn’t want to loss any chance of watching them, right in front of them. Jun Su comfortably took a seat across Jae Jeoong.

He was just smiling.

Li Yin was obviously fuming. She took a chair and stuffed herself with Stephanie.

Everyone refused to start. Jun Su just looked around. The other three were busy looking at the intruder. Li Yin was glaring at Jun Su and the other two were watching him with an interest.

“What are you doing here?” Li Yin finally broke the silence.

“I don’t know,” he answered.

“If you are here to persuade me, don’t even bother, Mr. Kim,” she said harshly.

“Persuade what?” Jae Jeoong asked.

“To model for him,” Li Yin answered curtly.

“Oh, it was just that. And here I am thinking something big had come up,” Stephanie exclaimed.

“Yeah, it was just simple but she got angry with me,” Jun Su quoted, asking for support.

“NO! You don’t understand Step,” Li Yin frantically whispered, trying to win back her support.

“Tell me then,” Stephanie demanded.

“That man there had asked me to pose naked!!!!!” Li Yin said, with a hint of disbelieve.

Jun Su suddenly found out that he was surrounded by Li Yin’s friends. It might be a bit of a disadvantage.

The two who weren’t really involved in the whole fiasco suddenly laughed.

He couldn’t believe it when the other two started laughing. He took a look at the frozen face of Li Yin and found her in his shoes too. They continued laughing for a whole minute and patted their stomachs. Then, they started to wipe an imaginary tear on their eyes.

The two who were really involved waited patiently for the two people that they considered as idiots to stop laughing.

When the laughter finally died down, they looked at one another and started to laugh again. This time, they managed to add in some comment before starting to laugh.

“BOY, you sure are horny, mister!” Stephanie said.

“When are you painting her? I want to come along. Purely for the sake of arts,” Jae Jeoong said, making Li Yin blush.

“That is some bullshit. Don’t believe him. Besides, this is Li Yin we are talking about. She might just as well turned into a tomato before you could paint her,” Stephanie said before managed to choke out before collapsing into another fit of laughter.

Both of them were too much into their world of laughter that they both didn’t realize that Li Yin was changing her mode from surprise into rage.

Li Yin stood up abruptly, making her similar action in the cafeteria repeating. Now, everyone had their eyes on her.

“YOU TWO!!!!” she said, fumbling for words.

Stephanie and Jae Jeong quickly exited their laughing fit and put on a façade of seriousness. Stephanie stood up and pulled Li Yin down, to be seated again.

“Yes. Yes. Hold your horses. Jae Jeong and I were only joking,” Stephanie reassured her.

Once the calm ambience returned, Jae Jeoong looked at Jun Su. Somehow, he didn’t like Jun Su. That was something unreasonable canny about this Jun Su guy and besides, Jae Jeoong doesn’t like anyone bothering his friend.

“Jun Su, you have to realize Li Yin isn’t that kind of girl. She will NEVER pose naked in front of any guy,” Jae Jeong explained, kindly watered down his ambitious wish.

“Yeah, it will be easier to ask an ant not to work,” Stephanie interrupts.

“Yeah. And why were you both laughing? Just now? Was it so funny?” Li Yin demanded. Obviously, she didn’t believ her two best friend to be pulling such a prank on her.

“Ooohhh, come on darling. We were just having our laughing moment,” Jae Jeong said, buttering up to Li Yin.

“Don’t you call me darling. I refuse to be your darling anymore. And you Stephanie?,” Li Yin said with a read face.

“Seriously, do you think I believe that you will take up the offer? I knew you better. You might as well die, you old fashioned girl,” Stephanie reasoned out.

That statement seemed to have an effect on her. She sat patiently and listened to whatever those other two rambled about.

Meanwhile, Kim Jun Su watched the whole dynamic happening in front of him. The three of them, as unlikely as their personality are, were mixing quite well.

Kim Jae Jeoong, his name bought him a pain in the neck. He seemed relatively more talkative and more relaxed in the companionship of these two girls. The fake and irrelevant smile was gone from his face. He seemed to be at his ease and more animated.

He didn’t put on a mask anymore in front of them.

Most probably, he felt he doesn’t need to.

As if he trusted them.

That thought was an annoyance to Jun Su.

Stephanie, he didn’t know much about. Heck, Jun Su didn’t even know what her last name is. However, there was something Jun Su knew about her. She was never a one to put on a mask. Words she thought and thoughts she had in her mind were quickly expressed. She felt no need to please anyone and she seemed to have only a concern, and that is her concern. Stephanie obviously found her two friends as valuable and she would do what she can do to help them.

They were obviously her concern.

Others, she gave not a single thought.

Lee Li Yin on the other hand, was more readable. She was a simpler character. She was studious, all out to her goal and more of an optimistic person. She had a more positive outlook of her life and seemed to be narrow minded in her thinking. Easily manipulated and easily read, she was a cheerful and a more determined character. Sometimes, Jun Su thought that a person like Lee Li Yin was a more dangerous character compared to Kim Jae Jeong and that Stephanie.

Because Lee Li Yin could simply attract people.

People like Kim Jun Su.

Watching the whole dynamic silently, Kim Jun Su felt like the three of them were separated from him with a screen. He seemed to be in front of them, and yet hardly, visible to them.

Friendship. It seemed that the screen was called friendship.

Chapter Seven August 8, 2008

Chapter seven

The rumours started to spread even when Jun Su was eating his lunch in the cafeteria. All of them wondered who they are and what they were discussion about until it resulted in a girl storming off.

They started to speculate and then, conclusions started to pop up like popcorn.

Ready to be distributed among the students.

The popcorn seemed to be juicier by every distribution. It just reflected how the student depends on rumours like this to entertain their life. The news didn’t miss Kim Jae Jeoong’s ears too.

A guy friend of his told him that Li Yin was actually pulling Kim Jun Su’s hair and slapped Kim Jun Su before storming off. That friend of his speculated that Jun Su had made Li Yin pregnant and refused to be responsible for it. Jae Jeoong had to laugh directly at that friend of his.

And at himself for thinking that the particular friend was actually worthy to be called as his friend. Maybe his money cut the point, his brain didn’t though.

Didn’t the friend of his know that if such an event is to arise in the college, this matter will be hushed immediately? The parents will demand for an abortion and then, everyone will pretend that nothing had happen. Then, there will be talking behind their backs.

“Lucky fellow. Fucking around. I want to ask whether she is good in bed,” that guy friend said.

Jae Jeoong had grown up and lived with this situation before.

He had learned to not be bothered. His father would have said the same thing.

He swore he will not be in contact with that dimwit anymore. His father would be amused when he could see his son’s hand formed a knuckle.

However, the so called fire in the forest wouldn’t have start without a smoke. Li Yin must had been involved with this Kim Jun Su guy and something must had happened with them.

That, Jae Jeoong was somewhat interested in.

Li Yin had just snapped at two busybodies in the bathroom. She had overheard that Jun Su and she had make out right in the public.

Those idiots.

Li Yin wasn’t at the best mood at all. She knew she had made a scene, entertaining the airheads here. The worst was she felt like she was treated like a cheap good by that Kim Jun Su.

How dare him? To ask her to be naked in front of him? Why don’t he just cut the chase and asked her to sleep with him?

That idiot. Who did he think she is? A prostitute?

Then, she remembered him smirking while watching her.

As if he had anticipated the rumours.

Then, why didn’t he warn her? Maybe he is enjoying it?

That jerk.

Li Yin had no mood at all for any class or any lecture that day. She might as well head to the café and work extra hard to take her mind off everything. Then, she groaned, remembering that Jae Jeoong would have also heard the news. That meant that she is going to be so dead.

The psychology lecture that day was boring. The lecture described on how the human are categorized with the name of the fluids.

For the first time, Jun Su was not paying attention. He wondered at first when he stepped into the lecture hall whether she will attend it. If she attends it, what would she do? Most probably glared at him. Jun Su had never met such an old fashioned girl.

It was just art.

Besides, she studied here. Didn’t that make her somewhat of a dumb blond too? Well, he reasoned with himself. There was always an exception and she was an exception. Unknowingly, he had found mocking Lee Li Yin somewhat amusing.

Stephanie placed her handphone into her locker. Once she walked out of the staff room, the phone rang only once. She didn’t hear it at all. She could only hear Li Yin walking into the café and was surprised that Li Yin was early.

Usually, she was due until she finished college and that was about two hours from then. She came in an irritated face. Something was wrong. Li Yin walked towards her locker and then, changed into her usual set of clothes for waitering. Then, without a word, she punched in and started grinding the beans. Then, she swept and wiped the floor.

It took her an hour to complete her task and finishing that hour, Jae Jeoong came in too.

Now, Stephanie was sure something was wrong because Jae Jeoong hated the café. He wasn’t on duty today. That had just proven that something major had happened.

Jae Jeoong walked to a table, hidden from the other customers and far away, not to be overheard. Then, Stephanie came to his table and sat down, as there weren’t any customer anyway.

“So, what is wrong?”

Jae Jeoong shrugged. “That is why I am here,” he answered.

“LI YIN!!!!” Stephanie yelled.

“WHAT?!” Li Yin yelled back too.

“COME HERE. A CUSTOMER IS CALLING FOR YOU,” Stephanie lied in a blooming voice.

Knowing Li Yin, she won’t come if she knew it was Jae Jeoong.

A polite voice suddenly intruded into their space, announcing a man’s voice.

“May I join too?” he asked.

Stephanie turned around and saw a boy with his spectacles on. He was wearing a t-shirt with a simple jacket above. Beneath, there was a jeans that goes along with his t-shirt. He presented himself in a most presentable way and yet, Stephanie couldn’t help but to feel that he was someone that doesn’t appear as he looked like.

“That depends,” Stephanie answered, demanding for information.

“I am Kim Jun Su,” he introduced himself.

Jae Jeoong exclaimed suddenly, “That is Him! Him alright! The one that impregnant our Li Yin!!”

HUH?

Stephanie turned around quickly to face Jae Jeoong.

“Yeah, and I supposedly make out with him,” an eerily silent voice said behind the three of them.

Things are getting interesting. Stephanie wished that she had bought some popcorn to chew while watching them.

Chapter six August 2, 2008

Chapter Six

Usually, Kim Jun Su didn’t have to wait for any call to come. People who knew him were the one that actually do the waiting. This time, it was different. He was waiting for a call.

While waiting for his call, he started doing some research for his assignment. Something about the law in business administration. He was doing it half heartedly. It was his first time to be involved personally in human resources. He was never the one doing unnecessary stuff like waiting for a girl. Today afternoon, he had waited for her.

Which was very odd to Kim Jun Su.

Jun Su felt like smacking himself silly. She may turn down the offer. She may need money desperately but she still may turn down the offer.

The phone rang suddenly.

He was surprised.

He waited for the phone to ring a few times before actually walking to it. The continuous ring of his phone showed the urgency of the caller.

It might actually be her.

He picked up the phone.

“Umm…. I know this sound so weird. But are you the one waiting for me by my car this afternoon?” she asked.

It was her.

Li Yin pressed the hang up button. Surprisingly, it was easy. He had just asked her to do some modeling for him. She was required to only stay in a pose for a while like an hour or two when he got the sketch down. Then, she could leave because he assured her that he just needs to draw fiction onto the sketch he had.

Here comes the tricky part.

He had to draw in his apartment alone with her.

How much she need the money?

She really couldn’t answer that and she couldn’t really make a decision.

In the end, she had promised to meet with him in school cafeteria for more discussion. In the end, she had no sleep at all, thinking and trying to remember his name again.

Lee Li Yin was waiting for her lunatic to come in a corner, well hidden from the noisy mouths of her college mates. Kim Jun Su deliberately came late for about five minutes. Her face was drawn into a face of relief when she saw him walking towards her.

She must have need money desperately.

Jun Su smiled at the poor girl and she quickly turned a shade redder. Jun Su liked this girl. She was such a naiveté.

It reminded him of her mother.

Li Yin quickly stood up and greeted him in a tone totally different from her tone yesterday. She was actually trying to talk politely. Jun Su took a seat and apologised for lack of punctuality.

She then said it was ok, meaning as long as he was here, it was ok.

What kind of job you mean?

She asked cautiously, trying not to sound so desperate.

Modeling.

Does it had to be your house?

She asked.

I mean wouldn’t it be more appropriate in a studio.

She tried to cover up her awkwardness.

Jun Su smirked, wondering how she would react when she heard what was actually in his mind.

I am planning to draw a portrait of you, nude. You want to do it in a studio?

Jun Su shrugged.

He then said that it was fine with him.

Li Yin looked like her soul had just been sucked out of her shell. It seemed that she had to turn down the job.

She would never let a total stranger to see her naked. All kind of disgusting thoughts went into her brain and preoccupied her brain momentarily.

Li Yin suddenly stood up and her action pushed her chair down. Her hand pushed her cup into instability and the drink spilled. Despite all this havoc, she could only stare at Jun Su. Jun Su wondered whether she was aware that she was getting all the attention now.

Jun Su just continued observing her.

Mister, that would be a no.

She refused flatly.

Jun Su was a bit surprised. He was going to offer a lump sum that would be sufficient enough for her to make her to jump into bed with him and he didn’t ask for that. He just asked her to model for him for arts. He needed her because he doesn’t simply draw anyone.

Just people that interest him.

She practically stormed off with her shirt, stained with her drink. Jun Su looked around and quickly saw his audiences’ eyes reverted back somewhere as but not to him. It appeared to him that the new girl and he, the introvert were about to be their topic soon.

He wondered how Li Yin would react.