People and Their Categories – Chapter 19 February 6, 2009

Chapter nineteen

Li Yin looked at the book in front of her and her vision started to become cloudy. The words started to twist themselves into meaningless scribbles. Li Yin guessed it was the tiredness she felt thanks to the holiday she had.

The holiday she spent on making more money in the café.

She was tired. She looked up from her book and scanned the surrounding. Everyone was busy studying in the library and some were even sleeping. The library sure was comfortable. It was well ventilated and quiet. Li Yin just needed to close her eyes and felt the ambience resonating around her.

She slowly dropped her head and slept on her book of economics.

It was two old clocks in the noon.

Jun Su walked around the library to find for an empty spot. He saw one cubicle with an occupant in it. He walked directly to that cubicle and saw Li Yin sleeping on her book. Luckily, the cubicle next to her was empty. He placed his book gently onto the table and sat on the chair provided. Then, he took out his favourite pen and the book he was supposed to digest that time. He popped his earphone into his ears and started reading his book.

It was four old clocks in the afternoon. Li Yin could felt something wet flowing down from her face. Automatically, she wiped the fluid off her face and heard a humming sound.

It sounded beautiful.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around for the source of the music. She held up her book and glanced to her left. A girl was sitting at her left. She was reading too and had her mp3 on. Li Yin thought that it was a bit deep, so she dismissed the idea that it was coming from the girl.

She turned to her right and saw a guy hidden in his own cubicle, reading too. His mouth wasn’t opened at all and yet, a beautiful sound came out from his mouth. She could only see the back of the guy.

If this guy were to accompany her in that competition, she might win.

Slowly, Li Yin took out her spiral bound notebook and tore a page out of it. She scribbled something on it and made the torn paper into a ball.

Then, she tossed it across, connecting herself and Kim Jun Su.

Kim Jun Su was surprised to see a crumpled up into a ball paper on his text books. Remembering that it was the library, he reached for it and sat straight up. At that moment, Li Yin saw Jun Su. Frighten that she had made a drastic mistake, she reached forwards and brushed Jun Su’s hand. Jun Su, a tad faster, moved his hands away.

“Return it!” Li Yin said.

All the heads which were buried in their books looked up at Li Yin. People started to complain that they need to get a room, not a library. Li Yin, sat down, flustered.

“Why don’t we go out?” Jun Su asked quietly, as he himself were adamant in not disturbing the peace for student like him which were studying in the library.

Li Yin packed her books as a sign of consent. Jun Su grabbed his stuff too and walked off with Li Yin out of the building. The both of them were quiet as they walked out the library and as they loitered around the campus.

Apparently, the both of them remembered the little peck they shared.

“I am sorry,”  the both of them said in unison.

Then, they kept quite again, both wondering how to proceed. Jun Su then remembered that he still had the crumpled paper in his hands. Slowly, he smoothen it and read it.

An untidy and readable scribble appeared on it.

Helo, I am Lee Li Yin. Would you join a best couple competition with me? I know this is very random but we most probably aren’t going to see one another again. SO, what the HECK?

Jun Su smiled.

“What is this?” he asked, looking directly into Li Yin’s eyes.

Li Yin just sighed. Her shoulders dropped in unison with her sigh.

“I need a fake boyfriend for this stupid competition. No matter how stupid it is, it came with a good reward. I thought it would be easy to get one. I just need to ask Jae Joong but Step got him,” she explained.

“Why did you choose me then?” Jun Su asked.

“I didn’t choose you. I chose your voice,” she answered frankly.

“What if it is not me? What if it is some random and dangerous guy?” Jun Su barked back.

“That is how desperate I am. I am collecting money or a plane ticket and …. I am sorry,” Li Yin automatically apologised.

“Good. What do I get out of this?” Jun Su said.

“Is that a yes?” she asked for confirmation.

“Yeah. It might be fun,” Jun Su said, hintingly.

Li Yin tried to control her face’s pigment that was very rebellious to show of her reddish pink blush. Jun Su automatically grinned and touched his hair.

Chapter eighteen November 12, 2008

Chapter eighteen

Jae Joong was hidden underneath the dark. Both Yun Ho and Stephanie didn’t see him at all. He thanked the Almighty for that. He seriously didn’t want to know more about the both of them. It seemed to be awkward situation for him to explain why he was here in the first place.

Stephanie had just run away and Yun Ho stood there watching. Now, Jae Joong could continue searching for his mother’s purse.

It was not that he minded.

The next day was a public holiday. It was a busy day for the café every year that day. The manager fully aware of that had asked his three employees to report to work at the opening. He told him that he will pay them extra. Li Yin was not to miss that chance. Stephanie had nothing to do and Jae Joong was bored.

The three of them gathered and started working mechanically.

They worked nonstop until after lunch which was the peak for the café. After lunch, the three of them took a break in the kitchen.

“Li Yin, can you pass me that cup with water? I am dehydrated in here,” Jae Joong complained.

Li Yin passed the water without a complaint. She handed the cup over with a beaming face. She kept on flashing her smile to Jae Joong.

Bewildered, Jae Joong asked,” What is it? Is there anything on my cheek?”

“No, it is just that you seemed extra kind today,” Li Yin replied casually.

“No, there is something. Definitely something. What is it?” Jae Joong got suspicious.

“I need a favour,” Li Yin pleaded.

“I won’t lend you money without IOU,” Jae Joong answered curtly.

“NO. NO. I don’t need your money. I need your body,” Li Yin slipped.

“BODY?” came the automatic reply.

Stephanie looked bewildered too. Apparently, Stephanie had been eavesdropping at their conversation when she was standing there. Both Li in and Jae Joong were too wrapped in their conversation that both of them had forgotten about Stephanie. Heaving a sigh, Li Yin took out a carefully folded paper out of one of the pocket on her apron. She then opened it and placed it properly onto the kitchen table.

The other two edged closer towards the table.

Both of them registered two different conceptions upon reading it. Stephanie saw the cash prize if she were to win the competition. It was might be used to pay her rents. It seemed suddenly the imaginary clouds above the ceiling opened up and a beam of heavenly light shone on the paper.

Stephanie was ready to throw her hands up and rejoice.

Jae Joong on the other hand was wondering what does that had to do with him.

Li Yin was still beaming at Jae Joong.

It was a while until the three of them snapped out of their reverie. Li Yin took the opportunity of confusion to ask Jae Joong a pivotal question.

“Do you want to be my partner in this competition?” Li Yin asked.

“Partner? But we aren’t in that sort of relationship,” Jae Joong desperately said.

“Of course. But you can help me by pretending to be my boyfriend,” Li Yin reasoned out as if it was supposed to be rightful.

“And why is it that Jae Joong had to choose you?” Stephanie suddenly butted in.

“Jae Joong, dear would you ever so kindly to accompany me in this competition? I am sure we will win,” Stephanie offered.

“I brought this up first,” Li Yin exclaimed loudly.

Girls were fighting over him. He had never thought that he would be the object between his friends. He was very sure that his new found friends won’t be like any other girls who killed at one another to have him.

“SO?” both of them demanded to Jae Joong.

Jae Joong felt threatened suddenly. He needed to come up with an idea. FAST. He started thinking and pushed a strand of hair behind. He had a dilemma. He didn’t want to side with anyone at all although he had preferred Stephanie over Li Yin as Stephanie was mysterious to him. On the other hand, Li Yin had brought the topic up and he had never wanted to disappoint Li Yin.

There was only one way to resolve this and he was sure both parties will agree to it.

“Let’s draw lot,” Jae Joong said while walking to the utensils box.

He took out a spoon and fork and showed them these two apparatus of eating.

“Whoever who get the spoon, will be my partner,” he announced as he turned with his back facing them. He hid the utensils with his both hand, covering both the spoon and fork. When he was satisfied, he turned back again to face them and held out two closed knuckle.

“Choose,”

Li Yin can’t believe her tough luck. She had picked fork. She had lost Jae Joong to Stephanie. She worked her anger out on the dishes later on in the evening and every speck of uneaten food was imagined with their image on.

Both the other two knew she was in a bad mood and tactfully avoided her that day.

As she stood there, next to the skin, she wondered whether she can find someone to be her fake boyfriend for that competition.

Jae Joong can’t hide his smile when he saw Li Yin drawing out a fork from his hand.

Sorry, buddy. Cant help you there.

Li Yin must had seen the smile on his face and shot a glare. Jae Joong walked towards Li Yin’s back and messaged her shoulder. Li Yin automatically closed her eyes.

“You can always find someone else,” Jae Joong comforted.

“Yeah. Li Yin, I am sure that there are tonne of guys out there. We will have a fair competition with you,” Stephanie said, all geared up.

Li Yin sighed. Stephanie felt bad for Li Yin and partially glad that she can avoid finding a fake boyfriend when she saw Li Yin sighed.

Chapter seventeen November 12, 2008

Chapter seventeen.

Yun Ho sent off his client. He waved bye to Mr. Kim and his mother. Then, later on, he walked into the backstage and congratulated the dancers and the crews. It was his job as the representation of the sponsor. He shook hands for the millionth time that night and then, thank them for their cooperation.

Yun Ho’s face was beginning to be sore a bit.

Too much smile and too much engaging in intellectual talks.

He walked around in the back stage and then, the heroine came and greeted him naturally. Yun Ho was going to smile again.

“Are you coming, Mr. Jung?” the petite dancer. She was still in her ballerina shoes.

“Where to?” he quizzed politely.

“To the celebration party, of course,” she chipped cheerfully.

the end of a successful performance usually seemed to be a drug for those dancers. They tend to be hyperactive despite the tiredness in their body. Tomorrow, they will really be beat, drained of energy until they won’t even have the ability to drag themselves out of the bed.

Yun Ho had felt that before. He had also performed in an hour play that really almost drained him emotionally and physically. Stephanie then, who was his partner hadn’t been very helpful as she was the one pushing them to practice together.

“Is everyone coming?” Yun Ho asked.

“Well, you are paying, you decide,” she replied.

“Everyone is coming then,” Yun Ho said with a genuine smile for the first time that night.

Jae Joong waas tired. The play had been mediocre only to Jae Joong’s opinion. Well, he seemed to be born without the whole artsy side. Stuff like this, was just something he had to endure. He had learnt not to fall asleep during play like this. He leaned back and rubbed his temples. He was about to fall asleep.

He could only hoped that they will reach home quick and then, he can just stripped himself out of the uncomfortable coat and sleep his heart out.

The driver turned into his street when his mother suddenly exclaimed that she had left her purse in the hall. She then turned around and beamed at Jae Joong.

“My dear son, would you please go and collect my purse there?” she asked.

“I would very much mind,” Jae Joong answered with a smile.

“You don’t expect me, a lady to go out so late now, do you?” his mom countered.

“Well, I never expected a lady like you to forget an important item at a public place,” Jae Joong replied.

“Well, I never thought I would stoop as low as an old, forgetful lady that had to beg his only son to do something for her,” she said, withdrawing out sympathy from Jae Joong.

Jae Joong raised up his hands to surrender.

The driver sent his mother back into his mansion and then, the driver and Jae Joong went back to the hall.

Both of them were cursing their luck.

They traveled in silence and then, Jae Joong almost fell asleep. He yawned countless time. The car stopped in front of the hall and it was pitch black. It seemed to be impossible to retrieve the purse now.

Nevertheless, Jae Joong stepped out of the car and went into the security room. He talked with one of them and offered his identification card for them to hold onto while he went inside to search for the purse.

Jae Joong guessed the coat and the car made them bent the rules a bit.

Jae Joong walked into the hall. He stopped halfway and saw a ballerina dancing on the lighten stage.

She was really graceful. Her slender forearms made a gorgeous swish to the side and then, she danced en pointe to the centre of the stage. She turned and jumped high enough to appear to be floating.

It was very animating.

“You are amazing,” Yun Ho praised.

Stephanie turned around and saw Yun Ho walking steadily towards her. He walked with grace as usual. His tie was loose and he looked extremely hot. Stephanie had never seem Yun Ho in a formal attire except in sweat shirt and tights.

“But how can you be lifted without a partner?” Yun Ho questioned.

Automatically, Yun Ho grabbed firmly at her waist and lifted her easily off the ground. She was breathless for a moment.

He carefully placed her on the stage and then, she sat down.

“Why weren’t you at the party?” he asked.

“They won’t miss a minor like me,” she answered.

“But I missed you,” Yun Ho said, directly.

Stephanie blushed and collected her bag which was on the stage. She ran out of the hall, oblivious to Jae Joong who had been witnessing her dance and her short conversation between Yun Ho.

She still can’t believe how much influence Yun Ho had on her.

Her heart had raced when she saw him.

Even after so long.

Chapter sixteen October 18, 2008

Chapter sixteen.

A whole month passed without any incident. Li Yin was very thankful for that. She had received a call from Han Geng, informing her of her grandmum’s condition.

She was improving.

That was already good news. Li Yin started humming in the kitchen while working. Life was improving and Jae Joong and Stephanie weren’t fighting as much as usual for the last month.

Today, it was Li Yin’s turn to close the shop. Stephanie had complained of headache and had gone of early. She had left at four in the afternoon. She wore an apologetic face and dashed off. Li Yin sent her off too.

Now, after she had heaved the chairs onto the tables, she was starting to walk away into the kitchen to turn off the light. She walked past a notice board and glanced at it for a while. Deciding that there was nothing interesting enough, she walked into the kitchen. In a few seconds, she turned around and walked back to the board.

There was something interesting.

And Li Yin will kill herself if she had really missed the advertisement on that board.

An advertisement promoting a couple competition was on that board.

It clicked into Li Yin’s brain like a coin dropped into a piggy bank.

Stephanie dashed to a convention hall and back into the back stage where the dressing rooms were. Today, she had cut work and had to attend a ballet theater since she was one of the minor dancers there.

Today could be her lucky chance. She might even get officially recognized here and then, maybe it could lead to a better future for her. Then, she will tell her dad that and then, wiped that arrogant smirk away. Luckily for her, Li Yin didn’t suspect anything.

In fact, Stephanie wasn’t sure why she hid it from Li Yin.

Nevertheless, now, she will not allow herself to be preoccupied with guilty trips. She will concentrate and it still won’t be too late for her to tell Li Yin. She hurried and changed into her costume, put on her ballerina shoes and did some stretching.

She was ready for her lucky chance now.

Jae Joong was invited to watch a ballerina theater upon the invitation of his dad’s client. His dad can’t make it though and passed the baton to his son, Jae Joong. Jae Joong asked his mom to accompany him, just to bring someone along with him. He was tired of calling his college mate at the very last minutes and they always wanted him to entertain them.

Why bother?

He can’t even ask Li Yin or Stephanie who were working their ass off in the café. No, Jae Joong won’t dare to disturb them. Jae Joong can’t possibly forfeit his presence because it was a very important client that had invited him. In the end, it was his mom that had been forced to accompany him.

He and his mom prepared for the theater and the driver drove the both of them to the conventional hall. The hall was the famous conventional hall for the upperclassmen, like him.

The hall was famous of holding many famous plays, foreign plays, like Cats, Romeo and Juliet. Jae Joong often found him in hall like this despite his reluctant.

It came with the job description of being the son of a corporate CEO. He had no choice. He slid into his car and immediately, his driver gave him a thin folder. As usual, this folder indicated the client’s information and it also slightly hinted the importance of that client. Jae Joong impatiently flipped open the file and skimmed through.

Jung Yun Ho?

His mom oblivious to the file was pretty excited. His mom loved all this, all the fancy party, theaters, being grown up as a lady. He smiled. Even if he was half heartedly attending events like this, Jae Joong could feel the joy from his mother. His mother was a housewife, dedicated to house chores and shopping. Seldom, she seemed to have a reason of social life. He was glad that he came out with his mother today.

Hopefully, it won’t be too boring.

Jung Yun Ho waited patiently for the arrival of Mr. Kim. He had just recently graduated from the business administration and this was his first task since his graduation. He had taken business administration as his first major and then dance as his second. He and his dad had worked out an agreement that he could take up dancing if he put business as the first priority in his life.

He agreed upon the condition that as long as he had the grade enough to satisfy his dad, his dad will not meddle with his dancing class.

His dad agreed and once again, acknowledged that his son was going to be the one bringing up his company and maintaining its glory.

Dancing could just be his hobby.

Everyone needed a hobby.

A black sleek Mercedes stopped at the front door and a young man younger than him stepped out of it. He carried himself with confidence and waited upon the door for an older woman to come out. It was most probably his mother, judging from the slight canny facial expression they both had.

The young man walked towards Yun Ho and reached out a hand. Instinctively, Yun Ho shook his hand. The young man introduced himself as the Mr. Kim’s junior.

Yun Ho mildly smiled. Yun Ho didn’t expect the senior Mr. Kim to come, but nevertheless, it was a tad disappointing for him. The lady was introduced as Mrs. Kim. Yun Ho graciously led them to their seat and conversed with young Mr. Kim.

The theater started, relieving Yun Ho of his duty to converse interesting to Mr. Kim. Yun Ho watched attentively towards the ballet performance. It was based on a story. Yun Ho could guess that it was a tragic one.

Suddenly, one minor character caught his attention.

The maid-in-waiting seemed familiar. His heart pounded hard against his rib cage.

It was her.

Chapter fifteen October 18, 2008

Chapter fifteen

Stephanie went back to her small room. It was one of the room in the apartment that she shared. There were other tenants in this apartment but she chose to have a small room for herself.

Privacy was important to her.

She knew she was weird and others might not have the mentality to get use to her. She knew she didn’t have them. As a result, she had taken literary the smallest room ever existed there. It was just adequate to place a single bed and a small closet and then, a small pathway which was just two or three steps the most to the door.

Yes, it was that small.

As small as her world was.

Her world consisted of dancing, café, eating and sleeping. She was a dance major. She had came all the way from the outskirts to realize her dream of being a dancer. It had been eventful and she won’t deny it. However, she had never regretted it.

She lied down on her bed with spread arms above her head. She then stretched and puffed out a deep breath.

It was another day.

Then, with all her worries puffed out along with evaporated water out of her mouth, she felt asleep, oblivious to her phone ringing thrice.

Jae Joong was free for the day. He had finished his assignment from college and now, he was heading for living room. It was a Wednesday. He liked his Wednesday because he had the less activities out of any other weekdays. In the morning, he had class starting from nine and then, it ended at ten thirty.

At eleven, it was the café until one in the afternoon, or at least until one something, depending on Li Yin.

Usually, Li Yin and he always take lunch together. They will seat together and talked about movies which was on theaters. Jae Joong liked the idea that they talked only about them, not planning to watch them. That was the difference between Li Yin and the other girls. They wanted to go out, to see the movies, to go pick up something for a couple of hours.

Basically, they took up his time and they weren’t not interesting.

Which clothes looked best on me?

They were asking that when they held up a bright pink tshirt and then a bright blue miniskirt. It was a totally different material. For god sake, how was Jae Joong supposed to answer that? One was for the top and the other was for the bottom.

So, Jae Joong picked up something else from the shelf and showed that person. She was very amazed and more offers to go to the shopping mall came in.

It had to stop somewhere, Jae Joong thought.

Luckily for him, he had an excused then. He had to work, less time to go shopping. He said that regrettably to those girls.

Those girls were understanding though. Then, they asked where he worked. He lied that it was some café belonged to his fathers. Then, he excused himself, saying that he need to see some lecturer.

It was the end of their encounter for that day.

Jae Joong had never had the patience for girls like that, the one that was practically stalking him. However, he had a reputation to uphold. He needed to be courteous to them. They were daughters to important corporate CEO.

He walked down to the living room and saw his mother with his father enjoying the television. It was a talk show. Both of them were laughing. It was quite surprising for Jae Joong as he saw his dad there. His dad were always busy.

“Don’t you have work at the office?” Jae Joong asked.

“Yes. I came back for an hour and then, I will returned to the office for more paperwork,” his father answered.

That was his dad. If he doesn’t need to entertain his clients, he will return home and talked with either Jae Joong or his mum. Someday, Jae Joong will found someone he really love and then, he will take over his dad’s position.

As a great father and a great husband.

Kim Jun Su felt indifferent. Today’s event kept rewinding and then playing in his mind. Sometimes, he caught himself smiling.

He went home immediately after sending Li Yin off and met his maid at home.

“Wow, you seemed happy today,” his maid commented.

Usually, he won’t have a chance to meet  his maid. It was because she was hired to work half day and it was thrice a week. She was supposed to wash up the whole apartment and then, leave after she was done. The last time, he saw her was last week.

It seemed to him that his maid was the constant point in his life.

Well, at least constant enough to notice that he was happy that day.

Chapter fourteen September 22, 2008

Chapter fourteen

Li Yin came back home, exhausted and found her dad’s study alight. Her dad wasn’t asleep despite the late hours. Maybe this was the best time to talk to her dad about the problem she had since both of them were tired.

It was also very hard it seemed for Li Yin to find her dad at home. It was either the school and the café for Li Yin and for her dad, it was either the office or the house.

It might be more appropriate to do it now since they both don’t have the energy to fight. She then walked towards the study room and knocked on the door. A muffle of acknowledgement was heard from inside. Li Yin placed her hand on the knob and then, pushed the door opened. Her father was busy typing and stopped doing so. He lifted his head and saw his daughter.

Her dad, Lee Soo Man took of his spectacles and rubbed his temples. He was tired. He closed his eyes while Li Yin took a seat on the sofa placed in front of the big office table.

“Dad?” Li Yin enquired gently.

Automatically, he opened his eyes and wore a smile. He then replaced his spectacles in its rightful place and walked towards the sofa. He then sat down directly across Li Yin.

“How is school? Any boy bothering you?” his father questioned randomly.

“NO!”

Li Yin’s heart automatically skipped a beat and her face turned a shade redder. She quickly turned her face away so that it could be hidden away from her father’s view.

“Or are you the one bothering the boy?” her dad quizzed her again with a smile.

“DAD!” Li Yin warned.

Her father gave a heartily laugh and threw himself back against the comfortable sofa.

“So, what or who do I owe this honour of meeting my daughters?” he asked.

It was so odd to hear that from him, as he seemed to realize that the question totally painted the relationship between him as his daughters. They had only meet in occasions when they only need one another. It was understandable to both of them the reason for all of this. It was his wife and her mother. Both of them with this relation to this particular person had made it almost impossible for them to have a normal chat with one another on random topic.

They were fine with it though, since they had never experience that no-string-attached relationship before.

How can you experience a loss when it was never being belonged by you before?

“Dad, I need some money,” she stated.

It was an understatement alright. It wasn’t some money, she need a lot.

Her father stood up and walked towards the table. He opened his drawers and drew out his chequebook. He then reached for a pen that was being held by the pen holder.

“How much, dear?”

“Er, 10 000?”

“Er, what for?”

Li Yin put on a panic face. It was too much to ask from her dad but that is exactly the amount she need.

“Dad, grandmum is ill at home. Han Geng, he called me. She needed the money soon for the operation. I tried not to ask from you, I tried to look for money but the money I earned was simply not enough,” she explained while choking on her tears.

Her tears had been threatening to fall down very soon. She quickly wiped the tears that was starting to collect. Her father’s expression soften a bit and soon, a worried frown formed.

“Dear, I really can’t give you so much. At least not in such a short time. What if your mother know?” he explained.

Li Yin felt betrayed. That grandmother had been from her mother side. She wanted to yell at her dad. Isn’t her grandmum who needed that money urgently to save her own life more important now than her mother?

But she didn’t, as she didn’t wish to wake her mother who was sleeping to wake up.

“Dad, I begged you. Please, bank in that money now. She really really need the money now. PLEASE,” Li Yin pleaded as tears really flown down now.

“Sorry, Li Yin,” her dad apologised.

She stopped breathing. Her dad took hold of her and hugged her tightly. He started to rub her back and then, Li Yin started sobbing.

“I am so sorry, for not being able to provide for you a home. Don’t worry, I will transfer that money now for her. She will be safe, thank to God,” her dad whispered into her ears.

Li Yin now sobbed as she broke down with relief.

“I wish that I could buy you and me a plane ticket to visit her too, but Li Yin we can’t. You understand that?” he comforted her again.

Yes, Li Yin understood. That was why she was in this mess in the first place. She was too understanding.

It was nobody’s fault in this case.

Sometimes, she felt really frustrated in her situation. Who can she blamed for all this? Who can she yelled to? Surely, not her dad who had tried everything he could to save his family. Surely, not her, as she didn’t ask for this herself.

She hugged her dad back. They were in this together. They needed one another, it was already written down on the job description in being the daughter or father of one another.

That, Li Yin guessed made up the loss she and her dad suffered.

The reassurance of them being there for one another.

Chapter Thirteen September 21, 2008

Chapter thirteen

Li Yin tip toed into the kitchen. She was already late for work. After the fiasco with Jun Su, she can’t possible attend to her waitress’s job with wet clothing. Then, she drove back to her place and changed into a new set of attire. From her home, she drove back to the café and now that she was here, it felt very weird. When she was that late, she would have expected the both of them greet her with a wide smile, a relief smile indicating that they won’t need to see one another for a while at least until the next day.

Today, it was very weird. She had come in running from her car with the umbrella in her hand. The bell above the café should have been enough to announce her arrival. Then, she walked into the kitchen and saw that the both of them were busy. Jae Joong was busy cooking up an order and Stephanie was flipping an egg. Next to the pan she was using, there was a plate with two sunny side eggs.

Li Yin tapped Stephanie’s shoulder.

“Oh, you are here. Good. Jae Joong, you can head home now,” ordered Stephanie.

Jae Joong patted his back and then, stretched a bit out of weary. He took one of the eggs and gulped it down at one go.

Something seemed very wrong here.

They are actually coexisting for at least 5 minutes without involving whacking.

Jae Joong then got himself a drink and then sat down on the stool placed near the kitchen table. Stephanie came back with the plate with two eggs and sat down. Jae Joong reached another glass of water for Stephanie and offered her a drink. Stephanie thanked him and gulped down the water.

Li Yin was sure that there was a session of whacking missing in the middle. Then, after satisfying his hunger, he took off the apron and walked out of the kitchen.

Li Yin’s curiosity started to itch as she ran to and fro the kitchen. It continued to itch until the very end when they were closed for the day. Locking the door and turning the open-close tag, Li Yin starting to wonder how she can ask her without being an irritant.

Stephanie was just picking up a chair and then placed it on top of the table. Li Yin followed suit.

“So, what is it between you and Jae Joong?” Li Yin casually asked.

“Oh, nothing?” Stephanie answered.

“Nothing?” Li Yin repeated, disbelieving Stephanie’s nonchalant answer.

“He just helped me a bit. That was it,” Stephanie protested.

Li Yin raised an eyebrow. Stephanie puffed out a breathe, raising a white flag.

“Well, today, a pervert molested me in the café. He smacked my butt,” Stephanie explained.

“Eww, who is he? So, when did Jae Joong come into the picture? Did he like help you and smacked that pervert in the face?” Li Yin expressed interest.

“No. He wasn’t really there in the first place,” Stephanie said.

“Huh? I am sure he was there and didn’t help you at all. That ass. He is going to get it the next time when I see him,” Li Yin said.

Every word slipped through her mouth pounded with anger. It was actually cute to Stephanie. It had been a long time since she had people like Jae Joong and Li Yin around her, those who will show their concern in their own way. Nevertheless, it showed that they both cared about her. She thought that once she had stepped out of the house, she would be alone in this wide world.

Li Yin still piled up those chairs with vigorous movement that needed unnecessary energy. Stephanie chuckled.

“No, it wasn’t because Jae Joong didn’t help me. It already happened when he noticed. Besides, that pervert is a customer. Can’t really do much,” Stephanie comforted Li Yin.

Li Yin stopped and turned around to face Stephanie.

“Lol. Why are you helping him now?” Li Yin asked.

“No, nothing,” Stephanie said, while trying to put on an air of nonchalance again.

“Nothing again?” Li Yin questioned her.

“So, why are you always looking at the black umbrella there?” Stephanie changed the topic.

Stephanie had caught Li Yin taking out the umbrella out of her bag for a few times and stuffing it back into her bag again in her break. Then, she sighed again for a few times.

“No, it was nothing,” Li Yin said.

It was a turn of the table.

“Nothing?” Stephanie repeated.

“Yes, NOTHING,” Li Yin said firmly.

They both laughed at one another.

“Then, whose is it?” Stephanie investigated further.

“Oh, it was Jun Su. He lent it to me,” Li Yin answered innocently.

“Isn’t that guy the one that wanted to draw you naked? Li Yin, please be careful. I really don’t want to anything to happen to you,” Stephanie warned her.

“You know what?” Li Yin said, gathering attention. Stephanie turned around.

“I am seriously not sure,” Li Yin said slowly, while unconsciously touched her lips.

Chapter twelve September 21, 2008

Chapter twelve.

Kim Jae Joong wasn’t in a mood to joke around. Li Yin was starting to be late. Today, wasn’t his day. He had fallen down in the campus and became the clown momentarily. He had left his assignment at home and the professor didn’t believe that he left it at home.

He went into the café, expecting a rough day from around eleven to one in the afternoon from Stephanie but surprisingly, Stephanie hadn’t beaten his head once.

That was the only plus point of the day.

Jae Joong thought as he punched on the key on the computer screen to signal to the kitchen that a customer wanted black coffee. That customer, he swore was giving him a look too, as if he wasn’t satisfied with Jae Joong.

Well, I don’t give a damn, Jae Joong shot back in his mind.

Jae Joong stormed into the kitchen and the black coffee was already ready to be served. Jae Joong grabbed the coffee and with a slip of hand, his apron turned brownish. He cursed his bad luck. Stephanie quickly grabbed a clean towel and wiped his apron. With the same towel, she kneeled down and wiped the floor. With the experience of a waitress, she dashed to the kitchen table again to fulfill the order again. Jae Joong quickly changed into another clean apron and thank god for the existence of the apron.

He then went out to attend to other customers. He will have to remember to buy Stephanie a sandwich to thank her later on. He took more orders from the patrons and wished that the boss will actually hire more people.

It was mad out there.

In a few minutes, Stephanie stepped out of the kitchen and bought the black coffee out carefully. Then, she asked Jae Joong for the table which was supposed to be ordering it and Jae Joong quickly shot back an answer.

Stephanie nodded her head, signaling that she will be heading towards the table soon. Jae Joong walked behind her as he was heading towards the same way. Stephanie placed the cup carefully.

As she was turning back, that patron hit her butt.

Jae Joong was speechless. The other patrons who saw that kept quiet too.

What Stephanie did next was more surprising. She walked straight into the kitchen and didn’t come out until that pervert exited from the café. It was then, when he stepped out of the café, Jae Joong felt that he could breathe again.

Stephanie was chopping madly when she was inside the kitchen. Actually, she was spoiling the knife by supposedly grinding those coffee beans but she didn’t give a damn.

Imagining that those beans were small images of the perverted patron, she slashed out on them, making them powdery. Jae Joong chose that time to enter the kitchen and actually, saw that. He shivered. Stephanie continued chopping until she was drained of energy. She put down the knife, causing Jae Joong to sigh with relief and placed her hands around her waist. She then strolled around the kitchen again and picked up the knife again. She then strolled madly with the knife around the kitchen table like how those aborigines danced around a bush fire.

“ARRRRGHHHH! That guy!!!!!!! That is it. There will be one more voodoo doll with his name on it!!!!!!!!!!” Stephanie yelled out, trying to calm herself down.

Jae Joong had wanted to ask how was she but Jae Joong thinks it is a tad unwise then.

Stephanie stepped towards Jae Joong and Jae Joong took a step backwards. It was like tango where the gentleman was supposed to lead and the lady followed his lead. The reality was a totally different case. Stephanie seemed to be the one taking the lead now with sadistic thoughts forming in her mind and Jae Joong was the one following it in a twisted way. Jae Joong had never seen Stephanie up close.

If he wasn’t in a grave situation, he would be scanning her again.

Then, Jae Joong’s back hit the wall and literary he could see his tombstone in the near future. Stephanie was very close to her. If he wasn’t in this kind of situation, ….

And as sudden as Stephanie became crazy to him, Stephanie took a step backwards, freeing Jae Joong. Jae Joong stepped away from the wall and heard a mutter of apologies.

“It is ok. I can totally understand it,” Jae Joong quickly buttered up to Stephanie in order to avoid such situation with her again.

Stephanie kept silence. The danger alarm started to ring again. Stephanie might start chasing him with the knife which was still in her possession.

“I think it is cool,” Jae Joong said.

“You think it is cool? To be molested?” Stephanie demanded with the hand holding the knife raising.

“No. NO. I think it is cool how you handled it. How you suave you are when walked off like that,” Jae Joong said quickly to save his skin.

“Yeah. Yeah. I rather lose that suaveness than to be molested. The next time I see him, I will run him over,” Stephanie said in anger.

“Then, why didn’t you say how you felt just now?” Jae Joong asked.

“Because it is a café and he is a patron,” she answered as if it was supposed to make sense.

To Jae Joong, it did make sense. Customer was always right regardless of how unreasonable they are. It was the law in the world of commerce. Both of them knew that existence of that law. If she kicked up a fuss, the whole environment would be too inconvenient for the others. It wasn’t good for business.

“Besides, you are there and you felt bad for me. It was enough,” Stephanie reasoned out for him.

“Stephanie, I promised you. Next time, I will be the one handling him when you or Li Yin here,” Jae Joong said with sincerity.

Then, he had better remind Li Yin.

To Stephanie, she was amazed with the sense of responsibility Jae Joong had. She didn’t know that there was this side of Jae Joong. She had only thought Jae Joong as a lazy and clumsy man. Today, he had shown someone else, someone that Stephanie thought as a dependable person.

“Stephanie, next time, you can always be angry at me minus the knife and well, because you looked sexy doing that,” Jae Joong praised.

Stephanie took everything back at that instance. A pervert will always remains as a pervert. There was no exception.

Chapter Eleven September 3, 2008

Chapter eleven

Lee Li Yin was very sure that the last time she saw the keys was after the break. She had pocketed the teddy bear keys into her bag and felt the lump from protruding from her bag. Then, she headed towards the lecture hall where the Psychology lecture was being held. Then, she attended the lecture for about an hour and dashed out.

Once she had finally walked all the way to the car park, she started to search madly for the keys and even poured out the content of her bag. Certain that it was not with her, she treaded back to the hall. She was getting irritated.

It was a long walk from the hall to the car park and later, she had to work in the café.

Then, she had to see that fellow again.

That Kim Jun Su, perverted man.

The one that she had too sit next to.

It wasn’t a joy. So, once the lecturer dismissed them, she literary pushed all her stuff into her bag and dashed out. Now, she was walking back to the hall. She was hoping that she won’t need to see that fellow. Her jaw dropped when she saw him again in the hall.

He was also packing.

Great.

It wasn’t a good day after all. She walked passed him and started searching for her keys. Jae Joong will be shrieking at her when she arrived there, at the café.

Why does she felt a bit déjà vu? Didn’t this happen to her before?

She was late and stopped by a guy who leaned against her car. Now, she was late and stopped by a car key.

Wasn’t it exactly the same?

She laughed at herself.

She couldn’t find her keys anyway. It was getting late and that fellow didn’t have any show any indication of leaving. He was still taking his own sweet time packing. She started to sweat a bit. The key was going to cost a lot.

That was it. She was going to call Jae Joong and hoped that he will forgive her. Then, she was going to call her dad and hopefully, her dad wasn’t using his driver. Then …

“Are you looking for this?” said a voice.

Li Yin at that time was searching for her keys beneath the table. She looked up and saw Jun Su jiggling the keys with a triumph smile on his face.  She could only felt angry.

“Yes. It is mine. Can you please hand it over?” she said coldly.

“How do I know whether it is yours? Did you write your name on it?” Jun Su questioned.

Li Yin reached out and showed her palm, hoping that Jun Su would just drop her keys into her palm. Jun Su did exactly the opposite from what she hoped. He held the key higher. Li Yin quickly stretched and reached for it. Jun Su brought it higher again. Li Yin suddenly wished that she was just a little taller than him.

A little would do.

That was what she thought and concentrated so much upon until she had reached her limits. Junsu was also on his toes. Both of them were so into this silly game until they both didn’t realize that they were exposing themselves to a fall. Li Yin leaned forward onto him and he leaned backwards. Both of them were dangerously close.

Li Yin stretched for the last time and Jun Su pulled his hands backwards. Li Yin lost her balance and fell on to Jun Su who was depending on his toes then. Jun Su found the additional weight burdensome and automatically, dropped the keys. His free hand and fingers wrapped automatically around her waist. He hugged her and both of them felt together. Like some cliché movie, they fell and their lips smacked directly on one another. Unfortunately for her, her lips had the thinnest skin on it. The nerve endings underneath those layer of skin, felt the soft lips of Jun Su. Unable to believe her touch luck, she closed her eyes all the way and even stood up with her eyes closed, while stepping Jun Su on his fingers. Jun Su screamed in pain and Li Yin dashed out of the hall.

She didn’t stop until she reached the parking lots.

Jun Su recovered from his pain and then, he dashed too. Luckily, she couldn’t run that fast, or he would lose her.

He saw the back of her and ran along with her.

She stood crouching next to her car once she reached the car. Her hand was on her chest and she was panting heavily. Jun Su stopped for a bit and waited patiently for her to calm down. Then, Jun Su wiped her saliva of his mouth and smiled to himself.

Once she was able to stand up, Jun Su approached her slowly.

“You forgot these,” he said while waving the keys.

Jun Su beeped the car open and he then opened the door for Li Yin. Li Yin was too baffled to do anything but to do what he was indicating that he should do.

Jun Su waited for Li Yin to slide into her car and then, he drew nearer to Li Yin.

“A present for the kiss just now,” he said.

It got Li Yin baffled again.

She started her car and realized something solid beside her legs.

It was a black umbrella.

Out of the confusion that had just happened, she didn’t realized that it was raining.

She drove off and saw him waving bye from rear mirror.

He was all wet.

And he was waving bye to him.

That idiot.

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.