Announcement October 7, 2008

I would like to thank all the reader, and it doesn’t matter to me whether it was those who left comment and those who remained silent.

I am a writer, proudly self proclaimed one.

I had written so much and recently, I had ventured into a more sadist and a dark genre. So, the newest piece I am currently working on is a PG 18 rated one.

I had hence, warned you all. It might not be suitable for young readers. Do proceed with caution and cease reading if it is suitable for you. ^^

The title would be Music.

Please God September 27, 2008

The poster above was done by llin whom I really adore. <3
Nice poster, good inspiration stuff until I can write an one shot about it.

Please God.

Please God
I just want more time,
please.

I slept on the bed and looked up at her. She had come with an apple and then, put it on the table next to my bed. I could see the redness of the apple from the side of my eyes.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” she cheerfully chanted.

She took a fruit knife on the bed and started peeling the skin out.

“Do you know that there was a legend saying that if you peel an apple in one go at exactly midnight in front of the mirror, you will see your future husband?” she said while peeling carefully with her head down.

I tried to smile.

“I had tried and I didn’t see you,” she said with a laugh.

She popped the slices of apple into her mouth and then, chewed on the crispy apple.

“It is so delicious. Do you want some?” she asked.

I was leaning against the bed. She was wiping my back which was covered with sweat. When she was done, she placed me in a wheel chair and walked me around the building.

“Jun Su? I am sorry,” she apologised as she squatted down in front of me.

Her bright, round eyes were glimmering with tears as I saw my own reflection in her eyes.

Don’t cry.
It is ok.

She smiled stupidly at me and I tried to reach her eyes to wipe it off. Or maybe do something which was more befitting me, pinched her cheek to annoy her. I tried but I can’t. She leaned forward and give me a gently peek at the lips.

I tried to smile.

She started blushing.

“It looked like I was taking advantage of you when in the beginning it was you who had taken advantage of me,” she said.

“Do you remembered this day, exactly five years ago?” she whispered.

How could I have forgotten? It was our wedding day.

Our wedding was very beautiful. I could still remember every details of it. Having you beside me official was something I could dream of. Do you remember that I had wanted to have a soccer team made up of our boys? You were complaining that I was treating you as a birth giving machine and I cuddled the angry you in my arms to comfort you. Soon, the angry dissipated into the air and we could always found the warm sensation in our hearts as we stared into one another.

Every time, when I walked down the road, reminiscing the I DOs, I smiled unknowningly.

At least I tried to smile.

Why are you asking me all this?
Li Yin, ah …
Stop walking the path to the past.

“Jun Su, I love you,” she said.

Me too.

She cried at my bedside as if I wasn’t going to wake up again. Han Kyung tapped her shoulder gently, and tore her away from me.

“Go and get some rest,” he advised.

“Han Kyung, the doctors said that he won’t last,” she tore herself from the grip that Han Kyung placed on her.

“Did you make the mental preparation?” Han Kyung asked.

“Jun Su, yah! JUN SU. Please don’t leave me alone. I still love you,” she said panicky and cried nonstop.

How can I leave you?

She shook me so hard and then, collapsed in fatigue. She had been sleepless for a few days continuously. Han Kyung quickly carried her off and that was the last time, I had ever see Han Kyung. He must have been very angry at me, for not even visiting me. He must have been angry at me for breaking my promise on not making her cry a single tear and yet, tears marked every steps of our marriage.

Han Kyung, please help her.
I beg of you.

Her visit had been less frequent and yet, brought much needed tranquility to me. However, one day, she came back.

“I am sorry. Han Kyung placed restraint on me. He said that I needed to get my health back at least to visit you, he made a big deal even with my parents,” she said with a laugh.

I tried to laugh at the mirthless humour.

She pushed me aside from the bed that I occupy and then, slept next to me. She traced my eyebrows with her fingers.

Her fingers.
I could see the bony fingers and the protrusions of her wrist.

“We always slept through morning together in the bed. I wished that I had agreed to build the soccer team with you. At least, a kid will remind me of you,” she whispered.

She ended the visit just with that sentence and said her byes.

I still can’t leave yet.
Let me at least see her smiling first.
Please God
I just want more time,
please.

Please God
I just want more time,
please.

He was sleeping in the bed as usual. How I wished that he was being lazy again.

“Morning, Jun Su,” I chipped.

He didn’t nod or replied as he usual did. I smiled warily.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” I said while shaking the apple to show him what I had brought to visit him that day.

I took a fruit knife on the bed and started peeling the skin out.

“Do you know that there was a legend saying that if you peel an apple in one go at exactly midnight in front of the mirror, you will see your future husband?” I said while peeling carefully while concentrating at the alternating strips of reds and white on the apple.

I held my head down and a tear dropped onto the apple. I hoped that he didn’t notice that.

“I had tried and I didn’t see you,” I said with a laugh.

He didn’t notice at all.

I raised him up slowly and then, took off his top. I leaned him back against the upraised pillow and ran to the small bucket with lukewarm water. I gathered the towel and wet it. I squeezed every bit of moisture out of the towel and ran back to Jun Su. I wiped gently and realized that his back was a bit oily due to the collection of his sweat.

I wiped the traces of oil away and with his back cleaned; I leaned against his body and heard his heartbeat, in steady rhythm. When I was fairly satisfy hugging his back, I jumped out of the bed and pushed the wheel chair to the bed. I tried to hold him up and struggled under his weight. In the end, I had to place him rather roughly on the chair.

“I am sorry, Jun Su,” I said as I realized that I wasn’t strong enough to hold on to him.

I am scared that one day, my love for him will wane.
He must wake up before that happens.

I leaned forward and got closer to him and peeked lightly on his lips. His lips still remained the same. I smiled and blushed at him.

“It looked like I was taking advantage of you when in the beginning it was you who had taken advantage of me,” I said.

He didn’t respond. I turned around to mask the disappointment on my face.

“Do you remember this day, exactly five years ago?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer me.

“Jun Su, I love you,” I said.

He won’t last. That was what the doctors told me. I am going mad.

Didn’t you promise me that you will be there for me forever?

I looked at him, at his steady rising chest.

Don’t you dare to break your promise.

How I wished that we can return to our mornings together. We will face one another and talked about anything under the sun. I had forgotten what we had talked about but I remembered the smile you gave me, the gentle face you had on when you brushed my hair aside, the pinching of my cheek whenever you are irritated by me.

Don’t go away, Jun Su. I still need you.

Han Kyung tapped my shoulder gently, and tore me away from him.

“Go and get some rest,” he advised.

“Han Kyung, the doctors said that he won’t last,” I said as I tore myself from the grip that Han Kyung placed on me.

“Did you make the mental preparation?” Han Kyung asked.

“Jun Su, yah! JUN SU. Please don’t leave me alone. I still love you,” I said panicky and cried nonstop.

I shook him so hard and then,

Jun Su ….

collapsed in fear.

I banged on the door so hard that, my palm was all red. I banged endlessly while calling out to someone to free me.

“HAN KYUNG! Let me out,” I bellowed.

I knew he was near by. I continued banging even though I knew that my cries are going to land on deaf ear.

“Mom, please let me out. I am not doing anything wrong,” I pleaded as I collapsed helplessly onto the floor with the aid of the gravity.

He might die anytime soon.
I want to see him so badly.
Please let me see him.

“He is ok, Li Yin. I called the hospital yet. He is still alive,” my mom whispered through the door.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes, dear. Please eat up or sleep. My heart ached watching you like this,” came a gentle voice.

“Mum, do you think you could let me out?” I asked.

I traced his eyebrows with my finger. It was still having the mountain shape that I always adored. There will always two mountains on his forehead.

I smiled warily.

I had traced his eyebrows when he threatened that I had to provide him a soccer team to play around. I quickly withdrew my fingers when I heard that and immediately pouted.

How I wished he can ask me that now.
I will say yes.

I think I am going to cry again. Quickly, I jumped off the bed and left him there.

Don’t take him away from me.
I don’t think I can breath without him.
Please God
I just want more time,
please.

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.

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.