“Hello?” said Danny after a long
pause. “I’ll call you back. I’m sorry” I said and switched the phone off. I
knew that he would be really pissed off but what’s most important right now is…
Minho? He just smiles and said “Annyeong (hello)” I greeted him back. I don’t
know why but the atmosphere became awkward. “Are you staying here now?” he said
to break off the awkwardness. “Ne (yes)” I replied simply. In my heart was a
mixture of feelings - happy, sad and confused. It became silent again. My mind
went completely blank. I didn’t know what to say or respond. I was stiff like a
rock. He even looks like a statue, just standing there in front of me with that
smile. Oh, how I miss that childish smile of his. Suddenly, I felt like crying
because of joy not because of sadness. “I didn’t know you live here…” my voice
trailed off because of wanting to refrain myself from crying in front of him.
“Uh, that’s because I didn’t tell you about it. Are you here because of another
assignment?” he asked me. “No. I already graduated. Mom wanted to move here.
So… I moved…” Not knowing what to do next I asked for my leave when suddenly
Taemin appeared. “Hyung, we have to go now or else we’ll be late” he walked out
the door and looked at Minho. He didn’t see me so I said “Annyeong, Taemin ssi”
he turned around facing me and was startled “Omo! Aiman ssi? Is it really you?
Hyung, this isn’t a dream right?” Minho simply shook his head denying that it
was a dream. Taemin looked at me again in disbelief “Are you moving here? Our
new neighbor?” “Ne, Taemin ssi” I answered. Minho looked at his watch and
realized that they were already 10 minutes beyond schedule. He took grab of
Taemin’s arm and said “Aiman ssi, we’ll talk again later okay? Pali (hurry)
Taemin. We’re late” Then, they were out of sight.
I locked the door and started
walking to the park. It was spectacularly beautiful. The trees and the lake
that was crystal clear. It was just amazing. After walking along the trees, I
sat down on a bench and remembered about Danny. “Hello? Danny? I’m so sorry for
hanging up on you earlier” Then there was a silence. I couldn’t hear anything
from the other side of the line. “Are you mad?” “No, I’m not. It’s just that…”
Finally, he spoke. “What’s wrong?” I asked out of curiosity. “I want to ask you
an important question and please answer it honestly. Don’t hesitate with your
answer, okay?” I knew things weren’t going so well because I could feel the
tense building up within this conversation. “Did you… did you ever…. did you
ever like me?” That certainly surprised me. “Danny... I... um…” I didn’t know
what to say. Actually I do, it’s just that I was afraid that I might hurt his
precious heart. “It’s okay, just tell me. Don’t worry, my heart is as tough as
a rock… or steel… whichever is tougher” he said. I wanted to laugh at his joke
but immediately I confessed. “I’m sorry Danny for making you suffer all this
while with my lies. Are you sure you’re okay?” I was wondering if he was
tearing at that moment. “Oh, okay. I’m fine. Absolutely fine. No worries.
Thanks for being honest with me” Then, he just hung up. It’s already the third
time my relationship never started but ended… well? I guess? Oh, what’s wrong
with me? I don’t even know myself. How am I going to live this life and find
the one true guy?
I left all that question at the
park and went back home. As soon as I enter, it was still full of boxes. I
realized that I only unpackaged a third of the whole boxes. After 2 hours
dealing with those boxes, the bell rang. ~Ding Dong~. I opened the door and
it was Minho and Onew. “Aiman ssi!!” Onew screamed and almost hugged me but he
realized that if he did that than it would just make me feel awkward about it.
“Hehe.. Aiman ssi, long time no see! How are you doing?” said Onew after
sitting on the sofa in the living room. “I’m fine, thank you” “Wah~ How come
your house seems bigger than ours?” Onew looked around in awe. “It’s because
it’s still empty, hyung” Minho answered Onew’s question. “Ah, yeah. Didn’t
think about that. Aiman ssi, here is a housewarming gift!” Onew handed me a box
full of fried chickens. “Thanks! I’ll eat them later tonight” I said, smiling
at him. He just frowns after hearing what I said. I knew the reason he got me
fried chickens instead of a proper housewarming gift was because he wanted to
eat it. “You know what? It’s no fun eating it all alone” he seemed very happy
after getting the good news “Haha… Daebak (the best)!” I went to the kitchen to
get something to drink. Fortunately, I already bought a dozen of canned drinks.
While I was in the kitchen, Minho took a stroll on the house and saw there were
still some boxes left unopened at the corner of the room. “Aiman ssi. Actually,
another reason we came is to help you with handling the boxes” Minho just said
while I was putting down the canned drinks on the coffee table. “What? Oh, no
thanks. There are just a few more. I can handle them” I said didn’t want to
burden them. “Are you sure? Because if there are any heavy things that you
couldn’t carry, call us? Okay?” Onew said to me while digging in the fried
chicken. He seems very happy indeed. I didn’t want to spoil his appetite by
helping me doing all the hard work after a day of going on stage and singing.
It must’ve been a really tiring day for them. Suddenly the bell rang. “Oh, it
must be them” said Minho. “Nugu (who)?” I asked Onew. When I turned around it
was Jonghyun, Key and Taemin. “Annyeong, Aiman ssi!!” Jonghyun almost screamed
after seeing me again. “Wah, nice house. Needs a little bit sparkle though.
SHINee sparkle.” He said while grinning a sinister smile at me. I just laughed.
“Sorry we’re a bit late. There was a heavy traffic” Taemin simply said while
digging in the chicken with Onew. “It’s okay, you didn’t have to come” “Oh,
really? Then, Jonghyun. Let’s go back home” Key said as a joke while pulling
Jonghyun’s arm. “Ani, don’t go yet. Actually, I miss you guys a lot. It’s been
a while since we last saw each other” I really didn’t want them to go just yet.
That night, we laughed a lot. I feel that maybe moving back to Korea wasn’t
such a bad thing after all.
*************************************************************************************
The next day, I went looking for a
job as a scriptwriter and got it after meeting my aunt’s friend who runs one of
the famous companies in the filming industry in Korea. As soon as I got home, I
decided to start writing a rough script to show it to the director. It was
really tiring but the result came out nicely done. It’s a historical drama set
in the Goryeo period, 700 years ago. There would be actions, a little bit of
comedy but of course the main genre is romance. After finishing it at about 2
am in the morning, I decided to have a walk at the park. I knew that it was
really late and I needed to take a rest to make the presentation a success for
tomorrow. As soon as I locked the door and turned around, it was Minho. He
seemed as shocked as I am. “What are doing still awake?” he asked first. “I
just want to take a walk at the park” “Alone?” he asked again. “Ne (yes)” I answered
simply. “What about you?” I asked him next. “I was going to take a walk too” He
shoved something behind him and it was a black plastic bag. I knew that he was
actually going to throw the rubbish away but I guess that he wanted to join me.
Before he could open his mouth, I offered him to join me and he simply answers
yes. After throwing the rubbish into the dumpster, we walked along the sidewalk
in the park. It was really cold that night. I forgot to bring my sweater so I just
bear with it but I guess he felt the same way and saw me not wearing a sweater
so he handed me his jacket. “Gomawo (thanks)” he smiles and asked to sit down
first on a bench. I wanted to ask him how he was doing after the incident at
the restaurant but I just couldn’t open my mouth as it was really freezing. “I
didn’t saw you since this morning. Where did you go?” he asked. “Oh, I was
looking for a job” “So, did you get it?” he seemed anticipated with my answer I
don’t know why. “Ne, I got a job as a scriptwriter” “Really? So, have you write
a story yet? Can I…” he didn’t continue with his question but looked at me with
that childish smile. “What? You want to act in my drama? Can you act?” I asked
back at him. “What? Are you underestimating my ability in acting?” he said as
if he was really upset with my questions earlier “Okay, if the director says
okay. Then…” Suddenly he jumps from the bench and yelled “Chincha (really)?!
Thank you! You know, I really wanted to be an actor besides a singer” he seemed
really happy. “And since it’s your drama, I would act really well for you… YOUR
boss. I meant, I would be a great actor… for your boss, the director” I
couldn’t hear his last words because I felt my ear were going numb from the
coldness. I stood up and said “Okay, Minho ssi. I have to go back now, it’s
really late” I turned around when I felt my hand was being pulled. “Wait, Aiman
ssi” I turned around, it was him holding my hand. “Do you… still have… ” he
paused “Have what?” he looked down to the ground and back at me “That feeling?”
My eyes were wide open after hearing the word ‘feeling’. I tried denying
what my mind was saying. ‘The feeling that you like him’. “What… feeling?”
I tried talking but I could only hear my teeth chattering. “The feeling that
you had for me” he said “Uh, Minho ssi. I really have to go now. I might wake
up late” I tugged my hand out of his grip and walked back home with his jacket
still on my shoulders. I didn’t want to think about what happened earlier and
went straight to bed.
*************************************************************************************
After printing the last script, I
went straight outside and took Minho’s jacket which was on the dresser by the
door. As expected, he came out and I just handed him his jacket hoping that he
won’t mention about what he said last night. “Gomawo” After he said that, I was
about to walk away when he called me “Aiman ssi” I froze. “Please don’t say
it! Please don’t say it!” I was yelling in my mind. “Make sure I get to be
in your drama, okay?” “Whew…” I said to myself with a feeling of relief. “Why
did you sigh?” he asked me. I guess I sigh really loud that he could hear it.
“Uh, okay, I’ll make sure of it” I turned around, facing him while giving a
smile. I didn’t know if I gave him a real or fake smile. As Aiman walked
outside the building, Minho was still upstairs watching her leave for work. Every
step she took, Minho would just be observing until she disappeared when she
took a turn at the corner.
*************************************************************************************
While I was in the bus, I wondered
if he forgot about last night or he just knew that I would avoid him even more
if he was ever to speak about ‘feelings’. I greeted the workers while I was
on my way to meet the director to hand in my script. As I entered, I saw a man
sitting facing away from the door. I couldn’t see his face. “I’m sorry for
intruding your meeting” I was about to leave when the director called me to sit
down with them. As soon as I saw his face, I was completely shocked. It was Kim
Woo Bin.
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