Secret Admirers No. 03: Duet
Duet
Secret Admirers
A Wonder Girls/Big Bang Drabble
Yoobin / T.O.P.
Author's Note
The "song"...I just...I'm sorry it's so cheesy...I wrote this a long time ago...
Also, PC bahng is like an Internet Cafe and a noraebang is a karaoke place. And cider is actually more like Sprite.
*~*~*
"Aaaaah! I'm late!" I tripped over the stairs and then hurtled through the door. Jeez, who was the stupid architect that designed this building that makes me go through the freaking PC bahng when I need to go to the noraebahng?
"Hey, ajumma, you have to pay to use the PC bahng!" Seunghyun called after me from his perch on the front desk as I dashed by.
He called this out at me every. Single. Day. It was sorta an inside joke with the two of us. Except it wasn't funny.
"Babo-yah, you know I'm going to the noraebahng!" Crap, I was so late.
I felt a tight grip around my wrist, snapping me back like a hair-tie around my unruly hair. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, ajumma. But I'm sure I can interest you in our high-speed internet and our computers preloaded with the most popular games! You look new to this. I'm working another shift tonight, so I will even give you an in-depth tutorial on how to use these magical newfangled machines called computers."
I just couldn't restrain myself any longer. I smacked his hand and when he let go, I smacked the back of his head.
"YAH! I'M LATE! OUT OF MY WAY!"
"Ow, Yoobin, you hit like a man!"
"I don't have time to argue with you about your misogyny! MOVE!"
FINALLY, the numbskull backed away. I heard a vague muttering of, "Jeez, you wouldn't think it to look at her..." but I didn't hear exactly because I was totally flying past.
Even with my newly-discovered super flying skills, though, I was still late. Majorly late. And Uncle was NOT happy.
"YOOBIN! Why are you late?!" Uh oh, Uncle's face was crimson with rage.
"I'm sorry, Uncle." I bowed, my bangs covering my wincing in preparation for some more yelling.
"Is it because you have a boyfriend? I won't tolerate a boyfriend interfering with your work!"
Oh no. My aunt was getting to him. She was convinced that boys were falling for me left and right and that I changed boyfriends like clouds change shape. I wish.
"Is this why? Were you kissing little Seunghyun?"
"UNCLE!" My head shot up. I was scandalized. Apparently, Aunt had gotten to him worse than I thought. My aunt was super close to the mother of "little Seunghyun" - the Seunghyun of the PC bahng. She concocted up every minute detail of her dream wedding for me to that Seunghyun. Yeah, I know. GROSS.
"Okay, okay. Whatever you say. Just don't do it again."
"Yes, Uncle." Back to obedient Yoobin.
"And, uhh...I have some errands to run, so just close up and check everything at the end of the day, okay?"
"Yes, Uncle." I flashed him my most winning smile. I know he doesn't have any errands to run. He's going to go out with his buddies and pathetically attempt to relive his college days. Of course, he's not as strong as he was back then, so it would not end well. This happened basically every night. I would have to basically man the noraebahng until closing time.
And also every night, there's a regular that comes by and raps his heart out.
Every night, shortly after Uncle leaves, a hooded figure comes down the stairs from the PC bahng, throws some coins down on the counter, and jerks his head toward a room.
The first time, I had smiled sweetly and asked, "And what is your name, sir?"
Indistinguishable mumble.
"Pardon?"
Again, nothing intelligible.
I had been getting frustrated. "Could you just write it here then, please?"
He had hurriedly scribbled something and then headed straight to his room. I looked at the paper. In big capitals, he had written T-O-P.
I know what you're thinking. TOP? Come on now, that's not a name.
That first night, as a complimentary service, I knocked at the door, holding a cold cider.
"Excuse me, Mr. TOP?" I tried to restrain my giggle at the ridiculous pseudonym. "I have something for you."
There was this strange yelp-cry and some frantic rustling. Finally, the door opened a crack and a gloved hand slid out. I raised my eyebrows but nevertheless stuck the cider into his grasp.
"Thanks," he gruffly grunted and then slammed the door in my face.
Alrighty then...Somebody's making a huge effort not to be seen. Whatever. There are plenty of people that go to noraebahngs alone, I guess.
I went back to my post at the counter and sat. Uncle's noraebahng wasn't exactly prosperous and so we rarely had customers. There was nobody else but TOP, and so when he started karaoke-ing, I heard him loud and clear.
He was rapping and man, he was good! I could imagine the syllables just popping out of his mouth, bloop, bloop, bloop, in rapid succession.
Now, I like to rap myself and listening to him made me itch to rap, too. And maybe to show him that he has some competition.
I went to the entrance door to open and shut it, making the little bell on top jingle. I sprinted back to my place behind the counter and said, "Hello, miss. How can I help you today?"
I leaned a bit forward to kinda be where a customer would stand. "One room, please," I said, with my nose plugged and my voice pitched a little lower than usual.
"Alrighty then, just write your name here and here's a complimentary cider." I helped myself to a cider, wrote a sign saying ‘Taking a short break! Be right back!' and went to the room right next door to his.
I tapped the tambourine just for fun as I pushed the buttons. Ah, my favorite song. I increased the volume, put the mic to my mouth, and I was off.
He noticed and paused for a bit, listening. Then, he went right back at it, louder than me. Now we couldn't have that, could we? So I notched up my volume, too. This went on for a bit until we both were screaming, rather than rapping. Somehow, our songs ended at the same time and we both let out a wail as a finale. I was panting and I could hear him gasping for breath, too.
I was ready again, though, so I pushed the buttons and the opening notes of the backing tracks blared. I started rapping, but listening keenly for him to get going, too. There was nothing. I faltered and when I regained my rhythm, I rapped softer, listening. Still nothing. Whatever, I let myself just enjoy the flow of words from my mouth.
I finished triumphantly and smiled to myself. As soon as the last computer-generated tone struck, a new one reached my ears.
He started off softly, and tiny ripples of sound swam out to my ears. Then, gargantuan waves of his voice crashed upon my head. That last moment, he whispered into the mic, and I swear, a shiver electrocuted my spine.
There was a second of silence and then I leaned in to push some numbers. My song came up, but way louder than it should be. Confused, I lowered my volume way down. Still too loud. Oh well. I began, but whoa, my voice is not that deep!
Oh, wait...It's two voices...and two backing tracks...he had picked the same song as me at the same time.
Suddenly, it was just me rapping. What? I rapped for a bit then stopped. He picked it up right away. We made a good team. The whole song continued in this manner and ended with both of our voices letting go of the word at the same instant.
Crap, I wanted so badly to keep going, but I also did NOT want him to know that it was me. If he could keep a secret identity, so could I. So I cleaned up and softly closed the door behind me.
I leaned forward over the counter again. "Thank you!" I said with my lower voice.
"No problem! Come again!" in my normal range.
I opened and shut the door, the bell jingled, and I sat down on my stool. I listened and listened in admiration and with jealousy when TOP continued. I wanted a mic in my hand.
Finally, he stopped and emerged from the room, hood obscuring his head and gloves pulled over his large hands. Without a word, he left.
"Good bye. Thank you, sir!" I had called out after him.
This pattern had been going on for months.
Tonight, though, I sat on my stool, waiting. It had already been a few hours since Uncle left, and he hadn't come. Usually, he came within a few minutes of Uncle leaving.
I sat on my stool, thumbing through a magazine ten years old. At long last, the tinkling of the bell. I lifted my head up, a smile subconsciously pulling at my lips.
"Good evening, sir. How may I help you?"
As usual, the coins on the counter and the jerk of the head. And he went into his usual room and as usual, he began with a relatively easy song. To warm up, I guess.
I wondered why he had come late tonight. I didn't really know anything about him, so even the most outrageous stories could be plausible. Maybe he was a big rap star who just wanted some space away from the flashing lights and the adoring fans. Maybe he was a homeless bum who had big dreams. I had no idea.
Now, after his ‘warm-up' song, I usually allowed for two songs before I went in. The warm-up song was over and now was the first song.
Oddly enough, it was a slow song. He rapped softly, deftly, and it was more like a murmur of sweet nothings into a lover's ear than anything else.
I sighed. If only I had a guy to do that for me.
The song ended. I waited for the music to start up again. But I heard nothing but a series of deep inhales and exhales.
Then, he began to rap. No backing track, nothing.
Well, this is different...
I then started to actually listen to the lyrics.
There's this girl that I know
And I see her every night
When I come down in disguise
Because I'm scared that she might
Think that it's just a joke
But tonight's the night, I hope
We can finally duet
Totally face-to-face
Because I know that she'll feel it
She'll feel it in my gaze
Yoobin, you may know me as TOP
But I hope, even as Seunghyun,
Your lovin' won't stop
And the door opened and out came Seunghyun. The Seunghyun from the PC bahng. The Seunghyun my aunt envisioned me marrying. Seunghyun was TOP.
"That...was the worst rapping I have ever heard in my life..."
Seunghyun attempted puppy dog eyes. "So, how about that duet?"
I didn't say anything for a moment, toying with him. Then, I laughed. "You're on!"
And so we were off - and it was magical, how each syllable was perfectly in unison.
We ended in unison, too - in a perfect kiss.