The Studio
Title: The Studio
Main Characters: Min, Gikwang, other miss A members, 2PM members
Pairing: Gikwang/Min
Rating: G
Warning: N/A
Word Count: 3896
“Min...”
“Yes?”
“Thank you...”
She looked up and gave him her brightest smile. He laid down and sighed in relief as soon as his back touched the cool floor. It’s these little things in life, he thought to himself, that makes the world seem okay when it’s not. He shut his eyes tight while letting his muscles relax.
“Honestly, I don’t even know what I would do without you letting me in here,” he said. “Are you sure you won’t be in trouble?”
She shook her head.
“Bro, I’ve been doing this for five years. And by me letting you in, doesn’t that tell you how good I am at this? ㅋㅋㅋ...” He laughed along with her as he kept his eyes shut tight, not wanting to let go of this blissful moment.
“Are you not tired?” he asked.
He could hear the sound of her footsteps, heading the opposite direction towards the closet. He knew exactly what came next and he couldn’t help but to smile.
“Well...” something was being dragged across the floor, “Our comeback is inching closer, but probably not any more tired than you are.”
...and that’s the neck pop, he said to himself as the sound of a bone crack echoed around the mirrored and wooden floored room.
“I still can’t get used to that,” he said as he sat up to find her stretching her limbs as far as she can on the ballet bar she just took out from the closet. He walked up to the stereo system on the corner of the room and turned on a U.S. hip hop station that he’s gained to love, thanks to little miss New York right here.
Watching himself in the mirror, he began to move to the music without hesitation. People have seen him as THE dancer of his group. But he’s never truthfully felt like one outside of this room --outside of this moment.
“Ooh~ I love this song,” she said from the other end of the room as she continues practicing her piques.
“In my head...” she sang under her breath and harmonized, “I see you all over me. In my head... you fulfill my fantasy. In my head... you’ll be screaming now. In my head...”
He kept on dancing to the music and she kept on singing with ease. It was really an odd picture, but they both felt peace that they have yet to find anywhere else.
As the climax of the song rolls in, she stood up straight and belted her voice to hit that high note that even Jason DeRulo himself seemed to have a hard time hitting during his live performances. She coolly went back to her routine with ease as soon as the climax is over. He laughed while he kept moving and dancing without care.
“Isn’t that song just the most awkward?” she said as she leaned her body towards her leg that’s propped up against the wall next to the ballet bar.
He shrugged.
“I don’t really pay attention to the words,” he said, finally slowing down into a slow a dance move.
“I try so hard not to sing that song in the bus, juuuuust in case someone understands what it’s saying,” she said, switching one leg from the other.
“Hahaha... what does the song say again?” he asked.
She walked towards the stereo to switch the radio to her iPhone. As soon as the song played again, she started singing along --this time, in Korean.
“Yikes!” he laughed as soon as the song ended and the stereo was switched back to the radio.
“Awkward, right?” she said as she used the ballet bar to stretch some more.
“I just wanna see you strip right now, ‘cause it’s late, babe. I just wanna see you strip, giiiirl, take your time with it. Now I just wanna see you--”
Little miss New York a.k.a. miss A’s resident song translator belted her little lungs out as she fulfilled her dongsaeng Suzy’s request to listen to Chris Brown’s strip in Korean.
She didn’t, however, heard the door being opened where BEAST’s resident dancing machine stood with reddened cheeks. He was strolling around to find IU, his Inkigayo co-host who’s been said to be best friends with Suzy.
Min kept on singing as she mimic Chris Brown’s dance routine which brought laughter from Suzy, Fei, and Jia who were entertained by Min’s careless and comical act. But Gikwang walked away feeling embarrassed by what he just witnessed.
“...now THAT’S, awkward,” he finished his story.
“OMG. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...” she rolled around on the floor, laughing her heart out. This was the first time she’s heard of that story and even though she should be embarrassed, she was more amused by Gikwang’s blushing cheeks as he recalled the story.
“With all that, and you STILL want to hang out with me?” she teased him. “It’s either that my risque singing appealed to you because you want me to sing it to you,” she went on, “... or you’re just lonely and have no other choice but to befriend me.”
He did a spin and allowed himself to collapse on the floor.
“Both options makes me look bad,” he complained. She threw a bottle of water at his direction and he failed to catch it.
“Now THAT would make you look bad, too,” she said as she sat cross legged next to him.
“I have a better explanation,” he said without thinking.
She gestured with her head for him to go on as he gulped down her water.
“Because my first REAL impression of you was THAT awkward, it’s really impossible for you to repulse any more,” he said.
“Gee, thanks.”
“No, no. Hear me out, okay,” he sat up straight. “You’re probably one of the most careless idols out there,” he started.
“Guilty as charged!” she exclaimed with pride. She likes her reputation for being careless about her image and thus awarded her with the label of being one of the most honest and and genuine idols in the business.
“So with my first real impression of you being THAT,” he looked thoughtful and serious, “I think it’s impossible for you to freak me out any further with your honesty.”
She pursed her lips and nodded in understanding.
“I’m tired of protecting my image and putting an act, that you have no idea how glad I was when you invited me to your midnight practice,” he finished.
“Ah, I just wanted to test you out. Yaknow? You’re such a goody to shoe that I didn’t believe Junho Oppa when he told me that you’re more than that,” she said as she laid down flat on the floor.
“You turned out to be...” her forehead crunched together as she tried to find a word to finish her sentence, “...okay.”
She burst into laughter as he laid down next to her with a pout in his face.
“That’s a compliment,” she clarified before he could protest. “I hate posers and I could only tolerate a handful of people outside of the 2PM/2AM oppas in this industry. But you...”
He held his breath.
“...you are an exception, Lee Gikwang.”
She turned her face to face him and gave him a wide and genuine smile.
“Don’t change, my friend. Ever,” she said.
Oh right. Friend, he said to himself as he looked up to the ceiling, turning his face away from the girl he’s grown to love. If only he could also turn the eyes of his heart away from this rebel, too.
//
With BEAST’s and miss A’s comebacks occurring at the same time, you would think that they would see each other often. But the contrary is happening...
From: Lee Gikwang
Min-ah, careful. The stage is going to slip off your
feet because we’ve stolen it from you.
From: Lee Minyoung
Shut your yap, mister. We don’t need
a stage because we bring the stage with us.
OH SNAP!
From: Lee Gikwang
Tsk tsk. Your stage doesn’t look
strong enough to even hold you.
From: Lee Minyoung
Are you calling me fat?
From: Lee Gikwang
; )
From: Lee Minyoung
Jerk.
From: Lee Gikwang
ㅋㅋㅋ Careful up there! Those confettis
are slippery.
From: Lee Minyoung
Gomawoyo. You guys rocked it earlier.
Tell Yoseob he sounded superb
as always, ㅋㅋㅋ Annyeong~
“Min-ah!”
She looked up and found the face of Taecyeon and Junho over her head. She didn’t realize that she was that immersed in her phone conversation to realize that the 2PM Oppas came to gave her and her members their support.
“Who are you talking to?” Junho asked, teasingly. She shook her head, trying to hide her reddening cheeks. The oppas started teasing her some more instead.
“Nichkhun-hyung. You’re the love expert,” Junho continued, “What do you think is going on with our Minyoung-ah?”
Nichkhun shifted and struck a serious, doctor-like pose and fiddled with his invisible goatee.
“This...” he started, in a serious tone, “...is a severe case of love.”
The whole room exploded with laughter and reaction. She stood up to playfully punch her oppas for embarrassing her. “Oppa-ya, stop it. You guys are talking nonsense,” she said as laughter continued to erupt in the room.
She sure do love her JYP family.
“Good luck, girls!” the oppas headed for the door. “We’ll be back,” Taecyeon stroke a pose and started shuffling his way out the door.
Silence spread across the room for a second as the room grew bigger with the boys being gone.
“So... Min-ah...” Jia started, “How’s BEAST’s dancing machine doing?”
She rolled her eyes and pushed her members out the door.
“Out, out. We got a stage to rock!”
//
It’s been over a month and she sat there, panting after doing an intense routine that she’s learn the other day from her friend in New York. She looked around and found herself alone, again --like she’s been for the last couple of weeks.
Her phone vibrated.
From: Lee Gikwang
Midnight practice?
She smiled.
Just the person she’s missing.
She quickly replied and within three seconds the door of the practice room opened.
Without hesitation, she jumped up and ran towards him who pulled her into a tight hug while spinning her around in the air. I miss this, he thought to himself as he inhaled the scent of her --the scent of her sweat, mixed in with whatever perfume she always wears.
Min herself kept her eyes shut tight in order to let her other senses enjoy the moment. Many have mocked him for being short in height compared to other guys, but to her, he’s just perfect the way he is. She held on a little tighter before letting go.
“Bogoshipoyo...” she let the words slip out of her mouth. For a second she was afraid that he was going to back away or that the sweet moment would turn into an awkward one. But he smiled back at her and ruffled her hair while saying, “Bogoshipo, Min-ah.”
She walked towards the stereo to turn up the volume of the radio. “You look exhausted,” she commented as she observed the eye bags that did not flatter his strong and handsome feature at all.
He took off his sweatshirt and rolled up one of his sweatpants’ leg. He loves practicing because he can wear a simple white t-shirt and wear sweatpants without having to wear make up. He especially loves practicing with her because he gets to see a girl without any make up.
“I am,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to die every time we finally get to be back in the dorm,” he stretched his arms.
“Why are you here, then? You should be resting,” she said while stretching next to him. Even though she let the words out of her mouth, she’s secretly wishing that she hadn’t said it.
“Are you trying to kick me out of here?” he asked teasingly.
She laughed. “You know what I mean. All the B2UTYs out there would hate me if they know that you got sick because my midnight practices,” she reasoned.
“Just tell me if you want me out of here, Min,” he continued teasing her. Even though he knows that she would laugh along and said no, he was secretly afraid that she would say yes and ask him to leave.
“I would have to drag you out of here if I want you to leave,” she walked towards the stereo, “Because you seem to like practicing here better than you do at your own practice room.”
He laughed and nodded.
“But really, I’d be sad if you don’t come here anymore. It gets pretty lonely by myself,” she said as she fiddled with the stereo.
“Why don’t you invite the other members or other people here, anyway?” he asked. He knows that she has quite the social circle in the idol world and he’s been wondering about the same thing for a while. Why him? Why only him?
Her finger stopped moving, like she was struck by his question, and she finally answered, “I don’t know. This studio, at this time, is like a sanctuary for me.”
“It’s empty and I can just be myself. I can dance whatever I want. I can listen to whatever I want. Even though the CCTVs are on, it feels good to know that for once, nobody is really watching,” she then proceeded to fiddle with the stereo.
“But I’m here,” he said, suddenly next to her. There was an uncertainty in his voice. Like he was trembling and nervous.
“Yeah, but you don’t count,” she said.
Oh.
He walked back to the center of the room, feeling defeated.
“Hey, let’s try this song,” she suggested as the intro Chris Brown’s Superhuman echoed through the room. Aside from doing their own stretching and practicing, they would make up choreography for different songs that they like at the time.
He reluctantly followed her to the center of the room. She stayed still, waiting for him to move as Chris Brown’s voice blasted through the speaker. His jaw grew tight and he tightened his palms --angry.
His moves wasn’t swift and smooth like you would expect them to be, due to the song. His eyes were focused in the mirror, and as she danced towards him, his hands grew stiff -- refusing to gracefully receive her body moving with him.
“What’s wrong with you, man?” she turned around and stopped to look at his eyes. She could feel that he wasn’t particularly happy. But she couldn’t figure out why.
He grabbed his sweatshirt and said, “I’m tired,” as he walked away, out the door --leaving her puzzled and hurt.
“What?” she asked herself.
She put her hands up on her chest, trying her hardest to suppress the pain that’s glistening.
♫ It’s my heart and it’s gonna go away... ♫
//
“Gikwang-ssi?”
He looked up to find the smiling face of Jia. But that wasn’t the first thing he noticed.
“Red hair?” he asked as he opened the door to Starbucks, letting her to enter first. She gave a little bow as she walked passed him into the warmth of the coffee shop. He kept his head down as he fixed his sunglasses and straightened his pea coat.
He’s never been one to be overly cautious about being spotted in public, but seeing Jia walking carefreely towards the counter reminded him of someone that caused a pang to strike his chest.
“How are you doing, Gikwang-ssi?” Jia asked as she stood next to him, waiting for their orders to be finished.
He nodded politely and answered, “I’ve been good. Glad that comeback is over. Just doing variety shows and all.”
Jia nodded.
Silence.
“Min misses you,” she said, out of the blue.
He looked up, surprised and glad to hear something he’s been wishing to hear for the past two months. “Jinjja?” he asked, still unsure if he should leap in joy yet or not.
She nodded.
“She’s honest and frank on the outside, but she’s really just like all other girls on the inside, you know,” she said as she smiled and thanked the barista who gave her a cup of cappuccino, “She never says she is, but she always waits for you in her studio.”
Even though Jia being a foreigner has caused her to say ‘her studio’ instead of ‘the studio’, the words hit him harder than he’d like. And right then, he knew exactly what he needs to do.
//
From: Junho Oppa
Yah Min-ah. Tomorrow is my birthday
dinner. Don’t forget to come.
She replied with a short message and set her iPhone down next to the stereo. She cranked up the volume of the radio without caring and started moving to the music with all of the energy she has in her.
It’s been months.
And she still danced with the same energy, anger, and sadness as she did the first week he didn’t show up.
Spending a large chunk of her life in New York has undoubtedly changed her. She doesn’t dilly dally about her career and her relationships. She knows what she wants and she knows how to get it.
But she’s never had that much of an experience when it comes to love.
She’s spent so much time chasing her dream and living it, that she never factored in love for herself. She sees her members and other idols who would secretly date, and she would feel bad for the trouble they went through to stay together under the radar --only to break up in the end.
She’s surrounded by guys who all of the female population in Korea would die to date. But none of them has ever made her even consider going through the hardship of having and maintaining a relationship --none up until a certain someone snuck into her heart without asking and has refused to leave no matter how hard she tried to kick him out.
She’s decided to give up on him and leaving the feelings alone with the hope that it will dissipate. But she has yet to have the courage to give up on her midnight practices that she reasoned to be the key behind her success as a dancer and as a singer.
The song changed from an upbeat, South American hip hop song into a slower paced music. She slowed down her movements as Rihanna’s unique and one-of-a-kind voice echoed through the room.
♫ I know you’ve been hurt before by someone else
I can tell by the way you carry yourself ♫
She spun, shutting her eyes tight.
“I can’t have someone who would rather have her ambitions than me,” he said before walking away, leaving her on the floor with tears streaming down her face. She looked at the letter of acceptance that she’s gotten from Repertory Company High School in New york.
♫ If you let me, here’s what I do... ♫
“You said she’s a friend,” she asked, angry and hurt.
“She is,” he answered.
“Friends don’t kiss, and friends don’t sleep together,” she said, cold and distant as she took her coat and walked away, taking what’s left of her heart.
♫ I’ll take care of you... ♫
She felt a pair of hands catching her before she could collapse on the ground. She opened her eyes and found his pair of eyes, looking deep into hers.
♫ I’ve loved and I’ve lost... ♫
She smiled, glad that he’s someone she’s been waiting for. But afraid because she’s not sure what this would mean. But they kept on moving to the music, without saying a word to each other and trying to convey as much emotions and feelings as they can through their bodily movement.
♫ I keep thinking you, just don't know...
Try to run from that, say you're done with that... ♫
Gikwang couldn’t hold it anymore and allowed the words to slip from his mouth, “I miss you.”
The butterflies in her heart did a cartwheel and as much as she’d like to express that with a smile, she couldn’t help but to feel afraid of the uncertainty and complication that all of this has brought.
He could read the doubt and fear in her face.
♫ You won't ever have to worry...
You won't ever have to hide...
You've seen all my mistakes...
So look me in my eyes... ♫
He spun her around and caught her in his arms, gentle and secure.
♫ If you let me...
Here’s what I’ll do...
I’ll take care of you... ♫
“I miss you, too,” she finally said, letting a smile to curve on her lips.
//
From: Gikwangie
I’m almost there! Don’t fall
asleep.
She smiled and typed a reply with the speed of a lightning.
From: Min
I won’t, I won’t. Just get here
soon.
She stretched her limbs on the black leather sofa that the company has put in the practice room. For once, she’s not feeling like practicing even though that is what she usually does in this room, at this time of the day.
Five minutes later, the door opened and she looked up with her eyes half closed and her lips smiling wide.
“I told you not to fall asleep,” he said as he sat the plastic bags filled with ddeokbokki on the floor. She stretched her hands up as she yawned, completely forgetting to cover her mouth. He laughed and threw himself onto the couch next to her, “You look like a hippo when you do that.”
“Are you calling me fat?”
He winked playfully.
She punched his arms before leaning against it and said, “Jerk.”
Just as he was about to lean in and kiss her forehead, she reached across him to the plastic bag that she just noticed, “Ooh~ ddeokbbeoki!” she exclaimed with such joy.
He couldn’t help but to laugh at her reaction and stole a kiss from her cheeks anyway as she focused all her attention to opening the box and consuming the sizzling ddeokbbeoki. She took a bite and sighed in satisfaction. “So. Good,” she said.
He took her chopsticks out her hands and said, “Practice first.”
She groaned but got up and turned the stereo up anyways.
After an hour of dancing, they finally laid down on the floor of the room. Exhausted but satisfied.
“Good job, Minnie,” he said as he turned his head towards her. But instead of thanking him or even smiling, she turned her whole body towards him and gave him a questioning look. “Why are you calling me that? Only my fans do that,” she asked.
He reached out to pinch her cheek and answered, “Because I’m your biggest fan.”
She laughed, both out of the gratefulness of having such a wonderful man by her side and out of the sheer cheesiness of his words.
“You cheezeball,” she poked his hips, causing him to erupt in laughter as she jumped up, getting ready to avoid his counter attack --which she know would end in her lying on floor, incapacitated, exhausted of laughing and running.
And with that, the studio that used to belong only to Min, became theirs.
Main Characters: Min, Gikwang, other miss A members, 2PM members
Pairing: Gikwang/Min
Rating: G
Warning: N/A
Word Count: 3896
“Min...”
“Yes?”
“Thank you...”
She looked up and gave him her brightest smile. He laid down and sighed in relief as soon as his back touched the cool floor. It’s these little things in life, he thought to himself, that makes the world seem okay when it’s not. He shut his eyes tight while letting his muscles relax.
“Honestly, I don’t even know what I would do without you letting me in here,” he said. “Are you sure you won’t be in trouble?”
She shook her head.
“Bro, I’ve been doing this for five years. And by me letting you in, doesn’t that tell you how good I am at this? ㅋㅋㅋ...” He laughed along with her as he kept his eyes shut tight, not wanting to let go of this blissful moment.
“Are you not tired?” he asked.
He could hear the sound of her footsteps, heading the opposite direction towards the closet. He knew exactly what came next and he couldn’t help but to smile.
“Well...” something was being dragged across the floor, “Our comeback is inching closer, but probably not any more tired than you are.”
...and that’s the neck pop, he said to himself as the sound of a bone crack echoed around the mirrored and wooden floored room.
“I still can’t get used to that,” he said as he sat up to find her stretching her limbs as far as she can on the ballet bar she just took out from the closet. He walked up to the stereo system on the corner of the room and turned on a U.S. hip hop station that he’s gained to love, thanks to little miss New York right here.
Watching himself in the mirror, he began to move to the music without hesitation. People have seen him as THE dancer of his group. But he’s never truthfully felt like one outside of this room --outside of this moment.
“Ooh~ I love this song,” she said from the other end of the room as she continues practicing her piques.
“In my head...” she sang under her breath and harmonized, “I see you all over me. In my head... you fulfill my fantasy. In my head... you’ll be screaming now. In my head...”
He kept on dancing to the music and she kept on singing with ease. It was really an odd picture, but they both felt peace that they have yet to find anywhere else.
As the climax of the song rolls in, she stood up straight and belted her voice to hit that high note that even Jason DeRulo himself seemed to have a hard time hitting during his live performances. She coolly went back to her routine with ease as soon as the climax is over. He laughed while he kept moving and dancing without care.
“Isn’t that song just the most awkward?” she said as she leaned her body towards her leg that’s propped up against the wall next to the ballet bar.
He shrugged.
“I don’t really pay attention to the words,” he said, finally slowing down into a slow a dance move.
“I try so hard not to sing that song in the bus, juuuuust in case someone understands what it’s saying,” she said, switching one leg from the other.
“Hahaha... what does the song say again?” he asked.
She walked towards the stereo to switch the radio to her iPhone. As soon as the song played again, she started singing along --this time, in Korean.
“Yikes!” he laughed as soon as the song ended and the stereo was switched back to the radio.
“Awkward, right?” she said as she used the ballet bar to stretch some more.
“I just wanna see you strip right now, ‘cause it’s late, babe. I just wanna see you strip, giiiirl, take your time with it. Now I just wanna see you--”
Little miss New York a.k.a. miss A’s resident song translator belted her little lungs out as she fulfilled her dongsaeng Suzy’s request to listen to Chris Brown’s strip in Korean.
She didn’t, however, heard the door being opened where BEAST’s resident dancing machine stood with reddened cheeks. He was strolling around to find IU, his Inkigayo co-host who’s been said to be best friends with Suzy.
Min kept on singing as she mimic Chris Brown’s dance routine which brought laughter from Suzy, Fei, and Jia who were entertained by Min’s careless and comical act. But Gikwang walked away feeling embarrassed by what he just witnessed.
“...now THAT’S, awkward,” he finished his story.
“OMG. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...” she rolled around on the floor, laughing her heart out. This was the first time she’s heard of that story and even though she should be embarrassed, she was more amused by Gikwang’s blushing cheeks as he recalled the story.
“With all that, and you STILL want to hang out with me?” she teased him. “It’s either that my risque singing appealed to you because you want me to sing it to you,” she went on, “... or you’re just lonely and have no other choice but to befriend me.”
He did a spin and allowed himself to collapse on the floor.
“Both options makes me look bad,” he complained. She threw a bottle of water at his direction and he failed to catch it.
“Now THAT would make you look bad, too,” she said as she sat cross legged next to him.
“I have a better explanation,” he said without thinking.
She gestured with her head for him to go on as he gulped down her water.
“Because my first REAL impression of you was THAT awkward, it’s really impossible for you to repulse any more,” he said.
“Gee, thanks.”
“No, no. Hear me out, okay,” he sat up straight. “You’re probably one of the most careless idols out there,” he started.
“Guilty as charged!” she exclaimed with pride. She likes her reputation for being careless about her image and thus awarded her with the label of being one of the most honest and and genuine idols in the business.
“So with my first real impression of you being THAT,” he looked thoughtful and serious, “I think it’s impossible for you to freak me out any further with your honesty.”
She pursed her lips and nodded in understanding.
“I’m tired of protecting my image and putting an act, that you have no idea how glad I was when you invited me to your midnight practice,” he finished.
“Ah, I just wanted to test you out. Yaknow? You’re such a goody to shoe that I didn’t believe Junho Oppa when he told me that you’re more than that,” she said as she laid down flat on the floor.
“You turned out to be...” her forehead crunched together as she tried to find a word to finish her sentence, “...okay.”
She burst into laughter as he laid down next to her with a pout in his face.
“That’s a compliment,” she clarified before he could protest. “I hate posers and I could only tolerate a handful of people outside of the 2PM/2AM oppas in this industry. But you...”
He held his breath.
“...you are an exception, Lee Gikwang.”
She turned her face to face him and gave him a wide and genuine smile.
“Don’t change, my friend. Ever,” she said.
Oh right. Friend, he said to himself as he looked up to the ceiling, turning his face away from the girl he’s grown to love. If only he could also turn the eyes of his heart away from this rebel, too.
//
With BEAST’s and miss A’s comebacks occurring at the same time, you would think that they would see each other often. But the contrary is happening...
From: Lee Gikwang
Min-ah, careful. The stage is going to slip off your
feet because we’ve stolen it from you.
From: Lee Minyoung
Shut your yap, mister. We don’t need
a stage because we bring the stage with us.
OH SNAP!
From: Lee Gikwang
Tsk tsk. Your stage doesn’t look
strong enough to even hold you.
From: Lee Minyoung
Are you calling me fat?
From: Lee Gikwang
; )
From: Lee Minyoung
Jerk.
From: Lee Gikwang
ㅋㅋㅋ Careful up there! Those confettis
are slippery.
From: Lee Minyoung
Gomawoyo. You guys rocked it earlier.
Tell Yoseob he sounded superb
as always, ㅋㅋㅋ Annyeong~
“Min-ah!”
She looked up and found the face of Taecyeon and Junho over her head. She didn’t realize that she was that immersed in her phone conversation to realize that the 2PM Oppas came to gave her and her members their support.
“Who are you talking to?” Junho asked, teasingly. She shook her head, trying to hide her reddening cheeks. The oppas started teasing her some more instead.
“Nichkhun-hyung. You’re the love expert,” Junho continued, “What do you think is going on with our Minyoung-ah?”
Nichkhun shifted and struck a serious, doctor-like pose and fiddled with his invisible goatee.
“This...” he started, in a serious tone, “...is a severe case of love.”
The whole room exploded with laughter and reaction. She stood up to playfully punch her oppas for embarrassing her. “Oppa-ya, stop it. You guys are talking nonsense,” she said as laughter continued to erupt in the room.
She sure do love her JYP family.
“Good luck, girls!” the oppas headed for the door. “We’ll be back,” Taecyeon stroke a pose and started shuffling his way out the door.
Silence spread across the room for a second as the room grew bigger with the boys being gone.
“So... Min-ah...” Jia started, “How’s BEAST’s dancing machine doing?”
She rolled her eyes and pushed her members out the door.
“Out, out. We got a stage to rock!”
//
It’s been over a month and she sat there, panting after doing an intense routine that she’s learn the other day from her friend in New York. She looked around and found herself alone, again --like she’s been for the last couple of weeks.
Her phone vibrated.
From: Lee Gikwang
Midnight practice?
She smiled.
Just the person she’s missing.
She quickly replied and within three seconds the door of the practice room opened.
Without hesitation, she jumped up and ran towards him who pulled her into a tight hug while spinning her around in the air. I miss this, he thought to himself as he inhaled the scent of her --the scent of her sweat, mixed in with whatever perfume she always wears.
Min herself kept her eyes shut tight in order to let her other senses enjoy the moment. Many have mocked him for being short in height compared to other guys, but to her, he’s just perfect the way he is. She held on a little tighter before letting go.
“Bogoshipoyo...” she let the words slip out of her mouth. For a second she was afraid that he was going to back away or that the sweet moment would turn into an awkward one. But he smiled back at her and ruffled her hair while saying, “Bogoshipo, Min-ah.”
She walked towards the stereo to turn up the volume of the radio. “You look exhausted,” she commented as she observed the eye bags that did not flatter his strong and handsome feature at all.
He took off his sweatshirt and rolled up one of his sweatpants’ leg. He loves practicing because he can wear a simple white t-shirt and wear sweatpants without having to wear make up. He especially loves practicing with her because he gets to see a girl without any make up.
“I am,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to die every time we finally get to be back in the dorm,” he stretched his arms.
“Why are you here, then? You should be resting,” she said while stretching next to him. Even though she let the words out of her mouth, she’s secretly wishing that she hadn’t said it.
“Are you trying to kick me out of here?” he asked teasingly.
She laughed. “You know what I mean. All the B2UTYs out there would hate me if they know that you got sick because my midnight practices,” she reasoned.
“Just tell me if you want me out of here, Min,” he continued teasing her. Even though he knows that she would laugh along and said no, he was secretly afraid that she would say yes and ask him to leave.
“I would have to drag you out of here if I want you to leave,” she walked towards the stereo, “Because you seem to like practicing here better than you do at your own practice room.”
He laughed and nodded.
“But really, I’d be sad if you don’t come here anymore. It gets pretty lonely by myself,” she said as she fiddled with the stereo.
“Why don’t you invite the other members or other people here, anyway?” he asked. He knows that she has quite the social circle in the idol world and he’s been wondering about the same thing for a while. Why him? Why only him?
Her finger stopped moving, like she was struck by his question, and she finally answered, “I don’t know. This studio, at this time, is like a sanctuary for me.”
“It’s empty and I can just be myself. I can dance whatever I want. I can listen to whatever I want. Even though the CCTVs are on, it feels good to know that for once, nobody is really watching,” she then proceeded to fiddle with the stereo.
“But I’m here,” he said, suddenly next to her. There was an uncertainty in his voice. Like he was trembling and nervous.
“Yeah, but you don’t count,” she said.
Oh.
He walked back to the center of the room, feeling defeated.
“Hey, let’s try this song,” she suggested as the intro Chris Brown’s Superhuman echoed through the room. Aside from doing their own stretching and practicing, they would make up choreography for different songs that they like at the time.
He reluctantly followed her to the center of the room. She stayed still, waiting for him to move as Chris Brown’s voice blasted through the speaker. His jaw grew tight and he tightened his palms --angry.
His moves wasn’t swift and smooth like you would expect them to be, due to the song. His eyes were focused in the mirror, and as she danced towards him, his hands grew stiff -- refusing to gracefully receive her body moving with him.
“What’s wrong with you, man?” she turned around and stopped to look at his eyes. She could feel that he wasn’t particularly happy. But she couldn’t figure out why.
He grabbed his sweatshirt and said, “I’m tired,” as he walked away, out the door --leaving her puzzled and hurt.
“What?” she asked herself.
She put her hands up on her chest, trying her hardest to suppress the pain that’s glistening.
♫ It’s my heart and it’s gonna go away... ♫
//
“Gikwang-ssi?”
He looked up to find the smiling face of Jia. But that wasn’t the first thing he noticed.
“Red hair?” he asked as he opened the door to Starbucks, letting her to enter first. She gave a little bow as she walked passed him into the warmth of the coffee shop. He kept his head down as he fixed his sunglasses and straightened his pea coat.
He’s never been one to be overly cautious about being spotted in public, but seeing Jia walking carefreely towards the counter reminded him of someone that caused a pang to strike his chest.
“How are you doing, Gikwang-ssi?” Jia asked as she stood next to him, waiting for their orders to be finished.
He nodded politely and answered, “I’ve been good. Glad that comeback is over. Just doing variety shows and all.”
Jia nodded.
Silence.
“Min misses you,” she said, out of the blue.
He looked up, surprised and glad to hear something he’s been wishing to hear for the past two months. “Jinjja?” he asked, still unsure if he should leap in joy yet or not.
She nodded.
“She’s honest and frank on the outside, but she’s really just like all other girls on the inside, you know,” she said as she smiled and thanked the barista who gave her a cup of cappuccino, “She never says she is, but she always waits for you in her studio.”
Even though Jia being a foreigner has caused her to say ‘her studio’ instead of ‘the studio’, the words hit him harder than he’d like. And right then, he knew exactly what he needs to do.
//
From: Junho Oppa
Yah Min-ah. Tomorrow is my birthday
dinner. Don’t forget to come.
She replied with a short message and set her iPhone down next to the stereo. She cranked up the volume of the radio without caring and started moving to the music with all of the energy she has in her.
It’s been months.
And she still danced with the same energy, anger, and sadness as she did the first week he didn’t show up.
Spending a large chunk of her life in New York has undoubtedly changed her. She doesn’t dilly dally about her career and her relationships. She knows what she wants and she knows how to get it.
But she’s never had that much of an experience when it comes to love.
She’s spent so much time chasing her dream and living it, that she never factored in love for herself. She sees her members and other idols who would secretly date, and she would feel bad for the trouble they went through to stay together under the radar --only to break up in the end.
She’s surrounded by guys who all of the female population in Korea would die to date. But none of them has ever made her even consider going through the hardship of having and maintaining a relationship --none up until a certain someone snuck into her heart without asking and has refused to leave no matter how hard she tried to kick him out.
She’s decided to give up on him and leaving the feelings alone with the hope that it will dissipate. But she has yet to have the courage to give up on her midnight practices that she reasoned to be the key behind her success as a dancer and as a singer.
The song changed from an upbeat, South American hip hop song into a slower paced music. She slowed down her movements as Rihanna’s unique and one-of-a-kind voice echoed through the room.
♫ I know you’ve been hurt before by someone else
I can tell by the way you carry yourself ♫
She spun, shutting her eyes tight.
“I can’t have someone who would rather have her ambitions than me,” he said before walking away, leaving her on the floor with tears streaming down her face. She looked at the letter of acceptance that she’s gotten from Repertory Company High School in New york.
♫ If you let me, here’s what I do... ♫
“You said she’s a friend,” she asked, angry and hurt.
“She is,” he answered.
“Friends don’t kiss, and friends don’t sleep together,” she said, cold and distant as she took her coat and walked away, taking what’s left of her heart.
♫ I’ll take care of you... ♫
She felt a pair of hands catching her before she could collapse on the ground. She opened her eyes and found his pair of eyes, looking deep into hers.
♫ I’ve loved and I’ve lost... ♫
She smiled, glad that he’s someone she’s been waiting for. But afraid because she’s not sure what this would mean. But they kept on moving to the music, without saying a word to each other and trying to convey as much emotions and feelings as they can through their bodily movement.
♫ I keep thinking you, just don't know...
Try to run from that, say you're done with that... ♫
Gikwang couldn’t hold it anymore and allowed the words to slip from his mouth, “I miss you.”
The butterflies in her heart did a cartwheel and as much as she’d like to express that with a smile, she couldn’t help but to feel afraid of the uncertainty and complication that all of this has brought.
He could read the doubt and fear in her face.
♫ You won't ever have to worry...
You won't ever have to hide...
You've seen all my mistakes...
So look me in my eyes... ♫
He spun her around and caught her in his arms, gentle and secure.
♫ If you let me...
Here’s what I’ll do...
I’ll take care of you... ♫
“I miss you, too,” she finally said, letting a smile to curve on her lips.
//
From: Gikwangie
I’m almost there! Don’t fall
asleep.
She smiled and typed a reply with the speed of a lightning.
From: Min
I won’t, I won’t. Just get here
soon.
She stretched her limbs on the black leather sofa that the company has put in the practice room. For once, she’s not feeling like practicing even though that is what she usually does in this room, at this time of the day.
Five minutes later, the door opened and she looked up with her eyes half closed and her lips smiling wide.
“I told you not to fall asleep,” he said as he sat the plastic bags filled with ddeokbokki on the floor. She stretched her hands up as she yawned, completely forgetting to cover her mouth. He laughed and threw himself onto the couch next to her, “You look like a hippo when you do that.”
“Are you calling me fat?”
He winked playfully.
She punched his arms before leaning against it and said, “Jerk.”
Just as he was about to lean in and kiss her forehead, she reached across him to the plastic bag that she just noticed, “Ooh~ ddeokbbeoki!” she exclaimed with such joy.
He couldn’t help but to laugh at her reaction and stole a kiss from her cheeks anyway as she focused all her attention to opening the box and consuming the sizzling ddeokbbeoki. She took a bite and sighed in satisfaction. “So. Good,” she said.
He took her chopsticks out her hands and said, “Practice first.”
She groaned but got up and turned the stereo up anyways.
After an hour of dancing, they finally laid down on the floor of the room. Exhausted but satisfied.
“Good job, Minnie,” he said as he turned his head towards her. But instead of thanking him or even smiling, she turned her whole body towards him and gave him a questioning look. “Why are you calling me that? Only my fans do that,” she asked.
He reached out to pinch her cheek and answered, “Because I’m your biggest fan.”
She laughed, both out of the gratefulness of having such a wonderful man by her side and out of the sheer cheesiness of his words.
“You cheezeball,” she poked his hips, causing him to erupt in laughter as she jumped up, getting ready to avoid his counter attack --which she know would end in her lying on floor, incapacitated, exhausted of laughing and running.
And with that, the studio that used to belong only to Min, became theirs.