Autumn Story Chapter 29
March 20th, 2009
Six months after their last separation.
Six months after their first official break-up.
That strangely was the best separation they had since their relationship changed.
And prom was finally there.
*****
“Joo.... do not fidgeting.”
“Uh, Unnie, I don’t know if I should wear this.”
Yuri shook her head while trying to hold the anxious girl down.
“You know what, you’ve become even more nervous than me on my wedding day.”
Joohyun suddenly stopped fidgeting.
“I am sorry, Unnie.”
Yuri smiled while smoothen the dress once more.
“He would be here. He has promised right?”
Joohyun nodded.
“He has. But Unnie, the weather forecast in Seoul is predicted a rain storm today.”
“You should stop reading that stupid forecast.”
Joohyun shrugged.
“Yoona sent it to me this morning. “
“Ah, yes, of course. Have they finally together?”
Joohyun shook her head.
“Not that I know.”
“Why? He likes her. That was so obvious.”
Yuri tied her dongsaeng hair into a simple bun.
“She is too cautious. You know...”
“Her Umma?”
Joohyun nodded sadly.
“She should move forward with her life. No one should be suffered because someone else’s mistake or faith.”
Yuri twirled Joohyun around.
“Ah, you’re done. I think Umma would be proud.”
Yuri softly dragged her to the mirror.
“You’re beautiful, Joo.”
She put her head into her dongsaeng’s shoulder.
“Thanks, Unnie!”
Joohyun threw herself into her Unnie, held into her waist tightly.
“Hey, don’t cry! You’ll smudge the mascara.”
Joohyun kissed Yuri’s cheek.
“You’re the best, Unnie! I am so lucky to have you.”
Yuri laughed while brushing her stomach.
“Wait until this one gets into his or her third months. Umma said no one would like a three-months pregnant woman’s rollercoaster of emotions.”
Joohyun bowed and put her head into her Unnie’s belly.
“I don’t think so. This little one is yours, so he or she must be adorable.”
“Let’s pray that what will happen.”
Jongwoon, leaned to the door, chuckled upon hearing the exchange between the two sisters.
“Oppa!”
His wife yelped and walked toward him.
“Love you too, beautiful!”
He kissed her lightly and then winked to his sister-in -law who was just standing there with blushing cheeks.
“But she’s right, you’re beautiful.” Then he added, “Kyu would be missing a lot if he dares not to come tonight.”
Joohyun bowed her head sadly.
“He hasn’t called.”
“He will. There was a heavy rain in Seoul this morning, many flights were delayed, but this is Kyu, if he said he comes, he comes.”
Yuri pulled her lightly to the door.
“Uh, come on! General Umma would like to see you, I’ll bet.”
The two sisters laughed and walked downstairs where her parents and Minho, who had volunteered himself to be crushed between his two best friends, was waiting.
*****
“So, have you answered him?”
“Who?’
“Changmin-Hyung of course!”
“Well, not yet. “
Minho poked Yoona lightly.
“Ah! Come on!”
“I am serious!”
“Poor Hyung. You can’t play him around, Yoong!”
“Yeah, you can’t, Yoona. You’ll hurt yourself.”
Both of them startled and shifted their gaze to Joohyun who sat in the back seat and has been silence since they started the journey.
“You like him, right?”
Yoona sighed.
“I do.”
“Then, what is the problem?”
“He is.... how to say it.... “
“Too good to be true?”
“Yeah.”
Minho’s gaze met Joohyun’s through the mirror.
“I was not that confidence when I asked Krystal to be my girlfriend.” Minho blurted.
Joohyun smiled knowingly.
“But you asked her anyway?”
“I did. And I was scare to death that she would say No.”
“She did say Yes.” Yoona’s voice was so soft.
“Yeah, she did. Thanks God. But what I am trying to say is that no boy would be that brave when come to asking a girl to be his.”
Some seconds passed by in silence.
“Maybe I should call him.”
Joohyun put her hand on Yoona’s shoulder, squeezed it gently to transfer some strength.
“Maybe you should.”
She moved her gaze to the mirror and caught Minho’s smile.
*****
“Any call?” Yoona nudged Joohyun.
“No.” She sadly shook her head.
“Changmin-Oppa said Kyuhyun-Oppa’s flight finally tookoff after two hours delay. He must have been landed half an hour ago.”
“So you finally call him?”
“I did.” Yoona blushed.
“Good.” Joohyun smiled.
“He should be fine.”
“I am feeling guilty. I should not ask him to fly on such bad weather. “
“But he would fly anyway even if you don’t ask.”
Joohyun startled. He’s here.
“Hi, Oppa!” Yoona chirped in.
“Hi, Yoong. Changmin asked me to give you this. “ Kyuhyun gave her a small box. “Don’t ask me what's in it. And don’t blame me if you hate it.” His eyes were twinkling.
Yoona blushed again. “Uh, eh, thanks Oppa.”
“No thanks him. Call him, Yoong. He’s been unbelievable anxious these past months.”
“I will Oppa.”
“I also have something for Joohyun. If she finally decided to say hi to me.” Kyuhyun’s mouth twitched up slightly.
“Hi.”
“Hi, too.”
“Ehmmm....” Yoona suddenly coughed “I am thirsty, do you guys want some water too?”
“What?”
“Uh, Yes?”
Yoona shook her head in amusement.
“Never mind me. I am not here. Just bring her home safely, Oppa.”
She left them, both were still staring at each other intently.
Then someone accidentally tripped into Joohyun and made her almost tripped too, if Kyuhyun did not catch her and turned her body into his arms.
For a brief moment, Joohyun let herself savoring the familiar feeling of being in his warm hug. But then she remembered that they were not a couple at that time, so she pulled herself from his arms.
“Do you want to go outside?” He whispered.
She nodded.
He linked his arm to her and softly tugged her with him to the door.
*****
“How are you?”
They’ve been walking for a while, mostly in silence, when they found a long chair in the park. And now they were sitting side by side while looking at the stars.
“I am fine, Oppa.”
“Yeah, you look healthy.”
She raised one of her eyebrows.
He poked her cheek playfully.
“You get your chubby cheeks back.”
She pouted.
“I am getting fat.”
“No, you’re not.” He paused. “You’re getting curvy.”
She blushed.
“Oppa.”
“So life is good, huh?”
She nodded.
“I enjoyed working with Jay-Oppa and his friends at the cafe. They taught me a lot on how to appreciate the music.”
He sighed and looked away before asking.
“Yonghwa and Jung-Mo, too?”
She tilted her head.
“Oppa! Are you jealous?”
He moved his gaze back to her.
“What if I am?”
“Oh.”
She bowed her head.
His hand caught hers.
“Hyunnie, you said you will consider ... an ‘us” again if I have forgiven myself.”
Joohyun looked at their hands.
“I have.”
Kyuhyun lifted her chin up.
“Hyunnie.... I....”
*ring tone playing in the background*
Joohyun pulled her phone while still looking at his eyes but then she moved her gaze aside when she heard her Appa’s voice.
“Hyunnie here. .... what?.... when?.... I’ll be there, Appa.”
“Hyun?”
Joohyun’s eyes welled with tears when she looked at him again.
“Yuri-Unnie..... She’s fainted.”
Kyuhyun pulled her into his arms and soothing her hair again and again when she cried