[MULTI-CHAPTER FIC] LOVELY COMPLEX (7/?)
Title: Lovely Complex
Pairing: Dara/Jae-joong
Character(s): the rest of DBSK and appearances from SM and YG Family
Rating: PG
Genre: Gender-bender, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Angst, AU
Chapter seven ~ Unwell
He flipped his phone open and stared at the screen for some time; he typed the person’s name on his mind as he searched for that person’s contact number. He was about to make a call when he decided to flip his phone close, once more. He had been repeating these actions for some time much to the annoyance of a man sitting on the other side of the sectional sofa.
“Stop that hyeong.”
Jae-joong who was in a fetus-position then stretched his body and lay down on his back while tilting his chin upwards as he looked up at Jun-su. He feigned ignorance.
Jun-su frowned at him as he focused his eyes back on the TV screen, “You aren’t even watching the movie… yet you constantly distract me with what you’re doing, aish… just what is up with you and your phone?” he complained.
Jae-joong, trying then to establish a call to Shin abruptly closed his phone again.
“What, you’re ordering me to do something else? I can do whatever I want with my own things.”
Jun-su ignored his statement, “Hesitation is pointless hyeong, if something’s bothering you… if there’s something wrong with him, then just call him already.”
“I can call Shin however and whenever I want without you telling me -”
I slipped at that part, damn.
Jun-su’s face lit up at once and he even snapped his fingers in delight as he looked down on Jae-joong.
“I didn’t mention his name in particular… then that must mean he’s the one bothering you?” Jun-su smiled at him cunningly.
In a swift movement, Jae-joong managed to grab a throw pillow on his side and hard-pressed it on Jun-su’s infuriatingly beaming face; Jun-su made futile attempts to remove the obstruction on his face as Jae-joong spoke to him, “Just so you know you forgot to address me as your ‘hyeong’ in all your excitement,” he let the throw pillow fall as he removed his grip on it, and then Jae-joong pushed himself up to a sitting position and faced Jun-su.
Jun-su’s face has splotches of red as he was momentarily robbed out of oxygen but the smile he has from knowing that he has the upper-hand in terms of mocking Jae-joong never left his face.
“What’s between the two of you now, hyeong? Why is Shin bothering you? Ah, since he gave you several clothes last time you met, it must be full-proof that he was completely smitten over you, considering you’ve only met twice!” Jun-su even clasped his hands as if he was making a speech, “Wow, that is another achievement for you hyeong, isn’t it? But then, that should at least be expected since you are Kim Jae-joong, having a lot of fanboys - ack,” he received a flying throw pillow from Jae-joong.
“You sure know how to use your mouth Jun-su… why don’t you prepare any last words?” Jae-joong glowered at him.
Jun-su cringed and automatically recoiled; just then, Yu-cheon walked in the living room and slumped on the far end of the sectional sofa towards Jae-joong’s side, “Nothing like a good ol’ bickering to greet my day,” he said.
“And more days for us to sleep-in!” Chang-min happily blurted out from his room.
“How the hell did he manage to hear you, hyeong?” Jun-su asked Yu-cheon in puzzlement.
“That’s Chang-min for you… anyway, what movie is this?”
“The Great Raid,” Jae-joong answered, still tinkering with his phone.
Chang-min came out from his room and walked past them to go to the dining area.
“What’s it about?” Yu-cheon continued to ask, eyeing Jae-joong who wasn’t even paying the slightest bit of attention to the movie.
“Well, there’s this American naval flight officer who was shot down over Bosnia upon uncovering a massacre during the Bosnian War… he apparently survived but was pursued by the enemies…”
Jun-su widen his eyes.
“That’s why that film was entitled Behind the Enemy Lines,” Yun-ho noted. Apparently Yun-ho was in the living room too, hands full of paper bags since he had gone out to buy clothes in Apgujeong Rodeo Street early that day.
Yu-cheon and Jun-su snickered at Jae-joong, who was embarrassed by his honest mistake.
“I guess hyeong mixed up the two movies since both have the same militaries in the plot,” Yu-cheon pointed out.
“He wasn’t even watching in the first place!” Jun-su said.
“Tsss,” was all Jae-joong could reply as he glared at the two from his left side and right side.
Yun-ho placed his shopping goods on the coffee table in the center of the living room and moved towards the three.
“I noticed that hyeong was very busy with his phone ever since we both decided to watch ‘The Great Raid,’ that may be the reason why his mind was preoccupied and got the two mixed-up,” Jun-su even added, Yu-cheon nodded in agreement.
“Well, what do we have here?” without any permission, and much to Jae-joong’s surprise, Yun-ho got his phone from him; it was currently flipped open so Yun-ho stared on the screen.
“Ya!” Jae-joong shouted.
Park Shin: 011-198-860-126
Yun-ho quirked his brow, and glanced at Jae-joong.
“Well… I was thinking that we hadn’t met at all yesterday, and that may-maybe you’d pressure me to meet him again so I was considering establishing a call just to check up on him…” said Jae-joong.
Yun-ho spitefully smiled, “I’m really glad that you’re taking the initiative and obeying the punishment sincerely Jae-joong,” and he returned the phone back to Jae-joong’s hands. Jae-joong’s eyes then bulged.
Park Shin
Dialing…
That was what registered in Jae-joong’s vision as he looked down on his phone. Then he glanced up at Yun-ho’s smirking face, he felt revulsion all over his body.
Aish, they sure know how to enjoy belittling me in this kind of situation!
He staggered as he put his phone on his left ear and waited for Shin on the other line.
“Hello?”
“H - hello, O - o - o - Oppa! This is Jae-hw -”
“Why didn’t you call me as soon as you can?” Shin sounded angry.
“I, I am sick Oppa,” he thought of an excuse.
He gazed at the other three who were all patiently listening to their conversation and laughing quietly as they heard his pretense. He spotted Chang-min walking towards them with a plate full of lasagna and he quickly put his index finger on his lips to warn him. Chang-min nodded in understanding but still hovered himself towards them.
Shin’s voice started to soften, “You’re sick? Was it because we walked in the rain for too long?”
“Uh, yes…”
“You live in 521, Hyundai Apt., Apgujeong 2-dong right?”
“Yes,” Jae-joong was baffled as to why he was asking his address. Then it hit him, he gasped as soon as he realized what may come ahead.
No way!
“Then I’ll take a visit. I’ll be there in three hours,” and Shin hang-up on him.
No, this is not happening…
The other four people comprising Dong Bang Shin Ki watched Jae-joong as he turned pale as if he had just seen the world coming to end.
“Hyeong! What happened? What did he say?” Chang-min asked.
“Did he break up with you?” Jun-su nudged Jae-joong.
“No,” Jae-joong whispered, his face a blank canvass.
“What then?” It was Yu-cheon’s turn in asking.
“He’s… he’s going to visit us,” he finally revealed.
The room fell into deep stillness following Jae-joong’s words.
“Ya!” Jae-joong suddenly bellowed towards Yun-ho, Jun-su, Yu-cheon and Chang-min, the four jolted in surprise, “Aish!” he scratched his head in frustration before continuing, “Listen up! Shin’s coming in three hours and I have a plan… gather all the things that would hint or expose our identities in this flat and move it to the guest room, hurry up!” Jae-joong ordered, with eyes pleading and imposing at the same time, the four was left with no other option but to comply.
Chang-min set himself in the living room and began searching for his and his hyeongs’ belongings that were scattered or placed in the area. He started taking out picture frames, albums and their trophies from various music programs and awards shows on the wall shelves. Yu-cheon checked the walls, chests of drawers, cabinet and sideboards, bathroom as well as the balcony to see if there are any things to remove. On the other hand, Yun-ho was busy taking various things to and fro from each of the members’ room to the guest room. He also considered some of the fans’ gifts on whether or not they should be put inside the room or use as a cover up to establish a fake apartment for “Jae-hwa.” Meanwhile, Jun-su helped Jae-joong re-organized his room to make it more feminine, and because Jae-joong and Yu-cheon’s sharing the same room, it was becoming tedious since there were a lot of things to move out. Jun-su was changing the bed sheets, throw and wraps, and the pillow cases while Jae-joong gather round the things he needed to hide in the guest room.
“Why do we even have to make my room feminine? It’s not like I’m going to let him enter here in the first place,” Jae-joong whined.
“Did you forgot what you’ve just said to him hyeong? You… were… sick! I guess he had an impression that you were bedridden enough not to call him after your date the other day, and I guess that’s the reason why he decided to pay a visit, any guy would worry over their girlfriends for that matter.”
Jae-joong shuddered at the word ‘girlfriend,’ “Then… that means I have to act all sick and bedridden?”
“Well, that would be fine, you could say you got yourself a flu or something… and then when it’d be just the two of you, all alone and together in this room, while taking care of you, he would suddenly profess his undying love, that I bet he would do!” Jun-su teased him.
“Ya! You seemed to enjoy mocking me lately huh? Do you want not to have any food for the rest of the week?” he threatened him.
“Eh? Aish… I understand, sorry hyeong,” Jun-su apologized.
After two hours and a half, everything was finally set. Dong Bang Shin Ki guys managed to get additional furniture and other décors for Jae-hwa’s flat through their managers and sponsors. Their managers were of course suspicious about the whole state of affairs, but after Yun-ho talked it out with them, being the leader that he is, they finally conformed. It was not much, but at least their entire apartment gave off a feminine feeling.
“H - hey! What are you all trying to do?” Jae-joong exclaimed. They were all gathered inside his room now and he was forced to lie in bed. Yun-ho, Yu-cheon, Chang-min and Jun-su hovered around him.
“Didn’t you say you were sick, hyeong? This will help… Trust me,” It was Chang-min. On his hands were two pieces of garlic; he immediately shoved it under Jae-joong’s shirt, much to the latter’s surprise.
“Ya! What’s this? Ya -!” he shouted at Chang-min who was determined to tape each pieces of garlic in both of his armpits as he pulled Jae-joong’s shirt up. Jae-joong struggled but with Jun-su’s help, his moves remained wasted.
“Oy, maknae -!”
“Don’t worry, it is said that garlic could raise one’s body’s thermostat. In that way, even if Shin would try to touch you, at least he’ll feel that you have a fever. It’s worth a shot isn’t it?” Yun-ho who was sitting on the far-end of Jae-joong’s bed, reassured him, “Plus, you have to put on more layers of clothing just to ensure that your body stays in a specific temperature,” and he pointed at him several more to wear.
“But… this is gross!” Jae-joong was in doubt. He watched from the corner of his eyes Chang-min’s finishing touch, as if he had just done something remarkable from the proud look on his face.
Yu-cheon then lingered around him after Jae-joong finished slipping on all the clothes including a ridiculous pajama at once. He was extremely careful despite the hastiness, minding the garlic in his armpits. Yu-cheon was holding what seemed to be a ‘foundation’ to Je-joong, make-up tools as well as a large make-up kit.
“What’s that for?!” he demanded an answer. Jun-su and Chang-min arranged their position and pinned Jae-joong on the bed.
“I’ll make you look pale than you already are, hyeong. If you’re pretending, then at least you have to look convincing.”
“Isn’t putting garlic in my armpits enough for me to have a ‘fake fever’?”
“But don’t people in the entertainment industry use make-up for a dramatic effect? This should not be an exemption hyeong!” Jun-su chided.
Jae-joong heaved a sigh. He tried to revolt but he considered what may happen to him if Shin found out the truth so he reluctantly agreed. He shook his head in defeat.
Worst luck, ever.
He scrunched his face as Yu-cheon applied the foundation on his face.
“Where the hell did you even got those things? Are you even knowledgeable when it comes to make-up, huh, Yu-cheon?”
“Manager lent this to us from his make-up artist friend… I have to admit that I’m not all that familiar, but after all the photoshoots, music videos and commercials we filmed, I at least learned a thing or two,” Yu-cheon answered him in all honesty.
“Oh, add a little bit of dark shadows under his eyes to make him look more stressed hyeong,” Chang-min happily suggested.
Jae-joong remained silent but he moped at the suggestion.
“Just a pale color and dark shadows under his eyes are okay,” Yun-ho directed. Yu-cheon nodded as he continued applying foundation on Jae-joong’s chin.
“Even out the shades on both of his cheeks hyeong! Otherwise, it’ll look like a fungal infection,” Jun-su bit his lips to stifle his laughter.
Yu-cheon nodded his head again yet Jae-joong couldn’t help but feel anxious and agitated at the same time.
“As long as I still look human, this should be okay… or I’ll have to put a fine for this Yu-cheon!”
“Okay, okay, I understand hyeong,” Yu-cheon laughed.
After a while, Yu-cheon patted Jae-joong’s cheeks as a cue to the end of his make-up session.
Jae-joong rapidly walked out of bed as soon as Jun-su and Chang-min released him. He went to the left side of his room where a custom-made full-length mirror divides 1/8 of the room’s length vertically. It was intended to be a divider to where his bed is. As he looked on, he was still his usual self, except for the long fake hair he’s donning, pale make-up, and oversized chicken-suit pajamas complete with two-layers of clothing carefully hidden inside.
I hope this will do.
“Remind me why am I in a chicken-suit again? Wasn’t this Jun-su’s gift that he had received from his fanclub?” Jae-joong rolled his eyes as he rocked himself forwards and backwards.
“This is our masterpiece,” Jun-su pompously declared. He suddenly popped at Jae-joong’s side.
“Why do you guys even bother to help me at this point? I could have done this myself… sort of.”
“Really now, hyeong?” Yu-cheon commented.
“This has been fun!” Chang-min excitedly blurted out, “I feel like we are all in a mission, which excites me so greatly, it has been a while since we do something this fun!”
All of them nodded in agreement, even Jae-joong unconsciously did it. The four of them were all smiles wile Jae-joong pursed his lips.
“You should thank us instead Jae-joong,” Yun-ho jokingly appealed.
I guess, we just don’t want this to end, just yet… Aside from being a penalty… you should see for yourself how completely different you are now compared to the ‘you’ after that tragic event happened, Jae-joong. Yun-ho thought.
“No, thank me for providing you guys this kind of gag show!” he grumpily said.
“I think it’s about time we head out,” Yun-ho hinted.
Jae-joong looked at his clock on his bedside table. Shin would arrive any minute now.
“Where would we go hyeong?” Yu-cheon asked.
“To Hanyang Apt.,* let’s take a visit to our sunbaes and hoobaes before this coming Chuseok.”
“Ya! What would they say if they did not see me? It might cause a misunderstanding…” Jae-joong worriedly said.
“You’re sick hyeong, remember?” Jun-su winked at him, “And we’ll have to spend the rest of the day there and come back tomorrow morning,” implying something that did not escaped Jae-joong’s sharp mind.
As if on cue, Yu-cheon, Yun-ho, Jun-su and Chang-min raised both of their hands in synch, the same as that of cheering Dae Han Min Guk* for last year’s World Cup season, and loudly boomed, “Fighting!!!” and they quickly rushed to the door.
Jae-joong was pissed; not a moment too soon, he heard his phone rang and he immediately walked to the other side of his room to get his phone that was located on the bed. He read Shin’s name on its screen and shouted at the boys bickering in the living room, “Hurry up and leave! I guess he’s already in the building!” after that, he heard a ruffling of footsteps and the sound of the door opening and closing. He then hastily answered the call and waited for Shin’s voice on the other line.
“Hey, what’s with this apartment? The guards won’t let me pass because they said that there’s no Kim Jae-hwa living in here… are you sure you gave me your exact address?” Shin complained.
Jae-joong clinched his forehead.
How could we forget this important detail?!
“Uh… uhm, they must have misheard you Oppa, don’t worry I’ll make a call to the security office to let you in,” Jae-joong assured him.
“Okay, hurry up… it’s cold in here,” and he hang-up.
Jae-joong inhaled a deep breath as he thought of an excuse. He’s really starting to feel sick from all this aggravations. He walked to and fro while making an SMS to Yu-cheon, informing and passing his current dilemma to the other four.
They should still be inside the building or else I’ll be doomed.
Understood hyeong, it’s already been taken care of.
Yu-cheon sent a reply minutes later.
At the entrance hall of their posh apartment, the four men of DBSK were clad in casual clothes and were all hiding their faces with huge sunglasses and face masks. They spotted Shin near the elevator; he was waiting patiently for the guards’ permission to let him go up. The four of them nonchalantly walked past him and went to the security’s office. Chang-min and Jun-su guarded outside while the other two went inside the room.
“I heard from Jae-joong hyeong that he’s already twenty-seven,” referring to Shin, Jun-su informed Chang-min.
“That’s really a surprise, no? I thought we were at the same age.”
“True that… despite being small and lean, he has this cool aura that it almost makes me envy him,” Jun-su confessed.
“He seems to be a cool person too; in the near future, I want to be-friend him. He’s taking care of our hyeong in a way that he wasn’t even aware of doing…” Chang-min mumbled.
Jun-su still heard him and agreed to his statement. “I’m really glad about it, although it’s a bit sad that we weren’t the ones doing it particularly.”
“We are all helping him to cope in our own way hyeong,” Chang-min consoled him, “It’s just that because Jae-joong hyeong cherishes us, he doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone. At least in the situation he’s in, he’ll be distracted from the painful thing that has happened.”
Inside the office, Yu-cheon relayed Jae-joong’s message to the two guards while Yun-ho helped him explain to them Jae-joong’s situation and predicament and how they could cooperate.
“You mean to say Jae-joong-ssi is cast in a reality show where he gets to disguise as a girl for one whole month?” one of the guards monitoring the CCTV cameras asked.
“That’s right… but the rest of the details are still classified as of now,” Yu-cheon added.
“But shouldn’t the PD-nim first contacted and discussed this with Hyundai’s management? We weren’t properly informed about this,” the other guard said.
“Well, the PD-nims wanted the whole show to be as realistic as it could get, that’s why there are only a few people who knew about this, we don’t even know who are the other accomplices of this show,” Yun-ho persisted, “and if you mention this to the other people that doesn’t even have a clue or weren’t supposed to be informed about it, then the whole cover-up will be wasted.”
“That’s why, if you have been informed, you must seal your lips about it and act accordingly Ahjussi,” Yu-cheon persuaded.
The two guards now were starting to believe them and although they were still reluctant, at the end they were finally won over By Yu-cheon and Yun-ho’s will power and confidence. After all, they are members of a popular idol group in Korea; they wouldn’t do something without a justifiable reason, would they?
All was settled as the four idols left the place. Jae-joong was anxiously waiting in the living room. When he heard the door bell rang and saw Shin’s face through the surveillance camera on the other side of the front door by an LCD pinned on the wall of the foyer, he counted one to ten before finally opening it. He put all his energy to look lifeless.
Oh the irony.
When his eyes focused at Shin’s face, he seemed tired. He was satisfied deep down nonetheless because Shin was taken aback.
You weren’t expecting for something like this huh? Kim Jae-joong, you are such a great actor!
Shin raised her hand to reach for Jae-hwa’s forehead. Jae-hwa consequently closed her eyes as if a prisoner waiting for a final verdict.
“You really have a fever huh?” she commented.
“Why would you think I’ll fake a sickness Oppa? Really…” Jae-hwa looked down. She opened the door wide to let him in.
“Just checking…” Shin said, “You should stay in your room; you look like you’d passed out at any moment.”
Jae-hwa just shrugged and motioned for him towards the living room but Shin unexpectedly held her arms.
“Oppa?”
Shin sighed and inclined her head to the side, “No need to entertain me as your guest, I visited you because I’m feeling guilty. Now don’t be stubborn and just rest inside your room.”
Feeling guilty?
“But then… what would you do in here if I’m to be locked inside my room?” Jae-hwa was baffled.
“You could say I’m at your beck and call…” Shin proposed.
It was hard for her to say those words since she never provided any help or assistance to any people before. She mostly kept to herself, but because Jae-hwa was sick and she had partially been the cause of it, she wanted to take a responsibility for it.
“O - kay…” At my beck and call, huh?
Jae-joong concealed his smirk.
Jae-hwa then proceeded to go to her room while Shin tagged along. It was only at that time that she finally looked around the apartment. The surrounding was clean and chic in its outmost simplicity, it was spacious too and this prompted her to ask, “Do you live alone? I noticed that there are five other rooms in your flat.”
“Uh… no… I live together with my… four brothers, the room to the far end of the hall is a stock room,” she answered timidly.
“Oh, so you have four brothers? Why didn’t you inform me sooner?” Shin sounded astonished.
“Why? Are you scared of meeting them Oppa? There’s a high possibility for that if only they weren’t out of town for this month,” she teased him.
Shin raised her chin and confidently said, “Why would I? It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong by dating you. Weren’t you the one who came up to me first? Besides, I wanted to show courtesy by meeting them…”
“Oy, arrogant Oppa! Saying those words is embarrassing to me! Aish,” Jae-hwa scowled at him.
Plus, it won’t happen as long as I live.
“But you really did come up to me first.”
“Yeah, yeah…” Jae-hwa consented to shut him up. Jae-hwa’s room was at the end of the hall in front of the stock room. She paused for awhile before turning the knob. She reluctantly strode inside and went immediately to her bed. Shin was silently following her.
“Is there anything you want?” Shin asked her as she watched her lay down on the bed.
“Mmmm…”
The revenge project is on! At last I could make you pay back from all the consequences I’ve suffered from the last Truth and Dare game we had!
Jae-joong pulled the blanket up to his cheeks to hide his ever widening grin, “I want some gimbap*, mandu*, sundae* and… tteokbokki too!*”
“Ya! Considering it’s a lot, why must it all be street foods? You’re sick, you should go for healthy foods instead,” Shin ordered.
“Then why ask me in the first place if you’re the one who’s going to decide what I should eat?” Jae-hwa sulked.
Shin considered her request and came to a conclusion, “Then gimbap and tteokbokki should be enough for now.”
“Yay! Hurry back Oppa!” Jae-hwa waved her hands, it was a contradicting movement to her statement because instead of the normal waving of the hands to bid farewell, it was as if she was sending Shin off already.
Shin raised her brow.
What’s that, she seemed to have a lot of energy for a sick person.
Reading Shin’s suspicious look, Jae-joong twitched suddenly and blurted out, “Ah… My head hurts,” he sneaked a glance at Shin, discovering that he was still standing at the side he said in a faint voice, “Oppa, I really want to eat gimbap and tteokbokki now; they are only my medicine… please?”
“Alright… I’ll be going then, make sure you stay in bed and keep yourself warm,” he advised. Shin’s eyes were glaring, sending off the message through his gaze that he was serious.
“Roger Oppa!” Jae-hwa made a saluting gesture as she watched Shin’s back retreat from her side.
As soon as Jae-joong heard the front door being shut, he finally relaxed himself. He stretched his arms widely as he comfortably lay on his bed.
But it was only a couple of minutes before Jae-joong felt the boredom creeping in. He wasn’t particularly interested in anything as of the moment. He honestly thought that there’s nothing to do despite the number of electronic gadgets and home appliances in the apartment that could entertain him. He was slightly having second-thoughts about sending off Shin to find street foods in Apgujeong 2-dong since there wasn’t any close-by pojangmacha* around the area. It was his original intention to make him exhausted by looking for it around the place though. After almost half an hour, Shin called him.
Before he could even greet him, Shin spoke up, “Ya! I couldn’t see any pojangmacha around! I was literally going on in circles for some time now; just ask another food that you want, hurry!”
“Eh?! But I wanted gimbap and tteokbokki Oppa!”
“Are you deaf? Didn’t I just tell you that there’s no single person selling what you want around this place?”
“But I wanted gimbap and tteokbokki!” as Jae-joong insisted, he heard a sharp intake of breath from the other line. He could tell that Shin was pissed but that won’t make him budge.
“Hey… was it because you’re in a state of delusion right now due to your sickness that you couldn’t figure out what I’m just saying? There’s no pojangmacha around Apgujeong 2-dong!”
“Though my head hurts, I could still hear you loud and clear Oppa. And of course it follows suit that I can still understand what we’re talking about. And of course there isn’t any pojangmacha in Apgujeong 2-dong… any Korean in Seoul, or the ones living in Gangnam district would know about that. How could you not know that pojangmacha are all situated in another sub-division*?”
There was no response from Shin.
“Ya, Oppa! Are you still there? Hello?!” Jae-joong replicated those words.
“…then where should I go?” Shin’s voice seemed a little weak.
“You honestly don’t know? I thought you live in Gangnam-gu?” Jae-joong was confused.
“Tss… hurry up and say it already so I could go there right away, I hate… staying outdoors,” Shin admitted.
What? He said he hates staying outdoors? But he doesn’t look like it. We stayed in Cheong-dam Park for one. Maybe he’s just saying that so he could go back already… pssh, acting out as if he’s a vampire, don’t kid with me!
“Well, you have to take a bus to Segok-dong Oppa; you’ll get there in less than an hour if there’s no traffic…”
“That long just so I could buy you street foods? You must be out of your freaking mind!”
“You failed to comprehend the absolute normality of my brain Oppa!”
“I did not… and tell me about this normality of yours, you’re already sick and yet you did not choose something that’s healthy for yourself… just choose something else, and I’ll buy it at the nearest store in here,” Shin was adamant about it.
“Street foods equal to the highest energy source of every Korean, surely you must know that Oppa!”
“I’ve never eaten street foods in my life.”
Jae-joong was astounded; Shin was getting unusually talkative and stubborn this day.
“Aish, this is making me dizzy… I thought you’re at my beck and call Oppa? Don’t ever go back to my apartment unless I see on your hands a bag of gimbap and tteokbokki!” after declaring her threat, Jae-hwa hung up.
What? She has the nerve to threaten me? She’s one heck of an obstinate woman.
Though Shin got a lot of threats in her life, this one was far more childish and enjoyable at the same time.
Three hours have already passed when Jae-joong decided to end the call he received from Shin. To cope with boredom, he decided to play with Chang-min’s PSP. He was still lying comfortably on his bed, tucked on his side and busy crushing down the enemy, when he began to think of Shin’s whereabouts. He was curious as to why Shin didn’t even know about the location of pojangmacha in Gangnam-gu where in fact he lives within the same district. Just then, he received a message from Shin when he felt the vibration of his phone near his neck.
I’m in your building now; welcome me at your doorstep.
It read.
Why did he suddenly send an SMS? It’s unlikely to his character and ‘welcome me at your doorstep?’ what’s up with that? Tsk, suddenly using an old man’s pick-up line and he’s back to his usual self: being so demanding… I haven’t yet got the whole satisfaction from punishing him.
He stood up and quickly walked out of his room. Jae-joong couldn’t understand the change in Shin’s mood lately, well he hasn’t spent a long time with him either so he supposed that that was the reason why he still hasn’t figure out much of his personality. When he reached the foyer of the apartment, he saw through the LCD that Shin was standing restlessly, his head and shoulders drooped.
He didn’t even bother to ring the doorbell… well, I see that he had complied with my wishes, but there is something odd in him… I’m sure of it. Jae-joong’s mind was filled with these thoughts when he opened the front door.
Shin looked up at him. And now it was Jae-joong’s turn to back away. Although Shin still has this airy stance, the cool aura doesn’t seem to reach his eyes. There was something amiss. His face was pale; nevertheless he even tried to smirk as he shoved the plastic bags that contain the gimbap and tteokbokki to his face. He entered the apartment rather hesitantly.
“O - Oppa?” Jae-joong reached for the plastic bags and as he did that, Shin abruptly fell on his feet.
“Oppa!” He shouted; he watched Shin in horror as he fainted on the cold floor, now pain clearly registered on his small face.
*Hanyang Apt., is where SME and some of its artists currently reside (as far as I know)
*Dae Han Min Guk is a Korean word for ‘Korean’ (correct me if I’m wrong and oh, no pun intended XD)
*Gimbap is basically a dish that is rice wrapped in seaweed
*Mandu = dumplings
*Sundae is just really Korean sausage
*Tteokbokki are stir fried rice cakes (okay, narrating this really makes a person hungry~! >.<)
*Pojangmacha refers to small tented restaurants on wheels, or street stalls in South Korea (from Wiki)
*Gangnam-gu or Gangnam district has around 26 dongs or administrative divisions, so when Jae-joong talked about sub-divisions, he was referring to dongs
Pairing: Dara/Jae-joong
Character(s): the rest of DBSK and appearances from SM and YG Family
Rating: PG
Genre: Gender-bender, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Angst, AU
Chapter seven ~ Unwell
He flipped his phone open and stared at the screen for some time; he typed the person’s name on his mind as he searched for that person’s contact number. He was about to make a call when he decided to flip his phone close, once more. He had been repeating these actions for some time much to the annoyance of a man sitting on the other side of the sectional sofa.
“Stop that hyeong.”
Jae-joong who was in a fetus-position then stretched his body and lay down on his back while tilting his chin upwards as he looked up at Jun-su. He feigned ignorance.
Jun-su frowned at him as he focused his eyes back on the TV screen, “You aren’t even watching the movie… yet you constantly distract me with what you’re doing, aish… just what is up with you and your phone?” he complained.
Jae-joong, trying then to establish a call to Shin abruptly closed his phone again.
“What, you’re ordering me to do something else? I can do whatever I want with my own things.”
Jun-su ignored his statement, “Hesitation is pointless hyeong, if something’s bothering you… if there’s something wrong with him, then just call him already.”
“I can call Shin however and whenever I want without you telling me -”
I slipped at that part, damn.
Jun-su’s face lit up at once and he even snapped his fingers in delight as he looked down on Jae-joong.
“I didn’t mention his name in particular… then that must mean he’s the one bothering you?” Jun-su smiled at him cunningly.
In a swift movement, Jae-joong managed to grab a throw pillow on his side and hard-pressed it on Jun-su’s infuriatingly beaming face; Jun-su made futile attempts to remove the obstruction on his face as Jae-joong spoke to him, “Just so you know you forgot to address me as your ‘hyeong’ in all your excitement,” he let the throw pillow fall as he removed his grip on it, and then Jae-joong pushed himself up to a sitting position and faced Jun-su.
Jun-su’s face has splotches of red as he was momentarily robbed out of oxygen but the smile he has from knowing that he has the upper-hand in terms of mocking Jae-joong never left his face.
“What’s between the two of you now, hyeong? Why is Shin bothering you? Ah, since he gave you several clothes last time you met, it must be full-proof that he was completely smitten over you, considering you’ve only met twice!” Jun-su even clasped his hands as if he was making a speech, “Wow, that is another achievement for you hyeong, isn’t it? But then, that should at least be expected since you are Kim Jae-joong, having a lot of fanboys - ack,” he received a flying throw pillow from Jae-joong.
“You sure know how to use your mouth Jun-su… why don’t you prepare any last words?” Jae-joong glowered at him.
Jun-su cringed and automatically recoiled; just then, Yu-cheon walked in the living room and slumped on the far end of the sectional sofa towards Jae-joong’s side, “Nothing like a good ol’ bickering to greet my day,” he said.
“And more days for us to sleep-in!” Chang-min happily blurted out from his room.
“How the hell did he manage to hear you, hyeong?” Jun-su asked Yu-cheon in puzzlement.
“That’s Chang-min for you… anyway, what movie is this?”
“The Great Raid,” Jae-joong answered, still tinkering with his phone.
Chang-min came out from his room and walked past them to go to the dining area.
“What’s it about?” Yu-cheon continued to ask, eyeing Jae-joong who wasn’t even paying the slightest bit of attention to the movie.
“Well, there’s this American naval flight officer who was shot down over Bosnia upon uncovering a massacre during the Bosnian War… he apparently survived but was pursued by the enemies…”
Jun-su widen his eyes.
“That’s why that film was entitled Behind the Enemy Lines,” Yun-ho noted. Apparently Yun-ho was in the living room too, hands full of paper bags since he had gone out to buy clothes in Apgujeong Rodeo Street early that day.
Yu-cheon and Jun-su snickered at Jae-joong, who was embarrassed by his honest mistake.
“I guess hyeong mixed up the two movies since both have the same militaries in the plot,” Yu-cheon pointed out.
“He wasn’t even watching in the first place!” Jun-su said.
“Tsss,” was all Jae-joong could reply as he glared at the two from his left side and right side.
Yun-ho placed his shopping goods on the coffee table in the center of the living room and moved towards the three.
“I noticed that hyeong was very busy with his phone ever since we both decided to watch ‘The Great Raid,’ that may be the reason why his mind was preoccupied and got the two mixed-up,” Jun-su even added, Yu-cheon nodded in agreement.
“Well, what do we have here?” without any permission, and much to Jae-joong’s surprise, Yun-ho got his phone from him; it was currently flipped open so Yun-ho stared on the screen.
“Ya!” Jae-joong shouted.
Park Shin: 011-198-860-126
Yun-ho quirked his brow, and glanced at Jae-joong.
“Well… I was thinking that we hadn’t met at all yesterday, and that may-maybe you’d pressure me to meet him again so I was considering establishing a call just to check up on him…” said Jae-joong.
Yun-ho spitefully smiled, “I’m really glad that you’re taking the initiative and obeying the punishment sincerely Jae-joong,” and he returned the phone back to Jae-joong’s hands. Jae-joong’s eyes then bulged.
Park Shin
Dialing…
That was what registered in Jae-joong’s vision as he looked down on his phone. Then he glanced up at Yun-ho’s smirking face, he felt revulsion all over his body.
Aish, they sure know how to enjoy belittling me in this kind of situation!
He staggered as he put his phone on his left ear and waited for Shin on the other line.
“Hello?”
“H - hello, O - o - o - Oppa! This is Jae-hw -”
“Why didn’t you call me as soon as you can?” Shin sounded angry.
“I, I am sick Oppa,” he thought of an excuse.
He gazed at the other three who were all patiently listening to their conversation and laughing quietly as they heard his pretense. He spotted Chang-min walking towards them with a plate full of lasagna and he quickly put his index finger on his lips to warn him. Chang-min nodded in understanding but still hovered himself towards them.
Shin’s voice started to soften, “You’re sick? Was it because we walked in the rain for too long?”
“Uh, yes…”
“You live in 521, Hyundai Apt., Apgujeong 2-dong right?”
“Yes,” Jae-joong was baffled as to why he was asking his address. Then it hit him, he gasped as soon as he realized what may come ahead.
No way!
“Then I’ll take a visit. I’ll be there in three hours,” and Shin hang-up on him.
No, this is not happening…
The other four people comprising Dong Bang Shin Ki watched Jae-joong as he turned pale as if he had just seen the world coming to end.
“Hyeong! What happened? What did he say?” Chang-min asked.
“Did he break up with you?” Jun-su nudged Jae-joong.
“No,” Jae-joong whispered, his face a blank canvass.
“What then?” It was Yu-cheon’s turn in asking.
“He’s… he’s going to visit us,” he finally revealed.
The room fell into deep stillness following Jae-joong’s words.
“Ya!” Jae-joong suddenly bellowed towards Yun-ho, Jun-su, Yu-cheon and Chang-min, the four jolted in surprise, “Aish!” he scratched his head in frustration before continuing, “Listen up! Shin’s coming in three hours and I have a plan… gather all the things that would hint or expose our identities in this flat and move it to the guest room, hurry up!” Jae-joong ordered, with eyes pleading and imposing at the same time, the four was left with no other option but to comply.
Chang-min set himself in the living room and began searching for his and his hyeongs’ belongings that were scattered or placed in the area. He started taking out picture frames, albums and their trophies from various music programs and awards shows on the wall shelves. Yu-cheon checked the walls, chests of drawers, cabinet and sideboards, bathroom as well as the balcony to see if there are any things to remove. On the other hand, Yun-ho was busy taking various things to and fro from each of the members’ room to the guest room. He also considered some of the fans’ gifts on whether or not they should be put inside the room or use as a cover up to establish a fake apartment for “Jae-hwa.” Meanwhile, Jun-su helped Jae-joong re-organized his room to make it more feminine, and because Jae-joong and Yu-cheon’s sharing the same room, it was becoming tedious since there were a lot of things to move out. Jun-su was changing the bed sheets, throw and wraps, and the pillow cases while Jae-joong gather round the things he needed to hide in the guest room.
“Why do we even have to make my room feminine? It’s not like I’m going to let him enter here in the first place,” Jae-joong whined.
“Did you forgot what you’ve just said to him hyeong? You… were… sick! I guess he had an impression that you were bedridden enough not to call him after your date the other day, and I guess that’s the reason why he decided to pay a visit, any guy would worry over their girlfriends for that matter.”
Jae-joong shuddered at the word ‘girlfriend,’ “Then… that means I have to act all sick and bedridden?”
“Well, that would be fine, you could say you got yourself a flu or something… and then when it’d be just the two of you, all alone and together in this room, while taking care of you, he would suddenly profess his undying love, that I bet he would do!” Jun-su teased him.
“Ya! You seemed to enjoy mocking me lately huh? Do you want not to have any food for the rest of the week?” he threatened him.
“Eh? Aish… I understand, sorry hyeong,” Jun-su apologized.
After two hours and a half, everything was finally set. Dong Bang Shin Ki guys managed to get additional furniture and other décors for Jae-hwa’s flat through their managers and sponsors. Their managers were of course suspicious about the whole state of affairs, but after Yun-ho talked it out with them, being the leader that he is, they finally conformed. It was not much, but at least their entire apartment gave off a feminine feeling.
“H - hey! What are you all trying to do?” Jae-joong exclaimed. They were all gathered inside his room now and he was forced to lie in bed. Yun-ho, Yu-cheon, Chang-min and Jun-su hovered around him.
“Didn’t you say you were sick, hyeong? This will help… Trust me,” It was Chang-min. On his hands were two pieces of garlic; he immediately shoved it under Jae-joong’s shirt, much to the latter’s surprise.
“Ya! What’s this? Ya -!” he shouted at Chang-min who was determined to tape each pieces of garlic in both of his armpits as he pulled Jae-joong’s shirt up. Jae-joong struggled but with Jun-su’s help, his moves remained wasted.
“Oy, maknae -!”
“Don’t worry, it is said that garlic could raise one’s body’s thermostat. In that way, even if Shin would try to touch you, at least he’ll feel that you have a fever. It’s worth a shot isn’t it?” Yun-ho who was sitting on the far-end of Jae-joong’s bed, reassured him, “Plus, you have to put on more layers of clothing just to ensure that your body stays in a specific temperature,” and he pointed at him several more to wear.
“But… this is gross!” Jae-joong was in doubt. He watched from the corner of his eyes Chang-min’s finishing touch, as if he had just done something remarkable from the proud look on his face.
Yu-cheon then lingered around him after Jae-joong finished slipping on all the clothes including a ridiculous pajama at once. He was extremely careful despite the hastiness, minding the garlic in his armpits. Yu-cheon was holding what seemed to be a ‘foundation’ to Je-joong, make-up tools as well as a large make-up kit.
“What’s that for?!” he demanded an answer. Jun-su and Chang-min arranged their position and pinned Jae-joong on the bed.
“I’ll make you look pale than you already are, hyeong. If you’re pretending, then at least you have to look convincing.”
“Isn’t putting garlic in my armpits enough for me to have a ‘fake fever’?”
“But don’t people in the entertainment industry use make-up for a dramatic effect? This should not be an exemption hyeong!” Jun-su chided.
Jae-joong heaved a sigh. He tried to revolt but he considered what may happen to him if Shin found out the truth so he reluctantly agreed. He shook his head in defeat.
Worst luck, ever.
He scrunched his face as Yu-cheon applied the foundation on his face.
“Where the hell did you even got those things? Are you even knowledgeable when it comes to make-up, huh, Yu-cheon?”
“Manager lent this to us from his make-up artist friend… I have to admit that I’m not all that familiar, but after all the photoshoots, music videos and commercials we filmed, I at least learned a thing or two,” Yu-cheon answered him in all honesty.
“Oh, add a little bit of dark shadows under his eyes to make him look more stressed hyeong,” Chang-min happily suggested.
Jae-joong remained silent but he moped at the suggestion.
“Just a pale color and dark shadows under his eyes are okay,” Yun-ho directed. Yu-cheon nodded as he continued applying foundation on Jae-joong’s chin.
“Even out the shades on both of his cheeks hyeong! Otherwise, it’ll look like a fungal infection,” Jun-su bit his lips to stifle his laughter.
Yu-cheon nodded his head again yet Jae-joong couldn’t help but feel anxious and agitated at the same time.
“As long as I still look human, this should be okay… or I’ll have to put a fine for this Yu-cheon!”
“Okay, okay, I understand hyeong,” Yu-cheon laughed.
After a while, Yu-cheon patted Jae-joong’s cheeks as a cue to the end of his make-up session.
Jae-joong rapidly walked out of bed as soon as Jun-su and Chang-min released him. He went to the left side of his room where a custom-made full-length mirror divides 1/8 of the room’s length vertically. It was intended to be a divider to where his bed is. As he looked on, he was still his usual self, except for the long fake hair he’s donning, pale make-up, and oversized chicken-suit pajamas complete with two-layers of clothing carefully hidden inside.
I hope this will do.
“Remind me why am I in a chicken-suit again? Wasn’t this Jun-su’s gift that he had received from his fanclub?” Jae-joong rolled his eyes as he rocked himself forwards and backwards.
“This is our masterpiece,” Jun-su pompously declared. He suddenly popped at Jae-joong’s side.
“Why do you guys even bother to help me at this point? I could have done this myself… sort of.”
“Really now, hyeong?” Yu-cheon commented.
“This has been fun!” Chang-min excitedly blurted out, “I feel like we are all in a mission, which excites me so greatly, it has been a while since we do something this fun!”
All of them nodded in agreement, even Jae-joong unconsciously did it. The four of them were all smiles wile Jae-joong pursed his lips.
“You should thank us instead Jae-joong,” Yun-ho jokingly appealed.
I guess, we just don’t want this to end, just yet… Aside from being a penalty… you should see for yourself how completely different you are now compared to the ‘you’ after that tragic event happened, Jae-joong. Yun-ho thought.
“No, thank me for providing you guys this kind of gag show!” he grumpily said.
“I think it’s about time we head out,” Yun-ho hinted.
Jae-joong looked at his clock on his bedside table. Shin would arrive any minute now.
“Where would we go hyeong?” Yu-cheon asked.
“To Hanyang Apt.,* let’s take a visit to our sunbaes and hoobaes before this coming Chuseok.”
“Ya! What would they say if they did not see me? It might cause a misunderstanding…” Jae-joong worriedly said.
“You’re sick hyeong, remember?” Jun-su winked at him, “And we’ll have to spend the rest of the day there and come back tomorrow morning,” implying something that did not escaped Jae-joong’s sharp mind.
As if on cue, Yu-cheon, Yun-ho, Jun-su and Chang-min raised both of their hands in synch, the same as that of cheering Dae Han Min Guk* for last year’s World Cup season, and loudly boomed, “Fighting!!!” and they quickly rushed to the door.
Jae-joong was pissed; not a moment too soon, he heard his phone rang and he immediately walked to the other side of his room to get his phone that was located on the bed. He read Shin’s name on its screen and shouted at the boys bickering in the living room, “Hurry up and leave! I guess he’s already in the building!” after that, he heard a ruffling of footsteps and the sound of the door opening and closing. He then hastily answered the call and waited for Shin’s voice on the other line.
“Hey, what’s with this apartment? The guards won’t let me pass because they said that there’s no Kim Jae-hwa living in here… are you sure you gave me your exact address?” Shin complained.
Jae-joong clinched his forehead.
How could we forget this important detail?!
“Uh… uhm, they must have misheard you Oppa, don’t worry I’ll make a call to the security office to let you in,” Jae-joong assured him.
“Okay, hurry up… it’s cold in here,” and he hang-up.
Jae-joong inhaled a deep breath as he thought of an excuse. He’s really starting to feel sick from all this aggravations. He walked to and fro while making an SMS to Yu-cheon, informing and passing his current dilemma to the other four.
They should still be inside the building or else I’ll be doomed.
Understood hyeong, it’s already been taken care of.
Yu-cheon sent a reply minutes later.
At the entrance hall of their posh apartment, the four men of DBSK were clad in casual clothes and were all hiding their faces with huge sunglasses and face masks. They spotted Shin near the elevator; he was waiting patiently for the guards’ permission to let him go up. The four of them nonchalantly walked past him and went to the security’s office. Chang-min and Jun-su guarded outside while the other two went inside the room.
“I heard from Jae-joong hyeong that he’s already twenty-seven,” referring to Shin, Jun-su informed Chang-min.
“That’s really a surprise, no? I thought we were at the same age.”
“True that… despite being small and lean, he has this cool aura that it almost makes me envy him,” Jun-su confessed.
“He seems to be a cool person too; in the near future, I want to be-friend him. He’s taking care of our hyeong in a way that he wasn’t even aware of doing…” Chang-min mumbled.
Jun-su still heard him and agreed to his statement. “I’m really glad about it, although it’s a bit sad that we weren’t the ones doing it particularly.”
“We are all helping him to cope in our own way hyeong,” Chang-min consoled him, “It’s just that because Jae-joong hyeong cherishes us, he doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone. At least in the situation he’s in, he’ll be distracted from the painful thing that has happened.”
Inside the office, Yu-cheon relayed Jae-joong’s message to the two guards while Yun-ho helped him explain to them Jae-joong’s situation and predicament and how they could cooperate.
“You mean to say Jae-joong-ssi is cast in a reality show where he gets to disguise as a girl for one whole month?” one of the guards monitoring the CCTV cameras asked.
“That’s right… but the rest of the details are still classified as of now,” Yu-cheon added.
“But shouldn’t the PD-nim first contacted and discussed this with Hyundai’s management? We weren’t properly informed about this,” the other guard said.
“Well, the PD-nims wanted the whole show to be as realistic as it could get, that’s why there are only a few people who knew about this, we don’t even know who are the other accomplices of this show,” Yun-ho persisted, “and if you mention this to the other people that doesn’t even have a clue or weren’t supposed to be informed about it, then the whole cover-up will be wasted.”
“That’s why, if you have been informed, you must seal your lips about it and act accordingly Ahjussi,” Yu-cheon persuaded.
The two guards now were starting to believe them and although they were still reluctant, at the end they were finally won over By Yu-cheon and Yun-ho’s will power and confidence. After all, they are members of a popular idol group in Korea; they wouldn’t do something without a justifiable reason, would they?
All was settled as the four idols left the place. Jae-joong was anxiously waiting in the living room. When he heard the door bell rang and saw Shin’s face through the surveillance camera on the other side of the front door by an LCD pinned on the wall of the foyer, he counted one to ten before finally opening it. He put all his energy to look lifeless.
Oh the irony.
When his eyes focused at Shin’s face, he seemed tired. He was satisfied deep down nonetheless because Shin was taken aback.
You weren’t expecting for something like this huh? Kim Jae-joong, you are such a great actor!
Shin raised her hand to reach for Jae-hwa’s forehead. Jae-hwa consequently closed her eyes as if a prisoner waiting for a final verdict.
“You really have a fever huh?” she commented.
“Why would you think I’ll fake a sickness Oppa? Really…” Jae-hwa looked down. She opened the door wide to let him in.
“Just checking…” Shin said, “You should stay in your room; you look like you’d passed out at any moment.”
Jae-hwa just shrugged and motioned for him towards the living room but Shin unexpectedly held her arms.
“Oppa?”
Shin sighed and inclined her head to the side, “No need to entertain me as your guest, I visited you because I’m feeling guilty. Now don’t be stubborn and just rest inside your room.”
Feeling guilty?
“But then… what would you do in here if I’m to be locked inside my room?” Jae-hwa was baffled.
“You could say I’m at your beck and call…” Shin proposed.
It was hard for her to say those words since she never provided any help or assistance to any people before. She mostly kept to herself, but because Jae-hwa was sick and she had partially been the cause of it, she wanted to take a responsibility for it.
“O - kay…” At my beck and call, huh?
Jae-joong concealed his smirk.
Jae-hwa then proceeded to go to her room while Shin tagged along. It was only at that time that she finally looked around the apartment. The surrounding was clean and chic in its outmost simplicity, it was spacious too and this prompted her to ask, “Do you live alone? I noticed that there are five other rooms in your flat.”
“Uh… no… I live together with my… four brothers, the room to the far end of the hall is a stock room,” she answered timidly.
“Oh, so you have four brothers? Why didn’t you inform me sooner?” Shin sounded astonished.
“Why? Are you scared of meeting them Oppa? There’s a high possibility for that if only they weren’t out of town for this month,” she teased him.
Shin raised her chin and confidently said, “Why would I? It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong by dating you. Weren’t you the one who came up to me first? Besides, I wanted to show courtesy by meeting them…”
“Oy, arrogant Oppa! Saying those words is embarrassing to me! Aish,” Jae-hwa scowled at him.
Plus, it won’t happen as long as I live.
“But you really did come up to me first.”
“Yeah, yeah…” Jae-hwa consented to shut him up. Jae-hwa’s room was at the end of the hall in front of the stock room. She paused for awhile before turning the knob. She reluctantly strode inside and went immediately to her bed. Shin was silently following her.
“Is there anything you want?” Shin asked her as she watched her lay down on the bed.
“Mmmm…”
The revenge project is on! At last I could make you pay back from all the consequences I’ve suffered from the last Truth and Dare game we had!
Jae-joong pulled the blanket up to his cheeks to hide his ever widening grin, “I want some gimbap*, mandu*, sundae* and… tteokbokki too!*”
“Ya! Considering it’s a lot, why must it all be street foods? You’re sick, you should go for healthy foods instead,” Shin ordered.
“Then why ask me in the first place if you’re the one who’s going to decide what I should eat?” Jae-hwa sulked.
Shin considered her request and came to a conclusion, “Then gimbap and tteokbokki should be enough for now.”
“Yay! Hurry back Oppa!” Jae-hwa waved her hands, it was a contradicting movement to her statement because instead of the normal waving of the hands to bid farewell, it was as if she was sending Shin off already.
Shin raised her brow.
What’s that, she seemed to have a lot of energy for a sick person.
Reading Shin’s suspicious look, Jae-joong twitched suddenly and blurted out, “Ah… My head hurts,” he sneaked a glance at Shin, discovering that he was still standing at the side he said in a faint voice, “Oppa, I really want to eat gimbap and tteokbokki now; they are only my medicine… please?”
“Alright… I’ll be going then, make sure you stay in bed and keep yourself warm,” he advised. Shin’s eyes were glaring, sending off the message through his gaze that he was serious.
“Roger Oppa!” Jae-hwa made a saluting gesture as she watched Shin’s back retreat from her side.
As soon as Jae-joong heard the front door being shut, he finally relaxed himself. He stretched his arms widely as he comfortably lay on his bed.
But it was only a couple of minutes before Jae-joong felt the boredom creeping in. He wasn’t particularly interested in anything as of the moment. He honestly thought that there’s nothing to do despite the number of electronic gadgets and home appliances in the apartment that could entertain him. He was slightly having second-thoughts about sending off Shin to find street foods in Apgujeong 2-dong since there wasn’t any close-by pojangmacha* around the area. It was his original intention to make him exhausted by looking for it around the place though. After almost half an hour, Shin called him.
Before he could even greet him, Shin spoke up, “Ya! I couldn’t see any pojangmacha around! I was literally going on in circles for some time now; just ask another food that you want, hurry!”
“Eh?! But I wanted gimbap and tteokbokki Oppa!”
“Are you deaf? Didn’t I just tell you that there’s no single person selling what you want around this place?”
“But I wanted gimbap and tteokbokki!” as Jae-joong insisted, he heard a sharp intake of breath from the other line. He could tell that Shin was pissed but that won’t make him budge.
“Hey… was it because you’re in a state of delusion right now due to your sickness that you couldn’t figure out what I’m just saying? There’s no pojangmacha around Apgujeong 2-dong!”
“Though my head hurts, I could still hear you loud and clear Oppa. And of course it follows suit that I can still understand what we’re talking about. And of course there isn’t any pojangmacha in Apgujeong 2-dong… any Korean in Seoul, or the ones living in Gangnam district would know about that. How could you not know that pojangmacha are all situated in another sub-division*?”
There was no response from Shin.
“Ya, Oppa! Are you still there? Hello?!” Jae-joong replicated those words.
“…then where should I go?” Shin’s voice seemed a little weak.
“You honestly don’t know? I thought you live in Gangnam-gu?” Jae-joong was confused.
“Tss… hurry up and say it already so I could go there right away, I hate… staying outdoors,” Shin admitted.
What? He said he hates staying outdoors? But he doesn’t look like it. We stayed in Cheong-dam Park for one. Maybe he’s just saying that so he could go back already… pssh, acting out as if he’s a vampire, don’t kid with me!
“Well, you have to take a bus to Segok-dong Oppa; you’ll get there in less than an hour if there’s no traffic…”
“That long just so I could buy you street foods? You must be out of your freaking mind!”
“You failed to comprehend the absolute normality of my brain Oppa!”
“I did not… and tell me about this normality of yours, you’re already sick and yet you did not choose something that’s healthy for yourself… just choose something else, and I’ll buy it at the nearest store in here,” Shin was adamant about it.
“Street foods equal to the highest energy source of every Korean, surely you must know that Oppa!”
“I’ve never eaten street foods in my life.”
Jae-joong was astounded; Shin was getting unusually talkative and stubborn this day.
“Aish, this is making me dizzy… I thought you’re at my beck and call Oppa? Don’t ever go back to my apartment unless I see on your hands a bag of gimbap and tteokbokki!” after declaring her threat, Jae-hwa hung up.
What? She has the nerve to threaten me? She’s one heck of an obstinate woman.
Though Shin got a lot of threats in her life, this one was far more childish and enjoyable at the same time.
Three hours have already passed when Jae-joong decided to end the call he received from Shin. To cope with boredom, he decided to play with Chang-min’s PSP. He was still lying comfortably on his bed, tucked on his side and busy crushing down the enemy, when he began to think of Shin’s whereabouts. He was curious as to why Shin didn’t even know about the location of pojangmacha in Gangnam-gu where in fact he lives within the same district. Just then, he received a message from Shin when he felt the vibration of his phone near his neck.
I’m in your building now; welcome me at your doorstep.
It read.
Why did he suddenly send an SMS? It’s unlikely to his character and ‘welcome me at your doorstep?’ what’s up with that? Tsk, suddenly using an old man’s pick-up line and he’s back to his usual self: being so demanding… I haven’t yet got the whole satisfaction from punishing him.
He stood up and quickly walked out of his room. Jae-joong couldn’t understand the change in Shin’s mood lately, well he hasn’t spent a long time with him either so he supposed that that was the reason why he still hasn’t figure out much of his personality. When he reached the foyer of the apartment, he saw through the LCD that Shin was standing restlessly, his head and shoulders drooped.
He didn’t even bother to ring the doorbell… well, I see that he had complied with my wishes, but there is something odd in him… I’m sure of it. Jae-joong’s mind was filled with these thoughts when he opened the front door.
Shin looked up at him. And now it was Jae-joong’s turn to back away. Although Shin still has this airy stance, the cool aura doesn’t seem to reach his eyes. There was something amiss. His face was pale; nevertheless he even tried to smirk as he shoved the plastic bags that contain the gimbap and tteokbokki to his face. He entered the apartment rather hesitantly.
“O - Oppa?” Jae-joong reached for the plastic bags and as he did that, Shin abruptly fell on his feet.
“Oppa!” He shouted; he watched Shin in horror as he fainted on the cold floor, now pain clearly registered on his small face.
*Hanyang Apt., is where SME and some of its artists currently reside (as far as I know)
*Dae Han Min Guk is a Korean word for ‘Korean’ (correct me if I’m wrong and oh, no pun intended XD)
*Gimbap is basically a dish that is rice wrapped in seaweed
*Mandu = dumplings
*Sundae is just really Korean sausage
*Tteokbokki are stir fried rice cakes (okay, narrating this really makes a person hungry~! >.<)
*Pojangmacha refers to small tented restaurants on wheels, or street stalls in South Korea (from Wiki)
*Gangnam-gu or Gangnam district has around 26 dongs or administrative divisions, so when Jae-joong talked about sub-divisions, he was referring to dongs