How YoonHae Came to Be: The Pre-debut Years (Part 1 of 2)
Title: How YoonHae Came to Be: The Pre-debut Years
Pairing/s: Yoona & Donghae, YoonHae <3
Author: shelovessushi
Disclaimer: I don't know anything about SJ and SNSD's pre-debut life, this is purely a work of fiction and my imagination.
Note: My first fiction with dialogues (can this be considered a non-drabble?), please be patient as I'm used to writing drabbles and please comment for constructive criticism. Fact: This took me weeks to write! I also researched to make sure that the time-line sort of matches what really happened in real life.
2002
The SM building seemed foreign to thirteen-year old Im Yoona. She walked through the busy hallways in curiosity peeking inside different rooms that she passed by. A certain practice room was blaring an S.E.S. song and she smiled to herself. She loved that song. She was so caught up with the music that she blindly bumped into someone else.
“I’m sorry!” Yoona instantly apologized. She was new here and she didn’t want to create a bad impression of being rude to others. She looked up to perceive who she collided with and blushed ten shades of red when she saw a boy not more than seventeen years old right before her.
Not just a boy. A cute boy.
“It’s okay, it was a good song anyway. Your new aren’t you?” He asked smiling charmingly and Yoona blushed even harder as she nodded shyly.
He has a good sense with music too.
“Lee Donghae.” He initiated sticking his hand out in front of him.
“I’m Im Yoona.” She said, shyly shaking his much larger hand.
Donghae’s smile broadened.
This is going to be rather an interesting year. He thought.
Mid-2002
A light tap on the shoulder woke Yoona from her reverie. She looked up and saw a familiar happy face. Yoona smiled weakly at him.
“Tired?” he asked as he sat down a few meters away from her. She nodded feeling her body slump in exhaustion. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
“We all are.” He said matter-of-factly raising his brows at the other resting trainees inside the room.
Everything about him was so nonchalant and laid-back; his smile never left his face even if his body was worn out from all the difficult practices. He didn’t want to look weak in front of Yoona, he wanted to show her that he is strong and that he’s capable of protecting her.
“Youngwoon hyung wanted to eat out tonight and he wanted you to come.” Donghae said breaking their comfortable silence.
“I’m sorry who?” Yoona asked probingly. Last time she checked she didn’t know anyone named Youngwoon.
Donghae laughed out loud. His laughter was contagious and soon Yoona found herself smiling at him. His laughter was now permanently etched in her brain. It was music to her ears.
“Hyung said that the two of you know each other. He even told me that you two were tight.” He said shaking his head in his hyung’s foolishness.
“Wait, wait. Youngwoon shi! I remember him now!” Yoona exclaimed. “I accidentally bumped into him, he was huge and I fell flat on my butt.” Donghae laughed once more.
“You like bumping into people don’t you?” he teased.
Of course she blushed. He has that effect on her.
“You’ll come right Donghae Op--- shi?” she doesn’t like calling people Oppa it made her feel uncomfortable.
Donghae nodded once but the smile was now entirely gone from his face.
2003
“You can call me Oppa you know.” Donghae told her one afternoon after a hard day of training. The two of them were seated on the floor of the crowded practice room with their backs on the wall, hand towels on one hand and bottles of water on the other.
“What?” Yoona stared at him eyes wide like a deer.
Deer Yoong. It suited her. Donghae thought to himself.
“Try it.” Donghae insisted.
“Fine Donghae O-oppa.” She stuttered. He beamed widely.
“Donghae oppa.” Yoona repeated, smiling now.
Donghae put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Her heartbeat sped up.
“So… wanna eat something Yoong?”
“Yoong?” she asked.
“From now on I’ll call you Yoong.” Donghae said. He let her go and stood up, he offered her a hand instead. She missed his touch already.
Yoong. She liked it.
“Fine. I’m starved, let’s eat bimbap!” she said taking his outstretched hand.
“Shikshin!” Donghae teased but Yoona only playfully stuck out her tongue at him.
Yoona realized that at the age of fourteen she already knew whom she wanted to grow old with.
***
In Donghae’s case, his feelings for Yoona have always been there but he only acknowledged them a few months ago.
He tried hard to be a good oppa to her. A big brother. But what he felt for her was too strong that he just couldn’t deny it anymore.
She’s always so innocent and modest that it takes all of his will power not to kiss her right then and there. Of course he sweeps that thought aside. She’s too young after all.
He even feels jealous when he sees how close Yoona and Jungsoo hyung is, of course he knows that Hyung only sees her as a younger sister.
Even as a trainee she already has a string of admirers following her around. And Yoona was too kind to reject them. What if she debuts? Obviously they’ll increase by ten times.
Deep deep down inside he has this hope that maybe Yoona would someday stop treating him as a brother and start seeing him as something more.
To be honest he has his fair share of experience when it comes to girls but with Yoona all of this renders to nothing. She makes him vulnerable with just one look of her big deer-eyes and that was saying something.
To say that Donghae was a hopeless case was basically an understatement.
2004
“You do realize that our Yoona has a crush on you right?” Jungsoo have told him for the umpteenth time.
“And what if I like her too?” Donghae blurted out. He’s had enough of his nagging.
“Hae she’s fifteen!” Jungsoo told him exasperatedly.
“Look who’s talking? Hyung, you were the one who asked her to marry you in the first place. And how old was she then? Last time I checked it was called cradle-robbing.” Donghae replied smugly.
“Shut up.” The older one uttered irritably with his arms crossed. Hyung was the type of guy who follows his butt instead of his brains, he proposes to anybody anytime if he thinks she’s his ideal type.
“I’m gonna wait for her until she’s old enough.” He declared, Jungsoo stared at Donghae suspiciously but he looked dead-on serious. Jungsoo helplessly sighed.
“You promise not to hurt her right? Because if you do I swear Youngwoon and I will bury you alive.” He threatened.
“Hyung I’m not that kind of person. And I won’t take advantage of her just because she’s younger.” Everything he said was true; he doesn’t have the strength to hurt her. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.
“I know. I’d rather you date her than anybody else.” The soon-to-be leader said as he patted Donghae’s shoulder.
“Thanks Hyung.” Donghae smiled appreciatively. Giving his favorite hyung a one-armed hug.
All he has to do now was wait. Wait for another three long years.
End of 2005
Super Junior has just recently debuted and of course the Kpop industry welcomed them with open arms.
It’s been quite a while since Donghae and Yoona have seen each other. And despite Donghae’s jam-packed promotional schedule he still had a lot of time to think about Yoona.
He lied awake in his bed figuring out what Yoona was doing at this ungodly hour, probably asleep.
He imagined how Yoona would look like sleeping. She must have looked peaceful and beautiful like an angel. He’s missed her so much.
He knows what Yoona is going through. He knows that it wouldn’t take long for her to debut, and that one or two years before debuting is the most difficult phase in becoming an idol. He’s been through it too.
Just wait a little longer Yoong. Donghae thought as he let sleep overwhelm his worn-out body.
***
Yoona stared intently on the book resting on her lap but her mind was completely in another direction. For a sixteen-year-old she had to face challenges and problems a girl her age wouldn’t usually experience.
Her legs and her back were aching from overworking dance practices and her head was throbbing as if it would explode anytime. She was on top of her bed but she had no plans of sleeping. Questions were swimming relentlessly on her head and it only amplified her killer headache.
Am I even good enough for Oppa SM? She asked herself.
Yoona never really saw herself clearly. And she never really saw the effect she had on Donghae. Yes, you can call her naïve all you want but that particular trait of hers was what caught Donghae’s eyes from the very beginning.
She wondered what Donghae was doing right now. She always wondered about Donghae. Always.
Should I text him? She thought and glanced at the clock on her bedside table. It flashed a big 1:35 am.
I guess not. He’s probably asleep. She assumed wryly. She misses him so so much.
It never really occurred to her that there might really be a possibility of them to be together. He was a rising idol… and she was not. And hundreds of girls are probably lining up for him and she was just one of them.
She always thought that it was a one-sided love, that maybe Donghae was only treating her differently compared to other girls because Yoona always looked lonely by herself. Maybe Donghae only pitied her.
Does he even think of me as a woman and not as a little girl?
If only you knew Yoona, if only you knew.
2006
“Hae! Hae! Waaaaake uuuuup!” Hyukjae’s obnoxiously loud voice rang in Donghae’s ears. He groaned and buried his sleep-deprived head inside the covers.
“Hae! Fishy! Haeee! I’ll seriously water screen you if you don’t wake up!” Hyukjae was now jumping hyperactively on top of Donghae’s bed.
Where did he get all this energy? It was seven in the morning for heaven’s sake! Donghae groaned for the last time and sleepily lifted his head from the enticing soft pillow.
“What?” he growled irritably. Donghae wasn’t a morning person.
“Calm down Fishy! I just wanted to let you know that Hyoyeon called and told me that they’ll be debuting next year!” He said with an idiotic smile plastered on his face. Donghae’s eyes widened and a smile formed his lips.
“They?” he pressed on, his sleepiness was completely gone now.
“They as in Hyoyeon, Taeyeon, Suyeon, Joohyun, Sooyoung, Sunkyu, Stephanie, Yuri and…” he trailed off piquing Donghae’s anticipation on purpose.
“And?” Donghae asked, he was starting to get annoyed again and Hyukjae grinned devilishly. So much for being his best friend.
Hyukjae dramatically cleared his throat before speaking.
“And Yoona.” He finally divulged. Donghae’s heart skipped a beat and his mood was instantly better.
“I also heard from Jongwoon hyung and Heechul hyung that they’re temporarily called Super Girl, and do you know what that means?” Hyukie asked excitedly. Donghae shook his head absentmindedly, he was thinking of ways to congratulate Yoong.
“It means that they are Super Junior’s female counter-part! Just like CSJH with DBSK! How cool is that?” he told him as he clapped his hands like a child seeing a lollipop for the very first time.
Eunhyuk chattered on endlessly about different things seating himself unconsciously on the foot of Donghae’s messy bed, but Donghae wasn’t really listening. He was thinking about a certain deer-eyed beauty.
By the time Hyukie got to the part where Shindong knowingly ate the rotten kimchi because he was ‘hungry’ Donghae’s phone suddenly rang for the very first time in weeks.
***
Yoona dialed Donghae’s phone number with shaking hands. Super Junior’s U sounded on the other end of the call, Donghae answered after two rings.
“Hello?” They both said in unison. He heard Donghae’s child-like laughter and she smiled contentedly.
“Oppa! Have you heard?” she asked eagerly. They haven’t spoken with each other for weeks because of Donghae’s busy schedule and seeing Yoona sometimes in the SM building once or twice was always out of pure luck.
“I’m finally debuting!” “You’re finally debuting!” they said all at the same time again. There was awkward silence then.
“Congratulations Yoong.” She heard him say. How she missed hearing that nickname!
“Thanks. How are you by the way? Besides of your overflowing popularity that is.”
“I’m okay. Things went better with U than we expected. Adding Kyuhyun was a big hit.”
“Honestly it’s a good song and I’m so happy for him!”
The conversation flowed smoothly now. They talked about a lot of things by then. And when the both of them had to go they bid their farewells against their own will.
“Goodbye Yoong, I missed you by the way.” Yoona’s heart sped up.
“Bye Oppa. I uh… same here.” She said awkwardly. The line ended and she smacked her forehead.
Same here? What kind of answer was that?
Like it? Hate it? Should I continue the other half? Please rate and comment! thanks!
Pairing/s: Yoona & Donghae, YoonHae <3
Author: shelovessushi
Disclaimer: I don't know anything about SJ and SNSD's pre-debut life, this is purely a work of fiction and my imagination.
Note: My first fiction with dialogues (can this be considered a non-drabble?), please be patient as I'm used to writing drabbles and please comment for constructive criticism. Fact: This took me weeks to write! I also researched to make sure that the time-line sort of matches what really happened in real life.
2002
The SM building seemed foreign to thirteen-year old Im Yoona. She walked through the busy hallways in curiosity peeking inside different rooms that she passed by. A certain practice room was blaring an S.E.S. song and she smiled to herself. She loved that song. She was so caught up with the music that she blindly bumped into someone else.
“I’m sorry!” Yoona instantly apologized. She was new here and she didn’t want to create a bad impression of being rude to others. She looked up to perceive who she collided with and blushed ten shades of red when she saw a boy not more than seventeen years old right before her.
Not just a boy. A cute boy.
“It’s okay, it was a good song anyway. Your new aren’t you?” He asked smiling charmingly and Yoona blushed even harder as she nodded shyly.
He has a good sense with music too.
“Lee Donghae.” He initiated sticking his hand out in front of him.
“I’m Im Yoona.” She said, shyly shaking his much larger hand.
Donghae’s smile broadened.
This is going to be rather an interesting year. He thought.
Mid-2002
A light tap on the shoulder woke Yoona from her reverie. She looked up and saw a familiar happy face. Yoona smiled weakly at him.
“Tired?” he asked as he sat down a few meters away from her. She nodded feeling her body slump in exhaustion. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
“We all are.” He said matter-of-factly raising his brows at the other resting trainees inside the room.
Everything about him was so nonchalant and laid-back; his smile never left his face even if his body was worn out from all the difficult practices. He didn’t want to look weak in front of Yoona, he wanted to show her that he is strong and that he’s capable of protecting her.
“Youngwoon hyung wanted to eat out tonight and he wanted you to come.” Donghae said breaking their comfortable silence.
“I’m sorry who?” Yoona asked probingly. Last time she checked she didn’t know anyone named Youngwoon.
Donghae laughed out loud. His laughter was contagious and soon Yoona found herself smiling at him. His laughter was now permanently etched in her brain. It was music to her ears.
“Hyung said that the two of you know each other. He even told me that you two were tight.” He said shaking his head in his hyung’s foolishness.
“Wait, wait. Youngwoon shi! I remember him now!” Yoona exclaimed. “I accidentally bumped into him, he was huge and I fell flat on my butt.” Donghae laughed once more.
“You like bumping into people don’t you?” he teased.
Of course she blushed. He has that effect on her.
“You’ll come right Donghae Op--- shi?” she doesn’t like calling people Oppa it made her feel uncomfortable.
Donghae nodded once but the smile was now entirely gone from his face.
2003
“You can call me Oppa you know.” Donghae told her one afternoon after a hard day of training. The two of them were seated on the floor of the crowded practice room with their backs on the wall, hand towels on one hand and bottles of water on the other.
“What?” Yoona stared at him eyes wide like a deer.
Deer Yoong. It suited her. Donghae thought to himself.
“Try it.” Donghae insisted.
“Fine Donghae O-oppa.” She stuttered. He beamed widely.
“Donghae oppa.” Yoona repeated, smiling now.
Donghae put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Her heartbeat sped up.
“So… wanna eat something Yoong?”
“Yoong?” she asked.
“From now on I’ll call you Yoong.” Donghae said. He let her go and stood up, he offered her a hand instead. She missed his touch already.
Yoong. She liked it.
“Fine. I’m starved, let’s eat bimbap!” she said taking his outstretched hand.
“Shikshin!” Donghae teased but Yoona only playfully stuck out her tongue at him.
Yoona realized that at the age of fourteen she already knew whom she wanted to grow old with.
***
In Donghae’s case, his feelings for Yoona have always been there but he only acknowledged them a few months ago.
He tried hard to be a good oppa to her. A big brother. But what he felt for her was too strong that he just couldn’t deny it anymore.
She’s always so innocent and modest that it takes all of his will power not to kiss her right then and there. Of course he sweeps that thought aside. She’s too young after all.
He even feels jealous when he sees how close Yoona and Jungsoo hyung is, of course he knows that Hyung only sees her as a younger sister.
Even as a trainee she already has a string of admirers following her around. And Yoona was too kind to reject them. What if she debuts? Obviously they’ll increase by ten times.
Deep deep down inside he has this hope that maybe Yoona would someday stop treating him as a brother and start seeing him as something more.
To be honest he has his fair share of experience when it comes to girls but with Yoona all of this renders to nothing. She makes him vulnerable with just one look of her big deer-eyes and that was saying something.
To say that Donghae was a hopeless case was basically an understatement.
2004
“You do realize that our Yoona has a crush on you right?” Jungsoo have told him for the umpteenth time.
“And what if I like her too?” Donghae blurted out. He’s had enough of his nagging.
“Hae she’s fifteen!” Jungsoo told him exasperatedly.
“Look who’s talking? Hyung, you were the one who asked her to marry you in the first place. And how old was she then? Last time I checked it was called cradle-robbing.” Donghae replied smugly.
“Shut up.” The older one uttered irritably with his arms crossed. Hyung was the type of guy who follows his butt instead of his brains, he proposes to anybody anytime if he thinks she’s his ideal type.
“I’m gonna wait for her until she’s old enough.” He declared, Jungsoo stared at Donghae suspiciously but he looked dead-on serious. Jungsoo helplessly sighed.
“You promise not to hurt her right? Because if you do I swear Youngwoon and I will bury you alive.” He threatened.
“Hyung I’m not that kind of person. And I won’t take advantage of her just because she’s younger.” Everything he said was true; he doesn’t have the strength to hurt her. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.
“I know. I’d rather you date her than anybody else.” The soon-to-be leader said as he patted Donghae’s shoulder.
“Thanks Hyung.” Donghae smiled appreciatively. Giving his favorite hyung a one-armed hug.
All he has to do now was wait. Wait for another three long years.
End of 2005
Super Junior has just recently debuted and of course the Kpop industry welcomed them with open arms.
It’s been quite a while since Donghae and Yoona have seen each other. And despite Donghae’s jam-packed promotional schedule he still had a lot of time to think about Yoona.
He lied awake in his bed figuring out what Yoona was doing at this ungodly hour, probably asleep.
He imagined how Yoona would look like sleeping. She must have looked peaceful and beautiful like an angel. He’s missed her so much.
He knows what Yoona is going through. He knows that it wouldn’t take long for her to debut, and that one or two years before debuting is the most difficult phase in becoming an idol. He’s been through it too.
Just wait a little longer Yoong. Donghae thought as he let sleep overwhelm his worn-out body.
***
Yoona stared intently on the book resting on her lap but her mind was completely in another direction. For a sixteen-year-old she had to face challenges and problems a girl her age wouldn’t usually experience.
Her legs and her back were aching from overworking dance practices and her head was throbbing as if it would explode anytime. She was on top of her bed but she had no plans of sleeping. Questions were swimming relentlessly on her head and it only amplified her killer headache.
Am I even good enough for Oppa SM? She asked herself.
Yoona never really saw herself clearly. And she never really saw the effect she had on Donghae. Yes, you can call her naïve all you want but that particular trait of hers was what caught Donghae’s eyes from the very beginning.
She wondered what Donghae was doing right now. She always wondered about Donghae. Always.
Should I text him? She thought and glanced at the clock on her bedside table. It flashed a big 1:35 am.
I guess not. He’s probably asleep. She assumed wryly. She misses him so so much.
It never really occurred to her that there might really be a possibility of them to be together. He was a rising idol… and she was not. And hundreds of girls are probably lining up for him and she was just one of them.
She always thought that it was a one-sided love, that maybe Donghae was only treating her differently compared to other girls because Yoona always looked lonely by herself. Maybe Donghae only pitied her.
Does he even think of me as a woman and not as a little girl?
If only you knew Yoona, if only you knew.
2006
“Hae! Hae! Waaaaake uuuuup!” Hyukjae’s obnoxiously loud voice rang in Donghae’s ears. He groaned and buried his sleep-deprived head inside the covers.
“Hae! Fishy! Haeee! I’ll seriously water screen you if you don’t wake up!” Hyukjae was now jumping hyperactively on top of Donghae’s bed.
Where did he get all this energy? It was seven in the morning for heaven’s sake! Donghae groaned for the last time and sleepily lifted his head from the enticing soft pillow.
“What?” he growled irritably. Donghae wasn’t a morning person.
“Calm down Fishy! I just wanted to let you know that Hyoyeon called and told me that they’ll be debuting next year!” He said with an idiotic smile plastered on his face. Donghae’s eyes widened and a smile formed his lips.
“They?” he pressed on, his sleepiness was completely gone now.
“They as in Hyoyeon, Taeyeon, Suyeon, Joohyun, Sooyoung, Sunkyu, Stephanie, Yuri and…” he trailed off piquing Donghae’s anticipation on purpose.
“And?” Donghae asked, he was starting to get annoyed again and Hyukjae grinned devilishly. So much for being his best friend.
Hyukjae dramatically cleared his throat before speaking.
“And Yoona.” He finally divulged. Donghae’s heart skipped a beat and his mood was instantly better.
“I also heard from Jongwoon hyung and Heechul hyung that they’re temporarily called Super Girl, and do you know what that means?” Hyukie asked excitedly. Donghae shook his head absentmindedly, he was thinking of ways to congratulate Yoong.
“It means that they are Super Junior’s female counter-part! Just like CSJH with DBSK! How cool is that?” he told him as he clapped his hands like a child seeing a lollipop for the very first time.
Eunhyuk chattered on endlessly about different things seating himself unconsciously on the foot of Donghae’s messy bed, but Donghae wasn’t really listening. He was thinking about a certain deer-eyed beauty.
By the time Hyukie got to the part where Shindong knowingly ate the rotten kimchi because he was ‘hungry’ Donghae’s phone suddenly rang for the very first time in weeks.
***
Yoona dialed Donghae’s phone number with shaking hands. Super Junior’s U sounded on the other end of the call, Donghae answered after two rings.
“Hello?” They both said in unison. He heard Donghae’s child-like laughter and she smiled contentedly.
“Oppa! Have you heard?” she asked eagerly. They haven’t spoken with each other for weeks because of Donghae’s busy schedule and seeing Yoona sometimes in the SM building once or twice was always out of pure luck.
“I’m finally debuting!” “You’re finally debuting!” they said all at the same time again. There was awkward silence then.
“Congratulations Yoong.” She heard him say. How she missed hearing that nickname!
“Thanks. How are you by the way? Besides of your overflowing popularity that is.”
“I’m okay. Things went better with U than we expected. Adding Kyuhyun was a big hit.”
“Honestly it’s a good song and I’m so happy for him!”
The conversation flowed smoothly now. They talked about a lot of things by then. And when the both of them had to go they bid their farewells against their own will.
“Goodbye Yoong, I missed you by the way.” Yoona’s heart sped up.
“Bye Oppa. I uh… same here.” She said awkwardly. The line ended and she smacked her forehead.
Same here? What kind of answer was that?
Like it? Hate it? Should I continue the other half? Please rate and comment! thanks!