Bipolar -- Chapter 04
"Don't... please..."
The warmth of his breath burned her skin, and she yelped -- furiously kicking her legs, even though she knew it was useless. Her friend -- or at least, she used to be -- took hold of her chin and looked deeply into her eyes.
"I'm so sorry... But I love you -- I love you so much and he doesn't." She glared at the man sitting on a chair behind her, trying hard to push her captor off of her. She didn't budge, and instead kissed her soundly on the lips -- silencing her.
"He wants to watch though, so he's letting me have you tonight."
A sob escaped her throat as she struggled (to no avail) in her bonds. With tears in her eyes, she spat: "I hate you. I hate you."
"Shh. Tiffany..."
And the darkness overcame her.
Tiffany didn't know how anyone could love a soccer game as much as Junsu did, while munching on popcorn and shouting at the TV at the same time.
Kim Junsu was Taeyeon's boyfriend of eight months, and was a notorious soccer fan. He worked as a choreographer and vocal coach at an entertainment agency and met Taeyeon at a gig he helped set up. They were together off and on for the first three months until one day, Junsu crashed into Taeyeon's class and told her he loved her in front of all of her students. They were inseperable ever since.
Junsu shouted at the referee on TV and Tiffany shared a defeated glance with Taeyeon. She mouthed "Sorry, Fany," in reply, grinning and she shrugged before standing up with a stretch.
"You guys want anything? More juice, Su-butt?" Tiffany asked, wrinkling her nose. Taeyeon shook her head, elbowing Junsu who started to protest ("My butt is not that shapely! It's just up there, okay!") at her teasing.
Tiffany laughed, shaking her head and ventured off into the kitchen. Taeyeon's fridge was a smaller than hers, but it was better equipped with food. She grinned at the sight of the variety of beverages that clearly belonged to Junsu and pulled out a bottle of orange juice.
She took a sip, and looked around her. Ever since Taeyeon started dating Junsu, her home had begun to change. Her best friend didn't like cute things very much, even though she was the very epitome of cuteness herself, but when Junsu came into her life -- she started to accept it, little by little. Couple cups and utensils adorned her cupboard, all cute and sweet-looking; even the refrigerator magnets matched. Tiffany smiled, fingering the little magnet with a picture of the couple and sighed wistfully.
"I wish I had someone to share couple cups with," she said to herself, hardly noticing Taeyeon standing behind her with a bemused smile on her lips. She moved silently, tapping Tiffany on the shoulder that caused the latter to scream.
"Don't do that!" Tiffany cried, smacking Taeyeon (who was laughing heartily) with her free hand as the other clutched her juice bottle. "I almost spilled the whole content of my juice into your face!"
Taeyeon held up her two fingers in a peace sign. "Sorry. You were just so serious, telling yourself how you wanted to share cups with someone that I just had to bring you back to reality." She wiggled her eyebrows and stared into her friend's eyes. "So, are we thinking about dating?"
Tiffany blushed, taking another swig of her juice and avoiding eye contact. "Maybe," she half-coughed, covering her mouth embarrassed as Taeyeon squealed.
"Ooh!!! Do you mean your neighbor? What's his name? Donghae?" she asked, pulling Tiffany to sit on one of the stools by the kitchen counter. Tiffany's cheeks grew darker in color and she slapped her friend on the arm.
"No! No, I mean... Donghae-oppa is really nice and all but-" She stopped, stammering on her words while her best friend grinned and pinched her cheek.
"You're so cute, trying to act all innocent. But anyway, do you really want to start dating?" Taeyeon squealed again, this time so much louder that Junsu came bounding into the room a moment later, scandalized and confused.
"What's happening? Is everything okay?" he asked, immediately checking his girlfriend for any wounds or bruises. She brushed him off, laughing.
"I'm fine, oppa! It's just that Fany finally wants to date! Do you realize that this would be the first time she dates in Korea?" -- Tiffany felt her cheeks get even warmer with embarrassment -- "It's a dream come true, Junsu! I finally get to set her up!" Taeyeon gushed, squeezing his arm excitedly. She did a little fist pump with her other hand.
"Thanks a lot, Kim Taeyeon. Thanks for telling your boyfriend I've not dated since I arrived in Korea," she said, hiding her face with her hands. "That just makes me look so wonderful."
"It kind of fits your image though, Tiff." Junsu grinned, pulling Taeyeon closer to him. "And hey, it's not that bad. I didn't get a girl until I was 21."
"Yeah, and he's never looked back since," Taeyeon smiled beside him, unconsciously cuddling to his side. Tiffany rolled her eyes and pretended to barf at their display of affection.
"Say. I have a friend... well, he was more of a classmate -- we went to high school together and he was our valedictorian, and I hear he's a pretty successful businessman these days. He's kind of quiet, but he's a good guy from what I know of him. He might just be perfect for you." Junsu said, pulling out his phone and scrolling. He looked at Tiffany expectantly, "I could call him if you want. Arrange a dinner or something."
"That's unfair! I was supposed to be the one who sets her up! I'm the best friend!" Taeyeon complained, pouting.
Junsu shrugged. "Well, do you have any guys in mind?" She opened her mouth to say something but stopped short, huffing. "I didn't think so. Sorry, dear. The first date is by me."
Then he turned to Tiffany, "So what do you say, Tiff?"
Tiffany sighed, weighing the options. It wasn't like she had much of a choice, and it would be nice to meet other people. For a moment, she thought of Donghae's face -- and her lips lifted up slightly before remembering that it was absurd to have a crush on someone who clearly likes someone else, and quickly resolved to start anew. She looked back at Junsu and nodded.
"Sure. Why not?"
"Don't you dare come near me."
She moved away, shoving her things into her bag as she went around the apartment -- the place the was once called 'home'. It was the morning after, and her boyfriend -- her ex-boyfriend -- left early before she woke up. She pulled on her clothes, ignoring any calls from the woman following her.
"Tiff... I'm sorry. It was just-"
"Don't touch me." she said, venomously, "I hate you."
The woman stood motionless, watching her carry her things to the door. She didn't dare to stop her from leaving, and she sank to the floor, crying. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."
Tiffany stopped moving and turned back to look at her. "I don't know what hurts more. Learning my boyfriend would sell me for money or knowing that my roommate is gay and would pay to have me."
"... Tiffany..."
She shook her head, stopping any words her (former) friend might say. Deftly, Tiffany picked up her bags and whispered,
"Don't, Sooyoung. Leave me alone."
She left without waiting for a reply.
"I don't know how you got me into this, Junsu. I have an early meeting tomorrow morning, for Pete's sake!" Siwon complained, checking his watch for the umpteenth time. Junsu laughed, clapping him on the back.
He and Junsu were in the same class in Highschool but rarely spoke. Somehow, it escaped Siwon how he could have maintained ties with him with the very little interaction they had.
"Aww, come on. I protected you from Jaejoong and Yunho-hyung when we were in high school, remember? You owe me!" he said, grinning at the obvious embarrassment that statement brought to his friend's face, "Besides -- this girl is my girlfriend's best friend. She's really pretty, and smart. She even speaks English well! You'll like her, I'm sure of it."
Lee Hyukjae (or Eunhyuk as he liked to be called), Junsu's best friend and another classmate, shook his head at him. "Aigoo, Junsu -- why are you even trying to get him a girlfriend? He hasn't had one since... ever! You know how uptight he is."
"Thank you for that insight, Hyukjae." Siwon replied dryly, rolling his eyes. He stood up straighter, adjusting the sleeves of his jacket.
Eunhyuk continued, "I still don't get why you're so stiff though. I mean, those rumors were never proven true. You weren't gay back in highschool right? It was just locker room talk."
Siwon's blood ran cold for a moment as he glared at Eunhyuk's oblivious face. "Right. Locker room talk." He shifted, partly anxious but mostly annoyed. "I don't have a girlfriend, because I don't need one."
"Exactly why I should be the one Duck-butt should set up with a girl for. You might not need one, but I do!" he exclaimed, causing laughter from his companions.
"I'll set you up with this girl I know from work. But today, I think Siwon deserves this one." Junsu said, comforting his friend. His phone rang once and he quickly answered it, a smile slowly forming on his lips. "She's around the corner, Siwon! Taeng said you'll recognize her by the floral dress she's wearing or whatever. Her name is Hwang Miyoung, by the way. But she doesn't really go by that name."
Siwon raised his eyebrows. "What name does she go by then?"
"Junsu!"
They turned to see a smiling woman, walking up to them, waving. Junsu waved, nudging Siwon. His eyes widened when the woman's face finally registered in his mind. The woman's face visibly changed as well as she came up to them and saw him.
"Call her, Tiffany. She goes by, Hwang Tiffany."
The warmth of his breath burned her skin, and she yelped -- furiously kicking her legs, even though she knew it was useless. Her friend -- or at least, she used to be -- took hold of her chin and looked deeply into her eyes.
"I'm so sorry... But I love you -- I love you so much and he doesn't." She glared at the man sitting on a chair behind her, trying hard to push her captor off of her. She didn't budge, and instead kissed her soundly on the lips -- silencing her.
"He wants to watch though, so he's letting me have you tonight."
A sob escaped her throat as she struggled (to no avail) in her bonds. With tears in her eyes, she spat: "I hate you. I hate you."
"Shh. Tiffany..."
And the darkness overcame her.
Tiffany didn't know how anyone could love a soccer game as much as Junsu did, while munching on popcorn and shouting at the TV at the same time.
Kim Junsu was Taeyeon's boyfriend of eight months, and was a notorious soccer fan. He worked as a choreographer and vocal coach at an entertainment agency and met Taeyeon at a gig he helped set up. They were together off and on for the first three months until one day, Junsu crashed into Taeyeon's class and told her he loved her in front of all of her students. They were inseperable ever since.
Junsu shouted at the referee on TV and Tiffany shared a defeated glance with Taeyeon. She mouthed "Sorry, Fany," in reply, grinning and she shrugged before standing up with a stretch.
"You guys want anything? More juice, Su-butt?" Tiffany asked, wrinkling her nose. Taeyeon shook her head, elbowing Junsu who started to protest ("My butt is not that shapely! It's just up there, okay!") at her teasing.
Tiffany laughed, shaking her head and ventured off into the kitchen. Taeyeon's fridge was a smaller than hers, but it was better equipped with food. She grinned at the sight of the variety of beverages that clearly belonged to Junsu and pulled out a bottle of orange juice.
She took a sip, and looked around her. Ever since Taeyeon started dating Junsu, her home had begun to change. Her best friend didn't like cute things very much, even though she was the very epitome of cuteness herself, but when Junsu came into her life -- she started to accept it, little by little. Couple cups and utensils adorned her cupboard, all cute and sweet-looking; even the refrigerator magnets matched. Tiffany smiled, fingering the little magnet with a picture of the couple and sighed wistfully.
"I wish I had someone to share couple cups with," she said to herself, hardly noticing Taeyeon standing behind her with a bemused smile on her lips. She moved silently, tapping Tiffany on the shoulder that caused the latter to scream.
"Don't do that!" Tiffany cried, smacking Taeyeon (who was laughing heartily) with her free hand as the other clutched her juice bottle. "I almost spilled the whole content of my juice into your face!"
Taeyeon held up her two fingers in a peace sign. "Sorry. You were just so serious, telling yourself how you wanted to share cups with someone that I just had to bring you back to reality." She wiggled her eyebrows and stared into her friend's eyes. "So, are we thinking about dating?"
Tiffany blushed, taking another swig of her juice and avoiding eye contact. "Maybe," she half-coughed, covering her mouth embarrassed as Taeyeon squealed.
"Ooh!!! Do you mean your neighbor? What's his name? Donghae?" she asked, pulling Tiffany to sit on one of the stools by the kitchen counter. Tiffany's cheeks grew darker in color and she slapped her friend on the arm.
"No! No, I mean... Donghae-oppa is really nice and all but-" She stopped, stammering on her words while her best friend grinned and pinched her cheek.
"You're so cute, trying to act all innocent. But anyway, do you really want to start dating?" Taeyeon squealed again, this time so much louder that Junsu came bounding into the room a moment later, scandalized and confused.
"What's happening? Is everything okay?" he asked, immediately checking his girlfriend for any wounds or bruises. She brushed him off, laughing.
"I'm fine, oppa! It's just that Fany finally wants to date! Do you realize that this would be the first time she dates in Korea?" -- Tiffany felt her cheeks get even warmer with embarrassment -- "It's a dream come true, Junsu! I finally get to set her up!" Taeyeon gushed, squeezing his arm excitedly. She did a little fist pump with her other hand.
"Thanks a lot, Kim Taeyeon. Thanks for telling your boyfriend I've not dated since I arrived in Korea," she said, hiding her face with her hands. "That just makes me look so wonderful."
"It kind of fits your image though, Tiff." Junsu grinned, pulling Taeyeon closer to him. "And hey, it's not that bad. I didn't get a girl until I was 21."
"Yeah, and he's never looked back since," Taeyeon smiled beside him, unconsciously cuddling to his side. Tiffany rolled her eyes and pretended to barf at their display of affection.
"Say. I have a friend... well, he was more of a classmate -- we went to high school together and he was our valedictorian, and I hear he's a pretty successful businessman these days. He's kind of quiet, but he's a good guy from what I know of him. He might just be perfect for you." Junsu said, pulling out his phone and scrolling. He looked at Tiffany expectantly, "I could call him if you want. Arrange a dinner or something."
"That's unfair! I was supposed to be the one who sets her up! I'm the best friend!" Taeyeon complained, pouting.
Junsu shrugged. "Well, do you have any guys in mind?" She opened her mouth to say something but stopped short, huffing. "I didn't think so. Sorry, dear. The first date is by me."
Then he turned to Tiffany, "So what do you say, Tiff?"
Tiffany sighed, weighing the options. It wasn't like she had much of a choice, and it would be nice to meet other people. For a moment, she thought of Donghae's face -- and her lips lifted up slightly before remembering that it was absurd to have a crush on someone who clearly likes someone else, and quickly resolved to start anew. She looked back at Junsu and nodded.
"Sure. Why not?"
"Don't you dare come near me."
She moved away, shoving her things into her bag as she went around the apartment -- the place the was once called 'home'. It was the morning after, and her boyfriend -- her ex-boyfriend -- left early before she woke up. She pulled on her clothes, ignoring any calls from the woman following her.
"Tiff... I'm sorry. It was just-"
"Don't touch me." she said, venomously, "I hate you."
The woman stood motionless, watching her carry her things to the door. She didn't dare to stop her from leaving, and she sank to the floor, crying. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."
Tiffany stopped moving and turned back to look at her. "I don't know what hurts more. Learning my boyfriend would sell me for money or knowing that my roommate is gay and would pay to have me."
"... Tiffany..."
She shook her head, stopping any words her (former) friend might say. Deftly, Tiffany picked up her bags and whispered,
"Don't, Sooyoung. Leave me alone."
She left without waiting for a reply.
"I don't know how you got me into this, Junsu. I have an early meeting tomorrow morning, for Pete's sake!" Siwon complained, checking his watch for the umpteenth time. Junsu laughed, clapping him on the back.
He and Junsu were in the same class in Highschool but rarely spoke. Somehow, it escaped Siwon how he could have maintained ties with him with the very little interaction they had.
"Aww, come on. I protected you from Jaejoong and Yunho-hyung when we were in high school, remember? You owe me!" he said, grinning at the obvious embarrassment that statement brought to his friend's face, "Besides -- this girl is my girlfriend's best friend. She's really pretty, and smart. She even speaks English well! You'll like her, I'm sure of it."
Lee Hyukjae (or Eunhyuk as he liked to be called), Junsu's best friend and another classmate, shook his head at him. "Aigoo, Junsu -- why are you even trying to get him a girlfriend? He hasn't had one since... ever! You know how uptight he is."
"Thank you for that insight, Hyukjae." Siwon replied dryly, rolling his eyes. He stood up straighter, adjusting the sleeves of his jacket.
Eunhyuk continued, "I still don't get why you're so stiff though. I mean, those rumors were never proven true. You weren't gay back in highschool right? It was just locker room talk."
Siwon's blood ran cold for a moment as he glared at Eunhyuk's oblivious face. "Right. Locker room talk." He shifted, partly anxious but mostly annoyed. "I don't have a girlfriend, because I don't need one."
"Exactly why I should be the one Duck-butt should set up with a girl for. You might not need one, but I do!" he exclaimed, causing laughter from his companions.
"I'll set you up with this girl I know from work. But today, I think Siwon deserves this one." Junsu said, comforting his friend. His phone rang once and he quickly answered it, a smile slowly forming on his lips. "She's around the corner, Siwon! Taeng said you'll recognize her by the floral dress she's wearing or whatever. Her name is Hwang Miyoung, by the way. But she doesn't really go by that name."
Siwon raised his eyebrows. "What name does she go by then?"
"Junsu!"
They turned to see a smiling woman, walking up to them, waving. Junsu waved, nudging Siwon. His eyes widened when the woman's face finally registered in his mind. The woman's face visibly changed as well as she came up to them and saw him.
"Call her, Tiffany. She goes by, Hwang Tiffany."