another year older (pt.2)
another year older
In which Changmin crashes Lina’s perfectly chill birthday night alone with a couple of six-pack beers and the Kyu-Line members in tow.
READ PART 1
Feb 19, 00:32
“Whaddya mean it’s confidential?!” I almost scream, pulling on Changmin’s arm as he tries to escape (unsuccessfully) for the nth time. He managed to stifle the yelp erupting from his chest, but he threw me a glare to compensate the sound. I try not to laugh at his face, because that won’t get me anywhere, and instead make a face.
“Are you seriously going to a secret from moi-your fellow birthday celebrant?” I asked, indignant and placing a hand over my chest as if I’m actually offended. He doesn’t play though and continues on to the kitchen, where I follow him without fail.
As if I’d let him out of my sight again! After Jonghyun’s little ‘revelation’, I was going to get answers no matter what!
“Come on, Shim!” I poke him hard on the chest. “I know you like girls-why can’t you tell me which one it is?”
“Because it’s not public knowledge and I want it to stay that way.” Changmin replied simply, swatting my hand away when I move to poke him again. “You’re a little bit like her, actually, noona. She’s pretty, knows how to handle her liquor and is relentless when it comes to interrogating people who don’t want to talk. It’s cute sometimes, but always annoying.”
His eyes twinkle by the way he described his mystery girl, flicking to the direction of an alligator laugh so quickly I would have missed it if I wasn’t so focused on getting the truth out of him. I grin at the realization, my brow shooting straight up because I can tell he doesn’t mean to give anything but just did.
Somehow I remember something Jaejoong said about him once:
“Changmin’s adorable, really, but an idiot.”
Never really saw it before but yeah, I can see now how it’s true.
“Dude, you are so…” I trail off on purpose and his eyes narrow into slits as he looked back at me. From behind him I can only catch Seohyun asking Yoona something and pointing towards the kitchen and suddenly I’m struck with a fantastic idea.
“Hey Yoona!” I greet once my deer (figuratively, ha!) hoobae comes around my kitchen. Her eyes are questioning at first when she looked at me but grow slightly apprehensive once she realized Changmin’s presence as well. I watch her shift on her feet for a bit, her hands tangled behind her back as her cheeks colored.
It’s so obvious she likes surly Changmin that I kinda wanna pull her into a hug and tell her that she’s lucky the guy she likes is an idiot but not a complete waste.
Not like some guys I know.
(Hello, Bitter Barn!)
Damn it, mind, shush!
My grin broadens just a bit when Changmin made to clear his throat. “What did you need here in the kitchen?” He asked, looking anywhere but Yoona. The tips of his ears were red-though I’m sure it’s not because of the amount of alcohol he’s ingested. “I’m bringing chips out if that’s it-but…”
“Joohyun wants some juice,” she answered softly, training her eyes to look only at me while she spoke. Her gaze dropped a bit after realizing I’m grinning too much and it trains towards Changmin’s hands working on pouring chips into a big bowl. Her blush deepens and I bite back a snort as she continued, “I told her she could drink but since it’s a ‘school night’, she doesn’t want to.”
“Why didn’t Kyuhyun get her a drink?” I asked, moving to the door so fast I surprise both Changmin and Yoona in their places. I’m blocking the only exit by the time Yoona finds her voice and replies (“He doesn’t want to give a bad impression, I think, by suggesting to get her a beer. Though I don’t see how that’s possible. Hyunnie likes him right back anyway.”), and by then Changmin’s already glaring daggers at me.
I try not to laugh again. Really, I do, but I can’t help it.
Both Changmin and Yoona look at me like I’m crazy once I dissolve into giggles.
“Unnie?”-“Geez, noona!”
“You-two-have-a-lot-to-talk-about,” I say in between wheezes.
I grab a huge bag of chips and tug a crate of beer along with me as I inch away from the door. Changmin makes to ‘help’ me but it’s my turn to swat his hand away and pull the door closed, locking it without an afterthought. Having the lock outside the kitchen is suddenly a wonderful mistake, and I thank myself quietly for not changing the knob when I first noticed it the day I moved in.
I hear a bunch of knocks and mutters (mostly curses because hey, it’s Shim Changmin!) before it’s finally quiet.
Good. They need to talk. Let all the feelings out and what not.
My gaze finds Yunho and BoA across the room and my heart drops just a little.
Let the feelings out and what not.
My mind drifts into my last memory of Yunho and I grimace in remembering it.
“Yep. This might not have been a good idea.” I tell myself but leave the door anyway.
I grin.
Oh well!
Feb 19, 01:30
I find myself enjoying the quiet out on the hall as the party raged on inside. I’m thankful I own an apartment in a building that didn’t have many occupants because if I had any they’d be complaining about the noise tomorrow.
That or they’ll be begging to join in. My apartment’s filled with Hallyu stars after all. I’m a little surprised there aren’t any sasaengs crowding the block.
I slide down the wall, gripping my bottle into my chest as I begin humming a tune. It’s nameless for a second, but quickly picks up into a song from a group who made a historical comeback. I start to sing before I can stop myself:
And it hurts, and it hurts so bad
Our heart and lips say different things, must be hurtful
And it hurts, and it hurts so bad, forever in my heart
You’re the only one, why don’t you know, why don’t you know
Lord knows why I suddenly felt like singing a sad love song on my birthday, but since it is-my birthday-I don’t think I should even try to explain it either. It was a beautiful song, regardless of the lyrics. And besides, I don’t I was the only who thought so.
I was unaware I had an audience until I felt a body slide down to sit next to me. I pull my hands up to my face in a defensive position, ready to attack in case things got physical but all I received was a deep laugh, resonating across the silent hall. I knew that laugh. I hadn’t heard it personally for a very long time but I knew it because I loved it when I was young.
Slowly lowering my hands, I take a peek at my sudden companion-stifling a squeak once I realized who it was exactly. “Uh-hi… oppa.” I said, breathless for a second because HOLY CRAP why is Shinhwa’s leader, Eric Mun, here?!
Oh. Wait. Junjin and Dongwan were invited to my party.
Right.
“Hi, Jiyeon,” Eric replied easily with a grin, amused (probably) by my abrupt inability to close my mouth and breathe through my nose. “I got delayed at a meeting so I wasn’t able to make it with Junjin and Dongwan earlier. Belated happy birthday though.”
I’m still in shock when he suddenly moved a beat later to reach over and shut my jaw in place with his index finger under my chin. He doesn’t move away quick enough and I find myself paralyzed in place, doing not much of anything except to stare in utter and complete astonishment.
And I do-stare, I mean-for an unnaturally long time.
I mean, who wouldn’t? I might have auditioned for SM Entertainment because of H.O.T. but one of the reasons why I stuck to training for so long was because of Mun freaking JungHyuk and his perfect face. Even Yunho used to tease me so much about how big my crush was (is?) on him!
Oh good golly-Am I having an actual frozen fangirl moment?!
“Hello~” Eric finally moves away a full minute later, breathing the word in a sing-song manner to snap me out of my trance. I blink and cough in an effort to hide my embarrassment, my cheeks burning red at the thought of proximity rattling my mind.
Oh my giddy-
“That was waaaaay too close.”
The statement slips out before I could stop it and I clamp a hand over my mouth as fast as I possibly could. I berate myself internally for letting a drunken slur escape my lips, but it’s not like I could take the words back into my mind and kick it down. I lower my gaze and sigh aloud, shaking my head as I tried to come up with something-anything-to explain the stupidity of my druken self’s less than subtle articulation.
Eric doesn’t let me think for long though.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” he replied, laughing as I blink up at him again. He takes the expression on my face as a sign of confusion (and I am-extremely confused but mostly embarrassed) and continues speaking, “It’s been a long time since I last saw you. You were still starting out in The Grace when I left SM that-I don’t know…”
“What?” I asked, nudging him with my elbow so casually I surprise myself. He eyes my movement for a second before locking gazes with me, a smile creeping up to his lips.
I try not to think of how handsome he (still) really is. I always did like his look more than Yunho…
I’m closer than I should be once I finally break eye contact but I don’t move away. Eric doesn’t seem to mind the proximity so I don’t as well. It gives me a better view to actually look at him and enjoy it.
I grin despite myself and finish off the remainder of my beer.
Was this his birthday gift? Did that mean he knows I had a crush on him before?
“What’s that grin for?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I’m not answering that question if you’re not going to answer mine.”
“You mean the ‘what?’?” Eric countered cheekily and I roll my eyes. My drunken buzz is really helping.
“Yep.” I replied, enunciating the ‘p’ sound.
“Well… I-”
“HYUNG! FINALLY!” The door’s sudden open makes us yelp aloud, pulling us apart and standing in front of a red-faced but laughing Junjin. He has a shit-eating grin on his face, looking at us in turns that makes my cheeks burn hotter than it had before when the ‘hyung’ in question was mere centimeters from my face.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, Dongwan suddenly appeared-sticking his head underneath Junjin’s arm before giving us a curious look each.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.
Help?
Feb 19, 01:45
I’ve been with SM Entertainment for a decade now and have seen my share of drunken merriment at company parties. Admittedly I’m not much of a party-goer without Stephanie or Sunday forcing me out of my quiet cocoon of a home, but tonight I’ve had to make an exception. It was my birthday after all-my 29th birthday, to be blunt-and I (was) am having fun but if parties meant having to fend off drunken idols and their ridiculously awkward inquiries, I think it’s safe to say this will be the last party I’ll throw for a very, very long time.
“Ji~yeon~ah!” Dongwan is drunker than I’ve ever seen him and quite frankly it’s beginning to get on my nerves. As much as I adore the guy, the fact that I’ve been trying to escape his rampant Q&A about my and Eric’s quiet ‘rendevous’ (as he declared it cheekily) out on the hall-I thought it’d be obvious that I really, really don’t wanna talk about any of it.
“Nothing happened, Dongwan!” I said for the umpteenth time, weaving my way through the bodies of people occupying my usually spacious living room.
Where the hell did all these people come from?
Did I actually miss the barrage of people coming over while I was humming to myself outside?
Or was I just so preoccupied by Eric’s face that I hasn’t noticed anything-or for that matter, anyone?
I felt like knocking my head on a wall. This party was quickly becoming a very bad idea and I couldn’t locate any Kyu-Line member anywhere!
“Pssh! I don’ believe that one sec’nd!” Dongwan slurred, laughing loudly as he finally caught up with me and pulled my arm. I tried not to yelp at the force he exerted on his grip but I couldn’t stop it in time as he managed to make me sit on an empty chair.
I forgot how deceptively strong Drunk!Dongwan was. But I wasn’t too worried about that-instead I fixated on the chair I was sitting on. Where did this chair come from?
“Stop look’n at the chair and look a’me.” Dongwan said, snapping his fingers in front of my face to get my attention. I glared at him as he fumbled over a chair Junjin magically pulled out from behind him and sat down, huffing a little at the fact that my own colleagues-my supposed friends!-would do this to me here and now and in front of my secret crush!
My secret crush who was, coincidentally, chatting with my ex-boyfriend less than two meters away from where I was.
Greaaaaaat.
I should have NEVER drunk tonight. This is all Changmin and Kyu-Line’s fault.
(Okay so, fine, I was the one who insisted on a party and invited Shinhwa over. It’s still their line’s fault!)
“Why is this such a big deal?” I groaned, covering my face with my hands. Junjin laughed loudly as I stomped my feet on the ground like a child throwing a fit, while Dongwan simply patted my head.
“It’s been waaaaaay too long since we hung out, Jiyeon,” Junjin began, the laughter in his voice still evident even after he’d cleared his throat, “but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten all about your little crush.”
I felt my cheeks burn at the word and I lifted my head to scowl at him.
He simply grinned in response, shrugging. “You should know that I totally called Eric-hyung to come over right after I received your text.”
“I hate you.” I told him, feeling embarrassed and fuming at the same time.
Junjin smiled, patting my head in the same manner Dongwan did just awhile ago. Reassuring, but condescending at the same time. Ugh. I shoulda never invited you little- “Ah but you’re secretly grateful for intuitiveness in helping you with your lovelife.”
“I don’t need help!”
Dongwan made an awful snorting sound at this. “Yeah, you do.”
I was going to reply but then he gave me a look that told me that I should know better than to argue with him.
And while I wish I could say I don’t-I actually do. You don’t spend a decade in a company and not become good friends with your colleagues. Even if they did do a lot of promotions apart from you and promptly left the company together once their contracts were through.
My cheeks burn even hotter as I catch both of them look over at where Eric and Yunho were talking and grin in unison once they turned back to face me again.
I bury my face into my hands again and groan louder this time. “I regret ever admitting my crush to you guys back in ’03.”
“Don’t worry so much,” Junjin replied, shaking his head at me, “We think he has a thing for you too anyway.”
“Shut up!”
“No, seriously!” Dongwan interjected-the slur completely gone miraculously as he laughed at my disbelieving expression, “Eric’s a homebody like you. He dotes on his puppy for God’s sake! He wouldn’t have left his dog at home for just anyone’s party, you know.”
“Maybe he found a dog-siiter!”
“Maybe he just wants to see you.”
“No, he doesn’t!”
“Pssh!”
“Shut up, Dongwaaaaaan.”
“Whatever. You still like him-and believe me, he likes you too.”
I opened my mouth to disagree-“I do not-”
Junjin and Dongwan gave me an all-too knowing look and I sighed in defeat.
“Fine. Yeah, I do. I still like him.”
My heart fluttered traitorously as the admittance sunk in and I frowned at how easily swayed it was being at the moment. Yes, I do still like Mun Jeonghyuk. I like Eric a lot, in fact, even when I was with Yunho all those years ago. Some crushes just don’t die, ok?
HA! That’s a crush?
Dongwan must have had the same idea as my conscience because he replied with the same shit-eating grin he gave me and Eric when he found us outside my door. “And he likes you! Just wait, I swear it, he will ask you out by the end of the party!”
I shook my head at him, disbelieving and fanning my cheeks as I deliberated on responding to that preposterous suggestion before my eyes landed on the kitchen door.
The still locked kitchen door.
My eyebrows shot up to my hairline as I remembered locking Changmin and Yoona in there almost-
I checked my watch and squeaked at the time!
They’ve been in there for an hour!
Feb 19, 02:15
“Uh-didn’t anyone go into the kitchen while I was outside?” I asked, blinking up at Junjin and Dongwan who had started to chat in my silence.
“We couldn’t get it to open even though the lock’s outside.” Junjin replied simply. “Which is just weird, by the way. Why didn’t you change the locks?”
I waved a hand at him as I stood up and made my way towards the door. “I forgot about it.” I said, reaching over to touch the handle. I hoped Changmin and Yoona didn’t end up just staring at the floor or something when I left them-though that scenario has a high probability.
I’m just glad Junjin and Dongwan are close by. Changmin can’t holler at me if seasoned idols around right?
“Anyway, you have to jiggle the handle first before-”
My jaw drops the second I open the door, my eyes immediately taking in the scene in front of me.
Changmin is leaning over Yoona against my kitchen table, one hand tangling with her hair while the other is pushed under her shirt. They’re kissing frantically, moving against each other with their eyes closed-uncaring about their surroundings. I would have left and gave them privacy if I hadn’t noticed Yoona’s hand moving downward to settle it over Changmin’s-
HELL NO.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO GET IT ON OVER MY KITCHEN TABLE!
“Wow, Changmin’s got guts!” I hear Junjin cheer and whistle beside me before I could find the urge to speak. His words causes the pair to spring apart; both sporting red faces and messy hairstyles as they tried to smooth out their appearances in front of us. “Better move it elsewhere, Changmin. I think your noona here’s about to blow a fuse.”
“I am not!” I exclaimed, hitting Junjin the arm as he and Dongwan fell into hysterics before turning towards the couple, “But I’m not exactly happy either at the fact that you two were-er-”
“Making out?” Changmin supplied, looking hopeful that I won’t bite his head off and failing.
“It looked a lot more than a make-out session, Shim, so don’t you dare get smart with me.” I warned, crossing my arms over my chest. Yoona had the right idea to slap Changmin’s mouth shut as he began to reply, blushing even darker red in the face before turning to me apologetically.
“Sorry, unnie… we got carried away, I guess.”
“You’re lucky everyone else is drunk and hasn’t bothered to look in here.” I replied dryly, holding back a grin making its way into my face as Yoona ducked her head again in embarrassment. It didn’t go unnoticed to me how Changmin immediately reached over to lace his fingers in between hers once Yoona retracted her hand over his mouth.
The action was overtly gentle, really, especially for Changmin and his snark.
Aww… Well, it’s not as if I could actually stay mad at a young couple who finally (finally!) admitted their attraction for one another. Even if they did kind of go overboard, almost doing it on the table where I eat most of meals at…
(shudders)
I guess that’s the price you pay for locking your sexually-frustrated hoobaes inside a kitchen for over an hour.
Eric sidled up to me and speaks before I can help myself from squeaking in surprise.
“Oh, are you two together?” He asked, blinking at Changmin and Yoona’s hands. The pair looked at each other for a moment, weighing the question before turning back to respond with a single, resolute nod.
Oh the feelings! How can they be so cute when they were practically humping just a second ago?
“That’s great!” Eric said, clapping Changmin on the shoulder as he opened the refrigerator casually. So casually in fact-it was like he lived here! “Try not to have your first time together over at someone else’s place though. That’s just bad manners, Changmin. Your girl deserves better than a table, right?”
Junjin and Dongwan howled in laughter at the statement just as Changmin sputtered an incredulous shout (“Hyung! What the fuck?!”). I couldn’t help but laugh myself as Yoona doubled over after a second, giggling with the rest of us as Changmin tried to explain himself to a very amused Eric.
“We should probably go on dates first anyway,” Yoona said after her laughter finally died down, wiping at her eyes as she calmed herself. She bowed to me and Shinhwa respectfully before tugging at Changmin’s hand.
“Come to coffee with me?” She asked, looking up at Changmin with those big, bright doe eyes. He caved, of course, nodding his head without a hint of hesitation.
“Raincheck, noona?” Changmin said, turning to me with a grin-and I knew I was off the hook for locking them inside my kitchen in the first place.
“Yeah, yeah,” I replied, shaking my head. I practically kicked them out the door after pushing through the crowd, waving at their retreating forms as they hurried down the hall and into the elevator.
Ah, kids in love.
“So that actually happened, huh?”
I’m none too surprised to see Eric behind me as I close the door, my cheeks burning almost immediately at his proximity. Junjin and Dongwan are nowhere to be found but I’m willing to bet they’re sniggering somewhere.
“Yep,” I replied, popping the ‘p’ of the word with a smack of my lips, “That just happened.”
Eric nodded, handing me my last (and I mean it!) beer for the night before clinking our bottles together. He held out his arm for me to take and shocked as I was at this motion, I looped my arm around his anyway.
The party was going to dwindle down soon. I figure I should worry about this and Eric later.
“Alright, then.”
E N D OF P A R T 2 -- READ PART 3
In which Changmin crashes Lina’s perfectly chill birthday night alone with a couple of six-pack beers and the Kyu-Line members in tow.
READ PART 1
Feb 19, 00:32
“Whaddya mean it’s confidential?!” I almost scream, pulling on Changmin’s arm as he tries to escape (unsuccessfully) for the nth time. He managed to stifle the yelp erupting from his chest, but he threw me a glare to compensate the sound. I try not to laugh at his face, because that won’t get me anywhere, and instead make a face.
“Are you seriously going to a secret from moi-your fellow birthday celebrant?” I asked, indignant and placing a hand over my chest as if I’m actually offended. He doesn’t play though and continues on to the kitchen, where I follow him without fail.
As if I’d let him out of my sight again! After Jonghyun’s little ‘revelation’, I was going to get answers no matter what!
“Come on, Shim!” I poke him hard on the chest. “I know you like girls-why can’t you tell me which one it is?”
“Because it’s not public knowledge and I want it to stay that way.” Changmin replied simply, swatting my hand away when I move to poke him again. “You’re a little bit like her, actually, noona. She’s pretty, knows how to handle her liquor and is relentless when it comes to interrogating people who don’t want to talk. It’s cute sometimes, but always annoying.”
His eyes twinkle by the way he described his mystery girl, flicking to the direction of an alligator laugh so quickly I would have missed it if I wasn’t so focused on getting the truth out of him. I grin at the realization, my brow shooting straight up because I can tell he doesn’t mean to give anything but just did.
Somehow I remember something Jaejoong said about him once:
“Changmin’s adorable, really, but an idiot.”
Never really saw it before but yeah, I can see now how it’s true.
“Dude, you are so…” I trail off on purpose and his eyes narrow into slits as he looked back at me. From behind him I can only catch Seohyun asking Yoona something and pointing towards the kitchen and suddenly I’m struck with a fantastic idea.
“Hey Yoona!” I greet once my deer (figuratively, ha!) hoobae comes around my kitchen. Her eyes are questioning at first when she looked at me but grow slightly apprehensive once she realized Changmin’s presence as well. I watch her shift on her feet for a bit, her hands tangled behind her back as her cheeks colored.
It’s so obvious she likes surly Changmin that I kinda wanna pull her into a hug and tell her that she’s lucky the guy she likes is an idiot but not a complete waste.
Not like some guys I know.
(Hello, Bitter Barn!)
Damn it, mind, shush!
My grin broadens just a bit when Changmin made to clear his throat. “What did you need here in the kitchen?” He asked, looking anywhere but Yoona. The tips of his ears were red-though I’m sure it’s not because of the amount of alcohol he’s ingested. “I’m bringing chips out if that’s it-but…”
“Joohyun wants some juice,” she answered softly, training her eyes to look only at me while she spoke. Her gaze dropped a bit after realizing I’m grinning too much and it trains towards Changmin’s hands working on pouring chips into a big bowl. Her blush deepens and I bite back a snort as she continued, “I told her she could drink but since it’s a ‘school night’, she doesn’t want to.”
“Why didn’t Kyuhyun get her a drink?” I asked, moving to the door so fast I surprise both Changmin and Yoona in their places. I’m blocking the only exit by the time Yoona finds her voice and replies (“He doesn’t want to give a bad impression, I think, by suggesting to get her a beer. Though I don’t see how that’s possible. Hyunnie likes him right back anyway.”), and by then Changmin’s already glaring daggers at me.
I try not to laugh again. Really, I do, but I can’t help it.
Both Changmin and Yoona look at me like I’m crazy once I dissolve into giggles.
“Unnie?”-“Geez, noona!”
“You-two-have-a-lot-to-talk-about,” I say in between wheezes.
I grab a huge bag of chips and tug a crate of beer along with me as I inch away from the door. Changmin makes to ‘help’ me but it’s my turn to swat his hand away and pull the door closed, locking it without an afterthought. Having the lock outside the kitchen is suddenly a wonderful mistake, and I thank myself quietly for not changing the knob when I first noticed it the day I moved in.
I hear a bunch of knocks and mutters (mostly curses because hey, it’s Shim Changmin!) before it’s finally quiet.
Good. They need to talk. Let all the feelings out and what not.
My gaze finds Yunho and BoA across the room and my heart drops just a little.
Let the feelings out and what not.
My mind drifts into my last memory of Yunho and I grimace in remembering it.
“Yep. This might not have been a good idea.” I tell myself but leave the door anyway.
I grin.
Oh well!
Feb 19, 01:30
I find myself enjoying the quiet out on the hall as the party raged on inside. I’m thankful I own an apartment in a building that didn’t have many occupants because if I had any they’d be complaining about the noise tomorrow.
That or they’ll be begging to join in. My apartment’s filled with Hallyu stars after all. I’m a little surprised there aren’t any sasaengs crowding the block.
I slide down the wall, gripping my bottle into my chest as I begin humming a tune. It’s nameless for a second, but quickly picks up into a song from a group who made a historical comeback. I start to sing before I can stop myself:
And it hurts, and it hurts so bad
Our heart and lips say different things, must be hurtful
And it hurts, and it hurts so bad, forever in my heart
You’re the only one, why don’t you know, why don’t you know
Lord knows why I suddenly felt like singing a sad love song on my birthday, but since it is-my birthday-I don’t think I should even try to explain it either. It was a beautiful song, regardless of the lyrics. And besides, I don’t I was the only who thought so.
I was unaware I had an audience until I felt a body slide down to sit next to me. I pull my hands up to my face in a defensive position, ready to attack in case things got physical but all I received was a deep laugh, resonating across the silent hall. I knew that laugh. I hadn’t heard it personally for a very long time but I knew it because I loved it when I was young.
Slowly lowering my hands, I take a peek at my sudden companion-stifling a squeak once I realized who it was exactly. “Uh-hi… oppa.” I said, breathless for a second because HOLY CRAP why is Shinhwa’s leader, Eric Mun, here?!
Oh. Wait. Junjin and Dongwan were invited to my party.
Right.
“Hi, Jiyeon,” Eric replied easily with a grin, amused (probably) by my abrupt inability to close my mouth and breathe through my nose. “I got delayed at a meeting so I wasn’t able to make it with Junjin and Dongwan earlier. Belated happy birthday though.”
I’m still in shock when he suddenly moved a beat later to reach over and shut my jaw in place with his index finger under my chin. He doesn’t move away quick enough and I find myself paralyzed in place, doing not much of anything except to stare in utter and complete astonishment.
And I do-stare, I mean-for an unnaturally long time.
I mean, who wouldn’t? I might have auditioned for SM Entertainment because of H.O.T. but one of the reasons why I stuck to training for so long was because of Mun freaking JungHyuk and his perfect face. Even Yunho used to tease me so much about how big my crush was (is?) on him!
Oh good golly-Am I having an actual frozen fangirl moment?!
“Hello~” Eric finally moves away a full minute later, breathing the word in a sing-song manner to snap me out of my trance. I blink and cough in an effort to hide my embarrassment, my cheeks burning red at the thought of proximity rattling my mind.
Oh my giddy-
“That was waaaaay too close.”
The statement slips out before I could stop it and I clamp a hand over my mouth as fast as I possibly could. I berate myself internally for letting a drunken slur escape my lips, but it’s not like I could take the words back into my mind and kick it down. I lower my gaze and sigh aloud, shaking my head as I tried to come up with something-anything-to explain the stupidity of my druken self’s less than subtle articulation.
Eric doesn’t let me think for long though.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” he replied, laughing as I blink up at him again. He takes the expression on my face as a sign of confusion (and I am-extremely confused but mostly embarrassed) and continues speaking, “It’s been a long time since I last saw you. You were still starting out in The Grace when I left SM that-I don’t know…”
“What?” I asked, nudging him with my elbow so casually I surprise myself. He eyes my movement for a second before locking gazes with me, a smile creeping up to his lips.
I try not to think of how handsome he (still) really is. I always did like his look more than Yunho…
I’m closer than I should be once I finally break eye contact but I don’t move away. Eric doesn’t seem to mind the proximity so I don’t as well. It gives me a better view to actually look at him and enjoy it.
I grin despite myself and finish off the remainder of my beer.
Was this his birthday gift? Did that mean he knows I had a crush on him before?
“What’s that grin for?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I’m not answering that question if you’re not going to answer mine.”
“You mean the ‘what?’?” Eric countered cheekily and I roll my eyes. My drunken buzz is really helping.
“Yep.” I replied, enunciating the ‘p’ sound.
“Well… I-”
“HYUNG! FINALLY!” The door’s sudden open makes us yelp aloud, pulling us apart and standing in front of a red-faced but laughing Junjin. He has a shit-eating grin on his face, looking at us in turns that makes my cheeks burn hotter than it had before when the ‘hyung’ in question was mere centimeters from my face.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, Dongwan suddenly appeared-sticking his head underneath Junjin’s arm before giving us a curious look each.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.
Help?
Feb 19, 01:45
I’ve been with SM Entertainment for a decade now and have seen my share of drunken merriment at company parties. Admittedly I’m not much of a party-goer without Stephanie or Sunday forcing me out of my quiet cocoon of a home, but tonight I’ve had to make an exception. It was my birthday after all-my 29th birthday, to be blunt-and I (was) am having fun but if parties meant having to fend off drunken idols and their ridiculously awkward inquiries, I think it’s safe to say this will be the last party I’ll throw for a very, very long time.
“Ji~yeon~ah!” Dongwan is drunker than I’ve ever seen him and quite frankly it’s beginning to get on my nerves. As much as I adore the guy, the fact that I’ve been trying to escape his rampant Q&A about my and Eric’s quiet ‘rendevous’ (as he declared it cheekily) out on the hall-I thought it’d be obvious that I really, really don’t wanna talk about any of it.
“Nothing happened, Dongwan!” I said for the umpteenth time, weaving my way through the bodies of people occupying my usually spacious living room.
Where the hell did all these people come from?
Did I actually miss the barrage of people coming over while I was humming to myself outside?
Or was I just so preoccupied by Eric’s face that I hasn’t noticed anything-or for that matter, anyone?
I felt like knocking my head on a wall. This party was quickly becoming a very bad idea and I couldn’t locate any Kyu-Line member anywhere!
“Pssh! I don’ believe that one sec’nd!” Dongwan slurred, laughing loudly as he finally caught up with me and pulled my arm. I tried not to yelp at the force he exerted on his grip but I couldn’t stop it in time as he managed to make me sit on an empty chair.
I forgot how deceptively strong Drunk!Dongwan was. But I wasn’t too worried about that-instead I fixated on the chair I was sitting on. Where did this chair come from?
“Stop look’n at the chair and look a’me.” Dongwan said, snapping his fingers in front of my face to get my attention. I glared at him as he fumbled over a chair Junjin magically pulled out from behind him and sat down, huffing a little at the fact that my own colleagues-my supposed friends!-would do this to me here and now and in front of my secret crush!
My secret crush who was, coincidentally, chatting with my ex-boyfriend less than two meters away from where I was.
Greaaaaaat.
I should have NEVER drunk tonight. This is all Changmin and Kyu-Line’s fault.
(Okay so, fine, I was the one who insisted on a party and invited Shinhwa over. It’s still their line’s fault!)
“Why is this such a big deal?” I groaned, covering my face with my hands. Junjin laughed loudly as I stomped my feet on the ground like a child throwing a fit, while Dongwan simply patted my head.
“It’s been waaaaaay too long since we hung out, Jiyeon,” Junjin began, the laughter in his voice still evident even after he’d cleared his throat, “but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten all about your little crush.”
I felt my cheeks burn at the word and I lifted my head to scowl at him.
He simply grinned in response, shrugging. “You should know that I totally called Eric-hyung to come over right after I received your text.”
“I hate you.” I told him, feeling embarrassed and fuming at the same time.
Junjin smiled, patting my head in the same manner Dongwan did just awhile ago. Reassuring, but condescending at the same time. Ugh. I shoulda never invited you little- “Ah but you’re secretly grateful for intuitiveness in helping you with your lovelife.”
“I don’t need help!”
Dongwan made an awful snorting sound at this. “Yeah, you do.”
I was going to reply but then he gave me a look that told me that I should know better than to argue with him.
And while I wish I could say I don’t-I actually do. You don’t spend a decade in a company and not become good friends with your colleagues. Even if they did do a lot of promotions apart from you and promptly left the company together once their contracts were through.
My cheeks burn even hotter as I catch both of them look over at where Eric and Yunho were talking and grin in unison once they turned back to face me again.
I bury my face into my hands again and groan louder this time. “I regret ever admitting my crush to you guys back in ’03.”
“Don’t worry so much,” Junjin replied, shaking his head at me, “We think he has a thing for you too anyway.”
“Shut up!”
“No, seriously!” Dongwan interjected-the slur completely gone miraculously as he laughed at my disbelieving expression, “Eric’s a homebody like you. He dotes on his puppy for God’s sake! He wouldn’t have left his dog at home for just anyone’s party, you know.”
“Maybe he found a dog-siiter!”
“Maybe he just wants to see you.”
“No, he doesn’t!”
“Pssh!”
“Shut up, Dongwaaaaaan.”
“Whatever. You still like him-and believe me, he likes you too.”
I opened my mouth to disagree-“I do not-”
Junjin and Dongwan gave me an all-too knowing look and I sighed in defeat.
“Fine. Yeah, I do. I still like him.”
My heart fluttered traitorously as the admittance sunk in and I frowned at how easily swayed it was being at the moment. Yes, I do still like Mun Jeonghyuk. I like Eric a lot, in fact, even when I was with Yunho all those years ago. Some crushes just don’t die, ok?
HA! That’s a crush?
Dongwan must have had the same idea as my conscience because he replied with the same shit-eating grin he gave me and Eric when he found us outside my door. “And he likes you! Just wait, I swear it, he will ask you out by the end of the party!”
I shook my head at him, disbelieving and fanning my cheeks as I deliberated on responding to that preposterous suggestion before my eyes landed on the kitchen door.
The still locked kitchen door.
My eyebrows shot up to my hairline as I remembered locking Changmin and Yoona in there almost-
I checked my watch and squeaked at the time!
They’ve been in there for an hour!
Feb 19, 02:15
“Uh-didn’t anyone go into the kitchen while I was outside?” I asked, blinking up at Junjin and Dongwan who had started to chat in my silence.
“We couldn’t get it to open even though the lock’s outside.” Junjin replied simply. “Which is just weird, by the way. Why didn’t you change the locks?”
I waved a hand at him as I stood up and made my way towards the door. “I forgot about it.” I said, reaching over to touch the handle. I hoped Changmin and Yoona didn’t end up just staring at the floor or something when I left them-though that scenario has a high probability.
I’m just glad Junjin and Dongwan are close by. Changmin can’t holler at me if seasoned idols around right?
“Anyway, you have to jiggle the handle first before-”
My jaw drops the second I open the door, my eyes immediately taking in the scene in front of me.
Changmin is leaning over Yoona against my kitchen table, one hand tangling with her hair while the other is pushed under her shirt. They’re kissing frantically, moving against each other with their eyes closed-uncaring about their surroundings. I would have left and gave them privacy if I hadn’t noticed Yoona’s hand moving downward to settle it over Changmin’s-
HELL NO.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO GET IT ON OVER MY KITCHEN TABLE!
“Wow, Changmin’s got guts!” I hear Junjin cheer and whistle beside me before I could find the urge to speak. His words causes the pair to spring apart; both sporting red faces and messy hairstyles as they tried to smooth out their appearances in front of us. “Better move it elsewhere, Changmin. I think your noona here’s about to blow a fuse.”
“I am not!” I exclaimed, hitting Junjin the arm as he and Dongwan fell into hysterics before turning towards the couple, “But I’m not exactly happy either at the fact that you two were-er-”
“Making out?” Changmin supplied, looking hopeful that I won’t bite his head off and failing.
“It looked a lot more than a make-out session, Shim, so don’t you dare get smart with me.” I warned, crossing my arms over my chest. Yoona had the right idea to slap Changmin’s mouth shut as he began to reply, blushing even darker red in the face before turning to me apologetically.
“Sorry, unnie… we got carried away, I guess.”
“You’re lucky everyone else is drunk and hasn’t bothered to look in here.” I replied dryly, holding back a grin making its way into my face as Yoona ducked her head again in embarrassment. It didn’t go unnoticed to me how Changmin immediately reached over to lace his fingers in between hers once Yoona retracted her hand over his mouth.
The action was overtly gentle, really, especially for Changmin and his snark.
Aww… Well, it’s not as if I could actually stay mad at a young couple who finally (finally!) admitted their attraction for one another. Even if they did kind of go overboard, almost doing it on the table where I eat most of meals at…
(shudders)
I guess that’s the price you pay for locking your sexually-frustrated hoobaes inside a kitchen for over an hour.
Eric sidled up to me and speaks before I can help myself from squeaking in surprise.
“Oh, are you two together?” He asked, blinking at Changmin and Yoona’s hands. The pair looked at each other for a moment, weighing the question before turning back to respond with a single, resolute nod.
Oh the feelings! How can they be so cute when they were practically humping just a second ago?
“That’s great!” Eric said, clapping Changmin on the shoulder as he opened the refrigerator casually. So casually in fact-it was like he lived here! “Try not to have your first time together over at someone else’s place though. That’s just bad manners, Changmin. Your girl deserves better than a table, right?”
Junjin and Dongwan howled in laughter at the statement just as Changmin sputtered an incredulous shout (“Hyung! What the fuck?!”). I couldn’t help but laugh myself as Yoona doubled over after a second, giggling with the rest of us as Changmin tried to explain himself to a very amused Eric.
“We should probably go on dates first anyway,” Yoona said after her laughter finally died down, wiping at her eyes as she calmed herself. She bowed to me and Shinhwa respectfully before tugging at Changmin’s hand.
“Come to coffee with me?” She asked, looking up at Changmin with those big, bright doe eyes. He caved, of course, nodding his head without a hint of hesitation.
“Raincheck, noona?” Changmin said, turning to me with a grin-and I knew I was off the hook for locking them inside my kitchen in the first place.
“Yeah, yeah,” I replied, shaking my head. I practically kicked them out the door after pushing through the crowd, waving at their retreating forms as they hurried down the hall and into the elevator.
Ah, kids in love.
“So that actually happened, huh?”
I’m none too surprised to see Eric behind me as I close the door, my cheeks burning almost immediately at his proximity. Junjin and Dongwan are nowhere to be found but I’m willing to bet they’re sniggering somewhere.
“Yep,” I replied, popping the ‘p’ of the word with a smack of my lips, “That just happened.”
Eric nodded, handing me my last (and I mean it!) beer for the night before clinking our bottles together. He held out his arm for me to take and shocked as I was at this motion, I looped my arm around his anyway.
The party was going to dwindle down soon. I figure I should worry about this and Eric later.
“Alright, then.”
E N D OF P A R T 2 -- READ PART 3