Off Road Chapter 6
Changmin thought it was the sex.
Yunho didn’t greet him the usual sunshiny ‘good morning’, but just sat there, looked gloomy as if dark clouds were all over him. Changmin didn’t know what to do, it was inevitable. And it wasn’t like they did something wrong, right? They both wanted it and he remembered Yunho came as well. The sex wasn’t that bad.
When Yunho didn’t speak even a word to him until he got off the car in the academy, Changmin finally felt bad. But he still didn’t know what was wrong.
His phone rang at that time.
“Changmin! Yuri-“ his mother’s concerned voice could be heard.
“Yes, mother, I’ve met her yesterday.” Changmin cut before she worried too much. “Yuri is fine.”
Mrs Shim let out a deep sigh. “Where is she?”
“Mother, I think it’s better to let her alone now,” Changmin said.
Mrs Shim didn’t answer.
“Mother?”
“Yes…” Mrs Shim answered. “Just… please take care of her, Changmin. Make sure she’s okay.”
“Okay. I’ll do that.”
*
“Hyung!” Yoochun slapped his shoulder. They were in the hall, sat on the wooden floor and leaned to the wall.
“What is it?”
“You! I’ve been talking the past hours, but you just-“ Yoochun groaned. “What’s wrong? You didn’t even speak one word since you got here.”
“Nothing…” Yunho looked down. “Yoochun-ah, do you think… it’s okay if I… go back to my home?”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Yoochun didn’t understand. “Ah! What did Shim Changmin do!?”
“He- he’s doing nothing!” Yunho quickly answered. “Just… it’s me… I don’t think I can live together with him again…”
“Why is that? He must’ve done something!” Yoochun insisted. “You were okay about living together, but now? What happened?”
“I just don’t think this gonna work out, you know… the engagement thing…” Yunho shrugged.
“… why?”
Yunho gulped. “He’ll never love me!” He loves another woman… “I thought it’d be better if we just… separate.”
“But… what about your parents, then?”
“It’s still a valid engagement… we just don’t have to live together, don’t you think?”
Yoochun took a deep breath. He didn’t think that was right, but he hated how Yunho looked so down.
*
Yunho’s text usually consist unimportant question such; ‘How was ur day?’, ‘Have u eaten yet?’, ‘Changmin sshi u’ll pick me up today too?’ for the last question, Changmin had explain him, that he would always picking him up, but why he always ask again and again? Yunho’s text wasn’t complete without the smileys which could fill the entire screen. So when Changmin read this text, he felt something was missing.
U don’t have to pick me up. I’ll go home by myself.
From: Jung Yunho
So he just drove home to find Yunho who was already there, stood in the middle of the living room, watched the tv seriously. Too serious, Changmin, thought.
“… the ex Ministry of Finance, who also running a campaign for the President Election. He was caught in his residence in Gangnam, with An Sunyoung, the woman whose name commonly used to disguise his ownership of assets. The land and-“
“Oh Changmin!” Yunho turned off the television. “You- you’re here…”
It was her. He could recognize her. The white coat she wore during their date in a restaurant. She covered her face with a pair of dark sunglasses. Her long black hair hidden in the silk scarf. But Changmin could recognize her though she was covered from head to toe.
“I have work, Changmin,”
“Work? What is it?”
“It’s a secret.” She winked.
Sunyoung never told him, never once, no matter how much he asked.
“What is it? Come on…”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I want to know everything about you…”
“Do you really, want to know everything about me?” she pulled him close and began to explore his mouth.
So.
Was it true?
Changmin met Sunyoung as a housewife of a very famous lawyer. Her life had been glamorous since then. But after they divorced, Sunyoung’s life never changed. Her expensive perfume Changmin loved so much on her, or her fancy fur coat… Changmin never thought about how… how could she get them all?
He just stood there like he had been struck by lightning.
“I… have to go.”
*
Yunho kept the tv on so he wouldn’t feel so… alone. He had been thinking whether he had to pack or not, took the things he needed to go home. Should he left? Or should he stay?
He couldn’t blame Changmin. It was him. How could he be such a weak man? Such a needy whore in heat? Thirsty for touch and hungry for cock.
Fuck.
Yunho slumped on the coach. His limbs dangled here and there lifelessly.
Did Changmin think about her all the way? From the moment he touched Yunho, did he thought it was her skin instead? When he pushed Yunho to the bed, did Changmin want it to be her? Did Changmin close his eyes when he thrust into him, thinking it was someone else, someone he loved, instead of Yunho?
Yeah.
Of course.
It was her name he called.
Sunyoung.
Was that the woman in the café? The one who made Changmin blushed like a teenager, made him smiled dumbly. Dumbly in love.
“… land, and properties, under the name An Sunyoung-“
Sunyoung?
Yunho looked up to the tv. It was the corruption again, huh? Not less than eighty billion won gone. It happened years ago but the issues started to come to the surface not long ago.
Yunho didn’t really pay attention, because…
Was it? Was that… An Sunyoung… that Sunyoung… as in Changmin’s Sunyoung?
Yunho could faintly remember her face, but her eyes were covered by shades and he couldn’t be so sure if it was her. He walked closer to the tv to get clearer look.
Fortunately the news was all over the tv station. When he changed the channel, it was about how Moon Heejun hid the money he corrupted by buying lands, properties, and he even had new villas that bought under the name An Sunyoung.
And finally, they showed the photo of An Sunyoung.
And yeah, it was her.
Yunho didn’t want to think that it was her because he hoped it was her, but… those eyes, small nose, pale skin, long black hair… was her. Yunho remembered her eyes because it was her eyes that made her look old, the wrinkle made Yunho realized that this woman was much older than Changmin.
Yunho switched the channel to find out more. And oh, that Moon Heejun was also running an election! What a shame. They found out his sin just before the election. And of course the money he took used for the campaign too.
That was the moment when Changmin came in.
When Yunho realized Changmin was there, watched the television with disbelief, he quickly turned it off. “Oh Changmin, you’re here?” he asked nervously.
He could see the flash of anger, disappointment, fear, and misery in his eyes. Changmin’s lips trembled and he was unmoving for some moment.
“I have to go.” He said.
And Changmin walked out the door.
Changmin’s expression was what made Yunho sure that the woman, An Sunyoung, was her.
*
There were police cars in Sunyoung’s apartment area. Changmin looked at his phone on the seat next to him.
Of course Sunyoung didn’t tell him anything.
Yuri called. His mother called. His father called. His mother called again. And again.
Changmin didn’t answer because he thought his mother would ask about Yuri. And the girl was fine. Nothing to worry about. And his father… Changmin didn’t know why he called but he just didn’t want to talk to him.
Fucking shit.
An Sunyoung what the fuck? Why did she do this to him? What Changmin lacked that she had to do this to him? And how could he be such a stupid idiot? How could he…
“Nuna, let’s just runaway together… and get married.” Changmin said one day, head on Sunyoung’s lap.
“Silly,” Sunyoung smiled down and combed his hair with her fingers. “Life is not as simple as that, Changmin.”
“But I can do anything! I mean, I can work and get enough money for us… I can cook too! Nuna, don’t have to worry about anything. My savings is enough for us to buy that small beach house you like so much.”
It wasn’t all about money, Changmin thought. But what else? He could provide anything for the woman he loved. Why the answer was always no?
His phone vibrated again.
“Mother! I’ve told you Yuri is-“
“Changmin-sshi?”
Fuck.
“Yunho-sshi.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Where are you now? It’s already late.” Yunho asked concernedly, his voice was small.
Changmin looked at the clock on his dashboard. 10.30. It wasn’t that late. But time passed so fast. Everything seemed like a running train in front of him.
“Changmin-sshi? Are you okay?”
“I am.”
Yunho didn’t answer and Changmin could hear his breaths. It somehow calmed him a bit.
“Okay… then…” Yunho mumbled before disconnected the call.
Changmin felt disappointed and had never feel so alone in his life.
He drove to the river. Watched the calm water from inside his car. The sky was dark. He once visited the river with Sunyoung. She didn’t want to come out from the car because she didn’t want anybody to see. It was… embarrassing, she said. But Changmin just wanted to show her to the world, that this woman was belong to him. Wanted to kiss her in front of people, claimed her, that no other could ever touch her but him.
Now that he thought about it, not even once, the word love came out from her lips. But Changmin was deaf to hear it anyway. Sunyoung hugged him and kissed him back, and he was dumb enough to think that action was better than words. He said I love you. Too many I love you. In the morning, before his classes started, when he texted her, after sex, and every time he felt like it.
And she would just smile. And kissed him. And he thought it was enough. It was I love you enough.
Somehow, Sunyoung was right. Changmin was too young. Too young to understand, that this woman, didn’t love him. Didn’t have anything for him, no matter how much he’d give.
Changmin drove home. The street was already empty, it was past midnight. When he opened the door, the light was still on.
Yunho was curled on the couch like a baby bear, somehow made himself warmer by hugging himself. Changmin leaned down, hovered above his body and he could see the phone in his embrace, like Yunho wanted to wake up quickly when it rang. His face was a bit scrunched and his eyelids twitched.
His eyelashes were short, unlike Sunyoung’s long pretty strands. Yunho’s lips. Changmin always liked his lips. They parted and let out a surprised gasp.
“Changmin-sshi!”
Changmin startled and almost fell back.
Yunho wiped his mouth, afraid if he drooled or did something embarrassing in front of his fiancé. Did he snore? “You… you’re home…”
“I’m home.”
After Changmin washed up and came to bed, Yunho was already laying down with blanket covered his body. He turned off the light and sighed.
“Changmin-sshi…” Yunho called.
“Hmm?”
“Can I… can I ask you something?”
Changmin felt a bit nervous, but… what would Yunho ask anyway? “What is it?”
“Do you have somebody?” Yunho asked quietly.
Changmin’s heart stopped. “It’s over already.”
They both unmoving, laid on their back, staring to the ceiling.
“But… you can’t say it’s over if it didn’t even start, right?” Changmin said flatly. He could feel Yunho tensed up.
“I bet… you love her so much…”
Changmin could catch sadness in Yunho’s voice. But he didn’t know what to answer.
That night, Yunho had Changmin in his arms instead.
*
The smell of coffee and the sound of busy Yunho in the kitchen woke him up.
“How’s Yuri?” Yunho asked.
“She’s fine.”
“But, have you called her?”
Changmin didn’t answer but tasted his coffee.
“Have you?” Yunho asked again.
“I have.” Changmin put down his cup.
“When?”
Three days ago.
“Changmin-sshi?” Yunho seemed like could read Changmin’s thought. He sighed. “Just give me her number. I’ll call her, is that okay?”
“Of course.”
After shower, Yunho asked Yuri to come to the academy.
“You can look around. It’s better than alone in the hotel.” Yunho said through the phone.
“Okay. Please text me the address, Yunho-sshi.”
*
Maybe because Yoochun was always nice around girls, but Minah didn’t mind. It wasn’t like she wanted Yoochun, anyway. It was nice to have him as a friend.
But it changed after the kiss. Minah felt more for the older guy. She thought about him more. What was that kiss for? It was hard to treat Yoochun as a senior, as a friend after that kiss. That was her first kiss and she was clueless, didn’t know what to do.
Maybe it was why she felt hurt… when she saw Yoochun had a meal together with a very beautiful lady in high heels and mini lacy dress. She giggled about something Yoochun said.
Well, of course Yoochun would never fail to make ladies laugh.
Yoochun didn’t ask to have lunch together that day. And Minah tried to ignore that actually, she wanted to. She wanted to have lunch together.
When Minah took her bag from the locker and walked out, she could hear the familiar voice was calling her. She wanted to ignore it, but he just came closer.
“Minah-yah…” Yoochun held her hand from behind. “Didn’t you hear me?”
“I… have to go home now.” Minah said, didn’t turn to look back.
“Okay, let me change my clothes first.”
“No! It’s no need, Sunbae.” Minah pulled her hand.
“Minah-yah… about…” Yoochun didn’t know how to say this. “The kiss…”
“Just forget it.” Minah cut him. She didn’t want to hear the rest. She didn’t want to hear how sorry Yoochun was, that it was a mistake that shouldn’t happen. A kiss was just a kiss, she told herself. It didn’t mean anything. “I have to go now.”
“But-“
Minah turned to bow to Yoochun before walked to the gate.
*
“Siwon practiced regularly here twice a week,” Yunho said as he poured a glass of tea for Yuri. “Every Tuesday and Thursday.”
Yuri didn’t give any sign that she was interested, but Yunho knew she was listening.
“Do you want to come tomorrow? Or I can give you a free membership too!” Yunho added with a grin.
“It’s okay, Yunho-sshi.” Yuri smiled as she put her cup on the table.
“Have you called your mother?” Yunho asked after some time passed.
Yuri looked up to him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-“
“It’s okay.” Yuri cut. “I haven’t.”
“Why?” Yunho sat next to Yuri. “She’s worrying. She called your brother everyday, asking for you.”
“I know I should…” Yuri’s voice was small. “But I’m… I’m afraid if I heard her voice, I want to come back home…”
“It’s okay. Of course you can come back home.” Yunho said comfortingly.
“After I ran out, how can I just come back like that? That’s embarrassing.” Yuri scoffed.
“They’re your family. Nothing embarrassing about that.”
“Our family is different. I thought we were… strangers…” Yuri thumbed the hem of her lacy dress.
“They don’t care about me.”
“Your mother does. And your brother too, apparently…” Yunho let out a little laugh.
Yuri laughed too. “Yeah… I never thought that… Oppa will ever give his scarf for me.”
“He did?” Yunho’s eyes widened.
“Yeah… and I thought you asked him to… but you didn’t?” Yuri asked.
“Wow, he’s much better than I think.” Yunho tilted his head. “No offence, Yuri,” Yunho quickly added. “-sshi,” he added again.
Yuri smiled to him. “It’s okay. You can be comfortable to me. You’ll be my brother in law, anyway.”
Yunho smiled back to her.
“And yes, I thought Oppa is getting better too… a better person.” Yuri said.
The door of his office opened and Yoochun walked in.
“Hyung,” Yoochun whined. “Oh Yuri-sshi, you’re here too…”
“What is it?” Yunho asked.
“Hyung… I think… Minah doesn’t like me.” Yoochun slumped on Yunho’s chair.
“Why?”
Yoochun wanted to tell Yunho about the kiss. How he felt towards Minah, how he never found someone like her, that he was afraid that he actually liked her, that he wanted to date her, he wanted to try to be a good man just for her, but she… just… “She rejected me. I asked if I could drive her home and she said no.”
“Heh, of course. Any sane woman won’t accept your offer.” Yunho snorted.
Yuri giggled.
“Yuri, don’t accept such offer from this guy too, okay?” Yunho told Yuri.
“I have my own car, anyway.” Yuri sipped her tea calmly.
Yunho didn’t greet him the usual sunshiny ‘good morning’, but just sat there, looked gloomy as if dark clouds were all over him. Changmin didn’t know what to do, it was inevitable. And it wasn’t like they did something wrong, right? They both wanted it and he remembered Yunho came as well. The sex wasn’t that bad.
When Yunho didn’t speak even a word to him until he got off the car in the academy, Changmin finally felt bad. But he still didn’t know what was wrong.
His phone rang at that time.
“Changmin! Yuri-“ his mother’s concerned voice could be heard.
“Yes, mother, I’ve met her yesterday.” Changmin cut before she worried too much. “Yuri is fine.”
Mrs Shim let out a deep sigh. “Where is she?”
“Mother, I think it’s better to let her alone now,” Changmin said.
Mrs Shim didn’t answer.
“Mother?”
“Yes…” Mrs Shim answered. “Just… please take care of her, Changmin. Make sure she’s okay.”
“Okay. I’ll do that.”
*
“Hyung!” Yoochun slapped his shoulder. They were in the hall, sat on the wooden floor and leaned to the wall.
“What is it?”
“You! I’ve been talking the past hours, but you just-“ Yoochun groaned. “What’s wrong? You didn’t even speak one word since you got here.”
“Nothing…” Yunho looked down. “Yoochun-ah, do you think… it’s okay if I… go back to my home?”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Yoochun didn’t understand. “Ah! What did Shim Changmin do!?”
“He- he’s doing nothing!” Yunho quickly answered. “Just… it’s me… I don’t think I can live together with him again…”
“Why is that? He must’ve done something!” Yoochun insisted. “You were okay about living together, but now? What happened?”
“I just don’t think this gonna work out, you know… the engagement thing…” Yunho shrugged.
“… why?”
Yunho gulped. “He’ll never love me!” He loves another woman… “I thought it’d be better if we just… separate.”
“But… what about your parents, then?”
“It’s still a valid engagement… we just don’t have to live together, don’t you think?”
Yoochun took a deep breath. He didn’t think that was right, but he hated how Yunho looked so down.
*
Yunho’s text usually consist unimportant question such; ‘How was ur day?’, ‘Have u eaten yet?’, ‘Changmin sshi u’ll pick me up today too?’ for the last question, Changmin had explain him, that he would always picking him up, but why he always ask again and again? Yunho’s text wasn’t complete without the smileys which could fill the entire screen. So when Changmin read this text, he felt something was missing.
U don’t have to pick me up. I’ll go home by myself.
From: Jung Yunho
So he just drove home to find Yunho who was already there, stood in the middle of the living room, watched the tv seriously. Too serious, Changmin, thought.
“… the ex Ministry of Finance, who also running a campaign for the President Election. He was caught in his residence in Gangnam, with An Sunyoung, the woman whose name commonly used to disguise his ownership of assets. The land and-“
“Oh Changmin!” Yunho turned off the television. “You- you’re here…”
It was her. He could recognize her. The white coat she wore during their date in a restaurant. She covered her face with a pair of dark sunglasses. Her long black hair hidden in the silk scarf. But Changmin could recognize her though she was covered from head to toe.
“I have work, Changmin,”
“Work? What is it?”
“It’s a secret.” She winked.
Sunyoung never told him, never once, no matter how much he asked.
“What is it? Come on…”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I want to know everything about you…”
“Do you really, want to know everything about me?” she pulled him close and began to explore his mouth.
So.
Was it true?
Changmin met Sunyoung as a housewife of a very famous lawyer. Her life had been glamorous since then. But after they divorced, Sunyoung’s life never changed. Her expensive perfume Changmin loved so much on her, or her fancy fur coat… Changmin never thought about how… how could she get them all?
He just stood there like he had been struck by lightning.
“I… have to go.”
*
Yunho kept the tv on so he wouldn’t feel so… alone. He had been thinking whether he had to pack or not, took the things he needed to go home. Should he left? Or should he stay?
He couldn’t blame Changmin. It was him. How could he be such a weak man? Such a needy whore in heat? Thirsty for touch and hungry for cock.
Fuck.
Yunho slumped on the coach. His limbs dangled here and there lifelessly.
Did Changmin think about her all the way? From the moment he touched Yunho, did he thought it was her skin instead? When he pushed Yunho to the bed, did Changmin want it to be her? Did Changmin close his eyes when he thrust into him, thinking it was someone else, someone he loved, instead of Yunho?
Yeah.
Of course.
It was her name he called.
Sunyoung.
Was that the woman in the café? The one who made Changmin blushed like a teenager, made him smiled dumbly. Dumbly in love.
“… land, and properties, under the name An Sunyoung-“
Sunyoung?
Yunho looked up to the tv. It was the corruption again, huh? Not less than eighty billion won gone. It happened years ago but the issues started to come to the surface not long ago.
Yunho didn’t really pay attention, because…
Was it? Was that… An Sunyoung… that Sunyoung… as in Changmin’s Sunyoung?
Yunho could faintly remember her face, but her eyes were covered by shades and he couldn’t be so sure if it was her. He walked closer to the tv to get clearer look.
Fortunately the news was all over the tv station. When he changed the channel, it was about how Moon Heejun hid the money he corrupted by buying lands, properties, and he even had new villas that bought under the name An Sunyoung.
And finally, they showed the photo of An Sunyoung.
And yeah, it was her.
Yunho didn’t want to think that it was her because he hoped it was her, but… those eyes, small nose, pale skin, long black hair… was her. Yunho remembered her eyes because it was her eyes that made her look old, the wrinkle made Yunho realized that this woman was much older than Changmin.
Yunho switched the channel to find out more. And oh, that Moon Heejun was also running an election! What a shame. They found out his sin just before the election. And of course the money he took used for the campaign too.
That was the moment when Changmin came in.
When Yunho realized Changmin was there, watched the television with disbelief, he quickly turned it off. “Oh Changmin, you’re here?” he asked nervously.
He could see the flash of anger, disappointment, fear, and misery in his eyes. Changmin’s lips trembled and he was unmoving for some moment.
“I have to go.” He said.
And Changmin walked out the door.
Changmin’s expression was what made Yunho sure that the woman, An Sunyoung, was her.
*
There were police cars in Sunyoung’s apartment area. Changmin looked at his phone on the seat next to him.
Of course Sunyoung didn’t tell him anything.
Yuri called. His mother called. His father called. His mother called again. And again.
Changmin didn’t answer because he thought his mother would ask about Yuri. And the girl was fine. Nothing to worry about. And his father… Changmin didn’t know why he called but he just didn’t want to talk to him.
Fucking shit.
An Sunyoung what the fuck? Why did she do this to him? What Changmin lacked that she had to do this to him? And how could he be such a stupid idiot? How could he…
“Nuna, let’s just runaway together… and get married.” Changmin said one day, head on Sunyoung’s lap.
“Silly,” Sunyoung smiled down and combed his hair with her fingers. “Life is not as simple as that, Changmin.”
“But I can do anything! I mean, I can work and get enough money for us… I can cook too! Nuna, don’t have to worry about anything. My savings is enough for us to buy that small beach house you like so much.”
It wasn’t all about money, Changmin thought. But what else? He could provide anything for the woman he loved. Why the answer was always no?
His phone vibrated again.
“Mother! I’ve told you Yuri is-“
“Changmin-sshi?”
Fuck.
“Yunho-sshi.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Where are you now? It’s already late.” Yunho asked concernedly, his voice was small.
Changmin looked at the clock on his dashboard. 10.30. It wasn’t that late. But time passed so fast. Everything seemed like a running train in front of him.
“Changmin-sshi? Are you okay?”
“I am.”
Yunho didn’t answer and Changmin could hear his breaths. It somehow calmed him a bit.
“Okay… then…” Yunho mumbled before disconnected the call.
Changmin felt disappointed and had never feel so alone in his life.
He drove to the river. Watched the calm water from inside his car. The sky was dark. He once visited the river with Sunyoung. She didn’t want to come out from the car because she didn’t want anybody to see. It was… embarrassing, she said. But Changmin just wanted to show her to the world, that this woman was belong to him. Wanted to kiss her in front of people, claimed her, that no other could ever touch her but him.
Now that he thought about it, not even once, the word love came out from her lips. But Changmin was deaf to hear it anyway. Sunyoung hugged him and kissed him back, and he was dumb enough to think that action was better than words. He said I love you. Too many I love you. In the morning, before his classes started, when he texted her, after sex, and every time he felt like it.
And she would just smile. And kissed him. And he thought it was enough. It was I love you enough.
Somehow, Sunyoung was right. Changmin was too young. Too young to understand, that this woman, didn’t love him. Didn’t have anything for him, no matter how much he’d give.
Changmin drove home. The street was already empty, it was past midnight. When he opened the door, the light was still on.
Yunho was curled on the couch like a baby bear, somehow made himself warmer by hugging himself. Changmin leaned down, hovered above his body and he could see the phone in his embrace, like Yunho wanted to wake up quickly when it rang. His face was a bit scrunched and his eyelids twitched.
His eyelashes were short, unlike Sunyoung’s long pretty strands. Yunho’s lips. Changmin always liked his lips. They parted and let out a surprised gasp.
“Changmin-sshi!”
Changmin startled and almost fell back.
Yunho wiped his mouth, afraid if he drooled or did something embarrassing in front of his fiancé. Did he snore? “You… you’re home…”
“I’m home.”
After Changmin washed up and came to bed, Yunho was already laying down with blanket covered his body. He turned off the light and sighed.
“Changmin-sshi…” Yunho called.
“Hmm?”
“Can I… can I ask you something?”
Changmin felt a bit nervous, but… what would Yunho ask anyway? “What is it?”
“Do you have somebody?” Yunho asked quietly.
Changmin’s heart stopped. “It’s over already.”
They both unmoving, laid on their back, staring to the ceiling.
“But… you can’t say it’s over if it didn’t even start, right?” Changmin said flatly. He could feel Yunho tensed up.
“I bet… you love her so much…”
Changmin could catch sadness in Yunho’s voice. But he didn’t know what to answer.
That night, Yunho had Changmin in his arms instead.
*
The smell of coffee and the sound of busy Yunho in the kitchen woke him up.
“How’s Yuri?” Yunho asked.
“She’s fine.”
“But, have you called her?”
Changmin didn’t answer but tasted his coffee.
“Have you?” Yunho asked again.
“I have.” Changmin put down his cup.
“When?”
Three days ago.
“Changmin-sshi?” Yunho seemed like could read Changmin’s thought. He sighed. “Just give me her number. I’ll call her, is that okay?”
“Of course.”
After shower, Yunho asked Yuri to come to the academy.
“You can look around. It’s better than alone in the hotel.” Yunho said through the phone.
“Okay. Please text me the address, Yunho-sshi.”
*
Maybe because Yoochun was always nice around girls, but Minah didn’t mind. It wasn’t like she wanted Yoochun, anyway. It was nice to have him as a friend.
But it changed after the kiss. Minah felt more for the older guy. She thought about him more. What was that kiss for? It was hard to treat Yoochun as a senior, as a friend after that kiss. That was her first kiss and she was clueless, didn’t know what to do.
Maybe it was why she felt hurt… when she saw Yoochun had a meal together with a very beautiful lady in high heels and mini lacy dress. She giggled about something Yoochun said.
Well, of course Yoochun would never fail to make ladies laugh.
Yoochun didn’t ask to have lunch together that day. And Minah tried to ignore that actually, she wanted to. She wanted to have lunch together.
When Minah took her bag from the locker and walked out, she could hear the familiar voice was calling her. She wanted to ignore it, but he just came closer.
“Minah-yah…” Yoochun held her hand from behind. “Didn’t you hear me?”
“I… have to go home now.” Minah said, didn’t turn to look back.
“Okay, let me change my clothes first.”
“No! It’s no need, Sunbae.” Minah pulled her hand.
“Minah-yah… about…” Yoochun didn’t know how to say this. “The kiss…”
“Just forget it.” Minah cut him. She didn’t want to hear the rest. She didn’t want to hear how sorry Yoochun was, that it was a mistake that shouldn’t happen. A kiss was just a kiss, she told herself. It didn’t mean anything. “I have to go now.”
“But-“
Minah turned to bow to Yoochun before walked to the gate.
*
“Siwon practiced regularly here twice a week,” Yunho said as he poured a glass of tea for Yuri. “Every Tuesday and Thursday.”
Yuri didn’t give any sign that she was interested, but Yunho knew she was listening.
“Do you want to come tomorrow? Or I can give you a free membership too!” Yunho added with a grin.
“It’s okay, Yunho-sshi.” Yuri smiled as she put her cup on the table.
“Have you called your mother?” Yunho asked after some time passed.
Yuri looked up to him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-“
“It’s okay.” Yuri cut. “I haven’t.”
“Why?” Yunho sat next to Yuri. “She’s worrying. She called your brother everyday, asking for you.”
“I know I should…” Yuri’s voice was small. “But I’m… I’m afraid if I heard her voice, I want to come back home…”
“It’s okay. Of course you can come back home.” Yunho said comfortingly.
“After I ran out, how can I just come back like that? That’s embarrassing.” Yuri scoffed.
“They’re your family. Nothing embarrassing about that.”
“Our family is different. I thought we were… strangers…” Yuri thumbed the hem of her lacy dress.
“They don’t care about me.”
“Your mother does. And your brother too, apparently…” Yunho let out a little laugh.
Yuri laughed too. “Yeah… I never thought that… Oppa will ever give his scarf for me.”
“He did?” Yunho’s eyes widened.
“Yeah… and I thought you asked him to… but you didn’t?” Yuri asked.
“Wow, he’s much better than I think.” Yunho tilted his head. “No offence, Yuri,” Yunho quickly added. “-sshi,” he added again.
Yuri smiled to him. “It’s okay. You can be comfortable to me. You’ll be my brother in law, anyway.”
Yunho smiled back to her.
“And yes, I thought Oppa is getting better too… a better person.” Yuri said.
The door of his office opened and Yoochun walked in.
“Hyung,” Yoochun whined. “Oh Yuri-sshi, you’re here too…”
“What is it?” Yunho asked.
“Hyung… I think… Minah doesn’t like me.” Yoochun slumped on Yunho’s chair.
“Why?”
Yoochun wanted to tell Yunho about the kiss. How he felt towards Minah, how he never found someone like her, that he was afraid that he actually liked her, that he wanted to date her, he wanted to try to be a good man just for her, but she… just… “She rejected me. I asked if I could drive her home and she said no.”
“Heh, of course. Any sane woman won’t accept your offer.” Yunho snorted.
Yuri giggled.
“Yuri, don’t accept such offer from this guy too, okay?” Yunho told Yuri.
“I have my own car, anyway.” Yuri sipped her tea calmly.