Notice!

authors note: contains profanity, drugs, and mature themes. not everything is in a linear time line and there are three protagonists so the scene transitions can represent a different time or place.
enjoy!





He Was Just For Sex.



ρrologue



The saying is that your eyes are windows into your soul. For me a kiss on the lips was like a ticket to mine. I never let him kiss me on the lips because…

He was just for sex.




onε



“Come on, at least take one. It can’t hurt. Everyone else is having a good time and you’ve been dogging me to bring you out and have some fun. I paid too much for this. Shιt, just take it.”

Yelling against the music to be heard, she reached out and took the offered drug.

The normally pink pills glowed purple effortlessly with their little engraved hearts from the flashing strobe lights. Floor rapping booms of repetitive techno threaded through gloved hands and blurred glow sticks inside the rave party. Sweaty skin, humid air, temporary deafness, a rush heightened by illegal additives. Who said rave was dead?



It’s just ecstasy, I’ve done harsher stuff and I’ve been working my ass off this past month.

No, I can’t. That’s even more reason not to, fυck I just want to have some fun for once.



“Fυck this; I can’t stand it in here!”

“What!” Unable to hear Tae Seul before she turned and walk through the sea of bodies ranging from normally dressed to the poorly dressed, and the barely dressed, she just assumed Tae Seul was going to the bathroom or something along those lines.

Pushing and shoving her way through the flock of nobodies, Tae Seul finally reached the back door with the “I” on the exit sign broken. She pushed through the heavy warehouse door and stepped out into the freshly rained on grainy pavement.

Pulling out her pack of cigarettes from her back pocket, she took a long drag and closed her eyes.



“Maybe it’s better if I leave you. Maybe this is for the better. If this was love Tae Seul nuna, I wouldn’t be making things harder for you, if this was really love, why ruin something so perfect by dragging it on?”

Is that all he said to me, no there had to be more because it made me feel so much more than that.

Does one year prove to you that I still love you? You wanted me to grow up and notice that you were right. Ironic. I don’t see that, I don’t want to see it that way; I just want to be with you a little while longer.


What did you mean ‘If this was love’?



“Ugh.” Sticky moisture surrounded her clamped shut eyes; Tae Seul breathed out a stream of smoke and took a fresh breath of stale air. Pulling down her thin sweater sleeve and wiped off her tear and sweat melted eye liner.

Shifting her hip to a side, she still felt dizzy from the vodka shots; the static of the pounding music inside repelled Tae Seul and convinced her to stay outside. She heard soft giggling coming from the darkened area making her aware of the probable activity she was in proximity of, she took a side glance to see a guy pushing a girl up on the wall with her legs wrapped around him.



“Are you sure you want to do this?

“Of course I’m sure.”

“A hundred per cent sure? We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

“I want to do this, and we’ve done everything else already.”

That made him blush.

“Good point.” Smiling like a little kid up to no good, Han Min Jae kissed me with his freshly licked wet lips.


When it’s your first time, you kind of remember it.



Feeling uncomfortable because of the couple exchanging saliva and groping the air out of each other, Tae Seul just lit another cigarette and distracted herself looking the other direction.



“Damn it, what kind of girl smokes like a fricking chimney and doesn’t turn black from the ash.”

“That doesn’t even make sense!”

“It does make sense! And why do you always have to talk back! Just don’t smoke damn it!”

“Why do you always sound so stupid when you talk to me, no. 1 for academics in your year my butt. Does my Min Jae want a kiss from nuna to make it better?”

“No! Your mouth tastes funny when you smoke.”



Weighed down with regret for not listening to him when he asked her, when he still cared; she grinded the newly lit cigarette into the ground. Finally making up her mind to go back inside and make good use of her friend Mi Hye’s money, she got to the door and rolled her eyes at the public porn preview which had migrated to beside the door.


“Stupid high schoolers, go get a fυcking room.”

Throwing money at them as if they were beggars, she went back inside the ear paining club.



Wait.

That guy was actually pretty good looking.


What are you Tae Seul, a pedophile? He’s still in his school uniform.






τwo



“God I hate calculus, this class is just so freaking lame. Look at me, I’m a socially inept loser named Mr. Kim, suck on my derivative please.”

“Ko Eun, look at the model in this ad, isn’t she freaking pretty? If I looked like that maybe my boyfriend wouldn’t have dumped me for someone else.” Hiding a bi-weekly fashion magazine between the pages of her text book, Ko Eun’s seat partner started to turn on her water works.

Desperate to change the subject to avoid the sob and eventually wail fest that would be if she didn’t say anything, Ko Eun objected, “Tsch, Sol Ae that one? She’s skin and bones and her eyes are so unnaturally big they’re like holes in her face. That nose? Clearly silicon. Girls are meant to look natural, not like porcelain doe eyed freaks.”

Biting her lips with rebuttal, Sol Ae teased “Ya, what are you talking about? Jealous~ huh? Can’t handle someone prettier than you huh? My eyes are almost the same size after using that double eye lid tape. Are my eyes holes in my face too? Hey, Ko Eunie let’s go to a disco tonight, wanna wanna?”

Ignoring her friend’s pleading, since the last time they went Sol Ae wouldn’t stop bawling out every ounce of water in her system because some guy asked her if she wanted to dance just because it reminded her how she met her ex.

“Come on, I’ll help you get ready, my mom bought me e.x.p.e.n.s.i.v.e brand name clothes from her business trip. I’ll let you pick out something to wear~”

Not early enough to cut Sol Ae off, the sound of the sliding class room door opened. Holding a school bag over his shoulder like it held no value to him, he flung it onto his desk which was conveniently beside the door.


“How nice of you to join us Kim Jae Joong.”


Snorting and rolling his eyes, Jae Joong sat down his in his seat and immediately used his text book as a pillow.


For Ko Eun, the split second before the door opened she knew it could only be Kim Jae Joong tardy yet again. It was just his style, part of his essence, and vital to his charm.


“Ah Sol Ae isn’t his style good? He looks so hot; he’s the only one that can pull off that look.” Ko Eun quietly squealed out without taking her eyes away from Kim Jae Joong.


“He’s wearing our school uniform Ko Eun.” Shaking her head at her infatuation stricken friend, she stared at the fine print of the magazine ad.


Photographer: Han Tae Jin
Hair and Make-up: Kim Da Na
Model: Shim Tae Seul


“Anyways last night I read on some girl’s cyworld that they were going out and he cheated on her on their twenty two days and she said she’ll forgive him if he just calls her to say sorry. Does she not care about her face, how shameless can those hoes he dates get? I mean if someone cheats on you, don’t post it to tell the world. What a pathetic attention whore. Some people these days, ya Ko Eun are you even listening to me?”

Ko Eun wasn’t even her seat partner anymore, at least not in the mind. She believed she was in “love” with the guy passed out on his desk with an unlit cigarette in his mouth. For a brief second she was pathetic enough to wish she was the stick of nicotine enclosed between his soft, pink lips.



Open your eyes, open your eyes and look at me just for a second.



Almost like he could hear her thoughts, he opened his eyes feeling the pressure of someone’s gaze.

Letting out a loud gasp Song Ko Eun choked on her saliva and broke into a series of coughs. In haste to turn away she banged her knee on the desk leg. Like a mute button was pushed, everyone in the class just shut up. Not even Mr. Kim was thinking out loud anymore.


Sol Ae just had to add with enough volume for everyone to hear, “Ya are you sick? Your face is so red.”




All it took was one look from him.

Ko Eun was crazy for Kim Jae Joong.





тнree



“What are you, in middle school? Sneaking out through the window? Not only did you sneak out, but you got arrested? Tae Seul do you know how damaging this could be for your image if this gets out? A gossip worthy head line ‘New Star Shim Tae Seul Super Model Arrested for Possession.’ I told you to avoid all unnecessary publicity, good or bad, keep a low profile and none of these scandals.”

Packing the last of her clothes into a travel bag, Tae Seul held her fluffy towel and fresh clothes ready to shower listening to her manager chastise her for the previous night’s events. She stood fidgeting impatiently and faintly grimacing not because of his nagging, but because of the lack of water consumed she had a raging hangover that she was fighting to hide or else it would be used against her. Plus she reeked and wanted to shower badly.

“I’m wasting water.”

The shower was running and wisps of steam were already sneaking into the room through the open bathroom door.

“I had to wait 4 hours before they let me bail you out; you missed your flight to Milan for Cavalli’s show rehearsals, get ready quickly because we have a make up flight in two hours and we have to drop by the studio to pick up some things.”

“After this I get a break right?”

“Like we talked about you can go to mom’s place to stay with your family for a few days.”

Acknowledging the end of their conversation, she went into her bathroom, closed the door, absent mindedly plopped her towel on the floor, and walked right into the shower with her clothes still on. Feeling like an emotional train wreck because of meeting him out of the blue again had triggered her building melancholy from the non stop work for the past three months. She slid down to the floor and sat lying against the wet ceramic wall with the spraying hot water flecking remains of black makeup streaking her face.


Min Jae...


She felt hollowed out again, as if their end was just yesterday.


_________________________________________


“Wow it looks good on you; if you wear it out tonight I’ll let you keep it”

It was bribing, bribing with a GGPX shirt her idol LEE HYORI wore in a photo shoot. Yes Hyori looked good in it, but only she could look good, when does she not? A dyspeptic piss coloured shirt revealing a diamond of back skin? This girl, Shin Sol Ae, blatantly lying just so they could go out. She’s so desperate sometimes it’s embarrassing, but Ko Eun being such a great friend of Sol Ae’s played along.

“Sol Ae I don’t think I can go. My mom doesn’t want me to spend anymore money.”

“Ko Eun-ie, this unni is gonna treat you tonight, so don’t worry.”


_________________________________________


“Umma? Is anyone home? Ah, it feels so good to be home, god I’m starving. What is there to eat?”

Talking to herself and closing the door behind her, Tae Seul dropped her travel bag by the stairwell. It was 11pm knowing her mom; it was hardly the time for her to be home. Taking off her shoes she plopped herself on the sofa in the living room forgetting her hunger from the overwhelming fatigue of jet lag. Basking in silence, Tae Seul decided to call her mom to see where she was, nothing beat home cooking to clear off her travel nausea. Using the speaker phone function, she speed dialed no. 2: Mrs. Shim’s mobile.

Soft clicking of a game controller sounded upstairs stopped after hearing ambient noises coming from downstairs. Cautiously pausing his game, and swiftly grabbing a baseball bat, he stealthily tip toed down the stairs paranoid of a burglar or worse, a rapist serial killer after pretty teenage boys.

Noticing a foreign bag at the foot of the stair well, the door showed no sign of struggle; he had this odd sensation inside the pit of his stomach. Did they use keys or something? Did he forget to set the security alarm? Who could be home? His hyung’s were out drinking and told him they’d be back after midnight, and his mom was on vacation in Australia.

Approaching the lit living room, the phone dial tone on speaker phone was heard, followed by automated dialing. Without thinking, he held up the bat ready to strike. The phone was conveniently just around the corner. Whoever was using the phone could be surprise attacked easily.


One ring tone.

Three more steps.

Two ring tones.

Two more steps.

Three ring tones.

One final step.


On three, swing.

Three, two, one!


It was like a symphony of noises composed of a dull crack, a sharp gasp, a continual dead phone tone and then a scream of unpredicted pain.

Oh and a “NUNA?!”


_________________________________________


Driving illegally and speeding too, Shim Tae Jin rushed his unconscious sister to the local emergency room. Sliding his cell phone back to life he called his oldest brother and told him what happened.

“She fainted, but I only hit her wrist, I think…”

Drunken vaguely, slowed speech mocked, “Boy Tae Jin-ah you sure put the fun in dysfunctional this time. That's usually Tae Seul's job. I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

Great start, please post more soon :]

great start =) hope you post soon

^ agreed, this story is interesting so far
the title really caught my eye
anyways post more when you can

oh if there are any grammar/spelling errors
feel free to tell me;;;
thanks for your comments




ƒoυr



The glass ceiling of Sync Night Club deflected the blue lights of the frosted lit floors. Asymmetrical tables were strewn around the dance floor. Loud trance music leaked out of the vibrating speakers.

“Ya, Ko Eun let’s dance.”

“No, nope, no thanks. Dance by yourself.” Ko Eun mumbled while biting onto the rim of the glass that only held a thoroughly bitten straw and liquefied ice chunks.

“Chi, Fine, let’s play a drinking game then.”

A tall, pretty to a point of fruitiness, guy tapped Sol Ae’s shoulder before Ko Eun could refuse Sol Ae again. “Dance with me.” He mouthed to her over the noise. He offered his hand, which shockingly to Ko Eun, Sol Ae gladly accepted.


Wow. Maybe she’s over him now.


Sitting alone at their table, Song Ko Eun felt even more self conscious than she already did dressed as she was. How pathetic she must’ve looked all alone.


I shouldn’t have come.


Taking in the remaining half shot of lemon soju and grimaced because of the fiery bite of alcohol she wasn’t tolerable of, she turned and placed her head down on the cool granite table.

From the soft blue lights all over the club, his alabaster skin glowed hauntingly. Although half his face was covered by some clingy girl’s groping hands trying to grab his attention. Kim Jae Joong was looking with slight curiosity in her direction.


Can he see me? Is he looking at me? Look away, stop looking, just look away.


Abruptly looking in the opposite direction, she was too smitten to realize that looked even more suspicious than being caught staring at him.

Kim Jae Joong gently pushed the girl off him; his dongseng cousin had just gotten dumped. She asked him to go drinking and she was already knocked out after a shot of imported tequila.


Some guys these days are such aѕses, how ironic of you to think that Jae Joong.”


Messing up his virgin black hair in exasperation, he got up after readjusting his cousin into a more comfortable position.


Damn it, I need to go to the bathroom, but I can’t leave her here alone.


That’s when he saw a familiar backside, looking surreal since her usual attire of a neatly pressed school uniform was swapped for an unsuiting low backed shirt. Glancing back at his cousin, he approached the table Ko Eun was sitting at with her cheek still lying on the cold table.


“Song Ko Eun?”


I must be dreaming, I hear his voice, his voice is calling my name.


Turning her head to face the direction she was avoiding, she almost fell off her chair because his face was an inch away. He had to speak into her ear or else she wouldn’t have heard him. She almost fell off her chair, but she didn’t because he was holding onto her.


“Come with me.”


It was an elegant demand, come with him? All the blood in her body raced into her face, since he was now holding her hand. She could feel the sweat forming from the friction. Could he feel the embarrassing throbbing of her fingers, they were numb to her, but she knew they were definitely doing something weird out of her control.


Does he want to dance with me?


Trying to read his blank expression from the back of his head, she realized he had pulled her back to his table. The girl that was with him before was still there, only now she was asleep.


Since she’s asleep am I your new toy? Freak, I like you, but I’m not that desperate.


Ko Eun knew she was in denial; she wanted him even if she was just a temporary substitute for his attention. Lying to herself just gave her a false sense of dignity. She always knew he would never look at her that way. She always knew she wasn’t pretty enough, that she wasn’t smart enough, and she just wasn’t enough for Kim Jae Joong. Subconsciously though, she wished he’d see her the way she did him.

During the time Ko Eun was having a mental war inside her head, Jae Joong has suavely slipped away to the bathroom, or wherever he went because he didn’t come back.




fινє



Cheeky boyishness, a lady killer. The stereotypical polygamist in movies.


The type most girls couldn’t walk by without doing a double take. Especially in Korea, where they praised the beautiful because it’s so uncommon in majority of the population. I love there superficiality and materialisticness.

Natural, direct, blatant in your face beauty.


Girls just loved the troubled guys didn’t they?


Hard to believe, but Kim Jae Joong’s never had a girlfriend before. He’s been girls’ boyfriend’s, just none in which he considered his girlfriend.


I’m just a horny kid with an insatiable need for physical female companion. They can call me whatever they want, if I get what I want.


Some girls just bore him, in an egotistical sense; most girls at his age were easy. They too were curious, but ashamed to admit their overzealous yearning to open their legs and be flat on their backs.

The bodily sensations took his mind off of the mental wars he was an avid soldier in without intoxicating himself with addictive chemicals to drain the power to feel. He didn’t really care who he hurt as long as he’d stop hurting even if it was temporary. It was selfish, but it was human nature to put yourself first, in particular when you had no one else to put before you.


_________________________________________


“My favourite part was the three hour wait just to get into the emergency room.” The eldest of the three said filling his shot glass.

“I liked the part where I get to wear this sexy cast for about a month, Thanks Jinnie, nuna owes you one.” Siblings were teasing the youngest with an affectionate kind of sarcasm inside an outdoor snack stall.

“Sorry nuna.” Tae Jin was geekily smiling because of all the free alcohol in front of him. “It’s not my fault I panicked. How was I to know you weren’t some rapist serial killer after me?”

“Oh boy, my Jinnie thinks he’s so pretty that everyone wants a piece of him huh?”

“Shut up hyung.”


_________________________________________


“Will you quit smoking?”

“No.”

“Will you quit smoking for me?”

“No.”

“Who would you quit smoking for then?”

“Nobody.”

“Why can’t you just stop smoking?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

Leaning on the back of internet café’s desk chair, Min Jae squeezed the junction of his sinuses in frustration.

“Why are you leaning on your chair like that, why don’t you sit down in it.” Not even turning her head away from the computer game she was playing, Tae Seul had a cigarette clamped between her lips.

“You’re not even supposed to smoke in here! There are signs everywhere, are you blind.”

“The owner let’s me, he thinks I’m pretty.”

“Just stop smoking already!”

“No.”

Min Jae pulled his chair out of the way, and sat on the floor cross legged like a kindergartener.

“What are you doing the floor’s dirty.”

“Nuna~”

“What.”

“Nuna~”

“What Min Jae?”

“Nuna~”

Finally turning to look at him, he immediately leaned up and grabbed the cigarette from her mouth and clasped it out in his hand.

“Why’d you do that? Doesn’t that hurt?” Tae Seul asked maternally inspecting the red burn on his hand.

“Of course it hurts, but I’ll do that to every cigarette you smoke until you quit.”

“Don’t be stupid Min Jae.”

“I’m not stupid.”

“Yes you are.”

“No I’m not. Look you lost your game hoho.”

Looking at the screen, she really did lose her game.

“Min Jae ya! I bet real money on this game!”

“Who told you to smoke!”

“Who told you to tell me not to smoke!”

“Who told you to tell me not to tell you not to smoke?!”

At this point the people in the internet café were looking up at the fighting couple, but neither of them noticed, that’s how it always was. When they were together they didn’t notice anyone else.

“Who told you to tell me not to… dammit why’d you do that?!”

“Cuz I want you to kiss me.”

“What?”

“I said I want you to kiss me!””

“Fine!”


Frozen in the position crossing days off the calendar, a habit she started after they broke up. She had stood there blindly staring at the circled date of when her cast would be removed, Tae Seul had zoned out because she couldn’t help but think of their first kiss together.


That was a seventeen months ago as of today.

LOL. D I R T Y!


I'll read this later. My sis is going to use the comp soon. -_____-;;

^ hehe i wanted a racy title <3
not a very eventful chapter...
but seven is coming up and one of the connections will be made =)
also jj's part shows you wear tae seul's settings are in relativity to his and ko eun's
thanks for being patient and posting.




ѕוx



Inside his own karaoke room with the lights dimmed, solitary Kim Jae Joong was sulking again.


Alone.

Again.


How long did it last this time? I think it was almost a month. She was pretty too, but the bonding that comes with Christmas is really too committal for me.


The room was vacant of activity, none of the available electronic toys were on. Jae Joong wasn’t interested in any of them, he was here because he was stalling. He didn’t want to go home yet.


I want someone to spend Christmas with, but not someone who wants more than Christmas.


Checking his watch he realized he had to call his aunt and tell her some excuse of why he wasn’t at home yet when she specifically asked him to be.


_________________________________________


Having a pillow fight with her younger brother, with a cast on her right wrist in a sling, Tae Jin and Tae Seul were jumping on the bed laughing like a couple of four year olds when both were in fact at least four and five times that age.

Panting for air from exhaustion both of them jumped and lay back on the bed. Tae Jin covered his face with the pillow. Without taking the fluffy white pillow away he said, “How long are you staying this time?”

Not answering immediately Tae Seul wasn’t so eager to come back to reality after feeling like a kid again. The nostalgia was slightly suffocating.

Noticing his sister wasn’t answering he turned his head still under the pillow and saw she had done the same, covered her head with her pillow. Reaching out to his other side he grabbed another pillow and heaved it onto the one on her head.

“Hey… nuna?”

Feeling something wrong because normally she would’ve retaliated automatically or at least moved out of the way, Tae Jin moved the pillows away from her face.

Flushed and teary Tae Seul turned her head away.


“Jinnie ya, he’s getting married.”


_________________________________________


Jae Joong sat on the steps outside his house in the dark after take his prolonged walk home from the karaoke place. The lively bustling on the inside the lit house made him sick. Normally he’d be smoking, but a recent surge of self disgust made him do otherwise.


I gotta quit smoking for good.


Sitting with his legs bent acutely and his arms rested on top of his knees, he fidgeted to resist the cravings of nicotine. Looking around his new neighbourhood, he watched a familiar looking girl come out of the house directly across the street.. Her purple cast arm was in a sling. She was wearing clear acetate glasses clad in men’s sweats with her hair loosely tied away from her face.


That face. I’ve seen her before, but where have I seen her before?


Watching her struggle with one arm to lug her stuff out of her car, it looked like she was moving or traveling because of the luggage. Something about her endeavor of was oddly alluring.


“Jae Joong what are you doing outside, come inside your dad wants to see you.”

The now opened front door, he listlessly stared at his aunt’s warm face with his little cousin’s peeking out the door at him.

Turning back around as if he didn’t hear her, the girl he was watching had already left.

“Jae Joong? Your dad came from Japan today, he asked me why you weren’t at the airport to pick him up, hurry come inside before he gets angry.”

Walking into the house he took off his shoes and put them in the closet and without looking into the bright living room that was occupied by his father and uncle who looked at him expectantly, he ignored them and walked downstairs to his room.

Inside his room, he pulled off his shirt, and lay flat on his naked back on the bed.

Glancing at the door as it opened, he sighed and closed his eyes.

“Everything’s settled down now, all your stuff from Paris has been moved over. Your own apartment will be ready next week, are you sure you don’t want to stay and live with your aunt.”

Rolling over and facing the wall, he at last gave a reaction to his dad after an uncomfortable silence, “Yes, I’m sure.”

“I don’t mind your choice of taking a month off school after moving back, but your aunt registered you for a school last week and you should start attending. I spoke with the principal and he suggested tomorrow would be a good day to start. Your aunt is busy tomorrow, but she’s done all the documentation you just have to drop by the office in the morning.”

“Why does the way you talk sound like you’ve always been here? Don’t worry, if I could live alone in France without any family, I’m sure living here doesn’t make much of a difference.”

“Son, I’m sor—“

“I don’t want to hear it. Can you please leave, I’m tired.”

“I have to fly over to New York the day after tomorrow anyway, I wanted to come to check up on you and make sure you were okay before I left. I’ll come visit again when I can. Call me if you need anything else.”


I didn’t mean it for you to leave Seoul, or Korea. I just meant it for you to leave my room.






do you guys like the style of the story?
like the active scene transitions...
and changing from person to person

Yay! you post fast hehe aww they sound soo cute hehe he actually
squished it with his handd aww ouch haha =D

Damn. Alright. Beforehand, I must say that I absolutely greatly despise DBSG. [ no offense ]. I've never even clicked on a DBSG fanfiction thread cuz you know... I don't like them. BUT. After reading this fanfiction. I mean like... actually reading without knowing Princess Jaejoong was in it, I must say that you have got me hooked.

At first I got really confused with the person to person transition and I was like.. who the hell are these people, but as I read on, I memorized the name and GENDER [ I have trouble knowing which names are guys and girls. THANK GOODNESS you use pronouns. ] I really like TaeSeul. She's my favorite character so far. Ko Eun? Is that her name? [ goes to check, YES IT IS! ] I find her a tad annoying cuz she seems to head over heels for Mr. Jaejoong.

Post soon! WOOT. I read a lot today. LOL


EDIT.
OH AND THANK YOU FOR WRITING IN DECENT ENGLISH GRAMMAR. It's so hard to find fanfics like this today. <3

^lol yay for good english?

oh and you should do what i do when i read fics with a character im not so fond of.. i copy everything in word and replace names hahah T___T

^ LOL. Nah. It would be changing your writing. LOL. Yah. People write in fobby language with smilies and all of that crap. I despise it when people write like that. So yeah. YAY for good english!

You've created quite an interesting story, I look forward to more of it =)

Aww he squished his hand with it x] , well I look forward to reading more do post more soon :]

thanks for the comments I appreciate them
lol.



sэvєn



The dimmed purple glow of winter colours highlighted the hall, the Dior couture after party was full of fashionistas, business socialites, celebrities, designers and the models all statuesquely wrapped in a world of bubbly champagne and pretentious smiles.

Shim Tae Seul still had her stage make-up on, her hair waxed back from the wig she wore. Sipping the carbonated alcohol down her fine throat that was still covered in shimmering glitter and dazzling sequins from the night’s show, she looked around the hall full of acquaintances.

Moving towards the refreshments table, she bumped into someone’s back. Turning around to apologise as an act of manners and etiquette rather than actual sincerity, she glimpsed at the off-black pinstripe Armani suit before the young man turned around.

“I’m so sor—ry…”

Lost was the expression she couldn't muster, but she felt the feeling swell inside her.


“Tae Seul.”

“Uh… Hi … Min Jae.”


Looking at her feet in cream silk ballet flats, she felt a bunch of different feelings storm inside her at once; surprise, fear, anger, hope, longing and loneliness.


“You looked good up there tonight.”

“Heh. Thanks.”


It was awkward, so painstakingly awkward. Couldn't he just leave her alone?


“You haven’t changed.”

“Did you want me to change?”

“Tae Seul let’s not be like this.”


Probably out of the shock and spontaneity of seeing Min Jae suddenly after such a long time she felt like she was going to break down. How was she to act? Trying to keep her raging emotions under covers, she felt like if she acted out she’d be melodramatic, but still she had to ask him.


“Why did you come back? I thought you said you were immigrating to Canada. Like this? Like what Min Jae? You think this is easy for me? I left you for a reason you know.”

“Yes the reason Tae Seul. You never did tell me it.”


His unruffled demeanour was pissing her off, how could he be so tranquil and collected, his constant blank expression wasn’t cold, yet it wasn’t warm either.

Before she could answer, a girl came up from the side and linked her bare arm into the nook of Min Jae’s elbow.

The girl was dressed in a white summer dress with a white calla lily in her smooth hair, she looked at Min Jae expectantly and he smiled at her.


“Tae Seul this is my fiancée Song Hye In.”


Hye In smiled in response and turned to Tae Seul, her smile was so genuine, so pure and innocent it was child like. She was so calm, so secure, so unlike Tae Seul who was unstable.

Feeling out of place she wanted to leave them, but she couldn’t make herself just leave. It wasn’t so much out of jealousy, it was more loathing that they were so okay and she wasn't. Tae Seul wanted to fυck up their relationship and she wanted to fυck it up good.


She smiled patronizingly at this Hye In, and took a step forwards like she was going to walk away, but she did it in a way so that Min Jae would have had to move for her to pass. Before he could shift out of the way she held his wrist over his shirt cuff. Tae Seul’s body was grazing his in a suggestive way since one of her legs was now between his. Angling her head to ensure Hye In couldn’t hear, but could see. Tae Seul licked the edge of his ear and whispered, “My number’s still the same.”


The memory two weeks old was still fresh in her mind, the images flickered and lingered. She was sitting on boxes of her stuff she packed over from her mom’s place. Her younger brother Tae Jin had helped her move it into her apartment since he busted her wrist. Tae Seul’s apartment was very unadorned, and there were boxes still unpacked from when she moved in months ago. Her mind was wandering.

Then she thought about the guy who lived in the house across her mom’s, his aunt was one of her mom’s close friends and coincidentally now lived across the hall from her. She saw him in the elevator from time to time. He was a student living alone.


Ha. A student. What lies.


I wonder if he recognizes me as the girl who threw money at him for a motel.


Hehe.


Her mind was doing it on purpose, thinking of other things rather than Min Jae. Tae Seul knew she had to occupy herself before she started thinking about him again. Since she was on still on her break, she hadn’t told her manager she had come back from the suburban areas, but it wouldn’t be long before he found out and put her to work again.

Deciding on unpacking all the boxes since she had time and she needed to busy herself. Tae Seul started unloading everything.


_________________________________________


Getting ready, Min Jae was finally coming out of his dressing room. It took him twenty minutes to come out still only dressed in an unbuttoned dress shirt, boxers, and a pair of slacks hanging off his arm. His fiancée Song Hye In didn't complain, she sitting patiently on his bed credits to his parents.

“Why don’t you go down first, I’m going to be another ten minutes.” Min Jae told her before he went into the bathroom. It wasn’t unaffectionate in the way he said it, but she expected more from him. They were, in fact engaged.


_________________________________________


Sprawled on her bed, tired and sore from the unpacking she finally finished after three hours. Tae Seul was forcing herself into a false sense of boredom, she started frowning because it was so hard to stop thinking.

“Why don’t you have an off switch dammit?”

Indignantly complaining about her brain inability to shut down, she flipped onto her stomach and just screamed into her pillow. Finally turning her head to breathe, she was slightly sweating from the lack of air. Reaching blindly in front of her she turned on her sound system.

The volume made her ears hurt and she liked it that way.


_________________________________________


In a state of aggravation Min Jae was propped on the sink absentmindedly staring at the French porcelain drain. Gently clamped in his hand was his phone.

The screen read, “Tae Seul Home, Call?”

Dryly swallowing, he pushed the "Yes" button.

The screen now read, “Calling Tae Seul Home…”

Slowly pulling the phone to his ear, he stopped breathing. Not out of anticipation, but rather he didn’t want her to hear him, and because all he wanted to hear was her.

It took six rings and when the phone finally picked up, it answered in silence.

Almost out of worry Min Jae panicked and whispered more to himself than Tae Seul, “Don’t hang up.” Squinting like he was in physical pain he continued, “Please.”

Even though she had come onto him that night, he knew she was doing that because Hye In was there. He knew her too well to fall for it.

She didn’t say anything, the music was paused and the blinking numbers were encouraging her to hang up. But she knew she didn’t want to hang up.


Tae Seul turned her faced into her pillow and manually suffocated herself.


Sliding down the wall he was leaning on, Min Jae was holding his breath.


It continued for a short six seconds, but the tension building between them and the lack of air made both their lungs hurt and time go slower

Even without looking at the caller identification on her phone, she knew who it was. She had told him to call her. She couldn’t make herself hang up.


“I want to see you.”

Trying to get herself to hang up, she settled for not listening to him by turning her music on again.

“I need to see you.”


She didn’t want to answer him, knowing if she did, she’d give in.

“Please.”

Tae Seul knew she couldn’t fight it if she said anything.

“Let me see you.”

Conflicted from the song drowning his voice she reached up and pushed the power button.


It was silent. Silence except laboured breathing from both ends. Communication was present, it just couldn’t be heard.

Four minutes. Neither wanted to break the spell of silence, the sickening mutual need to see each other was tempting both of them.

However reality was a truth that hung up phone calls no matter how important.

“We can’t and you know it. Why did you come back into my life?”

Tae Seul waited a few seconds expecting a response before she finally hung up.


She felt bittersweet, he actually called her.

eוgнт


She didn’t know if he was home or not. Tae Seul didn’t think of it at the time.

She just knocked on his door impatiently, tapping her foot and looking down the hall. Feeling fidgety and edgy, she sat on the ground in the middle of the hallway between both of their apartments.


Why isn’t he opening the door?


It took him over three minutes to get to the door.


When he opened the door he was in a towel, his hair was in fine ropes dripping with droplets of water. Jae Joong watched her stand up from her sitting position and stare back at him with a look of doubt. He read her expression like she had just changed her mind.

He smiled, “Hi.”

“Hi.” Tae Seul looked him up and down, other than liking what she saw she noted to herself he had very little body hair.

“I’m Tae Seul, I live across the hall.”

“I know, Kim Jae Joong.”

“Heh. Did I interrupt you? Are you busy?”

“No, it’s nothing important. Come in.”

Looking around his place, she observed his neatness. He was very clean, the apartment was very modern, like something out of a magazine. Jae Joong’s apartment was one floor and studio-like without doors except the one for the bathroom

“Your place is nice.”

The customary awkwardness of strangers was encouraging her to start small talk. She was starting to regret coming over.

“Have a seat.” Jae Joong told her from the closet where he changed into a pair of orange with green cartoon fish boxers.

That’s when she saw someone moving on the bed.

“Do you want something to drink?”

“No, it’s okay.”

The person on the bed sleepily sat up, she was naked and pretty. When she saw Tae Seul looking at her she grabbed the silky navy duvet and covered herself.

Jae Joong sat beside Tae Seul in the bar chairs surrounding the kitchen island. Noticing that she was focusing on something, he followed her gaze.

Standing up he spoke in a nonchalant voice, “Let’s break up. Get dressed, you can leave now.”

It was so blunt and abrupt, the girl was stunned At last she understood his words, all the warnings she was given about smacked her upside her head and started crying and wailing out inaudible expletives at Jae Joong.

Guiding her out of his apartment the girl ended with, “You’ll regret this Kim Jae Joong.”

Closing the door behind her, Jae Joong looked at Tae Seul apologetically.

“Sorry about that.”

“That’s a different girl that from the one I saw you with in the alley isn’t it.”

“Yea.”

“I shouldn’t have come. Nice meeting you Jae Joong.”

“Why?”

“What? Oh, well I came here because I felt like shוt since I just found out my ex-boyfriend is getting married, but I think you might make me feel worse.”

“Heh. Who is she?”

“Who’s who?”

“Your ex’s wife-to-be.”

“Oh, um…” She nervously chuckled, he was so outrageous yet he was so easy to talk to, she found herself volunteering information with ease. “Something Hye.. I don’t really know. Very pure, very cute, very virgin.”

“Haha want me to seduce her? I’m very good at that.”

“That’s not hard to believe.”

“I can’t help it. I’m sexy.”

His aura on confidence, it was very entrancing. His arrogance wasn’t repulsive, it was entertaining and attractive.

“Are you sure you don’t want anything to drink? Eat?”

“Actually there’s something I want…”

Looking at him, she didn’t want to say it, but he still got it.

“Oh…”

“Just not on the bed.”

He laughed at her.

“You haven’t done it anywhere else in here right.”

“Nope, just the bed.”

“So…”

Stepping closer he felt the pale skin of her cheek, leaning in to kiss her, His eyes weren’t probing, they were very gentle and sweet. Tae Seul’s hand shot up and intercepted his kiss. He ended up kissing the juncture between her fingers and palm.

She laughed at his look, “No kissing.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve read enough romance books to believe kisses lead to emotional attachment.”

“Okay, how about we stop talking for now, and if you don’t want me to do certain things make an “x” with your fingers like this.”

Nodding at his kiddishness when he showed her an example of what he meant, she ran her fingers down his defined stomach.


_________________________________________


Walking into the kitchen with only Jae Joong’s funny boxers on Tae Seul poured herself a glass of water.

Jae Joong snuck up behind her and propped his chin on her shoulder and opened his mouth wanting a drink too.

Laughing at his oddly charming gesture, she fed him water and when he swallowed the moving of his adam’s apple on her neck tickled her. From the jostling, water spilled down her naked upper body.

Turning to face him she said randomly, “I just noticed, did you know my hair is shorter than yours.”

He didn’t know what she was trying to say, he just laughed at her randomness. Normally he hated it when anyone said anything about his appearance. Especially when it came to the length of his hair.

“Why’d you cut it. The last time I saw you it was still long.”

“I felt like change, I wanted to look different.”

Smelling her he spoke into her soft skin, ‘I’m going to shower.”

“Again? Do you always shower after?”

“Guess I do.”


_________________________________________


Tae Seul slipped out of the apartment softly closing the door. Leaning her head on the door rubbed out her eyes. In her other hand she loosely held her bra and underwear.

Subconsciously looking both ways down the hallway, she walked across the hall, slid the keypad guard up and typed in the code to her apartment.

Walking into the semi-two level apartment she placed her things on the low glass coffee table. Sitting cross legged on the tawny hard wood floors with her casted arm on the glass she drooped her head down on top of it.

Thinking back of the liaison she just had last night, she mildly smiled.


_________________________________________


Getting out of the shower, Jae Joong knew she had left. They always leave, or if they didn’t they’d throw a hissy fit. He liked the ones that left.

Normally they would try to be sexy or demure by leaving a come hither note of “call me” on the steamed mirror glass or on a slip of paper with a tacky lipstick mark.

This one though didn’t, she just left. Jae Joong found Tae Seul refreshing, but someone new always felt refreshing. Then again she was also somehow different; she was the only one he ever did with a cast on.


_________________________________________


The phone rang; the melodious ring tone disrupted the soothing sound of home. Tae Seul left it unanswered, it was her manager.

Pushing the button on the side to lower the volume she thought about the phone call she received yesterday.

She hadn’t expected Min Jae to call her, but he did and that somehow changed everything.

i shall come back and edit this later, i have school

ooo lala he sounds soo cute =D and hot haha post sooon

niиe



“Kim Jae Joong, go to school, or else come back to New York with me. It’s been two and a half months since you’ve moved back. The last time I was here I told you to start going back to school, it’s been more than a month and what have you been doing? Don’t think just because I’m not around you can screw around every day. ”

Jae Joong answered in silence, he ignored the chiding of his own father.

“Do you think this is how your umma would want you to act?”

A cheap shot, he knew that would get to Jae Joong and make him break out of his silent treatment.

“How would you know? You were never around, how would you know what she wants?”

“Brilliant come back, even if I can’t vouch for what she wants, it’s a parent’s ideal for their child to go to school. You don’t even have to do anything when you go to class, I’ve already had it arranged. Just show up to class, it’s that simple.”

“Are you uncomfortable talking about her? Do you feel guilty? Is that why you are trying to be a good father to me now? Because this is a very pathetic attempt considering you can’t even live in the same country as your own son. I bet you feel obligated to her, you feel that you owe her don’t you. Well you know what, you owe her far beyond what you could ever repay.”

“This is why I rarely visit.”

“This is why you should never visit. If you loathe it so much, don’t even bother, no one’s making you.”

Regretting his choice of housing without a bedroom door to slam, Jae Joong locked himself in the vast bathroom instead. Sitting on the glossy granite tiles instead of the chair, Jae Joong gazed at the ceiling with his eyes closed and he leaned his head back against the wall. He was waiting for the sound of his father’s departure.


_________________________________________


Walking in through the school gates, the prefects in charge of checking uniforms looked at him reproachfully. His appearance stirred whispers in the crowds, there was a new student.

The leader of the prefects sucked up courage and stopped him, “You hair has passed the school policies by a full inch. It is inappropriate school attire, the school policy states hair length can not exceed the nape of the neck for males. You have a warning for today, please cut it for tomorrow.”

Jae Joong looked at him, they were about the same height, but not the same build. He vaguely pulled a face when he saw that the prefect was intimidated by him. At that point a teacher came over and whispered into the leader of prefect’s ear.

Nodding the prefect let go of Jae Joong and went back to the gate.

“You are the new student Kim Jae Joong I see,” readjusting Jae Joong’s crooked name tag pinned on the black v-neck sweater of the school uniform, “please don’t do this again.”

Jae Joong didn’t like being exempt from these type of things, he knew it was because of his father’s “arrangements”.

He had thought about it all night, a part of him wanted to spite his father even more and drop out of school entirely. However Jae Joong couldn’t help but be influenced by what his father said, so he reluctantly decided to go to school. After stepping into his classroom everyone paused a moment for recognition, subsequently the whispering started again.

Girls were giggling, boys were grumbling.

And then Jae Joong, he was sleeping.


_________________________________________


“Excuse me you’re in my seat.”

Jae Joong’s had his face buried in his arms, he groaned when someone hit his shoulder with a book bag.

“You’re in my seat.”

“Huh?”

Lethargically looking up, he cocked an eyebrow at the girl. Frowning at the two girls who interrupted his nap, he then turned his head in the other direction and went back to sleep.

Scoffing in annoyance the girl whacked him again with her book bag.

“Oh my god, today is such a crappy day. Ya! This is my seat. Who is this rainbow face.”

“Ey Sol Ae calm down.”

“Shut up Ko Eun he’s in our seats.”

“I’ll ask the teacher okay? Stop hitting him.”

Coughing for attention, the principal stood at the door. All the students shuffled and stood behind any desk after they realized he was watching them.

“Good Morning principal.” Bowing ninety degrees, the principal nodded in acknowledgement.

“Please take your seats students, your class has a new student. Let us welcome him with warm welcomes. Is he here yet? Oh there you are, student Kim Jae Joong may you please stand up and say a few words.”

Every one turned to the back of the class where the principal was looking, Kim Jae Joong was sitting with his head still in his arms.

Clearing his throat again, the principal repeated, “Student Kim Jae Joong.”

Every one was quiet, and watching him expectantly. Jae Joong took his time stretching his arms and standing up. Supporting himself with a hand on the desk, he looked up at the principal and squinted him into focus. His expression was groggy and he started faintly pouting for being woken up.

The girls smiled at him, the boys jeered, they knew their principal, the student was going to get punished.

Scratching the back of his neck he yawned out, “Who hit me?”

The three note bell rang signalling the start of class. The principle acted if he hadn’t heard Jae Joong and nodded knowingly again.

“Work hard students.” Then the principal left.


_________________________________________


“God what an assface. I bet it’s just cuz his dad is rich or something, I bet he paid off the principal, man my poor Ko Eun. You have to sit practically beside him other than the isle. That guy is so moody, he’s got more raging hormones than a girl with chronic PMS.”

Ko Eun as usual was zoning out, this time in an infatuated daze.


He smells so nice. Like baby soap.


Smiling to herself like she was on crack, she listened as her friend Sol Ae started again.

“I don’t understand why everyone’s talking about him just cuz he’s new to our school. What’s so great about him? So? He’s super good looking, that doesn’t mean he isn’t an assface.”

Ko Eun was still out of it.

“Chi are you even listening?”

“Don’t you find it ironic you’re complaining about him, complaining is still talking.”

“Well whatever. Just I don’t get what’s the big deal about him. All the girls are sneaking in make up to cake on their faces, skirts being shortened, mindless giggles and sugar coated voices, and just what the hell.”

Getting annoyed of Ko Eun unresponsiveness, Sol Ae waved her hand in front of Ko Eun’s face.

“You know what I heard? That his parents don’t even want to live with him because of his antics and what’s worse is his reputation with girls. I hear he’s sexually active already, he’s a gosh darn school kid for goodness sakes, and if you don’t give it to him he dumps you.”

Holding her smiling face, Ko Eun was blushing for no reason, feeling the need to defend him she quipped. “What did he ever do to you?”

“What?! He doesn’t need to have done anything to me. Just I’m angry for the—our whole gender, the entire female population. We don’t need a jerk wad like that going around and screwing up the lives of our fellow females.”

“Okay… I think you’re just not in a good mood.”

“God his presence just pisses me off.”

two days til i get my own net back B)



тen



Holding a distorted body yoga position, Tae Seul focused her eyes into the distance. The floor to ceiling windows filtered in pools of dimmed light.

Relaxing and breathing deeply her breath patterns were gradually returning to normal, Tae Seul stretched her neck to side to side. Turning away from her window she faced her coffee table. On it was a clear glass of water and a white gold and black leather male watch.

Ever since she was a little kid, Tae Seul was a bit of an unintentional kleptomaniac. It wasn’t that she did it on purpose, she did it naturally and it got her in trouble.

A week and a half ago some time during their tryst she accidentally took Jae Joong’s watch, she hadn’t even noticed that she took it until yesterday.


I should return it to him.


Picking up the watch she stayed on a floor cushion, she inspected the dials that symbolised the date and temperature other than just the time. The “B V L G A R I” logo was engraved into the sleek ridged black base.

Very stylish.

Downing her glass of water she stretched her arms and rolled up her yoga mat and looked at the mail pile she just took in separating them into two piles.

A fluorescent yellow post it note was stuck on top of an envelope, on it was scribbled in tidy hangul, “Meet me, I have something to say. I’ll be waiting in the lobby downstairs at 9.”

Recognizing his writing she crumpled it, took a deep breath, flattened it out and re-read it; looking at the clock it was 8:26.


_________________________________________


“Hi.”

There was a crying girl screaming on her mobile phone in the lobby, she added more tension to the already awkward atmostphere. Min Jae pointed outside and Tae Seul followed.

“You haven’t changed”

Hugging herself from the cool of night, Tae Seul replied, “You said that last time,” sighing to calm herself, “what did you want to say to me.”

“It’s almost been a year, hasn’t it?” Min Jae looked down the street blindly staring at a car driving away, “But it doesn’t feel like it.” Pausing again to collect his thoughts, he put his hands inside his pockets. “Even though a lot of things have changed, at the same time it feels the same." He finally turned to look at her to see how she was responding, briefly her silence made him paranoid she wasn't even listening.

"I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I’ve thought about it a lot. I’ve thought about you a lot. And at first I thought that I’d be fine if I didn’t know because I thought it would just make me think about you even more. But I want to know—well I deserve to know, why… did we break up…”

Watching him speak to her, it felt surreal. Contradicting emotions made her numb and lost.


Is that all you came here to say? Is it that hard for you to move on? Can’t you let it go, if I couldn’t tell you then why would a year make a difference.


Desperate to change the topic she forced a smile at him, “You know what I loved most about you? The way you were when we were in a relationship. You’re a great boyfriend, but a mediocre friend.”

Perplexed by Tae Seul’s reaction, Min Jae stayed quiet thinking she had a point and waited for her to continue.

“And every time I thought about you I thought about the way you were with me, and how I wanted to be with you even more.” Taking out a cigarette he offered to light it for her which was surprising and different. Then he spoke.

“I came here because I wanted to know if you’d give us another chance.”


_________________________________________


“Thanks for coming Tae Seul. Please sit down and order anything you’d like.”

Smiling she sat down in the chair the waiter pulled out for her.

“What did you want to meet me for Uncle Han.” Fidgeting she touched the cloth napkin folded in front of her.

“It’s nothing to be worried about. Let’s wait until my wife comes back from the bathroom.”

Looking around at all the other customers eating in the fancy restaurant, Tae Seul felt agitated because of the meeting her boyfriend’s parent’s requested, without his attendance.

“Ah Tae Seul, thanks for coming on such short notice, Uncle and I are aware of how busy your schedule must be.”

Tae Seul couldn’t help but smile at the sincerity of Min Jae’s kindly mother.

“So what did you want to meet about?” The anxiety was eating at Tae Seul.

“Why don’t we order first.” The handsome Mr. Han handed a menu to Tae Seul and his wife.

It wasn’t a good omen; they were stalling, or at least evading the topic.

After they ordered, Mrs. Han whispered into her husband’s ear. He nodded and smiled uneasily in response.

Clearing his throat, Mr. Han held his wife’s hand. At any other time she would’ve admired their closeness.

“This is very hard to talk about, but we have to. So we’ll just come out with it.”

Swallowing, the wife spoke to continue, “It is unfair to ask of you, we know how cheesily cliché this sounds in our current time. We aren’t going to force you, the decision is entirely up to you, but please hear us out.”

Blood was pumping faster throughout her, Tae Seul’s hands got sweaty, the foreboding sense of apprehension was ominously coursing through her.

“Do you know the S6 Enterprises International? Well we’re business associates and our co-op project funding has been proposed to be discontinued because the majority of our board of investors at S6 are dissatisfied due to delayed progress. And the investment capital on this project is a sum that if not reimbursed from the completion of the project will result in our own company’s market value to be near bankrupt.”

“What does this have to do with me?”

“There’s a judge, his name is Mr. Song In Kun. He owns about 48% of the shares at S6. We have discussed this matter with him because we’ve been close acquaintances, and he has shared with us his interest in our son as a potential son-in-law. With him on our side, we have a highly probable chance of gaining majority votes. When he spoke to us we were offended of his bartering of our own son. But circumstances as they are, we were in no position to argue.”

“In simpler words, we wish that you would take our situation into consideration. Min Jae does know the girl, they grew up together, child hood friends. She’s a nice girl. If you do leave him it would be easier for him to be more susceptible to her. However it’s a risk that is up to you to take, because even if you do leave him, he might not want to be with her or her with him. Also though knowing my son he would feel obligated to do his part.”

“Additionally we understand that you and my son have been, participating in—uh more intimate levels of coupling. We are all right if you do continue to see him as a companion long as he is aware that your relationship can not be more than that.”

“I know it sounds conniving and manipulative, but if you love my son please leave him. You’re young and very beautiful, you’ll find someone new. It’s selfish we know. But for his future and the future of our company and thousands of employees that will lose their jobs if our company is to fall apart, please take this into consideration.”

Alternating between each other informing Tae Seul, they looked at her gawkily and expectantly.

“You don’t have to make your decision now. But we are short for time. We know how much Min Jae cares for you, and we also know how much you care for him. But we can only sympathize what you must feel and have to go through. For what it’s worth we are deeply sorry you have to go through this at our expense. Please don’t tell Min Jae about this, it will be better if he hears it from us.”


The memory was resonating like an echo in her head, but so vivid and real. It was so long ago, yet it felt so recent. Tae Seul felt like gravity was pulling at her harder than usual, to bring her down.

eləven


In front of her apartment Tae Seul continually ground her freshly lit cigarette into the sidewalk, after about a minute of traffic ambience she turned to face him.

Inspecting his face, she felt asphyxiated by the familiarity of it. He was wearing a khaki beanie, a racing jacket with excessive zippers over a hoodie. His style emanated an aura of the killer body she knew so well underneath.


Damn it, why’d you have to look so hot.


Staring at each other with empty expressions devoid of the feelings inside, Min Jae cleared his throat, breaking the tension. Tae Seul at last spoke out, “You’re joking right?”

“No.”

“What about your fiancé”

“Why are you bringing her up?”

“I can’t do this.”

“Just think about it.”

Walking across the street Min Jae got into his car and turned to face Tae Seul, rolling down his window, he was about to say something, but hesitated for a moment and then got out of his car. Jogging back to Tae Seul he took her freehand and placed a sleek black phone in it. Back in his car through the open window Min Jae added, “Don’t not answer it okay?” and then he drove away.


_________________________________________


Jae Joong was reading through a popular Japanese manga comic. The phone was casually held up by his shoulder to his ear.

There was a girl on the other end, she was crying and whining. If it wasn’t so entertaining for him, Jae Joong would’ve hung up.

The girl on the phone continued sniffling, she clearly didn’t make an effort to muffle them, and her cries were melodramatic and showy.

“Why don’t you come up instead and then we’ll talk.”

“Come downstairs!”

Flipping his phone shut, he continued browsing through the comic.

After a few minutes, he got up to go downstairs.

When the elevator doors opened to the lobby, he held the urge to laugh at the girl’s distressed state.

He had a box of tissues in his hand, when he was close enough he offered tissues to her.

“Is it worth wasting so much energy to cry about it?”

She blew her nose loud enough to make it obvious she didn’t care what Jae Joong thought of her.

Waiting for her to calm down Jae Joong looked around the familiar lobby. Outside the gate he saw Tae Seul turning around to walk in.

Tae Seul looked so preoccupied it was funny, then she idly tried to rub her eye with the arm she still had in a cast and the coarse fabric made her cringe, but she paid no heed. Pushing the button for the elevator, Tae Seul stared at the granite tiles.

“Here let’s go upstairs and talk.”

Joining Tae Seul, the other two stood a metre behind her. The traditional ding of the elevator signalled the arrival.

Walking in Jae Joong’s cousin was sniffling and wiping her nose with the fistful of tissue wontons. Jae Joong was still holding the box of tissues out for his cousin. Tae Seul continued to stare at the ground.

Jae Joong leaned forward and pushed the level, since neither of the girls beside him attempted to. Moving back between the two girls he bumped into Tae Seul. He turned to apologize, but she didn’t even notice him.

Reaching their floor they went into their respective apartments.


_________________________________________



“Ya isn’t she that model?” Washing her snot glazed hands and streaky mascara splotched face in the luminous bathroom, Jae Joong got up from the sofa and perched on the doorway to hear his cousin better.

“What?”

“The one who lives across the hall?”

“I dono.” Shrugging he took a fresh hand towel from out of his linen closet and handed it over to his dongseng.

“She’s really pretty don’t you think? And so tall for a Korean girl, bet she’s got mile long legs up to here.” Gesturing her hand passed her shoulder; Jae Joong had to laugh at his cousin’s ability to switch moods so quickly.

“Sure.”

“Psh why are you laughing, anyway the guy that met her was hella foxy too.”

“Weren’t you too busy crying to notice?” Using the rim of the box of tissues Jae Joong pushed the used tissues she had dumped on the bathroom counter into the waste basket.

“The guy waited in the lobby for her like an hour, he gave me his pack of tissues.”

Opening Jae Joong’s drawers she fiddled and snooped through his stuff, she opened the empty ornate box of an Italian watch.

“Hey where’s the watch I gave you?”

“Oh, that’s a good question…”

“What do you mean ‘Oh, that’s a good question’? Does it mean nothing to you?!”

“Umm so tell me again why you were crying?” Quickly changing the subject to avoid his dongseng cousin’s famous tantrums.

Her eyes dilated and glossed over, she started to sob, through broken breaths she squeaked, “That fυcker… told me… he… wasn’t… that… into me…”

Standing behind his cousin he looked at their reflection in the mirror, Jae Joong suggested, “Let’s go out for a drink.”

“What? We just came upstairs!”

“My treat, your pick too.”

“Okay! Let’s go that new place—Sync or something…”