Chapter 8

“Erm… Si Won,” Han Kyung mumbled again.

“What’s going on? Did you guys used to know each other or something?” Si Won asked.

I looked at Han Geng, and he looked back at me. Could we trust Si Won to keep the secret?

“It’s complicated,” I told Si Won.

“Try me,” he said, as he folded his arms at his chest.

“Yes, we knew each other. But I had no idea that she'd joined SM until I walked into the studio today,” Han Geng said in one go.

“So you guys used to date?’ Si Won asked. Han Geng and I just nodded.

“Are you gonna tell your manager?” I asked him.

“Of course not,” he smiled. “So are you guys back together now?”

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” I asked Si Won.

“Han Kyung has always seemed a little lonely. I can see why now. Turns out he was missing you all along,” he winked.

“Si Won, just tell them that I’ll be out in a moment. Make some excuse for me,” Han Geng said.

“No problem,” and he turned to leave.

“Si Won,” Han Geng called out just before he walked out.

“Wae?” he said as he turned around.

“Can you keep this to yourself for now?”

“Sure,” Si Won replied.

“Sierra and I still have some unfinished discussions. I’ll talk to the other guys once Sierra and I have resolved our problems.”

“Okay,” he said. “Bye Sierra,” he waved before walking out.

“Can we trust Si Won?” I asked Han Geng.

“He’s my closest friend. We can trust him.”

“You should go now, before anyone gets suspicious,” I said.

“I don’t feel like leaving.”

“You must,” I insisted.

“Where are you living? I’ll come see you tonight.”

I dug through my bag for a piece of paper and wrote down my address for him.

“Hmm… I’m not sure exactly where this is,” he laughed.

“It’s about half an hour from here,” I said.

“It’s alright. I’ll ask Si Won or one of the guys,” he said.

“Go now,” I urged him. “I don’t want you to get into trouble.”

“Alright,” he smiled. “I’ll see you tonight,” he said and he kissed my forehead.

“Kuai chu ba,” I said as I pushed him out of the studio.

“Sierra,” he popped his head in at the door just as I turned around to pick up my bag.

“Yes?”

“I love your new hairstyle,” he smiled.

“Really?” I smiled, as I touched my hair consciously.

“Yes,” he said. “I’ve always thought that you’d look hotter with short hair.”

“Thanks.”

“Bye…” he waved, and he disappeared.

When I walked out of the building, I realized that it was still early. I had almost half a day ahead of me. I walked back in and asked the receptionist for directions to the nearest supermarket near my place. After she’d drawn me a map with directions, I walked out and hailed a taxi. Starting from tomorrow, I should probably start using public transportation. I don’t think my salary can support daily taxi rides.

2 hours later, I struggled to open the door of my apartment while holding a few bags of groceries. I stumbled into my apartment with the bags and after dumping them on the kitchen floor, I walked over and collapsed onto my bed. Han Geng hadn’t said if he was coming for dinner. He’d probably have dinner before he came. I should probably stop calling him Han Geng since no one calls him that here.

I was eating my bowl of ramen when my doorbell buzzed. I peered into the peephole and saw that it was Han Kyung.

“Hi,” I smiled as I opened the door.

“Hi,” he smiled back.

“Erm… come in,” I said as I stepped aside so that he could walk in the door.

I couldn’t understand why I was feeling nervous. He was just here to talk, or do whatever. Why did it feel like the first time I saw him, the first time he kissed me, the first time he told me he loved me?

“Nice place,” he said as he looked around.

“Xie xie,” I smiled.

“You’re eating?” he asked as he spotted my bowl on ramen on the counter.

“Yea,” I said. “Sit anywhere,” I laughed nervously. “I’m just gonna finish up and I’ll join you.”

“Man man chi,” he said. “I’ll be fine.”

I ate as fast as I could, washed my bowl and went to sit beside him on the floor in front of my bed. He was sitting on one of the throw pillows on the floor with his back leaning against the foot of my bed.

“Guo lai,” he said as he motioned for me to sit closer.

As I inched over, he put his arm around me and pulled me so close that I was almost sitting on his lap.

“What are you doing?” I said, almost in a whisper.

“What I’ve always done,” he whispered back and he kissed me.

Sometime later, we lay on my bed; my head on his chest and he had one arm around me.

“How’s it gonna be from now on?” I asked him as my hand traced the motive printed on his t-shirt.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re just gonna be quiet about us? And you’re gonna keep coming to visit me like this?”

“I guess,” he sighed.

“I feel like somebody’s mistress,” I laughed.

“When the time is right, we don’t need to hide anymore,” he said.

“You mean when you retire?”

“I won’t wait that long. I plan to start a family within the next 10 years.”

“Good luck finding a wife,” I said.

“I’ve found her,” he said.

“Who?”

“You.”

“You want me to die?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your fans will murder me,” I said.

“No they won’t.”

“Wanna bet?”

“I’ll protect you,” he said.

“And when you’re not there?”

“You’re always gonna be beside me. We’re working together, aren’t we?”

“Hopefully… the industry is ever-changing. I might even be replaced tomorrow if I’m not good enough for SM.”

“You have a 2 year contract. They will keep you for 2 years.”

“And after 2 years?”

“They will decide if they want to extend it or not.”

“Probably not,” I smiled.

“Then you can change your job. You can be my PA or coordinator.”

“We’ll see… you’re asking someone who suffered 5 years in the academy to forget all her dance training and become a PA? You’re crazy.”

“You really love dancing, huh?”

“Sure I do. Otherwise, do you think I’d have survived at the academy?”

“Yea… it figures,” he said, as he played with my hair. “I still can’t get over seeing you after so long.”

“Same here,” I said.

“I missed you,” he said.

“Same here.”

“Is that all you can say?”

“What can I say?”

“Something nicer?”

“Like… ‘You’re so good looking now.’?”

“That could work,” he laughed.

“I didn’t know you were so egoistic,” I laughed.

“Only with you… your approval matters most to me,” he said.

“Why?”

“Ying wei wo ai ni,” he said, matter-of-factly.

I looked into his eyes, and my fingers came to brush his lips, lightly.

“Same here,” I smiled.

I was finally November; November 6th to be exact. We were backstage on the set of Inki Gayo. Tonight will be Super Junior’s debut performance. Sure they have debuted individually in dramas, movies and in Han Kyung’s case, on the runway, but this was their official debut performance as the 12 person band, Super Junior. The guys were a little nervous, most of them practicing their moves and stuff, up till the last minute of time they had before it was their turn to perform.

“Nervous?” I asked Han Kyung.

“Not really.”

“You’re so brave,” I teased.

“Cos you’re here,” he smiled.

“I don’t think me being here helps much,” I said.

“Well… the guys don’t think that way. They think that you’ve helped a lot while Bum Su hyung is not around.”

“Han Kyung!” Ee Teuk called out. It was time for them to get to the stage.

“Jia you,” I smiled as he turned to walk away.

“See you later,” he said and he gave me a little wave.

I watched from the side as they positioned themselves. The intro of TWINS (Knock Out) played, and they started to move. There was an air of superiority and greatness about them on that day, and they gave a smashing performance. From that day onwards, Super Junior became known to Korea, and their popularity just kept soaring.

Chinese Notes:

Kuai chu ba.
Go quickly.

Xie xie.
Thanks.

Man man chi.
Eat slowly. (Take your time to eat.)

Guo lai.
Come here.

Ying wei wo ai ni.
Because I love you.

Jia you.
Go get ‘em. (or equivalent to the Koreans’ p’ait’ing [파이팅])