Chapter 8 [Part 1]
Jessica sat on the carpet of SooYoung’s living room, hugging her knees. She replayed the scene when Siwon had broke the news to her about the girl being his girlfriend about fourty-three times in her head, sighing to herself as the other eight girls were situating themselves in a circle.
The day had been depressing for some of them. And it was Valentines Day.
SooYoung invited everyone over last minute and HyoYeon and TaeYeon left quickly for last minute supplies of food and other knick-knacks. Tiffany found it weird for the thirteen men to be hanging out together on Valentines Day. She realized anything could happen since it was raining miserably out.
“Turn off all the lights, I sense a storm coming and a blackout,” TaeYeon spoke in a hush tone. She unbuckled her messenger bag, placing a variety of candles in the circle. A pink candle was given to each girl.
“Why are you whispering?” Sunny questioned.
“Ssh,” TaeYeon told her, pointing to Jessica, who was in her own world.
I feel like a fool.. Jessica wrapped her favorite blanket around her knees. She tried hard not to remember what had happened after Siwon had said “my girlfriend” but it was too embarrassing to even forget.
”G..G..” Jessica spat out the first letter but didn’t continue.
She turned to SooYoung who didn’t want to look at her best friend’s face.
Siwon paused, so did Yeonhee, “Is something wrong, Jessica?”
Jessica swallowed, shaking her head. Her voice was tight, “N-no. I-I’m sorry.” She dashed for the washroom, Sunny calling after her.
“Jessica! JESSICA!”
Even though he smelled like crap, Donghae tried to look for Jessica, “Je-“
He stopped himself, before he got pie shoved in his face.
Despite the major mess at the caf� that day, TaeYeon discussed matters with Sungmin and they decided to leave a notice on the web site and continue to run the caf� normally. No more major events until things cooled down.
Everyone but Donghae and Jessica attended work. Donghae came in time to time for drinks or a snack but Jessica never went unless she had to pick up something in the office.
“Okay, let’s get started,” TaeYeon said eagerly as all the lights were turned off. Seohyun took out a match and began to light everyone’s candles.
“Why are we doing this in the dark?” SooYoung asked, bringing over tubs of chocolates, gummies, sweet nuts and other snacks`. The girls dug into them happily.
“Reducing your energy bill.”
“So we’re doing this ritual?” HyoYeon chewed on a gummy worm.
“We’re venting,” Yoona stated for her.
Tiffany put her hand to her chin, “this reminds me a lot of The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants.”
Sunny protested, “We’re in the middle of winter!”
“And we don’t share our jeans,” Yoona added, giggling. She unwrapped a chocolate kiss.
Yuri spoke for TaeYeon, “It’s been a rough week so we figured that we should just.. talk. Cry. Anything to clear our systems.”
“There’s going to be crying?” Seohyun spoked, worried. Tiffany smiled, putting her arm around the maknae. A brand tissue box was being opened by SooYoung.
Jessica’s eyes felt heavy. Stay awake. Stay awake. I need to vent.
“Can I speak first?” HyoYeon pulled her hair back.
“Yes, yes, yes, please do,” TaeYeon and Sunny nodded, eager to hear.
HyoYeon pointed to each of them, “Don’t. Speak. Don’t squeal, don’t spazz, don’t do a happy dance – just listen.”
Tiffany, Seohyun, TaeYeon and Yuri look intimidated. They just nodded their heads, not wanting to get on the dancing queen’s bad side. Sunny offered Jessica some swedish fish to snack on.
Won’t I be eating Donghae? Jessica shook her head at Sunny.
HyoYeon began, “Um..a week ago, my mom and I were in the kitchen cooking and then she starts talking randomly. ‘Oh, where’s Lee Hyukjae these days, HyoYeon? He’s such a nice boy. Are you two planning to go out anytime soon?’ She’s literally driving me crazy because she knows that we’re not into each other anymore.”
“Well, you’re not,” Tiffany said quietly. She let out a yelp after Yuri had poked her sides to shut up.
“What are you implying?” TaeYeon asked HyoYeon.
“I’m just.. annoyed. I gave him a face full of whipped cream the other day.”
Yuri made a face, “Why?! Because of something your mom said?”
HyoYeon sighed, “How would you feel if Kyuhyun and you didn’t love each other anymore and your mother haunts you with that question?”
Yuri narrowed her eyes, grabbing a handful of peanuts, “Well, that would never happen.”
TaeYeon clapped her hands and changed her tone of voice, “Now, now, children. We can comment later. Sunny, do you want to share anything?” She looked to the girl who was sitting on HyoYeon’s left.
Sunny blinked, not moving because of Jessica’s head on her shoulder, “What? Me?”
“No, the other girl in the room named Sunny,” TaeYeon chuckled at her lame attempt.
Sunny looked uncomfortably at everyone, catching a glimpse of their faces because of the small light provided by the candles. She breathed out, which caused Jessica to look up at her.
“I don’t have anything to rant about. But I do have something I want to confess,” Sunny stated.
Yoona let out a little gasp, “Unnie, what is it?”
“She looks like she’s going to be sick,” SooYoung commented.
Tiffany leaned over, “Sunny, is it that bad?”
“Guys, let her speak,” Jessica sounded serious. Everyone was a bit taken back since it was the first time she had talked in the past two hours.
Seohyun breathed, “Unnie you-”
“Okay, Sunny, speak,” Yuri tapped her knee.
Sunny closed her eyes tightly and spoke as she was told to, “I went skinny dipping.”
Tiffany let out a laugh of joy, “I knew you had a rebellious side!”
“Let’s all down a handful of gummy bears in celebration,” SooYoung announced, pushing the tub of candy around.
Sunny was still tense, but she just smiled. She reluctantly took the candy.
“Unnie, what’s wrong? Is there something else?” Yoona asked.
The bright girl laughed awkwardly, “Uh well.. I went skinny dipping .. with Yesung-“
“WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!”
“OH. EM. GEEEEE.”
Tiffany, HyoYeon and Yuri got up screaming. They were creaped out but insanely excited at the same time. TaeYeon, SooYoung and Yoona’s mouths hung open. Seohyun and Jessica just stared.
Jessica giggled as Sunny hid under the blanket. She rubbed her back, “Aw, Sunny. I won’t freak out on you.”
“When. Did. THIS. HAPPEN!?” Tiffany demanded an answer.
“Wait a second, there was a time when you two were,” TaeYeon paused to laugh, “in love?”
SooYoung pointed at her, “I think so!”
“Maybe we should leave this for another day,” Jessica said softly.
“No, no, no, Jess, we need to know now. This moment,” Tiffany almost got on her knees.
Jessica shoved Tiffany a few steps away, “Tiff, be quiet. Another day. Yoona, care to share something?”
Yoona nodded, still a bit stunned. She got up to sit on the couch for a little more leverage. She looked anxious but excited. “I’ve told my parents already so I’m going to tell you guys now.”
“Whoa, is it that important you’d tell your parents before us?” SooYoung questioned her friend, “Out with it!”
“Oh my god,” TaeYeon put her hands dramatically on Yoona’s stomach, “You got knocked up!?”
“UNNIE, NO!” Yoona’s expression changed drastically and she laughed, the other girls did as well.
She smiled, “I’m getting married.”
…
Seohyun covered her face, wanting to cry of happiness, “Yoona unnie..”
Yuri slapped her hand over her mouth. She was shaking, “Y-Y-Y-Y-You’re-”
“GETTING MARRIED!” Tiffany and HyoYeon hugged her tightly. The girl had to calm down. Sunny had pulled Tiffany away to get her turn with Yoona.
TaeYeon and SooYoung were tearing up. Jessica forced a smile. She was definitely happy for Yoona but it scared her deeply since she and Kibum were still so young. At the moment, Jessica felt cold and alone. She didn’t have that warm feeling she always had when she was with everyone.
“Kibum oppa better take care of you properly.”
“What the hell Tiffany, do you think she’s marrying a rapist or something?!” HyoYeon slapped the girl’s head.
“Don’t joke about stuff like that!”
-
-
Kibum had brought his good news to his large group of friends. They were overjoyed and started cheering like crazy baboons. The neighbors had knocked on their door to see if anything had happened.
“Pop the champagne, it’s time to celebrate for real,” Heechul let out a laugh, looking for wine glasses in Eunhyuk’s cabinets.
“I’ll make some real food now,” Eunhyuk wiped his hands, and pointed to the cabinet up top for Heechul.
Lee Donghae sat in the corner of the living room, staring at the wall that faced him. The week had been tiring because he had not done much. He really wanted to go back to work but he felt like he was such a threat to Jessica and the girls. He brainwashed himself to think that he could not compete with Choi Siwon.
You’re an average guy, he told himself.
It’s better to leave Jessica happy than annoyed, right? He nodded at his assumption. It irked him that his pants still smelled like chicken and that he had to throw out his shirt because of the disgusting smell it reeked.
He turned on his phone, finding a brand new text message from Tiffany.
“Why is she messaging me?”
Donghae.. Jess hasn’t been speaking for hours. Nevermind that, she hasn’t spoken all week. I’m starting to worry.
Donghae swallowed.
What do you want me to do about it?
He sat there and waited. Tiffany responded.
ANYTHIING!!!*&*&%$^%$HJDGSJHD&@#
“Donghae, you want to come and eat? Eunhyuk hyung made sandwiches with his sandwich press,” Ryeowook snapped him out of his serious text message conversation.
Donghae smiled back weakly, “Sure.” He shoved his phone into his back pocket. Tiffany, I’m not the guy for this. She’ll be fine. Why don’t you call Mr. Handsome?
Ryeowook continued on, the two making their way to the kitchen, “He said it changed his life!”
“Hey, it has!” Eunhyuk nodded in triumph, plugging the sandwich press in to warm it up.
Heechul patted Siwon’s back, “Hey, why don’t you marry off Yoona and Kibum? It’ll be freaking awesome. We’ll find an expensive church.”
Oooh…fantastic. Marriage talk. I’m older than the guy and he’s the one getting married before any of us. Donghae shook his head to get rid of all thoughts while pouring himself a glass of champagne.
Donghae’s phone vibrated. He downed the champagne, ignoring the message. Another glass wouldn’t hurt.
Siwon was not amused with Heechul’s suggestion, “Hyung, I’m Christian, not a priest.”
Chapter 8 Part 2
“Yeah.. my mom is starting to pack my stuff now. I think she wants me out before anything bad happens.”
Tiffany stared at her phone from under the blanket, frustrated. Yuri had finished what she wanted to say and then she heard HyoYeon ask Jessica to speak next. Maybe something would come up. And Donghae would finally answer her text message that she sent two hours ago.
Jessica Jung sighed, “Well..it’s been a long week of thinking and I’ve told myself that I need to get over the situation-”
“The situation being.. ?” Tiffany spoke up.
Jessica eyed her, speaking between her teeth, “Siwonoppahasagirlfriend.”
SooYoung shoved a butter cookie into her mouth, guilty.
“Has a what?” Yuri put her hand to her ear.
SooYoung rolled her eyes, “A girlfriend. My brother has a girlfriend. Yes, CHOI SIWON HAS A GIRLFRIEND. And her name is Lee Yeonhee. And you know what? Unnie, I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you in the first place. But that leads to you not telling many of us either about your feelings toward him.”
Seohyun got up, not wanting to hear what was coming next, “I-I’ll go make some hot chocolate.”
Jessica’s eyes traced the pattern of her blanket, “SooYoung, I’m sorry-”
SooYoung shook her head, “No.. You see. Yeonhee was in America for a while and she came back the day before you told me. So I didn’t know how to break it to you.”
Sunny semi-translated for SooYoung, “Basically, SooYoung didn’t want to hurt you.”
A little too late for that, Jessica sucked in her lip, “It’s okay.. I had it coming any ways.”
Yoona looked uncomfortably at her, “Unnie, she didn’t know what to do because she thought there was something going on with you and Donghae.”
Jessica narrowed her eyes, “Not this again.”
“Alright,” Tiffany ignored Jessica’s comment. She stood up, “Listen, Jessica. This whole week that you’ve been away from work, Donghae has been too.”
“Do not go there,” TaeYeon warned her.
Jessica blinked, “Why?” She felt her heart drop.
Tiffany pointed at her, “It’s because you never gave him the chance. Now don’t go to him because you pity him. And because you lost to Yeonhee. Don’t make Donghae your second choice.”
Jessica felt her face burn, hurt by Tiffany’s words, “Don’t say that.”
SooYoung felt Yuri patting her back, “Unnie, honestly tell me that you have had some hatred towards Yeonhee.”
Jessica put her hand to her face. It was flaming hot and she had tears coming down her cheeks, “Y-Yeah.”
SooYoung took a moment to laugh. It wasn’t at Jessica. It was at herself.
“I have to admit that I don’t like her even though I should,” she continued on, “Yeonhee actually was with Hankyung a while ago. A long time ago.”
“W-What?” Tiffany and TaeYeon stuttered.
“You’re kidding,” HyoYeon tried to keep her mouth closed.
Jessica didn’t make a commotion. She knew what was coming next.
SooYoung bit her tongue, “I don’t remember clearly but I knew that they were thinking things over because of Siwon’s feelings.. Near the end of their relationship, Yeonhee didn’t look too pleased with Hankyung so.. it came to that. They split up and now Yeonhee is with Siwon.”
Yuri talked quietly to herself, “That’s complicated.”
SooYoung’s felt embarrassed, “When Yeonhee told us she’d be coming, Hankyung was surprised that she didn’t tell him. She only told Siwon.”
HyoYeon gasped quietly, “SooYoung-ah, you’re jealous.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Sunny laughed at HyoYeon’s attempt to imitate Hankyung, “HyoYeon, fail. Fail, fail, fail.”
“HOLD UP. THIS IS JESSICA’S TURN TO TALK!” TaeYeon realized, talking loudly.
“Whatever,” Jessica reluctantly spoke and got up to look for the bathroom.
“Drama,” Tiffany whispered and looked at SooYoung, “admit it.”
“Admit what?” SooYoung sighed. Seohuyn had brought over a tray of hot chocolates for each of them. SooYoung said thanks, then took the can of whipped cream and topped her drink with it.
Tiffany put a fat marshmallow in hers, “Admit that you like Hankyung oppa. Stop hiding it.”
SooYoung swallowed, her throat burning from the hot drink, “Jessica unnie – like I said – I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Jessica replied softly, slowly smiling, “we’ve known each other for too long to end like this.”
“HEY!! Stop ignoring me!” Tiffany whined, laughing hysterically. She wanted so badly to know how SooYoung was feeling and to tell Jessica that she’s been talking to Donghae to help him out.
Sunny leaned back on her hands, “Jessica, if you don’t mind me asking, what are you going to do about Siwon oppa?”
Yuri became interested, “Are you going to tell him?”
Jessica came back, shrugging, “I don’t know.. Should I?”
“I think you’ll feel a bit better if you do, unnie,” Yoona nodded. She stuck out her tongue, “wah, hot.”
Jessica giggled, pretending to wave over her hot chocolate to help Yoona out, “I guess so. Then I can finally go back to work-”
“CHOI SOOYOUNG!” Tiffany squeaked.
“LEAVE ME ALONE!”
Suddenly the lights flicked on, “Anyone home?” Siwon was back. Other footsteps were heard. Who had he brought home with him?
“Why are the lights out? Are they telling ghost stories or something?” Kangin’s voice was heard.
Sunny looked at the ground. Food and blankets covered most of the surface, “SooYoung, what is he going to say about the mess?”
“I don’t really care right now,” the shikshin tried to shoo Tiffany away from her, “He can get mad at me if he wants.”
Yoona laughed awkwardly, “Siwon oppa never gets mad.”
“SooYoung?” Siwon stepped into the room, flicking on the lights.
TaeYeon covered her eyes, “IT BURNS! TURN THE LIGHTS OFF!”
“Why are they even off?” Siwon tried to hide his confusion, he just smiled to brighten the mood.
Sungmin came in with Kangin, Hankyung and Kibum. They were trying to shake the large raindrops that had landed on their jackets. Tiffany felt like punching the air, WHERE THE HELL IS DONGHAE. THAT CHICKEN. I AM GOING TO SEND HIM CLUCKING SOUNDS OVER MSN LATER!
“Kibum oppa, CONGRATULATIONS!” Yuri, HyoYeon and Sunny burst into song. TaeYeon cracked up, laughing hysterically and then told them to quiet down.
Yoona’s face turned pink at her friends’ reactions. She looked over at Kibum who was overwhelmed at the moment, “Did you break the news?”
He gave her two thumbs up, “Heechul hyung suggested that Siwon should be the priest.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” TaeYeon just shook her head.
“No,” Sungmin pinched her cheek.
Despite SooYoung’s comment about the mess, Jessica and Seohyun began to clean up. Seohyun just did as she wanted because she thought it was rude to leave her friend’s house a mess. Jessica’s reason was simple – she didn't want people to think she lived like a pig.
“Seohyun, Jessica, it’s fine. I’ll vacuum later,” Siwon told them, putting a couple of pillows back on the couch. He dropped a pillow on SooYoung’s lap and she slapped his legs with it.
Seohyun folded a few blankets and put them to the side, “It’s okay, we’re almost done.”
Jessica was hesitant. She glanced down at SooYoung who was making funny faces behind Siwon’s back, “It’s fine. I’ll save you and SooYoung the trouble.”
“Mm, thanks Jessica,” he put his arm around her, patting her back. He didn’t know that SooYoung’s eyes were drilling holes into the back of his head.
Jessica tried not to squirm, “Um, oppa, can we talk?”
“Hm?” Siwon pulled away, his eyebrows rose, “What is it?”
She played with her hands, “Um.. in private?”
Siwon took a few moments to answer. He nodded, remembering she had been absent for the past week, “Yeah, of course.”
“Who am I taking home?” Kangin asked the group, TaeYeon and Tiffany raised one of their hands while looking into the bag of goodies the guys had brought for them.
“HyoYeon, Sunny and Yuri will come with me,” Sungmin spoke to them once they had stopped bouncing around with excitement.
“OOOH SUNNY, guess who this is from,” TaeYeon laughed, tossing Sunny a pack of Hershey Kisses.
Sunny rolled her eyes and found a small card glued to it. She read it: Yeah.. this is awkward. Enjoy the candy. Love, Yesung. She couldn’t help but put on a small smile.
Seohyun had put on her coat and made her way to the front door to put on her shoes. She waited patiently on the staircase for Hankyung to come and take her home since they lived in the same apartment building.
He peaked down the hallway, seeing if she was ready.
She nodded and mouthed to him, Go, go, go!
Yoona and Jessica left with Kibum. Sungmin, HyoYeon, Yuri and Sunny left the house shortly after them and Kangin, TaeYeon and Tiffany made their way home after packing away their candles and blankets.
SooYoung sat on the couch, calling for Seohyun, “Seohyunnie! Come over here!”
“My shoes are on!”
SooYoung sighed. Seohyun would be leaving soon, sooner if Siwon would stop blabbing with Hankyung by the fridge. She wanted to make breakfast food and she couldn’t grab the carton of eggs if they were blocking the fridge.
Big excuse. Siwon chuckled but covered it with a cough. He said bye to Hankyung and left to go shower upstairs.
It was SooYoung’s turn to squirm, NOOO COME BACK. Forget I smacked you with a pillow, OPPA DON'T LEAVE ME! She got up with a bit of courage, “Hankyung-ssi, I’ll take you to the door..”
Hankyung didn’t budge, he waited until she came over to him. He silently gave her a small bouquet of flowers and lightly kissed the top of her hair.
SooYoung stayed still, not knowing how to react. She felt a churn in her stomach when he mumbled, “Happy Valentines Day” to her. Before she could say “thank you”, he went down the hall and opened the door for Seohyun.
“Bye, unnie,” Seohyun waved happily to her and then closed the door.
SooYoung tiptoed back to the couch, bringing her legs up. She found a note on the inside of the bouquet. Two words.
It’s real.
Only one thing came to her.
-
-
“Oppa, you did it,” Seohyun tried not to spazz while Hankyung was driving on the slippery road.
“You seem awfully cheerful at this hour,” he commented, motioning her to sit back, “Have a good time?”
Seohyun shrugged, hearing the pitter-patter sound of rain hitting against the window, “It was okay. We were in the dark 24/7 and they just talked about things.”
“Personal things?”
She nodded, “Yes.”
“Did you get to tell them?”
Seohyun shook her head, “No. It’s hard.”
“I know,” Hankyung told her calmly, “But don’t you think they would want to know?”
“Well.. I guess, they’re just crazy. Oppa, they have these ‘in-your-face’ personalities. They want to know everything.”
“You still care about them, right?”
“Right,” she sighed. She felt like she had bad-mouthed her unnies.
“Okay, go to sleep. I got to do something,” Hankyung unlocked the doors.
She stared at him, “Oppa, it’s almost 1:00am. What can you possibly be doing?”
He patted her knee, “It’s a surprise.”
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