Love Bites and Letters Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Love Bites and Letters
At the party…..
Part 1
“Close your eyes and listen to my story carefully. Before my story ends, you will dream. Little star, tonight, all night I will watch over you.” - Little Star by Standing Egg
“Woah! This party is awesome!” Soooyung exclaims, ogling around the completely transformed park. It has become a vast and colorful party area. Her eyes widen in amazement to see round and multicolored hanging lanterns dangle above their heads. She smoothes her short wavy hair while checking her outfit. Her stepmother vehemently protested at her choice but she insisted. She’s more comfortable with these types of clothes. They hide her…………chubbiness.
“Cool” Jonghyun remarks as he silently looks at his surroundings. He glances at the quietly agitated girl beside him.
“The party is cool. Don’t you thin Joohyun?”
“D-deh?” Joohyun answers distractedly.
She’s on her tippy toes and continuously on craning her neck as if she’s looking for someone. Sooyung glances at Jonghyun, clocking his reaction. She has to admit, she pities him getting ignored by her younger sister.
“The Student Council did well.” He tires again to catch the younger girl’s attention.
“Uhm…Should we have out attendance taken?” She replies in an agitated tone. “I’m sorry. I have to go somewhere. I’m kind of part of the Student Council so yeah……See you later!”
Joohyun leaves them with a hasty wave and didn’t spare them a glance as she walks away from them. Sooyoung looks at Jonghyun worriedly. She sees him frowning looking at Joohyun’s back. She can sense the frustration from him.
Jonghyun is pissed. Why can’t it be him instead? He angrily stomps forward, intent on following Joohyun.
“Jonghyun?” Sooyoung calls after him uncertainly. He freezes and eventually looks back.
Right. He asked Choi Sooyoung to go with him in this stupid party. Feeling even more frustrated, he marches back to her and pulls her arm gruffly. Together, they maneuvered themselves among the throngs of people.
Sooyoung keeps on glancing at him, worried of his solemn mood. She silently whimpers and did her best not to whine when her wrist starts to get hurt. His grip on her wrist was stiff as he pulls her along with him. She keeps on saying sorry in his behalf whenever they accidentally bump someone. She also didn’t miss the number of people raising their eyebrows seeing her with Jonghyun. Of course, why would the Lee Jonghyun is with her? He doesn’t like her, right?
“Are you sure on what you are going to do Sooyoung?” She questions herself.
# ---- #
“Ahnyeonghaseyo! Welcome to the annual Acquaintance Party of Jeonju Arts High School!” Park Shinhye greets the young crowd enthusiastically. The whole student body cheered with much gusto. A few boys even dared to whistle in excitement. Teachers stationed near the stage immediately frowned at this “vulgar” action. Shinhye giggles at the teachers feedbacks.
“Well…….I will not bore you with my speech. LET’S PARTY!”
Fun and loud dance music instantly blasted from the giant speakers placed on the stage. Students from different year levels immediately swarm the dance floor. Others opted to get some food and drinks to put something inside their growling stomachs. Amidst the buzz, Se Joohyun has landed herself as a food and drink server. It’s okay though. She gets to be partnered with Jung Yonghwa. The Student Council had another meeting last week and Park Shinhye sweetens her way, as usual, to make Jung Yonghwa agree to be assigned in the food and drink distribution committee.
“Jung Yonghwa-sshi? Can you facilitate in giving out the food and drinks at the party? I know I already asked you a favor last time to sing but you see-“
“I’ll do it!” Yonghwa agrees almost too eagerly, his cheeks bursting.
“Chincha? Thank you!” Shinhye thanks him sweetly. Joohyun flares her nose with the exchange.
“Oh! Yonghwa-sshi, you need an assistant for that. Do you have-“
“I’ll do it!”
Several heads turn around to look at her. Her cheeks immediately burn in embarrassment. She spoke too loudly. It even sounded like a squeak!
“Oh..uhm…You are?” Shinhye inquires uncertainly. Joohyun does her best not to grimace. She was about to introduce herself but Yonghwa cut her.
“Seo Joohyun, second year and member of our music club.” Yonghwa informs the rest of the group in a dull tone.
“That’s great then!” Shinhye says happily. “Joohyun-sshi, you will assit………………………….”
Blah blah blah. I know Park Shinhye-sshi. Just leave me alone and have my alone time with Jung Yonghwa-sshi. Thank you very much.
She steals a glance at the cold boy standing beside her. He’s wearing his signature frown again. She has to smile brightly at the freaked out students who would want to get a food to drink. She has to smile. Jung Yonghwa’s almost poker face paired with that permanent frown is scaring the students. But the nagging thought of how and when to confess to him tonight is distracting her. This can’t do. She must do something but how?
“Erm…..Joohyun-sshi?” She snaps out her thoughts and looks at the four girls wearing really short skirts that are standing in front of her: Hyorin, Bora, Soyu, and Dassom. They are second year students just like her.
“Yes, Hyorin-sshi?”
“Can we have our drinks and food? Yonghwa sunbae is not giving us our share.”
Joohyun flares her nose hearing this. She knows what this guy is doing. He must be busy ogling at Park Shinhye again. Her nose flares wider because she knows it’s the truth. The four girls in front of her are puzzled with her sudden irate expression. They slowly step back as they watch her dump their food on the plates in a grumbling manner. They look at Yonghwa quizzically but screamed when he glared at them. The four girls immediately bolt away from the table.
“Wait! Your food……………” Joohyun faintly calls after them.
“Why would they wear those kinds of short skirts?” Yonghwa growls disdainfully. She flinches when Yonghwa looks at her sharply.
“Try wearing those skirts and I’ll kick you out of the music club.” He warns her. Joohyun shakes her heard vigorously while promising to him.
“I won’t!”
Yonghwa didn’t answer and returns on surveying the people dancing. Try chatting with him Joohyun! She takes a deep breath before daring to start a conversation with him.
“Ahm………..You don’t like it if a girl wears short skirts?”
“No.” He answers shortly without looking at her.
“Uhm….Waeyo?”
“It’s indecent. Why can’t those girls be like Shinhye-sshi? She wears proper clothes and still looks pretty without showing too much of her legs.”
She accidentally drops the glass that she’s holding, splashing some orange juice on her white doll shoes. Her hands shook once he started talking about Park Shinhye. So it all goes back to that girl. Why is she still surprised? She hastily bends down to pick the broken pieces but bumps her head with Yonghwa’s. He has also bent down to get the broken fragments.
“Ouch!” They exclaim together. Yonghwa rubs the part of his forehead that stings.
“Mianheyo! I’m so sorry!” Joohyun apologizes profusely. “Don’t worry. I’ll just clean up this me-“
“Be careful of the-“
“Aah!” Joohyun gasps, upset seeing the wide cut on her finger. Tears immediately formed as she starts scolding herself. Why she always acts stupid then cries in front of Jung Yonghwa? She really hates this side of her. And the cut, it’s so painful.
“Appeuda.” She sobs, looking at her bloody finger.
“Tsk. I was about to tell you to be careful.” Yonghwa lightly scolds her. He blinks in surprise realizing that she’s crying.
“D-don’t cry. I’m not angry at you. I just don’t like the sight of blood.”
“I’m stupid.” Joohyun sobs continuously and not hearing what he said. “Why am I even doing this? I look pitiful.”
Yonghwa absolutely hates it when a girl cries in front of him. He always feels guilty even if it’s not his fault. What did his dad said in situations like this? Aish, he can’t remember! Seeing a girl crying panics him. What to do?
“Erm….Please stop crying Joohyun-sshi.” He pleads awkwardly. Their current position is somewhat embarrassing too; two teenagers crouching under a table with a girl crying her lungs out. He cringes at what thoughts people might create with their current situation. People can be very assuming these days.
“Pabo Joohyun. You’re a pabo.” Seo Joohyun continues on crying, not hearing his plea. She covers her mouth with her uninjured hand to muffle her sobs.
Yonghwa fidgets as he stares at her helplessly. Why is this girl always crying? When he first met her, she was crying. When they were making that “Love Light” song, she almost cried too. What to do?
“Eh? Where are Joohyunnie and your cousin?” Choi Sooyoung’s loud voice interrupts his thoughts.
Joohyun eyes widen hearing her sister’s voice. She is about to stand up but Yonghwa holds her by the arms, stopping her. He quickly puts a finger on her lips, shushing her to be quiet. Her eyes further widens when he scoots closer to her, his finger pressing to her lips and his face near to hers. His action immediately stops her crying.
Why is it’s suddenly very warm under the table?
“I don’t know.” A very moody Lee Jonghyun answers Sooyoung.
“Hmp! I’m hungry! I’ll grab as much food as I want.”
“Just hurry up. I want to sit.”
“Aish! Fine. Fine…….Ok, I’m done! Let’s go find our tables!”
When he is sure that there are no more people hovering near the food table, Yonghwa immediately moves away from her. Meanwhile, Joohyun tries to open her mouth to say something. The atmosphere between suddenly became awkward and Yonghwa’s puzzled with that. He can’t put a finger on what could be the reason with this sudden discomfort.
He reviews his actions awhile ago and to him, they were nothing. He is merely avoiding for the two of them to be put in a compromising situation. He knows what a blabbermouth and overly imaginative Choi Soooyung can be. Rumors spread fast and he doesn’t want Shinhye to think he likes Seo Joohyun.
It’s her that he likes.
He looks down and sees her finger still bleeding. He grabs the wounded finger and covers it with his handkerchief. Joohyun gawks and is dumbfounded with his kind gesture. It’s just…………out of the usual treatment of him towards her. He’s too kind and she knows she will be swooning soon because of it.
“I-You d-don’t have-“
“Wipe your tears Joohyun-sshi.”
She hastily wipes her tears with her uninjured hand. She watches in silent awe as Yonghwa continues on wiping the blood and the covers it again with his handkerchief, pressing her finger softly to stop it from bleeding. He suddenly hums a tune and she realizes; it’s that Spider song that they sang on that one rainy afternoon. A small flame of hope burns inside her heart. So you still remember that song Yonghwa-sshi? She gives a tiny smile when he produces a band-aid from his pocket and covers her wound with it.
“Keut.” He says curtly, letting go of her hand. She delicately cradles her hand and looks at the bandage fondly. She shyly raises her head and presents him a grateful smile.
“Kahmsamnida.”
Yonghwa blinks his eyes again. This girl’s eyes are really bright. He swears to himself that they’re even sparkling. Is that even humanly possible? He lets out an awkward cough and looks away.
“I think you have to go. Your sister is looking for you.”
“Deh? But……Who will help you-“
“It’s okay. I need to talk to someone.”
She wants to protest and insist on staying with him but as usual, she has limited strength talking to him. She usually ends up gawking, speechless and then embarrassed. He helps her in standing up before surveying the crowd again.
For sure, he is looking for her.
“I’ll-I’ll go now.”
Yonghwa nods without bothering to look at her. He keeps on searching for that one particular person. Joohyun stands hesitantly for a few minutes but eventually walks away; reluctance etched on her every step.
# ---- #
Sooyoung alternately looks between her sister and Jonghyun. Jonghyun has been grumpy throughout the party. He keeps on sulking and refuses to leave his seat, his eyes narrowing at Joohyun. Speaking of her sister, she pops out of nowhere, sits at their table and absentmindedly eats her food while staring tenderly at her hand. Sooyoung notices a band-aid on one of Joohyun’s fingers.
What an energetic bunch they look………..NOT. No one is talking and her two companions are contented on being broody. The reason as to why the two are like that, Sooyung is absolutely sure what those are. She can even hear the crunching of her corn chips over the loud music. Yes, that’s how quiet they are. All of a sudden the music stops playing and everyone’s attention focus on Park Shinhye standing onstage.
“Hi guys! Sorry for cutting the music. Hehehe.”
A few students complained about. Shinhye smiles at their direction.
“Sorry! Anyways, why don’t we let things go a little slow? Like…..hmmm… a couple dance?”
Everyone started cheering heartily about this, the all want to have that special dance with a person they like. Sooyoung observes Joohyun and Jonghyun again. Joohyun has stopped eating and perks up on her seat, looking slightly worried. Jonghyun frowns even more and is still staring at the latter. Sooyoung takes a deep breath. She must proceed with her plan.
“Can we call Yonghwa-sshi to sing us a few songs while you couples out there dance?” Shinhye teases the crowd, her eyebrows wiggling playfully.
The crowd cheers again when Yonghwa walks towards the stage carrying his guitar. Joohyun smiles widely from her seat as Yonghwa sits on a stool placed at the center of the stage.
“Good evening. I’m Jung Yonghwa, president for the Music Club. I hope you will like the songs that I will perform tonight. Please enjoy.”
The students clap enthusiastically when he starts strumming his guitar. The teachers’ eyes almost bulge out from its sockets when students start to go back to the dance floor, albeit shyly, in pairs. Sensing the impending disapprovals, Shinhye rushed to their side and tried to work on her charm. She starts spewing off reasons as to why couple dances can greatly help in honing an individual’s social skills. Single teachers eagerly gather around her and listen to her theories.
“Uhm….the first song is Yurisanja’s Can I Love You.” Yonghwa informs the crowd politely.
Sooyoung watches her sister being captivated by Jung Yonghwa’s voice. She swears, Joohyun’s eyes are extremely bright tonight. Plus, she really looks in love with the boy singing on stage right now. She wills herself to look at Jonghyun. Her heart immediately feels heavy watching him look at her sister sadly, almost longingly. Who better understands the pain of being in a one-sided love? Of course it’s her. She’s been harboring it since she was seven. And because she understands, she decides to relent. Even just for tonight, she won’t be selfish and restrain Lee Jonghyun to be with that very special person.
I want to tell you carefully.
I want to be brave.
Can I love you from today?
It’s the first time
I don’t want to lose this obvious feeling.
I think love is going to come.
I’ll give only good things to you.
Look at that, her favorite song…..the one she thinks as her and her Hubby’s couple song is playing. It seems like the song fits their current situation. Aigoo, don’t go moping their Choi Sooyung. Stick to your plan!
“And besides, he was never mine to begin with.” She thinks wistfully. She grabs her phone and stands up but slams back to her seat, clutching her stomach.
“Appeuda!” She gasps, closing her eyes to show that she is in pain.
“Unnie, what’s wrong?” Joohyun sits beside her, looking at her worriedly. Sooyoung looks up and frowns.
“Stomachache.”
“Deh?”
“I think…..I ate too much.”
“Oh no! What do you want me to do unnie? You want us to go now?”
“NO!” Sooyoung answers rather too forcefull. Joohyun is taken aback while Jonghyun raises an eyebrow.
“I-I mean…I want to dance with my Hubby but my stomach really hurts.” She explains in a small voice.
Jonghyun lets out a smirk. He gives her a disgusted look. “And what? Dance with me while you’re farting?”
“Oppa!” Joohyun scolds him, her eyes staring reproachfully. Sooyoung sticks out her tongue at Jonghyun.
“Of course not! I will wash my hand with soap and water before holding your hand!”
“Unnie! That sounds gross.” Sooyoung turns to Joohyun and gives her sister her best puppy eyes.
“Joohyunnie………You love unnie right?”
“Deh……..Waeyo?” The latter asks reluctantly. Whenever her unnie does the puppy eyes, it means Joohyun has to do something almost impossible for her unnie.
“GREAT! Can you please dance with my Hubby while I…erm…do my business?” She asks hopefully. Jonghyun whips his head and looks at Sooyoung sharply.
“Deh?! Andwaeyo! Shiro!” Joohyun protests immediately. Sooyoung takes a hold of her sister’s hand and pleads again.
“Hyunnie…..please? Can you do it for me?”
“What the hell are you thinking now Choi Sooyoung?” Jonghyun demands loudly but Sooyoung ignores him. She swallows the lump in her throat and begs again. She even looks tearful.
“Look, my stomach is in real pain right now. I badly want to release this bomb but I’m scared that once I leave…..Hubby will be dancing with someone else!”
“That’s my right! I can dance with anyone. Stop-“
“Anyways!” Sooyoung continues loudly. “Might as well that it’s my sister who’s dancing with my Hubby while I detonate this bomb inside of me. I will come back after doing this erm…great call of nature!”
Silence.
“Joohyun, I will seriously cut off any girl’s head who will dare to touch my Hubby tonight.”
Joohyun widens her eyes in alarm hearing her unnie’s threat. Sooyoung immediately assures her sister.
“Except for you, of course! Silly!”
“You’re crazy!” Says Jonghyun, he is completely exasperated by her weirdness.
“I know. You always call me that. Nothing new, right?” Sooyoung retorts coolly without looking at him.
There was an uncomfortable silence that followed after her statement. Jonghyun looks at Sooyoung, miffed and slack jawed while Joohyun shifts uneasily on her seat, observing the two.
“Unnie-“
“Oh my God! That Bora girl is eyeing my Hubby!” Sooyoung suddenly exclaims. Joohyun is about to turn her head to look but Sooyoung grabs her face, stopping her.
“Hyunnie…….” Sooyoung begins dramatically. Jonghyun rolls his eyes at the exaggeration. “Do you want unnie to get expelled and go to jail?”
“Why will you---“
“Do you want unnie to be a murderer? Do you really want me to shave that Bora bitch’s hair and cut her head?! I am seeing bloody murder right now. I swear! If that Bora dares to touch even my Hubby’s dimples, I will skin her alive!”
“You’re exaggerating!” Jonghyun scoffs, glaring at her.
“Mother of all Holy’s! Even her friends are looking at my Hubby now! Oh my goodness! No can touch my Hubby’s dimples! It’s only me you bitches! Ok, that’s it! I’m seriously giving Bora and friends some major hair make overs!”
“Unnie!” Joohyun shrieks and tries her best to pin her older sister back to her seat.
Jonghyun stares at the two sisters struggling. Why the hell is Choi Sooyoung acting beyond the normal limit of her craziness? He doesn’t want to be near Seo Joohyun right now. He’s still feeling bitter and is in a very sour mood. Choi Sooyoung acting like a matchmaker slash delusional fangirl is getting into his nerves.
“She doesn’t even know I like her sister!” He thinks irately.
“AH!” Sooyoung clutches her stomach again. She looks at Joohyun pleadingly. “I really need to go to the comfort room now.
Jonghyun stands up to leave. He has enough of the craziness. But a hand holds his wrist, stopping him from moving. WOW! This Choi Sooyoung is really testing his patience. He whirls around angrily, ready to scream at Sooyoung’s face but gets shock instead. It was Joohyun who stopped him. She stares at him determinedly.
“Oppa, would you like to dance with me?”
Speechless. He is entirely speechless. What in the world is happening? Without waiting for his answer, Joohyun drags him to the dancefloor, baffling Jonghun more. He looks at Sooyoung and finds her clapping happily from her seat while giving the two of them a thumbs up sign.
“Wait-What? Why? What the heck-“
“Oppa,” Joohyun tells him gravely. "Sooyoung unnie can be quite dramatic. If we don’t give in to what she wants, she’ll do more extreme measures until we say yes to her request.”
“Isn’t this extreme already?” He counters. “I know I’m not the one you want to dance with.”
Joohyun looks at him and smiles sadly.
“Why would he dance with me? If only he wasn’t singing, I’m sure the two of them will surely be dancing right now.”
“Our next song would be Lee Mon Sae’s Girl.” Jung Yonghwa informs the crowd, his eyes looking for that particular someone.
Please stay with me and never leave
I long for that faraway place
But can’t bring your rainbow
As I sit by the window in the twilight
And watch the clouds pass by
I paint my longing memories in the sky
When cold wind is blowing
You’re crying with loneliness
Joohyun wordlessly puts her hand on Jonghyun shoulders and gives him a forced smile.
“I really want to confess to him but I’m scared. I’m afraid he’ll get really angry once he learns the truth. I think I understand now how you felt when you-you confessed to me. It must have been hard and scary for you.”
Jonghyun places his hands awkwardly on her waist. He automatically looks at her, silently asking if it’s okay. She nods at him, giving a tiny smile as consent. They start to dance as Jung Yonghwa continues to sing on stage.
“My heart was beating so loud that time.” Jonghyun confesses softly. “I don’t know what came to me. Nah, maybe….erm….I was kind of jealous when I learned that it was you who was giving him the letters.”
I’ll always be with you
And never leave you
I’ll always be with you
And never leave you
“Mianheyo Oppa. I’m sorry for breaking your heart.”
He smiles ruefully. His initial irritation is slowly going away as they talk.
“Even if I won’t confess to you, I think I will still be sad.”
“Waeyo?”
“Because………..I’m always beside you. It’s the fact that we are friends, always interacting with each other and yet, what I feel for you is beyond friendship. I am with the girl I like but she doesn’t have a clue how much I like her.”
Joohyun stares at him quietly as she contemplates his words.
“I am beside you, in front and even behind you but it sucks that I can’t show you how I feel for you.”
“……………………………..But……Don’t you think Sooyung unnie’s situation is sadder?”
“Huh?”
“She has feelings for you. She likes you for so many years. She always expresses it to you and to everyone how massively she likes you but you always reject her.”
“It’s because she’s crazy!”
“She’s just being expressive Oppa.” She explains patiently.
“She annoys me to hell! It’s almost disturbing. Can’t you see it?”
“I know unnie can be………unconventional when she express her feelings but honestly, wasn’t there a time you feel grateful?”
“None.” He answers at once. Joohyun’s face scrunches in a sad frown.
“You’re so mean Oppa. I hope unnie will finally stop liking you.”
“I can’t wait for that day.” He mutters sarcastically. They are silent for awhile, swaying slightly to the music when Joohyun speaks again.
“Wh-why do you like me?” She asks shyly and yet her eyes are looking straight at him, determined to know his reasons.
“……..You’re pretty.” He gushes in a soft voice. “You’re very kind, a good person, quiet…..ladylike. A normal girl unlike-“
“Unlike my Sooyoung unnie?” She cuts him off gently.
“……Deh.”
“Why don’t you like my unnie?”
“She’s crazy! She gets into my nerves! She’s been harassing me for years with her “love confessions”. I hate it!”
“Unnie can be very aggressive.” She giggles in understanding.
“She is! She keeps calling me Hubby in front of people. It’s embarrassing! Why does she have to shout every single time that she likes me? Can’t she just keep it to herself?” Jonghyun rants his annoyance non-stop.
“Unnie is like that, openly expressing her feelings, because she never experienced affection from her birth mother. She longs to hear praises from Imo Jiwoo but sadly, Imo died with only insults as memories to her daughter. Honestly, Sooyoung unnie craves attention because she wants to be liked and praised……appreciated.”
Jonghyun grows quiet listening to her revelation. He faintly remembers the very thin woman whom his parents identify for him as Sooyoung’s mother.
“Behind unnie’s cheerful personality is a very scared and lonely girl Oppa. If only I can tell you why she likes you so much, maybe……….” She trails off and didn’t finish what she’s trying to say.
“That what? That I might like her?” He scoffs unpleasantly.
“Ahniyo. If only you knew the reason………..then you might change your treatment towards her.”
“……………….”
“You’re lucky. My unnie always include you and our family in her prayers. You’re that special to her Oppa. Look past your prejudices about my sister and find out for yourself how special my unnie is.”
“I don’t think so.”
“……………….I think you just like me because I’m not like Unnie.”
“WHAT?! NO WA-“
“Excuse me Joohyun-sshi.” An annoying type of voice interrupts them. Joohyun reluctantly glances at her left, it’s Bora. She swears she just heard swearing beside her.
“Yes Bora-sshi?” But the girl right away ignores her and looks at Jonghyun with hearts on his eyes.
“Jonghyun sunbae, let’s dance together!”
“Excuse me?” Joohyun questions the girl incredulously. ‘Can’t you see we are dancing together?”
Bora gives her an haughty stare before shoving her rudely.
“Oh come on, Joohyun-sshi. I know your whale sister told you to dance with Jonghyun sunbae. I saw her pleading with you while throwing daggers at me earlier. Well, your unnie is not her anymore, thank God, so you can scoot!”
Joohyun would have fell on her back if it wasn’t for Jonghyun standing behind her, breaking her fall. He glares coldy at the rude girl before him.
“I don’t want to dance with you. Kah!”
“Sunbae!”
“Go away!”
“Fine! Dance with this boring girl and her whale sister!” They watch as Bora stomps angrily from them. Joohyun turns to Jonghyun and glares at him.
“My unnie is better than most of the girls who likes you. I hope you will realize that.”
She didn’t wait for his answer and walks back towards their table. He almost collided with her when she suddenly halts. Joohyun keeps on looking around the area, her hands on her hips.
“Unnie is still not back.”
That’s when he realized that Choi Sooyoung is not on her seat. He is tempted to say that Sooyoung might still be inside the girl’s comfort room but didn’t dare. Joohyun still looks annoyed, her nose flaring dangerously. So the two quietly sits on their chairs, not talking as they listen to a group of boys singing on stage, wondering where Choi Sooyoung could really be.