Devil on a Harley (2018) - Chapter 3
"A Can of Worms"
Invigorated after a cold shower, Yuri tumbled into bed, the day's happenings still lingering within her head.
She had never before found it so hard to concentrate on her work, all because a certain cute, little blonde had been prancing around before her, completely ignorant of the fact that she was driving this photographer insane.
Indeed, the three or four different sets of bikinis that showed off Jessica Jung's curves and flesh, had left little to the imagination; the several changes of summery attire like skimpy shorts and mini skirts that showed off the contours of her shapely legs, did precious little for Yuri's sanity. She had worked with countless beautiful models before, but that was just work. Those women had never stirred her inner desires the way Jessica Jung had.
Yuri remembered with a laugh, the look on the blonde's face when she had peeled her top off. Even with the studio being dimly-lit, she was sure Jessica Jung had been blushing. And the whole time they were seated next to each other, she had been squirming uneasily in her chair. Each time their shoulders touched, the blonde seemed to have had an involuntary spasm of sorts.
Yuri noticed that the blonde averted her gaze each time she had spoken to her, not wanting any eye contact at all. She flinched when Yuri had tilted her chin upwards for a more dramatic pose during the shoot. In fact, she flinched each time Yuri had come near her. But then, Yuri was quite aware that Jessica Jung had stolen glances in her direction when she thought she wasn't looking.
And then there was the ride to her apartment on her Harley.
Jessica had sat awkwardly in a manner whereby their bodies would be in as little contact as possible, which Yuri found hilarious.
How the dickens could anyone riding pillion not possibly have any bodily contact with the rider in front?
Yuri, worried for her pillion rider's safety, had pulled the blonde's arms around her waist tighter to safeguard her from falling off.
Is she into girls? Perhaps I should rephrase it-is she into ME?
That question tarried on Yuri's mind for some time until finally overcome with fatigue, she fell into a deep sleep.
*
The next day, Jessica suffered a terrible headache.
She was swallowing an aspirin when the Chief Editor sauntered into her room, carrying a large, brown manila envelope.
"I just saw a sample of the shots. I must say Kwon Yuri's terribly efficient. Nifty camerawork. The pictures turned out better than expected." Eyes twinkling, Taeyeon was all praises for the photographer. "And Jessica, you are definitely model material. You look ab-so-lute-ly stun-ning."
"Photoshop or some other touch-up software, what have you," a modest Jessica said, massaging her temple.
"We must use you again."
"You can't be serious." Jessica groaned. "That was some nervewrecking experience never to be repeated. Ever. Do you know how embarrassed I was, parading around in front of the whole crew wearing so little? Yesterday, I was both art director and model. You've got another think coming if you thought multitasking was easy. And today I'm doubling up as editor with Tiffany away. Why do you think I've got this bugger of a headache right now? You don't pay me enough to afford aspirins."
"Exaggeration. Anyway, to be able to multitask just shows how versatile you are. I'm impressed, I mean it." Taeyeon tried to placate her whiny art director.
"Yeah, right. Show me a fatter paycheck and I'll believe how sincere you are. Oh, and I expect to be reimbursed for yesterday's little masquerade, too."
Remembering the manila envelope she was holding, Taeyeon took the opportunity to change the subject as she handed it to Jessica. "Uhm, the photographer's assistant dropped this off for you."
The Chief Editor then made a quick exit after mumbling some excuse about having plenty to see to. Taeyeon wasn't about to stick around listening to Jessica vent, ranting about being underpaid and overworked. Theirs was a fledgling magazine and until they managed to stay out of the red, they would just have to make do with whatever resources that were available. Even if it meant that their pretty art director had to stand in for a sick model.
*
The envelope was addressed to 'Miss Jessica Jung' in bold print.
Upon opening it, Jessica was delighted to find a stack of 9"x12" size prints of herself from the previous day's shoot at Fotowerkz.
A note in the photographer's neat handwriting said:
"Thought you might like to have these, the b-cuts that you said you liked. They could work well as a portfolio in case you ever decide on modelling as an alternative career. Hope the experience was a memorable one for you. Looking foward to working with you again. Regards, Yuri."
Touched, Jessica soon forgot all about her headache.
Thank you, Yuri, for taking such beautiful pictures of me... but you know what? I'd much rather have a picture of you?
Glancing at her computer, she noticed that a new email from Taeyeon had just come in:
"Forgot to tell you that we managed to get Yoona to shoot a special summer edition for us, but we need to go to Jeju where she's based, because that's where the drama series she's currently working on is being filmed. Will call a meeting with everyone soon as your headache goes away and you're hopefully less grumpy."
Curses and damnation, Kim Taeyeon.
In the sanctuary of her room, safe from ranting subordinates, Taeyeon sneezed involuntarily, attributing the sudden spate of sneezes to something in the air provoking her nasal senses-or someone speaking ill of me behind my back-as she sent off yet another email to Jessica.
"Also forgot to mention that I spoke with Kwon Yuri on the phone earlier about the Yoona-Jeju project. For some reason, she seems reluctant to take on the job. Do you think you're able to persuade her? I really want her for this. Perhaps if you wine and dine her a bit, maybe throw in some sweet talk, she'll relent? She seems to think really well of you?"
After clicking on her boss' message and reading it, Jessica literally wanted to scream out loud.
Kim Taeyeon, I swear you're no better than a pimp!
*
When Jessica arrived home, Sooyoung was rummaging through their well-stocked refrigerator, indecisive as to what to cook for their evening meal.
"Shall we have kimchi stew tonight?" Sooyoung asked.
"Nah, count me out. I'm meeting someone for dinner," Jessica replied, pouring herself a drink of water.
"Anyone I know? Can I come?" Sooyoung asked, instantly conjuring up in her head visions of mouthwatering slivers of BBQ beef-wagyu, if you please-splattering in greasy glory on a hot plate, and cups after cups of premium soju.
"It's business, meaning, no, you can't come."
"Fine. I hate it when you get all hoity-toity like that. Then, I'll just have dinner all by lonely self." Sooyoung sniffled, banging the saucepan hard on the kitchen counter. "Don't you love me anymore?"
The blonde reached over and hugged her roommate.
"Of course, I do. Shall I kiss you to prove it?" Jessica puckered up her lips, all ready to plonk a smacker on her best friend's cheek.
"Ew...get away from me, you gay person, you." Breaking loose, Sooyoung shoved the blonde away. "Go for your business dinner. See if I care."
"I'm so gayyy...and I don't know why...and I don't know whyyyy....Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxiiii......" Jessica began to sing in an off-pitch voice that she knew would annoy her bestie, reinventing the lyrics of a hit song sung by a certain popular 9-girl group that was all the rage in South Korea and beyond.
"Stop butchering my favourite song!"
In a contradictory kind of mood, dreading, not knowing what to expect, yet giddy and highly anticipative, Jessica continued singing, as she rushed off to get ready for her business date with Kwon Yuri.
*
Yuri was sipping a pre-dinner cocktail at the bar when Jessica walked into the restaurant, men turning their heads to look in admiration at the pretty blonde in the red halter top, skinny jeans and stilettos.
"Am I late?" A rather apologetic Jessica offered a feeble smile as she joined the photographer at the counter.
"No worries. I'm early."
A waiter came by just then.
"Miss Jung, your table is ready. Ladies, this way, please."
Having given the waiter their dinner orders, Jessica racked her head, thinking of a way to broach the subject of the Jeju project to Yuri without making it seem as if she was pleading with the photographer to take on the job.
"Thanks for agreeing to meet with me," she said. Plagued by mixed feelings, Jessica shifted in her chair, hoping she sounded sincere, as having dinner with Kwon Yuri was the last thing she would have wanted...thank you very much, Chief Pimp. "And for those b-cut prints. Love them."
"Ah, small matter." Yuri brushed it off. Fixing her gaze on the blonde's face-she's hot...sizzling, frizzling, scorching, torching...hot-she prompted, "You did mention something about a business proposition earlier over the phone?"
"Right, you remember my boss spoke with you about the Jeju project? You turned Taeyeon down, but do you think you could possibly reconsider? It's a great opportunity for Fotowerkz, to be able to work with Yoona..." Jessica's words trailed off the moment she noticed that Yuri had turned steely-eyed at the mention of the actress.
Im Yoona was the current darling of the silver screen, a much sought after actress and singer with tons of fans world-wide.
"Thanks for the opportunity, but I must decline," Yuri said without the slightest bit of hesitation.
"If it's the remuneration you have an issue with, I can always take it up with Taeyeon. We'll work something out," Jessica tried again. "She really thinks highly of your camerawork."
"It's not about the money. Not to sound rude, but could we drop the subject?"
It really didn't seem like money was the issue. Jessica was tempted to ask if there was a personal reason behind Yuri's seemingly staunch decision but out of diplomacy, decided not to press on.
Their food arrived and they ate in silence.
The blonde noticed that her dinner companion had hardly touched her food.
Being naturally perceptive, Jessica sensed that Yuri was miserable about something, hence, the wild guess that her misery was Yoona-related.
After dinner, the art director suggested going for drinks in the wine bar next door. She was to make a final attempt at getting Yuri to change her mind about going to Jeju.
"There's a great wine bar next door and-" Jessica started off saying, but before she could finish, Yuri cut her off.
"Not tonight. Mind taking a walk with me instead?"
*
It was a warm, muggy summer's evening, as they strolled aimlessly down the main thoroughfare of Garosugil, no particular destination in mind.
Without a single word being exchanged, the pair soon found themselves in a small park nearby.
A gentle breeze rustled through the trees as they settled down on a bench.
"Aren't you even going to ask why?" Eventually, Yuri broke the silence, turning to look at Jessica in a manner that sent the blonde's pulse racing.
Those eyes...a person could drown in them.
"I want to but then I figured it was maybe something personal, so... "
"You figured right."
"Let me guess...something to do with Im Yoona?"
"Was it that obvious?"
"See, I'm like the princess from the fairytale 'The Princess and the Pea.' You know, that silly one where this princess slept on layers upon layers of mattresses but could still feel that dumb pea right at the bottom because she's sensitive? Yeah, that one. So, let's just say that I FEEL things."
"Yoona and I were in a relationship-" Yuri continued, then stopped when she saw the puzzlement spread all over Jessica Jung's face. "Would it be easier for you to grasp the situation if I told you that I'm...gay?"
Kwon Yuri's frank revelation about her sexual identity came as a whammer of a shock, something Jessica wasn't expecting at all.
The blonde managed an, "Oh, I see."
"Why am I telling you...you don't really want to hear this?"
"Try me," Jessica said, after managing to regain composure. She could sense the anguish in her companion's eyes, and Jessica had only wanted to reassure her that someone was listening.
"You're shocked, aren't you?" Yuri asked. "I mean, I'm not usually in the habit of blabbing about my...preference for women to just any Tom, Dick and Harry."
"Well, I'm neither Tom, Dick nor Harry." A pregnant pause, then, "Actually, that explains quite a bit."
"Oh?"
"You know, that kind of explains why I had the impression you were flirting with me right from the moment we met? You were staring at me rather intently with those peepers of yours when you told me to apologise. The second time we met, you took off your helmet and jacket with so much diva attitude just to let me know that you're all woman AND a sexy one at that. What about stripping off right in front of me and flaunting that sweaty package of yours when the A/C died on us? And was offering me a ride home on your bike another ploy to...uhm...I dunno... seduce me? I would be really dense if I didn't detect a thing."
"Now, hold on a dang sec. You're being presumptuous...I was flirting with you? I was seducing you?" Eyes widened in utter indignation to Jessica's allegations.
"But that's totes the kind of vibe I was receiving. Just telling it as it is."
"Okayyy...I won't bother to entirely deny that, because, shoot, I could've done that without even realising I was doing it. But don't you think there's something you should confess to me about?"
"What's there for me to confess?"
"That you could actually be attracted to me?"
Hardly expecting such a question to be hurled at her, Jessica froze, like a deer caught in the headlights. Completely taken aback, she felt her face heating up.
Dark eyes scoured the blonde all over for a clue. "You do like me. And if not for it being so dim around here, I would say you're blushing right this very minute."
"Baloney." Jessica squirmed, kicking at non-existent stones on the ground. Friggin' insane how she hit the nail. "Like you said, it's dim...how can you even tell?"
"Your body language gives you away. You think you're the only sensitive person here?" Yuri smirked. "Let me tell you I feel things just as much as you do. And what's more, I can feel that you really, really dig me, but I can tell it's probably not something you'd readily want to admit to."
"What are you getting at?"
"Just a whimsical guess on my part. My guess is that you're too stubborn to admit that you could actually be gay, because all along you thought you were straight, and you would really rather be straight-straight is good, straight is normal-as there are no complicated issues to deal with. So, you deny the fact that you could actually be attracted to someone who is of the same gender-namely me."
"I call B.S. What kind of crappy logic is that?"
"Logic of the simplest kind." Yuri stood up, flailing her arms, letting escape a long-drawn-out sigh. "Jessica, we all need to be honest with our feelings. Yoona just wasn't. In the process of denying our relationship, she hurt herself, she hurt me. When she made it big, she was deathly afraid that people would find out about us. She became so grossly depressed that I had to let her go. It was a painful decision, but the right one, ultimately."
"Do you still love her?"
"I'd like to think that I've moved on."
"You're SO not over her, that's why you turned down the Jeju job."
"You guys came along and opened up old wounds."
"Well, our apologies if we did open up a can of worms. But if you really want to know if you're out of that phase, as in, you've completely let go and moved on, you come to Jeju with us, then."
"You're a sly one, Jessica Jung."
"Let's just say that it's simply a matter of killing two birds with a single stone-you get to find out if you're completely out of Yoona-mode, and my anal Chief gets the photographer she wants." Jessica shrugged.
"Hey, I'm trying to get over her, remember? If my feelings for Yoona are rekindled once I see her again, that would really be opening a can of worms, wouldn't it?"
"Then, I'll help you get over her," Jessica said, with every ounce of whatever little confidence she had.
There, I said it. Now, regret like fucking hell, Jessica Jung.
*
Later that evening, Jessica sent a text message to Taeyeon:
"Mission accomplished. You get your photographer. Restaurant bill on your desk first thing tomorrow morning. Kindly reimburse."
That night, exhausted as she was, Jessica tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Insomnia was completely alien to her, for sleep was something she never had problems with before.
She knew...she knew I was attracted to her. But how even....?
Jessica was confused beyond reason.
It was as if she had driven into a cul-de-sac and didn't know how to get herself out. Was she really attracted to Kwon Yuri whom she had only known all of three days and who was, chrissakes, just as full-blooded a woman as she was? Was she really a closet gay, as Kwon Yuri had implied, waiting to come out and unleash her latent gay persona?
Should the gay community of Seoul count you as a new member?
And why oh why did she say she would help the photographer get out of her quandary when she, Jessica, was in quite a dilemma herself and hadn't the slightest clue what to do?
It was a classic case of the blind leading the blind.
Let's see how you're getting out of this mess you've unwittingly gotten yourself into, Jessica Jung.
*
In another room somewhere else in Seoul, another person was suffering from insomnia, too.
Yuri was apprehensive about the Jeju assignment, and even more reluctant to meet again her ex, Im Yoona.
Anyone who had ever been through a breakup would know exactly how traumatic it could be. It had taken her all of two years to get over Yoona and just when she thought all was well and that she had moved on, pouring heart and soul into her work, Jessica Jung had swooshed out like a whirlwind, leaving her heart in turmoil.
A wound that had just healed was infected once again, and Yuri wasn't sure what Jeju held in store for her.
*tbc