"Umm, at home, in Korea?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
"No!" he squealed happily, then suddenly leaned to his right, disappearing out of the camera's view. What the... I thought, feeling a bit bewildered. He'd never told me he was going anywhere.
"DongHae..." I said warningly.
He popped his head back into the view, dragging EunHyuk in with him.
"Hey JaeHwa!" yelled EunHyuk happily.
"Hey HyukJae," I said, smiling. I'd taken to calling him by his real name lately, it gave a me a special feeling... like I was entitled to call them by their real names. "Where are you guys?"
"In Malaysia!" they said in unison, big grins on their faces.
"What?!" I said, shocked. Malaysia was an almost alien country to me... what the heck were they doing there?!
"We're here for the MTV Asia Awards!" squealed
"Wow, really?" I said disbelievingly. "That's great!"
"Yeah, it's really hot here..." said DongHae. "But our hotel room's fine. We're kinda trapped in here until we leave, there are so many fangirls outside. I had no idea we were so loved here."
"Don't be so big-headed, Lee DongHae," said LeeTeuk, walking past. "Hey JaeHwa."
"Hi Teukie oppa!" I replied brightly. A breeze blew in the window and I shivered slightly. Summer was ending, and the weather was getting cooler. I was only dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, sitting at the desk and missing HyunJae. I then felt a stab of guilt as I remembered that I hadn't talked to JunSu for a few weeks. Neglected... what a terrible friend I was.
"KiBum and HanKyung hyung aren't here with us though," said DongHae, looking sad.
"Why not?" I asked. "Where's KiBum? He wasn't with you in Japan either..."
"Oh, HanKyung hyung has stuff for the Olympics-"
"It's so excitinggg~" EunHyuk butted in, sticking his face right in the camera. DongHae pushed his head aside.
"- and KiBum has filming stuff, so he's stuck in Korea. It's kinda not as fun when they're not here... but we just make the best of it."
"Yeah, we make the best of it," said EunHyuk like a parrot, nodding his head.
"..."
"DongHae, what is up with your hair?" I asked. "It's too long. Get it cut."
"But I like it like this...!" protested DongHae. "Anyway, they did it for me, I didn't really choose."
"But you looked cuter with your short hair."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, I'll cut it soon."
"What about me, JaeHwa? Do I look good?" asked EunHyuk. He started fixing his hair in front of the camera, using it like a mirror.
"I never knew you were so vain Hyukkie," said DongHae, pulling a shocked face.
"Only in front of JaeHwa," EunHyuk replied, laughing. "So what's the answer, JaeHwa? Huh?"
"You look nice Hyukjae, no worries," I said, laughing. "Better than DongHae's," I added, smiling evilly at DongHae.
"Ouch, what an insult!" said DongHae, acting hurt.
"Don't be, I'm extremely handsome," said EunHyuk.
"I think you just stole some of my handsomeness, that's why."
"But... I'm shining."
"But... you stink."
"Aishh!" EunHyuk scrunched his lips together. "I'm going to change. See you JaeHwa!" He got up and padded around the room.
"Umm, looking for something, Hyukkie?" asked DongHae, turning around to look at him.
EunHyuk put his hands on his hips, pursing his lips at DongHae. "Okay, I know you hid my clothes, now where are they, Lee DongHae?" he demanded.
"What are you on about, I didn't take your clothes!" protested DongHae. He turned back to the camera and winked at me.
"Don't think I didn't see that," said EunHyuk.
"I'll talk to you later, Jae," said DongHae, pulling an innocent face at the camera.
I laughed. "Take your time," I said.
"Saranghaeyo."
"Saranghaeyo."
The screen went blank.
Did I have a surprise for him. I couldn't wait for the term to be over.
"JaeHwa!" said JunSu happily as soon as his face appeared on the screen.
"JunSuuuu!" I said, smiling.
"I've missed you!" he said. "Even though Hyun's back, it's still lonely without you."
"Don't worry Jun, you might be seeing me sooner than you think."
"What are you on about, I'm seeing you now."
"I meant in person, stupid."
He perked up, his eyes shining. "Are you coming back?!" he yelled.
"Hmm, maybe," I said, smirking.
"Tell me, tell me!" he pleaded, looking ultra excited.
I laughed. JunSu was such a dork sometimes. "Okay, I'll tell you but don't tell HyunJae, right?"
"I promise!" he said happily. "We'll have our own little secret!"
I told him. But I didn't tell him about DongHae. I know it wasn't right not to tell one of my best friends, but I felt weird telling a guy about... well, another guy.
"I can't wait for you to come back," declared JunSu happily. "Now I won't be able to concentrate on anything else..."
"Don't be stupid, Jun," I said. "Make sure you study for your finals..."
"Aaargh I forgot about finals."
"Hey, don't ignore it because I'm coming back, ok?"
"Hmm..."
"Maybe I shouldn't have told you I was coming back..."
"No!!! Okay, okay, I was only joking! Of course finals are the biggest thing in my life right now."
"Good boy."
When I said he was a dork, I also mean to say that he could be such an idiot sometimes. But a loveable idiot all the same.
Now I really couldn't wait for term to end.
But first I had to get through my own exams.
*From now it will be from different people's point of view.
DongHae
Somewhere distant, a phone rang.
“Guys, someone’s phone is ringing…” I said, waving my arm vaguely. I was too tired to get off the couch, but the insistent ringing was annoying me. The ringtone seemed familiar… “HYUKKIE!” I yelled. “YOUR PHONE!”
The ringing stopped. Finally, peace again. I covered my face with my left arm, my right arm hanging off the couch. I was drifting off when the phone rang. Again.
That did it.
I jumped off the couch and ran to Hyuk’s room, grabbing the phone off the bed and looking at the screen. It was HyunJae. Those two talked more than JaeHwa and I did… but at least Hyukkie was happy. It was nice to see him happy.
“Yuheobsehyo?” I said, picking up.
“HyukJae…?” said HyunJae. I’d always found it funny how their names were vaguely similar… just a mispronunciation would get the wrong person’s attention. Don’t tell HanKyung hyung I was thinking of him.
“No, it’s DongHae… I’ll get Hyuk for you,” I said, making my way to the shower. I’M DESPERATE FOR SOME SLEEP. I banged the door open. The stupid boy forgot to lock the door. Again.
‘Hey, no taking pics of me while I’m in the shower, Hae!” said Hyuk, trying to cover himself up. I heard HyunJae laughing. I grinned evilly.
“I think I’ve seen enough of you, Hyukkie,” I said. “It’s a call.”
“Oh shit, it’s not my mum is it?!”
“No, it’s worse. It’s your girl.”
“Oh. Phew. Hang on, I’m coming out now.” Hyuk stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around himself. He took the phone from me. “Get out!” he said, pushing me out of the bathroom. He slammed the door behind me.
“Hey, be grateful I picked up, that’s the second time she’s called,” I called over my shoulder, flopping back on the couch. Peace. Lovely. I could hear Hyuk yelling "What?!" in the bathroom, but I didn't feel too worried. He was always yelling that. Well, I was always yelling that at him, so maybe it rubbed off.
I drifted off. The world faded out.
I was alone with my dreams.
"Hae!" someone shook my shoulder.
"Go away..." I said, turning on my side so my face was buried at the back of the sofa.
"Hae, wake up!"
"What is it?!"
"It's JaeHwa..."
I turned around and stared right into Hyuk's tear-stained face. What the hell was going on...?
"What is it..." I whispered.
"She... she..."
"HyukJae!" I yelled, sitting up and grabbing him by the shoulders. I shook him. Hard. I didn't mean to hurt him, but I was scared. My heart was jumping out of my chest.
"DongHae!" said SungMin, coming into the living room. He looked like he just got out of bed, which he probably just did. "Stop shaking Hyuk like that, you'll hurt him." He stopped, staring at Hyuk. "Hyukkie... what...?"
I looked back at Hyuk. He stared back at me through red eyes.
"Hyukkie..." I said. "What. Happened. To. JaeHwa?"
"What?" said Min, looking between us. "What's going on, you two?"
I ignored him. Min was easy to ignore sometimes.
Hyuk opened his mouth and closed it. He looked even more of a fish than me.
"Hyuk!" I pleaded. "You're killing me!"
"JaeHwa..." Hyuk whispered.
"Yes...?" I urged him.
"She... she got into an accident."
My brain froze over.
My heart stopped.
I could no longer feel Hyuk's shoulders between my hands.
I was no longer living.
Incredibly, my mouth was still working. But it wasn't my mouth, wasn't my voice coming out. I wasn't there. I was screaming, but no one could hear me.
"What...?" I heard the alien voice say.
"Are you serious?" yelled Min.
Hyuk nodded. A fresh tear slipped down his face. "She's unconcious. They... they're taking her to the hospital now."
"I've got to go..." said the alien inside me. I stood up shakily, and all the feeling came flooding back.
"Hae..." said Hyuk, standing up too, his arms around me.
"Let me go, Hyuk, I've got to go," I said, and tears slipped down my face. I broke free of him and ran to the door.
"No Hae, you can't!" said Min, sprinting after me and pulling me back. Damn him for being a martial arts champ.
"LET GO OF ME!" I screamed. Was that really my voice? I sounded like a girl. Damn, I was turning into HeeChul hyung. Don't tell him I said that either.
Everyone started coming out of their rooms. Was my scream really that freaky sounding...?
"What's going on?" demanded Teukie hyung, coming out of his room. KangIn hyung followed him, rubbing his eyes.
"We're trying to sleep, you three!" said Sunggie hyung, looking scary with his hair all over the place.
"What..." said Kyungie hyung when he saw us.
"Hae... Hyuk.. are you crying?" demanded Won, a concerned look on his face.
I collapsed to the ground, hands over my face. I had no more strength left. Hyuk flung himself down next to me.
"SungMin, what's going on?" said Teukie hyung.
"It's JaeHwa..." whispered SungMin. I knew he was in shock too. He loved her almost as much as I did, but in a different way. I never begrudged him that. Everyone loved her. And evreyone loved SungMin anyway. It was impossible not to.
"I can't hear you, SungMin..." said HeeChul hyung. "Speak up!"
Tears ran down Min's face. This was torturing him. I felt so bad for him. It was my problem, not his. Hyuk hugged me close and I buried my face in his shoulder.
"JaeHwa's in an accident!" Min yelled suddenly.
Hearing Min say that just made it final.
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