To Kiss An Idol

“Yeah! We are idiots. We didn’t even ask how she was,” said Him-Chan.

“Or Jae was,” commented Jeong-Eun.

“I saw her bruises, it was black. She should see a doctor,” pointed out Young-Chul.

“But I am glad that Hu-ssi gave her a bonus,” said Jung-Hwa and kept staring at Kyung-Soo to note his reaction. Everyone was talking about her, but he kept slurping the noodles.

“And the way he was firm with everyone in his message, I loved it,” said Jeong-Eun. “After that, no one was talking about JJ and Jae.”

“Oh, sometimes I hate my life,” shouted Thae.

“What? Why?” asked Korain.

“I could not even go to her house to meet her and thank her and check up on her. Here, we six people are taking care of JJ along with our doctor whereas she has no one,” commented Thae. His words made Kyung-Soo sad. He knew Thae was right. Everyone had family around them, JJ, Jae but Nivritti had no one. He tried taking care of her yesterday, but she needed people around her after her ordeal. Dealing with bully takes its toll.

.....

“Right!” nodded Kyung-Soo.

“But we are idiots. We should have called her and asked about her. I will give her a call. Kyungsoona Hyung, you have her number, right?” said Thae making Kyung-Soo look at him with surprise.

Before Kyung-Soo could reply, Korain interjected, “I don’t think we should disturb her. We can talk to her when we see her in the office. Anyway, it is better not to get involved with anyone even though it’s just friends. No talking to the opposite sex till everything settles down. Every eye is on us. She saved us from a scandal, don’t do anything that she would become a part of it.”

Everyone realised that Korain was right. “Yes, Hyung,” was the collective answer.

“You eat, all of you, get ready,” Korain ordered everyone around. Kyung-Soo nodded and concentrated on the food. All others ran to their rooms to get ready. The costume department had brought their clothes, they just had to wear them and go sit in the make-up chair.

Kyung-Soo was peacefully eating the noodles. He picked up a leg piece and took a bite of the chicken. Before he could swallow, he noticed someone standing in the line of his peripheral vision. He gulped and turned around. Jung-Hwa was standing next to him with his hands over his hip. The chicken piece fell on the plate with a soft thud.

“Are you going to tell me, or do I have to waste my time asking you about it?” taunted Jung-Hwa.

“What?” asked Kyung-Soo.

“Don’t act innocent. Tell me where you were last night?” Jung-Hwa gritted his teeth.

“I told you,” lied Kyung-Soo.

Jung-Hwa dragged a chair and sat next to Kyung-Soo. “Tell your lies to those who you can fool.”

“I am not lying,” laughed Kyung-Soo and took a sip of water.

“Then tell me, when you arrived why were you smelling like lavender?” inquired Jung-Hwa.

Water spurted out of Kyung-Soo’s mouth, and he started coughing violently. Jung-Hwa just crossed his arms over his chest and raised his eyebrows at Kyung-Soo.

“Don’t you think you are choking too much today?” mocked Jung-Hwa.

Kyung-Soo controlled his cough and took a deep breath. He turned towards Jung-Hwa, grabbed his collar and pulled him towards his face. “Who have you told?” he asked angrily.

“What? No one. There is nothing to tell,” smiled Jung-Hwa.

Kyung-Soo realised that he made a mistake. Jung-Hwa was bluffing and he walked into his trap blindfolded. “You were testing the waters,” Kyung-Soo closed his eyes and let Jung-Hwa go.

“Yeah, I always smelled lavender when I was near her. So, I took a chance. I see that you too noticed her smell. So, last night you were with her?” said Jung-Hwa.

“Oh, so proud of yourself. So happy to play detective,” taunted Kyung-Soo.

“Hyung! Do you need me to call Korain Hyung?” threatened Jung-Hwa.

“Do you need me to call Korain Hyung,” repeated Kyung-Soo, mockingly. “Fine, yes, I was with her.”

“Really!” Jung-Hwa clapped like a happy child.

“Wow! Sudden change in the mood,” commented Kyung-Soo and went back to eating.

“How is she? Is she okay? Why did you return so late? Did she say anything about me? Is she still angry at me?” Jung-Hwa bombarded him with questions, the very thing Kyung-Soo was trying to avoid.

Kyung-Soo kept looking at him and Jung-Hwa kept raining questions. Before he could blurt out the next question, Kyung-Soo grabbed a piece of chicken and stuffed it in Jung-Hwa’s mouth making him shut up.

“Calm down! And lower your voice. I don’t want anyone to hear about it,” whispered Kyung-Soo.

“Right, sorry,” mumbled Jung-Hwa and kept chewing the chicken.

“I was concerned about her. She was hurt and she is alone. I wanted to check up on her. I thought she would be curled up in a ball crying her eyes out, but she was cleaning her house,” replied Kyung-Soo.

“And?”

“No, she is not angry at you. Happy?” asked Kyung-Soo.

“A little,” replied Jung-Hwa.

“But why did you return so late?” inquired Jung-Hwa, impatiently.

“Well, we were talking,” said Kyung-Soo.

“About?”

“About her family, her life in India, etc, etc,” Kyung-Soo tried to make it look like he had boring chat with Nivritti.

“And it took you so much time?” Jung-Hwa raised one of his eyebrows.

“I told you she was cleaning her house. I had to wait for a long time before she was free,” replied Kyung-Soo and glugged the noodles.

“I was angry that you didn’t eat the food that I saved for you. But did you eat anything?” asked Jung-Hwa.

“Oh, she is a great cook. Her curry and rice were delicious,” Kyung-Soo placed his palm over his mouth and send a kiss in the air.

“Hmm... so did you guys kiss again?” asked Jung-Hwa excitedly.

Kyung-Soo immediately pressed his palm over his mouth and shushed him. “What are you doing? Why are you talking in full volume, you idiot?”

“Sorry, forgot in excitement. So did you?” he asked again.

“No.”

“What? Why? Is she still hung up on the age thing?” asked Jung-Hwa.

“She is but more important is her heart. She has locked the door to her heart and threw the key to the darkest, deepest abyss,” replied Kyung-Soo with sad eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“That she is not ready for any relationship, no matter what the age of a man who approaches her,” Kyung-Soo smiled sadly.

“But Hyung you like her,” notified Kyung-Soo.

“You know in a relationship, feeling from both sides matters, right? It should not matter that I like her, the thing that should matter must be we both should like each other,” Kyung-Soo placed his hands over Jung-Hwa’s shoulder and comforted him.

“But you cannot accept defeat. She is so nice and kind and smart. She is perfect for you. I have this feeling that you guys are made for each other. You should not give up on you two,” requested Jung-Hwa.

“Who said I was giving up?” smiled Kyung-Soo.

“Yay! Good. If you would not have approached her, I would have,” teased Jung-Hwa.

“Ha-ha, she rejected me because I am five years younger than her, do you think you have any chance with her, you kid?” Kyung-Soo laughed out loud.

“What the hell are you two doing?” shouted Korain from behind. Both Kyung-Soo and Jung-Hwa jumped with fear. Both looked at Korain who was dressed in a dapper grey suit. “I told you to go get ready, what are you still doing here?” he scolded Jung-Hwa.

“Sorry, Hyung,” said Jung-Hwa and jumped out of his chair. Without speaking a single word, he ran out of the kitchen and within seconds he was inside his room.

“And you?” Korain looked at him with anger.

“Give me five minutes, and I will be done with my food,” said Kyung-Soo and started shoving food in his mouth.

“I have laid your suit in your room. Wear it and get your make-up done. I will go and take care of others. Oh, I have to see if they have placed the sound system,” mumbling to himself Korain left Kyung-Soo alone.

Kyung-Soo ate as fast as he could and drowned the food with water. After he was done, he dumped the plates in the sink. He had no time to clean them up. He ran to his room and saw a black tuxedo waiting for him on his bed.

He took off his clothes and wore the tuxedo. His broad shoulders were extremely enhanced in the suit. His porcelain skin against the black suit was shiny even more.

“I am so handsome but what is the benefit? The girl my heart likes has no concern about my handsomeness. Even all this, this beautiful face, this chiselled body, my beautiful heart, nothing is enough to persuade her to open her heart. What will I do? I told JJ that I won’t give up, but I have no idea what to do next. She is heartbroken, that asshole crushed her heart. If I have any chance with her, I will first have to heal her heart. I will have to assure her that her heart will be safe with me. Never even in my dreams will I break her heart,” he breathed heavily and looked at himself in the mirror. “You idiot! You could have come to earth five years before your birth. I will have to talk to my parents. Why didn’t they meet before? At least the age issue would have sorted itself out,” he groaned loudly.