Sorry for the long hiatus of this fanfic... I'll double up my post for Joongboo fanfic tomorrow. ^^
Hyun Joong did not want to be recognized. Thus he drove all the way to this small town which was two and a half hours away from Seoul. His friend, In Yong had been here before and had told him about the small shop at a corner of the town market. In Yong was his friend whom he called and asked to talk to Hwang Bo while they were filming the Couple Farewell Vacation mission. In Yong was fond of Hwang Bo. He would have come with him if he had asked but Hyun Joong did not want In Yong to close down his business for the day just to go with him. Now, Hyun Joong regretted it not asking In Yong to come with him. The shop owner seemed to pay a lot of attention to him. More that he needed. If In Yong was with him now, he would feel less self conscious of the shop owner.
The young man came to his shop 15 minutes earlier. He quietly scanned the rings in display glass. The shop owner did offer him help but he silently shook his head and continued to stare at each ring. Sometimes he would point at a ring and ask to see it. After turning it around with a frown, he would put it down and start to scan the display in silent again. After watching the young man for a while, the shop owner recognized him as the idol his granddaughter from Seoul loved to talk about. His granddaughter would visit him sometimes and share stories about schools and idols with him. She told him all about her idol until the shop owner felt like he too had became a fan because he knew all about his granddaughter's idol. She proudly kept her idol photo in her purse to show to him too. The shop owner was positive this young man is Kim Hyun Joong.
After contemplating between the three rings in front of him, he made his final decision. "I want this one," he said. Hyun Joong pointed at the ring that caught his attention under the glass. None of the three were of his liking.
"Aren't you.." The shop owner asked the question at the same time Hyun Joong made his final choice.
"No, I'm not," Hyun Joong cut the shop owner's sentence midway in firm tone before the shop owner could finish his question. "You don't know me," Hyun Joong added, looking pleadingly at the shop owner. "You don't, right?" he repeated in the tone that matched his expression. He did not want to be recognized. He purposely dressed down in old jeans and tee to blend with the local. He wore his hair down and a bit messy as not to attract too much attention.
The shop owner nodded his head slowly. He smiled. "No, I don't. I thought you are one of my granddaughter's friends." He opened the display glass and reached to pick the ring Hyun Joong wanted. He handed it to him with a warm smile. "You look very much like him."
Again, Hyun Joong wished In Yong was with him. If he was he could help him out. He did not like lying to elderly. It would make his elderly phobia worst. Hyun Joong returned the kind hearted shop owner's smile and nodded his head slightly. "Yes," he said. "How much is this?" he asked. He suddenly became wary of the cost. It was an impromptu decision to get the ring. He did not even think about the cost. "Do you accept credit card?" he asked again.
The shop owner found the question very funny and laughed out loud. "Young man, I operate this shop in a small quiet town. My clients are old people like me who grow their own food," he told him. He gestured Hyun Joong to try the ring. "Find the ring that fits in your little finger. Then it will also fits on the girl's ring finger."
"Really?" Hyun Joong asked.
"Yes. If it does, you and Hwang Buin are fated to be together."
Hyun Joong smiled. He did what the shop owner suggested. It fit well. Then he realised what the shop owner had just said. "I'm not Kim Hyun Joong." His denial was a bit shaky as he felt uncomfortable lying to the nice shop owner.
The shop owner laughed out loud again. "No, you are not. You are my granddaughter's friend." He pointed at the ring which was still on Hyun Joong's finger. "If you want that ring, I can let you pay in instalment. All of my clients do that."
Hyun Joong quickly shook his head. "No. No need. I will pay," he said. He was both surprised and touched the shop owner trusted a stranger and an outsider like him enough to offer installment. It would be too much to let the kind heart-ed man gave him instalment. He would pay it in cash term. After all, he could not give a gift which he had not paid for.
They were done filming for that night. It was a very long day. It started with an outing at Everland and ended with the blind date. Or the introductory dinner as Hwang Bo called it. The We Got Married crew were busy packing. The Ssangchu couple were busy getting ready to leave too. The place the production house rented for the Ssangchu couple was merely a location for filming. At the end of the day, everyone will leave. Tonight, no matter how late they wrapped up filming, everyone was forced to leave. In a couple of day, they will start filming again. It would be another long day of hard work.
Because of his upcoming debut drama the Ssangchu Couple and the filming crew were forced to work with a very strict schedule, filming one episode after another. Right after the Ant Tour wrapped, they started today's filming and would continue with the next one. Hyun Joong noticed how tired Hwang Bo looked. She seemed barely able to walk out of the house. It was not her alone. In fact, when he looked around him, all the crew seemed to be a bit impatient to go home. He felt sorry and guilty to them. "Buin," Hyun Joong called Hwang Bo, touching her elbow lightly. "I can give you a ride home," he offered.
He called himself lucky because he has a good company managing him. His manager was with him tonight for the filming. He would send him and his two members home. He was well taken care of by the company. Hwang Bo managed herself. She was not signed to any company. Hyun Joong stared at her with deep expression. Someone needed to take care of her. He had decided to ask their manager to let Hwang Bo ride with them.
"It's OK," Hwang Bo said, smiling at him. "I asked my friend to drive my car here in the afternoon. It's in the parking."
He stared blankly into the space. "I'll drive you home," he immediately said. It was neither an offer nor a request. It was a firm statement.
Before Hwang Bo could say anything to protest, he walked towards Kyu Jong. Hwang Bo immediately stopped walking on the spot and watched him. She sighed. Although she never anticipated anything from him, he would do unexpected things to make her heart fluttered. She hated to admit it but that line she did not draw today, must be redraw in a dark, permanent color to make it more visible and hard to erase. "Hyun Joong ah.. Why are you like this?" she muttered softly.
"Kyu Jongie ah, I'm going with Hwang Buin.." Before he could finish his sentence, someone jumped at him from behind, startling him. "What are you doing?" Hyun Joong scolded Hyung Joon. He looked at him with narrowed eyes.
Kyu Jong extended his neck to look behind Hyun Joong. "Hyung, are you going to tell her? Are you?" he asked, tilting his chin towards Hwang Bo's direction.
Hyung Joon wrapped his hands around Hyun Joong's neck "You are?" Hyung Joon got animated in a sudden. "Tell her! Tell her!"
They talked about Hwang Bo the night they folded the paper cranes together for her birthday gift. He subtly told his members his affection for his Hwang Buin. It started as any other chat SS501 would have. It was when Jung Min grumbling, asking him, "What is the meaning of this? Why are we helping you folding the paper cranes?" they started to talk about Hwang Bo. He did not expect them to encourage him but they did. In fact, they especially Young Saeng expressed he was envious of him who could openly have a relationship with Hwang Bo and be accepted by fans. Even if it was only for a show.
"Hyung, you have to tell her. If you aren't, I'll tell her myself," Kyu Jong said. "I'll tell her I like her."
Hyun Joong eyed Kyu Joong. It was a joke but he did not trust him. He had watched him the whole night. He knew Kyu Jong would really tell Hwang Bo he liked him. Whether it was for real or to irritate him, he did not know. But he knew Kyu Jong would do what he said. "Go back," he said, almost shouting it. "I'm sending Hwang Buin home," he added.
Hyung Joon was having a good time laughing when Hyun Joong left them to walk towards Hwang Bo. "Aishee.." he sighed, shaking his head. "Hyung can only lead SS501 well but he can't decide what to do with his life."
He heard what Hyung Joon said but he was too tired to turn around and give him a good whack. Hyun Joong wanted to leave with Hwang Bo before anyone noticed they left together.
There was somewhere he wanted to go with Hwang Bo before he sent her home but she looked too tired to go anywhere but home. "Buin, do you want to go for late night meal? My friend's chicken shop is still open," he asked her anyway despite telling himself he should not.
Hwang Bo covered her mouth as she yawned. She leaned against the passenger seat and happily let Hyun Joong be her driver for the night. She thought she could nap on the way home but she was too tired even for a nap. But she still could not stop yawning. "Now?" she asked, looking at the time. "It's almost midnight," she said.
"People don't go and eat late night meal when it's not late at night," he told her in scolding tone.
Hwang Bo laughed out loud, clapping her hands at his sudden outburst. "Yes, I understand that now," she said, gritting her teeth and glanced at him sharply. Why did he have to win everything? She gave up and nodded her head. "OK. Let's go. But make sure it's a good meal." She gave him a warning.
"You'll not be disappointed," he promised. "Buin, I don't know if it's true but lately you don't like to spend free time during break with me anymore." Hyun Joong glanced to his side to see Hwang Bo's expression. He saw Hwang Bo pouted and sighed.
Hwang Bo expected the question. Yes, she did accept him when he told her he wanted to date her. She accepted it because he genuinely liked her. After all, he gave her a thousand paper crane to go with the proposal. How could she have said no to that? She genuinely liked him too. Although they never openly date, they have been keeping up with each other and met up secretly at places where they would not be recognised. "Hyun Joong ah, sometimes I feel it's wrong to date like this. Although I like you a lot but I feel guilty. I'm very happy with our relationship now but I can't help feeling worry about the future."
"Why? You don't do anything wrong. Why are you feeling guilty?" Hyun Joong sounded annoyed. He was in fact irritated when Hwang Bo felt insecure about their relationship. Did not he convince her it would work out when he gave her the thousand paper cranes? Did not he told her the thousand reasons why they should date?
"It's not that.."
"Things that happen in the future are in the future. Why are you so afraid of the future? We will handle the future when the future comes. Why can't we enjoy the day as if come?"
Hwang Bo bit her lips. That was one of the most moving things Hyun Joong has ever said to her. The last time he talked to her with that tone of seriousness and confident was when he proposed her to date him. She slowly nodded her head to concur with Hyun Joong.
As soon as the side dish arrived, Hyun Joong turned animated. He exchanged a look with In Yong who served them the dish. Hyun Joong returned In Yong's wink with a grin.
"In Yong, I feel embarrassed now. If I know you own a chicken shop, I'll not offer to cook for you," Hwang Bo told In Yong after thanking him for the dish.
In Yong smiled shyly. He was obviously very smitten by Hwang Bo's friendliness and beauty. He seemed to have lost his voice when he met her in person for the first time. "You are really pretty," he told her.
"Ya! Go back to the kitchen!" Hyun Joong shouted at In Yong.
Hwang Bo leaned forward against the table and held her stomach while laughing out loud. She hit Hyun Joong hard several times on his arm. "He's been like this all night. He nagged at me and yelled at Kyu Jong and Hyung Joon too. Please forgive him," Hwang Bo said, apologizing on his behalf.
In Yong merely chuckled and went away. Nagging and yelling were the signed of Hyun Joong claiming Hwang Bo as his. He had knew him forever thus In Yong knew Hyun Joong very well to bet on his chicken shop that he was indeed in love with her It was not just plain liking.
Hyun Joong eyed In Yong until he disappeared into the kitchen again. Although things would be tougher in the future, he would keep Hwang Bo away from guys who seemed to be falling on her feet one by one. Even his friends and members were smitten with her. He had to guard her well. He had to make her promise not to fall for other guy too. It would be something mutual for them. "Hwang Buin, this dish will not disappoint you." He handed her a fork as he repeated his promised in the car. He gestured her to take a bit. He anticipated her reaction.
Hwang Bo eyed his suspiciously. "There's nothing wrong with this dish, right?" Why was Hyun Joong getting animated in a sudden? She was still eyeing him when she dipped her fork in the dish. It surprised Hwang Bo when the fork hit something metal. Hwang Bo gasped. Her eyes widened. "This is.."
"Yes. Something you want."
It was a ring. In her side dish. Hwang Bo tilted her head backward. She closed her eyes real tight, fighting the tears from coming down. She took a deep breath and exhale. "Shillang, you make me so happy," she told him in soft voice. She was supposed to let Hyun Joong put the ring on her finger. It would make her side dish ring dream be more real but Hwang Bo was too happy that she scooped the ring out with the fork and hold tight to it. It was a beautiful ring. A plain gold ring with straight edge. One look at it, there was nothing special about the ring except it was her side dish ring from Hyun Joong.
Hyun Joong smiled while looking at her moved expression. "It's a couple ring," Hyun Joong told her.
She looked up from the ring to stare at him. She was shocked. "What?" she asked for confirmation.
Hyun Joong nodded his head, saying, "It's a couple ring." He took out another ring from his pocket and showed it to her. It was identical to her ring but was slightly wider. The muscular version of her feminine ring.
It was exactly like hers. She bit her lower lip, trying to hide her smile and failed. She never thought Hyun Joong would want to wear couple ring. She never thought he would initiate the move too. When Hyun Joong asked her to look inside the ring, Hwang Bo turned the ring around. She stopped turning when she spotted something engraved inside the ring. She really had tears in her eyes when she read his name, Hyun Joong engraved inside the ring.
"Mine have your name inside it." He showed her the engraved name.
It said Hye Jung instead of Hwang Bo and that brought tears to her eyes again. She pushed the chair and got up. "Shillang, you really make me cry!" She quickly gave her back to him and run her hands on her eyes to wipe the tears before sitting down again.
Hyun Joong chuckled as he watched her getting very emotional over the ring. "Try it on and see whether it fits or not," he insisted. He threw his fists on the air and laughed when Hwang Bo easily slide the ring on her ring finger.
"What is that for?" Hwang Bo asked, flabbergasted by his reaction. She saw him sliding the ring on his finger too. "No.. No.. No.. Don't wear it." Hwang Bo grabbed his hand, trying to hold him from putting the ring on. At the same time, she quickly took off the ring she was wearing.
"It' a couple ring. It's supposed to be wear together."
"Hyun Joong ah.. If you wear a couple ring, people will notice it."
"Then.. You are not going to wear yours?" He tilted his chin at the ring she was holding, gesturing her to put it back again.
"I will. I'll wear it as a pendant with my necklace." She pleaded with him. "It's too much pressure.."
"On our relationship?" he asked, surprised. He never expected being together with him would be a burden on her. He was very disappointed it was.
"No. On you. People notice things we wear and do. The couple ring isn't sponsored like the watch or my crane earring. Those two are easy to get away with. If people don't then your members will notice."
"They already knew I like you. They kept asking me to tell you that. Eventually, they will know we are dating." Hyun Joong stubbornly wore his ring on his left hand. Fourth finger. The finger reserved for a wedding ring. He merely looked at Hwang Bo with his usual expressionless look when she gasped.
She hung her head low. That finger. Of all the ten fingers he has, he had to wear it on that finger. "I understand," she said, clenching her teeth tightly. She was both irritated with his stubbornness and thrilled by his boldness. "But I will still wear mine as a pendant," she told him. When she said it in hesitant and unsure tone, it was more like asking for permission rather than making a statement. Hwang Bo smiled when Hyun Joong nodded his head firmly and said, "Hhhmm. Don't take off your necklace. If you have to, then wear the ring on your finger." He was giving order and giving her no choice but to nod in agreement. Not that she wanted to protest anyway.
All his life, he protest against doing mushy things like couple tee and sweet words but surprisingly, he did all this and more with his Hwang Buin. He did not know what had become of him but he liked this side of him. It seemed to be existed only when he was with Hwang Bo.
- the end -
[COMEL] 2008. All rights reserved.
