Hidden Personalities

“Mm?” I answered my phone.

“Vaaalllliiieeeee~” Tae Eun spoke. Very happily, I must say.

“Mwo?” I murmured back.

“Oh nothing, I just bought the cutest pair of earrings!!!!” Tae Eun said. I shall save you from listening to her awfully boring description of them.

“Ok. I bought my shoes.” I said, grinning from ear to ear.

“What they like?” I heard Eunhye speak. Tae Eun must have put the phone on loudspeaker. Again.

“Nothing.” I decided to show them myself later.

“Aww…” Tae Eun whined. “Anyway, we think we’re done. Meet us at old place and we’ll go from there.”

“But I’m not done yet.” Yes. I still had my belt, jeans and jacket to think about.

“Then… We’ll go home first?”

“Yupps. Bye!!” I waved into the phone and hung up.

I went down the aisles of shops and walked into the accesories shop I frequented. I asked the manager -she would never tell me her name, she got robbed before and now doesn’t trust anyone- if they had new stock for that pink-black belt I fancied.

“Yeah, wait here.” Normally I don’t wear pink, but then… A belt I fancy is a belt I get. If I don’t like it I can always give it to Eunhye. No prob.

I was about to walk to the staff door and wait for her there, treading carefully around the maze of shelves that were too close together. Then he knocked into me.

“Yaa!! Watch where you’re goin’, man!” I yelled, then blushed. I must’ve picked it up from CL-onni.

He bowed, and mumbled his apologies. Weird, he was wearing a cap and sunglasses, like he was afraid of people around him. Disfigured, maybe. But there was something awfully familiar about him that kept tugging at me. Somehow, he looked like the ghost of SM -no- Eunhyuk. He wouldn’t come to this place, I thought, shrugging it off. Then, What’s taking the manager so long?

At that moment she came out. Just as I was taking the belt from her, and turning it around in my hands, I felt someone grab my shoulder. It was light, but still firm. I spun around, giving my best scowl.

“Sorry, but…” It was him. That Eunhyuk-ish guy. The “disfigured” one. “Are you P-Pa-leori?”

“Your pronunciation sucks, you know.” I glared at him. “Valerie. With a capital V. Not P.” I cringed at the thought. “Who are you anyway?” Turning back to the lady, I said, “I think I’ll take it. Thanks.” She went to the back to put it in a box.

“I.. Err.. I’m not fit to tell you right now.” Disfigured-guy said.

The next day I went to The Platinum with Tae Eun and Eunhye to shop for outfits to wear at the dance. Since it was informal, I decided to just be myself. Which translates into: going straight to the shoe shops, then the sneakers section.

“Val, can we go look at the dresses?” Eunhye tried to drag me away from the shops; she could see my eyes gleaming.

“Yeah Val, I wanna go look at those earrings. New releases you know! Limited edition!” Tae Eun was pulling my left arm, and Eunhye my right.

I forcefully pulled away, and said, “Ok now. Why don’t we all go our separate ways and meet up later? Entrance, level one, in 2 hours. Yes?” I really wanted a good look at those shoes.

“Well… Ok then. See ya! Come on, Eunhye, let’s go!” Tae Eun started sprinting to the earrings, like some sort of magnet. Eunhye followed suit. I turned around, smiling, shaking my head.

Walking into the Nike shop, I leaped straight up to the shop’s third floor, where all the shoes were. But I didn’t want to go there, no. I walked over to the sales man, or boy, who was in a cool white cap and hunched over what looked like a cars magazine.

“Sneaker-head,” I said. “Looking for Touch.” This was the code word. Or phrase, should be. The boy put down his magazine, gave me a knowing wink, and opened the small door behind the counter for me to enter. Yes! Wonderland!

I stepped in, and immediately Touch came out from the shadows and slapped my hand. “Yo dude! New releases out! Only 3 pairs each!” Whoa, I had to go get some. “Let’s go!”

Nike releases sample shoes for these kinds of shops every couple months. I heard of it from Minzy-onni. You only can hear of it by mouth, they don’t go around advertising these things, in fact, they try not to. The outlet I frequent can only be accessed through a small grocery shop at the corner of the street we live in. Minzy told me, only 2NE1 and I know about it. And she asked -no- ordered me to keep it a secret.

“Ok, so, they are…?” I asked. Immediately Touch went into the back room and brought out a pair of high-tops. I opened the box, and was stunned. Fell in love with it at first sight. They were the completely white, chunky type, with red-gold words printed all over them. And they were just my size. “Great.” I say. “Taken.” I gave Touch a high-five and took out my checkbook. Yes. They were US$500. But totally worth it.

“Chaerin-onni!” I called out to her.

“Yo! Wassup, my little sis?” CL-onni turned round at me.

“Are you close to Victoria-onni?” I asked her slowly, hoping she won’t think this was awkward.

“Victoria from f(x)?” I couldn’t make out her expression.

“Y-Yeah.” I nodded.

“Not as close as you are,” CL winked. “But okay… A few words as leaders.” Her wink became a wide smile. I prefered her “CL scowl”.

“Why?” She wanted to know.

“Oh, nothing. Do all leaders have Abilities?” I decided to risk it.

“Yeah, of course-” She suddenly stopped in her tracks. “Wait. You have an Ability?” She waited for me to answer. Then she said, “If not you wouldn’t know this secret.” She read my mind. I think.

“Err… Did you just read my mind?” I forced myself not to stammer. But it came out whiney.

“Yeah, that’s my Ability. Heh.” She ruffled my hair. It was messy enough anyway. “You were thinking “How did you know?” so I answered you.”

“Ok.” This was getting weirder by the minute. First it was Vic Song-jie, then now Chaerin-onni? I tried to clear the mist in my head, in vain.

“A-ny-waay,” CL-onni sang the word. “I have to go. 2NE1 thing. See you at the dance!” Which was one week away. Does that mean I won’t see her until then? Hmm…

“Well, ok. Bye!” I watched her go into the limousine, not before straightening her neon orange and pink leopard-print Puma hoodie. I looked at her enviously. That’s why I liked YG Ent. They get to wear all those cool clothes. Haha, anticipating my debut.

While thinking about what CL-onni is wearing, I seemed to realize one thing.

I couldn’t, no matter how hard I tried, get him out of my head.

“Song Qian-jie,” I spoke into my LG Chocolate.

Victoria-onni answered sleepily. Oops. I forgot she was a late sleeper. “Yes, ge?” She calls me her older brother because of my name… But it sounds nice, even f I have to be 9 years years younger.

“You know of a guy named Hyukjae in Super Junior, right??” I questioned her.

“Ohh.. You mean Yin He-ge?? Yeah.. What about it??” Victoria-onni seemed to be more alert and awake now.

“I’ll ask you about that next time,” I said, remembering my other reason I wanted to talk to her about. “Promise you won’t tell anyone.”

“Okay..?” I could just imagine onni’s face.

“Err.. I don’t know how to put it.” I hesitated. “I could make Sooyeon-onni think what I wanted her to. But I think it was just a coincidence.”

“Ge! Does that make you one of us?” Victoria’s voice rose to a piercing pitch.

“One..of..us-you? What do you mean??”

“Oh. Because I have it too, Abilities.” Onni’s voice returned to normal.

This time, it was my voice that rose. “Abilities? What?”

“Oh, I think it’s time you found out, ge.” Victoria-onni put on her business-like voice. “All humans have Abilities. In your case, it’s controlling others’ minds. It’s input inside your brain once you’re conceived. But not all humans realize their power. You’re lucky you Activated it so young. I only Activated mine when I was 20. Three years already. But you’re only 14. Wow.. What made you?” She paused, so I could answer. But I was too busy absorbing what she said before. She mistook it for me not understanding, and continued. “Oh. You have to have a desperate, or intense, situation to Activate your Ability.”

“Err… I was talking to Sooyeon-onni, then I didn’t want her to find out something, so while she was talking, I shut my eyes really tight and prayed she didn’t know. Then suddenly-”

“Then suddenly she didn’t know what she was talking about, right?” I could imagine onni’s wide, knowing smile. “Me too. But for me, it’s manipulating others’ actions. I walked into the room and found Donghae holding my precious piggy bank, I was so shocked I ordered him to put it down. As if in a trance, Donghae’s eyes suddenly became blank, and he put my piggy bank down! And forgot what he was doing in my room! Yes, Donghae can be very mischeivous. I don’t even know how he came to be in my room.” I was slowly absorbing all this sudden information, shocked. I felt that I was in a trance, listening to her.

“You wanted to talk about Eunhyuk, right?” Onni wanted to change the subject. As she always would, whenever something strange happens. But she wasn’t using her so-called Ability (I still had a hard time believing her story), I could still think for myself. “Huh? Really? I did?” I was still puzzling over it, forgetting everything else. But once she mentioned his name, everything came back to me. It was as if he was a place of Zen in my mind. “Oh, yeah. So. Is he coming to the dance?”

“Err… After my last convo with him, I think he’s coming. But he said his schedule for next week is not absolutely confirmed yet.” Why is SM Entertainment so sloppy? Can’t they just make decisions? “So far as I know, yeah. He is. Why, ge? You want to meet him?” Onni giggled.

“Yeah-I mean-no! Of course not!” I blushed furiously. “I mean, I just passed him at the dance studios once. He probably doesn’t even know I exist.”

“Aww.. I’m sure he does.” I heard a “Hi, Luna!” in the background. “Ge,” she said back to me. “I have to go now. Schedule up! At MBC! Bye! Love ya!” I heard Victoria-onni blow a kiss at me before hanging up. Sighing, I returned to face my computer. I removed my thumbdrive, closed down the srceen full of Eunhyuk pictures, and went downstairs to find Chaerin-onni.

“Are you sure? Well then, good luck.”

“Thanks, Dad. I have to go now, bye!” I hung up the phone. Well, it’s not my fault that YG was so tough, right?

“Onni!!” Tae Eun jumped up from behind me, but being me, I just turned around with a bored look and replied, “Yes?”

“Onni!! Do you know who’s coming to the dance??” She looked like she was trying to tell me something, not ask me.

“No. Why?”

“Big Bang oppas!!! Kyaa!!!” Tae Eun jumped up excitedly.

“Oh? I thought they were in Japan?” This time, I was interested.

“Yeahh.. that’s what I thought. But then I found out that they made the trip earlier so they could come back in time for the dance!!” Tae Eun grabbed my arm. Her eyes were shining brightly. It doesn’t take a nerd to know she likes Big Bang.

“Can you imagine… Dancing under the night sky with Ji Yong oppa…” Tae Eun held out her arms and pretended to dance.

“Uh-huh..” I smiled cheekily at her.

Blushing, she grabbed my other arm. “Onni! I can’t wait to see him again!! I hear that he’s only coming back two days before the dance.”

“Mm. I only hope that he’ll be there.” I mumbled to myself.

“Who??” Tae Eun was curious to know, but just then, Manager-oppa asked us to hurry for our training. “You’re debuting soon, go. Have fun!”

Have fun? Sprinting to the training studios, we gave each other weird looks and burst into laughter.

*****

Training was hard, but there was sufficient time for surprises. I wasn’t looking forward to discovering it, though.

One slow Sunday morning, having being used to busy schedules and early mornings, I turned on the computer and went through all my files and folders, clearing them out. There were pictures of Christmas parties, Birthday celebrations, Unglam shots. I filed them properly, a grin or two escaping from my mouth.

Surprisingly, there were also pictures of 2NE1, Big Bang, 1TYM and Se7en. The only YG trainees I was actually close to. The reat had either left, or I didn’t really get to meet. I deleted the pictures that were unimportant, and only kept those that really had meaning to me. My computer was about to burst, anyway. There were also videos that I transferred to my thumb-drive.

And old schedules. Notes, research, miscellaneous. I sent them in my email. That left a lot of space for the dance photos, which was only one week away now. Thinking of the dance, I thought of Eunhyuk, or Lee Hyukjae, whatever you’d like to call him. I prefer Eunhyuk. I also thought of f(x), the only group in SM Ent that I was actually close to. Especially Victoria-onni, the leader. I really needed to talk to her. Soon. As I had nothing to do, I thought right now would be a good idea. She was also trying to make time for the dance, I was hoping she would come. Someone form SM Ent to tell me about them.. Funny I never asked her about Super Junior. Was never quite interested in them anyway..

I opened the internet browser and searched “Super Junior”. I went straight to the profile page. Skipping all of them, I went straight to “Lee Hyukjae”. Looking through the information, something weirdly familiar caught my eye.

Birthday: 4th April 1986

He had the same birthday as me. Only 8 years earlier. Whoa.

Just then, Sooyeon-onni came into the room. “Super Junior? I thought you were never interested in them.” Oh no, she shouldn’t have said that. Or even come into the room and look at what I was browsing. Maybe, she should have. Maybe I should be glad that she did – if not, I wouldn’t have discovered it.

Have you ever had a major crush on someone you only saw once? Well, I happened to me. About two months ago. Actually, two-and-a-half. November 13th.

I know this sounds stupid – I don’t know how to bring it across. I met him once, only passed by him while changing schedules – I did not notice him before. They say he was here for a very long time, but being the only clueless person around, I never really knew of his existence. I asked his name – Eunhyuk. But when I checked the list of artistes, there was no Eunhyuk. I checked again. Maybe…he doesn’t exist. But I really fell for him. Sort of, maybe this is what having a crush feels like. But for someone that doesn’t exist? I was too busy to try and find out for sure, and anyway, I was in a different company. At that time, he was just the ghost of SM Entertainment to me.

Only recently did I find out that someone called Eunhyuk actually exists. His real name is Lee Hyukjae, and that name I managed to find in the list of SM Entertainment trainees. However, I never really found the chance to meet him. YG was just about training and training. Everyday except Sundays. Even then, my Sundays were busy trying to catch up with the world.

But in two weeks, there will be a small dance. Held by YG. And I heard that Super Junior’ll be there. I heard not all could make it, but it didn’t matter. Only he had to be there. And I was praying fervently he will.

Sunny smiled at the photograph on her hospital bedside table. She had Ryeowook bring her a picture of Sungmin during her stay here. Picking it up from the table, she kissed it, and put it in her bag. After a final touch-up of her makeup, she was ready to go.

It was already 3 weeks later and Sunny had been permitted to go home. Sungmin was still in the hospital, healing from the internal injuries it had left him.

Sunny went down the hallway to Sungmin’s new room, where he had been shifted after he woke up. She went into his room, and sat down next to him.

“Sunny!” Sungmin was glad to see her.

“Hey, oppa.” She smiled lovingly at him.

Sungmin reached out and took her hand. He looked at her bag. “You’re discharged?”

“Well, yeah. I’m going back to the Soshii members today. Now, actually. But don’t worry. I’ll visit you everyday.” Sunny promised.

Sungmin smiled and shook his head.”After been absent for the longest time, I think you wouldn’t be able to visit me any time soon.” Sungmin looked up at her hopefully. “But I bet I’ll be discharged next week. I’m recovering so fast.”

“Ha ha ha…” Yesung could hear Sunny laughing at some comment Sungmin made. He flinched. He hated it when someone could smile, let alone laugh, and not knowing anything at all…

He watched as Sunny finally walked out of the room, and approached Sungmin’s room. He peeked through the windows. Sungmin was lying down, eyes open, possibly thinking of something. Then, Sungmin smiled. It was as if something made him happy. Yesungturned his head and walked away. He could not watch Sungmin any longer. Tears welled up in his eyes as he left the hospital…

*****

“My turn!” Ryeowook took his clothes and rushed into the bathroom, just as Yesung went out. Whoa, he must really want to take a bath.. Yesung’s eyes widened and he walked towards the dressing table. There, he blow-dried his hair and arranged it neatly. He could not stand having messy hair.

He lay one the bed, looking at the ceiling, thinking about what happened this afternoon. Sungmin and Sunny, smiling and laughing, while there was an ache in his heart.

After a while, Ryeowook came out of the bathroom. “Nice and clean~~” He sang out.

“You’ve never been so interested in taking a bath before..” Yesung looked amused.

“No lahh.. I’ve just been very dirty lately..?” Ryeowook grinned and dried his hair. “Don’t get me wrong. I know what you’re thinking.”

“Huh?” Yesung couldn’t figure it out.

“Haha.. Never mind then.” Ryeowook slid into the bed next to him. “G’night.”

“Sleeping so fast?”

“Yeah we have a busy day tomorrow. Practicing and stuff. I don’t want heavier eyebags, hyung. And I don’t know what time I’ll have to wake up. So, sleeping early.” Ryeowook turned around and closed his eyes.

Yesung sighed. He knew how Ryeowook loved sleeping..

“Wookie-ah…” Yesung called out to him after a little while.

Ryeowook didn’t answer. He had fallen asleep.

That was quick… Yesung sighed. I can still ask him tomorrow..

With that, he closed his eyes, too.

*END*

Note: Hope you liked it~~ =D

Note: Gonna start another one.. Mwahaha.. Gonna be boy-girl fics, so it’s more Jill-friendly(!)… Gotta start planning…

Sungmin sat up in his bed, yawning hugely. Looking around his room, his eyes widened in shock. Where was he? Looking more carefully, seeing the tubes that ran from a machine to his nose, and the dripping bag at the side, he had guessed it was the hospital. He turned his head to the right and saw the table.

It was filled with gifts of all shapes and sizes. Most of them were pink, he realized. There was also a note. One note. On a piece of pink paper. He rolled his eyes, smiling, then took the piece of paper.

“Sungmin, hwaiting!!” Reading that last sentence, Sungmin smiled. At least he knew there were people who really cared for him. But there was something strange about that note. “Sunny is also very worried about you. She sends her love. She also says she likes the rabbit you gave her.” Only one person knew that he liked Sunny. Also, Sungmin only told one person about the rabbit. Maybe that person was the one who gave the rabbit to Sunny.

That person is… Ryeowook. Sungmin gasped.

“SUNGMIN!!” Leeteuk yelled, bursting into the room.

“SUNGMIN-HYUNG!” Ryeowook yelled almost at the same time.

Ryeowook! Sungmin thought. “Hello, hyung. Hello, Ryeowookie.” He said.

“Sungmin! How are you? Are you okay? Do you feel weak?” Leeteuk bombarded him with endless questions.

“Hyung!!” Ryeowook could only say that. He noticed Sungmin staring intently at him, holding the note.

But Leeteuk didn’t notice the obvious presents on the table. He was only worried about Sungmin’s health. “Sungmin-ah? Are you okay?”

“Yes, hyung, I’m okay. Don’t need to worry. And I don’t feel that weak. I’m fine. Strong.” Sungmin beamed at the leader.

Ryeowook only stared back at him, not saying anything. Endless thoughts filled his mind. He hoped Sungmin didn’t figure anything. He wondered if he shouldn’t have bought anything. But he was overwhelmingly happy that his hyung had woken up fine. Hyung… He thought. And tears spilled out of his eyes.

“Hyung, is it okay if you leave the room for a little while? I would like a private talk with Ryeowook.” Sungmin smiled.

“O-Oh. Okay.” Leeteuk hesitated, then slowly retreated out of the room.

“Ryeowookie-ah… Thank you.” Sungmin smiled.

Note: It’s the Note again~^^ I think the next chapter will be the last one… Featuring Yesung.

Three days later, Leeteuk was sitting on the couch in his room, staring blankly at the ceiling, when he received a phone call. Looking at the flashing screen, he saw that it was from an Unknown Caller. Gingerly, he he slid it open.

“Hello?” He said, cautiously.

“This is the hospital. Is this Park Jungsoo?” A lady replied in a kindly tone.

“Yes, speaking. Is anything the matter?” Leeteuk answered. His hand trembled. He hoped fervently that nothing had happened to Sungmin.

“Lee Sungmin has woken up from his coma. You may like to visit him now. He’s a little weak, though.” The nurse spoke slowly.

Sweat was breaking out from Leeteuk’s forehead. He couldn’t believe it. “R-R-Really?! Are you sure?! Sungmin-sshi??!” Leeteuk stammered. He was so relieved that nothing was wrong with Sungmin.

“Yes, he is awake. In fact, I’m with him now. He wished to see you. And another called Kim Ryeowook.” Leeteuk could almost feel the nurse’s smile as she said that.

“Ryeowookie? Okay okay tell him we’re coming soon.” Leeteuk pressed the End Call button and started dialing Ryeowook’s number. His fingers were shaking so much he had to concentrate hard to avoid slipping them.

“Hello?” It was Ryeowook’s voice. He sounded really sleepy.

“Ryeowook-ah! Leeteuk-hyung here. Sungmin is awake!! Come to the hospital now!!” Leeteuk almost yelled into the phone.

“What?! He has?! 어머, I really want to come… But I’m having classes now.. I’m not free.” Ryeowook’s disappointment could clearly be felt.

“Tell the lecturer-hyung to let you go. Say it’s a family emergency! It is! Kind of..” Leeteuk blurted out.

“Okay okay..” Leeteuk could hear Ryeowook get off his seat and ask the lecturer-hyung to let him attend to a “family emergency”. He seemed to have got it easily. Leeteuk grinned. Ryeowook’s “doggie eyes” could convince anyone to listen to him!

“Hyung! Got it. Where do I meet you?” Ryeowook was excited.

“Come back to the dorms. I’ll drive you there.” Leeteuk said.

“Yes sir! On my way, hyung!”

First, he visited Sungmin.

Walking quietly into the room, Ryeowook took one look at Sungmin’s face and sighed. He had missed his friend a lot. Then, he walked to the side of the table and started arranging some things. Pulling out one item after another, he arranged everything neatly and carefully. Then he grabbed out a pen and wrote a little note.

Hi Sungmin,

I’m glad you have woken up. You would have, or you wouldn’t be reading this, right? We were so worried about you, and we prayed everyday for you. Aren’t you glad you have woken up?

We each got you a little gift, hoping you would get well soon. The doctor told us even after you wake up, you will have side effects from it, and would have to stay a little longer. So please get well, fast. Our second album would not be complete without you. Sunny is also very worried about you. She sends her love. She also says she likes the rabbit you gave her.

Sungmin, hwaiting!!

Super Junior

Smiling, Ryeowook left and went to Sunny’s room.

“Hi, Sunny-noona!” Ryeowook said.

“Hey, Ryeowook!” Sunny looked really glad to see her ’son’ here. She was bored to death at the hospital.

“How’s your physiotherapy coming along?” Ryeowook sat at the side of the bed. Sunny groaned.

“Bad. I still can’t walk. If this goes on any further, Manager-oppa will replace me in Soshii.”

“No he won’t. You’re his favourite trainee.” Ryeowook patted her shoulder comfortingly.

“I guess. Why isn’t Sungmin-oppa here?”

“Ohh… He…” Ryeowook looked down, rubbing his nose hard. “He was poisoned.” He mumbled that last word.

“He was what? It’s ok, Ryeowook, say it.” Sunny looked worried.

“Poisoned.” Ryeowook pulled his hand away from his nose and finally said.

“What?! Is he ok? What exactly happened?” Sunny was tearing up, shocked.

“He… He’s in a coma now… On level two.” Ryeowook got very scared at Sunny’s reaction, and looked away from her.

“Can you bring me to visit him now? Please?” Sunny tugged at Ryeowook’s shirt.

“I…don’t know..” Ryeowook didn’t want Sunny to find out about the note and gifts.

“Aww… Never mind then. As long as he’s ok.” Sunny sighed heavily. “I really hope he is.”

“He will be okay, Sunny-noona!” Ryeowook looked straight into her eyes, even though he knew there was a chance Sungmin might never wake up. “I know it.”

“Ok ok.. Wookie.” Sunny managed a faint smile. “I believe you.” She gave Ryeowook a hug.

Ryeowook sighed.

“Oh, noona! I have something for you!” He said, grabbing a paper bag from the side of the bed.

“Wow… Thank you so much..” Sunny smiled. “Why did you give me something anyway?”

“Sungmin said you liked rabbits, so he bought this small figurine for you. He hopes you like it. But then he…” Ryeowook stopped. he did not dare say anymore.

“Oh.. Well, I do love it. Too bad i can’t thank him properly.” Sunny turned the rabbit over in her fingers, head drooped.

“He will know.” Ryeowook said kindly.