| Fan Fiction |
by Take_Flight
“Where are you? Everyone’s here already” Junsu asked. Changmin walked up the stony steps and strode down the empty corridor. “I’m on my way. The meeting got extended since SY was not happy with the catering” Changmin explained.
Junsu laughed. “Maybe she’s not happy with you leaving her” he joked. Changmin rolled his eyes. “Don’t start ok?” he told the older guy as he reached the Art studio. “I’m here by the way” he said and hung up.
Changmin swung the door open and saw most of Nadine’s students crowding around the buffet table in the middle of the room, choosing on the delicacies to eat. He noticed most of the teaching staff were there as well, mingling with his team members but he did not see Nadine around.
“You’re finally here! SY was bothering you again wasn’t she?” one of his team mates was asking, handing him a cup of fruit punch. Changmin threw him a dirty look but the guy simply laughed it off and walked away.
Changmin observed the Art Studio and was impressed with the work that Nadine and her students had put in. He could tell that Nadine was a neat person for she had all the tools and drawing paper stacked neatly on the shelves and the easels lining at one side of the room. For a small space, she had managed to make it look more spacious with the right wall color and organization of the art tools. He then noticed the stains and splotches of paint on the floor and grinned to himself. Seems like the class had a wild time doing their paintings projects.
“I never like having canvas cloths on the floor” Nadine suddenly spoke up from behind him. Changmin turned around and found Nadine sitting on of the student’s desks.
“Hi, I didn’t see you when I came in just now” Changmin told her, taking a sip of the fruit punch.
“I was doing some paperwork at the office just now. You just reached?” Nadine asked, getting off the desk and walking over to the buffet area.
Changmin nodded. “The meeting was longer than I expected” he said, taking a plate and glancing at the spread of food in front of him.
“With SY?” Junsu spoke up. Changmin accidentally dropped the fish fillet he was putting on his plate and it landed on the floor with a splat. Both Nadine and Junsu started laughing at his clumsy act.
“I’m sorry….I didn’t mean to..laugh” Nadine told him and she grabbed a paper napkin and got down to clear the mess.
“Wait, I should be the one doing..OWW…oh..I’m so sorry!” Changmin said, looking flustered. As he was about to got down as well, his head bumped onto Nadine’s.
“Omo! Nadine, you didn’t break your skull right?” Junsu asked, helping her up. Nadine staggered up slowly and blinked a few times. Changmin hurriedly cleared the mess and threw the paper napkin in the bin.
“Nadine..I mean, Miss Arena, I’m REALLY sorry! I didn’t know---
”No-no, it’s alright” Nadine told him, rubbing the sore spot. Changmin saw her wincing slightly and he bit his lip when he saw the dark blue bruise forming on her forehead.
“No you’re not. I got get some ice” Changmin told her. Before Nadine could stop him, he was already at the drinks area. He scooped up a few blocks of ice and then looked around for a piece of cloth. He then remembered about the handkerchief in his pocket and quickly placed the blocks of ice on the cloth and went over to Nadine. But she was nowhere to be found.
“Hyung! Where did she go?” Changmin wanted to know. “The Ladies” Junsu said through a mouthful of potato salad.
Changmin gave Junsu a disgusted look before stepping out of the studio and looking for Nadine. He saw her just before she entered the washroom.
“Miss Arena! Wait!” Changmin called out, running up to her. Nadine looked at him quizzically and he handed her the soaked handkerchief.
“Ice?” Nadine asked. Changmin nodded. “Press it on your forehead so it won’t swell up” he told her.
Nadine took the ice pack and went inside the washroom. Changmin waited for her outside. He felt bad for ruining the evening, Nadine’s evening. It was supposed to be like a big night for Nadine and he had to ruin it for her. When Nadine stepped out of the washroom, she held up the handkerchief in front of Changmin’s face and laughed.
“The ice melted so fast!” Nadine told him. “And..I believe this is the second time I mess up your precious handkerchief” she added.
“They’re not precious…I mean, it’s just a piece of cloth. How do you feel now?” Changmin asked, looking at her with concern.
Nadine waved her hand, brushing off his question. “I’m fine..REALLY. And I’ll get this clean out. I still have your other handkerchief. I left it in the teacher’s room..I’ll go get it now”
“I’ll come with you” Changmin offered. “And I’m really really really—
“I said it’s OK” Nadine told him with a smile. “Accident happens all the time” she said as they made their way to the teacher’s room. “And you should actually be there at the gathering. You deserve it, for helping us out”
“No. YOU should be at the party that Leeteuk has arranged. You did a lot for the school” Changmin pointed out.
“But you help us—
“No wait. Are we going to continue completing each other or what?” Changmin asked, holding up his hands.
Nadine laughed. “No. I might get a bigger head at the end of the day. Here we are..you have to wait here for a while. They kind of have a strict policy to not let visitors enter the teacher’s room”
“Got it” Changmin told her. He was leaning on the wall when the door swung opened. Nadine stepped out, waving the cloth in front of his face.
“I’ll get the other one cleaned out and passed it you when school re-opens” Nadine told him, handing him the handkerchief.
“School re-opens? Is there anything going on?” Changmin asked, racking his brain to remember his schedule.
“The class will be attending this talk at your workplace. Didn’t you remember? You invited this sculptor” Nadine told him, jogging his memory.
Changmin snapped his fingers. “Right! I totally forgot about that” he said as he blushed. How he could forget about that? He was the one who found out that one of the local sculptor will be dropping by and he thought it will be a great opportunity for Nadine and her students to see him and his demonstration.
“Maybe you’ve been working too much. You should take a break” Nadine was saying as they made their way back to studio.
Changmin shrugged. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. SY’s event will be held after spring break and we have to work extra hard next week” he explained.
“Oh..that’s too bad then. Well maybe you just don’t have to force yourself to work too hard. Take a short break once in a while. Like making a small change in your routine perhaps? Doing the same thing over and over again can be so boring” Nadine told him.
Changmin chuckled.. “So I assumed you have plans for your spring break?” he asked, looking at her.
“Yeah, I signed up for this class at the NAC. It will be a two day class so I’ll be making the most of it” Nadine told him. She was about to reach for the doorknob when it swung opened without warning.
“Woah there!” Changmin said, grabbing her and making sure she did not got hit in the face.
“Oh my! I am sorry…I didn’t see you there!” a lady cried out. “It’s alright Sun Ye” Nadine assured her, as she steadied herself.
When Sun Ye left the two of them alone, Changmin realized that he had one arm around her waist while the other was holding on to her wrist. It looks as if they were about to do the tango except Nadine’s back was facing him.
“Umm..thanks” Nadine said, wriggling herself out of Changmin’s grip. Changmin then noticed the discomfort that was on Nadine’s face.
“Mianhe. I didn’t mean to---“
“It’s not a problem. Thanks for saving me..or else I end up looking like a pancake now” Nadine joked. Changmin laughed with her but he saw that her laughter did not reach her eyes.
“I’m going to go inside and get something to eat. You coming?” Nadine asked him.
“Yeah. I didn’t get to taste the fish fillet” Changmin told her. Nadine chuckled. “Make sure you don’t drop it this time” she said before walking over to where Ri In was.
Changmin watched and then pondered over Nadine’s character. He admits that the first time he set eyes on her at the café; he was already attracted to her. She was full of energy talking about her students and wanting to help them. After that day, Changmin was always looking forward to meet her but he knew better than go against the office policy of mixing personal and work matters.
But how could he when he has already fallen hard for her?