| Fan Fiction |
by Take_Flight
Mr Jung motioned to where SY was standing with a few people on the stage talking to them and judging from the look of it, it seems like she was giving them last minute instructions before the big night tomorrow. But the aura coming from her was different this time. SY wasn’t raising her voice or having that haughty look on her face. In fact, she looked more like a mother advising her children and she seemed extra mature at the same time. Was it the clothes that she was wearing? Or was it the lighting? Or the make-up?
“I heard about the showdown between you and her” Mr Jung said, grabbing another donut. “She really surprises me with the 360 change after the talk you had with her”
“It was not a showdown. I was..doing the right thing” Changmin insisted and then frowned. “And you shouldn’t be eating that” he added. “Yunho will kill you”
Mr Jung swallowed the food. “I give you a pay raise if you keep your mouth shut” he told Changmin. Changmin laughed. “No, that won’t work. How are you going to give me a pay raise if you end up in the hospital with high cholesterol and blood pressure?”
Mr Jung thought about it. “Ok, good point. I stop eating, and you stop nagging. Sometimes I think you’re the replica of my son”
Changmin chuckled to himself as the man dusted his hand and surveyed the whole place. “Wow..seems like you really put in a lot of work for this event. Aren’t you excited?” Mr Jung asked.
“Sort of. We’re still figuring out on the catering” Changmin said, consulting the report in front of him.
“Hmm..I’m sure you can pull something off. You always do” Mr Jung said as he stood up. “Well, I’m off to take a stroll around Fashion Avenue here –
“You’re off to steal some goodies off the refreshment area, if that’s what you’re saying” Changmin interrupted him. “You’re right. Yunho taught me well” he added with a wink.
Mr Jung made a face. “Fine fine. I’ll stick to plain water and my pills and starve to death” he complained before walking away. He walked back with an invitation card and gave it to Changmin. “I have an extra invitation for the event tomorrow. Go invite someone to be your date” Mr Jung said. “Like that Art teacher perhaps….”
Changmin took the floral scented card and gaped at the President. “What are you—
“I know things that you don’t know Changmin” Mr Jung whispered mischievously before leaving Changmin alone with his work.
Changmin looked down at the card in his hand with the swirly handwriting on the lilac-colored card. Was it obvious? That his feelings for Nadine was starting to show? Even Junsu knew about it when he made a big slip about it the other day by not calling her “Miss Arena”. The reason behind that story was all thanks to Leeteuk and his coffee outing. After the day that he had helped Leeteuk with his music piece at the Art Studio, he, Nadine and Leeteuk had went down to Narsha’s Coffee House much to Leeteuk’s disappointment since he was only treating Nadine but Nadine had insisted that Changmin had to come along since it will be bad to keep him out.
“He helped you with your music” Nadine had told Leeteuk when they stepped into the shop.
“And I was the one who nailed it in the end” Leeteuk had argued. Changmin rolled his eyes. “You’re taking ALL the credits?” he asked Leeteuk.
Nadine laughed. “See? It’s not fair” she told Leeteuk. “Mr Shim is right. You shouldn’t be taking all the credits”
Leeteuk gave them a miserable look. “I can’t believe you guys are ganging up on me” he said. “And what’s with the formality?”
“What formality?” Changmin asked, sitting on a rattan chair and making himself comfortable.
Leeteuk rolled his eyes. “The whole day I’ve been listening to you guys say ‘Oh no problem MissArena’ and ‘That’s really nice Mr Shim’. Pfffft. What’s this? Pride and Prejudice?” he questioned them.
Nadine and Changmin had looked at each other, looking bewildered. “Ummm..she’s my client” Changmin told him in a small voice. Nadine scratched the back of her neck and shrugged. “He’s..umm…”
Leeteuk clapped his hands to get their attention. “It sounds stupid to me. We’re here for coffee and I don’t want any Mr. or Little Miss around here. My ears are simply bleeding hearing it out” he said before stomping to the counter to make orders.
Nadine stared after him while Changmin looked down at his shoes. “He’s just saying it…because he’s pissed..” Nadine said slowly and then giving out a nervous laughter.
Changmin then stared outside the window while Nadine checked out her phone. Changmin had noticed that whenever there’s nothing to talk about, Nadine usually seek refuge with the phone.
“So umm..Miss…Nadine, what have you been up to lately, besides doing the painting” Changmin asked casually, leaning back on the seat. Nadine shrugged. “Nothing much. Just the usual stuff..I guess” she had replied and then averted her gaze somewhere else.
Leeteuk then came back with the drinks and Changmin saw Nadine giving Leeteuk a grateful smile, perhaps she really was not used to being left alone with Changmin, yet. “Here we go. Double vanilla latte for the lady, hot mocca for me…and..black coffee for the uninvited guest” Leeteuk had said and then laughed to himself while Nadine rolled her eyes.
“Mr Shim—“ Nadine started to say but she was cut short with Leeteuk clearing his throat. “Umm..Changmin..how’s the fashion show going on?” Nadine started again, speaking slowly.
“Seeee…that wasn’t so bad. Now Changmin, you try it” Leeteuk urged him.
“I already did, just now” Changmin protested.
“I didn’t hear it” Leeteuk told him.
Nadine sighed. “Does it matter?” she asked, looking a bit peeved.
“It does. To me” Leeteuk had told her with an air of arrogance. Changmin had threw the small cushion at his face causing the guy to yelp like a girl. “You’re such a drama Queen” Changmin had commented. But even though Changmin was finding it hard to get use to the name calling, he and Nadine had worked it out pretty well at the end of the day. And he was secretly glad that he was able to call her Nadine, instead of the usual Miss Arena. It sounded way better. Speaking of Nadine, maybe he should give her a call and ask her if she would like to come for the fashion show.
Changmin dialed her number and waited for her to pick up. It got rejected after the third ring and Changmin tried again. After the fifth ring, he was able to get through but he was surprised to hear a guy’s voice on the other line.
“Nadine’s phone” the guy was saying. “Hello? Is Nadine there?” Changmin asked politely. He assumed Nadine was in a restaurant since he kept hearing the clinking of the glasses and cutlery.
“She’s not here. She’s at the Ladies” the guy replied curtly. “Oh..okay” Changmin said. “Ummm, could you tell her that I called? My name is Changmin—
“Yeah sure. I pass her the message” the guy said before hanging up. Changmin stared at his phone after that, a bit appalled by the caller’s behavior. Who was that? Was that obnoxious jerk Nadine’s date or what?
“I’ll call her later tonight” Changmin told himself as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. He stood still for a while when something click in his mind. The guy’s voice…sounded familiar. But where have he heard it?
Changmin decided not to ponder on it for too long and decided to do a final check up on the place before heading home. He was walking to his car, bidding goodbye to his team when his phone rang. To his relief, Nadine’s name was flashing on the screen.
“Hey Nadine. I was about to call you” Changmin told her. Nadine laughed. “About what?” she asked.
“It’s about tomorrow’s event. I was wondering—
“I’m going!” Nadine said happily.
Changmin paused. “R..Really? That will be awesome....” he said slowly.
“Yeah. Jaejoong got the invitations and we’ll be going tomorrow. So we’ll see you there tomorrow night araso?” Nadine told him.
Changmin felt his heart sinking. “Jaejoong got the invites? Wow. Cool” he managed to say, as he leaned against his car.
“I’ve never been to a fashion show so I’m pretty excited myself. Hey, I have to go. So I’ll see you tomorrow?” Nadine said.
“Sure. Tomorrow” Changmin told her, trying to hide his disappointment. He was about to get into his car when SY ran down the steps, calling him like a frantic mother losing her child. When she reached him, she was almost out of breath.
“Thank God I caught you! Listen, you wouldn’t mind if I..add in an element of surprise to the show tomorrow would you? After all people just LOVES surprises!” SY said, wiping her brow, her eyes gleaming with exhilaration.
Changmin shrugged. “Sure..why not. I bet it will be the highlight of the evening” he said, giving her a small smile. SY nodded. “Great! I can’t wait for tomorrow! See you!” she said before scrambling off to her car.
So the obnoxious, notorious jerk face who answered the phone was Jaejoong? Nadine was out with him the whole time? No wonder his voice sounded familiar. Changmin slammed the car door shut and let out a frustrated sighed.
“Surprises…yeah..who doesn’t love them” he muttered bitterly as he start the engine.