Fan Fiction

Talk.Play.Love

by Take_Flight

Chapter 45

Tears for Fears Part 1

“Woah..I only ask for 10 and you’re giving me 15? I specifically wrote down 10 here! See. One and zero…TEN! Who’s going to pay for the other five?” a frustrating voice can be heard from outside.

Junsu swallowed the sandwich he was eating, pausing to hear the voice again. It sounded like Ri In. He looked at the clock on the wall and wondered why Ri In would be in the supermarket at this time. Shouldn’t she be at work now? He glanced when the door swung opened, revealing a weary looking frustrated salesperson.

“Why so glum?” Junsu asked him as the guy came forward consulting the list in his hands. “Someone got the numbers mixed up and the customer’s not happy about it. Hey, you don’t mind waiting for a while I go get this straightened will you? “

Junsu nodded. “Sure why not” he assured the sales person. Junsu was supposed to check on the items needed for the charity event that he will be helping out next two weeks, and it was his turn to get down to the supermarket and see is the stocks are all in. He looked up and down at the empty corridor of the storage room and wondered what he should do to kill time. He walked over to the door to see the situation at the supermarket and to his surprise, saw Ri In standing at the counter. His intuition was right!, It was Ri In all the while.

He watched as she paced back and forth, scrunching up her face in annoyance as she consulted the list in her hands. Junsu gleefully took out his phone and dialed her number. He watched as Ri In took out her phone from the bag. He pressed his lips together to prevent from laughing out loud when she accidentally pressed the reject button. Ri In gasped and she frantically returned back the call. It was a good thing Junsu had his phone on silent or it will give the game away. When he felt his phone vibrating, he did not answer it straightaway but instead, kept his eyes on Ri In as she nervously bit her lip and twirled a strand of hair around her finger. Junsu leaned on the wall, loving the expression on her face as she frowned when he wasn’t picking up. She hung up with a defeated sigh when he did not pick up and tried again. This time he answered the phone with a distracted “Yeah?”

“Mianhe. I didn’t mean to reject your call just now” Ri In apologized. Junsu was actually planning to be mad at her but he was surprised to hear her sound so sincere about it. Junsu peeped at Ri In but she had her back facing him so he decided to step out from his hiding place.
“Hello? Junsu?” Ri In asked. Junsu leaned across the counter and whispered into her ear. “I’m right here.
Ri In jumped and faced him. “What are you doing here?!” she asked. She glanced at her phone and frowned. “You just make me waste fifteen seconds of my life on the phone” she added as she tossed her phone into her shoulder bag.
“Fifteen seconds with your favorite person and you don’t like it?” Junsu asked, pretending to look hurt.

“I didn’t say you’re my favorite” Ri In pointed out, walking around the store and looking at the fruit cakes on display.

Junsu felt down for a while, thinking that Ri In was still thinking about Yoochun but when he saw her devilish grin, he immediately ran to where she was but Ri In was quick enough. She moved an inch and he ended up banging onto the shelf behind her. A few tin cans dropped onto the floor and the same guy who was serving Ri In, dashed out of the storage room.

Hyung!” the guy said in disbelief. “How many times must I tell you this is not a playground?!” he hissed, helping Junsu up while Ri In stood at one corner, watching the both of them with a bemused look.

“Jeez. Sorry about that. I should watch where I’m going next time” Junsu apologized in a flat tone throwing a dirty look at Ri In who simply raised her eyebrows and chewing on her bottom lip to prevent herself from laughing. The young guy stacked up the last can and bowed to Ri In. “Sorry ma’am. I’ll get your orders right away” he said before disappearing back to the storage room.
Ri In faced Junsu and burst out laughing. “You’re such a clown!” she blurted out. “And you’re mean!” Junsu retorted, dusting his pants. Ri In shrugged. “So I’ve been told” she said, going back to the counter. Junsu followed her, grumbling under his breath. When Ri In was leaning against the counter checking out the display, Junsu sneaked up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.

“You sure you don’t want to go to the fashion show?” Junsu asked her. Ri In shook her head. “I’m meeting the committee later for the planning. Besides Nadine will be attending so I won’t miss out much anyway” she said.
“She’s going with Changmin?” Junsu asked. “No..she’s going with Jaejoong. This guy she met during her Art class” Ri In told him.

Junsu thought about it for a while. “Who’s he?” he wondered. “He’s actually a model for her Art class and they got together after that. Why? You’re interested to know him? I heard he did a strip tease the first time they met” Ri In told him.

“MWOH?! Nadine is into those kinds of guys?!” Junsu asked in a shocked tone. Ri In shrugged and faced him. “I don’t know. Why? You’re interested in those guys too?” she asked.
Junsu rolled her eyes. “Why should I when I already got my eyes on you” he said pulling her closer. He immediately noticed the pink dots forming on Ri In’s cheeks as she pushed him lightly on the chest. “There’s no one—

“Gingersnap?” a female voice called out. Both Ri In and Junsu jumped and Ri In pushed Junsu away, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Junsu regained his balance and turned to where the voice was coming from. To his surprise, he saw Sun Mi standing at the aisle, holding her grocery basket.

“I’m..I’m sorry. I didn’t meant to..disturb” Sun Mi was saying, her eyes darting from Junsu to Ri In. Ri In nervously tugged on her jacket while Junsu gave Sun Mi a wide casual smile. “Shopping for gingersnap?” he asked.

Sun Mi giggled. “No actually. It was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw her” she replied. “And, I kind of forgot your name” she added sheepishly.

“It’s Ri In. Jang Ri In” Ri In said in a soft voice. Sun Mi grinned. “I’ll keep that in mind” she said. “You’re shopping as well?”

Ri In nodded. “Just getting stuff for the school’s spring event” she replied. “I’m waiting for the orders to be ready”

“Oh right! Yoochun mentioned something about that” Sun Mi said, snapping her fingers. Junsu glanced over at Ri In to see her reaction but she seemed calm about it, upon hearing his name. Did she get over it that fast? Or is she faking it? Cause if she’s faking it, she’s definitely doing a good job.

“Here we are Miss. Sorry for the delay” the sales person said as he placed Ri In’s items on the table. “You want to take this home by yourself or use our delivery system?”
“I think I’ll use the delivery” Ri In told him. “What happen to your car?” Junsu asked. “I send it for servicing. It’s being cranky as usual” Ri In replied.

“Use mine then. I can send it to your apartment later” Junsu offered. Ri In raised her eyebrows. “But you’re heading straight to the NAC after this” she pointed out.
“No worries. I’ll send it after the event finish then” Junsu assured her as he took the box and made his way to the door. “Why don’t you pay up first? I’ll wait for you outside” Junsu stopped in his tracks when he nearly bumped into Sun Mi. “Mianhe” he said as he walked slowly to the door, staggering because of the box’s weight.

Junsu walked outside to his car and placed Ri In’s stuff at the boot. He was making sure that the stuff was in order when his phone rang.

“Yes Changmin?” Junsu asked, closing the boot and walking back to the supermarket. “Where are you?” Changmin asked.
“Why? Something happened?” Junsu wanted to know. Changmin chuckled. “No, just checking up to see if you’re laying down on the job”

“HEY! I’m not the same lazy bones back in high school okay? I’m at the store doing a routine check up. How’s everything at the NAC? Nervous about it?” Junsu asked, entering the supermarket and looking for Ri In and Sun Mi but they were nowhere to be found. He walked down the different aisle only to spot the two ladies standing and talking excitedly beside a shelf stocked with teas. Junsu paused in his step and watched how Ri In was explaining to Sun Mi about the different herbal teas and the way her hands were gesturing while Sun Mi listened intently to her. Sun Mi then laughed when Ri In said something funny and Junsu felt his heart skipping a beat seeing Ri In in a jovial mood, as a smile spread across her face and her eyes crinkling up in delight.

“Hyung? Hello? HYUNG?!!” Changmin’s voice screeched into the phone. Junsu winced. “Yeah yeah. I can hear you” he told Changmin, wincing in pain.

“You weren’t paying attention to what I was saying weren’t you?” Changmin asked him. Junsu made a face. “So what?”

“Fine. Fine” Changmin gave in. “I’ll see you later in the evening. And DON’T be late!” he warned.

“Yes sir!” Junsu told him before hanging up. “Work?” Ri In asked as Junsu slipped back his phone.

Junsu nodded. “Something like that” he told her. “I see you’ve made a new friend”

Ri In looked over at where Sun Mi was, looking at the variety of herbal teas and shrugged. “She’s..nice. Easy to talk to”

Junsu removed a stray hair from Ri In’s face and she looked up at him with questioning eyes. “What?” she asked.
Junsu sighed. “I don’t know. It’s just..—

“I’m fine. Really” Ri In assured him, patting his arm. Junsu frowned. “But don’t you feel…odd? I mean, it was a major blow for you and now you’re friends with his fiancée”

“It will be rude if I shun her away..and she has no idea about me..and..well, you know. And besides, you were the one who told me to stop running away and live up to face it” Ri In told him, taking his hands in hers.

Junsu watched as their fingers interlocked. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt, that’s all” he mumbled.

Ri In chuckled. “It’s still painful, I admit that. But like what you said. Embrace the pain, don’t push it—

“Do not endure it. Learn to accept it” Junsu continued for her, caressing her fingers. Ri In looked up into his eyes and gave him a reassuring smile. “See. I’ll be fine okay?” she whispered to him.

“Hey Ri In. I need your help” Sun Mi called out from behind a shelf, oblivious to the couple. Junsu reluctantly let go Ri In as she walked over to where Sun Mi was. He walked back to the counter and stared at the display when Ri In slid up next to him with a disturbed look.

“What’s wrong? Where’s Sun Mi?” Junsu asked, putting his arm around her. Ri In cleared her throat. “Sun Mi wants us to get together some day. For lunch or dinner”

“Just the two of you? Like a girls’ day out?” Junsu asked. Ri In shook her head. “No as in, the FOUR of us. You, me, Sun Mi and…Yoochun. She said that since we’re friends of Yoochun and she hardly know anyone in this city she thought of having a get-together one day”

Junsu noticed that her voice was trembling and he rubbed her shoulder. But then Ri In gave him a bright smile, much to his surprise. “We should be happy for him shouldn’t we?” she suddenly asked.

Junsu nodded. “True. I’m only worried for you, that’s all” he admitted. “Don’t be” Ri In begged him. “I don’t want you to spend the rest of your time saving me from getting hurt. I can take care of myself you know”

Junsu pondered about it for a while and then sighed. “Okay fine. But I’ll still be your knight in shining armor” he told her, pulling her closer but Ri In pushed him away. “Not here! There’s people around” she hissed with a frantic expression.

Junsu kissed the tip of her nose. “Fine. But you owe me one” he told her. Ri In stuck out her tongue at him. “Call me when you’re sending the stuff over” she said.

“Where are you going after this?” Junsu wanted to know. “I’ll be going to the coffee house with Sun Mi after meeting the committee” Ri In told him.

“I’ll see you tonight then” Junsu said. He watched as Ri In strode over at the check-out counter, where Sun Mi was paying for her purchases.

She seemed cool, calm and collected on the outside but Junsu can’t help wondering how long her strong façade will stay put.

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Monica : Haha..everyone's rooting for Changmin and Nadine huh? Don't worry..he will definitely get her. Just need steer Nadine away from Jaejoong..but how? Hmmm..oh..you want a poster as well? Hehe..I haven't thought putting one up actually but we'll see about that k?

jane_kim : Ello Hyper new reader! Thanks for reading this fic =D Yeaah..Changmin really need to step up in the game or he'll end up losing! =S

squeeness : Yes Changmin! Get out and get Nadine!!! Square of love??? Hehehe..we'll see =D