| Fan Fiction |
by Take_Flight
It was their third day of their summer vacation and the girls were having the time of their lives, living their work life behind and soaking in the fun. Even though it was only a short break, the both of them were making the most of it, especially today. Ri In had suggested getting away from the boys for a while and doing some serious shopping and sighting.
“Shopping? AGAIN? But you just bought two pairs of shoes the other day” Changmin had told Nadine with a bemused look.
“And, I need a nice belt and a pair of boot jeans to complete this City chic look I’m trying out for” Nadine said with a beam. “Fashion doesn’t die easily you know” she had added. Changmin sent her a withering look.
“New look eh?” Changmin had scoffed. “I don’t understand the female species sometimes”
Nadine smiled to herself thinking what a hit it will be if Changmin were to meet up with Gio. They both seemed to have something in common. And speaking of hit, it also looks like Ri In’s head had been knocked on pretty hard on something. Nadine had noticed that the girl was unusually hyper and lively ever since they got here. She was all up and early this morning, bouncing on Nadine’s bed like a little girl on a Christmas morning. Nadine was tempted to throw the bedroom slippers to Ri In’s face when she ran to the window and pulled the curtains, letting the morning light streamed into her room. It was a beautiful sight no doubt, but the light was too harsh for Nadine’s lethargic eyes.
“Nooo..let me sleep!” Nadine had pleaded; crawling under the covers but Ri In was quick enough to snatch the comfy material away and kept pestering Nadine to wake up.
“See! Aren’t you glad I dragged you out of bed and enjoy this beautiful weather?” Ri In was saying as they stroll along the street, admiring the stuff on the display windows of the shops they were walking past. “We even managed to get a complimentary pedicure!”
Nadine stifled a yawn and nodded. “Hmm..yeah” she mumbled, sleep still lingering on her eyelids. “We’re nice people so nice things happen to us” she added, unaware that she wasn’t making sense.
Ri In faced her and burst out laughing loudly causing a few people to look at them. “That’s…very….logical” she said slowly with an amused expression.
Nadine groaned and stretched her arms above her head. “Can we get coffee later? I thought you said there’s a cool café nearby?” she asked, running her hands through her hair.
Ri In nodded enthusiastically. “Why are so tired anyway?” she asked Nadine.
Nadine stifled a yawn again. “Not enough sleep?” she said, blinking her eyes.
Ri In grinned. “Not enough sleep? Or was it because you’ve been sneaking in the middle of the night with Changmin?” she teased, nudging Nadine with her elbow.
Uh-oh. BUSTED big time!
Nadine blushed furiously while Ri In laughed beside her like a maniac. “And you think I wasn’t watching? Sheesh. What were you thinking anyway? Having a midnight swim by the pool and come back drenching wet. Ever heard of a towel?” Ri In teased, pinching Nadine’s cheek.
Nadine swatted Ri In’s hand away. “No one will notice it anyway! And we went to the beach…not the pool” she told her.
Ri In raised her eyebrows. “The beach?! But…I thought you have a small phobia of swimming in the sea?” she asked.
“Yeah..I did. But Changmin managed to make me overcome it..somehow” Nadine replied. “Hey look! Isn’t that the café you were talking about?”
Ri In nodded. “Let’s go grab something and then find somewhere to sit” she suggested.
After the girls each for a nice cuppa, they walked down the winding path and then found a nice shady bench area facing the ocean. Ri In took a sip of her ice blended crème brulee and nudged Nadine. “So..tell me about your secret rendezvous with Changmin”
Nadine laughed. “No..YOU tell me what’s been going on lately. You keep grinning like Cheshire cat these past few days. What’s up with that?”
Ri In gave out a shy smile as she poked her straw into her drink, mixing the whipped cream the ice blended coffee together. “Nothing’s up…just the usual”
“Liar” Nadine said, kicking Ri In’s feet. “What did Junsu do this time?”
Ri In laughed. “He didn’t do anything. He…said something that made me…really happy” she said slowly.
Nadine scooted closer. “What did he say? What did he say?” she pestered.
Ri In took a deep breath. “He said…he wants to spend the rest of his life with me” she told her with a gleam in her eyes.
Nadine’s jaw dropped opened when she heard that. “H..He..PROPOSED?!” she asked. Wow. She didn’t know that Junsu will act that fast!
Ri In shook her head as she continued laughing. “No silly! He didn’t. He just said it out of the blue. We started talking about my parents…and then he just said it out loud”
“Awww Rinnie! You must be over the moon when he said that! Were you expecting him to say something like that? How did you feel?”
“I wasn’t expecting that AT ALL. He totally surprised me. He’s…like this awkward fellow who doesn’t look comfortable every time he wants to express something deep in his mind. I mean, he’s usually shy and not big on this detailed issues of matters of the heart...you get what I mean?” Ri In was saying, twirling a strand of hair with her finger.
Nadine nodded. “You’re definitely in love with him aren’t you?” she asked.
Ri In looked down with a bashful smile. “I…think so. I was pretty shaken up after what he told me. But, I have a feeling things are going to change…for the better”
“I agree. I’ve seen the way he was looking at you yesterday during dinner. Gosh, he was ever so cautious when you accidentally bump your head and almost tripped down the stairs. You’re such a klutz Rinnie!” Nadine pointed out, finishing her ice cold latte.
Ri In giggled. “Hey, don’t blame me. I have….poor reflexes” she managed to say.
Nadine rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh. Count yourself lucky that you have someone to watch out for you now”
“Right…so enough about me. I am obviously…madly…in love…with Xiah Junsu. And what about you? How is your love life progressing?” Ri In wanted to know. “Tell me how Changmin managed to overcome your fear of sharks” she added, chuckling at the same time.
Nadine made a face. Nothing much happened between she and Changmin ever since they got here. Not that she was expecting anything from him. She and Changmin didn’t do much during the day. Mainly just lazing around (something she hardly does ever since she got a proper job) and pigging out. Her diet has gone completely haywire thanks to the food that she and Changmin had been trying out. It could be that she was mumbling to herself about getting enough exercise after the vacation, that Changmin had asked her if she would like to join him for a swim. In the evening.
“Evening?” Nadine had said slowly. Changmin nodded. “The weather’s much cooler. Wae? You don’t like to swim?”
Nadine had grimaced at the idea of swimming after dark. And it was thanks to Gio. When he was young, he was mad about the movie, JAWS, or anything to do with sharks, and was always dragging Nadine along to watch it with him. Nadine was wondering why she didn’t just run to her room and hide every time he popped in the video tape. She had stayed with Gio throughout the entire 4 seasons of the JAWS movie and had grown quite fearful of the big ocean after that. She only dared to go down to the beach back at home only during the day.
“Jaws? As in those great white sharks that terrorize the ocean?” Changmin had enquired, looking amused.
Nadine nodded slowly and Changmin had a hard time trying not to laugh out loud. “You do know that it’s just a movie right?” he had asked.
“Yes…I know that but it’s just—YAH! Stop laughing at me!” Nadine had scolded Changmin and punching him squarely on the shoulder.
“OWWW!” Changmin cried out, nursing his shoulder. “Hey..maybe you can punch the shark when it’s swimming straight at you tonight!” he had teased.
Nadine shuddered at the thought when she simply just stood at the shore, digging her feet into the sand while Changmin stood beside her. The water was so dark and looked extra creepy with just the moon hanging above them and the coconut trees swaying gently in the night’s breeze.
“But you DID enter the water right?” Ri In asked.
Nadine rolled her eyes. “He practically dragged me into it. And not to mention how he enjoyed pulling my legs every time he went under water. I swear I could just kick him in the face!”
Ri In laughed and shook her head. “That sounds fun! Seems like you and him are getting along very well”
“Yeah...um…I almost..told him..about….that stuff” Nadine said slowly. Ri In put down her cup on the bench with a questioning look. “Did you?” she asked in a soft voice.
Nadine shook her head. “I thought I got the guts to tell but I lost it” she admitted.
“What makes you…want to tell him?” Ri In questioned her.
Nadine took a deep breath. “It was actually because of Jaejoong” she replied. Ri In scowled. “That drunkard? What did he do to….inspire you to tell Changmin about your past?”
Nadine rolled her eyes. “He’s not the bad guy here. Remember that dinner we both had? Turns out…his past was something similar to mine. And if he got the guts to tell me something about like that, then….I could..or I should be telling Changmin about it. But I’m afraid he won’t take it too easily. It will be rude awakening for him” she said. “Just like how you reacted when you first know about it” she added in a small voice.
Ri In looked down at her fingers and nodded glumly. “I didn’t mean to not talk to you for four days straight. I was…trying to deal with the terms. I didn’t expect that coming from you”
Nadine nodded. “Exactly. You stayed away for four days…but what about Changmin? He’ll…he’ll probably stay away from me..forever” she said bitterly.
Ri In shook her head. “Nadine, don’t think of the worst yet. The guy doesn’t even know about it”
“But he SHOULD know about it don’t you think? I just don’t like the fact we’re in this relationship and I’m hiding it from him”
“You want to get serious with him?” Ri In wanted to know.
Nadine shrugged. “I…I’m not sure Rinnie. I really like him. Being with him makes me really contented…he really does know how to make me happy but I’m not sure if I can do the same for him Rinnie” Nadine confessed with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
Ri In went quiet all of a sudden, staring at her drink. Nadine stared out into the distance, watching the people walked by and enjoying their vacation. It’s true that ever since she started dating Changmin, she was having doubts on whether she should tell him about her past. The other day, while they were sitting at the bleachers after having a friendly basketball match, it almost got slipped out but Nadine managed to cover it up on the sly. There was a nagging voice at the back of the head telling her not to tell him – yet.
“You think he’ll leave me if I tell him about it?” Nadine suddenly asked, her voice wavering for a bit.
“He’s not going to dump you Nadine. Everyone makes mistakes” Ri In told her in a gentle voice.
“But…I’m not sure how he’s going to take it” Nadine said, leaning back on the seat. “This mistake scarred me for the rest of my life. I don’t know how he will react. Would you date someone who’s a murderer?” she suddenly asked.
Ri In shook her head as she reached out to pat Nadine’s hand. “Don’t be stupid Nadine. You’re NOT a murderer. Donovan’s death wasn’t your fault”
Nadine swallowed the fear that was forming in her throat. Ri In gave Nadine’s hand a comforting squeeze. “Nadine, I think there’s a very good reason why Changmin entered your life. When you first met him, your life was still pieces, and him being there…he was your guidance. He may not know about your dark past, but I’m sure once he knows about it, he will be more than willing to help you heal that wound...and stay by your side forever”
Nadine let out a short laugh. “Forever’s a long time Rinnie” she pointed out.
“Well…maybe he does want to stay with you forever” Ri In said with a small smile. “Look, if you want to tell him…then you should go ahead. If your heart says it’s not the right time yet, then I suggest you listen to it”
Nadine thought about it for a while. Life wasn’t normal for her anymore ever since she stepped out of the rehabilitation centre and having shunned away from the society. It was hard for to get back the trust she used to have with people she used to know and they simply push her aside when they found out she’s been ‘dirtied and used’. Nadine had spent her teenage years in and she blamed it all to herself, for being naïve and stupid. Her brother and grandparents were the ones who stood by her side when she was going through the mishap. It saddened her that her own parents ditched her like that and kept repeating that she had brought shame to their family, and even the generation. It was double the pain when they all lived in the same house and she was ignored by them. Her relatives were coming to terms with it; having the occasional awkward conversations from time to time. It was thanks to Jang Ri In, that had helped her gained back the confidence she had lost, and she was ever so glad to get out of the stifling villa and built a new life in Korea. But will her new life be shattered if Changmin decides to stay away from her when he found she was once an illicit of the underworld?
“Nadine? Nadine..? Hey, gwenchana?” Ri In was saying, tapping her shoulder.
Nadine blinked her eyes several times, only to realize that she’s been crying. She hurriedly brushed the tears that were streaking down her cheeks. Ri In gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze while Nadine let out a bitter laugh.
“You know what, I’m glad we have this talk. I’ve noticed you’ve been….rather quiet lately and I was worried that you’re going through a breakdown or something. This issue was bothering you a long time huh?” Ri In asked, as they stood up, discarded their empty cups at a nearby bin and continued walking.
“Well…it was bothering me ever since I started going out with him. And somehow when Jaejoong started telling me about his problems, I was thinking of doing the same thing as well” Nadine admitted, as they walked side by side and stopping by to see the colorful display on the shops along the street.
Ri In sighed. “I still can’t believe you’re befriending that guy” she muttered. “I have nothing against him, but he just have ‘Bad News’ written all over him” she added, linking arms with Nadine.
“But you havent’ met the guy” Nadine pointed out.
Ri In shook her head. “I don’t want to” she insisted. “Please don’t force me to see him” she pleaded.
Nadine laughed. “Araso..I won’t. And it’s not as if I’m on close terms with him or anything so I don’t think I’ll be meeting him very often. He already knows that I’m with Changmin. AND, he also knows that Changmin doesn’t approve of me befriending him, so I guess he should know his limits”
Ri In nodded. “That’s good then” she concluded. “So! Shall we head down to some serious shopping now? I predict we will be out here for a loooooong time, and then make it just in time for tonight’s BBQ party. How about that?” she said bouncing on her toes.
Nadine chuckled and messed up her friend’s hair. “Well planned! Come on, I just the cutest pair of heels just now. I want to get that before anyone else does!” she said, tugging Ri In along.
By the time the girls returned to the hotel, their arms were loaded with shopping bags of all sizes. They managed to get back to their rooms without the boys spotting them. “Junsu’s going to freak out when he sees all this!” Ri In gasped as she threw herself on the sofa. Her bags lay scattered around her and on the coffee table.
“Tell him…we got a good price on all of them and we didn’t max out our budget” Nadine told her with a wink as she carried her stuff to her room.
“Are you going down now?” Ri In called out from the living room.
Nadine tossed her sneakers one side and searched for her flip flops. “Yeah…I want to see what they are up to. I heard the menu's really off the rocks!” she said as she changed into a pair of dark blue shorts and a white top.
“I can’t believe you’re still thinking about that stomach of yours!” Ri In groaned as she stood up and shuffled to the kitchen. “My feet hurt” she added, opening the fridge.
“Lighten up Ri In! It’s our vacation and we deserve to let our hair down and eat whatever we want. Just remind me to hit the gym once school starts. I’m going down first, so I’ll see you later?” Nadine asked, making a final check at the mirror by the door.
By the time Nadine reached the BBQ venue, the gathering was already in full swing. She spotted the President and his wife joining a crowd of line dance much to the amusement of the Ex-Pac staffs. “Aren’t you going to join them?” Nadine asked, joining Yunho at the pit, who was roasting the chickens, kebabs and other mouth-watering delicacies.
Yunho shook his head. “No way! You won’t catch me doing that” he retorted, placing two chicken wings on a plate. “You want some?” he asked, holding out the plate.
“Maybe later. Make sure you save that big piece over there for me” Nadine said, causing Yunho to laugh. “Have you seen Changmin?”
“Uhh..I’m not sure. He disappeared somewhere near the pool area. Maybe you can find him there” Yunho told her.
Nadine strode over to the pool area which was not that crowded since everyone was heading to the BBQ. She soon spotted Junsu running across with a bucket of ice-cream in his hand with a gleeful expression. “What is that guy up to?” she wondered, following closely. To her surprise, Junsu slowed down when he was a feet away from Changmin who was dozing on a lounge chair. Nadine watched as Junsu scooped up a ball of ice-cream and placed it on one of Changmin’s outstretched hand, with his tongue sticking out and laughing quietly to himself.
“Junsu-shii!” Nadine squeaked and the guy looked up at her in surprise. “Whatdoyouthinkyou’redoing?!!!” she whispered to him in an urgent tone.
Junsu placed a finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet. He plucked out one of the long leaves from a plant nearby and started stickling Changmin’s nose. Nadine wanted to go over and grabbed Junsu out of the way but she was too late when Changmin used his hand, the one with the dripping cold cream, and started rubbing his nose. He woke up with a start when he felt the cold gooey stuff on his face and Junsu started laughing out in delight.
“Oh nooo…” Nadine groaned when Changmin shot out of the chair and started looking around for the devil, but Junsu managed to run away before Changmin could get to him. When Changmin turned to face Nadine, she covered her hand to her mouth, seeing how comical he looks with the white ice-cream smeared on his face. She was trying hard not to laugh when Changmin smirked and started walking slowly towards her.
“W..What? Nono! It wasn’t my idea!” Nadine told him as she backed away slowly and then quickly turned around and made a quick dash. She had no idea where she was heading but she could tell that Changmin was getting nearer to her.
“It wasn’t me!” Nadine was shouting when the both of them ended up running at the jetty. “I swear Changmin, I wanted to stop him---AARRGGH!” Nadine screamed when she felt something cold plastered on her neck and then Changmin’s arms was around her and tickling her.
“Ok stop! Stop! STOP! I can’t breathe!” Nadine laughed as they both stumbled onto the wooden planks, trying to catch their breath. The ice-cream was still on his face and she reached to mess it up. Changmin caught her hand and tickled her again. “You look stupid” Nadine gasped, wiping the excess ice cream off his face.
“And you smell…delicious” Changmin said as they stood up and Changmin help to remove the cream from her neck. Nadine shivered slightly when she felt his fingers running up and down her neck and his body pressing close to her.
“I feel so sticky” Nadine told him, wiping the ice cream on her shirt. “But you smell like…caramel” Changmin mumbled, kissing her neck. “Junsu chose a good flavor” he added, biting her neck in a teasing manner.
“Stop it” Nadine laughed. “Come on, let’s go back to the BBQ” she said, taking his hand.
“Umm…maybe later” Changmin told her, tugging her hand. He then cocked his head to the cool calm sea and Nadine shook her head. “Aniya! I’m not going---HEEEY!”
Before she knew it, Changmin had hauled the both of them into the water.
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shiro : hi! So glad you like the prev chapter. I agree! I find it sweet as well :D
undermickysskin : XD You find the story believable and real? Heee..thanks for the compliment! LOL..well, I'm sure you'll find your Angel one day :) I agree, sweet guys like Junsu are rare to find.
colourful rainbow : Yeap, I hope you'll get a sweet guy like Junsu as well ;)
Happy reading!