| Fan Fiction |
by Take_Flight
Junsu shook his head and sat at the edge of the bed. “Actually yes. I was supposed to be at the office today for some quick discussion but I told my boss that I’ll be visiting a friend in the hospital instead. So he let me off the hook”
“Ah I see. You’re just using me to get away from your work” Ri In told him with a smirk. “And your boss actually bought your story”
“He knew what happened. Ga-In told him” Junsu told her matter-of-factly.
“He knows Ga-In?”
Junsu nodded. “Sure. Everyone who goes to Iseul High knows Ga-In. Were you from there?”
Ri In shook her head. “No, I was..umm…home school” she replied in a meek voice.
“Home school? I used to have a friend who was homeschooled as well. I envied him since his schedule is way flexible and he doesn’t have to wake up so early in the morning” Junsu told her. “Lucky him..and so are you!”
Ri In gave him a small smile. She would rather be in a high school environment rather than be stuck in a stuffy room for five hours with a strict woman who only gives toilet breaks only when she feels like it. Ri In was glad those days were over.
“Hey, isn’t breakfast supposed to be served now?” Junsu asked, checking his watch.
Ri In made a face. “I don’t favor the food here. There’s no taste at all” she remarked.
Junsu laughed and Ri In gave him a sheepish grin. She already likes his laughter. It was…different. “Want me to get anything for you then? Ramen? The spicy ones?”
Ri In’s eyes widened. “You can’t do that. The staff here is pretty strict with outside food!” she told him.
“Tsk. Don’t worry about it. I’m a pro. When my brother was hospitalized, I brought in all kinds of food for him since he was complaining just like you. We ended up having a buffet party and no one knows about it. Clever huh?”Junsu said.
“W..Well..ok. Just don’t get caught, and even if we did, I’m putting all the blame on you. Bear that in mind” Ri In warned him.
“Yes ma’am” Junstu saluted. He got off the bed and walked to the door. “So spicy ramen then?”
“With extra prawns!” Ri In added in with a gleeful look. Junsu winked and left the room. Ri In felt the heat creeping up on her face when he gave her that wink and she mentally slapped her face for getting smitten so easily.
“No-no. I’m NOT going down that road again” she firmly told herself. Ri In grabbed the remote control on the drawer beside her and switched on the TV. While watching the morning news, Ri In found her mind drifting away to Xiah Junsu. She hate to admit it he was fine looking and it was easy talking to him. She wasn’t much of a talker but yet Junsu had made her feel comfortable. Ri In ran her fingers through her hair and her heart almost stopped beating. She searched around for a mirror or anything with a reflective surface but there was none.
“Crap! I bet I look like Frankenstein’s bride the whole time we were talking!” Ri In cursed herself as she desperately tried to keep her hair in place. She was opening one of the drawers when there was a knock on the door. “Hey, that was fast! Did you get---Yoochun?”
Ri In felt her heart hammering against her rib cage so fast that she thought it will explode. Yoochun strode into the room, donning a gray coat and a dark brown woolen scarf. He was looking very much like the romancer, with his tortoise shell glasses and a bouquet of fresh lilies in his hands. “I heard from Leeteuk you were here. I hope I’m not disturbing you” Yoochun said, handing her the bouquet.
“Thanks” Ri In mumbled and held on to the lilies. “He still remembers I like them” she thought as she fingered one of the petals.
Ri In felt Yoochun’s eyes watching her and she slowly glanced up at him. When their eyes met, she thought she saw something in his eyes, but then it faded quickly. “How was Japan?” she asked instead, placing the bouquet on her lap.
“Good” Yoochun replied, taking a step beside her bed. Ri In immediately picked up on the familiar musky cologne and the memories rushed back; and she hated it. Suddenly she wished Junsu was back with the food. And her wish came true when Junsu walked in, singing to himself. He skidded to a halt when he saw Yoochun. “Hyung? What are you doing here?” he asked.
“Hyung? Wait, they know each other?” Ri In though, looking from Yoochun to Junsu.
”Junsu?” Yoochun asked. He stuffed his hand in his pocket and motioned for Junsu to come in. “I’m here to visit Ri In. What are YOU doing here?”
“Same thing. You two know each other?” Junsu asked, walking to the other side of the room and placing Ri In’s breakfast on a table.
“She’s my colleague. I heard she was admitted so I decided to drop by and visit her” Yoochun replied. “Well then, I should take my leave now since---“
“Join us! I bought extra dumplings as well. Man, isn’t this world small or what?” Junsu said, oblivious to the tension in the room.
“Too small” Ri In muttered to herself but Yoochun heard her. He cleared his throat and told them he will be leaving. “I’ll see you when you’re well. Have a good rest” he told Ri In and left.
“So you’re a teacher at Iseul High as well?” Junsu asked, setting up the meal. “No. I’m a librarian there. What are you doing?” Ri In questioned him when he held out the chopstick with a prawn on it.
“Feeding you? You mentioned earlier that your arm is numb and swollen, so I figured I feed you instead” Junsu said, motioning for her to open her mouth.
Ri In obediently opened her mouth and he fed her. She noticed that the prawn’s shells were removed and the noodle had shorter strand. “So that it will be easier to feed you or else the longer strand will dangle from your mouth and make a mess on your hospital gown” Junsu explained as if he was reading her mind.
“God, who is this guy?” Ri In wondered as he handed her a napkin. She wiped her mouth and watched as he cleared up everything. An angel from heaven? Well, he does look like one. “He’s REALLY considerate…in a creepy way” she thought. She did not hear him calling her until he waved his hand in front of her face.
“Huh? What?”
“I was asking whether any of your family members are coming later” Junsu said.
Ri In shook her head slowly and played with the bouquet which was still on her lap. “No..Nadine’s the only family I have” she told him.
Junsu frowned. “But she..and you..don’t look alike” he said slowly.
Ri In suppressed a giggle. “Of course not. She’s Mexican. And she’s my best friend” she explained. “And, I don’t have anyone else besides her. My parents died in a car accident when I was eight years old”
“Don’t feel sorry for me” Ri In quickly told him when she saw the sympathetic glaze in his eyes. “I’m sick of that. Could you put these lilies over there?”
Junsu pressed his lips together and nodded. “So Nadine flew all the way from across the globe to visit you? That’s really thoughtful of her” he asked, as he placed the bouquet on the window sill.
“No, actually she’s a teacher at Iseul High as well. An Art teacher. I got her the job” Ri In told him.
“Mwoh? So are you two like, childhood friends or something?” Junsu wanted to know. He dragged the couch nearer to the bed and sat down.
“It’s a long story—
“Like I said, I’ve got all day” Junsu cut in and gave her a goofy smile. “Come on. I’m all ears”
“You sure I won’t bore you to death?”
Junsu chortled. “Nah. You can throw the dumplings at my face if I happen to fall asleep” he suggested.
Ri In laughed. “You’re such a retard!”
“So I’ve been told”
And that’s how Ri In ended up spending the rest of her Saturday with her new friend. She and Junsu told each other about their current life over the dumplings that he bought. And for the first time, Yoochun was placed at the back of her mind.