~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

"Hyung!" Sehun shouted.

Sehun called upon the tall, lean, superior looking guy at the SME entrance. He was Park Chanyeol, a senior he really looked up to. Chanyeol turned his head to the fast approaching Sehun.

"You’re early today. What’s up?" Chanyeol told him.

"Hyung, I really need to talk to you. I need your help."

"What kind of help are we talking about here? I’m busy."

"Well, remember the cousin I talked to you about?"

"Yeah, the one with the extremely pretty face? How can I forget?"

"I’ll let you meet her."

"Really? When?"

Sehun could see the sparkle in his eyes. He was really a sucker when it comes to pretty girls.

"But you have to work with me. She has a boyfriend and I want you to steal her away from him, hyung."

Sehun was serious. Chanyeol saw through his face that this wasn’t just a petty game he has to play.

"Do you like my cousin to that extent?"

It was getting a bit troublesome.

"Wait, why so serious man? I liked your cousin’s picture but to put me in a situation like that… I haven’t even met her!"

"That’s why you’re meeting her! I know you’re a dupe for beauties hyung. It’s finally your chance to have one. And not just anybody. She’s my beloved cousin hyung. I’ve never done anything like this for her before but I’ll support you all the way."

Somehow, Chanyeol felt there was something wrong with all these. But he would help this precious junior.

"But what about the boyfriend?"

"I’ll take care of him. You can treat him as a goner."

"Alright. Just pray that she’ll like me. I’m in."

"Alright…"

They shook hands as the symbol of the start of their partnership.

"You’ll meet her tonight," Sehun said.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

By 7 pm, Seunghee arrived at home as Jeonghan already went to his part-time job. When she walked inside the house, she heard her dad talking to someone.

"How’s your dad huh? He hasn’t even been paying me a visit since he got promoted."

"He’s never home. He usually doesn’t come home for weeks so I’m getting used to it too," Sehun answered.

"I bet you do things his way too, you boy."

"Well, sort of."

They laughed.

Seunghee then reached the living room and she saw them, but someone else was sitting beside Sehun. She went over her dad and kissed him on the cheek. She stood beside him.

"I’m home dad."

"Seunghee, your cousin’s here with his friend."

"I know dad, I met him yesterday."

"Where? Why didn’t you tell me he’s arrived?"

"I saw her at the plaza with her…" Sehun interrupted.

Seunghed butted in, "Friend. I was with my friend yesterday. It was just a brief meeting and he said he’ll come over soon so I didn’t get the chance to tell you Dad."

So she hasn’t told them about him yet? He thought.

She was staring at Sehun with communicating eyes saying, I’ll tell him myself so don’t you dare say anything okay?

This is just perfect, it was the best opportunity for him to introduce Chanyeol.

"Yeah, oh by the way, I have my senior from SME right here. I wanted to introduce him to you," Sehun introduced.

Chanyeol stood up and greeted Seunghee with a bow.

"Anyounghaseyo, Park Chanyeol mida."

"Anyounghaseyo," Seunghee replied.

"This is my cousin Seunghee, hyung," Sehun added.

"Yeah," Chanyeol said.

He beamed at her and she smiled back. But it was somewhat awkward for her. Why would he bring someone in the moment he arrived? She was puzzled. It was different for Chanyeol though. He was delighted. She was really beautiful. His expectations were surpassed. He was feeling really nervous infront of her.

"So why don’t you stay for dinner huh? Sehun? Chanyeol-shi?" her dad said.

"Sure uncle. You okay with that hyung?" Sehun asked.

"Yah. It’s okay."

"I’ll just change dad. See you later," Seunghee said.

Seunghee paced her way away from them to her room. Her dad quite noticed her aloofness from Sehun.

"Did anything happen yesterday? She’s usually very happy to see you everytime," he queried.

"Nothing that I know of uncle. Maybe she just got shy infront of hyung."

Chanyeol just nudged him with the elbows slightly.

"You boys just behave alright? That’s my daughter right there."

"Yes, uncle."

"Yes sir."

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Sehun and Chanyeol left right after dinner. Seunghee and her dad walked them to the door. As the boys were walking away, Seunghee’s dad made a comment.

"That boy’s a bit peculiar today. The same way you are."

"What? What did I do dad?"

"But that boy with him is alright. He knows how to pay respect. If you would entertain the fact of having a boyfriend again, chose someone better okay? I don’t want another coups boy okay?"

Just why did the topic turn into this? She was being forced to tell him about Jeonghan that instant. And she did. He better hear directly from her.

"He’s not another coups dad. And he’s not just better. He’s the best."

"He is? Why is it in present tense?"

"The person Sehun-oppa’s staying with is my boyfriend dad."

"Oh Seunghee!"

Her dad had always been strict with her. She’s an only daughter, from the start it was the only thing he was firm with her about. To let him meet the person she was having a relationship with.

"I know Dad! You don’t have to remind me."

"Bring this boy here tomorrow. Or I won’t let you use the piano for a month."

"Yes dad. I’ll tell him. Don’t be mad! We’re just waiting for the right time."

"Then tomorrow’s that time."

"Come on dad!"

She was clinging to him. Being cute and trying to calm him down. He gave up. He put his arm around her shoulders.

"Oh… even if you’ve grown up, or spent your 50th birthday, you’re still like a ten-year-old daughter to me Seunghee. I won’t let anyone hurt you. So bring that boy here. I want to make sure you’re safe."

"Yes dad. I know that. I’ll tell him to come tomorrow. Okay?"

"Okay. Come on let’s go inside. Your mom’s gonna get angry."

They were smiling together as they went inside the house. They were the closest father and daughter ever. Seunghee could not ask for a better father. She was happy he would finally be able to meet the person she planned to spend her whole life with.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

As Sehun and Chanyeol were walking down the street from the Oh residence, they were talking about Seunghee.

"I admit she got me overwhelmed. I’ve never seen anyone that beautiful before. Stop me Sehun, I might die of heart failure."

"You really got the hots for her don’t you?"

"Yes. I’m serious now and I don’t care if she’s got a boyfriend."

"That’s the spirit hyung!"

"So what’s the plan?"

"Now we’re talking."

Using Chanyeol's infatuation for his cousin, Sehun was ready to make his plans happen. He won’t let Jeonghan prevail. He would let Seunghee know he was right about him.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

"Hey, can you make it tomorrow?" Seunghee said.

She was lying on her bed with the phone over her ear. She was calling Jeonghan to let him know about the next day.

"I’ll wait for you at home okay?"

On the other line, Jeonghan who was still on his way home from his part-time job, was walking down the road side.

"You didn’t provoke your dad did you?" Jeonghan asked.

"I did not okay? He really wants to meet you. Tomorrow. So please make time for it."

"Okay, I will. I’ll just tell my boss later. See you tomorrow then. I love you."

"Okay, I love you. Are you home yet?"

"I’m two corners away. Okay? Bye."

"Okay, bye."

Seunghee was feeling nervous. She wished and hoped and prayed that her dad approved of Jeonghan the next day. She wished that he could see the difference between just having a boyfriend and having someone you want to be part of your life with for the rest of your life. But she knew he would see that. He had mom right? She thought. It‘s gonna be alright, she told herself.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Jeonghan got home to a sleeping Sehun on the couch. He was irritated but he disregarded him. He wasn’t worth his time. He went straight to his room and slept the night away. But what was great about him was that when Jeonghan woke up in the morning by 6am, he was already gone. This is the only nice part of him, he thought. He yawned his way to the kitchen then and prepared breakfast.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Sehun was going overboard with his meddling. He even brought Chanyeol and himself to the university Seunghee was attending only to brag about their good looks. But it was really obvious. Girls swooned over them the moment they appeared and instantly they became celebrities.

"Oppa!! Are you celebrities? From what university are you from? Are you scouting someone here? Kyaaa!!"

Girls were all over them. A small crowd hung around them and they have only just entered the campus.

"Easy now girls. Calm down. Ssshhh," Chanyeol hushed them.

"Yehet! Be quiet! You can’t hear us," Sehun arrogantly said.

"We’re just looking for someone."

"Are you familiar with Oh Seunghee?"

Then an overall sigh could be heard. The girls started whispering.

"Oh Seunghee? It’s really nice to be pretty. I envy her. How come it’s not me?"

"Do you know where she is at this moment?" Sehun asked.

"Yes, she’s at the gym right now. They’re having their P.E. class," a girl answered.

"Okay, thanks girls! You were of big help," Chanyeol replied.

The two good-looking guys strode away from the crowd. And the girls just couldn’t help but daydream about them.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

"Kyaaa!!!"

The girls in the gym began squealing after sometime. Seunghee and Jeonghan who were talking about the rehearsal earlier turned their heads to the forming crowd near the entrance of the gym.

"What’s that about?" Seunghee asked.

"Maybe some celebrity arrived or something," Jeonghan said.

They waited till the crowd dispersed and made way to two really stunning guys. And when Seunghee and Jeonghan came to learn who they were, they only both just sighed and looked away. Seunghee even had her eyes rolling.

"Ah, just ignore them. He’s such a showoff."

Until they were standing before them, it was the only time they looked up to them.

"How cold! Is this how you treat me now? Just because of this guy!" Sehun uttered.

"Nope, my boyfriend has absolutely nothing to do with it. But did you really have to make an entrance?" Seunghee defended.

Girls were still thrilled to see them from afar, they could still hear them.

"Well, that’s how it is now," Sehun boasted.

"Oh…" Seunghee just murmured.

He was making her cranky. She pinned her eyes sharply at him. But Sehun smiled sheepishly at her and had his arms wide open before her. And like the old days, she was beat. This cousin was especially special to her.

"Ah! You win."

She stood up and gave him a tight hug. Jeonghan was quite surprised about it. So that’s how close they are, he thought.

"I missed you oppa!!"

"I missed you too."

"Don’t pick on Jeonghan anymore okay?"

"That, I cannot promise."

She frowned at him. "You never change."

"And I won’t."

"Hi, Seunghee," Chanyeol interrupted.

"Oh, yah, we only dropped by to say hi. And besides that guy’s here so I don’t think I can stay for long," Sehun uttered.

He was referring to Jeonghan. Seunghee just sighed at him.

"Why can’t you just accept him? It won’t change anything."

"From my point of view, it already has."

He gave Jeonghan a piercing stare by then before turning around.

"We’ll be going now Seunghee. See yah!"

"Bye oppa."

"Bye Seunghee," Chanyeol said too.

"Bye."

It was just brief, but that moment was an eye opener for Seunghee. She was sure Sehun was up to something.

"That was quick," Jeonghan muttered.

"Yah."

The two guys were walking out of the gym with girls following them behind. It was a view. They were like a parade of stars. Seunghee gave her cousin a last look before turning back to the person beside her.

"Let’s continue."

"Okay."

Jeonghan could see she was worried. But how can her cousin cause her this when they meant really well for each other. He felt down. How can people be so cruel?

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

To be continued…