August 20, 2014.
"So for this semester, since we don't have any final exam, we decided to give you group work instead. Consider it as a project." The middle aged guy said and smirked as the mass of students in front of him groaned. "What did you really think, we'll let you go without any final project? Oh but my dearest students, where's the fun in that?"
Areum scoffed. "Right, he won't be our class lecturer if he's not 'Torturing Lee'. I feel bad for the other students though." She whispered and sneaked a glance at the Theatre department students. They all wore an unamused look.
"Alright class, like what Mr. Lee said, we're going have a group-based final project," a pretty tall woman beside Mr Lee spoke up. "In a group of five to ten, you need to produce an original work. So you cannot rely on just your fellow classmates. I want variations, so you can either make a song collaboration, a full dance music, short films, or plays. Whatever you want but I expect every one of you to contribute in the making. I don't want any of you to be a free loader."
"So we can work with any of the departments?" A voice asked.
Mr. Lee nodded. "You can. You can mix up as you want, as long as you finish the project on time. For evaluation, you'll have to record and burn your videos in a VCD, send to either Dr Treena or me. You have exactly a month for this project."
The students were on full discussing mode, some of them even got up from their seats and went to where the other department students were and began to form up their own groups.
A loud whine could be heard beside Lisa and she turned to a slumped Ren. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe they forced us to do this!"
Angel smiled sadly. "I guess we can't team up together." She looked over at Lisa who was quiet all along. "Lisa, are you going to be okay?"
Lisa nodded, she have made quite a lot of friends since she transferred there. But she was not close with them and now the nervousness was starting to show.
"May I remind you that this project is 50%, so you'll have to get at least 45% to pass."
Another chain of groans can be heard across the room. Areum muttered something about meeting with Boram from another department, and Ren suddenly stood up without words. Angel patted Lisa's back and wished her a good luck before going to her other friends. Lisa contemplated whether she should talk with Umji from the Theatre since she could say that she was close with her than any of the students from other departments.
Then she heard someone clearing their throat behind her.
Jieun stretched her limbs as she waited out of the lecture hall. She would come there and wait whenever Lisa have that class which her friend shared with the rest of her faculty, even though Lisa told her not to. She would say that she did not mind, but truthfully, she was there for a reason.
The big door was swung open and the students piled out, most of them were talking to each other. She stood up on her tip toes for that familiar face and blushed when she saw his tall stature going out of the door.
Lisa was walking right next to him, smiling and laughing like they were friends for a long time. Jieun's eyebrows met as she took in the sight before her, a faint feeling tugged on her heart but she quickly pushed it away as Lisa spotted her standing not far from the door.
Her face fell when he actually followed Lisa who was walking toward her.
Oh my gosh, should I run? Damn should have worn the blue dress today! She thought as she looked down at her t-shirt and jeans in remorse.
"Have you waited long, Jieun?"
She shook her head a bit too fast.
"I um- hope you don't mind my friend to join us for lunch today?"
Little did she knew he joined them for lunch everyday since then.
xxxxx
December 15, 2014.
The girls were just talking when suddenly Lisa was tackled by someone. She stumbled forward but the strong arms around her middle stopped her from falling face first on the ground. Jieun's eyes widened.
"You won't believe what I saw." A deep voice said and Lisa's heart fluttered, just as Jieun's cracked.
Lisa spun on her heels and slapped his hands off her waist. "People are looking!" The blush on her face was apparent as she looked around should they gained any attention from the sudden back hug.
Jieun looked away.
"Why are you so happy?" Lisa said when she was sure they were safe from any peeking toms. She giggled when Shownu's face lit up. His happiness was contagious.
A few months being around that guy, she realised that he was not as emotionless as she thought he was. He was just good in hiding them. She also learned that he was in a dance team called Monsta X and they were cool. Yes, she joined in Shownu's team for the final project where she produced a song, the guys helped her to write the lyric and Shownu created the choreography. They worked perfectly as a team and created a full music video. They managed to send the video a day before the submission ended. Most importantly, all of them got an A.
Jieun of course, had accompanied her during most of her time with them, undoubtedly had bonded well with the guys as she did.
"Jooheon had just returned from the office." Shownu said and Jieun looked up to see that he was staring down at Lisa. His eyes twinkled in a way that it hurt her so much, yet she found that she would choose this Shownu over the old one in any day. The him before did not even show that much emotion that it scared her.
"And?" Lisa dragged the word, raising one perfect brow.
Slowly, the grin made its way on his face and Jieun found herself admiring him.
"He sent me this picture." He handed her his phone and Lisa took it, eyes widening when she saw the content. She mindlessly passed the gadget to Jieun who took it.
It was a picture of a list of some sort and her eyes was immediately fixed on Monsta X that was on the top of list. Her eyes darted up and read the subject. 'List of performers on batch Z graduation day'.
She broke into a grin. Since their Uni was one of a respectable institute for the entertainment industry, a lot of agency would come to watch any performances for possible recruits.
She was proud, she knew Shownu had been aiming for this chance and now he was on the right track. But her happiness were quickly washed away when she looked up just to see that her friend was already clinging onto the guy, hugging him for dear life. Shownu laughed as he spun her around and she squealed.
"I'm so happy for you!" Lisa breathed as he placed her on her feet.
"All thanks to you." He looked at her, admiration was clear in his eyes. "Your song is the best."
Jieun choked on her own feelings as she tried to control herself. She cleared her throat and handed the phone back to him, their fingers brushed ever so lightly.
"Congratulations, oppa." She murmured quietly and turned to Lisa. "Um, Lisa, I gotta go. I forgot that I need to meet up with Mark for an incoming mock case."
Lisa's face fell. She did not want her to go, she was about to ask her to come with them to celebrate. Mark can do the work by himself for once. It's not like Jieun wanted to be in a group with him at the first place.
"Aren't you coming with us to celebrate?" the deep voice asked and Lisa nodded. Jieun trailed her eyes to Shownu before looking back at her friend again.
"Maybe next time... see you guys again. Bye!"
xxxxx
December 27, 2014.
The girls were in Jisoo's house preparing for that night's party. Lisa had been running around all day decorating the massive living room where the party will mainly take place. Her friends told her to rest in her room and let them do the work since it was her birthday after all, but she insisted to help.
Areum was helping Jisoo with the food while Angel and Lisa were sitting at the living room, blowing their lungs out into the balloons and throwing them onto the floor for wild effect. Lisa glanced at the clock for the hundredth time. Where was Jieun? She volunteered to buy more food since everyone else was busy, and she went by herself. Lisa grew worried. She had been gone for almost two hours and did not even text or call once. Lisa sighed, she was probably stuck in a traffic or something. She was just being overthinking.
Meanwhile, Jieun was having a difficult time pushing the packed trolley by herself. Her small built seemed smaller compared to the piled food in the trolley and it was harder to push it forward on the parking lot. Small beads of perspiration started to appear on her forehead even though it was cold.
"Do you need help?" A familiar voice said and she snapped her head around immediately.
She felt her face heating up and she felt the need of running away, leaving her car and shopping trolley on the parking lot.
"You look like you're having a hard time." His face formed a smirk. After years seeing him with stoic expression, she found it hard to get used with him showing more than that.
Not knowing what to do, she scoffed. "Well, it's heavy. What do you expect?"
Shownu chuckled and took hold of the trolley's handle, his hand brushed against Jieun's who instinctively retreated her hand.
"Well, sunshine, maybe you should eat more so you could grow up taller." He glanced at her whose mouth hung open. "And bigger."
Jieun gasped and she automatically hit that guy's shoulder. She realised her act a second too late but he just laughed it off, his voice played a melody in her ears. She blushed and fell into steps with him as he leaded her to her car. There was a comfortable silence before Jieun decided to break it.
"What are you doing here anyway? It's still too early for Lisa's party."
Shownu glanced at the petite girl beside him and scratched his nape. Jieun was confused on why did he had that look on his face, as if he was caught doing something.
"I uh- want to buy her a gift, but..." He trailed off and Jieun giggled. He was so cute!
"But you don't know what?" Shownu looked away and nodded sheepishly.
She smiled, maybe it was for another girl, but if it means she will get a few moments alone with him, she will take it. She grabbed the trolley and helped him to push it faster.
"Let's go, I'll help you!"
"Are you enjoying the party, Jieun?" Jisoo asked as she poured more drink into Jieun's almost empty cup.
Jieun forced a small smile and nodded. She was glad that the light was fairly dimmed, so her façades were hard to detect.
"Then why are you staying here alone? Go dance!" The girl ushered her but she shook her head.
"Nah, I'm good." Jisoo stared at her for any problem should she have any. Jieun was a cheerful girl, after seeing her with Lisa a few times she knew she was a good friend. So she doubted it a bit when the girl denied it.
She sighed. She hoped there was not any problems between Jieun and her cousin.
"Okay, I'll see you around."
Once again, Jieun was left alone with her thoughts. What happened that afternoon rained down upon her, suffocating her. She left after that.
xxxxx
December 28, 2014.
Jieun groaned when her phone rang just as her alarm clock blared up. She hated the sound of her alarm, but why did she used it anyway? Right, she need something to annoy her so that she will wake up.
She slammed her alarm off and brushed it away that it landed into the small dustbin she placed beside her nightstand. Sighing in content, she buried her face into her duvet, just about to slip into oblivion when her phone rang again.
She mentally cursed and grabbed the phone, accepting the call without even looking at the ID.
"Where were you last night?" Her Japanese friend yelled and she pulled the phone away from her sensitive ear.
"I had a headache so I went back early. Sorry." She mumbled.
"Oh... Are you okay?" Lisa's voice turned to concern. Jieun sighed and rubbed her eyes awake.
"Yes. What's up?"
The girl from the other line squealed. "You won't believe what happened last night."
Like a cold water was poured on her, Jieun sat up, memories from yesterday came back. Her eyes started tearing up and she struggled to control herself. "W-what?"
"Meet me up at Starbucks in an hour."
"He was the sweetest guy ever, like ever!" Lisa sighed dreamily. Jieun's eyes still trained on the sparkling band around the girl's finger.
"Do you think she'll like this?"
"And he legit blushed all the way." Lisa giggled. "He had a speech memorised, but he forgot it!"
"I'm proposing to her, Jieun. So as an old friend, you'll give me moral support, right?"
Lisa absentmindedly twirled the ring on her left ring finger and smiled softly. "I'm so happy, you know... I thought I wouldn't able to start over in Korea. But I found you, and then Shownu... It's perfect... Jieun, are you okay?"
Jieun tore her eyes from Lisa's hand and looked up to Lisa. Lisa's eyes widened when she saw tears inside her friend's eyes and concern quickly took over.
"Jieun, I..."
"I have to go." Jieun stood up, quickly gathered her coat and bag. Before she left she turned to Lisa who looked flabbergasted, and smiled sadly. "Happy birthday, Lisa... and congratulations."
She arrived in her car and the tears finally poured. Her heart ached intensely that she rather not have it instead. She wanted to scream, but the words died in her throat before it even spill out.
Sometimes loving someone means letting them go.
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