Chapter 4

“I had enough! No more thinking about that girl. It is sooo not worth my time.”

Heechul has had enough just sitting down and thinking about the girl he just met earlier today. For him, it isn’t worth it. Even if he wants to befriend her, chances are, she would reject him.

“Why does it seem like I’m in love with her? All I want is to befriend her, and help be like a real lady. Someone who would make guys; some, if not all, turn heads. Why does she seem to treat me like an enemy? She doesn’t even know me!?”

And there goes his determination to stop thinking about her.

He decided to take a walk.

“At the very least, it might help me take things off my mind.”

He gathered his keys, cash, credit, and whatever he usually needs, and headed out for some fresh air, and perhaps some shopping.

After all, shopping helps to release stress.

So off he went, aimless.

#

“I need some fresh air.”

She decided to call her roommates.

“Yah Yunhee ah…”
“Waeyo? I’m with Donghae oppa. Is there anything wrong?”
“Urm… Aneyo. Go ahead and have fun. I’ll see you at the dorm tonight.”
“Orh. Annyeong.”

“Yeorin ah… Give me some time alone please.”
“You sound distressed. You need to talk?”
“No, its ok. I just need some time alone. Thanks.”

So both her roommates aren’t free.
So how now, brown cow?

“I can just go out on my own. I’m used to this anyway.”

#
As he exits the library, the scene replayed in his mind.

“Why is hyung so lucky?”

“Why is hyung better looking than me? Aren’t the younger ones almost always supposed to look better? Why am I exceptional? Is it because of my geeky specs? I need a major makeover.”

He flipped out his cell phone and dialed a number.

“Hyung! It’s Jaejin. I need help. I need a makeover.”

#

He was walking around when his phone rang.

He answered and a smile started forming on his face.

“No problem! Where do you want to meet? I need to clear my mind! You called me at the right time!! THANK YOU SO MUCH JINNIE!!”

And he weaved a sigh after he ended his call.

“Phew~ Finally some excitement in my life.”

And he walks on, happily thinking of what he does best.

#

“I think we need a break.”

Sungmin looked into Eunjung’s eyes for assurance. He wasn’t sure of what he just heard. For all he knows, he could very well be dreaming.

But Eunjung stood there, firm, without a slight trace of happiness. And Sungmin understood. She had chosen Minhwan, but he wasn’t satisfied.

“So you’ve made up your mind? But why? Even if it isn’t me, I just need a reason. And perhaps, I can change for the better. If not for you, for other girls.”

“Give me some time. Oppa, komawo.” And she walked off.

Tears flowed, uncontrollably. Sungmin has been a huge part of her college life. She just hopes she knows what she’s doing. And while she’s at it, she hopes she doesn’t get into depression.

#

“Maybe I should try on some makeup. Oppa and Hongki has been pestering for years already. Then, I can give them a surprise. And give Yunhee and Eunjung a surprise as well.”

She smiled herself silly.

“I may not be as girly like them. But deep down inside, I’m still a girl. I want to look pretty. I want to be loved like them too. Eunjung has been giving me those lectures since day one. I should just show her what I’ve got!”

“But wait. What DO I have?”

So on she went to a nearby mall. And opps…

She knocked into some tall lady.

Or was it a guy??

#

“Chosunghaeyo…”
“Mianhe”

“No I’m ok.”
“Gwaenchanha.”

Both looked up, and got a shock!

“You again? Just when I wanted to have a peaceful walk, you just have to appear out of nowhere!” and off she went.

“Hyung, you know her?”

“Err… Sort of. We met earlier this morning.”

“Hey! Are you in serious need for a makeover now? Why not we follow her? I’ll help you with the makeover some other time alright?”

“Whatever you say, hyung.”

“Ok we can! Let’s go!”

Jaejin shook his head, not knowing what to say about his brother’s good friend.

“Yah Jaejin ah! Palli!”
“Neh hyung.”

#

Alright. Where should I start? There are so many make up counters. And perfume counters and god knows what else.

This isn’t my first time at the mall but why do I feel so awkward?

“Agasshi... Do you need any help? Perhaps you would like to try our new range of foundation? Our brand has just developed a new range of foundation, in cream form. A lot of our customers who have tried love it, would you like to try? There’s also a 30% discount going on at the store.”

“No it’s ok. I don’t really use make up. I’m just looking around. If I need help I’ll find you. Thanks anyway,” and she gave a smile.

Yeorin felt so out of place, in a place where girls who normally squeal and go crazy at the sight of all the makeup, with a discount for that matter. But Yeorin felt otherwise. All the makeup and discounts did not appeal to her at all.

But she was determined, dead set that she wants to give it a go.

Oppa always says that I should never give up until I try. So I shouldn’t. AHH... I miss oppa at times like this. Hongki too. Maybe I should give them a call.

#

“Yeoboseyo... Yah Yeorin ah... Waeyo? Gwaenchanha?”
“Oppa...I’m ok. Don’t worry. Bogoshipda ya oppa. Oppa gwaenchanha? Hongki doo?”
“We’re both doing fine. Hongki always whines that he misses you too. You wanna talk to him? He just came home.”
“Jinjja? Can I? Thanks oppa. Saranghae.”

“NOONA!!!!!! YEORIN NOONA! NOONA NOONA NOONA!!”
“OMO Hongki yah! I’m not deaf yet. No need to shout. I can hear you perfectly.”

”Noona! Bogoshipeo. When are you coming home? Can I visit you? Do you have a boyfriend already? My friends always brag that their noonas get attached after entering college. So have you? Have you? Omo noona! I bought a new computer game. And I found cheat codes. HAHAHAHA. Noona, I’m smart eh?”

Hongki asked a string of questions to his favourite noona. And like usual, Yeorin would answer his every question, as much as she could.

“Hongki yah. Noona misses you too. But I can't go home as yet. Perhaps after my exams, alright? And nope. I’m still single. You better not waste your time on those games araseo? Aren’t your exams around the corner?”

“Ahh noona! Manni manni bogoshipdago! Oppa isn’t nice to me! He doesn’t let me sleep late. Noona! I really really miss you! Jinjja!”
“Araseo Hongki yah. I miss you and oppa a lot too. I miss having you around to hug when I’m feeling down.”
“Noona gwaenchanha? Uljima... Noona uljima... Don’t cry alright? I’ll talk to you some other time. Oppa is glaring at me. Noona saranghae!”

The siblings ended their call. Yeorin didn’t manage to hold it in. Her tears just flowed. She misses her brothers so much. Their parents passed away when she was still in high school. Oppa had to work as he studied in college to ensure she and Hongki never go hungry.

The three siblings were so close. They depended on each other for moral support. Yeorin almost rejected her college offer because it wouldn’t allow her to stay with her brothers. But her oppa pushed her and persuaded her to go and not give up on the chance.

Growing up with her two brothers, with both parents busy working all the time, Yeorin started dressing like them too. She plays what her brothers played, wears what they wore and no one ever cared.

The tears kept flowing, and she let them. She was standing at a quiet corner in the mall. She was sure no one saw her. But she was wrong.

Two guys were watching her, one more intensely than the other.

#

Omo! She’s crying. I wonder who she was talking to. I guess she isn’t so metal hearted after all. She is just like an ordinary girl, a girl with emotions.

“Hyung. Are we doing that makeover or not? If we aren’t I want to go back. I still have some assignments halfway done.”

“Jaejinnie ah. Next time ok?” and he gave the boy an apologetic look.

I just found myself a bigger mission.
Kim Heechul never fails...

Chapter 3

PART 2


“Yunhee ah…”
“Neh oppa…”
“There’s someone I would like to introduce you too.”
“Jinjja? Who?”

And a boy appeared from behind Donghae.

“Yunhee, meet Jaejin, my dongsaeng. He’s currently a freshie like you too. He’s from the engineering department. Jaejinnie here loves all those machines stuff. Hahaha.”

“Annyeong haseyo,” the two greeted each other.

Jaejin stared at his brother’s girlfriend. There was something about her that attracted him. But he knew where he stands.

“I’m just the brother. The future brother-in-law.”

“OPPA! Why didn’t you tell me you have a brother in the same college as us?” and she pouts.

“Just because…” and he pinches her cheeks.

Jaejin just stood there looking at his brother, and his girlfriend.

“I want to find someone who can make me happy like how she makes hyung happy.”

“Hyung, I need to leave now. I have a project meeting soon. We’ll meet up some other time. Nice to meet you Yunhee-sshi.”

“You too, Jaejin-sshi.”

#

Sungmin oppa is 3 years her senior. She first met him, or more of caught sight of him, during orientation earlier that year. Sungmin was an orientation group leader. He wasn't in charge of her orientation group but she saw him around. What really attracted her was that performance on campfire night. it was an orientation tradition at the college to have the orientation group leaders perform. Sungmin, along with his roommates and fellow leaders Heechul oppa and Jungsu oppa, performed a dance number, and then sang a ballad popularized by the Kpop boy band, Super Junior.

Eunjung was moved by his powerful vocals in the ballad. it got her interested to know Sungmin oppa better.

Eunjung's good friend back from her high school days was under the care of Sungmin. For one week after that campfire night, Eunjung kept pestering Yunhee to get Sungmin's email address for her.

Yunhee, being a good friend and also rather sick of Eunjung's constant pesters, did as told. It was pure luck that brought these two girls to the same college and dorm room.

With Sungmin's email address, she started sending emails and chatting with him online. And it wasn't a one-sided attraction. Sungmin was already attracted to Eunjung's captivating smile, back from those orientation days. Therefore, it did not take long for something to spark between the two.

#

Minhwan, on the other hand, is a fellow freshman at the college. Minhwan is the drummer of the school band. He gained an entry into the college thanks to his musical talents. Minhwan is in some of Eunjung’s classes. The two has worked on some projects together.

Eunjung and Sungmin were still in an ambiguous relationship that was neither here nor there. Therefore, it didn’t hinder her from knowing more guys, whether as friends or otherwise.

Minhwan and Eunjung share this special relationship. During project meetings, the two would tease each other non-stop. Put just the two together and hardly any work gets done. Everyone around them thinks they are just a couple. But who knows better if not they themselves.

Minhwan has had a major sort of crush on Eunjung, thus the non-stop teasing. Eunjung likes Minhwan too. To her, Minhwan is a gem, a sweet guy who never fails to wish her good morning and good night every single day. Someone she has come to treasure.

But between Minhwan and Sungmin, despite the stark differences, it was a tough pick for Eunjung. While Sungmin enjoys dates with Eunjung, without any strings attached, Minhwan was the opposite. For him, he rather Eunjung belongs to someone, even if it isn’t him.

#

Eunjung loves both guys. She isn’t sure of her heart. Sometimes it says to pick Sungmin, but other times Minhwan. Eunjung wants to pick one and she knows that she has to do it quick. Although Sungmin doesn’t say a word about the issue, she knows he isn’t happy with her hanging around Minhwan.

Sungmin noticed Eunjung has been gone for quite awhile and went to search for her. When he finally found Eunjung, he went up to her and gave her a hug from behind. He was hoping she would turn around and return the hug like usual.

Eunjung turned around, but with a serious look.

“I think we need a break.”

CHAPTER 3

PART 1

“Wahahahaha! That look on hyung’s and Yeorin’s face was priceless. I wished I had my camcorder with me. I would love to capture that moment and post it on Youtube.”

“Yah oppa! You’re so mean!” and she pinched his cheeks.

He put his arms around her shoulders, “But it really was funny. Do you think that perhaps, the two of them are attracted to each other?”

And he stood up, and got all dramatic.
“Love at first sight,” he said, complete with exaggerated hand gestures, “Come on Eunjung! Think about it. Heechul hyung and Yeorin. Match made in heaven.

Eunjung could think of a reply. Instead, she burst out laughing. Despite the contradicting characters those two had, Eunjung could not help but think, what if…

#

Walking along the streets with his drumsticks, something caught his eyes. A pair of lovers, laughing and obviously having a lot of fun with each other’s company.

A spank of jealousy hit him. Thoughts went through his head.

“What is SHE doing there with another guy?”
“She rejected me, saying she had a prior engagement. Yah right! A prior engagement with another guy?”

He whipped out his phoned and dialled a number. A number, he had memorised from the moment he received it.

#

Yeorin was left alone in the dorm. Eunjung was out with Sungmin. While Yunhee was out at the library, either studying or spending time reading novels by Donghae’s side.

That scene keeps repeating in her mind, much to her annoyance. No matter what she does, it just doesn’t seem to go away. She wished she was a computer hard disk, then all she has to do is to press the delete key and all of this morning incident gets deleted along with it.

In the end, Yeorin opened Yunhee’s and Eunjung’s closet and looked through their clothes. She would pick one out, and placed them against herself. She looks at herself in the full length mirror and gets disgusted at the state of the clothes. Too short, too much skin, too low cut and too tight. Nothing seems to suit her taste.

Yeorin stared at herself and wondered, “Why am I so bothered about him? Never in my life have I ever bothered what other people think, or say, about me. But why is it so different this time with him? Is there something special about him?”

She shook that thought out of her head. There was never a possibility of her being attracted to a guy who doesn’t look like one.

#

Heechul stares at the computer screen, not concentrating on his Star Craft game. How could he, after what happened earlier.

In his mind, he saw Ivy and Hyori, sexy female singers who know how to dress. Then he puts Eunjung and Yunhee in his head. He could not see any similarities between these four females with Yeorin.

“Well maybe Ivy and Hyori is out of the question. But Eunjung and Yunhee are her friends, in fact her roommates. Why is she so different from them?”

He tried to put Yeorin in a skirt. But he immediately shook that thought away. Then, he put her in a blouse. Not as bad as his first try.

Then it strikes upon him. He needs to do something about Yeorin.

“I need to transform her. I need to change her into a woman.”

But almost instantaneously, another thought came to him.

“Why am I so bothered about Yeorin? She isn’t even my chingu, and I doubt she’ll ever be one. But why can’t I just leave her alone? WHY?”

#

“Hold on. A call… I think its from Yeorin.”
“Yeoboseyo...”
“Yeoboseyo Eunjung-sshi.”

An all-too-familiar voice.
“Omo! Omo omo! Hold on.”

She excused herself.

“What’s up? I thought I told you I’m busy today. “
“Busy eh?”

Eunjung could sense some frustration and unhappiness in his voice and she knew lying would help to solve the problem.

“Yes. I’m busy, and I’m not free. I made a prior engagement with Sungmin-sshi.”
“Ahh… Sungmin-sshi eh?”
“Yes. Sungmin-sshi. He asked me first. Look, I’m sorry I rejected you today but he asked first.”

“Eunjung-sshi, when will you decide?”
“I don’t know. Don’t rush me. Please…”
“But…”
“Excuse me. I need to go. He’s waiting for me.

Eunjung was pissed. Why did he have to call her and make her feel all guilty when she was having so much fun?

Eunjung didn’t go back to where she left Sungmin. Instead, she decided to take a stroll by herself to calm her down. Maybe, who knows, she might find that answer in her heart.

*

CHAPTER 2

And the story unfolds… This is how it all began.

#

“Hyung! I’ll be going now. Annyeonghi kyeseyo.”
“Wait! Where are you going?”
“Eunjung’s dorm to pick her up. I told you yesterday, remember?”
“Does she have roommates? I wanna tag along.”
“Hyung…”

“Jungsu, wanna come along?”
“It’s ok. I’ll just stay here. You guys run along.”

Along the way…

“Any hot girls in her dorm? Eh?”
“Haiz… You’ll see later hyung.”

The two guys reached the girls’ dorm. Sungmin gave Eunjung a call to inform her of his arrival. The guys waited for the door to open.

Heechul got a shock when the door opened. There, stood Yeorin, not a guy, not yet a woman.

“Yah Sungmin, are we at the right place?” he nudged.
“Yes hyung,” he chuckled, “Hey Yeorin! Is Eunjung done yet?”

Yeorin did not give a reply. She stood there in disbelief.
“Is this really a guy?” she whispered under her breath.

Sungmin waved his hands in front of Yeorin to get her attention. He noticed the sheer disbelieve between the two of them.
“Yah hyung, Yeorin-sshi! Gwaenchanha?” and he introduced the two to each other.

Eunjung appeared a while later. Sungmin whispered to her what just happened. The two of them quietly left the two standing at the door, and were off for their date.

“Yah!” both said at the same time.
“You first.”
“No you.”
“Ladies first.”

Yeorin gave a smirk and turn her back, and went into her room and slammed the door behind her.

Heechul could not believe that the a door just slammed in his pretty face.
“Yah! You think you’re so great, eh?” and kicked the door.
“Owww!” he went off limping, muttering to himself like an ahjumma.

“Hah!”
“Ladies first,” she imitated him.
“What’s so great about you? Looking like a yeoja? Is he even male? Maybe he isn’t straight.”
“I don’t care what others think of me but why am I unhappy with his comment? What is wrong with me?”

#

Heechul was muttering to himself all the way back to his dorm. The moment he entered his dorm, it was as though a bomb exploded.

“Hah! What’s so great about her? Looking like a namja? Is she even female? Maybe she isn’t straight.”
“AHHHHHHH!!!!” he screamed in disbelief.

“Heechul, gwaenchanha?”
And he screamed again.

“I don’t care about what others think of me but why am I unhappy with her actions? What is wrong with me?”

#

“HE IS NOT WORTH MY TIME! AHHHH!!!”

“SHE IS NOT WORTH MY TIME! AHHHH!!!”

CHAPTER 1

Yeorin was putting on the final touches of her make up. She puckered up her lips and was ready to go. Her brothers peered into her room.

“Yah noona! Please hurry! We need to leave already.”
“Hah! Yah Hongki. Sometimes, I want my old Yeorin back. There are times like this that I miss my old dongsaeng.”

And the two brothers left her room.

Yeorin who earlier was all ready, sat on her bed and sighed.
“Did oppa have to mention that?” she whispered under her breath.

Flashback 1 year ago.

“Ahh! I can’t choose! One mesmerise me with his angelic voice, the other with his drums,” Eunjung stormed into the dorm all flustered.

“Yeorin! Who should I choose? The charming Sungmin or sweet and adorable Minhwan? I want them both! AHH! I’m stressed!

Yeorin looked up from beneath her books, shaked her head, and went back to hit the books.

“Yah Yeorin ah! Were you listening? I need your help. Come on! Help me choose!”
“Eunjung ah. There are better things to be stressed up about. Like perhaps, the upcoming midterms? Eh?”
“Sometimes I wonder if you’re a girl.”

“I’m back! Missed me girls? I went shopping with my Donghae. You girls should hook a boyfriend like him, sweet and charming. Ahh!”
“Omo! Shopping? Yunhee! Where did you go? What did you buy? Let me see! Ahh Yunhee ah! I’m stressed! I need to choose between Sungmin and Minhwan.”

The two girls continued blabbering on and on about clothes, shopping and boys. Yeorin plucked in her headphones and blasted music from her laptop.

Meet Kim Yeorin. 20. Female. 1st year college student. Many have mistaken her for a guy. But she is the least bothered.
Her motto in life, beauty is skin deep.

#

“How do you think I should cut my hair? Short? Or longer that short? Definitely not bald. Should I dye it? And maybe reborn it at the same time? It would look nicer I think.”
“Heechul, Heechul, Heechul. You, my friend, should start to learn to spend less on your appearance. If I were a girl, I’ll run away from you cos’ you’re much prettier than me.”
“I’m that good looking eh? I know that. Komawoyo Park Jungsu-sshi,” and he looks into the mirror, adjusting his hair, smiling to himself.

“Hyung ah! What should I wear for my date with Eunjung tomorrow? I seriously need to please her and get her attention. She’s getting more and more driven towards that drummer boy.”
“Oh come on… Let me help you. Let’s see what you have. Where are you taking her tomorrow?” and he opened the cupboard door and started ransacking.

And Heechul became the fashion consultant for the day. Doesn’t hurt to be a little metrosexual, right?

Meet Kim Heechul. 23. Male. Final year college student. Many have mistaken him for a girl. But he enjoys all the attention.
His motto in life, bad attention is better than no attention.

#

This is the story of how boy meets girl.
This is, The Day You Went Away.

Prologue

He had to go away. After the changes he did to me.
I don’t ever want to see him again.
Ever.
No matter how much I miss him.