Chapter 11

THE day was here. Yuri was going to make it official. As anticipated, she barely got to sleep the night before, focusing on making preparations for the big day tomorrow. But after the grueling wait, it was finally daybreak. She got up eagerly, made her Ma and got changed.

Entering the kitchen to make preparations for the night, the girl couldn’t stop smiling. The long awaited day from 3 years ago was now, today. It felt surreal.

When she was done, she left a note for her 2 friends who were still asleep. Taking out her bag, she packed the necessary, including a necklace she had bought for Jessica the day before. She smiled as she held it up and looked at it again.

“You are mine, Jessica Jung!” she laughed evilly.

While prepping for school, she realized she had left a book she urgently needed at Hyomin’s. She cursed at her forgetfulness. Glancing at the clock, she realized there was still some time before class began.

“Crap. Ahhh well I have to get the rest of my stuff sooner or later anyway.” she mumbled as she left the apartment.

Fortunately, Hyomin lived pretty close by. Within minutes, Yuri arrived at the lobby of the apartment building. She pondered about the possibility of Hyomin being awake this early in the morning. She hoped like hell that Hyomin would be asleep, or better, not home.

Using her spare key, she opened the door, as quietly as possible. Walking in, she examined the apartment. It was dark. The curtains were all drawn and the air was stale due to the closed windows. There were leftover instant noodles in the living room. The apartment had looked completely different from the last time she was here.

The bedroom door was closed. Opening the door slightly, Yuri carefully peeked in and noticed that the girl was asleep. Sighing in relief, she began searching for her stuff. But upon looking at the state of the house, Yuri’s inner clean freak couldn’t help herself. It wasn’t like Hyomin to be this disorganized either.

“And I was gone for only a while…” she mumbled. She proceeded to open the windows to let air in, take out the trash, and clear up the mess.

“There, better.” she smiled at her accomplishment.

Thereafter, she resumed her search, but couldn’t find any of her things, which only leaves one last place left to check; the master bedroom. With much reluctance, Yuri opened the bedroom door again, being extremely careful not to wake the girl. Very quietly, Yuri started inspecting the room. She found her stuff sprawled all over the ground, and some of her clothes strewn across the bed. Very cautiously, she picked up the items, and retrieved her clothing from the bed, piece by piece. It was only then that she noticed Hyomin wearing her Mickey Mouse shirt.

I guess I’ll have to let that go… Yuri frowned at the loss of her favorite shirt.

Doing one last check, she rounded up all of her stuff, and then proceeded to quietly make her way out of the bedroom. However, as any layman would know, balancing so many items in one’s hands while sneaking out is never a good idea. The klutz ended up stubbing her toe against the bedpost, causing the whole bed to shake and all the items to fall out of her hands and tumble onto the ground.

In other words; #&#^@##& KWON YURI!!!

Oh noooooooooooo! Yuri closed her eyes as she braced herself for a confrontation with Hyomin.

But there was only silence. Slowly, she turned her head and looked over at the girl on the bed. Hyomin was still motionless.

That’s odd. She’s usually a light sleeper.

Taking this golden opportunity, she hurriedly got on her knees and collected all the items on the ground. Holding everything in her hands, she looked over at the girl again, but this time, a sudden sinking feeling developed in her stomach.

Instinctively, she kicked the bedpost a little. Still no movement.

Worriedly, she called out. “Minnie.”

No response. Dropping her items on the ground, she tapped on the girl’s shoulder. “Minnie.”

The girl still didn’t respond. Yuri held onto the girl’s shoulders and shook her vigorously. “Minnie, wake up.”

“MINNIE, wake up!!”

Grabbing her phone, the girl immediately dialed 911.

-----

Yuri sat outside the doors of the operating theatre, face buried in her hands, waiting for any news of the girl. Hyomin was never the self-destructive type. Yuri knew without a doubt that she was the cause of this.

“What have I done to her…?”

Upon seeing a nurse come out of the room, Yuri immediately stood up, wiping her tears.

“Miss Kwon?”

Yuri nodded nervously. “How is she?”

“She’s fine now, but she’s weak and will be on intravenous therapy. The doctors did a gastric lavage; and test results have shown that she had overdosed on sleeping pills. But it was good that she was found early.” the nurse said. Upon hearing her response, Yuri heaved a huge sigh of relief, thankful that her forgetfulness led her to the girl.

“Are her family here?”

Yuri shook her head. “No, I don’t have their contacts…” she said regrettably. Their relationship had been so discreet, Hyomin’s parents didn’t even know of Yuri’s existence.

“We’ll get in touch with them then. She’ll be out in a while, you can visit her then.” the nurse smiled, in an effort to calm the nerves of the flustered girl.

“Thank you.” Yuri bowed as the nurse walked off.

While waiting for Hyomin to be transferred to the ward, Yuri made her way to the cafeteria to get food since she hadn’t eaten all day. Making an extra effort to finish her food rapidly, she hurriedly proceeded back to the ward. On her way there, she found paparazzi staked out at the entrance to the hospital.

So the news spreads THIS fast.

Yuri always felt uneasy around them. When they were together, the paparazzi frequently stalked Hyomin and Yuri constantly had to keep her distance. Glancing over at the seeming gazillion camera-wielding-stalkers, she shuddered. It was best to hurry.

However, when she got there, she noticed that the T-ara members were already gathered outside the ward. Acting casual, she took peeks from a slight distance as she walked past the ward. Hyomin was already awake and accompanied by her parents, whom she recognized from the pictures Hyomin showed her before. Yuri knew she couldn’t visit her now.

Seeing Hyomin surrounded by all the people around her brought a sense of calm to Yuri. It also reminded Yuri why they broke up. “Should I even show up…” she mumbled to herself, pondering if it was a good idea to visit the girl.

She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. “Miss, I ask that you leave this area now, please.” A stocky man said in a booming, gruff voice.

It scared Yuri a little. “I-I’m just visiting someone on this level.”

“Well then, move along please. I have orders to keep people away from this area.” The man replied without making any effort to reduce his volume or soften his tone.

“Alright.” Yuri replied, not wanting to make things difficult. It was probably also not ideal to see the girl now anyway. Grudgingly, Yuri started walking away.

“Yuri!”

Yuri knew whose voice that was. Inhaling deeply, she turned around and saw Hyomin inching out of her ward, holding onto the pole that held her IV as support. The girl started approaching her, slowly. Her eyes carried an enormous amount of hope amidst the frailness on her face.

Seeing that there were many people around, Yuri evaluated the risk of acknowledging her.

Not a good idea.

She started walking away.

“Wait! Yuri!” Seeing Yuri’s negative response, Hyomin tried running towards the girl in vain. Feeling faint, she slightly collapsed. Her friends immediately held onto her, and her parents rushed out of the ward. Everyone was bemused by the situation. Seeing the girl walking even further, Hyomin helplessly cried out again, struggling out of her friends’ grip.

“Yuri! Wait!!”

The girl eventually turned around. She knew she had to; she couldn’t just walk away. Hesitantly, she took a few steps forward and stopped at a slight distance from Hyomin, who was by now surrounded by several people with the same expressions on their faces; confused. It was extremely daunting to Yuri. Feeling uneasy from all the stares she was receiving, she just wanted to get out of the situation as soon as possible.  Managing a slight smile, she said, “I’m glad you’re alright now. Sorry but I really have to go, I’m almost late for school.”

The next few seconds happened in a flash. Hyomin tore out of her friends’ grip and rushed forward to the girl. Yuri instinctively held onto the girl to support her, but the girl took the opportunity to bury herself deeper into Yuri’s arms, sobbing.

“You saved me didn’t you?” she cupped Yuri’s face. “I missed you so much...”

Yuri pulled back immediately, keeping as much distance as possible while holding onto the girl. Hyomin was a face full of tears. She immediately feared what people might think upon witnessing the scene.

“Please… Don’t do stupid things anymore.” Yuri spoke softly, worried. “I won’t be there for you all the time.”

Hyomin shook her head. “I couldn’t sleep that night… It wasn’t intentional I swear…” she said as she grabbed onto Yuri tightly.

“Go back to your room, please. I have to go...” Yuri pleaded. Grabbing onto Hyomin’s hands and positioning them on her IV pole, “There are too many people here. Don’t do anything silly.” she warned, as softly as possible.

“No please… I don’t care anymore!” Hyomin begged, reaching out for Yuri again.

Without even looking around, Yuri knew just where everyone’s eyes were. Throughout the whole hallway, everyone present was watching them. She knew she had to leave now, before things got worse.

“Please, just take care of yourself okay? I have to go now…”

“No… Yuri!!”

With that, Yuri let go of the girl and ran away, while the girl collapsed on the floor. As much as she wanted to turn back and help the girl, Yuri couldn’t go soft now, there was just too much at stake.

She needed to leave the place immediately. She hated this.

In her sadness and frustration, Yuri had one place she knew she wanted to go.

-----

(flashback)

“Hey!”

Yuri turned to respond to the hand on her shoulder, only to come face to face with a girl who was in dark shades and a cap. “Please I’m just a poor college student trying to make ends meet and I don’t have much for you please please please spare me!” she said in one breath with her hands raised in the air.

“What are you talking about, Yuri? It’s me!” the girl lowered her shades a little.

“Hehehe.” Yuri sniggered.

“You did that on purpose didn’t you!” Hyomin lightly pushed Yuri, causing the latter to step back.

“Your disguise was too tempting, I couldn’t help it.” Yuri chuckled.

Hyomin frowned at her comment. “Do I look that much like a mugger?”

“Uh huh. And look where we are.” Yuri said as she raised a hand and pointed at her surroundings. The girls were in a particularly secluded area of a park that Yuri frequented for her routine morning jogs; it also became their usual meeting place because it was people-free, paparazzi-free and Hyomin could be at ease.

“And plus, you’re wearing my totally dark and conspicuous wayfarers. Take it off, it’s getting dark.” Yuri teased as she took the shades off Hyomin. “And get your own! You’re a rich celebrity!”

“You said it was okay if I borrowed it!” the girl protested. But upon noticing Yuri carefully observing the wayfarers for any possible damage and being unresponsive, Hyomin huffed. “Fine!”

Yuri grinned widely. “I was kidding with you! Here, take it and knock yourself out.” she giggled as she put the wayfarers back on Hyomin’s face. “Besides, my wayfarers are worth so much more now that you’ve worn them. I could get so much when I sell them…” Yuri rubbed her hands and smirked while babbling about the perks of being a celebrity’s friend, unaware of the blushing face of the girl beneath the shades.

Hyomin smiled. The truth was, she wanted to wear Yuri’s shades. She derived the little joy out of using something that belonged to Yuri. It was like bringing a little piece of the girl along with her.

“Hyominnie. There you go again.”

“Hmmm?”

“Smiling to yourself. And with that love struck expression.” Yuri teased. “Ohhhh I bet you’re thinking of him! So when are you gonna tell me about this lucky person that you’re hopelessly in love with?”

Hyomin blushed as Yuri stared into her eyes, demanding an answer. “I...”

“Ohh you’re blushing! Why can’t you tell me anyway? You don’t trust me do you?” Yuri crossed her arms.

“It’s not that!”

“Then?”

Hyomin kept silent, unsure of what to say. Beneath the shades, Yuri couldn’t tell if Hyomin was upset at her insistence. She figured she should let it go. “Alright alright. I won’t press you. Jeez! Seems like you really like the guy…” she huffed as she sat down on the bench. “Oh look what I brought!” Yuri exclaimed as she dragged Hyomin down beside her.

“Food, food, more food, and this!” Yuri proudly announced as she held up the bottle in her hand.

“Champagne? What’s the occasion?”

“Well I haven’t properly congratulated you on the release of T-ara’s first album, so…”

“Thank you, it’s very sweet of you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I’ll get you drunk tonight and make you spill all your secrets! Yuri thought as she flashed a sly smile.

-----

Unfortunately, the plan didn’t work out quite as planned as the perpetrator ended up getting more wasted than her target. Unexpectedly, Hyomin had a pretty good capacity. By the end of the bottle, Yuri was stuck in a drunken stupor while Hyomin was still doing fine. It amused Hyomin to no end to see Yuri embarrass herself in her drunken state.

However, a drunken Yuri didn’t forget her plan. “So… what… do you want… most…??” Yuri slurred.

“I want to do well as a singer. It’s been my dream since young.”

“You!!!” Yuri pointed at her. “You… are the greatest singer… to me…” she said as she pointed at herself.

Hyomin chuckled at Yuri’s drunken compliment, regardless if she meant it or not.

“But… other than that… anything else??” The alcohol was getting into Yuri’s head but the girl persevered to finish her mission at hand.

“Hmmm…”

“Don’t… you also want… the… person you like…?” Yuri babbled.

The question caught Hyomin off guard. She wondered if coming clean to a drunken Yuri was a good idea. Probably because the dazed girl seemed to be senselessly looking far into the distance, and perhaps the alcohol’s natural courage booster kicked in, it led Hyomin to decide it was alright.

“I do.”

“Lucky you… Being… in love… is good… Being… in love… with someone… who’s here… is good…”

Afraid that Yuri might attempt to dig further, Hyomin hurriedly changed the topic. “How about you? What do you want most?”

“Hmmmmmm……… I want…” Yuri rubbed her forehead with her hand.

I want…. The person… I love……..

Yuri felt herself tearing up suddenly as visions appeared in her head. A rush of sadness overwhelmed her.

“I…”

“…seeee…car…”

Hyomin laughed out loud. “A car??? That’s what you want most?”

Yuri shook her head frantically. The visions caused by the alcohol were too overwhelming. Her emotions were heightened, and out of nowhere, she started crying. She looked up at Hyomin and rubbed her tears.

Sica??

Yuri reached forward to touch the girl’s face.

“I want… you…”

Hyomin didn’t catch what the girl said, but she did notice the tears on the girl’s face. “Why are you crying?” Reaching into her bag for a packet of tissues, she began wiping Yuri’s tears away.

Sica... You’re here…

“I… love… you…” Yuri slurred before crashing her lips onto Hyomin’s.

Hyomin didn’t move. A rush of emotions flooded her as Yuri continued kissing her. She could taste the girl’s lips. She could smell the champagne in her breath.

The 3 words rang in her head. It then dawned on her that she wasn’t dreaming.

She hugged Yuri tightly and brought her face even closer.

I love you too Yuri…

(end of flashback)