13. Taemin (1/2)
(OST- Green Rain by SHINee for The Queen’s Classroom OST)I had the perfect chance. We both exited through the front door as the camera crew were interviewing some of the other dancers. As long as we were quick then they wouldn’t notice. She didn’t speak as we went down the end of the hall to a lounge area that was vacant.“Phew,” I breathed out and sat down on the white chair. Naeun sat adjacent to me, her face glued to her handbag and something in it. Before I could ask her what she was doing or if she couldn’t look at me anymore she looked up. “Sorry, so what is it you would like to say?”
Five years. It had done nothing to her beauty. She still had the same thin lips that could curve into the most darling smile. And there was the same dainty eyes that reminded me of a fairy when she was happy or amused.“I haven’t said anything yet,” I smirked when I saw her face change with surprise and then slight embarrassment. She must have wanted to be as quiet as she could. “But I’ll get on with it now.” I dropped my leg that was crossed. She kept hers together resting her clasped hands on the top leg.“Want to catch up over a movie?”
That was the clincher. I watched her lean back, placing up defences and becoming alert. Keeping myself in check I managed to not respond in a way that would make it over the top.“What do you think? It would be dark; no one would have to know it’s us. We could disguise ourselves as well and meet inside—“She didn’t speak but held her hand at her neck until she quickly realised there was nothing to touch there but skin. That was when I noticed it too. There was nothing there, no pendant, no necklace.“Did you lose the necklace I gave you; the one with the grape bunch?”
That question received a nod. “Yes I have.” She also added after a moment’s thought. “Umm about what you said… I don’t know.”
How could I have expected her to say yes to that? Spending time with me alone without the support of any friends or her members was a hard enough task for her yet I still longed for more.Lee Taemin, your unlimited greed is one thing getting older has not changed! Nodding I put my hands together for a moment. “Well… I hope you will agree.” I said with expression showing some hope. “There’s been no one for me since I finished We Got Married; no one but you Son Naeun.”
She paused to think and then she faced me. “I’ll have to think about it.” She told me giving me no clue whether she was leaning more to declining or accepting.“Good, don’t forget you have my number when you’re ready to respond.”Ω “What is going on here?” I stepped towards the lobby for the group’s final practice for the week only to see a lot of young girls waving banners. It had been a week since I had spoken to Naeun from her surprise appearance and somehow they must have known.‘They’ are the rather obsessive fans.One of the banners was made from white card with a photograph of Naeun on the front. A red line was going through it. I didn’t even want to read what it said below:No to Naeun! Another one said: Taemin and Naeun No no no!Naeun Why so Stupid?! By a fan who could write in decent English.Touching the top of my head I breathed out heavily before grabbing my sunglasses to try and conceal my face. While they were still causing a ruckus at the reception desk I rushed past them up to the studio before they could notice.“Hyung what was going on with those girls? Are they fans of yours?”
“They’re those ‘extreme’ ones.” One of the girls commented as though she knew a lot about the subject. The others began to talk in disgust and cynical tones about them.“I can’t believe they’re upsetting the receptionist there. She did nothing wrong.”“They’re a bunch of jealous air heads who think ‘oppa’ is their oxygen.”I did not even try and point out that one of SHINee’s songs had been referenced whether it was intentional or not. If I did not do something then we would be talking about my fans.Clapping my hands silenced them. “Alright, the live performance is tomorrow night. Let’s go over the dance and see where we need to clean up the moves.”They moved into their positions while I went to the edge of the floor beside the stereo player. Pressing play I focused my attention on seeing them move up, down. In synch or separate from each other. As long as they were following the feel of the song and the directions the choreographers had given them it would be fine. Anything to make me forget there would always be people who hated Naeun, because of me.ΩGlancing around the seats I saw that there were not that many people in the showing. It increased the chances of being noticed more but less chance of getting recognised.Before I got up to check she hadn’t already sat down my phone beeped and I got a message:Where are you?In the third row from the back in the middle, I typed back.Sitting down again I waited a little longer. Soon there were footsteps as someone walked slowly up the stairs to the same row as me.Naeun, her hair was in a tight bun, different from how she usually had it. Her jacket had the collar up and she stared at the floor to avoid eye contact. In her hand there was a hand bag, the other had popcorn.“Sorry I’m late,” she whispered before sitting down next to me.Smiling I shook my head. “I’m glad you could come.”
“Eunji unnie is the one you should thank,” she answered taking a mouthful of popcorn. “I had to ask for her opinion.”
That made me grin more; Eunji, thank you. “None of the members or my friends knows that I’m doing this.”
She turned to me in surprise, “really?”
“Uh huh,” I reached over and helped myself to some of the popcorn. I held a few popped kernels in my palm, “should I try to throw it into my mouth?”
“Don’t do it,” she hushed before freezing. She had said it a little louder than needed. “… People will notice more.”