24. Naeun (1/2)

(OST – Secret Garden by Apink)

Sitting in the restaurant we waited for the food to come out. The side dishes such as the kimchi and the lettuce to wrap the meat were set before us on the table and Eunji unnie the biggest drinker had begun pouring the beer.

“It sure is busy here, careful unnie the plate is getting hot.”Our leader smiled briefly at Namjoo for her concern. Checking my phone I saw that the only message I had was from Saeun. It had been a while since I saw the family last. The last time had been at my birthday.“What does your dongsaeng say?” Hayoung had been reading over my shoulder.“She just wants to see me.” I answered, “I don’t blame her. I have a lot to tell her.”

The others leaned in, their ears tuned in. “Yes such as the love story which could potentially be the biggest scandal of all time.” My face started to heat up.“What is the story with you and Taemin? Why did you say you wanted to see him again and at Jeju Island?”

Pausing I sipped my beer, hoping the strong alcohol would open my heart and loosen my tongue. “It is complicated… It’s a third chance for him.”

Bomi unnie sighed and Eunji unnie shook her head. “You’re too kind Naeun. If it had been me I would have given him a goodbye.”

“Well…” I giggled, suddenly realising what he was doing. “He doesn’t want to give up on me so… I’m going to see if he’ll be patient enough to wait for me like I have waited for him.”

Hayoung spoke up. “Are you sure it’s not because of the kiss…?”

“WHAT KISS IS THIS?!” We felt many pairs of eyes all staring at our table. If there had been any way to blow our cover then this was it. Lowering our heads and turning to each other we also toned down the volume of our voices.

“Naeun… When did he kiss you? Why did you say nothing about it?”

I had to think, it had been a while. “It was shortly after the news of his ex-girlfriend came into the open. At the end of December, we had a talk, I tried to leave and then he chased after me.” I said remembering. They looked at me gobsmacked. The waiter had to clear his throat to bring the meat we had bought to cook up.

“Wow,” Bomi unnie said. “He’s more reckless than I thought. It’s the sort of thing a bad boy would do. So are you expecting to see him in Jeju Island?”

I shrugged, watching the meat that Namjoo placed on the pan sizzling away. “I would hope so… But maybe I won’t. In a week’s time I’ll see.”

Ω

Even though spring had come it still felt a little cold when I arrived at Jeju Island for the photoshoot. The concept was warm pastel tones with the feeling of newly blossomed nature. From baby blue overalls with white, knee high socks to a pale pink dress similar to the one I wore for part of the We Got Married photo shoot it sure matched the warmer but not boiling hot weather.The locations of the shots had been in the forest, the same one Taemin and I had walked in, a waterfall which I had to stand near and a temple with a lovely lake and rocky garden.“Here,” the director for the shoot had bought a bunch of flowers on our journey to the fields. He handed the small bouquet of pink, lilac and yellow blossoms to me, “for this group you can imagine that you look like a bride walking to meet your groom.”

It felt weird, posing as a bride. I was twenty six years of age and the thoughts of marriage had grown stronger over the past view years. Wearing a long white dress with lace at the shoulders, a wreath of roses on my head, I guess I must have looked like some sort of vintage bride except I didn’t have any shoes on.Walking with the flowers held before me I imagined seeing my husband to be. I ignored the cold ground underneath my feet and strolled in a slow pace. It made me think of how Taemin would feel on that day. Would he be smiling bravely at his bride to be or would he let tears fall? Would his suit be white or black? Would he even have a tuxedo and wedding dress wedding?“Naeun look up,” stopping the thought train I lifted my head up and they took a picture. I blinked; the sun had gotten in my face.The head photographer called it quits for the day as the sun was starting to set. We would be up early the day after for the final photos before flying back to Seoul.He hadn’t called me. I wondered if he knew that we would only be here for two days. Maybe he thought it was the week after. He could have forgotten, but maybe he should have looked at my text I had sent that morning.Flying to Jeju, will be here until tomorrow 10:30pm.

Ω

The phone ringing in my ear was an unexpected wake up call. Sitting up I glanced at the time. It was ten to five. The shoot wasn’t supposed to start until six. What happened to them waking me at five?