FOUR (1/2)

<u>Characters:</u>

(As they appear in the chapter)

Kwon Boa (48): Mother of Sunyoung

Park Kangta (50): Father of SunyoungFOURJongin.

“Okay, practice one more time.” Henry said gently to Jongin, who just awkwardly scratched his head. Jongin cleared his throat and said, “Sunyoung, I’m sorry I made you cry. I won’t be stupid again.”

Henry smiled, “There you go. Now put a smile on that handsome face, don’t look like someone who just got punched in the guts.”

Jongin grimaced. Apologies were not his thing. But for some reason, there was a weird feeling of discomfort in his gut, knowing that he made the girl cry.

“Hey, it’s almost time!” Henry said, patting Jongin on the back, “Don’t worry. Sunyoung will be very understanding!”

Jongin sighed, “Maybe I should just skip class today.”

“Nonsense!” Henry chastised, “It’s time to face your fears and conquer them! Now go along.”

Jongin just groaned as he reluctantly made his way from the kitchen to the classroom. He peeked inside the room and saw Sunyoung sitting alone at one of the desks, reading something. Jongin couldn’t do it. He was about to turn around and close the door, when he bumped into little Baekhyun.

“Penguin teacher! What are you doing by the door?” He asked quite obnoxiously. Jongin brought his finger to his lips to signal the boy to be quiet but Baekhyun completely disregarded it and said, “WHAT!? Penguin teacher is weird" and stalked off down the hall. Jongin looked behind him and saw that Sunyoung was looking over. Dang it. She started walking over and Jongin just coughed and looked around. Stupid kid couldn't mind his own business.

“Jongin?” Sunyoung said as she opened the door fully. Jongin blinked as he awkwardly said, “Uh, yes. Hi.”

He laughed nervously as he entered the classroom and said, “So, uh. What’s the lesson plan today?”

Sunyoung gave him a weird look before she answered, “Mosaics.”

Jongin nodded, “Cool. Cool.”

“Did you need something?” Sunyoung asked, looking confused.

“Huh?” Jongin croaked, “Uh. No… nothing. Just wanted to see how you were doing.”

Sunyoung raised a brow, “Jongin, what is it?”

He took a deep breath and broke every ounce of pride within him before saying, “I’m sorry for… um, last week. I just… I know what it feels like to be disappointed and crushed by reality. And I guess I didn’t realize it’s not what the kids need and… uh. Yeah…”

Jongin looked everywhere but her face, but all of a sudden he heard her laughing. He looked at the girl strangely as she didn’t stop laughing. It sounded nice though. Her laugh. Much better than the sound of her crying.

“What?” Jongin said, “Did I say something funny?”

Sunyoung’s laughter died down and she shook her head while smiling, “No, it’s just…. I never expected you to apologize. And I’ve never seen you look so awkward. But um, thanks. I appreciate it.”

Jongin just nodded his head and for once the two were not fighting or bickering (mostly on his part), but they were in an agreement. That weird feeling of discomfort didn’t disappear though. If anything, that strange feeling starting knotting tighter in his stomach. That was very unsettling to Jongin.

The door suddenly opened and the kids streamed in, excitelly chattering. Mostly on the loud trio’s part. Jongin saw little Sehun come in, so he said, “Hey, what’s up Sehun!”

The boy just ignored Jongin and went to his seat. Jongin sighed. Did he seriously have to apologize to a little 6 year old, too. Really? He didn’t know how much more his pride could handle.

--

Jongin yawned as he entered the last classroom. It was 8PM and his long day of cleaning was almost over. He hated Thursdays because it was the “clean up” day. Which basically equated to Jongin cleaning up everything. Like literally EVERYTHING. He had never cleaned so much in his life. But finally, his night was almost over. Jongin just had to finish cleaning the art classroom.

With a sigh, Jongin started scrubbing the tables and organizing the chairs. Relative to the other classrooms, this room was pretty neat. Especially considering it was where the most mess can possibly happen. As Jongin finished cleaning, he noticed a big sketchbook by the corner of the room.

Jongin curiously went over and picked it up. In tiny letters it just spelled Park Sunyoung on the corner. Looks like she forgot her sketchbook. Jongin knew it was probably bad for him to do this, but he was so curious. And thus, Jongin opened the pad and started looking through the pictures. They were mostly sketches of hands and different body parts by pencil. It was actually pretty cool. There were some portraits in there, some of whom he recognized. There was one of Yunho and Victoria walking in some grassy field. One of Henry in the kitchen. There were some of the kids running around at a park. And there was a sketch of a good looking guy wearing a suit, looking down at his watch. Jongin didn't really know who this dude was. The next couple were all of this same random guy, smiling and doing other things. Hmm, maybe she has a boyfriend.

The door suddenly opened and Jongin quickly closed the sketchbook and turned around. Victoria looked surprised to see Jongin there as she continued to talk on the phone, “I’m in the classroom right now. Where did you say you left it?”

Jongin shifted his feet a bit before lifting up the sketchbook, “Are you looking for this?”

Victoria’s face lit up and said, “Oh Sunyoung, you did leave it here! Jongin found it! I’ll have him drop it off to you tomorrow.”

Jongin sweatdropped. Since when did he become the errand boy of this orphanage?

“No problem, sweetie. Okay, bye!” Victoria said before she hung up.

“Thank goodness you found it!” Victoria said happily, “Can you please drop it off to her tomorrow? I believe she ends school around 5 ish, so I’ll tell Henry to excuse you from cooking duty.”

Jongin just blinked and nodded.

--

Sunyoung.

Sunyoung excitedly walked out of class. Finally, the weekend was here! Not that Sunyoung hated school or anything, but it had been an exceptionally long week and she was more than ready to get some rest.

“Why are you so excited?” Byunghun asked. They were in the same class together and were walking out together.

“No particular reason!” Sunyoung said with a grin, “Just glad it’s the weekend!”

Byunghun just laughed, “You’re so easily pleased.”

Sunyoung smiled back, “I believe it is one my gifts.”

“Hey, by the way,” Byunghun said, “Have you seen Chunji and Jieun recently?”

Sunyoung thought for a moment before replying, “Now that you mention it, no. I’ve only talked to Jieun on the phone.”

“There’s something fishy, I’m telling you,” Byunghun said. Sunyoung gasped, “You don’t think they’re dating?!”

“My sherlock senses tell me that they are…” Byunghun replied.

“I knew there was always something different around them!” Sunyoung exclaimed. Wow, if her friends were dating that was indeed a crazy thing. As Byunghun and Sunyoung reached the parking lot, Byunghun asked, “You want a ride home?”

Sunyoung smiled and shook her head, “No, Byunghun. Your house is in the complete opposite direction! I can just take the bus. Thanks, though.”

The two friends were about to cross the street when an obnoxious silver Porsche pulled up in front of the lot. Jongin stepped out wearing his expensive shades and a leather jacket. He practically posed in front of his car while the passing by female students were gushing over him.

Sunyoung's mouth dropped open in embarassment, “Oh gosh.”

Byunghun crinkled his nose, “Do you know him?”

As if on cue Jongin looked over and said, “Yo, Sunyoung!”

The spectating girls were squealing and looked at Sunyoung with jealousy as the good-looking Jongin walked over in her direction.

“Hey.” Jongin said with a smirk as he stood in front of Sunyoung and Byunhun.

“Um, hi,” Sunyoung said, still taken aback by his “grand” entrance. People were still surrounding them and watching, making Sunyoung feel very uncomfortable.

“And you are?” Jongin said, looking over at Byunhun.

“Lee Byunhun,” he replied, putting out his hand. Jongin reluctantly shook it and replied, “Kim Jongin.”

“Is this the douchebag you were talking about?” Byunghun asked Sunyoung quietly. But obviously it was still loud enough for Jongin to hear, “Excuse me? Douchebag?”

Sunyoung immediately perked up and said to Byunghun, “Sorry, but I ought to go. I’ll see you next week!” She turned to Jongin and said, “Let’s go.”

Jongin was about to retort with something but Sunyoung quickly pushed him along to the car and got in.

“What was that all about?” Jongin asked in the car, “Is that guy your boyfriend or something?”

Sunyoung shook her head, “No, he’s a friend. And you were embarrassing me with all the stares from people around us.”

“Whatever,” Jongin said with a smirk, "I can't help that the female specimen enjoy looking at my adonis looks.”

Sunyoung blinked, “Huh?”

Jongin laughed, “Alright, whatever. Your sketchbook is in the back. How do I get to your house?”

“Oh,” Sunyoung said, “It’s okay, just drop me off at the bus stop.”

Jongin grunted, “No, I’ll just take you home. Where do you live?”

Sunyoung stared at Jongin in confusion, “Who are you and what have you done with Jongin?”

He just shrugged, “Whatever. I’m just trying to be nice.”

Sunyoung just giggled quietly as she told him her address. It was rather strange seeing Jongin being kind. But… it was a nice change, Sunyoung must say. They drove in silence to Sunyoung’s home, listening to soft classical music.

"I never pegged you as the classical music type," Sunyoung mused, enjoying the soft piano keys that were being played. Jongin smirked, "There's a lot of thing you don't know about me, Sunyoung. I'm a very classy guy."

Sunyoung just smiled and nodded, "Sure."

"What," Jongin said in defense, "I really am!"

Sunyoung just laughed as they pulled up to the driveway of Sunyoung’s home.

“Well,” Sunyoung said while unbuckling her seat belt, “Thanks for the ride home. And for bringing my sketchpad.”

Jongin nodded, “Yeah. No bigs. It gave me a nice excuse to ditch dinner duty tonight.”

Sunyoung smiled as she grabbed her sketchbook and got out of the car. She stuck her head back through the window and said, “Really, thanks!”

A woman’s voice then called out, “Sunyoung!”

Sunyoung turned around and was face to face with an older woman who hugged the girl.

“My daughter, it’s good to have you home.” Sunyoung’s mom said. Jongin just smiled from the car. Well, it was pretty obvious where she got her happiness genes from.

“Oh, who is this?” Her mom asked, peeking her head through the window, “Is it a boy? Oh my goodness, you brought a boy home. Sunyoung-ah, introduce me!”

Jongin laughed as he watched a mortified Sunyoung trying to calm down her mom.

“Umma, he’s not my boyfriend,” Sunyoung tried to explain. Jongin got out of the car and bowed down, “Annyeounghaseyo. I’m Kim Jongin.”

Sunyoung’s mom Boa smiled, “Hello, Jongin. My, he is a handsome lad, Sunyoung! I’m Sunyoung’s mother. Thanks for bringing her home safely!”

Jongin grinned back sweetly, “Not a problem.”

Sunyoung looked back and forth between the exchange of Jongin and her mom. What in the world was going on?

“Would you like to stay for dinner?” Boa asked gleefully, “It’s not everyday my Sunyoungie brings a boy home!”

Sunyoung nervously laughed, “Haha, umma, I’m sure Jongin has a lot to do and-”