CHAPTER 6 EunBi got into the passenger's seat of JungHye's car, still thinking of the crank calls she had received earlier. "WOW, EunBi! You're lookin sexy!" JungHye said, poking fun at EunBi... but EunBi did not laugh. "Huh?" EunBi responded slowly. "I said you're lookin sexy," JungHye repeated with less enthusiasm, as she pulled into the busy streets. "Haha...thanks," EunBi replied, as she pulled out a mirror to examine her hair and makeup. She wore her eye-shadow much darker than usual, and painted her lips a soft, shimmery pink with high-shine gloss. Her cheekbones and bare shoulders were sparkling subtly with glittery perfection...overall, she looked like a beautiful model. EunBi smacked her lips together and clicked her compact mirror shut. "Dammmit....there's traffic..." JungHye complained. "F this shit," she said, as she swerved into another lane and turned into a dark alley. "I know a shortcut," JungHye smiled, as she made a million different turns. "We're almost there," she informed EunBi. There were lights showing at the end of whatever-street JungHye was driving on. The lights got brighter as the car got closer. EunBi could see the local club, and the silhouette of a man standing outside. As JungHye's car approached the club closer and closer, EunBi felt weak when she realized that the man standing outside was ChilHyun oppa. 'Thank God for tinted windows,' EunBi thought to herself as JungHye's car passed by him. EunBi could not help but to keep staring at him, craning her neck back as far as she could until it hurt. She saw his figure standing in the distance through the rear window of the car. "What are you staring at?" JungHye asked, stifling a laugh. "Oh, nothing," EunBi said as she quickly turned back around. "Let's go par-tay!!" JungHye lit up excitedly as she parked her car. EunBi did not want to go into the club; she did not want to run into ChilHyun oppa, for she knew that she wouldn't know what to say to him. EunBi reluctantly got out of the car. JungHye linked onto EunBi's arm as they approached the entrance of the club. EunBi couldn't help but stare at ChilHyun oppa: his tall, lean body, soft yellow-brown hair...he was wearing baggy blue jeans and a red T-shirt, standing with his hands in his pockets, as if he were expecting or waiting for someone. EunBi felt her knees growing weaker...'God, he is so hot!' she admitted to herself. In a short couple of seconds, JungHye and EunBi reached the entrance. ChilHyun looked around at the two girls who had just arrived. His eyes grew bigger when he realized that one of them was EunBi. "Hi, EunBi!" he greeted with his beautiful smile. EunBi blew him off coldly and just stood there looking at him. Her heart wanted to greet him back warmly...but it seemed as if her mind would not let her. JungHye pushed EunBi towards him a little. "He's hot." she whispered to EunBi, too excited to recognize that it was Ahn ChilHyun...HeeJun oppa's friend. "I'm going in first, kay?" JungHye told EunBi. Before EunBi could stop her, JungHye had already gone into the club. EunBi turned around to face ChilHyun oppa, and crossed her arms. She walked forward a few steps closer to him. ChilHyun still had his hands in his pants pockets. He smiled at EunBi and spoke. "So how've you been?" he asked. "None of your business," EunBi said coldly. 'God, what the hell is wrong with me?' "Okay...I see," ChilHyun said, now used to EunBi's coldness towards him. EunBi felt guilty for saying that-- but her heart had no control over her mouth...and her mind made her speak. "So why aren't you inside?" EunBi asked. "I'm waitng for HeeJun hyung...he was driving my car today and we're supposed to go to YoungJin hyung's house," Chilhyun explained. EunBi nodded her head, her face expressionless. There followed an awkward silence. "Can I ask you a question?" ChilHyun spoke as EunBi nodded her head. "You know...that day at the studio....and right now....You've been really off-standish," ChilHyun said. "Why is that?" EunBi had trouble understanding what he meant. "What do you mean by off-standish?" she asked. "Well, to put it more bluntly...you're really bitchy to me!" he blurted out. EunBi was not shocked at his words, but she was a little hurt. "What happened to the sweet and innocent Lee EunBi I used to know?" ChilHyun continued. "Well, I''m not the same EunBi I used to be," she said simply. "I don't have to stand out here and answer your questions...I'm going inside," EunBi said as she turned around to walk in. Chilhyun grabbed her shoulder and spun her around gently. Ignoring EunBi's announcement of wanting to go into the club, he spoke softly. "I don't think you've changed one bit....except just a few physical changes," Chilhyun said, looking deeply into EunBi's round eyes. EunBi knew she hadn't changed...she turned down many guys when she was in Korea, because she could not forget about her first love...Ahn Chilhyun...and she was always so shy around guys. No matter how hard she tried to hide it in front of Chilhyun oppa, her unchanged innocence was showing through, and Chilhyun could clearly see it. EunBi stood there, staring back: she loved Chilhyun oppa's eyes-- the way they sparkled and expressed feelings without words-- EunBi did not know what to say. "What are you afraid of, Lee EunBi?" Chilhyun continued, leaning closer and closer with every word. EunBi felt herself leaning back into the empty air; if she leaned back anymore, she knew she would fall. She breathed in the scent of his cologne...it was intoxicating, and EunBi felt a rush of desire as the scent overwhelmed her. She tried desperately, but she could not break away from his gaze-- so strong and yet gentle at the same time. EunBi couldn't take it anymore. She finally broke away and went inside the club. Chilhyun just stood there. Forgetting about his promise to HeeJun, he followed her inside. He looked around the noisy crowd, and finally spotted EunBi sitting at the bar. ChilHyun approached her and sat down next to her. EunBi shot him a look. "Why are you following me?" she demanded. Right then and there, a slow song came on as people paired up on the dance floor. "I won't answer your question until you answer mine first," Chilhyun said childishly. EunBi scoffed with disappointment. She sipped her drink and slammed it down hard on the table. "I thought you never wanted to see me again Ahn Chilhyun," EunBi said coldly. "I thought I was doing you a favor by avoiding you." "Is that what this is about? You're holding something against me because of something I said to you six years ago?" ChilHyun asked as if he could not believe it. "Oh, come on EunBi...I was pissed at GyooHee...what else was I supposed to say? I bet you anything, if GyooHee had told me what you told me, I would've said the exact same thing!" he continued, pleading innocently. EunBi laughed. "Then why did you take it out on me?" she asked sternly. "Like I said...I was pissed," Chilhyun repeated his words. "I didn't think you'd take it so personally, either." "That's a lame excuse, oppa," EunBi said. She knew that it was not Chilhyun oppa's fault for being pissed; but EunBi's foolish pride would not let her admit it. "Now that I have answered your question, answer mine," EunBi said. "Are you following me because of GyooHee unnie? Do you want to know about her? Well, for your information, I don't know where she is or how she's doing...so now that I've told you--" before she could finish, Chilhyun cut her off. He leaned in closer and looked deeply into EunBi's eyes. "I don't care about GyooHee..." he whispered. Locked in with his gaze, a chill went up and down EunBi's spine. Chilhyun smiled. The two were still staring at each other, when they were interrupted. Chilhyun felt his pager vibrating against his leg, and he pulled it out to read the numericals. ChilHyun stood up from his chair. "I gotta go...that's HeeJun hyung," he said. He bent down and gave EunBi a light kiss on the cheek. "See you around," he said, as he walked out. EunBi smiled. 'God, he's so messing with my mind', she thought as she shook her head. "Excuse me...refill on the club soda with extra lemon wedges," she said to the bartender, as she slid her glass across the counter. She turned around to search for JungHye-- EunBi smiled when she saw her friend laughing and having fun. She turned back around as the bartender set her drink down. EunBi sat thinking. She had a lot of things weighing on her mind: ChilHyun oppa, GyooHee unnie, the weird calls she'd been receiving...there was something strange and uncanny about the breathing of the woman on the other line. 'Who could it be? If it were a wrong number...the person wouldn't have called back...and they would've said something...' The only thing EunBi knew, was that she was uncertain about the anonymous caller, and she was uncertain of where GyooHee unnie was at the time...but she was certain of one thing....that she was starting to like ChilHyun oppa all over again...... *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Herez another poem for you guys.... **I Remember** When I looked into your eyes, I knew it was true... My heart never lies-- I was in love with you. As you stood there, just looking around... My whole body melted into the ground. I remember the day, I remember the time, I remember the place...it was always on my mind. You looked so good in your shirt and jeans, I remember that night, you were in my dreams. I wish I could be with you day after day, cuz I love you more than words could say.... -- Author unknown... CHAPTER 7 ::The Next Day:: EunBi awoke by the sound of the phone ringing. She lazily extended her arm out to the phone on the bedstand and picked it up. "Hello?" EunBi asked in a sleepy voice, with her eyes still closed. "......." Nobody answered back. EunBi quickly sat up on her bed and opened her eyes, now wide awake. "Hello? Who is this?" EunBi demanded. Then she heard the breathing again and heard a click as the caller hung up. EunBi sighed as she turned off the phone and fell back heavily on her bed. 'Who is that?' EunBi's curiosity was getting the best of her. Then she closed her eyes and smiled, thinking of the dream she had of ChilHyun oppa. She opened her eyes and checked the clock. It read 8:30 A.M. EunBi threw her blanket off of herself and went downstairs to have some breakfast. She got out a bowl and poured some milk into it. She was about to spill some cereal into the milk when the phone rang...again. EunBi rolled her eyes and headed for the phone. "Ugghhh! I don't have time for this crap!" she said, as she clicked on the phone. "What!?" she yelled into the receiver. "Whoa, woman! What's gotten into you! Take some midol or something!" JungHye's voice came from the other end of the line. EunBi sighed. "Sorry...hey...JungHye yah...this might sound weird, but did you call a little while ago?" she asked her friend. "No...why do you always ask that when I call?" JungHye sounded a bit annoyed. "Gosh...someone keeps crank-calling me," EunBi said, as she walked back to her bowl of milk. She found it a huge coincidence that JungHye always called right after she got a crank call. "Just tell them to fuck off," JungHye said simply. "I bet it's just some guy you met at the club last night," she laughed. "You were the center of attention yesterday, EunBi...I never knew you had those kinds of crazy dancing skills," she went on. Ignoring JungHye's happy comments, EunBi objected. "But JungHye...I didn't give my number out to anyone last night," EunBi explained. She spilled some cereal into the milk. "Oh, whatever," EunBi said, trying not to get into details. "Anyways..." "Yeah, anyways," JungHye started to talk. "EunBi yah...HeeJun oppa is gonna have a dinner party kind-of-thing at his house today...and he requested that I bring you." "Today?" EunBi asked, sounding as if she had plans. "Yup...why, are you busy?" JungHye asked. "Huh? No..." EunBi answered truthfully. She remembered ChilHyun oppa sayng that he lives with HeeJun. EunBi wanted to go, but at the same time, she did not want to go. "Great! Go then, kay? I'll pick you up," JungHye said happily. "Okay..." was all EunBi said. She forced some cereal into her mouth. "Oh! And just in case...bring a bathing suit and towel...HeeJun oppa said that if it gets hot, we could swim in his pool," JungHye informed. "Okay...juss come get me whenever...I'm gonna be home the whole day anyway," EunBi said, putting more cereal into her mouth. "Alrightie then, see you later!" JungHye said as she hung up. EunBi put the phone down. She quickly spooned the remaining cereal into her mouth and went upstairs to take a shower. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- It was 4:00 when JungHye knocked on EunBi's door. EunBi grabbed her bag and went to the door to open it. "All ready?" JungHye asked. "Yup," EunBi said, as she stepped out, closed the door, and locked it. The two girls got in the car. JungHye started the engine and pulled out, driving slowly for the first time ever. "I wonder why HeeJun oppa requested for me to come," EunBi wondered aloud. "Don't tell anyone I told you...but HeeJun oppa told me that ChilHyun oppa asked for you to come," JungHye said. "Hey, I'm not sure, but weren't GyooHee unnie and ChilHyun oppa going out?" EunBi was shocked at what JungHye had just said. 'ChilHyun oppa requested for me to come?' She had a strange feeling inside-- she felt sick in the stomach, and she wanted to go home. "EunBi? Did you hear what I asked you?" JungHye asked firmly. "Are you okay? You seem a little dazed these days..." "Huh? Yeah-- I'm listening," EunBi answered. "Yeah...they WERE going out," EunBi said. "Yeah...I thought something was missing," JungHye said. "What do you mean missing?" EunBi asked. "I mean...when you and ChilHyun were talking at the studio that day...you guys were both...I don't know-- weird with each other," JungHye explained. "It didn't seem like you guys had just met...that's when I remembered stuff about ChilHyun oppa and GyooHee unnie going out." "Oh...I see," EunBi nodded, as JungHye turned into a rich neighborhood. "Wow...so many big, pretty houses," EunBi commented, trying to change the subject. "Yeah...they're so huge!" JungHye agreed. EunBi gasped when she saw a house painted light blue with dark blue rims around the roof. It had beautifully shaped windows and it looked like a house for a millionaire. "Look at that house!" EunBi pointed to it. "Hehe...guess who's house that is?" JungHye asked. EunBi's eyes widened. "HeeJun and ChilHyun oppa's?" she took a wild guess. "Yup," JungHye said, smiling. She pulled into the driveway. "So who's coming to the party?" EunBi asked. "Let's go and find out," JungHye said, as she got out of the car. EunBi grabbed her bag and followed JungHye, who was already at the door ringing the bell. HeeJun came to the door. "Hey, JungHye...Hi EunBi..." he greeted happily. "Oppa...is everyone here?" JungHye asked. "Yeah...they're in the living room," HeeJun answered. EunBi followed JungHye and HeeJun oppa inside, still feeling a bit sick. "Hey, everyone...JungHye and EunBi are here!" HeeJun announced. EunBi glanced around the room. She recognized the guys from the studio: Tony, JaeWon, WooHyuk, ChilHyun...and JungHye's sister MinJoo-- but she did not recognize the three girls sitting side-by-side next to Tony. "Uh...JungHye...EunBi...this is Bada, Eugene, and Shoo...They're members of our music company," HeeJun introduced. "And Bada, Eugene, Shoo...this is my cousin, JungHye," he pointed, "and this is her friend, EunBi." The girls greeted each other warmly. "Well, now that we're all here, let's eat!" WooHyuk said hungrily. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ After dinner, everyone just lounged around lazily in the living room. "What do you guys wanna do now? It's boring if we just sit here like this," HeeJun said. "Let's go to the norae bang (karoake studio)!" Eugene suggested. "It'll relieve all of our stress." "Yeah! I wanna go too!" MinJoo agreed excitedly. "Is everyone okay with that?" HeeJun asked. Nobody objected. "Alright then! Norae bang it is!" he announced. EunBi felt sick. She had been feeling sick ever since she arrived, and she was surely in no mood to go to the norae bang. Just as everyone stood up, EunBi objected. "I'm so sorry you guys. But I'm not feeling too well..." she said, as she held her stomach. "I think I'm gonna hurl anytime soon now." "Gosh, Eugene...It's probably that potato salad that you made! What did you put in it?" Tony joked. Eugene shot him a look. "This is no time to joke, Tony!" she said. "EunBi, are you gonna be okay?" "Uh...sorry to ruin everything...but do you think I can stay here and rest?" EunBi asked apologetically. "Aawwww, man! EunBi yah...we're not gonna go without you!" JungHye said frowning. "How could I go out and have fun knowing that you're cooped up in here by yourself?" "Well, it would be more of a drag if I were to go and throw up and ruin everyone's time than for me to stay here..." EunBi argued back. "Actually, you can take me home, or I could just take the bus or something," EunBi suggested. She felt bad for even saying that she felt sick. "No need for that...you can stay in the guest room," HeeJun said. "Get some sleep. ChilHyun ah, show her where our guest room is." ChilHyun made eye contact with EunBi and smiled. "Follow me," he said. EunBi apologized once more to everybody and followed ChilHyun oppa up the stairs. After passing about 5 differtent doors, ChilHyun opened one at the end of the hallway. "This is it," he said. EunBi walked in cautiously, as if something were to pop out at her. "If you need anything, help yourself," ChilHyun offered kindly. "Will you be okay by yourself?" he asked, worriedly. EunBi smiled. "Yes, thank you. Please tell the others that I'm truly sorry for ruining the party." She looked up at ChilHyun oppa's eyes. "No problem...don't worry about it," he answered warmly. "Just get some sleep." He smiled again and headed for the door. "Uh...while I'm still here, do you need anything?" he asked. EunBi longed to say,'No, just you', but held it back. "No, thank you," she answered simply. ChilHyun nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. <*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*> EunBi awoke and found herself lying in the dark. She got up and realized that she was still in the guest room of ChilHyun and HeeJun oppa's house. She flicked on the lamp and read the clock; it was 9:30 P.M. 'I wonder if they came back yet', EunBi thought to herself, as she opened the door. She tip-toed out to the hallway, straining her ears for any talking or laughter; but all was silent. She went down the hallway in search for the bathroom. A few minutes later, EunBi returned to the guest room. She sat down on the bed and sighed. She observed the room: fairly large, with a t.v., a Victorian chair, a mini refrigerator, and a small walk-in closet. There was a huge window with a lovely view of the moon. EunBi got up and walked towards the window; it was pitch black outside, but she could see a large swimming pool. It looked so calm and beautiful...the way the water reflected the light of the moon, and how clear and refreshing it looked. 'Hmm...I don't think HeeJun or ChilHyun oppa would mind if I took a little swim...' EunBi thought to herself. 'Just as long as I'm out before they come back...' EunBi grabbed the towel she had brought, and changed into her 2-piece bathing suit. She headed downstairs, searching for the door that led to the pool. 'Gosh...I could get lost in this house', EunBi thought. She finally found two glass sliding doors that led outside. She opened them quietly, and stepped out. EunBi could see that the deep end of the pool was lighted very dimly, but the shallow end was dark. EunBi shivered. She waded into the deep end. Feeling relaxed, EunBi rested her head on the rims of the pool and closed her eyes. Getting absorbed into the moment, she untied her bikini top and sighed. She opened her eyes when she heard something splash, and she gasped when she saw someone swimming towards her. EunBi thought she was going to faint when she saw ChilHyun oppa's face appear at the surface of the water. He was only a couple of feet away from her. Feeling embarrassed, EunBi fumbled with her bikini top, trying to put it back on. ChilHyun approached her slowly. "I didn't know you were here," EunBi said in a shocked voice. ChilHyun smiled. "Are you feeling better?" he asked. EunBi cleared her throat. "Yeah...but not anymore," Her cold words were coming out from her mouth again. Seeing that EunBi was struggling to put her top back on, ChilHyun smiled. "Don't worry...it's not like I can see you," he said. "Still..." EunBi answered uncomfortably. Blushing intensely, EunBi changed the subject. "Where is everyone else?" "They went to the beach," ChilHyun answered. "Why aren't you there with them?" EunBi asked, trying to cover her bare chest. "I came home cuz I was tired..." ChilHyun said. "Oh..." was all EunBi could say. She glanced down and saw that ChilHyun oppa wasn't wearing anything either. "So...umm, when did you come into the pool?" she asked dumbly. "Quite a while before you came in," ChilHyun answered with a grin, as he walked closer and closer towards EunBi. "Well, if I knew you were in here, I wouldn't have came in..." EunBi said, still feeling a little embarrassed. ChilHyun smiled. "You probably couldn't see me anyways...I was in the dark corner over there," he said as he pointed. 'No wonder', EunBi thought to herself. There was an awkward silence. "So, did you tell everyone that I'm sorry for--" EunBi started to talk. "Shhh..." ChilHyun said, as his face came closer to EunBi's. "Don't worry about it," he said softly. EunBi was trapped. She didn't know what to do because she had never been in these situations with a guy before. She escaped ChilHyun's attempt to kiss her by swimming away. She headed for the shallow end of the pool, where it was darker. She placed her arms on the rims of the pool and rested her head on her arms. ChilHyun stood in the same place, feeling a bit surprised. No girl had ever rejected his kiss before. He turned around and found that EunBi's back was facing towards him. He swam to her and gently placed his hands on her hips. EunBi froze...she did not know what to do. She turned around and faced the only man that she had ever liked. He was staring at her with his sparkly eyes, and EunBi looked away. "I've learned something about girls....or should I say women?" ChilHyun spoke. "I've realized that the problem with some women...is that when it comes to love, they know what they want, but they play games," he continued. EunBi felt scared that ChilHyun oppa was reading her mind like a book. It was true that she wanted to kiss him, but thinking of the emotional scars that he had given her six years ago...held her back. She wanted him to know what it's like to be blown away and hurt by someone he'd liked for a long time. It wasn't easy for EunBi to get over ChilHyun oppa, and when she thought she had finally gotten over him, he had walked into her life again. EunBi stood there speechless. "Well...one of us has gotta get out of the pool...I think I just heard HeeJun hyung's car pull up....we don't want anyone to get the wrong idea now, do we? So I'll go out first....but close your eyes," ChilHyun said. EunBi turned around and closed her eyes, as she heard ChilHyun oppa lift himself out of the water. EunBi couldn't help but to peek a little; but to her disappointment, he was already wrapped in a towel. "See you inside," ChilHyun said with a grin, as he headed towards the glass doors...