A/N: This is my first SS501 story and I haven't written in a long time, so please forgive me if it's a tad bit rusty. I really appreciate constructive criticism so please review! I really hope you enjoy it! SS501 FIGHTING!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN SS501! Believe me… I really, really wish I did. I wouldn't be here writing stories… I would be drooling all day long. I also do not own Game Stop, Castle Thorn Software (or any of its branches), or any of its games. Again… I really wish I did.
*IMPORTANT*: This Story is switched between 3rd person omniscient and 1st person KyuJong POV.
Chapter One
February, Tuesday 05, 2010
"This coming weekend will be a very exciting one with the new Game Stop's Grand Opening in downtown Seoul. In celebration of the Opening, CEO of Castle Thorn Software LLC will be holding a small tournament for gamers. Winner of the tournament will win 10,000 won in credit towards Game Stop Purchases. Public is welcome to participate or just enjoy the sport by watching." I read the newspaper article aloud as my roommates were eating breakfast and drinking coffee.
"Oooh, we're getting another Game Stop? Maybe now we wont have to wait forever for our games to come in from orders." My hyung, HyunJoong, was sitting across from me at the table, sipping on his piping hot drink. I could see the steam rising from his cup.
"Yeah I guess so. Who is Castle Thorn Software anyways?" I said, looking for the company's name as I said it. I hated reading in English, probably because I was bad at it.
"I don't know. Ask HyungJun. He knows all about that stuff since he's a nerd." My hyung said again, laughing this time as he took another sip. He always used to do that, as if it was a victory sip. I can't even begin to tell you how many times he's burned himself from his victory sips. "Where is he anyways? Or JungMin? It's already 12 in the afternoon, they don't need to be sleeping anymore. We got to bed in plenty of time for them to get their 8 hours."
HyunJoong was pretty much the father of the house. Most everyone listened to him and what he had to say, and being the oldest of us all, he felt like he had responsibility. But, we're all men here so of course, we do what we want anyways. YoungSaeng Hyung was kind of the mother figure. We never did much to bother him, and when he rarely got into our mischief with us, we were overly accepting to get him into trouble along with the rest of us. HyunJoong and YoungSaeng Hyung always used to conversate about how we needed to stay on track.
"Well, I doubt they are asleep anymore. When I woke up, HyungJun was already awake, choosing what to wear. I think he's in the shower. As for JungMin, no one ever knows where the hell he's at. The boy is a wild child I tell you. Absolutely wild." YoungSaeng Hyung had just finished making his Ttokbokki and was sitting down to eat it. He grabbed his chopsticks and searched around the bowl, flipping pieces of noodles over.
"YoungSaeng-Nim… what are you doing?" HyunJoong Hyung asked, looking at my other Hyung strangely.
"He's looking for the perfect noodle. He thinks its good luck if he eats the most perfect noodle first." I said, still with my nose in the newspaper. I had spent a lot of time with YoungSaeng, cooking in the kitchen and listening to his 'life advice'.
"It's true! Its good luck if you eat the most perfect piece first!" he said, eyes wide, as if that could help convince us he wasn't crazy.
HyungJun walked into the living room, which was connected to the kitchen. He lumbered into the door and looked at us, with confusion on his face. His brows tucked down, as if he was thinking out a tough problem. He surveyed each of us, as we looked up at him and stared back. My Dongseng made eye contact with each of us, and then looked back to the direction from which he came.
"Can anyone tell me why there is a litter of cats in my car…? It's just a box…. of cats… just chillin' there. Meowing." he said, tossing his hands around in confusion. He slightly shook his head from one side to the other, blanking out. Suddenly, The king sprinted into the kitchen and exploded in hysterical laughter. As I saw him running into the room, he swung his arms around in the air, screeching like an animal, getting ready to pounce on our poor unsuspecting baby. At that time, JungMin grabbed onto HyungJun and shook him violently while laughing uncontrollably.
"What the hell is wrong with you, boy?" HyunJoong Hyung yelled, pushing his chair back to avoid the collision.
"I DID IT! IT WAS ME! I PUT THE CATS IN YOUR CAR! HAHAHAHA!" JungMin screamed, latching himself onto HyungJun. "DO YOU GET IT?"
"NO! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN 'DO I GET IT?' WHAT KIND OF JOKE IS THAT? WHO THE HELL BUYS SEVEN CATS JUST TO PUT IN SOMEONE'S CAR?" HyungJun yelled, perhaps a little scared.
"I get it…" YoungSaeng Hyung said, smiling slightly. "Remember last week, when he bought his new car, and you said that only a pussy would get a car like that?" he said, looking at HyungJun. "and then JungMin said 'no, your car is for pussies.'?"
"Yeah? What about it?" HyungJun said, swatting his best friend away.
"A pussy is a cat…. He put cats in your car because it's a car. for. pussies."
HyunJoong Hyung burst out in laughter. HyungJun's jaw dropped. I can appreciate a good prank when I see one, and this one…. Well… JungMin could have done better.
"You put cats in my car, for that? How long have they been in there? It smells horrible!" HyungJun yelled, hitting JungMin in the head.
JungMin started to laugh again. "… couple days…"
"WHAT? IF THERE ARE DEAD CATS IN MY CAR, I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!"
"Don't worry… I've been feeding them!" JungMin looked at his best friend and held out his arms for a hug. "I did it for love!" He squeaked, jumping for HyungJun again. I'll be honest… there's so much not right about JungMin. All in all, everyone loves him.
After a bit of fighting, then playful fighting, then just playing, we were all sitting in the living room talking about our plans for the coming weekend. "HyungJun, have you heard of that tournament this weekend? It's for gamers. You should make a celebrity appearance." YoungSaeng Hyung said, tapping his arm. There was always that certain glimmer in HyungJun's eyes when you mentioned Gaming. At the time, he was aiming to become a professional gamer. I guess he just wanted to be known as someone other than the baby of SS501.
"Maybe I will… it could be fun." he smiled. We all knew what that meant.
"you're going to compete, aren't you?" HyunJoong hyung laughed, leaning back in his chair.
"You better believe it!" he said, getting up, and dancing around like usual. That's all it took, of course, to get JungMin excited. I can remember that day so very clearly. Our smiles were so bright and sure. None of us knew how drastically that newspaper article would change everything in our lives.
The sky was a dull, cool grey with not a single cloud . It was five in the morning and slightly windy. The snow on the ground was fresh from the night before. Turning into a parking spot, a young woman turned the heat in her car on high. There she would sit for the next hour in her yellow car, preparing herself for the first day of her new job.
After she collected her nerves, she opened the door and took a step into the cold. Suddenly, she wasn't so afraid anymore. Her journey started a year ago when she moved to Seoul to explore and be in the city she loved so dearly. Unfortunately, she had either quit or gotten fired from her pervious employment locations. You see, she was somewhat clumsy. She would either restock things and fall, bring people their orders and fall, or go to get change and fall. if she ever quit, it was out of embarrassment, and unfortunately, when she would leave her boss's office for the final time, she would fall. She had tried very hard to get this job and she would do everything in her power to make sure she kept it.
Back at her apartment complex, there was a very kind old woman who lived across the hallway from her. When the woman found out she needed a job, she contacted her desperate-for-help nephew to arrange an interview for her, and here she was. A quaint, little coffee shop in downtown Seoul with traditional French double doors stood small against some of the bigger industrial buildings in its surroundings. Although there was another apartment complex above the shop, it still wasn't much to add in height. She walked up to the heavy metal doors and reached for the handle.
"Hello, there Davin! It's nice to see you again! Please, come in. We'll get you ready for your first day." A friendly middle-aged woman smiled as she quickly opened the entrance, startling the newest addition to her employees. Her name was Ga-In and she was excited to have a foreigner work in her shop. A pretty girl like this would definitely bring in some more customers. Davin entered the coffee shop and was relieved to find that it was comfortably warm. "My husband won't be here until around noon, but it shouldn't be too busy until that time anyways. It's usually pretty slow this early in the morning, which will give me plenty of time to train you." The woman said, as Davin took off her heavy winter coat and followed her to the back room.
It was a tad bit musty and dark, but they only used it for inventory, storage, and meetings. Davin hung her coat on a weak hook placed above an old, wooden bench with the appearance of being hand-crafted. Perhaps it was the poor lighting, but the paint seemed worn and dull from years past. Her eyes wandered around the room. With the wood paneling on the walls and antique desk in the corner, it had a rustic motel feel to it. It was comfortable.
The hours started to rush by as Davin learned all of the assets needed for her job. People started to come in groups by eight A.M. Her nerves almost got the better of her when a customer asked for a complicated drink, but Ga-In willingly stepped to her side and walked her along until she had it right.
By ten, most of the customers had cleared out and Davin stood at the counter, anxious to get the hang of her new job. Through the big front windows, she watched the cars go by in the street and the people walking on the side walk. A big sign hanging across the street caught her eye. Game Stop: Grand Opening This Weekend! Davin sighed and rested her head on her wrist as she leaned on the counter.
"Game Stop, huh?…."