A/N: Hi all, this is my second shot at BOF fanfic. The other fanfic I wrote (still in-progress) is called Rivaled Love. Go check it out when you have the time! Btw, this is not a sequel to Rivaled Love. Okay, I might make it a sequel but depends on how it's going to turn out.
Anyways, here's a little reminder. The main female character in this story is an OC. So if any of you here are vehemently opposed to OCs or anti-OCs, hmmm, it's not a good idea to read this as you wouldn't enjoy it. But still, give this a chance! I promise (or hope) this will be good. Enjoy! Take note, this is set after the ending of BOF, except that the F4 and Jan Di are still in Shinwa High.
Oh, thank you so much to my reviewers so far (kdramacrazy, starrylaa and jakbnimble) for their invaluable reviews on how to approach this new fanfic. Thanks:)
Disclaimer: No, I do not own BOF or any of the characters in it. I own only my OCs.
Ji Hoo's POV
Feeling my arm go numb, I gently unlatch the girl's tight grip on my arm. I swear, if she continues clinging onto my arm, I'll have to amputate it for lack of blood flow. Ever since Jan Di was engaged to Jun Pyo, I've devoted myself to my harabeoji's clinic. Just as well, I've been thinking about expanding it. My friends think I don't know, but I hear them whispering about me being an empty shell and having a lifeless look in my eyes even though I'm busy everyday. With my harabeoji's clinic, playing my violin, piano, and guitar. Right, and continuing with my studies. That's it, really? I can't think of anything else I would want to do.
I don't need to look around to see Woo Bin's arm protectively curled around Jae Kyung, or Ga Eul's head resting on Yi Jeong's shoulder, or—at this, my heart jolts as though 500 watts of electricity has been pumped through it—Jan Di's and Jun Pyo's hands intertwined, an engagement ring sparkling on Jan Di's fourth finger to know that everyone is living happily ever after. Just like in the fairytales.
The girl next to me—what was her name again?—whined and tries to get my attention. I ignore her and look up at Yi Jeong. Yi Jeong meets my eyes and sighs. "You can leave us now." He addresses the girl curtly. A look of disappointment crosses her face and she simpers one last time, before exiting the F4's lounge. I don't think I will ever get to know her name. I nod thankfully to Yi Jeong but he just looks at me in frustration. Like I'm a patient who is desperately sick but he doesn't know what medicine to administer to me to help me get well.
This place has changed since my friends got their partners. No more loud music blasting, since Jae Kyung forbids it and no more random girls hanging around the lounge because Ga Eul will get upset. Of course, Woo Bin and Yi Jeong still have girls who help out with the cleaning of the lounge, but nothing else. A small smile tugs at my lips; it would be madness if the Casanova and the Don Juan really kicked their bad habits. They still patronize the night clubs frequently, Jun Pyo going with them occasionally. Of course, the girls don't know and I wouldn't dream of telling them. The other three would bite my head off. As much as I don't want to be there, I still have to so as to avoid the constant complaints about the sad and boring life I lead.
Yi Jeong and Woo Bin are insistent on pairing me up with someone. One of the main reasons they still have girls in the lounge is in the foolish hope that one of them will catch my eye. They should know by now how I detest shallow girls. Jun Pyo doesn't really do much, which I appreciate. Or maybe he simply doesn't care. He's probably still sore over the fact that Jan Di had a crush on me then.
Woo Bin, finally realizing at the girl next to me has gone, says loudly, "Yo bro, you chase her away again?" Jae Kyung, seeing the awkward situation I'm in, punches Woo Bin on his shoulder. At this, I give a real grin in days. Her punches hurt, and I'm feeling almost sorry for Woo Bin right now.
This brings on a full-on fight between the girls and my friends. Relieved at the distraction, I slip out of the suffocating lounge unnoticed. Outside, I lean back against the wall and sigh, the grin disappearing and a dull look replacing it. I'm not sure how long I stood there, but the fight inside seems to have stopped. Then I hear Jan Di speaking in a low tone, "…Jun Pyo, you should show more care and concern for Ji Hoo sunbae, he looks really…" What I looked like, I never find out because Jun Pyo makes an irritated "tut!" sound and stops Jan Di midway. "Yah! Geum Jan Di, you want me to give you up to him?" He starts ranting uncontrollably and I can almost see Jan Di's eyes rolling.
Smiling slightly, I turn away from the lounge and head somewhere. Planting one foot in front of another in the lush carpeted ground, somehow, I end up in front of the music room, complete with soundproof walls, reserved specially for me. Is this really all that my life consists of? Study, work, music?
I push the door open gently and am greeted with a strange sight. No, a strange sound. Someone is playing my piano. My white Steinway grand piano. However, as I wait for the familiar rush of anger to course through me, to my surprise, it doesn't come. Maybe it's something to do with the pianist playing the song. She has dark brown hair tied into two simple ponytails, with something looking suspiciously like faint auburn highlights running through it. Normally, brown and auburn? Nah, not a good choice. But funnily enough, it looks great on her. Her back is facing me, so I can't see much of her.
I close my eyes, and listen to the song she's playing. It doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard before. It sounds, well, even I can't achieve that standard sometimes. There's no other word to describe it. It sounds magical. Even with my eyes closed, I can imagine her fingers dancing across the black-and-white keys. The song, sounding impossibly sweet, holds hints of loneliness in it and a yearning feeling. Played by her, the loneliness and yearning is brought out tenfold. However, I sense her joy and the freedom in her music, that she is enjoying the song. Then, the change is so gradual that I don't notice it, it changes into a darker song, with higher pitches, and something hiding underneath the perfect façade that is begging to come out. This new song is played in the minor key, and it feels violent, bitter.
Abruptly, the song ends and the girl stands, shutting the lid of the piano carefully, running a gentle hand across the piano. She turns to find me there, and I meet her eyes. They are not soft, or brown, like I imagined, but dark and almost black. Looking at them, it feels like I'm drowning in a bottomless pit. A guarded expression slides onto her face immediately and her thin brows pushes together in a frown. I notice the way her eyes trace my branded clothes distastefully. I wonder if she is a commoner.
"Who are you? What are you doing in my music room?" I only just stopped my mouth from opening wide in shock. Her music room? Hers? "Oh right, I forgot," She explains in a less hostile voice, but the frown remains in place. "The principal said I was to share the room with someone. Is it you?" Struggling to maintain my cool composure, I stretch a hand forward. "Yes, I'm Yoon Ji Hoo. And you are…?" I introduce myself politely, thinking, Oh well, I knew this wouldn't be my private music room for long. I guess Jun Pyo forgot to tell me. Her frown melts, and she takes my hand hesitantly.
"Chae Hyun Ri," She says, a small smile lighting her features.
Oh wow, it actually sounded okay-ish. Well, here's hoping I get some reviews cos it's the first time I'm writing in such a style:) If you were wondering, I imagine Chae Hyun Ri to be Korean actress Han Hye Jin.