CHAPTER Two

•••••

"You were too late, nii-san. Too late."

"Where were you all those time?"

•••••

"... neomu areumdawoseo kkotip hwaljjak pyeoseo

eonjena sarangbadneun ai You

Palette, (Eh) ilgi, (Eh) jamdeuleotdeon sigandeul

I like it I'm twenty five

nal johahaneun geo ala

Ooh I got this (I got this) I'm truly fine

ije jogeum al geot gata nal

(ajik hal mali manha)

I like it (Like it) I'm twenty five (Oh)

nal miwohaneun geo ala

Ooh I got this (I got this) I've truly found

ije jogeum al geot gata nal..."

Jieun smiled at the cheer she received and bowed gratefully to GD who also smiled at her, and the two then exited the stage together, leaving behind a raging group of fans who still couldn't get over their stage collaboration just a while ago.

After exchanging some pleasantries and appreciation in the backstage, Jieun and GD parted ways. GD still had things to catch up to and Jieun wanted to rest. Her manager brings her some takeout in the waiting room, as well as for her other staffs, since it's much more convenient.

"Manager-oppa," she called Junghyun who was holding a piece of BBQ near his mouth. Once she got his attention, she waved her phone. "I'm gonna go outside to call mom."

"Take your time!" he bid, and added, "Say hi to her for me!"

Laughing, she answered. "Arasseo!"

•••••

[Did you eat well?] the familiar voice of her mother somehow managed to soothe the waves that were disturbing Jieun's heart. Although she did not grow up with her mother, her relationship with her was as good as her grandmother. [Even if you're an idol now, you still need to take care of your health.]

"I already did, eomma," Jieun lightly chuckled, kicking some stray stones which she suddenly found amusing.

[Really? Then what did you eat?] her mom didn't sound so convinced. [Tell eomma, or else I'm not going to believe you either way.]

"I already ate with Chipmunk Manager," Jieun chastised in a childish tone. "We ordered takeouts."

[Aigoo.] came her mother's disapproving voice. [Now that I think about it, you're so thin. I saw you on TV a while ago, and you're even thinner than last time. You should go back here so that you'll fatten up in no time again.]

"Eomma!" Jieun gasped, alarmed. What did she mean by 'so thin'?

[Aigoo, aigoo. I should go now. I still have chores to complete.] her mother tells her. [Also, congratulations, Jieun-ah. You were so beautiful a while ago.]

"Gomawo, eomma," she felt herself blushing.

[And that boy you shared the stage with. He's so handsome! Is he-] Jieun blushed madly.

She quickly guessed her mother's train of thought and rushed to put a stop to it. "We're only friends. We're nothing more than that," she whispered.

Her mother laughed loudly on the other end of the line. [Arasseo, arasseo. I'll go now. Remember to eat well, Jieun-ah. Saranghae!]

"Nado saranghae, eomma," she answered, before she heard the beeping tone which indicated the end of their call. There was a message from her manager she saw once she returned to her home screen.

From: Chipmunk Manager
To: Eun-ah

Jieun-ah, it's time to go to the hotel. Can you come back now?

Sent: 9:44 p.m

Jieun quickly clicked the Reply option and typed her response.

From: Eun-ah
To: Chipmunk Manager

I'm coming. I'll be there in a minute.

Do you still have those tteokbokki you bought a while ago?

Sent: 9:45 p.m

Her legs turned to the direction back to her waiting room. Her phone vibrated again. She swiped up to check.

From: Chipmunk Manager
To: Eun-ah

... You really have unusual cravings, Eun-ah.

Sent: 9:46 p.m

Jieun laughed lightly and decided not to reply again. After all, she would be arriving her waiting room soon.

She sped up her pace, eager to jump on a nice fluffy bed with an air-conditioned room in her hotel room, when she almost bumped to someone.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, her instincts took over and she turned to the side, missing the newcomer by a hairline. The other party, however, wasn't so lucky. The drink they were carrying flew from their grasp, threatening to land on her.

With her instincts still in control over her movements, she raised her arm and let the bottom edge of the frappe slide over her pail skin, creating a trail of wet mark. Her other hand was waiting on the end of her arm, prepared to catch the frappe, which succeeded.

There was a dead silence right after her display of skills and Jieun felt like there was a need for her to break it.

Jieun bowed quickly, extending the frappe for the other party to take. "Joseonghamnida," she spoke, bowing apologetically. "I should have been more aware of my surroundings."

The other party got over their amazement and stared wide-eyed at the idol who was bowing before them. "No, no, no! It was my fault, IU-ssi! I wasn't looking at where I was going!" the other party exclaimed, bowing once Jieun straightened up.

It wasn't a fellow idol, Jieun concluded once she saw her unfamiliar appearance, and judging by her clothes, she was a performer. 'So a back-up dancer?'

"Kwenchana? Are you sure you don't have any other injuries?" Jieun checked the other party who was blushing.

"I'm okay! I-I'm perfectly fine, IU-ssi," the dancer stuttered. Realizing that Junghyun was probably looking for her, she bid goodbye to the dancer and continued her walk to her waiting room.

However, when the dancer was far enough and there were no people or cameras on sight, aka the bathroom cubicle, Jieun sunk to the ground and slapped herself. "Pabo! Pabo, Jieun-ah."

Tears brimmed on the corner of her eyes as she forced herself to calm down as she held her clenched fist close to her chest. 'It's been so long already.'

Hot, bitter tears slid down her cheeks as she buried her head in her arms.

'Why can't my body forget?'

•••••

It is half an hour later that Jieun returns back to her waiting room. Since she had already texted her manager that she will be a bit late, and that the rest of her staffs can go to the hotel first, including Junghyun himself, there was not a single soul in her waiting room.

Her phone vibrated again. She checked it and saw Junghyun calling her. She swiped the screen to answer and put it next to her ear, grabbing the purse left on the vanity table and keys, then left the waiting room with a cap, sunglasses and mask on her face to prevent fans from recognizing her.

[Jieun-ah, You're still not back?] Junghyun's unmistakable drowsy voice came from the phone. [Where are you? Do you want me to pick you up?]

"Aniyo, oppa. I'm just sightseeing," Jieun answered, observing and taking in the sights Singapore could offer as she walked late at night on its city streets.

[At this hour? Weren't you sleepy a while ago?] he yawned after that.

"I lost my sleepiness. Besides, I'm just going to be here for a short time. Might as well enjoy as I can," she shrugged carelessly, her hands dug deep in her pockets. "Just don't worry about me, I can get back to the hotel by myself and I'll return as soon as I want to."

[What if the CEO asks me?] Jieun could hear him clicking his tongue at the thought.

She chuckled. "Just tell him that I'll be missing Singapore, so I decided to sight see."

[Aissh, jinjja.] he exclaimed. [Arasseo! Arasseo! Just be back in one piece!] he continued.

"Arasseo! I got it. Bye, oppa," she bid to him. [And call me when you're back. Don't make me worry sick over you.]

"Okay!" and the call was ended.

She was, however, unaware of the sharp gray eyes clouded with loneliness, gazing at her figure in such longing it was heartbreaking.

•••••

"I want you to be happy."

"But you're not making me happy. You're making me lonelier than before."

•••••

"Ehh? Jungkook, isn't that IU-sunbaenim?" the magic word was enough for Jungkook to peel his eyes away from his phone immediately. Beside him, Taehyung rolled his eyes, muttering something about a 'hopeless romantic'. Jungkook playfully hit him before turning his gaze outside their van.

Their manager was out buying takeouts for them. They were supposed to eat it at the concert venue, but Taehyung and Jungkook had whined endlessly about pork ribs that they decided to buy it on the way to their hotel.

"Where?" he searched outside the car, where Jimin pointed to. He saw a black-clad figure standing near a wishing fountain. Since her mask was off, he was able to confirm that she really was the 'IU-sunbaenim' he had in mind.

But she looked... lonely?

She tossed something in the water, coins possibly and clasped her hands under her chin, then muttered something.

Praying for the continuance of a successful career, maybe?

The car door opened, visibly startling Jungkook who was lost in his own world, as he watched the only female who he had been idolizing from the start.

"Okay. The pork rib is here," Taehyung cheered as he excitedly opened the plastic, only to be slapped by Jin.

"Hyung!"

"Let's eat it at the hotel. It'll be messier if we eat here," Jin reprimanded him, snatching the plastic to place in the front seat, where it was unreachable. Taehyung glowered and crossed his arms, pouting.

"Let's go? Everyone is here, right?" their manager asked before entering. When everyone else answered in a chorus of 'yes's, their manager slid the door close.

They then drove away from the fountain.

When Jungkook looked back, Jieun was still there and he thought he saw a ghost of a tear sliding down Jieun's face.

•••••

"Captain, the target is headed to East. Should we follow?" a tall young male brunette stood next to the gray-eyed figure, holding a peculiar weapon in his hands.

"Pursue but do not engage. By any means, do not kill the target," the gray-eyed man's stern voice answered. Jieun was long gone, and the fact that he parted with the main unit to see her was something even the young brunette did not know.

"Understood."

•••••

"I'm sorry."

•••••

"I wanted to be strong to protect you... but in the end, I still failed."

•••••

This is the third chapter, we now have a glimpse on the other party. So what do you think about it?

Vote and comment!

Video is G-Dragon and IU's stage collab with Palette. BTW, the concert I mentioned in this chapter is somewhat like MMA, but since this is a fanfic, please bear with it.

~fairylover2004