The rehearsal room was almost empty that afternoon. Almost his entire peer had gone for a lunch break, yet the silver haired actor still working on his blocking and singing. Some of his friends had asked Zen whether he wanted to grab a lunch together with them. But he politely refused.
"Your voice is very nice Zen. Even better than mine! Why don't you take a break for a while?"
Some people always ask that question to him. And he always answered them with a smile and said, "I have to do my best on the stage,"
Long had he dreamt of being a big actor. Yet his way to reach his dream was not easy. Having born in such a conservative family who believed having a stable job was the most important thing rather than achieving a dream was not a good start for him.
"Acting is not going to give you a stable income when you become an adult! Kids are supposed to study and go to college! Just because you are good looking, it doesn't mean that you will be a successful actor or musician! Everyone needs a connection. Who would help you to be a big star if you have no connection?!"
Zen would never forget those words, as they were repeatedly uttered by his parents every day. His parents were professor in Sungkyungkwan University in Suwon. So, never crossed in their mind that their youngest descendant would choose the path that was not defined from before he was born; lawyer or doctor for example.
Yes, he had to do his best on the stage. He wanted to prove that he could be a successful person through his acting. He wanted to show them that he could be big without help from anyone, especially from a big corporate shark. He wanted to prove that everything his mother and brother said about him not going to be successful in acting without any help from rich people was wrong. He could be big someday. Yeah, he had to believe that someday his wings could take him far away from home, to Broadway, where every dream could come true.
"Yes, it would be enough," Zen said to himself
He grabbed a bottle of mineral water from his bag and gulped it down until it was half empty.
"Oppa, can you help me to learn this part? I don't really know how to express this kind of feeling,"
A young girl approached him and pointed out the part that she was confused at.
"Oh.. I see.."
It was about the feeling of a woman being alone in a new place, with no family or friends to help her. Zen read the part, and he knew exactly how to act it, as he had that kind of feeling too when he ran away from home when he was in middle school.
"Hmm, first you need to put yourself in her shoe. What would you think first in when you being alone?" Zen asked
"I don't know. What would you think?" the girl asked
"Well, you may get sad for a moment, but don't make it last too long. You have to remember why you chose to be alone from the first place. Being alone is a choice, but being sad for too long is never an option. You've got to know your goal ahead. If you have a clear goal, you can enjoy your life more. At least, you need to act a bit gloomy at the beginning and then you need to show the audiences a moment after that that you've finally know how to conquer the world. One more important thing, keep your eye contact to the audiences. Give them a spark of hope through your eyes. Can you do that?" Zen asked
"Yeah! I'll try to practice my eye contact more now," the girl said, "Okay. I'll better go now. Lunch break is almost over. Are you sure you're not coming down to grab something to eat?"
"Nah, I'll just keep being here. There are a few dancing that I have to master," Zen said
"Whooaah, you've mastered it already!" the girl squealed, "Don't push yourself too hard,"
As usual, Zen responded her compliment by smiling at her.
"Well, I'll go now. Bye oppa," the girl said
"Yup. Be careful," Zen said, smiling
Zen watched the girl disappeared from the room. The girl was 4 years younger than him, the same age when Zen started to be serious in his career as musical actor. It was just like her, he used to ask for some advices too from his seniors because he wanted to be up on stage as fast as he could.
For the starter, he worked at the small theater. He was not paid well in his debut as a musical actor. Nevertheless, he still wanted to practice more. So, sometimes he'd lock the door at the end and stayed the latest in the practice room. And when everyone went home, he would go up stage and pretend that he had a one-man show called Zen the Knight. It was his time for shining. He could sing and dance whatever he wished there. But unfortunately, his boss found out what he was doing and fired him.
After that, he searched for another theater that would hire a rookie actor like him. Of course he kept working at the convenience store at the time being. He needed to make a living after all.
Finally he got it, but in one condition. He needed to adjust his payment if he wanted to join that theater. For the record, his payment at that time was barely enough for a living. It was indeed a difficult time for him. He wanted to act so badly, but there was no decent wages in his passion as an actor. That was when he started to think to end his dream as an actor. He thought of going home as well. Back to his "well-known perfect family". But his ego won over his common sense. He never wanted to go home in defeat and took all of mocking from his family. He didn't want the statement, "I told you so!" got out from their tongue.
Thankfully, he met Rika and V. Their presence was like a gift to him. They literally lifted his spirit and convince him that he was very good on stage. From that moment, he told himself, that he would definitely work harder than before.
Zen put down his bottle of mineral water on the floor. He attempted to get back up and practice once more, but his phone rang loudly, the sign of the incoming call. He grabbed his phone, and read a name on his screen. It was from Eun Ha. Unconsciously, he carved a smile on his face.
"Hello babe!" Zen shouted happily
Eun Ha burst out laughing when she heard his spirited answer.
"Woow, I feel so happy hearing your spirited voice Zen!" Eun Ha squeaked
Zen was laughing as well. The fact that Eun Ha called him first that day was a bit delightful for him.
"Me too!" Zen said, "By the way, why do you call me? Is there something that I can help with?"
"Well, it's just.. You haven't showed up in the chat room. So.. I wonder what you are doing right now.. Maybe.. Hehe" Eun Ha said
Eun Ha's voice was getting off as she spoke. As if she was embarrassed when she said that.
"So cute," Zen thought
"Hmm, I'm just practicing my dancing now," Zen said, tried so hard not laughing at her cute voice, "Why? Do you miss me?"
"Noooo! It was not like that.. I just.. curious.. that's all.. hehe" Eun Ha said
"Ouch.. so you didn't miss me at all? I'm hurt…." He replied, pretend to be hurt
"Ehehehe.." she nervously chuckled
Then, Eun Ha went silent.
"Hello~ Are you still there?" Zen asked
"Yes. Sorry.." Eun Ha giggled, "I'm sorry I interrupted your practice,"
"No, absolutely not. Actually, I'm on a break now. All of my friends haven't even returned from their lunch break, so it's okay.." Zen said
"Okay.." Eun Ha said, "Ah, Zen. Actually, there's something I want to ask you about,"
"Feel free to ask~ What is it?"
"Maybe because you haven't read the chat, you still don't know this info,"
"What info? Is it about the date of the party?" Zen asked curiously
"No, I still haven't heard anything from V about that," Eun Ha muttered, "Actually, Jumin asked me to go to a party with him tonight. And I want to ask for your opinion about what I should wear. Because I don't…"
Eun Ha hadn't finished her words when Zen suddenly yelled at her.
"WHAT? What do you mean a party with him? Why?" Zen asked furiously
"If you asked me for a reason, I don't know about that either. He just asked me right away,"
"So, did you approve it?" Zen asked
"Yeah.."
"Gaaaahh… Why do you approve it.. You haven't even known him that well. Don't go alone with a man! Especially a wolf like him! He's the worst human being that I've ever known my whole life!" Zen growled
"But, he said that he wanted to make me more familiar with the festive of party. Plus, I haven't met him either. So, maybe it's not a bad thing that I go with him," Eun Ha explained
"That's because you are so pure and innocence, Eun Ha. There is a beast lurking inside every man! Well, thankfully I can control a beast inside of me. But that jerk has never gone out with a girl alone! Especially a girl like you! What if that beast suddenly crawls out and eats you alive in the middle of the night?! No.. NO.. Absolutely not! I can't take it! I have to go with you tonight! If you really have to go with him, I have to go as well!" Zen said, heated up
"Haha.. calm down, lovely Zen," Eun Ha said, flirting
"Lo.. lovely?" Zen flabbergasted, "Hey,, I was pissed off a moment before.. But hearing you call me like that make me chill out.. You are really cute, do you know that?"
Eun Ha laughed again.
"Anyway.. Actually, I don't know whether you could tag along or not. But, don't you have to practice for your musical?" Eun Ha asked
"I'm free tonight, so I could come to that party. Well, maybe I have to call Jumin now. Okay Eun Ha, see you at the party tonight!"
"Wait! Zen!"
"Yes?" Zen asked
"You haven't answered my question before.." Eun Ha pouted
"Hmm?" Zen raised an eyebrow, "Did you ask something?"
Eun Ha chuckled, "Of course! I called you because I want to know what kind of attire I have to wear for the party.. And then you went haywire at the word party with Jumin,"
"Ah.." Zen laughed, "Sorry.. I always erratic at the mention of that jerk's name.. Sorry," he added, "So, what's with the attire?"
"Well.. You know.. I'm not that good at fashion. And since you are an actor.. Maybe you give me tips?"
"Hmm.." he pondered, "You are beautiful as you are, babe," Zen said in serious tone, "But if I have to answer your question. Just wear anything that you comfortable with,"
"Well, I have a likely pretty decent dress. Do you think a white dress would suffice?" Eun Ha asked
"Yeah! I'm sure anything you wear will be splendid! And I'll absolutely be there to witness that!"
There was a chuckle in the other side of his phone. One thing about Zen, he was not an easy person to be convinced. Once he had a goal, he would chase it until he got it. That meant, he would go to that party no matter how.
"Thank you," Eun Ha said sincerely
"Okay, you're welcome. Then.. I'll call that trust fund kid right now. Wait for my info, okay?" Zen asked passionately
"Okay," Eun Ha said
He hung up the phone with Eun Ha and called Jumin right away. He waited Jumin to pick up his call, but no answer.
"Damn it, that jerk!"
Zen didn't give up. He called and called for so many times until Jumin picked up.
"What?" Jumin asked, upset
"Hoy! Do you really need to go with her tonight?!" Zen asked, furiously
"What do you mean?" Jumin asked
"You… asked Eun Ha to go to a party with you," Zen growled
"What a nuisance. You called me just to ask that question?" Jumin asked
"Yeah! Why? Do you have some problem?" Zen snapped
"I was on an important meeting. You interrupted our meeting," Jumin replied nonchalantly
"Well, I'm sorry then. But it's important! I can't let her go alone with you! No matter how many times I think about it, I have to go with you tonight!" Zen insisted
"And why exactly I can't go with her? Are you her brother or a lover perhaps?" Jumin asked boldly
"Well, no.." he blushed, "You know that we just met yesterday," Zen answered awkwardly
"So, there's nothing wrong with me go to a party with her then.." Jumin said flatly
"No! The problem is of course you! I need to be there to take care of Eun Ha from a beast within you!"
"There's nothing but a blood, flesh, and bone inside my body," Jumin said
"It was only an example, you jerk," Zen hissed
"I know. I'm joking,"
"You said that a joke? It was too serious to be a joke!" Zen annoyed, "Well, no matter what I'll be there. Where is that party held in?"
"You are so persistent,"
"That I am!"
"I'll ask Assistant Kang first," Jumin said
"Gahh, can't you at least not rely on Jaehee too much? Just answer my simple question already," Zen said, "I can go to that party right?"
There was a moment of silent. Seemed like Jumin really asked Jaehee about that.
"Well.." Jumin said
Zen listened to his answer.
"No."
He wanted to throw his phone at instant. But he remembered that his phone was the only way to communicate with Eun Ha and he didn't really want to spend his money just to buy another phone. So he held his anger and asked for an explanation from Jumin.
"It was not an open party. And only those who are invited and plus-one who could go to the party. Since you are neither of that, you may not attend."
Jumin did have a way to boil Zen's anger. Zen was more furious to think a possibility that Jumin was enjoying this moment.
"Plus, you always brag in the chat room how you didn't have any time to play around. That you're so busy with your musical. So, accept this answer. You can't be a big star if you slack off and didn't give all your passion into your acting," Jumin said, judgingly
"What? I always am 100% for my acting. Why did you say I'm not giving my all in my acting?" Zen snapped
"You just asked me to go to a party which you are not invited. Hence you're so called busy from your schedule. Doesn't that mean that you wandered off while everyone else practicing really hard?" Jumin asked nonchalantly
Zen couldn't hold it in any longer. He was indeed never been in a same page with Jumin.
"Don't conclude my situation only from your point of view! And I can be a big star someday!" Zen shouted
"Shame. You could be famous from a long time ago if you just accept my help back then,"
Zen clenched his jaw. He remembered the first time he met Jumin. Jumin suddenly offered him a gigantic offer exactly at the first time they met. Jumin wanted to sign a contract with Zen and planned to give him a scholarship of musical acting in France 3 years ago.
That kind of help was not the kind of help he wished for. If he accepted Jumin's offer, he had to admit that everything his mother say about being successful and the importance of connections were true. He directly refused Jumin's offer. But Jumin suddenly brought up that kind of conversation all over again, and that made Zen furious enough to yell at Jumin.
"No thank you! I'm happy enough with my career right now without your help!" Zen growled
"But you wished to ditch your practice for tonight's party. That's kind of irresponsible," Jumin said
"DUDE! I have practiced enough already!"
"Well, I've read it somewhere that overly confident about what you do will lead to a problem because of lack preparation," Jumin said calmly
"OMG! I can't talk to you! You're trying to mess with me on purpose right?" Zen asked
"No way. It's an arrogant thought to think that I would waste my energy trying to find ways to mess with you," Jumin said
"Seriously, you are such a douche!" Zen snapped
"At times, you must make compromises to play with the big boys. If you go through me, you'll be up there with them easily," Jumin said, "My company's name will definitely help you back then. A different actor would have taken the offer in a second, and yet you refused my offer."
"I have my own principle, you know.. And I have no business to talk about my principle with you!" Zen said, getting more and more psyched, "I'm famous enough without your gigantic unreasonable offer!"
"Congrats,"
"Congrats on what!? I know you're not happy for me!"
"You can't trust me." Jumin said
"I don't want to trust you. Stop trying to lecture me!"
"Funny." Jumin said
"What is?!"
"You've been thinking about me all this time," said Jumin
"Oh my god.." Zen couldn't believe his ears
"You don't have feelings for me, do you?" Jumin asked
"OMG! DUDE! Finally you've gone crazy!" Zen shouted so hard, "I just want to say, I don't need you to succeed! This is pissing me off! I'll be perfect in my new role!"
"I see. I've unknowingly motivated you. I'm glad to have been helpful,"
"It's only because you are a jerk!" Zen said, "Whatever! I should stop wasting my time and go practice!"
Zen didn't say good bye to Jumin at all and hit a wall with his right hand. A few people just came in to the room and confused about Zen. All of them were asking what really happened to him. But he didn't really want to answer their question. Instead he turned his thoughts to the dance and didn't bother about anyone else.
…
It had been 2 days since Eun Ha left her own apartment to live at Rika's office tel. And it seemed like there was no significant change in her neighborhood. There were parked cars lined up neatly in front of her apartment, even though almost no cars passing by the road.
People tend to go everywhere by public transportations, especially in Seoul. Almost all people prefer to go anywhere by getting a cab, or bus, or subways because it was more sufficient that way. Everyone could reach any bus shelters or subway stations by foot as it would only take a few blocks to walk from each stations or shelters. Somehow, the car was only needed when they were going out of town.
In some way, she loved this quiet neighborhood. The sound of the river flowed under the bridge plus shady trees along the street were the things she couldn't get in Rika's office tel. And most important of all, Terry. Terry, the golden retriever dog belonged to her landlord, ran over to her with enthusiasm, like always. If there were one thing she missed most about her apartment were the sparkle eyes of Terry.
"Hi Terry, miss me?" Eun Ha asked, rubbing Terry's head
Terry barked as an answer.
"I miss you too, Terry. I'm sorry I've been gone for a few days.." Eun Ha said, "Here, eat this. I know it's your favorite,"
Terry woofed in delight as Eun Ha gave him a full packed of sausage. Eun Ha beamed with pleasure seeing Terry enjoying his little snack. She stroked the dog's head gently while he chewed on it ravenously.
"Hey, you know.. I met some interesting people," Eun Ha muttered, "You won't believe me if I told you that I met my crush from years ago,"
Terry still chewed on his sausage.
"You still remember Zen, right? I finally met him yesterday,"
Eun Ha watched how Terry enjoyed his snack. Maybe it was rather a good time to confide to him about her days before in another side of town.
Pouring out her heart to Terry had become a habit since the first time she moved in to this apartment. Somehow she found it relaxing to tell everything to Terry as he couldn't say anything to anyone else. Eun Ha had a problem of sharing her problems to anybody because she thought she would burden everyone with her problems. That was why she preferred to hold everything inside her head without being able to speak the truth out of it. It was troublesome to have someone hate her for something she said.
"To be disliked or hated by everyone was the scariest thing," she thought
She got used to try to impress other people by doing everything she asked to do even when she hated it. When she was at high school, she pretended to be okay when her friends asked her to do chores after class because they said that they had something urgent. Their reasons were different every day. Moms got sick, they had to go to cram school, piano lesson, et cetera et cetera. There were too many different reasons until she lost track of it. Or when her classmates made a copy of her homework every day at class, to the point of she was busted by their teacher, that she let her classmates made a copy of her homework. And that led to another assignment of writing an apology letter plus writing a thousand sentences of "I'll never let my friends copied my homework ever again."
She pretended to be okay when one of her college friends made fun of her and called her an idiot when she got a bad score once in her test due to exhaustion of having to do part-time jobs when she was still in college. She knew that they were only joking. But she opted to laugh together with them, as if she didn't mind at all being laughed at.
She knew she bled inside her heart, but she couldn't show it on her face.
She wouldn't.
Sometimes she got hurt by her tendency of being people's pleasure like that. She just wanted to yell to people. But she wouldn't do that because she thought she might hurt other people. She always thought that keeping everything that might hurt others was an adult way for living in this society. After all, she could still live until now.
The only one who always saw the real Eun Ha was Terry. Fortunately her landlord was kind enough to let her play with him.
Terry woofed again when he finished eating his sausage.
Eun Ha chuckled, "You finished it already? You really love it, don't you?"
He answered her question by howling seductively, a sign of him asking for another treat.
"You've eaten the whole pack already.. Haven't you got enough?" Eun Ha asked, laughing
Terry stared forlornly toward Eun Ha.
"Aww, don't be like that.. Sorry, I only brought one pack. Next time I'm back here, I promise I'll bring you more. I swear!" Eun Ha gave a V sign
Terry's gazed turned brighter after hearing Eun Ha's promised. And she swore she saw a gorgeously sweet grin Terry made that day. Such a cute grin.
"You know," Eun Ha said, "I'm going to a party tonight. Guess whom I go with?"
Terry tilted his head to the right. He seemed not to know the person she talked about.
"I'm going with Han Jumin! A director of the biggest company in Korea! Can you believe that?" Eun Ha said, excited
Terry listened to her story thoroughly.
"Well, it's the first time that I go to a party. What do you think that party is like? Do you think it will be a grand party? Or maybe a ball?" Eun Ha asked with dreamy eyes, "Oh my.. What if it were actually a ball? I don't really have a splendid dress fitted for a party like that. What should I do, Terry?"
He just stood there listened to Eun Ha. It was not like he could answer her by saying anything. But his presence was more than adequate for her at that time.
"Do you think that white dress enough for this party?"
Eun Ha wore that white dress once to go to her friend's wedding 6 months ago. And Terry liked that dress as well back then that he barked and wagged his tail unstoppably.
After a moment of silent, Terry barked to say his agreement for her choice of the dress.
"Thank you. Okay then, I'll have to get ready,"
Eun Ha stood up and stroked the final touch for Terry. Both of them walked to the entrance of her apartment.
"Bye Terry! I'll come upstairs," Eun Ha said, when they reached the entrance, "Tell me how I look when I came down stairs in a few hours, okay?"
Terry woofed as an answer when she went on the stairs.
It was a 10 story building. First floor was a ground floor, belonged to her landlord. She occupied the second floor. She climbed the stairs to go to her room. There were three rooms on one floor. The one that belonged to Eun Ha was the one before the stairs.
First thing she did when she walked in to her room was opening the windows. She had a pretty big window beside her bed. As it opened, a nice cool breeze and a warm light of sun filled the room. The sound of the rivers made a way in and soothed her, like a perfect symphony to complete her day.
She opened her closet and took out her white dress. She placed it on her bed and wondered what kind of shoes that would complement the dress. She turned her gaze toward the stacks of her heels outside her bedroom. She had a few different colors and models of heels. Most of them were 7-15 cm heels. She had wedges, cone, sling back, peep toe, boots, ankle strap, and her favorite one, the oxfords. Though, she saw an ad somewhere of a brown French heels, also known as Louis Heels or Pompador heels, which she wanted to own precisely at the moment but couldn't. She didn't have the money to buy it. The price for a single pair of French heels was approximately 175,000 won, or 155 US$, the same with her monthly payment for her apartment. As much as her love for heels, she didn't want to spend her money for apartment for a single pair of heels. That was the case for her. But maybe someone like Jumin wouldn't even bother to think about that mere thing.
As a matter of fact, Jumin told Eun Ha that he planned to give her a dress for the party. He called her when she was on the way to her apartment. But because he didn't know her exact size, he couldn't buy the dress or the shoe. Eun Ha told him that it was okay, and she got it settled. She just needed to get back to her own apartment because she didn't bring her dress to Rika's office tel. Though, she was a little bit unsure about the dress she chose. What if it was not enough? Jumin must wear an expensive and nice tux. Probably. Would it be okay for her to wear a knee-length capped sleeve white dress though?
After a moment of hesitation, she decided to wear her red 15 cm ankle strap to the party. She thought it would nice to use it with her long red ribbon, a gift from her ex-boyfriend years ago. She barely used it because she didn't really have an occasion to wear it.
Now that he had the first party in her life, maybe she would like to try it on.
She took a bath after finished deciding her outfit for tonight. She made sure of scrubbing the entire corner of her body. She wanted to look as bright as she can be. She was supposed to ask Jumin what kind of party was that, but she didn't want to be seemed like a child with too many questions. So she just got along with it and ensured herself that she was going to be okay.
After a long nice bath, she dried her hair and put a lotion on her face. She knew a basic make up. She used bb cream for a basic foundation and a simple light red color as lipstick. She took a few strands of her hair and put a ribbon on it and let her long hair swayed back to her hips. She knew that she had to also mend her eyes part, like giving an eye-shadow or an eye-liner to make her gaze sharper. Alas, she couldn't do that. Hopefully Jumin wouldn't mind going with her almost bare-faced like appearance.
It was already 6 pm. Jumin told Eun Ha that Driver Kim would pick her up at her apartment precisely at that time. One more thing she knew about Jumin, he liked the punctuality of time and he never tolerated any lateness despite any reason. So, Driver Kim might be at the front door any time sooner.
Jumin and Eun Ha had an agreement toward that thing. She always be on time in every meeting with her friends. She was never late at all if there were any gathering. She was the only one who always had to wait for a very long time before her friends popped out one by one. She felt upset at times. But as usual, she hid her uncomfortable feeling inside her and put on a smile in her face.
A bell rang from her door. Driver Kim must be outside. Not a moment to lose, she dashed into the intercom.
"Driver Kim?" she asked
"Yes, Miss Lee. I believe you're ready to go now?"
A middle-aged man with short grey hair was seen through the 4,3 inch LCD video door phone intercom. He wore a suit. As expected; him being Jumin's driver.
"Yes, of course," she answered, "Hold on. I'll get downstairs,"
She went downstairs and Terry had been waiting for her. He barked enthusiastically when he met Eun Ha.
"How do I look? Am I okay?" Eun Ha asked, grinning
Terry woofed.
"Thank you!" Eun Ha said, "Well, Terry, I have to go now. Be good while I'm gone, okay?" Eun Ha asked
Terry howled as an expression of sadness. His eyes looked adorable when he made that kind of expression.
Driver Kim opened the door when they reached the limo. Eun Ha was not too surprised when she was picked up by the limousine. Her past conversation with RFA members signified that Jumin was the wealthiest among them. Yoosung pouted when he realized that except him, every other member was rich. Jumin, the director of the 5th biggest company in Korea, must be the wealthiest. Eun Ha could already guess how many assets he got or maybe shares in his company along with in other companies. Jaehee, as his assistant, was also well-paid for her long nights shift in the company.
"Take comfort in the money that goes to your bank account,"
Jumin said that in every occasion when he was cornered by everyone else in the chat room due to his ignorance of Jaehee's private life.
Money might be important, but not as much as the life itself. She knew that she needed money to live but it didn't mean that she had to sacrifice her freedom for money. Eun Ha felt pity toward Jaehee's misery of having to work late alone in the company. But Jaehee also said that Jumin was busier than her. He had more work than Jaehee.
As a matter of Seven, he was a genius hacker. He owned several sport cars in his garage and literally called them his babies. Apart from that, Eun Ha didn't really know about Seven. He never told her about his life and Eun Ha wasn't sure whether asking him about that would okay for him.
Zen. Her lovely Zen. He told Eun Ha that he was not that rich like any other member. But he enjoyed his life fully with his acting, so it was enough for him.
Suddenly she remembered her phone call with Zen that afternoon. Zen said that he would tell her whether he would go to the party or not. But he hadn't called until now. Maybe, Eun Ha should call him once again, to make sure of his participation in this party. Moreover, she missed him so much already.
She searched Zen's phone number. A lovely heart was put beside Zen's name in her contact. Her heart was beating so hard in an anticipation of hearing another sweet voice of Zen.
After a few ring, Zen picked up the phone call.
"Hello," Zen said
Eun Ha lifted an eyebrow. There was a sad resonance in his voice, unlike usual. She wondered what could happen at him.
"Zen? What's wrong? You sound a bit unusual," Eun Ha said, worried
Zen let out a long desperate sigh. Eun Ha's concerned was increased. What could possibly go wrong in the last few hours?
"Where are you right now?" Zen asked, still in his gloomy sound
"I'm on my way to Jumin's company. He said we would go to the party together," Eun Ha answered
"Is that so?"
"Yes," Eun Ha said, "But seriously, what happened Zen? Is there something wrong?"
"I.." he sighed, "I don't think I could go to the party,"
Eun Ha frowned.
"Ah, I see. Jumin didn't let you, did he?"
"That's one other thing. I planned to come to that party regardless what that jerk said. But.." Zen brusquely said, letting out a long sigh again
"What's wrong?" Eun Ha asked, concerned
"I think I twisted my ankle. It hurts so bad now," Zen muttered
"Oh my god.. Are you okay? Where are you now?" Eun Ha asked, worried
"I'm in hospital. Don't worry. My friends take me to the hospital right away. So no need to worry,"
"Is that so? Thank god.. There was at least someone else with you right now.." Eun Ha said, "Does it hurt so bad? How in the world could you hurt your ankle like that?"
"Well, Jumin and I had a fight earlier, when I asked him about the party," Zen explained, "Of course we are used to this kind of fight, but he suddenly come up with our past. And I don't really want to speak about it, ever again,"
Eun Ha listened carefully.
"He began to ramble that I had no passion for my musical that I tried to ditch my practice for tonight's party," Zen growled, "I couldn't take that easily. Who was he to judge me like that, right?"
Eun Ha didn't say a word. She felt sorry for Zen. She suddenly had an urge to turn back and go to the hospital to see Zen. But she knew she couldn't do that to Jumin. She had an appointment with Jumin after all.
"Oh Zen.. I wish I could be with you now.." Eun Ha wailed
"I know.. I want that too.. But no matter how jerk he could be, it would be unwise for you to go to my place when you had another appointment with him," Zen retorted
She pressed her heart hardly as she was torn between two options. One, she had an appointment with Jumin. Two, she desperately wanted to be with Zen at the moment.
"I know.." Eun Ha cooed
"So, Eun Ha.. I'm fine. I have a cast now, so I can't practice for the time being," Zen said, "I shouldn't have gone too hard with my practice. But Jumin that jerk kept provoking me, so I totally fell for it and did more than I could handle. It's so pathetic of me, to be like this in front of you,"
"No, you're not pathetic at all Zen. Cheer up! I know you will get better in no time!" Eun Ha said
"Yeah, I have a body like a monster though. The last time I was on an accident, I was already recovered in 3 days. So, an injury like this might not last for a long time,"
"Yes, I'm sure of it," Eun Ha said
"Ah babe, I'm so sorry but I have to go now. My doctor said that he wanted to try a few test for me," Zen said
"Yes, of course. Bye Zen,"
"Bye,"
Eun Ha shut her eyes. She never believed that he could be in an injury like this because of over-practicing. She really wanted to go to Zen.
Maybe it was because of her that he got into an accident like this. If only Jumin didn't ask her to go to a party, he wouldn't ask Jumin to go as well which led to the bickering and him being injured.
Or maybe he could ask Jumin for forgiveness that she had to go somewhere else.
What should she do?
Driver Kim turned swiftly and they had arrived in C&R International building, a skyscraper which consist of hundreds floor in one building.
"I'll notify Mr. Han first, Miss Lee. Do you wish to come with me?" Driver Kim asked
"Yes," Eun Ha said
She got off from the limousine and followed Driver Kim to go inside the building, while she was considering what kind of excuse she would like to give to Jumin when she finally meet him in person a few minutes later.