I think an apology is in order for my more than a week hiatus. School work crashed down on me, but good news! School's over for now, so I'll be able to write faster! :) Replies to reviews first. [Liljaaa, sorry for the long wait. It's nice to hear that the fic makes you laugh!] [Shinu Mae, hey you're back! LOL. Thanks for reviewing, hope you enjoy this chapter!] [bionicwizard14, thanks! I've read your fic and reviewed it as well. Enjoy this chapter! :)] [alex, hmm… You'll see why later. LOL] [juwie1608, sorry for the long wait! New chapter for you!]
So again, I'm really sorry! But here's Chapter 7! Borrowed parts of Love Light by CN Blue and Go Away by 2ne1 for this chapter. K-pop! XD Hope you guys like it! Read and review, please! Enjoy! :D
"What – how come – you two?" Manager Ma stuttered as Shin Woo entered his office, followed by Ran.
It was already 3 PM, way past the 11 AM call time Manager Ma set for band practice, but Shin Woo had to wait until his head was entirely clear of any symptom of a hangover. Ran had the same case, and of course had to wait for Shin Woo to be okay.
Shin Woo raised his eyebrows as if to inquire what Manager Ma was so disturbed about.
"It – it's not forbidden," the manager laughed nervously as he gestured for the two to sit down in front of his desk. "It's just – unnatural, you see."
"Sorry, Manager Ma, but what is not forbidden but unnatural?" Shin Woo finally asked.
"Yeah, what are you talking about exactly?" Ran said, to Shin Woo's surprise.
He then realized that Ran might be more candid with Manager Ma due to the fact that she has been with the ANJELL production team for a few months now, and had probably worked with Manager Ma way more often than she did with the band members themselves.
"Well, if you must know," Manager Ma shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Tae Kyung told me what happened last night."
Manager Ma did not know what to feel as he saw the two's eyes widen as he spoke. On one hand, Haruno Ran was a nice girl. Shin Woo would be better off with her than with some random fan that would squeal whenever ANJELL was around. On the other hand, Shin Woo was hard to fathom. There were times when Manager Ma suspected that he had feelings for Go Mi Nam as well, but there was never enough evidence. Who knows? Shin Woo might just be this nice to every girl he meets.
"What did Tae Kyung tell you?" Shin Woo asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Manager Ma adjusted the collar of his shirt before answering.
"Well, he said – he said that you two – got drunk – and – and ended up in bed together."
The two men stared at each other for a moment before an outburst of laughter came from the only girl in the room.
"Wh – sorry," she said, glancing at Shin Woo and resuming a straight face.
"What's so funny?" Manager Ma asked, irritated.
"I guess it's funny because it isn't true," Shin Woo answered quietly, his eyes not leaving the manager's.
"Shin Woo, there's no need to be angry about it," Manager Ma said, his face breaking into a smile.
He now realized why he was so nervous about it. Go Mi Nam and Hwang Tae Kyung's relationship, if it could be considered one, was already too much stress to handle, and he doubted he could take another one, however "normal" it would appear.
"So, it's not true, then?" he said, smiling, clapping his hands together, and leaning back on his chair. "You guys can go."
"Aren't you even going to ask us what really happened?" asked Shin Woo testily.
"As long as it's not how Tae Kyung imagined it to be, I'm good with that. I trust you guys. Off you go!"
Shin Woo and Ran got up and made their way to the door, rather confused.
"Oh, Shin Woo, it's already 3 PM. They probably took a break in the coffee shop across the street if you want to see them," Manager Ma added as the two got out.
"Ya," Shin Woo said to Ran as they walked down the corridor away from Manager Ma's office.
"Yes?"
"Back there," Shin Woo began.
Ran couldn't put her finger on it, but it seemed like something was bothering Shin Woo.
"When you laughed – "
"I'm sorry!" Ran hurriedly said. "I didn't mean to offend you! It was just that – I remembered how Tae Kyung implied earlier today that he would do something like this. You – you remember it, too, don't you..?"
"Yes, but…"
Silence.
And then Shin Woo sighed.
"Nevermind," he said with a smile.
Ran stared for a bit, trying to see through the handsome smile.
"I'm going to the coffee shop to meet them. Do you want to go?"
"What? Oh, no, no thanks," Ran answered, confused again. "I'll be in the studio. There are reports I have to finish and send to President Ahn. Is it alright if I work in the studio? Manager Ma said I have to listen to your practice when you get back."
Tae Kyung, Shin Woo, Jeremy, and Mi Nam were on their way back to the studio after having coffee. Shin Woo had not asked Tae Kyung yet about the fake story he told Manager Ma. The four of them were right outside the studio when Jeremy pointed out that the door stood ajar, so that the sound seeped out into the corridor. They heard soft electric guitar playing inside, as well as a soothing female voice singing to it.
Geuh del bo myun ul gool ee bbal geh jigo
Geuh del bo myun ga seum ee doogeun doogeun
Ah ee chuh lum soo joob geh mal hago
Tae Kyung quietly opened the door a bit more so that they could hear better. Mi Nam quietly mouthed the words "Ran-noona" to the three men. Jeremy nodded, smiling.
Geuh del bo myun gwen siri oo seum ee na
Babo chuh rum ja ggoo man geuh leh
Ama neh geh sarang ee on gut gatah
"What are you guys doing out here?" Manager Ma suddenly appeared beside them and spoke loudly, so that the music stopped abruptly.
Tae Kyung glared at the manager but kept his mouth shut. Jeremy and Shin Woo sighed in frustration.
"We – we were – " Mi Nam stuttered.
"Oh, you guys are here."
The assistant manager peeped.
"Come in…?"
"You have plans of becoming a recording artist, Ran?" Jeremy asked. He was already seated behind his drum set.
"You have a good voice," Manager Ma concurred, nodding his head seriously.
"Don't be flattered too much," Tae Kyung said, causing Ran's smile to vanish. "You have a lot to learn, though I must say you play the guitar quite adequately."
The last remark brought Ran's smile back, though.
"Have you been singing and playing the guitar for a long time already, Ran-noona?" Mi Nam asked, leaning in with childlike interest.
"You could say that," Ran replied. "I've never had formal training, but I've liked singing since I was a kid, and I self-studied playing the guitar when I was in junior high school."
"Training could be done here," Manager Ma said. "It's all a matter of finding the right genre for you, and then finding the right market."
The manager stared blankly into space, imagining how he would advertise a potential talent like Haruno Ran.
"Or you could take the genre that you love, and find the people who would appreciate it with you," Shin Woo said, rephrasing Manager Ma's rather business minded remark.
"You would know," Tae Kyung said, smiling weirdly at Shin Woo once more. "So tell me, have you sung anything to Ran yet?"
"Hwang Tae Kyung!" Manager Ma suddenly yelled, startling everyone. "You need to stop doing that."
"Why?" Tae Kyung said, raising an eyebrow.
"Things are already complicated as they are," Manager Ma replied, cocking his head in Go Mi Nam's direction.
Tae Kyung gave a slightly panicked, slightly irritated grunt and did not speak.
"I don't get it," Ran suddenly said.
"I'll tell you about it after band practice," Shin Woo assured her. However, he was staring dead straight at Tae Kyung as if to say, "I'm finally getting back at you."
"That song you were playing earlier," Tae Kyung asked as he wiped his guitar squeaky clean.
It was already 8PM, band practice was over and Jeremy, Shin Woo, and Mi Nam, were called by Coordinator Wang to fit some new clothes.
"Did you compose it?"
"Y – yes," Ran answered, rather nervous that she was under the scrutiny of a music pro.
"What's it called?"
"Um," Ran hesitated. She was never confident with the titles she gave her songs. "Love Light."
Tae Kyung nodded but didn't say anything and went back to polishing his guitar.
"Ya, Haruno Ran," Manager Ma entered the room excitedly, followed by the three other members of ANJELL. "Guess what. I got to talk to President Ahn and he sounds interested in hearing how you play."
"Oh. Really?" Ran answered somewhat unenthusiastically.
"What's the matter, Ran? Aren't you excited?" Jeremy asked, sitting beside Ran and putting an arm over her shoulders.
"Well, I – I've never really thought about – this. About recording my songs."
"About your songs," Manager Ma said again. "I was thinking and maybe we'd get a better chance at getting a contract for you if you do more of those catchy, upbeat songs I've heard from you before. You know, girl power!" he ended, punching a fist into the air.
Tae Kyung made a grunt of disapproval. Mi Nam and Shin Woo, however, were curious.
"You have such songs, Ran?" Shin Woo asked.
Ran nodded nervously.
"Can we hear it?" Mi Nam exclaimed.
Ran looked at the others. Jeremy nodded encouragingly, and Manager Ma brought out a USB flash drive.
"The music is in here."
Tae Kyung took the storage device from Manager Ma and plugged it into the computer.
Ran sat nervously as the song's techno sound effects started. She locked eyes with Shin Woo for a moment.
Neomu chisahajana neodapji mot-hajana
Jigeum jeokeungi andwae eojireoweo wae
Nuga nugurang hae-eojyeo niga narang hae-eojyeo
Jal saenggak-hago malhae, yeah
"I don't exactly have a story."
Shin Woo remembered how Ran, also slightly drunk, spoke the previous night.
"How come?"
"I guess, I'm trying to rewrite it at the moment."
"A love gone wrong?"
Shin Woo remembered how Ran laughed, but her eyes looked like they had tears.
"More like a love gone."
Nae geokjung malgo go away
Jipchak eopshi sarajyeo joolgae
Medal lil jul alatgaetji
Yeokgyeoweo chakgakhajima
But then, Shin Woo distinctly remembered Ran saying, when Jeremy once asked, that she had never really fallen in love, let alone been in a relationship.
Deo meotjin sarang mannalgae
Neol huhwaehagae mandeuleo julgae
Seulpeumeun jigeum ppooniya, boy
Cause love is over, love, love is over tonight
Shin Woo caught Ran's eye as the chorus ended. Ran stared straight at him. Another night of stories and drinking was in order.
It's so good to be back! What do you think of this chapter? Hit the review button! Kamsahamnida! :D