Chapter 8: Oh, brothers...

[Sierra’s POV]

I’d just sat down on the couch in my room when I heard a knock on my door.

“Sierra…” Sang Hoon oppa called out.

“Come in,” I said. “I didn’t lock the door.”

He opened the door, walked in, and closed it softly.

“Is Yong Min home?” he asked me.

“He’s in the study,” I said.

“Workaholic,” he said, and shook his head. “Well… well… where have we been today?”

“Huh?”

“You went somewhere with your new boyfriend?” he teased.

“He’s not my new boyfriend,” I said as I pretended to pick the lint off my skirt.

“No? Are you sure? Then who else went out with the 2 of you.”

“It was just the 2 of us,” I said.

“And did you know that bike wasn’t his?” he asked me.

“I know. He said he borrowed it from his friend.”

“And his friend borrowed it from my friend. I’m not even sure if he actually borrowed of just took it.”

“What are you saying?”

“The bike belonged to Dong Wook, you remember? My friend, Lee Dong Wook?”

“Ah… ara… his brother’s in my class. Lee Dong Hae,” I said.

“Dong Wook’s known to be super possessive with his bikes. If he found out his brother had lent it to a friend, god knows… he could erupt like a volcano.”

“Jae Wook knew how to drive it. Nothing happened to it.”

“I should hope so, for Dong Hae’s sake. Dong Wook probably keeps count of the number of scratches on the bike’s body. He finds one extra, he’s gonna get to the bottom of it.”

“Araso…” I laughed. “Keundae… I didn’t know Dong Hae was such good friend with Jae Wook. Jae Wook’s only been in school for barely a week.”

“That kid… he’s always up to something; working on a project.”

“Are you saying that his new project is helping Jae Wook get me?”

“Maybe… just be careful, baby sister. I don’t wanna see you hurt,” he said as he reached out to ruffle my hair.

“Araso… don’t mess with my hair…” I complained.

“I’m going to bed,” he said as he got up. “You get to bed too. It’s late. What would aboji say if he knew you were up so late on a school night?” he winked.

“Don’t you dare tell him!” I said.

“You could always buy my silence,” he grinned.

“No…”

“Yes…”

“I am not going to make you breakfast…” I said as I shook my head vigorously.

“Yes, you are” he smiled. “And I want mine with an egg, sunny side up.”

“You’re evil,” I pouted.

“And you’re so adorable,” he said as he pinched my cheeks.

“Aaahh… appuh!” I whined as I rubbed my cheeks.

“Good night…” he sang and left my room.

That’s my brother, Sang Hoon. He’s older than Yong Min oppa, but if you judged from appearance, he looked more like the younger brother. He was tall and slim, just like me and Yong Min oppa, the only thing that set him apart from us was his appearance. He’d always been a rebel. We believe it’s some kind of inferiority complex.

It could be that he’s been pressured from childhood; told that he would someday have to takeover my father’s business. From the moment he realized what great things he was destined for, he started to rebel. He mixed with the wrong crowd, got piercings, smoked, and totally wrecked his rich heir image. It took a near death experience to bring him back to us. 5 years ago, Sang Hoon oppa was almost killed while street racing. His bike had collided with someone else’s and they were dragged by their bikes for about 20 feet. It was a miracle that he only got some cuts and bruises. I guess it was because he had on proper racing attire. The other fella wasn’t so lucky; he died.

After the accident, oppa had a long talk with my father. They agreed that instead of him inheriting my father’s position, Yong Min oppa would inherit it instead. Yong Min oppa had always been interested in the family business, and he’d always been the more grounded of my 2 brothers. Sang Hoon oppa went back to school, and instead of taking on a high pressure position like Yong Min oppa’s when he graduated, he was contented with being in second place. He had changed so much in the past 5 years, but he still liked to look the rebel, hence the hair coloring, and keeping his multiple piercings.

Yong Min oppa… sometimes he’s like a 2nd father to me. My father traveled most of the time during my childhood, and when Yong Min oppa was still in school, he would spend most of his spare time with me. He’d help me with my homework when he came home from school. He’d play with me, even if it were Barbie dolls I was playing with. Most of all, he was the one who put me to bed each night.

I remember, once, my father asked him why he didn’t just get me a tutor.

“I like teaching Sierra,” he said. “It helps me learn too, and I think she needs someone to spend time with.”

“You’re wasting time,” my father said. “I could use your help at the company, and you need to start training soon.”

“I’ll pickup really quick, aboji,” he said. “But my tongsaeng will not remain a little girl forever. She needs family the most at this age, and since no one else has time for her, I will make time,” he said.

I remembered my father getting all huffy and scolding Yong Min oppa, and he just nodded, but stood his ground. Till this day, Yong Min oppa has always been my mentor. No matter how busy he is and how often he has to travel, when he came home, he’d ask about my school work, and put me to bed.

It was 11pm. I showered quickly and put on my pajamas. Just as I slipped under my covers, Yong Min oppa knocked on my door.

“Come in,” I said.

“Ha! Gotcha!” he smiled. “Why did you shower so late?”

“I just got home awhile ago…” I said.

“Date?” he asked and raised an eyebrow.

“Erm…” I said.

“Sang Hoon told me,” he said.

“Tattle-tale…” I sighed.

“Sometimes, I feel like I’m the older one, and you both are my tongsaeng.”

“Well… stop acting like an old man then,” I smiled.

“So what did you do today,” he asked as he came to sit beside on my bed; both of us with our backs against the headboard.

“I went to school,” I said innocently.

“And…?” he prompted.

“Someone took me out on a picnic,” I continued.

“And…?”

“He sent me home,” I said.

“That’s all?” he asked me.

“Well… there was some bubbly and fireworks during the picnic,” I added.

“You were drinking?” he asked, in that tone that meant that I was in trouble if I was.

“It was apple cider,” I said.

“Good. I’d hate to have to find that boy and teach him a lesson.”

“Now you sound like Han Kyung,” I said.

“Han Kyung?”

“Remember… that boy I dated a few years back?” I sighed.

“Oh… I remember him; that freaky kid.”

“Right… that freaky kid…” I said.

“Does he still bother you?” he asked as he put an arm around me.

“Occasionally, but it’s just harmless teasing,” I said.

“If it happens too often, it may get out of hand. You need to tell me if he keeps bothering you. Araso?”

“Ne,” I smiled.

“It’s late,” he said as he got up. “I need to finish up my work, and you need to go to sleep. G’nite.”

“G’nite, oppa,” I said.

I lay on my pillow and oppa pulled the covers over my shoulders.

“Sweet dreams,” he said and kissed me lightly on my head.

“Oppa,” I called out to him as he stood in the light of the corridor after he’d turned off the lights in my room.

“Ne?”

“I’m making Sang Hoon oppa breakfast tomorrow. Do you want breakfast?”

“Of course,” he laughed. “It isn’t every day Princess Sierra wakes up early to make us breakfast.”

“Miweo…” I yawned and he closed the door, still laughing.

I lay in the darkness, thinking, after oppa had left. I wonder what will Han Kyung do when he finds out that Jae Wook and I have become an item?

Chapter 7: Do That To Me One More Time

[Jae Wook]

Music: Shinhwa - Voyage (continued from the last chapter)

It was better than I’d thought. I’d rehearsed this scene with Dong Hae so many times… not the kissing scene… duh... the whole plan to bring her on that motorcycle ride, to bring her to the jetty and the picnic, then the fireworks. I’d wanted the fireworks to happen before I kissed her. I wasn’t even banking on getting kissed, but here we were, lip to lip. It felt like a connection of 2 souls.

I pulled away slowly and looked at her. Her lips were a little red from the kiss, her face was flushed, her eyelids were heavy; I wanted to just kiss her forever.

“Sierra,” I whispered her name, and she smiled.

“What was that about?” she said softly.

“I…”

Great… I’m back to being a dweeb again.

“You know,” she said. “You didn’t have to do so much if all you wanted was a kiss.”

“Huh?” was all I could say, and she smiled mischievously.

“I’d have kissed you that day, outside my house, if you’d asked.”

I laughed softly when I remembered that day. I felt the tension between us. It was like as if that accidental romp on the bed had made us feel… unfulfilled.

“Do you make it a habit to plan to kiss guys on the first day you meet them?” I joked.

“Only those who take a punch for me,” she giggled, and she sneezed.

“Are you cold?”

We’d been so engrossed with the kiss and the fireworks; we’d almost forgotten that night had already fallen.

“Let’s get you home,” I said as I put an arm around her and rubbed her shoulder to keep her warm.

“In a minute,” she said as she made herself comfortable and laid her head on my shoulder.

Well… I could barely argue when the girl of my dreams wants to lay her head on my shoulder and let me put my arm around her. We stayed there for almost another hour, before we decided we’d had enough of the cold wind.

I drove her right up to her doorstep. She wobbled when she got off the bike, probably because the ride from the beach to her house took a little longer than it did from our school.

“Kwaench’ana?” I asked as I steadied her.

“I’m okay,” she said as she took off her helmet.

I laughed at her daze expression. No wonder she’d been silent for half the journey… she’d been sleeping.

“You fell asleep?” I asked her.

“Kinda,” she smiled sheepishly.

“Did you drool on my back?” I said as I tried to check the back of my blazer; we were still in our uniforms.

“I had a helmet on,” she reminded me. “All the drool would be collected in here,” she said as she handed the helmet over to me.

I pretended to peer into the helmet to check for drool.

“Hmm… it is kinda damp,” I said as I squinted at the helmet under the dim street lights.

“I did not drool,” she protested.

“But I swear… the helmet is damp…” I said in a very serious tone.

“Where?” she asked me as she grabbed it from me to inspect it herself.

“There…” I said as I pointed at a spot on the helmet.

“Odi?” she asked, still looking.

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was refreshing to realize that she was actually a little gullible. I wasn’t such a dweeb after all.

“Opso...” I finally said.

“Yah!” she exclaimed and tossed me the helmet.

Good thing I had pretty fast reflexes, and I caught it just before it hit my face.

“Good catch,” she smiled and started walking to the side gate.

“You’re going in now?” I asked her.

“Yea…” she said as she turned to face me. “Am I not allowed into my house yet?”

“No… I mean…” I mumbled.

Dweeb!!!

“Ah…” she said, as she smiled knowingly.

She walked towards me, leant forward, and kissed me on the cheek.

Music: Super Junior - Marry U

“Good night,” she said and opened the gate, while I stood there, a little stunned from her kiss attack.

“Good night,” I finally mustered since she was standing at her gate, waiting for me to say goodbye.

She just smiled, and closed the gate, not taking her eyes off me.

“Asa!!!” I said as soon as I heard her footsteps getting further away from the gates.

“I guess you scored?” I heard a voice come from behind me.

I turned around and gave a shout when I saw who it was.

“S-S-Sang Hoon hyung,” I stammered.

His long dark hair had been bleached. I wonder why he did that. Was this look in style now? This was the 2nd time I’ve seen someone sport it; the first was that gangster, Han Kyung.

“Wae? Do I look scary?” he laughed as he touched his hair consciously.

“A little,” I said.

“My friends dared me to,” he explained. “Sounds a bit juvenile, I know. I’m planning to dye it back before my father returns.”

“Good idea,” I said.

“My long hair is already enough of an annoyance for him,” he smiled.

“I guess I’ll go now,” I said as I put on the helmet and straddled the bike.

“Wait a minute,” he said as he put a hand on my shoulder.

“Ne?”

“Did you take my baby sister out on that thing?” he asked me.

“Erm… only for a short distance,” I lied.

“Are you sure?” he asked me.

“Yes,” I said.

“You’d better be. If I hear of you taking her on long distance trips with that thing, my brother and I are gonna kick your ass. Araji?”

“Ne,” I said.

“The number plate’s familiar. Does this bike belong to you?” he asked.

“It’s a friend’s,” I admitted.

“Is his surname Lee?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“That brat,” he laughed.

“What’s wrong?”

“This bike,” he said. “It doesn’t belong to your friend.”

“Chintcha?”

“Dong Hae’s your friend?” he asked me.

“Yea,” I said.

“Well, it belongs to his elder brother, Dong Wook.”

“I see. Then I’d better return it before he gets in trouble.”

“You’d better. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of Dong Wook’s temper,” he laughed. “See you around,” he said, as he too went in through the side gate.

I drove towards the bus stop near Sierra’s house, and sure enough, Dong Hae was waiting there as we’d agreed.

“What took you so long?” he said, his tone nervous.

“I got held up,” I said.

“By?”

“Sierra’s brother.”

“Which one?”

“Your brother’s friend,” I said.

“Oh… but both her brothers are friends of my brother,” he said.

“Sang Hoon,” I said.

“Damn… he’s so gonna tell hyung,” Dong Hae bit his lip.

“Then I suggest you take this bike home before your hyung kills you,” I said. “Thanks for allowing me to borrow it.”

“No problem,” he said. “I’ll go now.”

“Okay… bye,” I said as I waved him off, then waited for the next bus to come and take me home.

******

Celebrity Tidbits

I'm not sure if anyone ever noticed... Lee Dong Wook, the actor, and Lee Dong Hae, from Super Junior, both have almost the same names, and coincidentally, they kinda look alike. They're not related... but since the resemblance is there, I've always wanted to make them brothers in a fic ^_^ If you don't believe me... look up their photos. If I find some, I'll post them here.

Chapter 6: What He Wants

[Jae Wook’s POV]

“Yah!” Dong Hae sneaked up on me after classes the next day. “How did it go with Han Kyung?”

I turned around and grabbed him by the collar.

“Lee Dong Hae…” I snarled.

“Ne?” he squeaked.

“Try that one more time, and I’ll get rid of you once and for all,” I said.

“Araso…” he wheezed, and I let him go.

“You nearly got me killed. Good thing it was just a little bruise.”

“You just need more practice,” he said, and I glared at him.

“Mwo?”

“Nothing… mian,” he quickly said.

“Good,” I said. “Now I need your help.”

“Yes?” he said, in a very eager tone.

“How do I get a girl like Sierra?”

[Han Kyung’s POV]

“Hyung… I’ve dug up some interesting details about that guy you punched out yesterday,” my assistant, Ryeo Wook said.

“And?”

“He’s new in the neighbourhood, but I found out that his family owes some of our ‘funding agencies’ a rather huge sum of money.”

“Really?” I smiled to myself.

“Shall I let them know where he is?”

“It’s okay,” I said as I held out my hand. “We’ll lay low for now. This information will come useful someday.”

“But what about Sierra?” Ryeo Wook reminded me, being the loyal assistant he is.

“He isn’t capable enough to steal her away. If he was, I would’ve been punched out instead,” I laughed and he just smiled at the fact I’d just pointed out.

[Sierra’s POV]

“Hai…” I sighed as I tried to fix my hair in front of my little vanity mirror.

“What’s with all the moaning and sighing?” Hee Chul said.

“Hee Chul… do you think I scare away most of the boys in this school?”

“No… that’s Park Jung Su’s job,” he snorted.

“Come on!” I said and slapped him on the back. “Be serious.”

“Why don’t you ever believe me?” he said as he looked at me wearily.

“Cos you’ve never told me the truth,” I pointed out.

“I do tell you the truth!” he exclaimed. “Since when have I lied? Name me one incident!”

“I can’t remember them all,” I said.

It’s true that he’s duped me for more times than I can remember. If he thinks he can weasel his way out of this one, he’s got another think coming.

“Can’t remember, can you?” he laughed his high-pitched laugh. “You see… there aren’t any incidents worth remembering.”

Just when I was about to blurt out one, I felt someone standing beside us. Hee Chul and I turned look at the person. It was Jae Wook.

“Sierra,” he said.

“Yes?”

“Can you please come with me?” he said.

“Huh?”

“I need you take you somewhere,” he said.

“Where?”

“Must you spoil his surprise?” Hee Chul said, and he looked as excited as Jae Wook; as if he had a hand in planning the surprise.

“Yea,” Jae Wook smiled. “It’s kind of a surprise.”

“What’s with all the secrecy?” I asked him.

“You’ll see,” he said, and he took me hand to pull me off the seat.

“Have fun, lovebirds,” Hee Chul waved as we walked out of the little gazebo we were studying in.

We came to the school gates, and a yellow Ducati Superbike was waiting for us.

“Is this yours?” I asked him.

“Nah… it’s my friend’s” he said.

At least he was honest.

“Hop on,” he said as he handed me a helmet.

“Am I gonna get helmet hair?” I asked him.

“It’s alright,” he winked. “I brought my Gatsby Moving Rubber. We can fix that helmet hair just like that,” he said, snapping his fingers.

I laughed at his little joke, and put the helmet on.

“Now you look hot,” he said.

“Cos you can’t see my face?” I said.

“No… I love a chick in a motorcycle helmet,” he laughed.

I straddled the backseat and put my arms around his waist.

“Feel free to hang on tight,” he said as he revved the engine.

“Don’t mind if I do,” I said. “I’d like to stay alive.”

We sped out of the little lanes that led us away from our school gates and then onto the main street. He wove through the traffic like a pro. I actually felt a little rush of thrill from riding on the bike. Honestly, I’ve never been on a bike before, and if my brothers or father ever found out, there’s a slight chance that Jae Wook will not live to see the daylight.

“Are you alright?” he yelled in his helmet as we got onto the expressway.

“Yea,” I yelled back. “This is fun.”

“Scream if you wanna go faster,” he said.

I threw my hands in the air and screamed as loud as I could before put my arms back around his waist. He laughed and increased the speed of the motorcycle.

Sometime later, we neared a hilly area with the sea in view just over it. Where was he taking me? We came to a stop near a wooden jetty. At the end of it was a little platform, and on it was a checkered table cloth with a picnic basket sitting on it.

“Did you plan this?” I asked him.

“Hmm?” he said as he took off his helmet.

“Did you plan this whole thing?” I repeated.

“I had help,” he smiled as he took my helmet out of my hands and carried it for me as we walked towards the platform.

He had his longish hair bunched up in a ponytail behind his head. I’d just noticed. He looked kinda cute with this hairstyle.

“Sit,” he said as he gestured to the little pillow on the table cloth.

I sat on the pillow and he sat on the other. We sat side by side, looking out at the sea and enjoying the silence and the sound of the sea. Just then, I realized another thing that was different about him today.

“Jae Wook?” I said.

“Hmm?” he replied as he turned to face me.

“Are you wearing contact lenses?” I asked.

He smiled, and nodded. No wonder he didn’t look so nerdy today.

“Want a drink?” he said as he rummaged the picnic basket and fished out 2 glasses and a bottle of apple cider.

He poured out the cider and handed me a glass. It was cold, which meant that his friend had probably put the basket here not too long ago.

“I’m curious,” I said, after taking the first sip. “Who is this friend of yours who has went through such extent to help you prepare this whole surprise?”

“Let’s just call him my little elf,” Jae Wook smiled as he sipped his drink.

“This is a nice place,” I said as we watched the sun set.

“Well… I picked it, if that’s any consolation,” he said.

“Good job,” I laughed and patted him on the back and there was a moment of awkward silence.

“Jae Wook-ya…” I said.

“Ne?” he said.

“Can you at least answer this question?” I said.

“What?” he asked.

“Do you promise to answer?”

“Hmm…”

“Come on,” I said as I held out my pinkie. “Yaksok…”

“Alright… alright,” he laughed and hooked his pinkie with mine. “What is the big question?”

“Why are you being so nice to me? The truth,” I said.

“Erm…” he said, and went silent for awhile.

“You promised,” I reminded him, and he nodded silently.

He gave a loud sigh, after seeming in deep thought for at least a minute.

“Can you close your eyes?” he said.

“Wae?”

“I’m too embarrassed to tell it to your face,” he said. “I can’t tell you with you looking at me expectantly.”

“Why? Is it such a big deal?” I asked him.

I’d suspected that he might like me, and yes, I am coaxing him into telling me that he likes me. Why? The truth was that I liked him a little too.

“Yes it is, so can you please close your eyes?” he said.

“Araso… araso…” I laughed and closed my eyes.

“Well…” he said. “I brought you here… so that… so that I could…” he said, and he suddenly stopped talking.

“You could what?” I said.

Music: Vink - Last Train Home

“Do this,” he said, and I opened my eyes.

His face was right in front of mine, his eyes staring right into mine. I could feel his breath on my lips. He gently cupped my chin, and closed the distance between us to kiss me.

I closed my eyes as our lips met, and I opened my mouth so that he could really, really kiss me. I thought it was my imagination, but when we kissed, I could practically hear fireworks. The sounds got louder, and I opened my eyes. There were real fireworks… they were being fired from a boat some distance away from the jetty.

Music: Shinhwa - Voyage

“Did you plan the fireworks too?” I asked him when we pulled apart for a breather.

“Yea,” he smiled, and we kissed again.

Chapter 5: Getting To Know You

“Yong Min oppa,” she said as she scrambled off the bed and ran towards him.

“Hey baby girl,” he smiled, and they hugged.

Baby girl? Damn… did I just lose her to another guy? Then again, I never had her in the first place.

“Erm… Jae Wook,” she said as she turned to me. “This is my oppa, Yong Min.”

“Hi!” was all I could muster.

“So what were you doing with my baby sister, under my father’s roof?” her brother said in a stern tone.

He was a tall, slim and handsome fella. Sierra was tall and slim herself, but they just didn’t look like siblings to me.

“Oppa… nothing happened.”

“Nothing?” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“It was I who was clumsy. I fell on top of him and we couldn’t disentangle ourselves from each other.”

“How convenient,” he smiled. “And how is it you managed to do it the moment I walked in?”

“Oppa!” she exclaimed and smacked him on the arm. “Stop teasing! It’s not funny.”

“I’m sorry,” I spoke up. “It really was a misunderstanding. It’s not what it seemed like.”

“Araso,” he laughed. “Sierra looks ready to explode. I’d better stop teasing her.”

“Hmmph,” Sierra huffed, and walked out of the room.

[Sierra’s POV]

Since Yong Min oppa had come home, we’d decided to have tea on the patio. Oppa sat at the head of the table and I sat on his right. At the other end from oppa was Hee Chul. Sung Min sat beside me, and Jae Wook opposite me.

“Are you really siblings?” Jae Wook asked oppa and me.

“Well…” oppa said. “Don’t you see the resemblance?”

“Don’t pay attention to him. If I looked anything like him… the first thing I would have is his small eyes,” I said.

“Then how are you both related?”

“We share the same father, but different mothers,” oppa explained.

“I see,” Jae Wook said.

“My mother died when I was 2, and my father remarried soon after,” he said.

“Wow… but the both of you seem so close. I’d never have guessed you were half-siblings,” Jae Wook said.

“Well… I’m a big-hearted person and I believe everything happened for a reason. You can’t choose your family.”

“Aww… Yong Min hyung,” Hee Chull cooed, “you’re just too sweet.”

“Oppa, how long are you staying this time?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. But aboji asked me to stick around longer since he won’t be back for another few weeks. I’m supposed to make sure you stay out of trouble.”

“Did Sang Hoon oppa come back with you?”

“Ne, but you know him. He’s run off to meet his friends as usual.”

“Talking about me?”

“Sang Hoon oppa!” I cried out and ran to hug him.

“Speak of the devil,” Yong Min oppa joked.

“Wow... So how many brothers do you have? I’m starting to get confused,” Jae Wook said.

“Just us two,” Yong Min oppa said to Jae Wook. “This is my brother, Sang Hoon,” Yong Min oppa introduced. “This is Jae Wook,” he said to Sang Hoon oppa, “Sierra’s new boyfriend.”

“Hi,” he said, and sat down next to Jae Wook.

“No he’s not!” I protested, feeling hot all over. “I just met him today.”

“Well, you sure work fast these days, baby sister,” Sang Hoon oppa teased, and I pouted.

“So who’s older?” Jae Wook asked.

“Sang Hoon is,” Yong Min oppa replied. “But we’re born in the same year. So it’s really no difference.”

“There is…” Sang Hoon oppa said. “You see… our parents were overeager for another child… I was born in March, and in December, came Yong Min.”

“Whoah!!!” Hee Chul exclaimed. “I never realized that.”

“You do now, eh?” Sang Hoon oppa winked.

“But anyway… we started school the same year and we did everything together, as if we were twins. Except that we looked worlds apart.”

That, what pretty evident. Yong Min oppa was always looked like the gentleman, while Sang Hoon oppa looked more like the rebel with his long hair and piercings.

“Hey Sierra,” Jae Wook said.

“Hmm?”

“What’s your surname?”

“Hwang,” I replied.

“Hwang Yong Min, Hwang Sang Hoon, then Sierra Hwang? Why don’t you have a Korean name?”

“She does… but because her mother is Chinese and insisted on a Chinese name, it turned out really ugly in Korean,” Sang Hoon oppa laughed.

“So she has an English name,” Yong Min oppa said.

“So what’s your ugly Korean name?” Jae Wook asked.

“I know!” Sung Min exclaimed and raised his hand.

“You say it, you’re dead,” I warned Sung Min, and shot daggers at him with my eyes.

“Party pooper,” Sung Min grumbled.

“Why can’t you tell me?” he asked me.

“I don’t tell strangers my real name,” I smiled sweetly.

“Stranger? Do you invite strangers to have tea in your house?” he pointed out.

“Yea… do you, sis?” Sang Hoon oppa remarked.

“You guys are driving me nuts,” I complained. “I’m not telling and if anyone does, you’re gonna get it from me,” I said and glared at everyone at the table, except Jae Wook.

“Stay out of her hair,” Sang Hoon oppa said in a stage whisper. “She’s got this really scary temper.”

“Yea…” Hee Chul said.

“I do not!” I protested.

“Right…” Sang Hoon oppa said.

“Oppa!” I said in exasperation as I looked at Yong Min oppa.

Why do my brothers always have to embarrass me in front of my friends?

“Right… stop…” he laughed. “Look at Sierra… can’t you see the smoke rising above her head?”

“I’m going to take a shower,” Sang Hoon oppa said as he got up. “See you guys around.”

“Bye hyung!” Hee Chul and Sung Min waved.

“I think I’d better go too,” Jae Wook said. “My family must be wondering where I am.”

“I’ll walk you out,” I said, and I got up.

As we got to the gates, we stopped for a moment to say goodbye.

Music: TVXQ - Keyword

“Thanks for today,” I said to him.

“I didn’t do anything,” Jae Wook said. “I got knocked out with the first punch, remember?”

“At least you tried,” I smiled.

“Well…” he laughed shyly, he was actually kinda cute when he got shy.

“Bye…” I said, and quickly ran in, towards the house.

As I reached the door, I turned back to watch him walk down the long driveway, towards the gates. He was skipping…

******

Celebrity Tidbits

Hwang Yong Min is Tim, the sexy fella who sang Saranghamnida.

Hwang Sang Hoon is a member of Black Beat, a group under SM Entertainment. You can watch Sang Hoon on YouTube.