All I Want For Christmas Is...
20 December 2010
D-5I was watching your performance on Inkigayo again. I’m so glad that I was there when they announced that you won the Mutizen Award. You were so shocked that you didn’t even move. I had to pull you back from the shock. I would have brought you to the front myself if not for all the furor after my surprise hug on Music Bank. Chang Min hyung, ever the sensitive one in the group helped me out on that one.
Watching you receive the award, it’s almost like I received the award myself. The camera caught me and Chang Min hyung smiling like proud brothers. Even Jin Woon was smiling really broadly. I could hear the tremble in your thank-you speech. Again, I was tempted to walk up to you and give you support.
Damn! I really regret doing the hug on Music Bank! That hug kind of restricted me from doing a lot of things because all eyes are on me.
All eyes, except yours.When Shin Dong walked up beside you and squeezed into the same frame as you, my first reaction was “I want to be able to walk up there like he did!” then I just wanted to hit him hard for stealing your moment.
Thank goodness, Lee Teuk hyung pulled him back.
But the second time he did that, I was going to take a step forward but Chang Min hyung again sensed it and went forward to pull him back. Partly because he also didn’t like him stealing your moment, but he knew that I was going to if he didn’t step in.
But you are truly amazing. Sometimes I wonder where did you hide your voice in that tiny frame of yours. And I would forget that you are barely 18 years old. To think you debuted 2 months after us and as a solo singer.
Just then, my phone signaled a message had been received. My heart skipped a beat when I saw your name on the screen. But it broke into a million pieces when I saw your message.
“Dear all, thank you so much for your congratulations and well-wishes yesterday! Especially Shin Dong oppa. I will continue to work hard!”That’s it? I have been included in the “Dear all” part? That was a little upsetting since you singled out Shin Dong. I tried not to take it to heart but it’s like a tiny thorn, one that I know it’s there but I can’t see it well enough to remove it.
“Hyung~ Did you get a message from IU? She’s so sweet! Thanking everyone, even Shin Dong hyung! I’m going to save that message!”
Jin Woon walked away to look for Chang Min who was cooking in the kitchen. Suddenly, Seul Ong heard Jin Woon shouting.
“NOT FAIR!! How come IU send you a personal message? Chang Min hyung~ WHY WHY WHY?!!”
What? You sent Chang Min hyung a personal message?I walked out of the room nonchalantly, pretending it didn’t matter but it did. I really wanted to know what you sent to Chang Min hyung.
“Ya~ Jung Jin Woon, why are you making so much noise? It’s just a message and who gave you permission to open up my message?”
“What did she say?”
That came out without me realizing it. It seems the more I tried to hide, the more obvious it is.
“Seul Ong hyung~! You scared me! When did you come out of your room?”
“You can ask Jin Woon the RUDE boy who has already read the message without asking me. Give me back my phone.”
“ ‘Chang Min oppa~ Thank you for your encouragement and help yesterday. Shin Dong oppa was just trying to be cute. Don’t mind him. Stay happy and cheerful! See you soon!
P/S Oppa~ the lunchbox you made was totally delicious! Thank you!!’
Hyung, you made IU a lunchbox? How come we didn’t get any?”
“Why should you get any, Jung Jin Woon?”
“Then why did you make it for IU?”
There it was again, the question that came out without me thinking. The two of them turned to look at me strangely.
“I was making my own lunchbox and I had extras. Then I remembered that it was IU’s first broadcast yesterday, so I packed it for her. I didn’t make it SPECIALLY for her, I just had extras.”
“Well, you could have given it to others instead of IU.”
“Ya~ I only had enough for ONE, who am I supposed to give when most of the performers yesterday are GROUPS? Anyway, Jin Woon, why are you SO bothered that I gave it to IU anyway? I thought you would be bothered if I gave it to Nicole!”
“Hyung! Don’t tease me! There’s nothing going on between Nicole and I! We’re just friends!”
“Sure, friends who message each other late into the night! Don’t forget I stay in the same room as you…”
I walked away from the two of them who were arguing. It made me wonder why didn’t I do more? I’m usually not this way, everyone knows that. But why is it that when it comes to you, I’m so careful?
Because you are special.
You are not just ONE of the female friends I have in the entertainment world.
You are Lee Ji-Eun, the one and only in my world.
Author's Note: This is the just the first part of the D-5. I'm almost done with the whole chapter. But I thought it'd be fun to release it this way. Check back later. The full chapter would be up by 2AM.
“Ji-Eun-ah, what are you doing? You keep staring at your phone. Are you expecting a message? Whose message are you waiting for? Tae Yang?”
“Nicole unnie~ Don’t tease me. I’m waiting for my manager oppa’s message about tomorrow’s schedule.”
“What’s happening tomorrow? Aren’t you going to be here with us?”
“I will be but I’m supposed to meet the 2AM members for practice since I’m going to be their guest on the last day of their concert. Unnie, are you going for their concert since you are so close to Jin Woon oppa?”
“It really feels strange to hear anyone calling Jin Woon ‘oppa’ since he’s such a child most of the time. He did send us invites but I doubt we can make it. After recording for Music Core and Inkigayo on 23rd, we are heading to Japan on 24th. Even though we would be back on 26th, we don’t know what’s actually happening on that day. So I told him I won’t be going.”
“Was he disappointed?”
“Maybe a little, but I’m sure he invited all the others like SNSD since his favourite Seo Hyun is there.”
“Unnie… Why do I hear a hint of jealousy there?”
“Jealous?! You have got to be joking! Jung Jin Woon? Chet~ But I must say I would definitely go if Seul Ong oppa invited me.”
That got IU’s attention immediately. She never let anyone know but she really hates it when she hears all her unnies calling Seul Ong ‘oppa’.
HER Seul Ong oppa.Nicole smiled secretly to herself. She knew that talking about Seul Ong would definitely get IU’s attention. She didn’t know how fast she looked up the moment the name was mentioned.
This girl is just keeping it all to herself. But it’s so obvious that she has something for Seul Ong oppa. Aigoo~ That Jin Woon should really work a little harder to make Seul Ong oppa take action.“Why would you want Seul Ong oppa to invite you? I mean didn’t he invite all the unnies in your group?”
“I think they kind of split it among themselves who they would invite. Kwonnie oppa probably invited Ga-In unnie and the rest of the Brown Eyed Girls, Jin Woon was tasked with inviting KARA. If I’m not wrong, Seul Ong oppa was supposed to invite SNSD since he’s rather close to Tiffany and Jessica. As for Chang Min oppa, he was supposed to invite…”
“Nicole! IU! Get ready for the next scene!”
IU and Nicole ran back to where the others had gathered and got ready. That was when IU realized that Nicole never did answer her question.
Why would she want Seul Ong oppa to invite her?She knew she had to put that thought out of her mind and not let it hinder the filming. But she just can’t shrug it off. After she sent her thank-you message, she had gotten replies from almost everyone.
Except the most important person.
Why didn’t he reply?
Right, I’m just the little sister he cherished a lot.
That’s all.
Lee Ji-Eun, what were you expecting?
It’s not like you have anything to do with each other.
Nothing except our song.
But after this year, that connection will also fade away.
Would you forget as well?Thinking about that, tears slid down her cheeks which she hurriedly wiped away. She knew the other unnies would notice if she didn’t watch herself. She didn’t want to interrupt the flow of the filming. And she definitely didn’t want to be questioned.
Because she didn’t know why she was feeling this way.
Author's Note: Part 2!
One last part or maybe I'd split it into two. we'll see!
Unknown to Seul Ong, the conversation that went on in the kitchen just now was made up by Chang Min and Jin Woon. There wasn’t a private message, neither was there a lunchbox that Chang Min made.
Seul Ong didn’t realized that he paid more attention to the fact that a lunchbox was made and given to IU. He forgot that it was impossible for Chang Min to have made any lunchbox because they had practiced till early morning for their concert. The moment everyone got back, they just went straight to bed and only woke up in time to prepare for Inkigayo.
“Chang Min hyung, what do you think? I wasn’t lying when I said that Seul Ong hyung likes IU right? Now do you believe me?”
“I really thought he treated IU just like how he treats all the other girls we know. He said it often enough that he just treats her like a little sister that he cherished a lot.”
“Hyung, he HAS to say that to convince himself. IU is a little too young for him. And it’s convenient to call her his little sister. But you should know better. When have you seen him buy anything for the other female friends other than for important occasions like birthdays? But when we went to USA, the things he bought were obviously for IU. Even though he said he was buying them for almost everyone, but we know that he gave the bulk to IU.”
“So, what do we do now? Just let him continue this way? What about IU? Does she like him as more than an older brother?”
“According to Nicole, there’s something more there but IU never really said anything. But I have a feeling that she really feels that Seul Ong hyung just treats her like a little sister so she doesn’t dare come too close.”
“What are the two of you talking about?”
“AH! YA! Jo Kwon! Don’t sneak up on us this way!! When did you come back?”
“Just a minute ago, what are the two of you whispering about in the room? It must be something important that you didn’t even notice that I came in.”
“Close the door. Is Seul Ong outside?”
“His room door is closed and his coat is in the cupboard but knowing him, he probably have like 10 other coats. Is this about Seul Ong hyung?”
Both of them nodded and then told Kwon everything that happened that morning with the imaginary private message and lunchbox and Seul Ong’s reaction.
“So, you are telling me that Seul Ong hyung likes IU more than just as a little sister?”
“Yes!”
“I thought it was a little strange too. But I can see why IU would think that she’s just one of the girls in Seul Ong hyung’s life.”
“Kwonnie hyung, why don’t you ask Ga-In noona to ask Seul Ong hyung about it?”
“Ya~! I don’t even want the two of them to talk on the phone without my knowledge.”
“But this won’t be without your knowledge since you are the one who is going to ask her to do it.”
To that, Kwon has no reply.
“But I don’t think Seul Ong hyung would tell Ga-In noona right? I mean if he wanted to talk about it, he would have.”
“Maybe he would tell her about it. It feels like he’s very confused and maybe the right amount of prompting would get him to talk about it. I doubt he would approach Taec since he would be teased. So why not ask Ga-In to talk to him?”
“Ok… Let’s say he really does like IU, then what? Are we going to bring them together?”
Kwon was actually delighted with the idea. Part of the reason was that he didn’t like Ga-In being so close to Seul Ong but the other reason was that he wanted Seul Ong to be happy too. He had seen him during the days when he was working with IU. He had felt that he was really happy though Seul Ong tried to hide it. But unknowingly when he looked at his phone, he would smile. Because of Nagging, Seul Ong and IU actually exchanged messages and talk on the phone quite a bit.
“Maybe we should. I have a plan but I would need Nicole to play along. But I think she would agree.”
Jin Woon started telling them about his plan. At the end of the discussion, all three of them smiled broadly. They couldn’t wait for tomorrow to arrive! Jin Woon sent a message to Nicole asking her if she’s in with the plan. When the other two asked why didn’t he just call her, he shrugged and said simply that she was filming. Another round of teasing started with Chang Min and Kwon questioning the maknae exactly what is going on between him and Nicole.
That was how Seul Ong found the three of them when he walked to the kitchen to get a bowl of cereals. He realized belatedly after the conversation in the kitchen that he had not eaten anything. He was not in the mood to join in their playing around since he was still upset with Chang Min for getting the private message from IU and the lunchbox that he sneakily made for IU.
“Kwonnie hyung! Is that really true?!! IU is going to be our guest for ALL THREE DAYS?!! And I get to do a duet with her?!! Don’t lie to me! I can’t take it!”
“Jung Jin Woon! Would I lie about such important details when it come to 2AM and our FIRST solo concert? Min Jae hyung just called me before I arrived home that they managed to get her to be the guest for all 3 days and yes, you get your wish of singing a duet with her.”
“Asa! So would she be present for our practice session tomorrow?”
“Yup! She would come over after she finished filming Heroes.”
“What song should we sing? Chang Min hyung, any suggestions?”
At that moment, Chang Min who was facing the door saw a shadow lurking outside the door. He got the attention of the other two by coughing then said loud enough for the shadow outside to hear.
“Jin Woon, why don’t you sing Nagging with IU? I’m sure we can change the key a little to match your voice to hers. Maybe we can talk to Si-Hyuk hyung about changing it to an acoustic and slower version. Then you can play the guitar and sing together with IU! How about that?!”
“That sounds like a GRE…”
Author's Note: *sad* no one's reading except iamceejay.
Anyway. prob another 2 parts. I decided to split this part because it's SO FUNNY!!
[/b]
“NO!”
Seul Ong couldn’t just stand outside and listen to them making plan to ruin THEIR song again. Every time IU sings the song with someone else, it hurt him. Because to him, that song is THEIRS and no one can do it right other than the two of them.
“So the shadow has a voice! What were you doing, lurking outside the room? Are we strangers now that you have to stand outside the door?”
“No, hyung but…”
“You can’t be still upset because of what happened this morning? Seul Ong-ah, that was a…”
“Chang Min hyung, it was a nice thing that you did. There is no need to explain yourself. Now, let’s talk about my duet with Ji-Eun.”
Jin Woon opened his eyes as wide as he could to tell Chang Min not to give Seul Ong about the truth yet.
Seul Ong ignored the two of them and turned towards their leader.
“Kwon-ah, is it true that Ji-Eun would be doing a duet with Jin Woon? She’s really going to be our guest for all 3 days?”
“Well, Jin Woon was supposed to do a surprise stage with Nicole but they have to fly off to Japan on 24th and will only be back on 26th. We are still trying to see if we can get her to do the special stage on 26th. If she can make it in time, then maybe Ji-Eun would not be coming on the 26th since she would have to rush over from Inkigayo. But for sure Ji-Eun would be doing the special stage with Jin Woon in place of Nicole.”
“Oh there’s a nice ring to our names~ Jin Woon and Ji-Eun! Maybe we should wear a couple outfit too!”
Seul Ong shot a look at Jin Woon who was grinning broadly.
“Seul Ong hyung! Let’s go shopping!! You know all the latest fashion best! Let’s go buy something nice for Ji-Eun and myself! I’d treat it as my Christmas present for her!”
Though the other two were looking on with great interest and biting down on their lips to prevent themselves from laughing out, they knew they have to stop Jin Woon because Seul Ong looked like he was about to strangle Jin Woon to death.
“Jin Woon-ah! You are so excited about performing with Ji-Eun! How will Nicole feel if she knows?”
“But it’s always been my dream to sing a duet with Ji-Eun! So it’s like a dream come true! It’s going to be a splendid Christmas! I’m going to go surf the Internet for our couple outfits now!”
With that, Jin Woon literally floated out of the room.
“Seul Ong hyung, what about your special stage with Tiffany and Jessica? What are you going to do?”
“What?”
“Your special stage, you haven’t talked to Tiffany and Jessica about it?”
“We are going to do a dance then I would be singing with Tiffany and Jessica.”
“Will they be at the practice tomorrow?”
“Yes… We arranged to meet at 6pm…”
“Oh, that means that you would be last for the special stage practice tomorrow then. Chang Min hyung, our practice with BEG is tomorrow morning. Jin Woon-ah! Come inside so I can tell you about the practice schedule tomorrow.”
Jin Woon came into the room with his laptop, looking very excited.
“Hyung! Look what I found! Won’t this look absolutely cute on Ji-Eun?”
All three guys turned to look at the dress that Jin Woon had picked out. It would indeed good on IU. In fact, it’s going to look fantastic!
“Good job Jin Woon! Are you going to get it?”
“Yes! Later! Let’s talk about the practice schedule first.”
“Ok! In the morning, Chang Min hyung and I would be meeting the BEG noonas for our special stage practice at 7am. After that, I have to leave for AML filming with Ga-In noona at 12pm. Chang Min hyung would probably stay behind to help out with your special stages preparation. At about 1pm, Ji-Eun would be here to practice for your special stage. You might want to call her later to ask her for her opinions but it’s going to be difficult since she’s filming Heroes right now. So it’d be good if you think of what the two of you can do. Since this is a last minute change, you would probably need more time. But do make sure that you don’t forget dinner. Seul Ong hyung’s special stage practice will start at 6pm because he has a magazine photo shoot which is expected to end at 5pm. Hyung, you’d better get dinner before you come back for practice. We will meet again at around 11pm after my filming for our group practice. Alright?”
Chang Min and Jin Woon nodded while Seul Ong frowned. This was really a surprising turn of events. If he knew that Ji-Eun was confirmed as their guest, he would have insisted on doing the special stage with her.
Maybe it’s just not meant to be…“Seul Ong hyung? Any problems?”
Seul Ong looked at Kwon gave his normal smile and shook his head.
“If there’s nothing else, I’m going out for a while before we have to get ready for the award ceremony.”
“Alright! Are you going to go see Sae-Byukie? Why don’t you go and bring him over?”
“I might just do that.”
“Yay! I miss that little rascal! He must have grown quite a bit didn’t he?”
“From the photos that my sister sends to me, he has grown quite a bit, yes. But I’m not going to be around tomorrow till 5pm, who’s going to look after him while we are practicing?”
“I’d bring him to the practice studio in the morning since Ga-In noona has been wanting to see him again anyway. JeA noona would probably love it too.”
“Alright! Then I’d take over when I go in for the practice session with Ji-Eun. She would be delighted to see Sae-Byukie!! Two cuties gathered at the same place. I MUST remember to bring my camera!!”
With that, Jin Woon sneaked off to his room to charge the battery of his camera and he smiled secretly to himself. He saw the murderous look his Seul Ong hyung had on his face everytime he called IU by her name. It was hilarious!
It’s going to be an interesting day tomorrow.
During this time, Nicole had received the message from Jin Woon and knew about their plan to bring Ji-Eun and Seul Ong together. She smiled cheekily just thinking what was going to happen tomorrow. She turned to look at Ji-Eun who was talking on the phone with her manager.
Nicole watched the play of emotions on her face.
First it was delight. That was probably when she got the news that she was going to be 2AM’s concert guest for all three nights.
Then her lips started to droop at the side and a frown appeared on her face. She looked up to see Nicole staring at her. She quickly looked away.
She must have heard that she was going to be Jin Woon’s special stage partner in my place. It was definitely going to be an extremely interesting day tomorrow.
“But oppa, wouldn’t it be better if I did the special stage with Seul Ong oppa since we just practice for Music Bank?”
Her frown deepened and she looked about to cry when she ended the call. It didn’t take a genius to guess that her manager reminded her of the surprise hug and all the news that was written about it.
She took a deep breath to make sure she won’t cry.
So this is how it feels to not be given what I want.
But I have never been greedy.
Why is it so important for me to do this stage with Seul Ong oppa?
I have done other stages with other people.
Maybe it’s really not meant to be.
Our paths were meant to cross just that once.
I should be happy that it did cross.
Now I’d just have to prepare myself.
To once again walk away from it.
From him.
Author's Note: I apologise for the switch in narrative. When I started writing this morning, I wanted to write AS Seul Ong and then AS IU for her part. But then, I finally decided at what point my story would start. So yea.
I had so much fun writing the whole scene of the boys plotting against Seul Ong! I laughed a lot! My mum thinks I'm crazy.
Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I have written it!