Jealousy

Ding dong. The door opened and the boy smiled to greet them.

"Oh, you guys here. Come in!"

Ji An and Han Sung smiled too at Hee Seok's bright smile. With enthusiasm they entered the apartment, especially Ji An who hugged the large cake box and 2 other medium sized boxes.

While in the living room, she saw Jo Min and Jun Gook focused on playing games. Jin Seok appears from the direction—that Ji An thinks—is the kitchen, because of the apron that guy is wearing.

"I brought you guys the oreo tiramisu cake. It doesn't matter, right?"

"Whatever as long as it's free, we're happy to accept it, Ji An!" Jo Min answered. He gave his best eye smile as an expression of gratitude.

Han Sung laughed suddenly. "Don't look away. Jun Gook beat you." He take out 5 big bottles of soda from the plastic to the table in front of two gamer.

"What?! Aarrgh!" When Jo Min returned his focus on TV, Jun Gook had a proud face and being cocky. "Serve you right, Mr. Park Jo Min."

"I'll cut the cake, Ji An," Jin Seok takes the big cake box. "You can join them." He pointed with his lips towards the 3 boys in front of the TV.

Ji An made her way to the table and put the other 2 medium boxes.

"What's inside?" Ha Joon came suddenly and try to open one of the box.

"Oh, it's dessert cakes box. But—"

"No way!! It's mint-choco!" Ha Joon make a fast move to avoid the box like it was a toxic.

Hee Seok's and Jun Gook's head turned fast and they said in unison,"Mint-Choco!!"

Han Sung already told Ji An before, that DS always gathered in this house everyday after school, everytime they want. The original members who lives here are Ha Joon, Hee Seok, and Gi Hoon. The other three still lives with their parents. And that's the reason why Ji An brought the mint-choco dessert box for Hee Seok and Jun Gook because it's their favorite flavor.

"How do you know it was mint-choco?" Ji An laughs at the way Ha Joon's act.

"I've seen it in your shop, Ji An ... It's green and there's choco!"

"Maybe it's green-tea flavor."

"Well, I know the difference." Ha Joon shakes his head.

Hee Seok and Jun Gook happily opened and ate their dessert cake box with the spoon that Ji An had prepared from the shop.

While the others were busy chatting and eating, Ji An turned her gaze around. Their house looks clean for the boys. Well, you know the houses occupied by the boys ... are usually a bit messy.

"We're cleaning the house when Gi Hoon said you'll coming here." Jin Seok answered without being asked. Wow ... that telepathy.

He put the cake on the table, and told Jo Min to bring some small plates and spoons.

Ji An smiled at their efforts. "So, where's Gi Hoon? In his Vampire's lair?"

"I wanna say yes, but don't let him heard that." Jin Seok chuckled. "He's in his studio room. You can find it by yourself. There's a board named High IQ Lab at the door."

"Okay." She tapped Han Sung's shoulder. "I'm going to the Vampire's lair."

"Don't get bite."

"Hahaa, i wouldn't."

Ji An stand in front of the High IQ Lab's door. She push the bell beside the door. ['What kind of a person who put a doorbell inside the house? Well, it's Min Gi Hoon.']

She pressed the doorbell again and again, until the door creaked open and Gi Hoon's annoyed face appeared.

"No need to push it many times!" His hoarse voice snapped quietly.

"In case you were sleeping. And i'm sure you were ...."

"Just come in."

['That irritate command voice.'] Ji An sighed and walked into the studio. After the door closed, the noise outside immediately disappeared. She turned her head in surprise at the door.

"Don't just stand there. Come and sit here." Gi Hoon told annoyingly. He point the chair beside him.

Does this mean they are locked together in this room? Ji An hopes she can still hear the boys outside while being in this room. Well, it's gonna be a long day.

♡♡♡

"We're not finished. Where are you going?"

"At least let me get a drink. We're already done this about an hour and a half."

"Okay, bring me orange juice from the fridge."

Ji An rolled her eyes. She step outside the studio and make turn to the kitchen. After fetch the orange juice medium size bottle and a mineral water bottle, she saw a glimpse of someone at the balcony.

She turned her gaze to the living room. There were only five members there, so the one on the balcony must be Han Sung. She walked there silently and knew that the boy was on the phone.

"... don't know if I can help you, Yeon Hee."

['Huh? He's on the phone with Yeon Hee? What are they talking about?'] Ji An leaned closer to the side of the sliding door which was closed by the curtain and eavesdropped.

"I'll think about it. Talk later."

['Damn! Shoot!'] Ji An scrambled to find a place to hide. She returned to the kitchen and then did a spin as if she had just come out of the kitchen, and just at that time Han Sung walked in and turned his head.

"Hey, already finished the record?"

She shakes her head. "Not yet. I need some water because he didn't let me take a break."

"Haa ... typical Gi Hoon." Han Sung follow her to the High IQ Lab. "Can I come inside?"

"Don't ask me, dude. Just come in." Ji An open the door and they go inside.

"What takes you so long? And why are you come here too?"

That grumpy voice welcomed them. Han Sung shrugged and chuckled. "I won't disturb you both." He sat at the back sofa and stared at Gi Hoon's black shelf that contains many cd albums, thropies, and perfume collections.

"Fine. And don't even make a voice." Gi Hoon turn his gaze to the computer.

['Such a brat.'] Ji An muttered in her mind. She put the orange juice bottle at the table and drink her mineral water.

"Oh, you've got an hourglass necklace too?" Han Sung pointed to one of the shelves where the necklace was hanging from the lid of a high perfume bottle.

Ji An froze awhile and closed the mineral water bottle. ['He...what?!']

"I got it at the Magic Shop during the last festival. Jin Seok brought me after Ha Joon told us. The owner said I was lucky to find it in the ... um ...."

"Like a needle in the haystraws? Yeah, he said that to me too."

Gi Hoon nods while chuckled. "Although i didn't believe half of what he said about 'the time' thing."

So ... as Ji An knows now, three of them had the same necklace and same conversation. She almost forgot about the necklace because she kept thinking about her tarot card before.

"That man who looks like a bear," Han Sung muttered. "I think I saw him somewhere familiar. Don't you think?"

"I was thinking that man was similiar to my CEO. I don't know." Gi Hoon scratch his head. "So, ready to start again?" He stared at Ji An, who silently listen to their convo.

"Okay." she answered softly.

♡♡♡

She's standing in front of Han Sung's room, her hands frozen to knock on the door. Something keep bothering in her mind.

['Should I ask him. What if he doesn't care to answer.'] Her hands go up and down, hesitantly to knock.

['Okay ... arrange the words first so it doesn't look like curious... But I am curious!'] When Ji An made sure to knock, the door opened quickly.

Han Sung immediately let out a sigh of relief and said in an irritated tone, "Do you know how scary it was to see the shadow of the foot behind the door for more than 10 minutes at night?!"

"Oh? Really?" Ji An laughed awkwardly. She pushed Han Sung aside so she could enter the room, and sat on the edge of the bed. "What are you doing?"

The boy didn't answer after close the door. He sat behind his desk and continue reading some page in the computer.

"I'm asking you, Alien!" Ji An picked up the small lion plushie by the side of the pillow and threw it at Han Sung, who just turned around on time and caught the plushie.

"I should've the one who ask you that." He threw the plushie, bulls eye on Ji An's face.

"Ouff!!"

"So, any other nagging stories to share?" Han Sung got up from the chair and lay down on the bed, pushing Ji An's back with his right leg.

"Hey!" She slammed the plushie against his leg.

"Akh! Hey, don't bullied my lion!"

"It's a present from me for your last year birthday, dude!" Ji An snarled and positioned herself on the edge of the bed again. "It's up to me what to do with this plushie."

"Meanie. Hey, you didn't answer my question."

"You didn't answer mine either."

"You saw what I did with the computer." He sighed. He is currently looking for information about the culinary campus.

"Okay ... So, I wanted to ask you ...." She hesitated.

"Hm?"

"This afternoon who were you on the phone with at the balcony?"

Han Sung's smile faded. "Why do you ask?"

Ji An tried to adjust her voice evenly. "You look so serious. Is there a problem?"

The boy didn't answer. He closed his eyes and acted like he was deep in thought.

Ji An waited patiently. Hoping that his friend didn't lie. Oh yeah, she feels jealous and very curious why Yeon Hee called Han Sung instead of her.

"It was Yeon Hee, she asked me to give her a tutor for math." He didn't answer more. He stay closed his eyes.

"Are you telling me the truth?" She didn't know why she blurted out like that.

Han Sung open his eyes and turn his gaze slowly at her. Is he kinda ... mad because of her question?

"Oh well, I've asked you to teach me too. Of course she'll be like that too." Ji An immediately got up from the bed and headed for the door. "Good night."

There was no reply from Han Sung. It made something on Ji An's chest felt like being slice. She went out and closed the door slowly.

While entering her own room, Ji An hoped that what Han Sung said was true. Well, if she think about it, Ji An and Yeon Hee are not good at math. Of course they need help from math experts.

Hahaa ....

But her heart still felt strange ....

-------♡