Phone Booth

Chapter 1

I was walking pass a telephone booth. A girl in white t-shirt and red pants was crying on the phone, squatting. She was not using the telephone in the booth, but her cell phone. She grabbed her scrunchy and untied her hair. Wavy shoulder-length black hair. She wiped her tears with it. She was too small and she looked too fragile. She stood up, and she looked at the sidewalk. She gave a big sigh. She wanted to come out of the booth but ended up staying inside. She cried again, squatting again. I wanted to hand her my umbrella when she stood up and ran out of the booth, crying.

I ran, wanting to see her up close, but she was so fast. I could not catch up. I think I felt some burden in my heart. It’s like the whole world just fell down onto me. What should I do now? I could have just stopped her but my legs were shaking. My feet were numb at some moment. I should have just grabbed her in my arms while she was still on the phone under the booth. But nothing came about that way. She was so pitiful that I felt some warm tears forming in my eyes. I did not know her, but I have such complicated feelings towards her.

I walked back to the dorm. I met our English instructor on my way back. She was running out of a restaurant. She saw me but not even a smile created on her lips. I thought of myself, “What is the problem with everybody today?” I saw her going behind the tree next to the restaurant. She bended down, there was a pair of legs in red pants lying down. The pants got ruined, all wet and full of mud. I wanted to go closer, but as if a strong power stopped me from going. I tried to go against the force, and I walked over to them.

As I was coming near, I heard my English instructor spoke;

“Why are you like this?! This is not how it is supposed to be! Get up, I’ll take you home. You’re not supposed to be this way ChaeRa. Get up! Let’s go!”

The girl behind the tree replied,

“No, leave me alone!!! I don’t know what else to do Jane! Everything is ruined! I should give a little more attention to it, but, but… It is all ruined now! I can’t believe it! After three months, I… I… I did great right, all these while? Right? Jane tell me I was doing fine all these while,”.

“ChaeRa, you did just fine. Luck is not with you this time! I wanted to tell you that you have lost your focus and, aish, I knew you would end up like this. So, listen to me now, you are coming with me. The company’s building is near, let’s just wash there. Come!”

When our English instructor tried to help the girl to stand, the girl fell down and I had an urge force, just like a reflex, sending my hand out to help her stand again.

“Be careful!” I reached out for her hand.

“Aa… My leg!!!” she cried.

“It got numb, is it?” I asked her.

“I wish this leg is a bit stronger than usual!” she cried out again.

“Let’s go. Teacher, where are we heading?” I asked Miss Jane.

“The company. You’re here all these while Kyuhyun?” Miss J asked.

“Well, apparently yes.”

“Okay, let’s get going.”

——————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss J went to take some clean clothes for the girl and we were left in awkwardness. Looking at her pity face, too pale, and she’s not even putting her head up. I guess, she’s still crying.

“Hey, what’s your name?” I started the conversation.

“I’m a loser. Don’t talk to me.”

“Come on, let’s just talk. I think you need somebody to talk too.”

“I… I… I…”

I looked at her, patiently waiting for her to speak something.

“I did my very best already, but the invention… I don’t know what to do! Someone just barged in and kicked over or whatever shit they did to my invention! What am I supposed to do now? The invention is… is…” she stuttered and she looked at me.

“Hey, you’re… you’re… the… Super Junior guy. What was you name again? Wait, I think I can recall.”

“I’m…” I was cut off.

“Shoosh! I’m trying to recall! Your group has too many members. I can’t really remember. But I know you. The guy who sings good. Right?!” she smiled, at me.

I cracked up a small laugh showing that I agreed with her, “So you are?”

“I’m Jane’s friend. Hey, do you know that she changed her name? I mean, we all do, but I prefer a Korean name since now I’m living in Korea, so, yeah. I picked ChaeRa and she picked Jane. I thought she’d go with Anne, since it’s quite similar to her real name.”

“You’re already talking and being yourself, Ziera. Mind her Kyuhyun, she likes to talk, a lot, I mean really, a lot. She just won’t stop sometimes. Come on, get up, you need to wash, you smell like earth.”.

“Yan, you’re such… don’t tell him that! I’m a good girl okay, it’s not that I spilled up any of your secrets,”.

“You just did, Ziera. Now just go and wash yourself!!! You stink!”

“Yan, don’t say that to me in front of the guy who can sing!!! Fine. I’m going!”

She left me with Miss J, or now, Miss Yan?

“Sorry, Kyuhyun. You have to see different sides of her. She has thousands of different attitudes. You just won’t know which is at which time. Hahaha… She’s too unpredictable.”

“I saw her at the phone booth crying. I thought she was dumped. But, after hearing the reason, I felt like, I feel safe.” I tried to tell Miss J what I think about her friend.

“She will never have the time to have boyfriends, dear. She is too full with herself and her crazy inventions. She wanted to invent a vacuum cleaner that can stick on to the wall and the ceiling. She’s trying hard though, but she got too immersed in it that’s why she’s so disappointed.”

“What is she?”

“She’s a student in Seoul University. She’s doing Mechatronics. A genius she is.”

“She knows Super Junior…”

“That’ll probably because I always tell her about you guys. Your English matter okay. Sometimes, some funny phrases, we laughed at it all at home if she’s in a bad mood. So, yeah, she concerns about you guys though. She likes you the most. “The guy who sings well”. That’s your name.”

She really did call me that. She really… is something else.

At that moment, she came in, looking refreshed and have a cup of water in her hand and as she walked, she smiled.

——————————————————————————————————-

Chapter 2

Looking at how we first met, it was a total mess. So messy, my heart was a total mess. I wonder what kind of charm this weirdo had. The magic just struck onto me without any further notice. The fate was tingled between me and this weirdo. Where did she get such a character? I mean, not A character but many of them.

Here I am, in the dorm, thinking of nothing but the girl that I met last night. What is there, the X factor? She’s simple, not pretty like other girls I always see, but, what is there in her that makes it hard to get rid of her from the thoughts? I think it’s better to play games rather than thinking of her.

“Kyuhyun-ah. What are you doing? Day-dreaming again?!” Sungmin-hyung patted my back.

“We caught you zoning out for 3 times today, Kyuhyun-ah!!! What’s with the face? Did you lose your game again?” Eunhyuk battled out some thought.

“Aniya, hyung. I was just thinking of some skills that I should improve on playing this.” I gave a subtle reason.

“What-the-? Are you playing games with the help of some kind of spirit? Even Lucifer will run away when he look at you stern face!” said Eunhyuk.

“Hyung, seriously, I think… I should…” I was replying him without even thinking of what am I supposed to say. I wonder why they should come now. What am I? A pet to them? Why do these hyungs bother me so much when I’m alone.

“Hyung, I think I got to go somewhere!” I stood up and took some stuff with me along.

“Yah!!!, Where are you going?!” Eunhyuk shouted.

“I’m taking English class with Miss J now! I’ll go first, hyung!”

I ran off to the company’s building. I think I really need to know more about the girl and the only person that can help me is only one person, Miss J.

The sun beam was quite of a burden for me. My eyes were wet due to extreme profusion. This profusion was because of the sun and the extreme nervousness that caught me, knowing that something in me that is just not right.

I ran across the street, and I knew it was hard at first, it was 2 years ago. Exactly 2 years ago.

It happened. The worst nightmare. I would not want to think about it. It brings nothing but fears. But the accident brought me to who I am today. I would never want to lose any chance in my life. I care of nothing anymore. I know it is hard for everyone, to endure with all the sufferings that I ran into, but they keep on cheering me up. They never fail to make me feel good. They are always there. Heechul hyung, Donghae hyung, and even Eeteuk hyung who hated me at first, but he was the one who supported me through out those hard times.

I couldn’t talk when I woke up from the long dream. Doctor told them that I was still in shocked of what happened. Every one told me that it was a miracle that I managed to wake up and live a normal life that I am leading now. I know how shattered I was before, but one thing for sure, my heart hurt even more.

After two months of rest in the hospital, she came. She came saying she was sorry and she felt bad of whatever happened. She was sorry that she never once came and visited me. I understand how hard she had to bear. I was almost handicapped. I was mute for a week, I could not speak. I could not walk. I looked pathetic. She must have been ashamed of me. She told me she felt bad leaving me like this. She wanted to end it, because she felt bad that she became a burden to me. Huh, what a bullshit. It was obvious that I was a burden to her. I was the main reason of this whole break-up matter. What else? She has never done anything wrong. Being handicapped was my main sin. She left me, by saying it was all her fault, but rather I believed, that I was the main reason of all those rubbish.

I was daydreaming again and I bumped over a tiny little girl. The girl fell down,

“Ouch! Watch where you’re running!!! This is a public place; don’t just knock people anywhere you want!” She pouted. “Look what you have done to my notes!! Aish, neo jincha!”

I was about to say me deepest apology when I saw all her notes were scattered everywhere but when I saw the girl, I smiled. I felt at safe; the feeling that I had last night.

“Hey, I know this is a public place, I’m a public figure, I should go around in public and do some public performance so that people will look up to me. I’ll take care of all your notes.” I smiled at her while taking off the cap that I was wearing.

“Suuppee… The guy who sings well!” She shouted in a whispering manner. “What the heck are you doing running without your eyes?!”

“My eyes are perfectly fine. Only my ears are having some malfunction. And I don’t use contact lenses like you do. The blue ones look so surreal on you!”

“You better shut up and keep picking up my papers! I have my finals in 2 weeks you jerk! My invention is ruined and now you flew these notes all over Apgujong! You crazy man!”

“Hey, I didn’t mean it, okay? I was unlucky! You brought this unlucky curse to me since I saw you yesterday!”.

“Hello, Mr. Cho, you better stop saying about curses or I’ll jinx you in a while.”

“You try, fool – Hey… wait a second… Did you just call me by my first name?”

“Did I? WHEN DID I?!! I don’t even remember any of your members name!”

“Come on, I heard well you said Mr. Cho… You know ChaeRa, some girls are eyeing on me and some girls are jealous of you that I actually bended and help you picking these up,”.

“Come on ahjusshi, you have problems with your ears, you conceded before. And…” she looked at me while taking the thing I was picking up, “This is a leaf, you blind, this doesn’t even look like a sticky note!”

“You -!”

“Thank you Mr. Cho, see you again next time, I have to go now, have some discussion to attend!”

“Hey, wait!!! You forgot your…h-a-n-d-p-h-o-n-e~”

The handphone was in my hand. I kept it in my pocket.

———————————————-

“Miss J!!! You have to help me!” I shouted once I barged into her office.

“What is your problem?” Miss J gave me her unsympathetic smile.

“I can’t think straight. This is your friend’s right? Why must this in my hand now? Why am I holding it, even though I know I could stop her just now or at least throw this to her face?” I spoke like a kid.

“Are you forgetting something? The thing happened two years ago. You told me this story, kid. I know you would always have the grudge in you. You’re trying to let it go? Is this how you would react to your feelings? Come on kiddo, you know you have the principle. But liking my friend in just one night? She’s a weirdo. Are you sure?”

“I’m not saying that I like her, but what is happening to me?”

“It’s your problem young man. You fall in love, you solve it yourself. Be the man. She never meets any guy before, so, it’ll be hard on you. She doesn’t even watch romantic movies. She watches History Channel; for god’s sake I get pretty bored over her weird hobbies. And another thing you should know, nothing goes beyond her work. Work load comes first,”.

I was stunned, by all the sharp words given by Miss J. How did she know? I mean, I did not, I mean, how, I mean… urghh!! This is so annoying!!

“Hey, Miss J, thanks!”

“You go boy, count on me anytime. She’s a good friend, but I can’t promise you anything about the girl being a good woman,”.

—————————————————————————————————————-

Chapter 3

Donghae –hyung was in his room, silently playing with his guitar. Eeteuk-hyung was there too. He was lying on his bed, sleeping soundly. I approached Donghae-hyung (since I believe that he could understand me pretty well);

“Hyung!” I called him in a whispering manner.

“Oa, Kyuhyun-ah. Why are you here? No one wants to play with you?” Donghae was still tuning on his guitar.

“Hyung, how was it?”

“How was what?”

“You and …”

“Mwo? Me and what?”

“You and Haeyoung noona?”

Donghae-hyung gave out a laugh.

“Hahaha, what’s it with you to know? Do you really want to know? Or you just have nothing to do? You better practice your Mandarin or else Hankyung-hyung will poke you!”

“Aniya hyung, how does it feel when you first met Haeyoung noona?”

Donghae gave out a short sigh, and continued;

“I saw her, and my mind got stuck. That’s all. The whole day, the whole time, it got stuck when and where I met her for the really first time. It’s as if I have known her long before this. Why are you asking me this? Any problem you want to share?”

“Not here, hyung. We might wake Eeteuk-hyung up.” I said to excuse myself from talking.

“It’s okay. I’m already awake.” Eeteuk-hyung said while still lying on his white bed.

“Aniya, kwenchana hyung. I don’t have anything in store to tell you.”

“Eyyy. You’re telling us, or not? Or, you want to tell this to Youngwoon-hyung or Heechul hyung, pick!” Eeteuk hyung rose up to Donghae’s bed where we were both sitting.

“Seriously, there’s nothing to be talked or discussed. I just want to have a chat with Donghae-hyung, that’s all.”

“Haha, Hyukjae told me they caught you day dreaming these days. So, what is there to dream about?” Donghae-hyung was poking some fun toying me.

“I’m just having some good dreams.” I reply, subtly.

“You are going to get whacked! Yah! Tell us quickly!!!” Eeteuk-hyung seemed impatient.

“Aniya, hyung. I was just…”

“I think he likes someone!!!” Shindong suddenly appeared in the room.

“Yaaaahh~ Uri magnae~!!! DAEBAKIDA!!!!!!!” Eeteuk-hyung shouted.

This is going insane and beyond my ability. How else am I going to stop these mouths up? People think that it’s cool living with all of us, that it is just too funny to be living with these hyungs, but not until a secret like this leaks out. You will never get away from this.

“WHY? Is it a sin that I like someone?!” I shouted leaving the people in the room in doubt.

I know I upset them, but I never wanted them to know that I’m such a stupid when it comes to this. They would definitely be shocked by this. I don’t want them to know, just yet.

Eeteuk hyung is definitely a great person like he is now, making Daea all flustered in front of him. To begin with, Daea is a girl of a strong heart, scarred with past memory of love and had a tight-up closed heart for men. But, due to Eeteuk hyung’s charming personality, he got through the so-long-tightly-shut heart.

But not me, well at the moment, I haven’t put any effort to it, though. The girl is one in hundred millions. Seriously, how can I like an absolute chaos like her? Looking at her, the doom is just right next to her. Her messy hair, her weird expression, but her eyes seemed different. As if some kind of inspiration came stuck on me seeing the two big eyes. It’s unusual but it’s real.

———————————–

I was in my room, looking at Sungmin hyung playing with his guitar. I took out the hand phone, the phone that ChaeRa dropped, there were 20 missed calls. Those came from some unknown number. Maybe she found out her phone was not with her.

I was resting my head on the pillow when the phone vibrated. It is an unknown number. I was reluctant, whether to pick it up or not to. I decided to pick it up and I heard a familiar voice, crying over the other end.

“Please, please tell me you have my phone. I lost it! Please tell me you’re not stealing it or selling it away.” She cried.

“Hello, yes, as you wish, your phone is safe with me. I picked it up. Let’s meet up.”

“Is it okay for you to come out now because I really need to use the phone. A lot of my work load and meetings are in there. I’m asking you a big favor, would you please help me?” she begged.

“Yes, no worries, let’s meet.”

I have no worries and my body felt so light. I put on the jacket and went out of the dorm without telling anybody. Soon after when I arrived at the lift, the door opened. I was smiling and the other person in the lift was Donghae-hyung.

“Kyuhyun-ah, where are you going?”

“Oh, hyung. Aniya, I’m just taking some fresh late night spring air. Why are you out?”

“Haeyong just called, and Daea called Teuk-hyung saying both of them are accompanying a girl who lost her handphone nearby. They said that the one who took it might be a man, so they were afraid anything might happen so I’m coming down.”

“WHAT THE HECK??!!! Did… Did… Did she know the girl? The girl who lost the handphone? Haeyong noona and Daea knew who the girl is?” I was so panicked that my real feelings were coming out, obvious.

“No, they don’t know her. They were just passing by and saw the girl sitting under the tree, crying. They told me that the girl said that she needed to wait for someone from your dorm and that’s what I wonder now. I called Hyukjae and he said no one is going out. And you’re just out for some fresh air.”

“Seriously that girl was waiting outside hyung?”

“How shall I know? I’m still here in the elevator.”

My heart was racing, so fast that I could hardly breathe. I really wish that I could just go down a bit earlier. And…

Ting… “Lobby…”

“Sorry hyung, got to rush first!”

“Yah!!! Eodiganyaguuu??!!!!”

I ran as fast as I can. I don’t know why, but I really want to grab her and run away from other people’s view.

ChaeRa-ah, wait for me just a little more!

I couldn’t see clearly but my vision is all over the tiny little girl next to two good-looking ladies. Donghae-hyung was calling out my name from behind and I saw the guards putting his hands up to me. I knew some passer-by looking at me and the shouting Donghae-hyung, but all my vision cared was the girl with messy clothes and messy hair, pale looking face and stressed out facial expression. That girl is my need, that girl is all I’ve wanted.

I ran out of the lobby and saw her with Haeyong and Daea. I went straight to them and I saw Daea was talking to me but I ignored her, – walk through them, – grabbed the worried ChaeRa in my hands and – ran off.

———————————————————————————

Chapter 4

“Hey, hey, hey!!! I need to get my handphone back!!” She screamed.

“Could you just follow me without asking?!” I shouted at her.

“You, hideous, why am I tagging along with you, running at night?! I need to go there and get my phone….”

I handed it out. The phone.

“Nah, take it back. I’m sorry that I had it all day with me.”

She looked at me. Her eyes frowned.

“It was with you all along?”

“Yes, it was with me all these while.”

“And you made a fool of me?! All these while?!”

“No, I wasn’t! What’s the matter with you! You want it back right, now I’m giving it to you!”

“I was scolded by the guard. They asked me to wait outside when I said the number of your apartment. I wanted to stay inside because it’s warmer, but he dragged me out. If only I knew it was you, I should have just… waited outside…”she said, again, crying.

“No, you should wait inside, if you need to see me, just stay inside. Don’t worry of anything anymore.”

She was shivering, and I know I hated the scenes in those dramas, but you just can’t ignore the fact that you really need to be the gentleman. Thus, without thinking long, I took off the jacket and put it on her, so she could feel the warmth.

“You knew my name right?” I asked her.

“Cho…” she stuttered.

“Cho…?” I looked at her, deeply.

“Cho…”

There was a big silence between us.

“I am Cho Kyuhyun.” I told her handing my right hand out.

“I can’t remember what Cho you are, I always called you, ChoKyulate.”

Isn’t she funny? How can she tag my name as ChoKyulate?

“Out of all things, it’s chocolate that you crave for, huh?” I asked her.

“At least I love it.” She looked at me, smiling.

“Chocolate or ChoKyulate?”

“Both. Since I like your voice. I should give you some attention too.” She said looking out of my gaze.

“Seriously, you like my voice?”

“Jane asked me to listen to one of your songs, and I like you voice out of all. But, currently, I am SNSD Taeyeon’s number one fan.”

What? She puts me as the same as some other girls? Did she not see that I am a guy who likes her?

“Taeyeon? Kim Taeyeon?”

“Yes, I like her voice most. You’re second!”

“I am second, after Taeyeon? Are you sure?”

“Yes, I really am. Perhaps you need me to clarify why?”

I felt insecure. I did not want to listen to any of her compliments.

“No, no. Taeyeon is good. It’s okay.”

“I like her because…”

She stood up, jumping around here and there and did the Kissing You moves.

“Duuduuruduuduuduu… Kissing you baby…”

“Now, you even dance in front of me? What else should I see, of your true sides?” I spoke.

“What, is it wrong for me to dance of my favourite song? I like the song!!! Those girls are cute! I’ve told Jane that I want to be their friends, but Jane said she’s only in charge of Super Junior. The girls already have Tiffany and Jessica with good English. It was sad. I would definitely apply to be their English instructor!”

“You like SNSD more than us, Super Junior?”

“I don’t like to be as the same as other people. I dislike what majority like, and I like what majority dislike. Right now, most girls are fond of Super Junior, SS501, DBSK, Big Bang, but I’ll be the SNSD number one fan among girls! ChaeRa fighting!!!”

“You weird!”

“I am, I don’t mind people calling me weird because I want to have a life that I lead my own self. Do you want to tag along in my future plans?”

“What kind of future plans are you having in your mind?” I asked her.

“I want to build a school where all abandoned kids can gather and start teaching them some supreme adventure of science. If you want to tag along, I can build another building next to mine, teaching vocals and dances. Want to join me?” She asked putting some flowers she picked and gave them to me.

I always wonder if I live with someone in near future, it should be something that we care for. Our lives and our personalities should not match, but our hearts understand one another. She really knows what I want. What is she?

“You’re joking right? ChaeRa, how could you do all those without money?”

“What? Do you think I won’t have money!!!??? You don’t know who I am! I am Ha ChaeRa, ya! Ha ChaeRa!!”

I was laughing, seriously beyond my will, but I was laughing so hard that tears formed out of my eyes.

“ChaeRa-shii, do you know how you looked when you just said that? You looked like you are some big companies CEO’s daughter, a spoilt one, you are.”

“I never had any parents. So I don’t really know.” She said, smiling.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Nah, I’m used living without them. My grandparents raised me. Hey, it’s becoming late, aren’t you going back?”

“Oh, yeah! I have scheduled to go the first thing in the morning!”

“Good luck! You must have worked so hard that your skin is a bit… damaged~”

“It’s a sensitive subject to talk about, though! I hate thinking of these…” I touched my skin.

“Oh well, you better get going! I need to finish up some stuff here,” she pulled out her phone.

“Hey!” I called her.

“What?”

“I’ll give you a call when I’m bored.”

After saying that, I quickly walked my way to our dorm’s building. My heart is piled up with tonnes of emotion, but overall, I received satisfaction.

Soon later after I arrived, I opened the door walked through the living room and everyone was staring at me.