Cheng-The Inner Fangirl

It was almost 3 am and yet, sleep evaded me. I picked up my guitar from the floor and sat on the couch at my living room, trying to string a tune. But my mind wandered back to what Mia told me earlier...

'I never got married to him.'

Mia's words constantly echoed in my mind. She was never married to Deen's father? Did he leave after impregnating her? But then why did she say he only abandoned his child? If he abandoned his son, then he obviously left Mia as well. Why did Mia say he only abandoned Deen?

My head was spinning. I tossed the guitar aside and got up to grab a drink from the refrigerator. As I poured some soju into the glass, my phone rang. It was Manager Ahn.

'Hello, Manager Ahn,' I greeted. 'Why're you calling this late at night?'

'Cheng, I've got some bad news,' he said grimly. 'The child model you were supposed to shoot with tomorrow caught chicken pox. He won't be able to shoot. We're trying to find a replacement but we won't be able to get someone at this short notice. We might have to cancel the shoot.'

A sudden idea struck me. 'No wait!' I exclaimed. 'I know someone who can replace the child model.'

'Who?'

'Mia's kid, Deen. Tell her to bring Deen to the office tomorrow,' I ordered. 'He can bring his schoolwork and finish them on set. We'll even pay him the same amount we were supposed to pay the other model.'

What if Mia refuses?' Manager Ahn asked, confused.

'Beg her if you have to,' I told him. 'But get him to the set tomorrow.'

Manager Ahn let out an inaudible grumble and hung up. I leaned over the dining table, with the drink in my hand and contemplated Mia's words again. It was time to talk directly with Deen himself.

'Are you sure you want Deen to model for you?' Mia asked uncertainly. She was skeptical of making Deen the model for today's shoot.

'Relax,' I assured her. 'He's a natural. Just look at him being pampered by all the ladies.'

I pointed at Deen, who was sitting a few meters away, surrounded by all the female staff members. They were gushing over him and the kid was enjoying the attention.

'Deen, what do you learn nowadays at school?' Shi-Na, our makeup artist asked him.

'I can do multiplications now!' Deen chatted excitedly.

'Aww,' the women around him gushed.

'He's just so cute,' Mina noona pinched his cheek playfully.

'See?' I turned to Mia. 'He's a natural.'

'Still...' Mia hesitated. 'I think I should go with you guys.'

'You have to go with Soo-Yon hyung for his schedule,' I ordered her sternly. 'Deen will be fine. All of us will be there, looking after him.'

'Fine!' Mia agreed. 'Just make sure he doesn't fall into any trouble. Look after him alright?'

'I will,' I rolled my eyes. 'Stop nagging, woman!'

Mia gave me a stern look which reminded me of my own mom. I prayed to Buddha, hoping those two would never meet.

'Aye aye, captain,' I obeyed. Mia shook her head and called Deen over. The little kid sprinted towards his mother.

'You'd better behave,' she told him. 'Do not be stubborn and listen to the staff. Alright?'

'I know,' Deen said, exasperatedly.

'And don't wander off!'

'Alright!'

Mia bit her lip and turned to me. 'I'm handing him to you for today,' she said with genuine sincerity and also a hint of fear. 'Please take care of him.'

'He'll be fine,' I assured her. 'We'll have a great time. Won't we Deen?'

'Yeah!' he exclaimed and I gave him a hi5.

'Let's go!' I declared, picking him up on my shoulders. Mia giggled in spite of herself. Deen squealed in delight as I carried him off.

'Take care!' Mia waved at us. We waved back and got into our tour bus.

'Tell you what. If we finish off the shoot early, we'll go to the amusement park,' I suggested. 'What do you think?'

'Yaiii!' Deen cheered. 'Let's go then, ahjusshi.'

'Ahjusshi?' I gasped. 'No no. You don't get to call me Ahjusshi!'

'Then what should I address you as?'

'Call me Cheng hyung,' I announced proudly. 'I'm the same age as your mother ya know. We're not even out of our twenties yet!'

'Won't that be weird?' Deen frowned. 'Mee used to call address you guys as Oppa or Darlings back in our country. She's only using honorifics here coz she's working with you. Otherwise the crazy fangirl was always going Oppa Oppa all day.'

This new information threw me into a laughing fit. I laughed so hard that my stomach began to hurt.

'Ahhh, I have so many things to learn about your mother today,' I managed to choke out.

Deen gave a mischievous smile. 'I have plenty of stories,' he said in an evil tone. 'Take me to the amusement park and I'll spill everything about her inner fangirl.'

This is gonna be a wonderful day, I mused.