A Long Night...

"Mother, you and Aunty will sleep in our room." Mia's Mother was planning the sleeping arrangements. "Honey, you sleep with the boys in Jun's room. And I will sleep with my girls!" She said smiling.

""I'll take out the extra mattresses." Father said and started to walk towards his room.

"I'll help you uncle." Jun said, following him.

"I can also help." Ray said.

"Oh no child!" Nana said.

"You are a guest in the house and we don't let our guests do any work." Grandma said.

"Aunty is right" Mother nodded. "You just sit back and wait."

"But—"

As they were talking, Jun and Mia's father came out from the room with the mattresses in their arms.

As they turned towards the stairs, Ray hurriedly went towards Father and said, "Sir, give it to me. I'll take it upstairs."

"No—" Before father could complete his sentence, Ray had taken the mattress from his hands.

"Don't worry uncle, we will take care of this." And saying that Ray went up the stairs with Jun.

Father came to the living room, "You know what…" He said to mother, "I think, that guy, Ray…is not that bad…"

~

"Go to the next room." Jun said to Ray who was walking ahead of him. "We'll put these two in my room."

Both entered Jun's room and kept the mattresses down. Jun opened them and arranged them properly.

"We'll make uncle sleep on the bed." He said. "You don't have any problem, sleeping on the floor, right?

"Oh come on, buddy." Ray said. "You don't act like others now."

"…"

"You know I'm the same Ray from 2 years back, right?"

"…."

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"No, it's not like that…" Jun said as he went towards the window and looked outside. "I just feel like…."

"….What is it Jun? Is something bothering you?" Ray asked as he went and stood beside him.

"I don't deserve you two…" He said with a low voice as his eyes started to tear up.

"What are you saying bud?" Ray kept his hand on Jun's back.

"You and Mia….I mean I did that to you too and…"

"Listen Jun…"

"…."

"I know what you did was wrong. When I got your call two weeks back, telling me all this, I admit that I was really angry with you…"

"…."

"But then I thought about it….and after all the thinking, I decided to come back here.

Though I was angry with you and no more wanted to talk with you, I was still relieved that even though after 2 years, you confessed it to both of us."

"…."

"Agreeing to your mistakes is a very huge thing. And I know as much as hard these two years were hard for me and Mia, they were for you too…."

On this Jun looked at his friend.

"I know you Jun. I know how you are and I'm sure for these two years you must have kept yourself under this huge rock of guilt.

Listen Jun, now everything is fine within me and Mia. See? We are together already. So please stop being like this. Rather than me, Mia wants her old Jun back. The way you act must be bothering her."

"….Yeah I know…." Jun said to himself.

"So?"

"…Yeah I'll try my best to be like before…."

"….Please do….I also miss my old bud…"

"…"

"…"

No one said anything and they kept staring out from the window.

"You know what?" Jun said. "When you say such things to me…...it feels lame!"

"Hahahaha!!!" Ray burst out laughing. "I also thought that when I said that…."

"Hehe!!" Jun laughed.

"But what to do, I'm a stupid and sensitive guy who says such lame things! And you are the best friend of mine so same goes to you."

And then both of them kept laughing.

~

Mia was lying down on the mattress as she was thinking about her day.

It sure was a long one.

As some incidents made her sad, some had made her smile and laugh too. It was a whole roller coaster.

The things which happened at the dinner, the things which Ray said made her smile again.

But, she realized something, 'When Jina asked him about the kiss he denied…it's true that we haven't kissed now, but we have in the past….Has he forgotten about it? Oh he wouldn't....And besides, who tells a girl's father that he had kissed her….That would be the worst….'

She turned to the other side and saw Jina sleeping on the bed.

'But this girl….What is wrong with her? Who asks such a stupid question in front of everyone….I need to talk with her about this….'

As she was thinking, her thoughts took her to her schooldays, 'It's been months I haven't met anyone….I miss them….'

The memories of her friends, her school, her best and the worst times, the last two years, the last months…everything.

'The last few months have been the craziest…'

Then the things she talk with Jun, in the evening 'Oh Juna….I'm worried about you…'

She turned to the other side and closed her eyes, opened again.

Thoughts of Jun were not leaving her mind.

She was trying to sleep but couldn't.

She took her phone in her hands and looked at the time, 'It's almost two in the morning? Why can't I sleep….?'

After struggling for half an hour, she finally got up, 'I can't sleep…'

Standing up, she looked at her mother and Jina, both were sound asleep.

'Huhhhh…' She sighed to herself as she walked towards the door silently and carefully opened the door, making the least sound possible.

She stepped out and went towards the stairs. 'I think I'll drink some hot milk, it might help to sleep…'

As she was climbing down, she realized the lights of the kitchen were on. 'Heh? Did mother forget to put them off?' She thought.

But then, she heard some sounds coming from the kitchen, 'Huh? Who's up at this hour?'

She came to the hallway and looked at the room where Grandma and Nana were sleeping. 'The door is closed…Then who's in the kitchen now?'

As she entered the kitchen she saw a figure at the counter doing something.

"Jun?"

"!!!" He turned back a little startled. "Ohh…It's you…" He said as he removed his hand from his fast beating heart.

"Why? Did I scare you?" She chuckled.

"You? Scared me? Oh please…" He said and went back to what he was doing.

"Admit it, scaredy cat!" She said leaning to the wall.

Ignoring to what she was saying he asked, "Why didn't you sleep yet?"

"That's what I was going to ask you!"

"I couldn't sleep…" He said.

"Me too. So I thought of drinking something hot…"

"Then you will like this for sure!" He smiled to himself.

"What are you making? Let me see!!" She walked towards him excitedly.

"Keep it down, you idiot!" He said annoyed. "You'll wake everyone up!"

"Oops!" She bit her tongue. "I'm sorry." She whispered as she carefully stood on her toes and tried to look what he was making over his shoulders.

But she couldn't see. "Show me…" She whispered in his ear.

That cold air made is whole body shiver, "What the hell are you doing?" He turned back.

"What? What did I do?"

"Don't whisper in my ear you idiot. It's ticklish!"

"Oh…"She stepped back. "I'm sorry…"

"Just wait a second…" And then he turned back with two cups in his hands.

"Wow!! Hot Chocolate!!!"

"Yep!" He smiled.

"With marshmallows?"

"Yes! With marshmallows!"

She clapped excitedly but still being careful that she's not too loud. "You are the best Junaa!! Love you!!" She exclaimed, took one of the cups from his hands and started walking towards the door.

As she realized he was not following her, she turned back and found him still standing in the same place, spaced out.

"Juna? Junaaa?" She whispered hard. Coming back to his senses he looked at her. "What are you doing there? Let's go to the living room."

"…Umm…Yeah…."

Mia walked further and after staying there for a second Jun also followed her.

He entered the living room and saw Mia sitting at the window about to take a sip of her hot chocolate.

"Be careful.." He said. "It's too hot.."

"Yeah…"

Charlie was sleeping on his little bed near the Christmas tree. As Jun walked passed him, he opened on of his eyes, saw it was Jun and then closed it again.

Jun went and sat beside Mia at the window.

Couple of minutes passed, no one said anything, they kept drinking and enjoying the Hot chocolate.

"So…"Jun spoke up first. "You two are going tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah…we are. When are you coming back to Seoul?" Mia asked.

"I'm also thinking of going back tomorrow."

"Then why don't you come with us?"

"No. No." He denied right away. "I can't come with you. I don't wanna bother you two."

"What are you saying? You crazy? You are not bothering anyone."

"But—"

"I don't wanna hear anything, you are coming tomorrow with us and it's decided!"

"B—"

"Shh! I said, it's decided. I don't want any excuses."

"…." He went silent.

"So…Junaa…"Mia said. "You are not angry with me that I didn't tell you about me and Ray, right?"

"I told you already. I'm not mad at anyone."

"I know. But I just wanted to ask again. It felt weird….But I swear I was going to tell you, way before this and very calmly and not like this…."

"I know…I know…Why are you telling me this again? I know Mia and please stop worrying about this. About how I feel."

"How can I stop you idiot? You are my bestf—"

"I know. But I'm absolutely fine with all this. So just stop worrying about me and focus on the more important things of your life."

"You are also one of them, Jun."

"Huhhhh…Listen Mia, I'm always there. I'll always be there for you whenever you need me. I'm not going anywhere. Got it?"

"…"

"So stop worrying about me. And think about other things like your career, your love life…Which things are still developing, growing and need you attention."

"….."

"Are you getting what I'm saying?"

"…Yeah. So you won't leave me, right?"

"No, you silly. I'm not leaving you anywhere. You like it or not, you are stuck with me!"

She looked up at him, her eyes a little moist.

"Since the day I met you….My bad luck has been sitting on my back like a ghost…And that infortune is keeping us together!" He tightly closed his lips, trying to control his laugh.

"You!" She slapped on his shoulder. "Mean guy. I was about to think that you are talking so sweetly with me….And there you go, ruining the moment!"

"Haha…What do you think that I'll talk that nicely to you? Never!"

"Very funny! We'll see. Who laughs on whom in the future."

"Yeah, why not?" He shrugged his shoulder.

"…"

"…"

"Mia…there is one thing that I also had to tell you…" He said.

"Yeah?"

"You remember the night, when you came to pick me up because I was drunk?"

"Yeah. What about that?"

"I actually don't drink that much. But that day, it was a special day…."

"Oh yeah…I remember, your friend told me that it was some kind of a celebration, but he didn't tell me what? He said it will be better if you tell me…"

"Yeah that thing…."

"….So?"

"Well, actually….I got the contract!!!"

"What?!!" She quickly kept her hands on her mouth who just had let out a little scream.

"Shhhh!!!" He facepalmed.

Both of them stayed silent, to hear if anyone got up because of that sound.

But no one had.

"Pheww!!!"

"Why do you shout you idiot?" Jun said.

"Then why did you tell me this awesome, scream- worthy news at this hour?"

"….Well…I didn't get to talk to you after that incident at all…"

"Yeah…"

"And I wanted to tell you in person…So I was waiting for the right time…"

"….I'm sorry that I screamed…I couldn't contain myself…Hehe…" She smiled goofily.

"So? Tell me all about it!"

"There is nothing to tell. We trained for more than two years now. Every day we worked hard to sharpen our skills, singing, dancing, learning other languages if we are gonna debut in those countries…"

"That's so cool!!!"

"Well…."

"So, you said you got the contract, does that mean you are gonna debut soon?" Her eyes twinkled in excitement.

"Umm…I got the contract, but I haven't signed it yet. That's gonna happen next month…"

"Ohh…"

"And then after that…We'll debut….in around 5-6 months…"

"We?"

"Yeah, it's a group. I'll probably be Main Vocal. I'm not sure about it yet though…"

"Wow…That's so cool Juna….I can't wait to see you on the stage…"

"Hehe…I don't know if I'm excited like you or a little bit scared…"

"What are you saying? You are awesome! You don't have to be scared."

"….I don't know…."

"You know what….Stop thinking about it…And we need to celebrate this moment!" She jumped and got up.

"Celebrate?"

"Yes!"

"Now? Here?"

"Yes absolutely!"

He just looked at her with his eyebrows raised as of telling, 'Are you crazy?'

"I know what you are thinking. But I'm not crazy. I'm damn sure about this!" She came to him and grabbing his hands, made him stand up.

"Okay. Okay. What do you wanna do?"

"Lets' dance!"

"What?? Now you are gone completely crazy!"

"Noo…I'm just asking for one dance…"

"I'm not dancing with you!"

"Oh please…" She tried to act cute.

"Don't try that trick on me. I'm not falling for your stupid face!" He growled.

"Please Juna…Just this time…"

"…."

"Ha? Please?"

"….Okay….." He said in a low voice.

"Yes!" She exclaimed. "Now….Do you remember that song on which we used to dance as kids?"

"What? Which so—" As he realized what she was talking about, he quickly backed and said, "No no no. I'm not dancing on that!"

"But we used to dance on it a lot when we were—"

"In 4th grade!!!" He said coldly. "I'm not dancing. Nope. Not at all."

"Oh come on Juna…We used to dance on it whenever we were happy! We are happy now! So can't we dance?"

"I don't even remember the song." He made an excuse.

"I do!" She said right away.

"I don't remember the dance."

"I do! Just follow me!"

"You'll wake others up!"

"No I won't. I'll be careful." She smiled as she was winning over him.

"Ughhh….I don't know how I get involved in these things with you!"

"You answered to it already. You are stuck with me Doh Jun!"

He rolled his eyes.

She went into the center, in front of the sofa, "Now I'll start. You just watch and follow me, okay?"

He breathed out loud and stood beside her.

"3 2 1 Go,

Put your both hands up,

Like a monkey climbing up the tree.

Flip Flip Flip your flipper,

You are whale, the king of the sea…"

At first Jun hesitated but soon the song got into him and he was dancing on his own. Mia was smiling and having fun while dancing.

"Raise you fluffy tail,

Lick your paws.

A cat is happy when

She sings Meows and Maws.

Move your hip

To the left and right

Dance like an elephant

With all your might." Jun was now also enjoying it as the jumping and moving hips steps of the songs, couldn't help him contain himself.

"Haha!!!" Both laughed loud.

"We dance when we are very happy

What will you guys do?

An otter stood up and said,

I'd hug you!!!"

And with the end of the songs, just like it was supposed to be, Mia and Jun were hugging tight like otters but still laughing hard and catching their breaths.

"Haha…" Laughing like that both of them collapsed on the sofa.

"Oh god!! Haha!!"

"It was super fun!!" Mia said happily.

"…Well, I can't deny that…" He said.

"I told you!"

"Yeah. Yeah. You were right…."

"It's fun to be stupid sometimes!"

"Not for you though. You are always stupid!" He said laughing.

"Ahem! Ahem!" A sound coming from the living room door, made both of them look over the sofa.

And there was standing everyone in the house!

Nana, Grandma, Mia's father, mother, Jina and Ray too!

"What are you two doing?" Mother asked annoyingly.

"It's past 3 in the morning!" Father said rubbing his eyes.

"..." Mia and Jun both went silent and looked down being ashamed.

"These two had gone crazy. I already warned you guys!" Jina smiled from the back.

"You two were dancing?" Nana asked.

"And that too, without me?" Grandma said, on which everyone else looked at her.

"Hehe…I'm just joking." She said "What I meant to say is it's too late now. Just don't get much mad on them and send them back to sleep. I know they must be feeling sorry. Right, Jun and Mia?"

"…We are sorry.." Both of them said together.

"Now go back to bed!" Mother said.

"Yeah. You have to get up early too." Father said.

"Yes, father." Mia said and both of them started walking towards the door as others went to their respective rooms.

Ray who was standing in the back, couldn't help but smile on this situation.

~