Those Boys Gave Me 18 Roses - Chapter 11 ? 9th Rose
DRUMMING HIS FINGERTIPS ON THE TABLE, Baek Hyeon stared at his date who’s now babbling things he doesn’t give a single fuck. He was set in a blind date with his Abeoji’s investor’s daughter. In all honesty, he didn’t want to attend these dates his dad is setting him up to. He usually ditch these because first, he’s not interested in girls and second, blind dates are such a pain on the neck and a waste of time.
He was actually want to ditch this date but he got cornered by his dad after their business meeting so he was forced to have a date with this girl who looked like a goddamn Barbie doll who applied so much foundation and makeup on her face.
What the fuck.
“I was really happy to spend time with you today before heading back to Japan,” his date giggled. “This day is so special because I get to spend my time with the great Yoon Baek Hyeon.”
Baek Hyeon’s eyes settled on the white roses in front of him.
‘This day’ he almost forgot the date today.
“I’ll be honest with you, Baek Hyeon-kun, when my dad said that I’m going to meet you today, I was so, so happy! I’ve known you through magazines, newspapers, in the news and by your dad’s stories with my dad. I know this is too quick for the both of us but I, I really, really like you, Yoon Baek Hyeon,” the girl smiled warmly at him. “That’s why I am so happy when I got a date from you since there are rumors that you’re not interested in girls. I felt so special.”
“Oh, don’t be,” he said casually, making the girl paused.
“What?”
“Yamada Matsuri-san,” his eyes finally settled on his date. “In all honesty, being with you here is such a waste of time and a pain on my neck.”
(Like Korean names, Japanese names also starts with their surnames before their given names. -San is an affix to call someone’s name in formality. This is usually used in girls or addressing someone in mister, miss or Mrs. -Kun is an affix used for boys.)
“*Na-Nani? What did you just say?” the girl named Matsuri asked, flabbergasted. (*Japanese word for what.)
“This date is such a waste of my time. Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is not a romantic blind date that you expect it to be. Your family’s company wants to have a partnership with our company that’s why they set us here. This is just pure business,” he said nonchalantly. “And to all the girls I’ve met in these kind of dates, you’re the worst one. You talk too much, you’re clingy, your cutesy voice is annoying the shit out of me, you’re noisy and your face you applied too much makeup and I almost mistaken you as a clown. And you’re also like those girls I’ve met, you’re just after my money and my dick.”
“*Nan’te ittano?!” offended, the girl’s eyes widen and she abruptly stood up as she held the glass of water and about to splash it on Baek Hyeon’s face. “*Konoyar” (*What did you just say?) (*You jerk)
“*Watashiga anatanara son’na kotowa shimasen’yo, Matsuri-san,” Baek Hyeon gave her a smug face. “You’ll not gonna dare splash that water on me unless you want to see your company crumble down to failure.” (*If I were you, I will not gonna do that, Matsuri.)
The Japanese girl breathe deeply to calm herself and drank the water instead.
‘Let’s end this bullshit.’
Baek Hyeon stood up and fished out his wallet and threw some money on the table and left the girl without a word from the fancy 5-star restaurant they’re in.
This will be the last shitty blind date.
His phone is ringing when he got out of the restaurant, ignoring the yelling of his blind date. He quickly fished out his phone and answered it. “Kim.”
“Hey man, finally you answered the phone. You’re so busy on Saturdays, huh?” Jeong Suk chuckled on the other line.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“Ouch, so cold. You’re really indeed the freaking untouchable king,” Jeong Suk singsongs. “Kidding aside, I just wanna ask you if you can come here in my office? The franchise is already set. I want you to take a look of it.”
“Can’t. I have to go somewhere. Let’s just have it tomorrow,” the former responded.
“Hmm. Okay. I’ll set an appointment for you then,” Jeong Suk hummed.
“Mm, babe, are you done? I want your attention here now.”
“Okay, babe. In a minute.”
“Me too, hon. Give me your attention too.”
“Okay, I’ll give you two a kiss.”
Baek Hyeon couldn’t help but cringed and pursed his lips into thin line when he heard the smooches, sloppy kisses and moans on the other line. Since he’s not his business listening to Jeong Suk making out with several women and he’s not fond of asking permission or saying goodbye, he hung up and walked towards his car.
When the driver saw him walking towards the car, the latter walked towards him and put his black overcoat over his shoulder before opening the backseat for him.
When Baek Hyeon is already settled on the backseat, the driver closed the car’s door and turned to the driver’s seat. He, then, looked at Baek Hyeon on the rearview mirror.
“Where do you wanna go now, Young Master?”
“Let’s go Bucheon first before going back to the office,” he answered.
The driver nodded and drove the car away.
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for visiting.
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Only the echo of the door creaking can be heard when Baek Hyeon opened the door of this empty house in Bucheon. It’s been two years since he came here. He roamed his eyes and couldn’t help but feel nostalgic as the memories of the past is coming back to him.
This house once had its warmth but after what happened, it already lost its warmth
This place is too cold. But for some reasons, he could still feel the comfort in this house.
Maybe because this house belongs to her.
Baek Hyeon sashayed his way to the old grand piano in the living room of the said house. He couldn’t help but flaunt a tiny smile as he opened the cover of the piano’s keyboard. This house was already abandoned and the owners actually wanted to sell the property to someone but Baek Hyeon bought it for himself when he’s still in his 10th Grade and hired house caregivers to maintain the cleanliness and structure of this house.
This house brings so much memories of her. He couldn’t afford to lose it. This is the only thing he had from her.
Baek Hyeon sat in front of the piano silently. Feeling nostalgic, he started playing a familiar song inside his head. At first, he was just playing it with the melody alone but seconds later, he found himself singing, filling the silent, empty cold house with his voice and the tune from the piano.
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Hooh~ wooh ooh ooh~ hooh hooh~
Remember, when things were hard
I always turned your tears into smiles
Don’t cry in places without me, don’t cry
Because you always had a lot of tears
It’s my turn to cry, I’ll cry now wooh woah~
I’ll take all of your tears
It’s my turn to cry, give them to me
Even those tears, this time~
This time
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When the song ended, his hands were still on the piano keys but not entirely touching these. He pondered a few seconds before breaking a sad, longing smile.
“Happy Birthday”
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Baek Hyeon was pondering if he’ll go to his Abeoji’s office or just stay in his condominium unit in Gangnam until tomorrow. He stared at the blue sky from the tinted window of his Bugatti Galibier. He felt melancholic that he couldn’t help but sigh.
He just don’t wanna see any person today. He wants to be alone, just for today.
“Young Master, where do you want to go?” his driver asked him while waiting for the red light to turn green.
He looked at his driver. “Gangnam. I’m staying in my condo until tomorrow.”
“You’ll not gonna meet Yoon-sajangnim today?” (*’sajang’ means chairman or president. -Nim is an affix for formality. Can be used as ‘mr.’, ‘miss’ and ‘mrs.’)
“No.”
The driver nodded and a pregnant silence enveloped them once again.
He turned his attention to the window again and he involuntarily gasped when he saw a girl looking at the tinted window of his car, fixing her hair and helmet while riding on the bicycle.
He blinked few times when he finally recognized the girl’s face.
“Song Jin Hee?” he couldn’t help but mutter.
Since it’s tinted, Jin Hee is not aware who’s inside the car as she kept on looking at her reflection on the tinted window.
“I should look pleasant even if I’m just going to the mall and buy some suppliesOh! And books too! I hope I could get Lee Ki Joo’s The Temperature of Language today. They said it got sold out because a certain member of a popular boy group recommended it to his fans. What’s his name again? Kim Jongdae? Chen of EXO?” he saw her muttering something while fixing her braids but it’s muffled and he couldn’t hear it clearly.
But all he could say is she looked so happy.
Unconsciously, he raised his hand and touched the window while looking at her face.
It seemed like she already finished fixing her hair because she already stopped. He kept on watching her making funny facial expression on her face until she poked the both side of her lips and pulled it upward.
“Smile!” he could read the word on her thin lips as her eyes crinkled and turned into crescents.
He couldn’t help but smile behind the tinted window.
It seemed like the traffic already eased up and Jin Hee drove her bicycle away as Baek Hyeon followed his gaze on her.
He couldn’t wipe the small but endearing smile on his face.
‘You really are something, Song Jin Hee.’
