Stars

“Where is Cindy?” I ask my mum as I help her set up the table. “I thought she was with you. I called her and asked where you girls were. She said you were on your way home.” she shakes her head. “That girl is in big trouble.” The VIXX members are also setting up the table. What great manners. We sit on the big dining table; luckily my mum bought a big table for special occasions. We sit in silence, what are they waiting for? Dig in people! I’m hungry! My mum is the first to speak; “Are you boys going to eat?” “We always wait for the eldest of the house to start eating first; out of respect.” Replies Leo. I look at my food in guilt; so many times have I eaten without my mum starting. Does it mean I’m a disrespectful child? I look around the table, the six VIXX members are looking at my mum, probably waiting for her to start eating. She picks up her chopsticks. “Let’s eat.” She says.

I’ve never had this much fun eating dinner at home. Usually mum, Cindy and I just eat in silence, scoffing down the food and eager to get off the table. Ken is making jokes at the table, some of them are horrible jokes, but I laugh anyways because he laughs like a maniac at his own lame jokes. Occasionally, they would compliment my mum’s cooking. As we we’re eating my mum decides to ask, “So, what are you boys to my daughter?” The VIXX members stop eating and look at her, then at me. “Is it wrong for me to ask? The other day I saw you boys and today you have come over to eat. Now I’m not saying that I don’t like your company, but it’s just that I didn’t know Melinda had male friends.” “It’s as you said, we are her friends.” Replied N. “But you boys look so much older than her.” “Even me?” asks Hyuk, pointing to himself. “I’m only two years older than her.” “Well, you’re still older than her, and that worries me.” My mum sighs. This time, Leo decides to speak up, “I guarantee that she is safe with us madam.” “Madam?” said Ravi, his nose screwed. “I don’t think Melinda is Korean…” says Leo. “Yeah…. Did you guys think I was Korean?” I chuckle. “That’s why he didn’t say ajoomma.” Laughs Hongbin. “Pabo.” Ravi scratches the back of his neck, “It was an easy mistake. She’s really pretty OK?” then he looks up at me, blushes and instantly looks away. I feel my hands sweat. Ravi blushed when he looked at me….. then I hear my mum speak. “Wait a minute. So are you saying that just because she’s pretty, you think she’s Korean? Can’t Vietnamese people be pretty too?” “Of course they can.” Says N, frantically. “I can see where Melinda gets her looks from.” He says with a cute smile. “But of course!” says Ken. “Koreans are better looking, I’m the handsomest person in this room.” He jokes while playfully rubbing his face and trying to show off his handsomeness. We all laugh. Suddenly there is a knock at the front door. “I’ll get it.” I say. I open it, it’s the bus driver! “Oh my goodness I’m sorry we forgot you.” I turn my head over my shoulder. “Hey guys! You forgot the bus driver! He’s lonely!” I hear laughs from inside the house. “Come in and eat.” I say. I was just about to close the door behind him when I see Cindy walk up to the house. “Cee!” I say. “Where have you been? Mum has been so worried. And you’re in big ass trouble.” “Hey Mel.” She says, ignoring everything I told her. “Something smells good, hot pot? Also, why is there a bus in front of our house?” I close the door as she walks into the house. “Um…” I begin but she keeps talking. “Where did you get those clothes? Nice.” “Uh, thanks.” I say. “Hey mum are we eating hot pot….?” She walks into the dining room and sees 7 men eating with my mum. “Who are these people?” asks Cindy, crinkling her nose. I open my mouth to speak but Leo beats me to it. “We are her friends, and we are leaving.” The members of VIXX and the bus driver look at him. The bus driver makes a face which says ‘I just started eating’ and the other members make a face saying ‘we’re still eating’. I find it quite funny. Then Leo makes a face, which clearly says ‘we have to go because they have family business to take care of.’ The men finish what is in their bowls and put their dishes in the sink. They bow to my mum. “Thank you for the food. We ate well.” They chant. I follow them out the door and close it behind me. I can already hear my mum yelling at Cindy. “Today was fun.” I say looking at the ground. “Today was fun.” Says Leo. “Maybe we could come by again for dinner is you don’t mind…” I look up at him, the other VIXX members are standing beside him. The sunset glows over them and makes them look majestic. So picture perfect. The bus driver starts the bus and drives into my view frame. Now the picture is complete. The sunset glowing over the VIXX bus, the ROVIX stamped on the bus in the background, and then the handsome VIXX. I sigh and let my mind wander. “Melinda?” I hear Hyuk say. I snap back to reality. “Yes? Sorry?” “We’ll be going now.” He smiled so warmly, it could melt me. One by one they said goodbye to me, and for the first time, they hugged me willingly. It was pretty awkward at first, because Ken was the first one to hug me and I didn’t know what he was doing. With each hug, I could feel strong muscles wrap around me and their breath weave through my hair. Finally, it came to the hug I wanted most; Hyuk. He smiled before hugging me. He held me in his arms, “Good bye Melinda. I’ll pick you up after school tomorrow as well.” His voice made my insides flutter and his perfume makes my head spin. I want to hold onto him forever. But unfortunately he lets go and its Leo’s turn. “Hope I see you again Melinda.” He says as he hugs me. My head rests on his chest, just like the first time I hugged him. His heartbeat is racing in his chest and his breath made my ears tingle. The perfume he uses is different from Hyuk’s….. I don’t know how to explain it….but…… “See you next time girly.” Says Leo, he lets go of me and ruffles my hair before walking into the VIXX bus and driving off. I stare into the orange and pink sky. Why do I feel so out of breath? I touch my chest, my heart is beating fast. The door opens behind me. “Come. In. Now. I need both daughters to hear this.” Says my mum, her eyes dark. I swallow and walk in.

I slump back first on my bed in my room and sigh. It’s all Cindy’s fault. My mum is angry now and she lectured me as well. Something about, don’t get side tracked by boys or something. I wasn’t listening, I was too busy thinking about Leo and his hug. Somehow, it was different from the other hugs, made me feel different. An image of him flashes through my mind. His cold eyes, his red hair, his tall and strong build. I blush. Wait a minute…what is happening? Why am I getting flushed over Leo? Shouldn’t I get butterflies when Hyuk hugs me? Well…. I did….but….somehow I feel different. I quickly dismiss the thought when Cindy comes barging into my room without knocking. I lift my head to look at her as she sits down on my bed next to me. “Hey, ever heard of knocking Cee?” I say, rolling my eyes. “Shut up.” She says and slumps next to me, tummy first. We lay in silence because I don’t know if I am meant to say anything. “Where were you today? Mum was really worried.” I say. My sister shrugs. “I was out. I said it before when mum was yelling at us.” Now it’s my turn to shrug. I didn’t exactly pay attention while my mum was lecturing us, but of course I don’t say it out loud. “Who were those guys eating dinner at our house today?” Cindy asks. “My friends…” I say slowly. “You have friends?” Says Cindy. “As if you asked that!” I say as I nudge her arm. “Now get out. I can’t study while you’re’ here annoying me.” I say. Cindy sits up. “You’re not even studying.” She laughs. “Well, I’ll start when you get out.” She pokes her tongue at me as she closes the door. I get up to close the curtains of my room, but am distracted by the beautiful stars in the sky. There are so many. I wonder which there are more of; stars in the sky, or butterflies in my stomach every time I see Hyuk and Leo….. Leo? What? This is weird. I quickly shut the blinds. For some reason I think it’ll stop making me think of VIXX. I quickly change into my pajamas and brush my teeth, jump into bed and turn off the lights. “I’ll have a shower tomorrow morning.” I yawn to myself. Sure it’s only 8:30pm, but I like my sleep. I close me eyes and begin to drift off. I go to sleep with Leo’s scent in my hair.

Notes