Stars

Jeesun and VIXX are back when we leave the café. Jeesun is raging non-stop about the traffic she had to deal with. “Damn those idiot drivers. Do they not know the rules of the road? Do they not know that they are risking lives and being an inconvenience to everybody else?” She rubs the bridge of her nose with her index finger and thumb and sighs. “I have to pick up Jinho from kindergarten. Be back in a tick.” She throws her keys into the air and catches them before walking to her car. So now I am left with the VIXX members. “Did you wait long?” Hongbin asks Hyuk. “No, Melinda and I went to eat at Cameron’s.” he smiled cheekily. “You saw Cameron? How is he doing?” Says N excitedly. “He wants to catch up soon.” We sit down in the living room silently. I don’t know if the others are experiencing this awkwardness, but I don’t do well with awkwardness. I suck air into my lungs. “So, I guess I’ll go get my dry clothes. I need to get home by 5:00 every day now.” Leo stands up to direct me to the dry clothes. As we walk off I hear N speak. “Why didn’t you call us and tell us to meet you at Cameron’s?” “I left my cell phone in the dorms.” Replies Hyuk. N starts scolding him and lecturing him about why having a cell phone with you at all times is important. Leo guides me to Jeesun’s laundry room where my and Hyuk’s uniform are hung on a drying rack. “Jeesun unni is very nice.” I say while folding my clothes. “Yes she is. She is very gentle and very strong at the same time.” “What do you mean?” “Her husband left her after finding out Jinho had leukemia. She was really devastated when these two tragedies happened. She is still hurt by it now, but she wears a smile on her face like it doesn’t bother her.” My face drops and my heart sinks. “To think somebody as strong as her has gone through so much pain.” I whisper. “Oops, did I say that out loud?” Leo smiles and ruffles my hair before leaving the laundry room. The fast beating of my heart fills my ears. Was it Leo’s smile that made me fluster? Or the fact that he touched my hair? I grab Hyuk’s folded uniform and rush out of the laundry room. Jeesun is back with Jinho when I come out. I don’t think I can look at Jeesun the same after learning about her past. I hand Hyuk’s uniform to him and attempt to pick up Jinho. Again he rejects me and scrambles after his mother. “He is very attached to me. Today when I tried to drop him off at kinder he cried and wouldn’t let go of me.” She chuckles softly.

We wave to her as we walk out. I freeze as I see a black van parked in front of Jeesun’s house and stagger backwards. Hands grab my shoulders and instinctively I swing my fists around. Leo grabs both of my wrists in one hand and the other hand he uses to support my neck as he dips me backward like the ballroom dance move to calm me down. I look at his face and breathe heavily. “The black van…” I stammer. “Calm down, that’s our van.” He says soothingly. “The VIXX bus was drawing too much attention so we decided to travel in our van.” He says as he pulls me into a standing position. Ken opens the door to the driver’s seat and starts the engine. I exhale in relief. I hop into the van with the idols and they drive me home.

“You’re spending quite a lot of time with those older boys Melinda.” My mum says with a worried look on her face. I exchange a glance with Cindy, I finish chewing what is in my mouth before answering. “What do you mean? Why are you so worried?” “Well, they’re older and they are boys. I can’t stop worried about the mischief you might be getting into.” I almost spit out my food. “Are you saying you think I’m doing…..that?! Mum!” “I don’t want you hanging out with a bad crowd.” She scolds. “I don’t want something to happen to you.” I don’t know how to respond, so I continue to eat my dinner in silence.

Cindy follows me into my room after dinner. “What do you want?” I ask. “I need to ask you something.” She says. We sit on my bed. “So……” I start. “Are you doing bad things with those guys?” she asks. “Define what you mean by bad!” I say defensively. “Sex, drugs, clubs, gangs…” “Stop! I’m not doing any of those things!” I shout. “Did mum tell you to ask me?” “No. I’m worried about you. I don’t want you going down the wrong path in your life.” She says. “But Cee, you’re so contradictory. You tell me not to hang out afterschool with friends but you’re doing it.” Cindy’s face turns red. “OMG HAVE YOU DONE IT WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND???” I shout. She uses her palm to cover my mouth and she pushes me down. “No I haven’t.” she whispers. “Don’t say such nonsense so loud.” She sighs. “I guess I have to tell you my secret.” She gets off of me and I sit up. Curiosity spinning inside me. “I used to get home late because I was studying at the library with a friend of mine.” My eyes bulge. “You. Studying?” I almost laugh. “That’s why I don’t want to tell anyone. They don’t understand and will laugh at me. The person I study with isn’t the best looking or the most popular guy OK? But he’s really smart and I want to be a doctor just like dad. Mum always says that you’re the smart one and that you will be the doctor. It hurts.” A tear reluctantly rolled down Cindy’s cheek. I sit closer to her and allow her to cry against my chest. “Sometimes I wish you would be more open to me. Not necessarily mum because she isn’t very understanding. But I’m your sister, and you should be able to talk to me.” I say. She nods into my chest. I chuckle. “And sometimes, I wish you weren’t such a cry baby. You’re meant to be the older sister.”

Notes