Final Lift Off

(A Foxi Fanfic for To The Beautiful You)
(credit to all online providers of the beautiful pictures & gifs)

“Think of your girlfriend or the person you love. It'll give that extra inch that you need,” Tae Joon advised.

“I thought you told me to sing?” Hyun Jae turned to ask.

The two boys were having an extra practice time by themselves, with the Coach already left for the day.

“Sing as you run but at the final lift off, think of her,” Tae Joon explained with a smile.

Hyun Jae looked at Tae Joon skeptically, but none the less, tried the psychological tip. After all, Tae Joon has been jumping magnificently lately.

“Ok, here goes nothing,” Hyun Jae shook his head at the beginning of his run.

Mumbling under his breath, Hyun Jae started his run “Twinkle, twinkle, little star….how I wonder what you are (in a rushed manner). Pigtails, I love you!” and over and up he went.

After a silent moment, both boys looked up at the still intact bar set at 2m 30 cm, and did a loud whoop!

Thinking it was just a fluke, Hyun Jae tried two more jumps and both were successful.

After Tae Joon had his extra jumps as well, the boys decided to call it quits for the night and started to pack up.

----

(Later)
“Ya, Kang Tae Joon. Are you gay?” Hyun Jae asked.

Tae Joon sputtered the water that was already in his mouth out. The two buddies have finished their training and were resting with their respective water bottles at the side of the gym; their equipment already put away neatly in the supply room.

If looks could kill, that was the look that Tae Joon gave Hyun Jae.

“Do I look gay to you?” Tae Joon asked in a deadly voice.

“No,” Hyun Jae shook his head calmly. “Not really. That was why I asked.”

Tae Joon looked at him like had two extra ears coming. 

“So, why ask?”

“Cos I see the way you look at Goo Jae Hee,” Hyun Jae replied.

Tae Joon lifted his eye brows in question, prompting an explanation from Hyun Jae.

“I know that kid Cha Eun Gyul is confused and think he is gay, right now. But you, I am not sure,” Hyu Jae supplied the answer.

Tae Joon snorted, not really sure where this conversation is going.

Lucky for him, Hyun Jae continued. “But if Eun Gyul look at Jae Hee like a love sick puppy…. you look at Goo Jae Hee like a possessive husband,” he laughed.

“You're sure in a talkative mood today, aren't you? And what is the point to all this, may I ask?” Tae Joon shook his head in wonder.

“Well, my point is that, you definitely do not strike me as someone who swings that way,” Hyun Jae said while wiping his sweat with a towel.

“And despite Goo Jae Hee being a pretty boy and all, I don't think you'd go all possessive towards the boy that way. Unless, maybe you are very good at hiding your preferences?” Hyun Jae cocked his head in question.

“Do you want to die?” Again the quiet deadly stare from Tae Joon.

“Ani Ani,” Hyun Jae laughed waving his hands in defense.

“Or perhaps, Goo Jae Hee is not a boy at all?” Hyun Jae asked slowly, with his turned at raising the eye brows.

Tae Joon stiffened at Hyun Jae's words.

Attuned to Tae Joon's tenseness, Hyun Jae smiled and nonchalantly said, "Cos, seriously, Goo Jae Hee can be so effeminate sometimes, that she rivals  even Song Jong Min.”

Silence.

“But I want you to know... that if rumours ever get out that pretty boy Jae hee is just plain pretty and not a boy at all ...... it won't come from me.” Hyun Jae’s earlier smile subtlety changed to a solemn declaration.

It was clear that Hyun Jae knew the secret and it was also clear that he meant to keep it.

Tae Joon stared at his rival cum new found friend a long time and the tried to dismiss the conversation with a snort.

“No wonder you always miss your jumps. You have too many useless trivia in your head,” Tae Joon said.

Hyun Jae simply smiled, not wanting to pursue the conversation, quietly his folding his towels and other paraphernalia. His hunch was proven right by his friend’s denial.

Still, he could not resist.

“So, before Goo Jae Hee, who was the woman you love that you jumped for?” asked Hyun Jae.

“I jumped for my omma,” Tae Joon smiled and immediately mentally knocked his forehead, realizing his mistake.

“Gotcha!” Hyun Jae chuckled in triumph.

“Aishhh,” Tae Joon said in defeat.

“C'mon, bro. I'll treat to some sandwiches in return for your confession,” Hyun Jae laughed.

Shaking his head in resignation, Tae Joon picked his bag and trailed after his new established friend reluctantly, out of the gym.

Sleeping Embrace

(A Foxi Fanfic for To The Beautiful You)
(credit to all online providers of the beautiful pictures & gifs)

Dear lord, please give me your blessings to be selfish tonight.

I pulled myself away from her embrace and looked down at her tear stained face. I knew she was crying as much as I was. I heard her.

Could a face with red puffy nose be any more beautiful? I wiped a tear away and took her by her hand.

I pulled her towards the door and locked it.

I did not answer her questioning eyes but simply led her to my bed. I was not strong enough to even look at her.

“Stay with me tonight,” I said when we reached the bed.

“Ugh?” As I expected, the ‘reindeer caught in the headlights’ look came onto her face again. 

“Until I fall asleep,” I said reassuringly. I did not want her to think I was taking advantage of her.

I lied.

I knew she would probably fall asleep first before I do. I did intend to take advantage of her tonight. I wanted the advantage of holding her tight while we both sleep. I did not want her to sit by me and hold my hand like she previously did.

No. I consciously wanted to tuck her beside me and have us fall into deep slumber together. Forgetting all our troubles and what the tomorrows might bring.

Lord, I prayed again, I know this is highly inappropriate but I seriously did not want to sleep alone tonight. Or rather I seriously need to have her by my side tonight.

Silently, I pushed her down to sit by the edge of the bed. I knelt down to take her shoes off, which she struggled to pull away, of course. But firmly I did it anyway, leaving her socks intact.

“I’m too exhausted to wash up tonight,” I looked up to her finally and told her. “I just want to sleep.”

At her silence, I kicked off my shoes, shrugged my jacket off and pulled the duvet away.

I crawled onto the bed to the far right side of the bed and pulled her to join me.

Despite her still doe-eyed expression, she actually climbed in after me; and I tucked her safely in the cocoon of my embrace. 

I have come to the conclusion that I am not letting her out of my life. She was mine. It was her fault anyway. She came to me first. So, now, I am not letting her go.

Even if her days here at Genie High were numbered, she would still be mine when she left. Whether she went back to the States or stayed here in Korea, I would find a way to be with her.

I knew that she was slowly accepting that I like her and she has never made it a secret that she hero worshipped me. But I believe that, she too was acknowledging that she felt for me more than a mere idol – perhaps as a dear friend and possibly something even more.

But I also knew that she still thought that I thought she was a boy - which was probably why she was holding her feelings in check. 

For me, whether Goo Jae Hee was a boy or a girl, did not matter anymore. Honestly, even if Goo Jae Hee was a toad, I would still be in love with her.

She would be my personal grungy little toad. Which is really good, since no one really wants toads, then I would be able to keep her all to myself. I found myself smiling at the thought and I tightened my hold on her.

Seriously, who am I kidding? She was a beautiful toad. And if the boys found out that she was a girl, all hell would break loose. Either they would torture her to death or clamour for her attention like the deprived beings that they were. 

Well, over my dead body, I would say. From now onwards, I would not hide my feelings anymore.

I want to spend all my waking hours with her, if not sleeping too.

I want her to stay with me while I practice; and run her track events with her.

I want to have all my meals with her; and take Sung Choo for his evening walks.

I want to follow her as she does her laundry like a lost puppy; and fold the laundry together while we chat.

I want to take her on photography dates and eat century eggs together.

And now, I seriously do not care if people do eventually find out her true gender. Perhaps, it will also be for the best. Then, we can decide upon the next phase of lives together.

The only thing I will regret, though, was not having her as my roommate anymore. I have grown to depend on her. Physically and emotionally; and I just cannot imagine not having her around at Genie High anymore.    

Hence, tonight I did not want us to be separated by that silly cylindrical staircase.

I wanted to hold her tight and comfort her for all her worries as how I want her to comfort me for my sadness.

The silly girl would probably think I was seriously gay, but what the heck, it will be over soon enough; and she will soon know that I knew she was a girl all this while. Imagine the gall to ask if I found that male model picture attractive?

Within minutes her gentle snore told me she was asleep and I was free to roam her face as how I wanted to.

Everything about her was beautiful. From the tear stained cheeks to the pouty mouth I so badly wanted to kiss. From the little mole on her nose to the fact that her left eye is slightly smaller than her right one. From her long lashes to her cute boy haircut. Each little imperfections were perfection to me.

I did not know when I actually fell into slumber but that morning I woke up earlier than before.

I woke up to find her still tucked on my left shoulder with my arms around her. Her own arm wrapped around my waist. If my shoulders were cramped from being her pillow all night long, I really could not tell.

I air kissed her nose, fearing she would wake up and have things awkward like the last time we were in bed together.

Gently, I extracted myself from her embrace. 

I left a post it note stuck on her favourite juice by the bed, telling her I would be at the gym. I know she would want to know where I would be; and in a way, I was reassuring her that I would be waiting.

As how I would always wait for her for the rest of our lives.

Midnight Phonecall

(A Foxi Fanfic for To The Beautiful You)
(credit to all online providers of the beautiful pictures & gifs)

"Are you back in the tent?" he asked.

"Neh. How about you? Have you met up with your oboeji?" She replied with a question of her own.

"I have. I'm now back in our room," he replied as he walked in between their desks towards his bed.

Tae Joon had not think twice when he automatically dialed Jae Hee's number once he reached the sanctuary of their room. Somehow the word 'our room' sent shivers down both Tae Joon and Jae Hee's back. It sounded weirdly intimate.

He sighed. 'Their room. Is that how I have come to think of this dorm now?' He mused silently.

"What time will you guys arrive here tomorrow?" he asked, suddenly longing to be by her side and see her cute face.

'Cute? Grungy? Well, I suppose she is.' Tae Joon mused again.

"Uhmm? We'll all have breakfast first, then pack up and leave by 10 or 10.30. 1 to 2 hours from here, so we'll probably arrive by 12noon," Jae Hee said as she fiddled with her jacket zipper head. Though she was hoping he would call her again that night, she was still surprised when he actually did.

She was sitting cross legged in her tent, packing their things up for tomorrow's trip home, while nursing her broken heart from the cancelled 'date' with Tae Joon. Even Eun Gyul appeared a little forlorn when he sat with her at the campsite earlier, and hence, not able to bring her out of her melancholy. 

"Arasso. I'll wait for you then," Tae Joon's voice suddenly broke her reverie, as he himself sat down on his bed.

"Neh? Wait for us?" Jae Hee asked. 'Or me? Are you missing me as much as I am missing you?' she silently added.

"I have to fetch my bags from you. You can't possibly be carrying 2 bags all the way to dorms," Tae Joon quickly rationalized, almost hitting himself on the head for being too transparent.

"Neh, I guess so. Umm, so you are ok if I pack your bag for you?" Jae Hee belatedly asked while holding one of Tae Joon's t shirt in mid air.

"No, I don't mind. In fact, I'm sorry to be bothering you with the chore," he said apologetically.

"Ani," Jae Hee quickly denied. "I'll be glad to do it."

"Komawo....." he smiled, picturing her being uncharacteristically maternal while folding his clothes and hers. "Are you keeping warm? There's a clean pair of socks at the bottom of my bag if you need extra. And how is wrist? Does it still hurt?" Tae Joon asked. "Sigh... Maybe I should take a taxi back down tonight. You guys can use an extra pair of hands to pack up tomorrow."

"Ya, Kang Tae Joon, we'll be all right," Jae Hee smiled down the phone at Tae Joon concerns for the team, not realizing that the star athlete's concern was solely directed to her. "You should get some rest after that long drive home. Did you managed to discuss whatever it was that need discussing?"

"Yes, I did. It was not that urgent after all. Ha Na was being her usual excitable self," he said.

"Neh, Soel Ha Na. She was with you," Jae Hee voiced trailed as she visualized Tae Joon and Ha Na alone in the long drive back to Seoul.

"Yes," he said apologetically again. "I made her driver to drop me at the school. I didn't feel like spending the night at my father's."

Tae Joon slowly lay down on his bed, suddenly weary at the thought of his conversations with his father and later with Ha Na.

"Kwenchana?" Jae Hee asked detecting the resigned voice of her roommate. "Did you have a fight with your aboeji?"

"No, I didn't," Tae Joon smiled for the second time at her concerned voice. "Don't worry. I'm all right." He looked up at her bunk bed above his picturing her tucked in her sleeping bag, alone in the tent.

Impatiently he asked, "What time are you all arriving tomorrow?"

"Around 12," Jae Hee repeated her earlier answer. Having finished with the packing, she is now warmly tucked in her sleeping bag. On top of her own pair socks, she doned Tae Joon's slightly bigger ones. "And that's the second time you asked that question," she chuckled.

"Yup, that's right. 12 noon," Tae Joon smiled again now at the sound of her chuckling. "Are you sure you don't need extra help? It's easy to get a cab at this time of night."

"Ani. Why would you want to trouble yourself to drive out here. There's many of us here. Don't worry," Jae Hee reassured him.

"That's right. The guys are all there. Make sure you don't lift anything heavy. Your wrist is still not healed. Get the others to do the heavy stuff. You just take care of your personal things."

"I'll be fine. Dr Jang will take the bandages out tomorrow. And Eun Gyul has promised to accompany me," Jae Hee said happily.

"Eun Gyul? When did he say that?" Jealous Tae Joon suddenly appeared to replace concerned Tae Joon.

"Just now. We watched the shooting stars together."

"While eating the s'mores? That you prepared for me?" He asked incredulously.

"Mianhe. I was waiting for you at the campsite when he showed up," Jae Hee unconsciously bowed her head in apology.

"And you invited him?" the green monster just refused to leave.

"Well, not really. He just came to chat. I can't say no, can I? He asked me what I was doing. I had some already prepared for you. So I offered him some," Jae Hee explained.

"You already had some prepared for me?" TJ sighed, draping his arm across his eyes. "Yeah, I know. I'm so sorry I couldn't be with you just now."

"It's ok. Your father called for you, so you had to go."

"So, did you make a wish?" he smiled wistfully, wishing he was there with her as he promised - to look at the shooting stars together.

"Yes, I did," he could hear the smile in her words and could not help but smiled himself, yet once again.

"You wanna share it with me? Your wish?"

"I can't or else it won't come true," she laughed.

Has a laughter ever sounded so sweet, Tae Joon thought. Tae Joon thumped the spot above his heart a few times, trying to get rid of the weird pang of the thought of her being two hours drive away. Yup, wait till she leaves for good, man....Tae Joon thought to himself.

"Ok, arasso. Then I won't share with you my wish," he smirked in return.

"You made a wish too? When?"

"In the car. On the way back to Seoul."

"What did you wish for?"

"Can't tell. Elst it won't come true," he chuckled using her words against her.

"Pfftt..,'" Jae Hee snorted indignantly in a definite unladylike fashion, burrowing herself further in her sleeping bag.

At the rustle of the bag, Tae Joon asked, "Are you keeping warm? Go put on that pair of socks I told you about. It's pretty thick. I have an extra sweater in there too."

"Neh, I am fine. Don't worry, it's pretty warm tonight. I have put your socks on though."

"Ok," he said in satisfaction. "Oh, did you lock the tent zipper? I don't want anybody coming in and disturb you."

"Why would anybody disturb me?"

"Eh? No, what I mean is that I don't anybody else to be trampling in the tent with their dirty shoes."

"Ya, chincha. Why would anybody do that. Besides, everyone have gone to sleep."

"OK, you get some sleep to, then," Tae Joon said.

"Ummm," Jae Hee sleepily replied, her eyes already half closed at Tae Joon's warm voice. "Sing to me."

"Eh?"

"Mianhe, that was automatic," Jae Hee smiled. "I used to say that to Omma whenever we have to hang the phone up."

"You talked to her on the phone?" Tae Joon was puzzled at Jae Hee's statement.

"Neh. She travelled a lot when I was growing up. She followed dad on his business trips all the time."

"I see.....and you were left at home alone?" Tae Joon asked, picturing a young Jae Hee at home all alone.

"Ani. The house keeper takes care of me. And my brother Daniel was always around to keep me company."

"Did you have lots of friends back in the states?" Somehow, talking to Jae Hee this way seems easier for them, and Tae Joon wanted to know more about his roommate and what made her tick.

"One good friend, my sprint coach, Julia."

"Other school mates?"

"You guys are my school mates now."

He could somehow sense that her life in the States was a little less than perfect. And with her Oppa and Johnny as companions and protectors, he could understand why Jae Hee seem to be more at home with the boys. "Kere, that's right, you have us now."   

She smiled at his words. On the other part of town, Tae Joon smiled too.

Sighing resignedly, Tae Joon suddenly softly rendered 9th Street old hit song, Without Words.

"Maldo obshi sarangeul algae hago

Maldo obshi sarangeul naegae jugo

Sumgeol hana jo cha nol dam gaehae no kho

Ee rokhae do mang ga ni ka

Maldo obshi sarang ee nareul ddona

Maldo obshi sarangee na reul bo ryeo

Museun maleun halji damun eebi

Hon ja so nollan gotgata..."

(Without words you have shown me what love is

Without words your name is what my heart screams

It breaks me just to know that you really love her so

I'll try my best that it won't show

Without words you have made me much pain

Without words feels like I have drowned in the rain

And I was such a fool to believe that there was really you and me)

"Kang Tae Joon..." Jae Hee was loss for word, not really knowing whether it is from Tae Joon's sweet voice or from the fact that Tae Joon was singing at all.

The person in question softly chuckled.

"That was Omma's favourite song while she was at the ward. I actually sat through the whole series of You're Beautiful with her back then," he explained and laughingly added, "she was so in love with the Jang Geun Suk that it was not even funny."

"That's so cute," Jae Hee softly laughed. "And you have such a wonderful voice," she gushed.

Tae Joon smiled and shook his head imagining Jae Hee swooning in the sleeping bag.

"Go to sleep, Grungy. I will see you tomorrow."

"Neh," she yawned in reply, all earlier melancholy forgotten by the sweet phone call. "Good night, Kang Tae Joon. I will see you tomorrow," she smiled.

"Ara...good night," not really wanting to end the conversation but forced himself to say goodbye at her sleepy voice.

And with a mumbled "emmm..." Jae Hee smiled as she fell into deep slumber, her Samsung snuggled between her ears and the sleeping bag.