Problems and Solutions

It's been two weeks since we started promoting our duet. Mark continued acting cold towards me. The last time he warmed up was during our first stage together. Nothing else after that.

Why do I even care? I shouldn't, should I? He's just a colleague. Our relationship is purely business.

I'm free today and got nothing to do. Ryan and Rachel flew back to the Philippines a week ago. Jun went on a trip with one of his other friends. Yonghwa is busy with CNBlue's tour. Sarah is spending the day with her family. The guys, John and Daniel, are at their dorm playing computer games. And I, .... I'm bored.

I lay on the sun chair by the pool. I grabbed my phone and scanned through the numbers in my phonebook. 

Hmmm....who should I call? 

I stopped at Mark's name. No.

I scrolled past his name....Shit! I don't have that many friends in Korea after all. 

I put my phone down and closed my eyes. Not even a second has passed and my phone went off. 

"Hello?" It was our manager, Harry.

"Yup," I answered. 

"The boss called me earlier and he made alterations on your schedule tomorrow." Harry said.

"What?" I knew he was gonna call me about work. 

"You would need to meet up with a director for the music video," he paused.

"Wait." I was caught off guard. "What music video?" We already did the music video for the group's song.

"For 'Promise'," he paused again. 

He waited for my reaction but I didn't give him any. I was too stunned to say anything.

"And, since you have to rush it,...uhmm..." another wait, "don't get mad at me, I'm just following orders," he took a deep breath and, "and so, you would need to shoot it tomorrow, too."

"What?" I stood up...maybe jumped up...from the chair. I was pacing the side of the pool. "Why so sudden?" "How long would it take?" "Why did they just say it now?" Questions just continued pouring out.

"I think you should talk to the boss about that," I can see he felt sorry.

"Never mind. I wouldn't be able to do anything about it anyway." I just have to follow. "Thanks, Harry."

Ok, so my boring day turned out not to be so boring after all. 

My phone buzzed again and it was a message from Harry.

The location hasn't been set yet. The director would be waiting for you at his office tomorrow at 10AM. I could pick you up if you want to. I think you would need to pack some clothes. I'll be meeting you there anyway. The message read.

Harry isn't really good at explaining things when he's talking. He would usually send details through text messages. Well...that's our Harry.

I texted him back, "I'll just meet you there. Just send me the address."

I spent the rest of the day in my music room. I worked on a piece I wanted to include in the group's second album. 

As I was writing some lyrics for it, Mark's image appeared in my mind. I pushed it at the back of my head. No, Kris. He's just an idol you have a crush on. Just that. He obviously doesn't have any feelings for you anyway. Don't waste your time thinking about him and concentrate on your work.

_____________________________________________________________________

                                                                  MARK

JYP came in our practice room while we were resting. 

"Mark, can I talk to you for a sec?" He called me to his office.

"Yes, hyung-nim," I said to him as we seated ourselves at the couch in his huge office.

"I'm sorry I have to do this to you, but, you know your duet song with Kris right?" He looked at me.

"Yea?, what about it?" Of course I know.

"It's great to see you working so hard outside the group, I appreciate it." 

Where is this conversation going? I felt nervous.

"I see that your song got in the charts." He looked happy and worried at the same time. "Good job."

"Thanks, hyung-nim," I waited for him to continue.

"So, due to demands from netizens, you would need to do a music video for it." He continued. "I know I've packed your schedule and promised to give you a long break this week, but just this once, do this for me."

My one week vacation ... GONE. My only time to go home to LA....GONE. My chance to surprise Angela on her birthday...GONE. I wanted to hide my frustration but I think it showed. 

"Let's just move your vacation some other time, ok?" He looked at me with sincerity. 

I just nodded at him. I can still feel his sorry gaze as I left his office.

I reentered the practice room with my shoulders hunched. 

"What's the matter?" JB came to me first.  "What did the boss say."

Everybody was waiting for me to answer. I didn't give them any. I can see how concerned they were just by looking at how they glanced at me.

After practice, Junior came up to me. 

"Hyung, let's go out for some drinks." He pulled me and I followed without question.

He lead me to a quiet bar near the company. 

"What's the matter?" he looks really concerned. "C'mon, spill it. Was JYP mad at you?" He waited. "Hyung, tell me."

I poured myself a glass of beer and drank it all in one shot.

"All my plans for this week's vacation is all ruined." I finally said.

I told him everything. 

"I'm sorry to hear that." 

"Yeah," I poured myself another glass.

"What do you do now?"

"What CAN I do?" There's really nothing I can do.

"What about Angela's birthday?" That's the ultimate question.

"I don't know." I'm in a dilemma. "I guess I would just need to throw those plans away, for now."

I took a gulp of the beer. I thought long and hard whether to tell him this or not. I wanted somebody to share my burden. Junior is a good kid. He could be more dependable than Jackson at times like this. 

"I have another problem, Junior." I examined him. I thought I needed to let this out before it gets worse. 

"What is it?

I looked straight to his eyes. I stayed like that for a few seconds.

"I think I've fallen for Kris." Phew...I've said. It's out, finally.

"I knew it." I was surprised with his answer. "I noticed it when we met them at the restaurant."

"Was it that obvious?"

"For me? It was." He looked me straight in the eye. "But, hyung,...you can't do this."

"I know." I do. "I've been trying to avoid her for the past weeks."

"And?"

"You know how difficult it is?" I told him in an agonized way. "I even have to see her almost everyday because of our promotions."

"Does she know?" Does she?

"No....I don't know," I took another sip, "I don't think so. I hope not."

"So, what do you do now?" He asked me. "I mean, you can't just say no to JYP. How about tomorrow? You'd be with her longer than usual. You know how long those music video shoots take."

"I was hoping you could tell me. I really don't know what to do, Junior."

"Hmmm...." It took him a while before he finally said, "I'm free the whole week, too, you know." 

"So?" I don't understand.

"I could accompany you during your shoot. I could be a distraction." He eyed me slyly.

"Hmm..." Great idea. "Are you sure you want to sacrifice your vacation for this?"

"Of course, hyung!" He punched me slightly on my shoulder. "Anything for you."

"Thanks, Junior. You're the best."