Soonyoung passed the ball to Jay. The Korean-American idol received it and made a perfect lay-up.
“Nice shot!” Soonyoung praised.
“Thanks, hyung!” Jay smiled, tapping the performance leader’s left shoulder. “But when are you going to tell me why you invited me out here to shoot some hoops? Am I in trouble or something?”
Soonyoung shook his head. “Nah! I just kind of need a fresh perspective on things.”
“Okay?”
Jay followed Soonyoung as they both sat beneath the basketball hoop. “I know this is kind of weird to be asking advice from someone younger than me but here we are.”
Jay breathed in deep. “Phew! I thought you were going to scold me for something I did.”
“I just need advice.” Soonyoung had a serious expression on his face.
“Hyung, you can tell me anything.”
“I trust you, Jay. I know you won’t talk about this to anyone else.”
“Hyung, what’s the matter?”
“Okay, so Tessa came to me a week ago. She said that someone I know is courting her.”
Jay blinked and looked at Soonyoung. “Is it someone you know randomly or…”
“It’s a bandmate.”
“Oh. I see.”
“I know I want to talk to him and sort things out. He’s not unreasonable. In fact, he’s quite logical. That’s why I was a little surprised that he did this knowing full well that Tessa has a boyfriend.”
“What approach have you decided on, hyung?”
Soonyoung looked like his thoughts were far away. “One-on-one would be best, I feel.”
“I think so, too.” Jay nodded. “Um, is it one of those here at the moment?”
“No, it’s not. Oddly enough, I feel like the ones who are here are helping me out in some way. I just can’t place it.”
“Is this bandmate particularly close to you?”
“One of those closer to me, yes.”
“Not in the performance team, I’m guessing?”
Soonyoung gave his ascent.
“I won’t ask who it is, hyung.” Jay promised. “But if I were ever in a situation, like yours, I’d probably be thankful that my girlfriend was honest with me and told me the truth upfront. I’d take it to mean that she really sees me as her partner. No matter how big or small an issue it was, I’d love to tackle it with her. And with the bandmate situation, I feel like I would take him aside and talk to him. Get his point of view and all that.”
Soonyoung stayed silent.
“Real talk, I’d be slightly disappointed at the disrespect his actions show. You guys have been together for so many years now.”
“It’s been more than a decade.” Soonyoung sighed. “Do you believe in reincarnation, Jay?”
“What do you mean, hyung?”
“Do you believe that your soul has had a different life before this one?”
“Um, I don’t really know. I just know that I have this life now and I’m going to do my darndest to live it to the fullest.”
“My bandmate believes that he and Tessa were married in their past life.”
“Oh.”
“Which leads me to believe that he is very serious about courting Tessa.”
“Are you afraid that noona may develop feelings if this continues?”
“Not that I’m bragging but no.” Soonyoung wrung his hands. “I can see how people get attracted to her, though. So it’s something that kind of comes with the territory almost.”
“She has that effect on people.” Jay agreed. “I mean, not that I’m into her, hyung. I didn't mean it like that. I would never. I’m just trying to say that she’s close to my ideal girl.”
“And what is your ideal girl?”
“Honest, funny and humble.”
“That certainly describes Tessa to a T.”
“Plus she’s got killer moves. Couldn’t take my eyes off her while you were dancing Fever. And she danced with you! That’s saying something.”
Soonyoung took out his phone. He scrolled through a few videos and gave his phone to Jay once he found the one he was looking for.
Jay took it and watched intently. A recording of Soonyoung and Tessa dancing to Thinking out Loud played on screen.
“She’s amazing, hyung. Just absolutely amazing. You two complement each other so well.”
“She almost doesn’t seem real, doesn’t she?”
“Almost like she were sculpted from clay and imbued with all the personalities that match you the most.”
Soonyoung sighed. “At the back of my mind, when my insecurities get the better of me, I’ll wonder what someone like her sees in me. I’ll wonder why is she with me. If I’m being honest, my bandmate is renowned for his visuals. He’s very easy to look at. He’s also an outstanding idol with his own solo brand endorsements so clearly he’s attractive and highly regarded.”
Jay licked his lips and continued to listen to his hyung.
“Jay, I’m just an ordinary person who worked hard for his dream and was given all these opportunities. Sometimes I’ll fear that she’ll wake up and realize that she could do way better than me.”
“Hyung…”
“Then I remember that my noona is with Kuya Hyun, who’s also a Han and was raised in the same loving environment as Tessa. It gives me strength and the assurance that my woman looks past our differences and truly loves me for me.”
“Hyung, don’t let your insecurities get the better of you. I’m sure you know that despite your insecurities, they’re just insecurities. Tessa-noona loves you and wants only you.”
“I hope so, Jay. Because I’m willing to fight for her with everything that I have.”
“You really love noona, don’t you?”
Soonyoung half-smiled. “I do.”
The younger idol nudged the older. “Don’t forget to invite me to the wedding, okay? I hear the last Han wedding was beyond words.”
Soonyoung snickered. “She’s not ready to settle down yet.”
“I understand, hyung. SVT just renewed their contract recently.”
“No, I’m saying Tessa doesn’t want to tie the knot yet. We talked about it a few months ago and she specifically said it wasn’t the right time for her to settle down yet.”
“Oh.”
“We’ve literally only been together for a few months but I’m pretty sure she’s the one.”
Jay just smiled at his hyung.
“She also said something about this Filipino tradition among siblings called sukob.”
“What is it about?”
“She says siblings can’t get married within a year of each other.”
“Really?”
“Something about dividing the luck between the two siblings who got married. They also can’t get married within a year of a death of an immediate family member.”
“Interesting.” Jay’s brow furrowed. “I’m curious though, hyung. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“I know noona is ethnically a Filipino who grew up in Seoul. So which culture does she lean towards?”
Soonyoung thought about it. “Split down the middle. Growing up, their Appa was respectful and mindful of their Eomma’s culture. If you ask me, even the twin hyungs identify themselves as Filipino at certain times. Whenever I’m around the entire family, I don’t feel like there is any distinction between both cultures. They managed to blend them together perfectly. It’s uncanny. It’s like there’s no divide.”
“I see.” Jay contemplated what to say next. “Can I ask another question, hyung?”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
“Well, I know noona grew up in Seoul and all that but um, physically…”, Jay’s voice trailed off. “I would not have guessed she was Filipino. She does have an Asian look but also kind of a Caucasian look?” He pointed to his eyes, meaning Tessa’s green eyes.
Soonyoung lowered his head. He remembered that conversation he and Tessa had outside of the palace. “She’s part-British. Her father was not exactly father of the year so let’s keep that on the DL.”
Jay was shocked. “Jinjja?” (Really?)
“Yeah, it’s a touchy subject for her. She told me that for all intents and purposes, she’s a Han through and through.”
“Gotcha. No broadcasty of the secretie.”
Soonyoung laughed. “Uh, okay?”
“I’m glad we had this conversation, hyung. Thank you for trusting me.”
Soonyoung put his arm around the younger. “No, Jay. Thank you.”
