When I Fall In Love

Chapter 1

Cha Ri's

I first thought of love when I was 5 years old. It was not a romantic love though. It was love for a cartoon character, Hello Kitty. Back then, I demanded everything that I own to be Hello Kitty merchandise; my school bag, notebooks, pencils, coloring books, shoes, clothes, hairpins, and everything in my room. Yeah, I mean everything. I am an only child that why I was really spoiled. I still love Hello Kitty until now that I am 21 years old.

Well, the first time I thought I was in love romantically was when I met my father's dongsaeng-friend from the army. He was younger than my father by almost 9 years and older to me by 10 years which made him 23 that time. I first met him when we attended his concert in Seoul. Yeah, he was an artist, a rock star. He was really handsome and such a talented musician and singer. I was young and knew nothing about music. I was one of those students who excelled in academic subjects rather than in extra-curricular activities. But when I heard Yoon Jin oppa's music, I fell in love with him and his music. On that summer, I spent almost every day on his studio and practice room. I loved that oppa but he sadly, he only thought of me as his niece. According to him and my father, they were brothers from different set of parents. But still, I loved him since then without expecting something in return. After one year though, we migrated to US. Whenever we came to Korea for vacation, Yoon Jin oppa was busy with this career. I was actually thankful for the internet because I was able to watch his concerts even though I was in US. And being in the limelight, I was also able to monitor his love life, he has some girlfriends but none of it leads to marriage. Yeah, he's still single and so am i. I wanted him to be my first boyfriend.

And now, after 8 years, I will live in Korea again. Now that I am a 21 years old, I hope he will give "us" a chance. Because after all these years, I still love him as if 8 years ago was just yesterday.

I am currently on his studio's receiving area. I was planning on surprising him by just visiting him without prior notice. Oppa has already retired as a singer but he was still pursuing his music career by being a composer and producer. As I heard from my father, he also serves as a mentor and teacher for current and upcoming artists. My oppa is really daebak! Right?

I could hear him playing his guitar from the inside of the studio. He's still as good as ever, if not, better. He's the best artist for me. As I came nearer on his practice and as the music got louder, my heart beats faster. Oh god. I really missed him.

I silently opened the door, there he was, playing his guitar with his back facing the door. It was a good thing though, because this was an ideal scene for a back hug. For sure, he will be surprise upon seeing me. Who knows, he might hug me back and kiss me. Omo. I'm blushing by just thinking of it.

I slowly walked to him. He was always like this; so consumed by his music that he forgot everything around him. One of the things I loved about him was his passion. And after all these years, he's still as passionate with his music. When I was directly in front of his back, I couldn't help but giggle which made him stopped playing his guitar. I immediately hug his back before he could look at me. I inhaled deeply. I missed the smell of his cologne too.

"Oppa." My voice cracked. That's when I noticed that I was actually crying. He didn't reply though. I was surprised to see that he was still taller than me even though I grew some inches. And his back, he probably hit the gym whenever he has free time because it felt so muscular.

"Oppa! I missed you." I said while totally crying my heart out. I don't care if he'll laugh at me later, I just want him to feel that I missed him and I still love him. But even though I was crying a child, he still hasn't said a word. He didn't even look at me or hug me back. What's wrong with him? Was he that surprised that I was back?

"Oppa, are you-" I started saying but I was cut off.

"YAH! YAH!!! YAH!!!!" said by the voice I was longing to hear. It didn't come from the guy I was hugging though but instead from someone at the door side.

"Yah! You fan girls, I already said many times that you are not allowed inside of my studio! Have you not learned your lessons the last time some fan girls came here and I called the police? Do you want me to call the police again?! Ah really! Channie your fans are really daebak. They are so stubborn!" he said. Wait, what? Fan girls? Channie? OMO!!!

Upon realizing what I have done, I immediately released the guy I was hugging and slowly looked behind me. It confirmed what I was thinking. Yoon Jin oppa was standing in the door side. He looked the same and different at the same time. There are some wrinkles on his face but it was still handsome just like before.

He looked at me but the annoyed expression on his face didn't change. Yeah, to make this situation more embarrassing, he didn't recognize me. After all these years of me checking up on him to my father and on the internet, it seemed that he didn't even bothered checking my facebook profile. Yes oppa. This is Jung Cha Ri now. I'm all grown up and can be considered as a woman. But as far as I know, my face didn't changed that much. But why didn't you recognize me? Why?

"Come on now. You really have to go or else I'll really gonna call the police now." he threatened.

I walked in front of him and see if he'll recognized me if we were in close proximity. I even said that I was sorry so that he'll hear my voice and maybe then he would recognize me.

But I was wrong, I was so wrong. He just pointed the hallway as if motioning for me to just go.

I was hurt. I was embarrassed and disappointed on him and on myself. My heart was really broken into millions of pieces. The guy that I ever loved, the guy I was saving myself to, Yoon Jin oppa, didn't recognized me even if we were standing face to face and he heard my voice.

I walked fast as the tears rolled down my face. I didn't want him to see me this miserable even though he didn't know who I really was. Eotteokhe? What will I say to my parents if they call me?

I was almost at the receiving area when someone stopped me by holding my shoulder. My heart was instantly filled with hope that oppa suddenly recognized me. But upon looking at the owner of the hand that stopped me, my heart got broken again. The hope was replaced by more embarrassment. It was the guy I mistaken to be oppa, the guy that I hugged. Wait, why was he here? Oh no, don't tell me to shame me more?!

"Sor-" I was not able to finish apology because I was shocked by what he had done. He took off his T-shirt and handed it to me. I tried not to look on his body. Really, I tried but I failed. This was the first time I was seeing a naked torso in this close proximity. But what intrigued me was the tattoo on his arms. I should have noticed that he was not Yoon Jin oppa in the first place. My oppa was really scared of needles that was why all his tattoos were just henna tattoos and not permanent.

"There, you can have that. Don't be stubborn next time, araso? It's a good thing that hyung is in a good mood." He said with his big booming voice while smiling then he suddenly touched my head and leveled his face on mine.

"Stop crying okay? You'll see me again when you go to our concert. Araso?" He said then he wiped the remaining tears on my face. He then ran back to the practice room. Did he really think I was his fan? What the heck? I didn't even know who he was. He looked familiar though. But I was not sure where I saw him.

I looked at his T-shirt that I was holding and remembered the way he smiled at me and wiped my tears. It was as if he really cared for me.

Dugeun.. Dugeun.................... Dugeun..

Omo.

Did my heart just skip a beat?