Shinhye is sitting absentmindedly in a cafe when she is startled by an outstretched hand.
"Hi I'm Im Yoona, you are Park Shinhye-sshi right?"
"Yes I am, nice to meet you."
"I would say nice to meet you too, except you kissed our maknae's ex-husband, repeatedly, on national television."
The doe-eyed beauty smiled, taking the malice out of her ominous words, "Joohyun wasn't upset in the least though. We're tough like that. Can I sit here with you?"
Although quite taken aback Shinhye nodded in acquiescence. Someone did tell her that the Soshi girls are quite bold.
"Just right before 'You're Beautiful' started, Geunsuk-oppa was dating Fany-unni. Joohyun is dating Jung Yonghwa. Those flower boys were in dramas with you. Unni, can I call you unni?"
Without waiting for an answer, Yoona conspiratorially whispered, "You're really popular."
"From what I hear you're really popular too. You can call me unni, I guess. I am older." Shinhye replied. The girl looked innocent enough but she has enough girlfriends to know that she is being baited.
"Oh I used to be more popular," no false modesty there, "Joohyun is getting more admirers these days," but no grudge either.
"Unni, you do know that this is Yoochun-oppa's shop?"
Is this the purpose of this conversation? "Yes I do."
Shinhye would have pretended ignorance but it looked like the other girl would see right through it.
"Are you oppa's new girlfriend?"
This particular Soshi girl is bold indeed. "Do you ask all female celebrities you see in this shop if they are Yoochun's girlfriend?"
"No. I also ask non-celebrities. But, only those who are wanjon yeppeo."
Shinhye couldn't help but admire the girl's nerve, "Thank you for asking me then."
"So, are you his new girlfriend?"
She would have loved to taunt, but good sense prevailed, "Fortunately I'm not. Do you like Yoochun?"
She couldn't help but tease her though.
"Yes."
"You didn't even blink when I asked you. Soshi girls are tough." Shinhye agreed, this girl just might be that playboy's salvation.
"I thought you already knew. Doesn't everybody already know? I thought you just wanted me to actually say it."
"Is he included in this everybody?" Maybe Shinhye should mind her own business but the delicate flower Im Yoona TV image is like an adorable puppy in real life.
"Oh he wouldn't hear of it. He stubbornly covers his ears. Iroke." Yoona demonstrated including a full pout so reminiscent of Yoochun, that Shinhye barely stifled a full-on guffaw into a demure cough.
Yoochun is such a foolish man to ignore such an endearing girl.
"Unni you're really easy to talk to. Wait. If you're not Yoochun-oppa's girlfriend, is it Junsu-oppa?"
"I am nobody's girlfriend, I'm just waiting for a friend here."
"Good. That would have been worse."
"Do you like Junsu-sshi too?"
"No! It's Ta- I mean, no, just that Junsu-oppa is sort of 'not dating' an unni I know."
Ah yes, the TaeSu paradox.
Not dating but together since 2006. Shinhye was at first baffled about Yoochun's explanation "they don't want to label it" but Jaejoong explained that as "they don't want the fans to find out."
"Unni! If it is not Yoochun-oppa or Junsu-oppa, could it be??"
"But it can't be, right?"
"Oh. No. It's not. I'm really just here to eat. I heard they have the best caramel gelato."
Shinhye had to resist the impulse to sigh and confide, "Yes. Yes, I'm here to meet him."
Kim Jaejoong.
