Why Must My Heart Ache?

Chapter 8: Contract

    "Baker-sunsaengnim! You have fans!" Mina shouted in English as she led them towards Flora. She looked up from the book that the cast was signing to smile at her star student and look at the trio. She instantly recognized two of them. She set the book down and bowed to them in greeting. "Ahnyounghaseyo, Kim Heechul-ssi, Kim Jung Hoon-ssi." They bowed slightly to her as well.

    "So you know who we are already? Well then, this is Director Park. We were all very impressed with your performance, Miss...?" Jung Hoon spoke to her in English, dropping at the end to throw her off his (stalker) trail.

    "Flora Baker, and I speak fluent Korean, Kim Jung Hoon-ssi. The English is unneccessary. Now, what brought you all to a humble high school production, might I ask?" she replied in Korean, impressing the director even more.

    "Flora Baker?" Heechul sounded out the name to himself. "Hyung? Isn't that the name of that woman whose call you're supposed to be expecting?" He feigned his ignorance very well.

    Jung Hoon pretended to ponder on this. "I believe so. Pardon me, Miss Baker, but have you by any chance met Cho Kyuhyun?" By now everyone backstage was staring at them and whispers had broken out.

    "I believe that it is considered common courtesy to answer the question first asked before adding another into the conversation," she chided.

    "Ah that!" he chuckled. "I've been scouting for talent! I've been trying to help Director Park here find an actress for a drama he's about to start filming-"

    The director had interrupted him. "That's where I come in. You have star potential, Miss Baker, and I would love to have you work with me on this project."

    Flora smiled and gestured her hands to her students. "I teach English at this high school. I already have a job, and a contract. Since you came here, I'm assuming you are not opposed to a younger actress. There are other stars here tonight, Director Park. Thank you for the offer, it was nice to meet you. Now, if you'll excuse me," she said as she walked away.

    Heechul stared after her in shock. "Well, that complicates things," Jung Hoon said as the director sat down with his face still frozen. "We tried, Heechul. It didn't work."

    "Every contract has a loophole," Heechul suggested. Jung Hoon didn't like where he was going with this.

                                                                          .      .      .

    Flora finished changing out of her costume in one of the bathroom stalls and then went into her classroom. She was looking forward to winter break. Why did you turn him down? she asked herself. Because I don't want to commit a violation of contract.

    Then she had to wonder about how Kim Jung Hoon and Heechul had recognized her name. Kyuhyun must have talked to them about you. And what would he say? That he had bumped into some weird foreigner fan? You could find out. You could go ask them, maybe even set up that fan meeting. Why haven't you already? Well, I'm busy with work, and that would definitely make me look like a crazy fan. But now it looks to them like you don't care...

    Wait. Why was Super Junior's manager scouting for an actress for that director, and why was Heechul with him? Maybe Heechul was one of the actors... But he's busy with catching up with the other members after his army service.

   In the middle of the internal conversation with herself, Kim Heechul walked into her classroom with Kim Jung Hoon and the principal trailing behind. She looked at the principal, confused. "These gentlemen tell me that they were as impressed with your performance as I was," he started.

    "So you enjoyed the play, Sir? The students will be so pleased," she said, choosing to act like she hadn't understood his exact meaning.

    "Baker, if you want to accept Director Park's offer, he said that he'd be willing to work around your teaching schedule, and we can cut down your hours. Kyung Mi can take care of the department for awhile, and of course you would get a bonus for the publicity the school would get...." He trailed off and from the look on his face, Flora could tell that he really wanted her to take the job.

    She sighed. "What are the details of the job offer? I'm not promising I'll take it, but I'd like to know exactly what you're proposing."

    Director Park charged into the room with a binder. "This is the script, the details, the set cast, and the contract!" he rattled off. Flora sighed again and opened up the binder. She felt a hand patting her shoulder to look up and see the principal beaming at her. She hoped that his approval would be worth what she was about to do.