Why Must My Heart Ache?

Chapter 13: W.G.M.

    "What's taking Heechul so long?" Ryeowook asked as he set the table. The two dorms had been combining dinner since Yesung had enlisted.

    Siwon went out in the hallway to look for him. He heard his hyung's voice from around the corner. Normally, he wouldn't eavesdrop, but this was Kim Heechul making a suspicious phone call. He stopped to listen.

    "Thanks for calling me back. I have a deal for you. You need a new pair of victims and I need a favor. I want you to cast Cho Kyuhyun and Flora Baker as your next couple." Heechul paused, listening to the other end.

    "I realize that you usually don't pick co-workers, but think of how interesting that would make it!" He paused again, laughed after awhile, and thanked the person on the other end.

    His smile faded as he rounded the corner. "Siwon... How much did you hear?"

    "Enough to blackmail you," Siwon grinned.

                                .             .             .

    Jung Hoon called Kyuhyun into his office. "The people from We Got Married want you to be part of their next couple," he explained.

    "I was already part of one of their couples, remember? In China," Kyuhyun replied.

    "Yes, but that was for only one episode. They want you as one of their regular couples. Kyuhyun, I know that you like Flora-ssi. Heechul told me. This might help you take your mind off of her and stay professional for the drama," Jung Hoon suggested.

                   .             .            .

    Flora went into the principal's office. "Miss Baker, I think it's rime for me to let you out of your contract with our school."

    "What? I thought me doing the drama wasn't going to be a problem. You wanted me to do it," she questioned.

    "Hear me out, Miss Baker. Since the second episode of your drama came out, people have been treating me like your manager. Several variety shows want you to appear, and We Got Married wants you to be apart of their next couple.

    "You're a star now. You can do much better than be an ESL teacher. I'm prepared to give up all but one of our school's arranged appearances in the drama, and also to give you your compensation money and rent until the end of next month.

    "I don't have the time or experience to be your manager, Miss Baker. I need you to sign these papers that allow us both to peacefully break our contract together. I've already spoken with Director Park about this. All that's left for to do is sign this and then find a company to work for that will provide you with a manager."

    Flora signed the papers and went to say goodbye to her students. The tears began to fall down her face as she walked the hallways. I knew I never should have signed the contract for that stupid drama. One second really does change everything.

     Her students couldn't believe she was really leaving. They kept asking her what she would do. "I guess I'll just have to accept one of the contract offers from these companies and find an apartment close-by. I'll probably take as many show offers as I can, give me something to do."

    Minwoo piped up, and everyone went quiet in surprise. "Baker-sunsaengnim, since you aren't our teacher anymore, can we all exchange phone numbers and e-mails?"

    Everyone wrote down Flora's contact information and put theirs on her list. She still promised them a tour of one of the sets as soon as she could arrange it with Director Park.