Book V: Candy

When Tomorrow Comes

"Babe? Babe, wake up... Sungjae-ah...get up, jebal.."

He was awake, but he kept his eyes closed. Not this time, he thought. I'm not gonna be fooled by that damn alarm again.

Eyes still shut, he pulled the blanket up to his chest when he felt a shift on the bed. "Are you awake, babe?" he heard an angelic voice say. It was followed by a brush of kiss on his lips. Sungjae opened his eyes in surprise.

The same image of an angel from his accident was seen above his face, only smiling this time. What kind of dream is this?

He suddenly gasped for air as if he was punched in the stomach. When he came to his senses, he saw Joy sitting on his stomach. She grabbed his cheeks with both hands. "Wake up! I'm hungry, babe..." she said in the cutest pouty voice.

It's not a dream. This is real, he thought as he recalled the scenes from the night before. With this realization, he readied his fingers to tickle her. He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer for a hug. She squealed in laughter as she fell back to bed. Sungjae knelt on top of her, pinning her down with tickles.

"Hajima!" she screamed in between laughs.

"Arasso." he kept his word and stopped. Still pinning her, he brushed her hair with his fingers and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second. But it was enough for Sungjae's lips to travel down to hers. It was a soft one, but lingered a second too long.

He pulled up his head, fighting the urge to zoom in again. "Let's get you some breakfast. Can't let my aegi starve." he said while helping her up.

------

Changsub froze when he heard a squeal coming from the small corridor. He held his sandwich mid air while his mouth was stuck open. A few seconds later, out came Sungjae...and Joy slumped on his shoulder.

He quickly put Joy down and cleared his throat, as soon as he saw his hyung. He earned another slap on his arm when Joy realized what they walked into, a now clean living room. "Changsub oppa, mianhe. You maknae outdid himself again in being a kid." she said apologetically.

"A-a-ani, gwenchana Joy-ah. It's better seeing him like that, compared to before." his hyung replied.

Sungjae just smiled and nodded to his hyung. He took Joy's hand and led her to the kitchen where they found Eunkwang. "Oh, Eunkwang hyung! Mwoya?" he asked his hyung.

"Good morning to you too!" Eunkwang greeted. "I made breakfast."

"Egg soup! Yum! Gumawo Eunkwang oppa." she said excitedly.

"There's rice too." he said while setting the bowls and spoons on the island counter.

The two sat side by side. Sungjae observed how Joy picked up the bowl and took a sip of the soup. He bit his lip and darted his eyes away from her lips. Get a grip, pabo! What's with me today?! he thought.

Eunkwang laughed while shaking his head. "You've got it bad, Sungjae-ah." patting his shoulder as he walked out of the kitchen. Joy looked up at the two, questions written all over her face. "Don't mind Eunkwang hyung, Sooyoung-ah." he laughed. "Eat up. I have to make sure we fill up those cheeks again." He sighed, sliding his bowl of soup over to Joy.

"Wae? Everyone says I look great. You should eat too, oppa. Here. Say ah!" Joy said as she scooped a spoonful of soup and fed him. Sungjae's serious expression instantly changed. "Mmm! Masissda!" he exclaimed in a childish voice, causing Joy to laugh.

"I missed that..." Sungjae huskily said, staring intently at Joy.

"What do you mean?"

"Your laugh, baby..."

"Oppa! Stop it..." she almost whispered. "Changsub oppa's still here."

"Aigooo! Is my baby embarrassed?" he cooed teasingly.

"Ah!" He felt a slap on his arm again.

"Hajima, oppa!"

"Arasso, arasso! Are you done eating?" he asked.

"Ne."

"Good. Freshen up, I'm taking you back to your dorm. Wendy noona's been messaging me non-stop."

"Psshhh! I'll talk to her when I get home. Mianhe, she shouldn't bother you like that." she apologized.

"Aye, gwenchana. I'd be worried too. Kaja! You can take a shower in my room. I'll get some of my clothes ready for you." he said, yawning.

"Aigoo! My aegi's sleepy again?" she teased while they cleaned up in the kitchen.

------

Joy stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed in his oversized shirt. While drying her hair with the towel, she said "Oppa, where did you put your sweatpants? I only took-" she cut herself off, seeing Sungjae curled up in bed. "I guess he really was still sleepy." she sighed. She found the sweatpants hanging on the chair. Grabbing it, she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

Guess I'll just call for a cab then. I don't have the heart to wake this aegi up, she thought. Joy gently brushed away some stray hair from Sungjae's face and leaned in to kiss his forehead.
"Bye for now, Sungjae-ah." she whispered to his ear. She stood up and was startled when his arm wrapped around her waist to pull her back to bed.

"Don't go..." he whispered, as he slowly leaned closer to her face.