ONCE (JoongNine AU)

Chapter 1

Joong

"What did you say, P'Kay?" I asked, in case I heard it wrong.

"I said, we already agreed verbally for a join deal with ProEnt, for you to work with Nine".

"Is this a new strategy? To pair us up once again, for publicity purpose?", I asked sarcastically.

"Joong, what's wrong with you two? P' don't quite understand the animosity going on, for liked, what, 4 years already. You were both young and hot headed. So, maybe, it's time to mature up a bit. This is business, quit making it personal, or else you'll lose lots of good opportunities".

We were once the it couple-ship. But, the genre that was that famous 5 years ago, was now overtaken by new interest. That's how it goes in this industry. Nothing is permanent. So, artists also need to venture to new things and projects.

"Did Nine agree to this? Or, do you just want us to scratch each other up during the signing ceremony?

"Be a good sport, will you?. Both of you are actors, then play out your skill to the best. If you could act liked lovers before, then to act liked you are once again the best of buddies won't be that hard, isn't it?", P'Kay said it and gave me the contract to be read. "Read that and if there's any terms that you want to adjust, do so before the official signing". With that, P'Kay left me to my somber mood.

Nine. To imagine working again with him, being together again for months to come; would I be able to do so, without sinking my feet to another endless hole?. Though the feeling that I had, must have change over the years, yet whether another close distance would break every wall I have erected or not, I couldn't guess.

Maybe, let just see where this would lead...If really there's nothing more could be salvaged between us, then let this be the chance to severe it completely, with nothing, neither love, nor hate. Just an empty glass.

Nine

"Shit! Liked there's no other place to do it!", I let out a curse moodily, to the two figures who were embracing explicitly in front of the entry to the bathroom, that caused me to turn my sight away. As soon as my curse was let out, the guy released the girl he was holding, and the girl just laughed, unashamed and gave one last peck and then left. I looked at the person who smirked at me, while entering the bathroom to clean the lipstick that smeared up his face. My lips tightened, yet I just ignored him and enter one of the cubes. I hope when I go out, he would be gone. But, to my dismay, the person just leaned on the hand washing area, and his eyes followed my movements. The smile never left his face, and that annoyed me to a certain degree. He was purposely provoking me.

"Hello, Nine", he said when I chose silent over reacting to whatever provocation he intended. I kept my lips sealed and just washed my hands carefully. When I went to the hand dryer that was at his side, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to look at him. "I said, hello", his eyes were mad, I knew his emotion was high. I gave him a cold look, snapped my hand from his grip and kept them below the dryer. The noisy sound left no room to any conversation and that alone gave me room to play deaf.

"Hmm, you're already annoyed, isn't it? It's just a simple greeting, why being such a mood killer?", he said after the dryer was off.

"Hello" I said and turned to leave, but he blocked my way out. I refused to be intimidated and looked squarely at him. Yet, those annoying smirk still there on his lips. He loved knowing that I was provoked to a simmering anger.

"Don't you want to know who the person I was kissing just now?".

"No. Not my business".

"Really? Then why were you so annoyed then? Or, have I made you angry?"

"To be honest, Joong, I am annoyed not because it's you, but the manner in which you did it".

"You just said it's not your business, then why would that annoy you? I could kiss anyone I like, since, the one who taught me the first one didn't like the way I did it".

"Well, since you knew that, then there's nothing more for me to say, moved!", I said and tried to push him aside. But, that body didn't even budge an inch. "What the hell? Moved Archen!".

"I listened to no one, Nine. I used to, but then, that was when I was naïve and depended to just one person in my young existence. Ahhh, 5 years ago was such a tumultuous year in our lives, right?".

"If you hate it so much, then I don't quite understand your action now, Joong. This is the face that you despise, so why bother to even do this?"

"Who said I hated it? If you must know, it was tumultuous, but also the most colourful in my life too".

"You're talking in circle. Just choose one! Hate or love! It's easier that way to end this nonsense".

"Well, Nine, the problem is, up to now, I still feel both, and it drives me crazy. And, seeing you constantly since our newly signed project, caused me to want to drive you insane too".

"You may try Joong, but just liked you, I used to care for one person too, in my young existence, and to me that person was no more". My words caused his jaw to tightened, his brows frowned in hurt, I knew, and I could feel the anger that he was trying to calm down. Why did my own word that supposed to hurt him, hurt me more? My eyes felt prickly. If this continued, I might break down.

With that said, I pushed him again and went out from the bathroom, lest he saw the start of the angry tear that threatened to fall down my cheeks.