Jamanchu (ongoing)

HAUNT

Fate was never a coincidence. When you were destined to meet someone or reach something, nothing could stop you from it. Ready or not, you just had to mastered yourself and embraced the momentum.

"Annyeonghaseyo KGE-sshi, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you, I mean, to talk to you in the video call," LMH greeted KGE with his thick and husky legendary bariton voice. And he gave her his famous dimple smile at the end of his greeting.

LMH really didn't prepare for this unplanned video call. But he felt nothing but a surge of happiness through all his body. He didn't know why. But he was feeling super lucky today that because of his impulsive action on coming to KES's office, so now he got his one in a zillion chance to say hello to his Chungmuro Queen. Ups! "His" was way too much of him to throned her with such an intimate title. But he couldn't stop his mind from blowing with excitement.

KGE in the other side of the line was bowing politely with her simple sweet smile and her pleasant surprised eyes.
"Annyeonghaseyo LMH Sanbae," she greeted him with her melodious soft voice. KGE looked very relax and cool over their sudden encounter. Her calm attitude quite intimidating for him. How could she seem to be unaffected by him while he, in the other hand, felt like he could dance here and now like a giddy little boy who just got his surprised birthday present. She really impressed him even more.

"I believe we haven't been introduced by our beloved KES jagganim," LMH said to KGE while he clutched KES's shoulder to make KES's face on the camera again. He felt like he needed her help to continue their video call. He didn't know why he suddenly feeling so shy.

"Hahaha,, my apologize LMH-sshi and KGE-sshi, how rude I am!" KES said jokingly.
"GoEun-sshi, let me introduce you to our King, LMH-sshi. I hope you two could make a great teamwork together and spread the love to your fans by the drama." KES bowed politely to both of them as she continued, "I can't wait to watch you two play together as lovers," with a teasing tone KES winked her eye to LMH which only got him blushed and choked. He unconsciously touched his nose with his finger to keep him steady from the nervousness. That "Lovers" word from KES really was a heavy blow to his state. But still he smiled giddily.

"I hope you two will enjoy my line of story and that everyone on the team will have fun in the making of the King." KES came to the rescue for that awkward moment.

"I'm sure we all will, Jagganim dear" KGE gave her answer to KES's hope. With her cheerful voice KGE said to LMH "I can't wait to finally work with you, LMH sanbaenim, I will try my best not to fail you. Since I'm still a rookie in this drama world. It really is a grand honor for me to be able to learn from you." with her sweet politeness KGE bowed her head solemnly to LMH.

LMH found it very refreshing to know how eloquent KGE was. She surely had been raised well. She knew how to speak to her seniors and still could keep the familiarity in her manner toward him and KES. He kept staring at the screen as if he could go through the screen and smiling ear to ear looking at KGE's face like she was something new and never exist before. He believed that he didn't even blink his eyes for seconds.

"I believe I am the one to say something like that to you, KGE-sshi. I'm the lucky one who finally have a chance to work with you. I hope that our collaboration will be written as the best collaboration of the year." said LMH with an underlying tone. His eyes never left KGE's face.

"How thoughtful of you, Sanbaenim. I am forever grateful to ever be well received by you." KGE bowed once again with twinkles in her eyes and bright smile that made her face looked so much younger than her age. Which made LMH lowered his gaze and smile sheepishly. He only knew that he needed to just  look away from her face for no reason. He didn't know how she made him so shy. And he wondered why.

"KES-sshi. Thank you for this very pleasant surprise. I didn't know that you were with LMH sanbae. I hope I'm not interrupting too long. I just want to tell you that I won't be able to attend our first script reading. I apologize for this inconvenience. I hope that you would kindly give me a private reading once I am back from the tour." finally KGE came to the matter.

"Why should I mind, GoEun-sshi? I know that you're very busy and you got so much on your plate right now. I surely will give you my schedule for your private reading session." KES agreed to her request.
"LMH-sshi, you too! This private reading session will be arranged for both of you." KES looked for LMH's approval to her "already approved" kind of request.

So everything was settled. They agreed to have a private reading after KGE finished all her promotion tour schedules.

"Thank you so much, KES jagganim and LMH sanbaenim. I will meet you two again soon." she ended the video call after she waved her hand and gave them her Duchenne smile.

The after taste of that Video call on LMH's brain was a buzzing sound and a weird growl in his stomach. He tried to analyze what was it he really feel. He never had difficulty to understand his feelings and his actions. But just now, he seemed to have no control over his body and mind. He kept seeing KGE's cute Duchenne smile in his mind and hearing her melodious voice in his ears.
Aigo Minho-yah?

I am busted. That was all he could tell himself.

*****

On his way back to his agency headquarter,  LMH found himself lurking on KGE's Instagram. He thought that it was okay for him to be curious about her activities before their private reading. It was all very normal and necessary. He had to know his co-star before he started to work with her.

LMH poked his head. He knew exactly that he was just made up excuses to make him feel like he wasn't being a crazy stalker. To that thought, he felt annoyed and embarrassed at the same time. What is it with me?

I did this because I need to know who am I going to work with. That's all. Nothing more. He convinced himself. But his other alter ego told him that he was really whipped by the so called "His" Chungmuro Queen. He put his hand on his head, closed his eyes and let out his breath from his mouth. As if that action would help him remove away what ever he was feeling in his body right now.

There, he finally found out what made her busy these days ahead. As he scrolled down her Instagram and other news sites on the internet, he got enough informations he needed about her activities. What bothered him was he found it a little annoying to see her smiling sweetly and happily with her co-star in her new movie promotional pictures.
But why should he even feel a little  annoyed? Wae?
Ridiculous.

You will be her best co-star ever, LMH-sshi. He promised himself. Her best co-star.. Really? His mind seemed to have its own voice that keep teasing him with questions. He was so doomed. He couldn't shake her from his mind.

"Noona,,  when will my horse riding exercise begin?" LMH decided to call his sister. "I want to start it sooner. I need to be very well prepared before the first reading." he said it with a determination. He had to make himself as busy as hell. But even before he allowed his brain to think, It was buzzing again with the thought of KGE and her Duchenne smile.
Auch!!

*****

I did it great.
I nailed it.

But you were so nervous, GoEun-ah!
You were fidgeted.
Let's just hope he didn't notice at all.
GoEun-ah, please don't fall!
Keep your promise, you are a pro.
The best colleague ever, like you have always been.

But that gaze, that smile..
Stop your stupid fangirling right now  GoEun-ah!

Let's go eat some spicy chicken feet.
I'm not gonna let that gaze and smile keep me awake tonight nor ever!

Yet his gaze and smile lingered in her mind.
Auch!

🌹

Writer note:
I did my best to finish this chapter.
I hope this chapter meet your expectations. If it doesn't, I promise I will write better.

Love,
SAL