Chapter 4: Oppa

"I'm tired." Eeteuk said as he place his cellphone back into his pocket. Both of them are now sitting on the bench facing the Han River. Like him, she also felt tired after a series of picture taking with him.

She didn't really think she could do it- having her picture taken with a pop idol. She really enjoyed it. Naya didn't care about the idea that everything might be just acting on his part, knowing that it's his job to please everyone. She doesn't care what will his opinion
about her be because she's pretty sure that it won't take long for him to forget her.

"Huh?" Naya's face looked at his. "I'm sorry if I've been a bother to you. I should leave." she smiled at him. "Thank you for pictures and... everything."

Naya stood but she felt his hand held hers.

"No. Don't leave. Stay." he said.

"But... but I thought you're tired... You should go home and rest. Besides you really look like one. A good sleep will be of help." she felt bad for him. It's only now when he stared at him that he indeed look tired.

"Please...just stay will you?" he said. "Even... just for while?" Naya felt him held her hand even tighter.

She sighed and went seated again. A deafening silence there again and Naya didn't know what to do. She sighed. He said.

"Is...there...uhm...anything wrong?" she can't help but ask.

Eeteuk smiled. "Are you that worried about me, noona?" he beamed.

"WHAAAT?!", she squealed. "Did you just call me Noona? Do I look that old to you?"

Eeteuk smiled.

"What?!", she was still glaring at him. "Do I look that old?", she asked again but this time, she was asking herself. Naya heard him chuckle.

"Ya!!!", she yelled at him. "How dare you call me Noona, mister? You're two years older than I am for your information!"

"Really? How'd you know that?", he winked at her. "Are you that interested in me that you --"

"Aaah, shut up. You're just famous that's why I knew about. Gosh you're so full of yourself."

"How can you say that?I was just asking.", Leeteuk can't stop grinning. "And you can't blame me if I called you noona. I was just trying to be polite. If I may say, I already introduce myself to you but you haven't tell me your name yet", he stared at her intently.

Naya kept quiet.

She intentionally didn't tell him her name. For her, it's not really important since they won't be seeing each other after that. But when he said that he was just trying to be polite, Naya felt ashamed of herself. What she did was really impolite.

"I'm sorry." she said. "By the way, I'm Naya."

"No worries. You don't really have to tell me your name. I already know it." he winked again.

Naya gave him a questioning look. Then, he pointed his finger on her neck. "Na-ya."

Right, she was wearing her necklace with her name on it.

"I told you to stop playing with me." she said with one brow raised.

"I'm not." he said.

'He was serious again.' Naya thought while looking at him.



"ARE YOU gonna stay with me now, Naya?" he asked.

Naya stiffened after she heard him say her name. The way he said it, it's different and she knows it. She knows because the effects of it are totally different.

"Naya?" he asked again.

'YES! I can stay with you forever.' If only she could say that.

"Is there anything wrong, Naya?" Leeteuk asked.

"Stop saying my name." she can't help saying it. Her heart's pounding again.

"Why? I like the sound of it. I like your name, Naya." he glanced at her and then back to the river again.

Moments have passed but Leeteuk seemed to be not interested in talking to her.

"I'm sorry but I just can't stay here with you if well only just sit here and do nothing." Naya said after clearing her throat.

He grinned. "Why? What else do you want US to do?" he asked. Obviously, there's another meaning to what he's asking.

"Stupid. That's not what I mean and you know it." she rolled her eyes. "If you want me to stay here, then we have to talk."

"Okay."


Silence.



Silence.



Silence.



"So?"

"So, what?" he asked.

"Gosh!" she stood to leave him. But again, he stopped her by reaching for her hand.

"Fine. Ask me what you wanna know and I'll answer it." he said still holding it.

Naya took her seat again and sighed.

"Are you alright?" she started.

"You want an honest answer?" He asked in return instead of answering it.

"Of...course."

"I'm tired. I feel drained and...and I just want to get out of here."

"I see. Then...why don't you take a vacation?"

"I'll have it after ASF." he said.

"ASF?" Naya asked.

"We'll be performing at the Asia Song Festival the day after tomorrow. Then, we'll get a vacation..."

"Then that's great! You'll get to recharge soon!" she smiled at him.

He sighed. "So, why don't you tell me about you...you're vacation... noona?"

"Noona?!"she glared at him. He's teasing her again! What the heck! This guy really knows how to irritate her anytime he likes. She sighed. "Whatever. I won't give you the satisfaction of irritating me... Eeteuk OPPA?"

"Eeteuk oppa?" he laughed. "I like that..."

Eeteuk looked at her. "So, start telling your story now."

"There's nothing much to tell. My life isn't as interesting as yours, oppa." Naya glanced at the Han River and sighed. "Maybe that's why I decided to take a vacation alone...without anyone's knowledge." She smiled bitterly.

Eeteuk stared at Naya.

"Don't get me wrong, oppa. I don't hate life, okay?" she smiled.

"Looks like you love calling me 'oppa', right noona?" Eeteuk grinned.

Naya smiled and then laughed. "Oppa, oppa, oppa, oppa..." she said playfully. "You don't like it?"

"Are you teasing me?", he asked.

"Why? Are you suprised I also know how to tease someone?", she asked, teasing him.


Silence.


Naya felt nervous. Maybe he indeed doesn't like. She cleared her throat and sighed.


"I love it." he said after a few minutes.

"Huh?", she asked.

"I love hearing you calling me oppa."

Naya blushed. "I see."


Silence.


Then, Naya cleared her throat.

"I'll start going around tomorrow. Can you tell me some nice places to visit?" Naya tried to end the defeaning silence between them.

"You want me to be your tour guide?" he asked.

"No. Of course not! I was just asking. Actually, you dont have to answer it... I was just trying to start a conversation." Naya said.

"The Olympic Stadium." she heard Eeteuk said after a while.

"Olympic Stadium?" she echoed. "Cool. Thanks."

That started it all. She and Eeteuk spend three hours talking and just sighing. Naya was quite sure there's something bothering him. And how she wished she can just help him out.