KANGIN got the call at 4 in the morning. He was anything but happy. "What?" Heechul was on the other line. Angry and tired from the raspiness of his voice.
"I'm in New York." was all Heechul said.
Kangin sat up. "You're where?" He got dizzy and laid back down. "Why in God's green Earth would you wake me up to tell me just that?"
"I called you to tell you that you need to have the SUJU Saturday at your place. Leave Sungmin out of it. Tell him that you can't make it. Tell him that the others have unscheduled stuff too. We need to talk to Kyuhyun about this Zitaopanda situation."
"What zitaopanda situation?" a light-bulb finally lit in Kangin's head. "Are they together now? I thought you were staying at Sungmin's place just to make sure that didn't happen? How'd they slip past you? I barely could!" Kangin had to laugh. It was hard when it was Heechul on dorm duty.
"They went on a bloody freaking picnic. Ryeowook made some stupid food basket for some couple and Sungmin and that zitaopanda delivered it. They were freaking kissing on the bloody steps!" Heechul didn't care if people looked at him. He was so mad that he wanted to spit out fire. Kyuhyun would be inconsolable. He promised to soften up Sungmin and get him to Kyuhyun but now with that stupid panda, Kyuhyun was going to be edged out of the picture. Heechul wanted to roast that panda. Kangin could only imagine what Heechul looked like right now.
"Is Sungmin happy?"
"WHO THE BLOODY HELL CARES?" Heechul was so pissed he missed the concern in Kangin's voice.
"I do. We do. YOU should." Kangin was the most decisive of them sometimes. Heechul hated it when that was in conflict with what he wanted to get or done.
"But what about Kyu..." Heechul trailed off, trying to win some sympathy.
"It seems to me that Kyuhyun has chosen to leave Sungmin, not do anything to get him back, and had put all the responsibility on you. He didn't know how to get Sungmin back and he simply delegated the task of making Sungmin smile to us. He didn't even join any of the recent SUJU Saturdays, and for what, for him to safe face? Bullsh!t. He could have apologized even if he was all the way over there and made a point to talk to Sungmin. Actually, he could have flown in with you and done exactly that. But his rehearsals are more important. His dreams are more important than Sungmin. Fixing what they had was less urgent for him. And now that Sungmin is starting over, having tried so hard to move on, then you want to sabotage that? What kind of friendship do you think we have here? One that is based on your every whim?" Heechul knew that Kangin was not often long-winded so he let the sleepy man speak.
"I am bringing Kyu back one way or another. And this zitaopanda will find out who Sungmin really loves. Have a nice Saturday." Heechul hung up and Kangin wanted to snarl at his phone.
"Drama kings, the lot of you." He decided to sms the others to cancel SUJU Saturday. He didn't bother to read the replies. He’s skipping this one if that was the least he could do. He wasn't gonna take part in ruining Sungmin's new-found happiness.
SUNGMIN frowned at the sms he got from Kangin. Why would he want to cancel this SUJU Saturday? He had already cooked pancakes and eggs. Yesung was already on his way with Kibum. Jungsu had already agreed to buy the maple syrup.
Tao was already nervously cleaning up the bedroom. Sungmin felt like Tao was acting like a daughter-in-law about to meet the family.
"Ne sarang, would you please do me a favor and sit down. You will make yourself sick with worry.” Sungmin already knew that his friends would take Tao in easily. Though once he introduces him as not just his student, they would subject him to the SUJU inquisition.
Tao finally sat down and tried to calm down. He was wearing a cute shirt from Sungmin’s closet that he was pretty sure was a couple shirt. It was in a plastic bag and Sungmin said that they could wear it today. Sungmin had the one with the fuchsia sleeves and he was wearing the one with the orange sleeves. Sure it had big eyes on the chest but Tao figured that a little cuteness never hurt anybody. What was making him really smile was that he was wearing boxers that Sungmin bought for himself. He didn’t have anything to change into so he was now wearing pink boxers over his loaned jogging pants, which were, thank Buddha, regular black training pants.
When the first of the SUJU guys came Tao bowed deeply in greeting. “Anyeong. I’m Tao.”
“Zitaopanda is here!” Yesung announced. The rest of the guys popped in. Tao didn’t expect all the other fourteen of course. Sungmin mentioned that most of them would be meeting them up online. Yesung, Kibum, and Ryeowook were coming over. Then Kangin, if he was up for it. Siwon would be at work and would probably join them via Google Hangout during his break. The China delegation would be at Han Geng’s apartment and the infamous EunHae were at their place all the way from the U.S. of A.
"Be nice." Sungmin gave Yesung a knowing look. Yesung pointed at himself as if to say 'Who me?' "Yes, you." Yesung had a way to try to ease into someone's defenses but then boom you're cornered before you know it. The charmer was lethal to all kinds of prey. And Tao was obviously going to be the prey.
Kangin popped his head in after they all got settled in. "I thought I was going to be late." he wiped imaginary sweat off his forehead. "Hey, zitaopanda." he greeted Tao who bowed.
"So, is it just me or did everyone get that weird thing that Heechul sent about canceling today." Sungmin heard the choking cough that made Jungsu lightly tap Kibum's back. "What's up with you guys again?"
Tao felt a little out of place but he did sign up for this. The rest were setting up the big screen TV to be the multi-display for their Google Hangout day. "I think I would consider suggesting this to my friends too."
Jungsu shook his head. "When you are still together in the same country there is absolutely no way you should settle for this. Making memories while you are still in Uni is important. And you have to do it in RL not online." he meant in real life instead of the alternative they were now stuck with.
A sleepy-looking Donghae appeared at the lower right corner of the screen. "Good morning guys...sarang...wake up." Donghae was waking his better half. Sungmin for once didn't feel jealous. He had woken up with someone in his bed today too. And it felt somewhat right to have him there. Even better now that he was there to be with his friends.
The China delegation popped up on the upper left corner of the screen. They were all set up and was about to talk when another window opened to reveal Heechul.
"You guys didn't think you can have your same old Saturday without me, did you?" Sungmin was relieved that he was not in some ditch someplace.
"Where have you gone off to?" Sungmin asked with his hands on his waist.
"On the first flight, I could get to New York. I'm here. Still out of it but here." Sungmin didn't expect the person who appeared next to Heechul, holding a bowl of Texas mix.
"Hi, pumpkin prince. I missed you." There he was, looking like he just came from the long lost chapter of his mind. A bit thinner than he remembered but still there, for his first SUJU Saturday was the man whom Sungmin thought would never say he missed him ever again.
Sungmin figured it was about time. "Guys since we are complete, I'd like to make an announcement."
"Me too." Kyuhyun chimed in.
"Tao and I are together!" Sungmin smiled.
"I'm going back home to Korea!" Kyuhyun's voice rang over the speakers.
"WHAT?!" the rest of the people, offline and online shouted. Kyuhyun looked shocked. Tao felt like he was under a microscope. And Heechul was fuming.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7izPwxUIBe
