Prologue

The restaurant was filling up as Hyun oppa and I were waiting for a table for the two of us. I was starving. It had been half an hour and there was still no waiters coming up to serve us.
"I'm sorry we have to wait," Hyun oppa said, "I didn't know it will be this full at this time." It's 8 in the evening.
"Oh, it's fine," I dismissed, "it's worth it if I get to see you. I haven't spoken to you for a long time since BIGBANG is going so well." I smiled at Hyun, one of my oldest and good friends since high school.
Choi Seung-Hyun, who used to be my high school sweetheart, looked affectionately at me. We dated for quite a long time but I kind of broke it off because of BIGBANG; cameras flashing everywhere we go, headlines such as "T.O.P is Taken, Sorry Girls" on magazine covers- I’ve had it. It had been 3 years now and I didn't regret a thing because we were still close friends. I loved him as a brother and we phoned each other. But recently, because his band was becoming ever so popular, we hardly had any contacts so it was a bit surprising when two days ago, Hyun oppa phoned me to ask if we could meet up. Damn, I missed him. I missed my "monkeyface".
“Madam, your table is ready.” A voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Let’s go.” Hyun oppa took my hand and we arrived at a table in the corner of the restaurant. The waiter pulled a seat for me as Hyunnie seated himself opposite me. “Any drinks for sir and madam?”
“Bitter lemon please, no ice.” I ordered.
“Coke, please.”
The waiter bowed and left our table.
“So... how have you been?”
“Been busy, you know, with advertisements, band practices and training.”
“Not too busy for me, I hope?”
Hyun oppa smiled. I hadn’t seen that smile for a long time. “It has been hectic.”
“So, what’s up?”
“Nothing, just want to see you that’s all.” His dark chocolate eyes bored into mine.
“Your drinks.” The waiter popped the bitter lemon and Coke on the table. “Are you ready to order?”
“I’ll have spaghetti and the lady will have carbonara. No rush.”
The waiter bowed once more and took his leave.
“So how is finance treating you?”
“I’m fine. Everything is fine.” I replied, taking a quick sip of lemonade. Ooooh brain freeze.
“Mat, I need to ask you a favour.”
“Financial trouble?” I grinned.
“Umm no,” he smiled, “something else. I’m asking this as a friend.”
“Hmm?”
“You see, I-“
“ah-Hyun!” A voice boomed out of nowhere.
“Oh hey! Hi there!” Hyun oppa smiled up above me and I swivelled round to see who the voice belonged to.
A man was strolling towards our table. As he came closer, I noticed his black hair fell down to his neck. His nose arched a little crookedly with high cheek-bones. As he kept coming closer, I saw his well-chiselled face and his chocolate brown eyes which were a little lighter than Hyun’s. He sank into my friend’s embrace and they pat one another on the back like they were old friends.
“How have you been man?” The man asked.
“Hey ah-Joong, I’ve been fine. I’m just seeing a friend right now.” He turned to me. “Mat, Kim Hyun-Joong, Hyun-Joong, this is Mathilde Farlongue, the lady I have been telling you about.”
I reached my hand out to shake his, which was large. I looked over his clothes: a Super Dry hoodie with baggy trousers.
“Is she English?” Kim Hyun-Joong’s voice was lazy and calm.
“No, she’s French.” Hyun oppa replied.
“Ahhh borr-jaww,” Kim Hyun-Joong said, “Sei vah?”
I stifled a giggle. “Bonjour m. Kim,” I stole a glance at Hyun oppa, who was suppressing his laugh, “How do you do?” I switched to Korean.
Kim Hyun-Joong looked taken back. “Charmed.” He replied.
“Your orders.” I smelled the Italian meals as I turned to see the waiter standing, waiting for us to sit down.
“Ahhh grazie, signor.” I looked at my carbonara, the delicious smell waffled in the air, and sat back down as the waiter placed Hyun oppa’s meal on the table.
“Sorry to disturb,” Kim Hyun-Joong bowed at us, “I must be going then.” He waved us goodbye as he joined with four others, and I guessed, with similar age to him, as they walked over to a large table in the restaurant.
“Who is he?” I asked.
“He is someone who I was going to talk to you about.” Hyun oppa replied.
“Huh?” My eyebrows were raised questioningly. I forked some noodles and popped them in my mouth.
“You see,” Hyun oppa looked down at his food, twisting his fork in the middle of the plate, “my friend, whom you’ve just met, is new to Media. He is a singer too, and so are his 4 friends over there.” He paused, his eyes bored into mine once more. “If it’s no trouble, I want you to look after them-“ He held his hand up before I could say anything, “like you did with BIGBANG. I want you to give them a home so they can settle down properly in Seoul.”
“But I don’t know them-“ I started.
“I’ll introduce you guys properly.” He looked at me, pleading me. “You looked after me and my guys. I know you’ll do the same for those 5. You see, they need someone who knows the music industry-“
“I’m an employee in a finance office!-“
“You've helped me out when I had no-one else.” His eyes melted into mine and for a moment, there was no noise and it’s just us, and us alone. “I know it is a big favour and I will return it someday but for now, help them like you’ve helped me. “ He ate some noodles.
“I don’t feel comfortable living with people I don’t know.” I stated.
“They are nice and friendly people. I promise you. I need you to take care of them, live with them, talk to them etc. They are still quite new to one another but they should be fine. Ah-Joong has been a good friend to me over some time he did me some favours and this is my way of returning thanks to him.”
I swallowed. “My flat won’t h-“
“I’ve already gotten a bigger house so there is enough space.” He had put down his fork and both his hands clasped around mine. “I know you will help me because we’re close friends.” For a moment, which felt like a life-time, we were stuck like this: holding hands, his eyes melted into mine. He knew he’s got me.
“Fine.”
“Promise me you’ll take care of them? You’ll be great friends, I guarantee.”
“I promise.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and resumed eating his spaghetti.


Dear readers, back then it was 2003. I do not regret making this decision in taking in the 5 men whom Hyun oppa so fondly spoke of. After a few years, I got to know them quite well and we were getting on like a house on fire. I love them as if they are my brothers and here is my tale of SS501.
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