To Kiss An Idol

188 The Lost Phone

Everyone kept hitting Nivritti on her arm in anger. She could that everyone was scared and worried for her, especially Kyung-Soo. His face had fear written all over it. The way he held her close to him finally made him realise that she was safe.

Everyone first berated her for not replying to their messages and asked why she didn’t reply. She informed everyone that she lost her phone. Kyung-Soo and Young-Chul freaked out for a minute, but she assured them that everything was fine. Jae-Hwa even asked her to report her phone stolen.

“I lost it, no one took it or stole it. I doubt the police will even file a report about it. It was my mistake, I lost it somewhere. I will look for it near the practice room, maybe it is somewhere there. I tried looking at my stairs but…” replied Nivritti.

But before she could complete her sentence, Kyung-Soo shouted, “are you out of your mind? Who told you to walk on stairs with that foot? Do you want to injure yourself further?”

Nivritti lowered her head and looked down in shame. She knew she should not have done that.

“And then you had to run when Young told you to change your clothes. Couldn’t you walk slowly?” he kept berating her.

“He is right. With an injury like that, people are advised to rest and not put pressure on it. If you will keep doing this, it will take a lot of time to heal,” interjected Jae-Geun.

“Sorry!” apologised Nivritti.

“You, sit down,” Young-Chul ordered Nivritti. Nivritti pursed her lips and slowly walked to the couch and sat down. “I have to call everyone else they too will come running here,” said Young-Chul and took out his phone. He dialled the last number he received a call from, Him-Chan’s number. Within a single ring, he picked up the call.

.....

But the voice that streamed in, was of Jung-Hwa, “how is she? Where is she? What happened to her? Why was she not replying?” Jung-Hwa kept shouting question after question.

“Calm down, JJ. Give me a moment to reply,” said Young-Chul, casually.

“Yes, Hyung, you are on the speaker. We all are listening,” spoke Him-Chan.

“She was not replying because she lost her phone,” said Young-Chul.

“What?” shouted everyone from the other side of the phone. “How? Where? Did she look for it? When did she find out?” who asked which question no one had any idea.

Young-Chul placed his hand over his forehead and rubbed his temple in frustration. “Shut up!” he shouted at his brothers. “One question at a time. If you keep babbling like this how will anyone reply?”

“Sorry!” all said in unison on the phone.

“Young, what if someone found her phone, they can get our details from it,” shouted Korain, abruptly. “Ask her to log in to all her accounts and delete everything important.”

“Oh, great minds think alike!” smiled Kyung-Soo.

“Don’t worry Hyung, she was one step ahead of you. She already removed everything from her phone,” replied Young-Chul.

“But not the sim card,” said Korain.

“What about it?” asked Young-Chul.

“Anyone can misuse her number, use it to commit a crime as the number is in her name she can land in trouble,” explained Korain.

“Let me put you on speaker, explain it to her,” said Young-Chul and pressed the speaker button.

“Are you okay, Ritti?” asked Korain, immediately.

“Yes, SK, I am fine,” replied Nivritti.

“Should I hit you on your head? Why weren’t you replying?” shouted Jung-Hwa immediately.

“Um… MY told you that I lost my phone, right?” Nivritti scratched the back of her neck in confusion. Young-Chul just informed him that she lost her phone then why was Jung-Hwa repeating his questions?

“I know. I just wanted to shout at you,” yelled Jung-Hwa.

“Feel good now?” teased Nivritti.

“Yes, thank you very much,” sulked Jung-Hwa.

“Are you done?” Korain scolded Jung-Hwa.

“Sorry, Hyung,” replied Jung-Hwa.

“So, Ritti, you need to file a report with the police that you lost your phone,” suggested Korain.

“What? Why? What can they do?” she asked.

“It’s not about what they will do. It’s about the copy of the report that you will get. You can show that report to the sim company and get a copy of the same sim, you won’t have the change your number. Even if you want to change your number, you should get a copy of the report so that any crime committed with your number, the police report will exonerate you,” explained Korain.

“I told you,” shouted Jae-Hwa.

“Jae! What are you doing there at this time?” scolded Korain.

“Just like you sent these two here at this time of night, she too came to check up on me,” said Nivritti.

“Alone?” asked Jeong-Eun, shocked.

“No, her brother drove her here,” smiled Nivritti and glanced at Jae-Hwa. Her cheeks were red after hearing his voice.

“Wow! Miss popular!!” teased Korain. “You have good friends. You should treat your friends tomorrow for looking after you,” he tried to make the environment lighter and slightly fun.

“Done!” smiled Nivritti.

“Young, make sure she is okay and come home soon. You too need your sleep,” ordered Korain.

“You guys go to sleep, NK hyung will go back soon. I am staying here,” announced Young-Chul.

“What?” everyone altogether shouted except Nivritti. She had a different exclamation, “excuse me!”

“Yeah, Oppa, you leave too, I am staying here,” said Jae-Hwa.

“If he is staying, I am staying here too,” said Kyung-Soo.

“You have not brought any clothes. I will stay here with you, and we can leave early in the morning and then you can get ready for your office,” said Jae-Geun.

“No!!” shouted Nivritti. “No one is staying here. Everyone, go back to your houses.”

“What if you need something? How will you call someone?” scolded Young-Chul.

“What will I need in the middle of the night? I was asleep before you guys barged in,” yelled Nivritti.

“I am not going anywhere, you cannot make me,” sulked Young-Chul and sat down on the couch in front of Nivritti.

Nivritti shook her head in disbelief and stood up. “Children!” she mumbled. Kyung-Soo immediately stared at her.

“There she goes, again with ‘children’ nonsense,” he thought.

She walked near Young-Chul and looked at him. Her serious expression changed into a mocking smile. While smiling, she grabbed his ears and made him stand up. “Ow, ow, ow!” screamed Young-Chul and stood up.

Nivritti walked with Young-Chul and took him near the door. “Go, back home. I only have one bed and I am not letting you sleep on the couch. You need a good night’s sleep else your mental health will be hampered. Come here early, you have to take me to the police station. On second thought, you don’t come. You sleep late till morning. Someone else can come to pick me up.”

“I will come,” shouted Thae from the phone.

Because of Young-Chul’s stubbornness, everyone in Nivritti’s apartment had forgotten that the phone call was still connected. Thae’s voice made them realise that everyone could hear one another.

“No, it’s better that someone like me would take you to the police station. If an idol would be seen before the police station, they will have questions,” interrupted Jae-Geun.

“Who is that?” asked Thae.

Nivritti waited for Jae-Geun or Jae-Hwa to reply but both just kept staring at her. Nivritti rolled her eyes and replied, “that’s Jae-Geun, Jae-Hwa’s brother.”

“Well, he is not wrong. It would be better if helps you,” said Korain.

“Ow! Let go of my ear,” shouted Young-Chul.

“Oh, right!” said Nivritti and let his ear go. She then pressed his ear softly to ease the pain. “Please, MY, you need rest. Go home.”

“I am thirsty. I want water. Guys! Talk to you when I get home,” said Young-Chul on the phone and disconnected the call.

“Fine! I will get you water,” Nivritti replied, defeated.

“You, sit down. I can get water myself,” sulked Young-Chul and again rubbed his ear, the one she pulled. “Everyone, sit down. I will get water for everyone.”

Young-Chul went into the kitchen while others sat on the couch.

“You guys are something else! Who comes to someone’s house, so late at night?” Nivritti shook her head in disbelief.

“You were not replying, and we all knew you were hurt,” replied Jae-Hwa.

“So?” asked Nivritti.

“How did you feel when we were not replying to you? You kept asking us about Young and then you threatened us that the next time that happens you will hit us on our head. Still, you are asking ‘so’?” scolded Kyung-Soo.

“Right, sorry! I didn’t mean to worry any of you. I have been trying to rake my brain trying to recall where I might have lost my phone, but I have no answer,” replied Nivritti.

“Well, now don’t think about that. Now we know and everyone’s mind is at ease. Tell me which phone you want, I will get it for you,” smiled Kyung-Soo.

“Why? What do you mean? Why would you buy it? I can buy a phone for myself,” said Nivritti, offended.

“He is just trying to be nice, not calling you poor, don’t get offended,” scolded Jae-Hwa.