Chapter 1
Another sigh escaped her lips, looking at her work there was something that felt wrong about it and she had already done three hours worth of rework. She guessed today was simply not her day. Standing up, she decided to call it a day and began fixing her art materials. “Are you finally done?” Joong-ki scratched the back of his head, eyes still not leaving his newly bought smartphone.
“Yeah, I guess,” Seon-mi replied with a sigh as she started dumping her dirty water over the sink in one of the biggest studios in their university.
Joong-ki looked at her, he pushed himself and stared at the canvass that Seon-mi was working with. It has a half done painting of a guy, looking out at the window, leaning against the brick walls. “Hmm, this looks good. ”
“It doesn’t look good,” Seon-mi rolled her eyes.
“You are too harsh to yourself, you know.” Joong-ki sat on the stool, pocketing his phone. “How come you say it’s not good when you are every art teacher’s pride here in our university?”
“It doesn’t look good. End of story.” Seon-mi shook her head as she arranged all her things to her designated cabinet, one of the perks of being a top art student.
“Well, it looked mighty good to me.” Her best friend genuinely said, staring at her work in progress.
“Thanks, Joong-ki.” She allowed a little smile. To be honest, looking at the painting it was indeed good already. It was neatly, perfectly done and she wondered why she felt like it was lacking something.
“You’re welcome, Mi. But, seriously, can we go now it’s almost seven. We have been staying here for a solid five hours already.” The latter whined.
“Didn’t ask you to come here and stay,” Seon-mi smirked making Joong-ki rolled his eyes.
“You’re welcome, Park Seon-mi.” Joong-ki sarcastically remarked making Seon-mi chuckle. She then grabbed her bag and playfully hit him with it.
“Let’s go, world’s most awesome best friend.” She chuckled as Joong-ki head locked her and started ruffling her hair. “Thank God you are cute or else.” He laughed.
Seon-mi then playfully closed her eyes, “God, thank you for making me cute.” Joong-ki burst into another laughter.
“Ah, you are so precious, Mi.”
“I know right?” Dara chuckled fixing her hair. She would have protested about him messing it yet she was too used of Joong-ki messing her hair whenever he will find her cute and irresistible.
The moment they reached the parking lot, Seon-mi opened the door of her car and tossed her things inside before taking the driver’s seat while Joong-ki took the shotgun. “Man, it would be really awesome if I can get my hands already to my own car.” Joong-ki clicked his tongue, fastening his seatbelt on.
Seon-mi and Joong-ki had been best friends since they met when they were both in third grade. They just get along for some unknown reason despite being the total opposite. As Joong-ki was everyone’s friend, confident and most of the time talkative, she happened to be the introvert of the year, quiet and loved her personal space too much. Way too much. But then, the two of them still stick together even when most of the time it was Joong-ki who does the never-ending talking.
“Ninety percent of the time, you are the one using my car, Joong-ki.” Seon-mi rolled her eyes before starting the engine of her Audi.
“Guilty but yeah, I am not as well off as you are.” Joong-ki pouted. “It even took me this long to get my own smartphone and you paid half of it.”
“Hey, will you stop counting. I am not even counting.” Seon-mi clicked her tongue, driving their way out of their university to her unit which was five minutes away.
“Fine. One day, I will be able to repay you.” Joong-ki smiled making Seon-mi smile herself.
“I’ll wait then. 'Till then you have a lifetime to do so,” Seon-mi chuckled.
There had been a time that Seon-mi had fallen in love with him and being the introvert her, her feelings dwell in silence as she slowly made peace with it. Accepting the fact that she and he were better off best friends than lovers. Together with the acceptance, her feelings ebbed away until it became nothing but a memory.
“I really believe that this could be the party of the year.” Seon-mi did her mandatory nod as she pushed the door of her unit open. Tossing her bag on her gray sofa, she went to her kitchen while Joong-ki comfortably slumped himself to the couch. “And besides, Mi this is the only time that I am insisting for you to go with me!” Seon-mi walked her way back to her living room with a tall glass of cold water.
“As far as I can remember, you are always insisting for me to go on your university parties.” She carefully took sips from her glass.
“Because that’s what being in college is all about. This is the time to make mistakes and be forgiven because you are young and impulsive. We are not getting any younger, Park Seon-mi.” Joong-ki replied, snatching the glass off her and finishing it.
“Wow, Joong-ki. Did you practice that speech?” She chuckled.
“Wait, don’t make me laugh I might forget the rest of it and I spent the whole night memorizing this shit.” Seon-mi laughed, shaking her head as she grabbed the glass from his hand and walked her way back to the kitchen.
“You know I can’t screw up.” Her expression changed for a second before she was able to force herself to smile.
“Seon-mi…” Joongki who followed her mumbled as he leaned against the counter giving her a small glance. Seon-mi shook her head lightly while drying her hand with the paper towel. She knew that Joong-ki understood where she’s coming from. Come to think of it, he probably knew everything about her.
“You know what?” She looked at Joong-ki which the latter returned. “Screw it, let’s go to that damn party.” The exhaustion of trying to be the perfect daughter just dawned to her in just a split second. She didn’t even realized how tired she was putting on the masquerade.
Joong-ki broke into a childlike grin. “All right!” He shouted, pumping his fist. “You won’t regret this, I promise.” He draped his arm over her shoulder. Seon-mi rolled her eyes.
“Hopefully not.”
Seon-mi felt herself swallow the lump that formed in her throat as she watched the outside of the club from her car. “I am excited.” Joong-ki quickly unbuckled his seatbelt. Seon-mi turned to look at him, hoping he’ll read the regret that she was feeling. “I have to say, you look smoking hot in that makeup. You didn’t tell me you’re good with makeup. Perks of being a great painter, I guess?” He chuckled as Seon-mi shook her head.
“Shall we?” Seon-mi forced a nod. She’s already there besides all she’s gonna do was be there, sit in the corner and watched people of her age or younger get thrashed. She decided to do it, might as well as finish what she started.
The moment they were out of the car, she can already hear the blasting electropop from the club where a great number of people were both coming in and out. Joongki grabbed her hand and soon, she found herself battling her way to get inside the club. The club looked smaller outside yet the inside was huge, filled with loud music and oozing with dancing lights and lasers. She can see bodies dancing, moving and grinding. Everyone having the time of their lives with cocktails in their hands. She prepared for something wild yet never would she thought that it was this wild.
They continued weaving through the crowd with Joong-ki already has a drink on his hand from the passing waiter. He was being greeted left and right, making her realize that Joong-ki, indeed, can be classified as a popular type of student in their university. Well, he was handsome and he was a basketball varsity player. Now she wondered why he still sticks with a boring girl like her. They soon reached a what seemed to be an overlooking veranda in the middle of the club. It was circular and it was overlooking what seemed to be a VIP area below where there were dancers, waiters on standby and a red circular couch where five men were sitting wearing expensive designers’ clothes.
All of them stood out their own way. Handsome face, oozing charisma and the power that you can feel in their aura. They become the center of attraction in no time yet one stood out more than the others. It could be because of his platinum blond hair that was styled to stand with sides neatly cut. He has a bored look on her face, a small inverted cross tattoo below his right eye. “Who’s he?” Joong-ki looked at Seon-mi in surprise. The lady rarely shows any interest in anyone.
“Who?” Joong-ki took a sip from his cocktail before offering it to her which she silently refused.
“The blond one.” Her eyes were still watching the guy who was obviously bored while sipping from his glass of scotch.
“Kwon Ji-yong.” Joong-ki leaned his arms against the metal railings. “The richest guy in the campus or should I say the world. That guy can buy anything that he touches. That’s how rich and powerful he is. Some say he’s a mafia heir.”
“He’s beautiful,” Seon-mi muttered as Joong-ki looked at her. Her artistic side has kicked in, he thought. For her, Kwon Ji-yong will make an interesting subject.
“Well, too bad because he only talks and associates himself with Shijang.” He pulled her closer to him, hand resting on the top of her head. “Can’t have him as a painting subject.” He grinned as Seon-mi didn’t respond and kept her eyes on this Kwon Ji-yong, he was talking about.
“Shijang?”
“Yep, that’s what you call their group. The most powerful and the richest group Seoul University ever had.”
“Powerful and rich…” Seon-mi roamed her eyes on the members of Shijang.
“Yeah.” Seon-mi failed to catch the small bitterness that Joong-ki has on his voice. “Well, you are as rich as they are you know? Let’s go.” Joong-ki was about to pull her when someone called Seon-mi.
“Oi, Seon-mi!” They both looked at one of the Shijang members waving his hand to Seon-mi. He soon ran his way to them. “Wow, it’s so nice to see you here. I didn’t know you study at Seoul University.”
“Seung-gi.” Dara smiled to him as Joong-ki turned to her questioning. Dara just gave him the look telling him that she will explain later.
“Oh, who’s this? Your boyfriend, does Yoon know him?” Seung-gi chuckled looking at Joong-ki.
“No. He’s my best friend, Oh Joong-ki.” Seon-mi calmly answered as Joong-ki flinched.
“Oh Joong-ki, bro.” Joong-ki offered his hand which the latter took politely, shaking his hand.
“Cha Seunghoon. Seung-gi.” Seung-gi smirked. “I thought I am your best friend, I am hurt.” He laughed turning to Seon-mi. Joong-ki winced at what he heard. He knew that Seon-mi was from a very rich clan but never would he thought that she was affiliated with anyone from Shijang.
“Oh, look… if it isn’t my cute fiance.” Their attention was thrown to Yoon who just arrived with his glass of scotch. “I didn’t know you go to this kind of party, Park Seon-mi.” He leaned to kiss her cheek which Seon-mi just silently accepted.
“My best friend forced me.” She answered. “Joong-ki, I forgot to tell you, this is Choi Seungyoon, my Fiancee.” Joong-ki blinked consecutively in disbelief.
“You never told me about you being engaged,” Joong-ki said quietly.
“It’s a family thing, we are engaged before we were even born.” Yoon smiled to him. Too friendly for his liking.
“Yeah, it sucks that he was born months ahead, I could have been Dara’s fiancee.” Seung-gi sighed in defeat while Yoon playfully elbowed her. “Oh, Seon-mi, come with us, we will introduce you to our friends.” Seon-mi gave a small nod before Seung-gi grabbed her hand and lead them to the VIP area.
“This is all weird up,” Joong-ki whispered to her.
“Sorry, I didn’t expect to see them here. They’re my childhood friends.” Seon-mi answered with an apologetic smile.
“Well, I never expect to be able to even get this close to Shijang.” Joong-ki shook his head in disbelief. They soon arrived in the VIP area.
“Guys, look! We saw Yoon’s fiance.” The three guys looked at them. One of them stood up and offered his hand to Dara.
“Nice to finally meet you, Dong Tae-yang.” Seon-mi took his hand to shake it yet Tae-yang landed a soft kiss on the back of her hand instead of shaking it.
“Thank you, Park Seon-mi.” Seon-mi smiled politely.
“Oh, so you’re the painting prodigy. Nice to meet you, Kang Hong-ki.” Hong-ki then leaned to kiss her gently on her cheeks. “I must say I am a big fan.”
“Thank you.”
Ji-yong pushed himself up. He smiled at her before taking her hand and kissing it lightly. “Kwon Ji-yong, nice to meet you.” Seon-mi just looked at him, carefully burning his image in her head.
“You’re beautiful.” She smiled. Jiyong was taken aback with what he heard before he let out a small chuckle. “I am Park Seon-mi.” Seon-mi added.
“I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you.” He smiled slyly. And without them knowing the fates started weaving a tale they will soon all want to forget.
