Chapter 1 : Helping out
It was a hot and sunny day during summer vacation, and it was almost 9 o’clock in the morning. Hyejin was lazily lying on her bed, watching a drama on her tablet, still in her pajamas, when suddenly her smartphone started vibrating on her nightstand. She looked at the screen and was surprised to see her sister’s id on it.
- Hi Sora. What do you want ?
- You know you are the best sister in Korea and I love you very much don’t you ?
- Come on sis, what is it this time ?
- What ? Can’t I call my sister from time to time to say nice things to her without it being weird?
Hyejin sat up and exhaled loudly. Her sister was really something. She would never call her unless she needed something from her. They didn’t have that kind of close relationship. She replied coldly :
- First of all, you hate phone calls and only use texts unless it’s an emergency. Second of all, the last time you gave me a phone call was six months ago when you forgot your credit card while shopping and asked me to bring it to you…
- You’re such a killjoy Hyejin.. Anyway, I’m at work and I need to participate in a big photoshoot in less than 1 hour but I was in a hurry this morning and I took the wrong bag ! My camera and lenses are in my bedroom.. Please can you bring them to me ? I don’t want to get in trouble with my boss…
- I thought you hated your boss because he was a tyrant and a pervert and you wanted to throw him into the Han river ?
- Yes I still do ! But I also want to keep my job and become successful ! So, dear little sister, can you help me ?
- Do I have a choice ?
- No…. unless you want me to snitch on you next time you go out without permission.
Hyejin couldn’t believe how cunning her big sister was. Sora was the one secretly going out and even sometimes sleeping over without their parents knowing but Hyejin never told on her. She, on the other hand, was always following their rules except once ! She started defending herself :
- It was just once and I went to study at the library with Bong Cha !
- You really need to get some excitement in your life sis’.... But whatever ! The bag is on my desk ! Hurry up and since I’m not a monster I’ll treat you to lunch once I’m done and drive you home. I’ll text you the location later.
And just like that she hung up. Typical Kwang Sora. Hyejin loved her big sister but she wished sometimes she was a little less selfish. What if she had been in the middle of something important too ? She could almost hear her sister’s voice in her head mocking her “You never have plans, you’re a real hermit.” And she wasn’t wrong. The two sisters ,with a 3 years age gap, were nothing alike. Sora the oldest, at 21 years old, was really carefree and easygoing. She was a party girl, solar and outstanding, loud, living in the moment and not giving a damn about others opinion. Hyejin, 18 years old, was introverted and anxious. She wasn’t confident about herself. She didn’t have many friends, she wasn’t super pretty nor popular at school and she didn’t have super good grades despite being meticulous and studying a lot. In one word she was average and therefore kind of transparent. She didn’t dislike it though. She hated being the center of attention.
Hyejin jumped off her bed and stretched her arms and back before heading to her wardrobe. Since it was hot outside and she needed to hurry, she decided to wear something comfortable and light : she took a grayish shirt and light blue denim shorts before heading straight to the bathroom. Getting ready didn’t take long since she had a bob cut which didn’t need much care and she didn’t bother putting makeup on. Actually she almost never put any on her face and didn’t know much about it. Every time she tried, she had found herself looking like a clown and disliked it.
After having freshened up, she was finally ready to go. She went to her sister’s bedroom and got the camera bag before heading out of their house. Sora had texted her the location of the photoshoot. It was in a private building of a TV channel somewhere in Gangnam. It was almost 40minutes away from home by bus so she had to be fast. She rushed to the bus station and fortunately didn’t have to wait too long for the bus to come.
37 minutes later she got off the bus and it was already busy outside. It had been a while since she last came into this neighborhood. All the people seemed to be wearing the latest trend in clothes and accessories. It’s not necessary to say how unfit Hyejin felt in this crowd with her simple clothes. She reached for her phone and earplugs. She loved to immerse herself into some good music in order to forget the world around herself and stay in her own bubble. She also started following the direction of the GPS app in her smartphone to find the building. She was walking head down at a rather fast pace. She was almost there, she only had to turn left at the next corner and she should be able to spot the building. In a hurry she did not raise her head and walked straight into what she first took for a wall since the impact on her face was strong. She fell on her butt on the floor, losing her earplugs on the way . Only then did she raise her head to find out that the so-called wall was in fact a person’s chest.
- Are you alright ? Did you hurt yourself ?
A concerned voice came to her ears. She looked up and her eyes met the stranger’s gaze. His face was familiar. She could definitely put him into the category of “beautiful men”. He was wearing a blue suit and a necktie. His hairstyle was neat and quite stylish : separated by a part on the left side of his head, combed toward the back and black. Compared to her, he was clearly an adult but yet he didn’t seem that old. In fact, despite having quite large ears, he had a really attractive face with full lips. He seemed worried. He bent down and helped her retrieve her earplugs from the ground
- I’m alright. Thank you sir. I’m sorry, it’s my mistake. I wasn’t looking properly.
Once they were both standing again in the middle of the sidewalk, she bowed her head politely to the man. She felt her cheeks heating up. She wasn’t used to talking to strangers and getting attention.
- Well nobody’s hurt so it’s fine but you should consider looking up once in a while !
He didn’t seem upset but his tone was clearly strict
- Thank you for the advice sir. I’ll be more careful. I’m sorry I really need to go…
Hyejin greeted the stranger one more time out of manners and got going again but looking in front of her this time, not wanting to bump into anyone else in the crowd. She soon arrived in front of the building she was looking for and passed the entrance. Inside, only people with suits or elegant clothes. It was big and she wasn’t sure where she was supposed to head. She took out her phone and started calling her sister’s number but soon a familiar voice came to her ears
-Hey Sis’ ! You’re finally here !!! I thought I was screwed ! Where is my camera bag ?
-It’s he…. Oh crap…
Hyejin was about to take it from her shoulder to give it to Sora but nothing. She hadn’t realized it wasn’t there anymore. She looked around to see if she hadn’t dropped it near by accident but no sign of the bag. She saw her sister’s face becoming tense.
- Come on Hyejin… Don’t tell me you lost my bag ?!
She couldn’t answer anything and she knew her sister was about to lose it …
- Are you serious ? Your only job was to bring it to me and you are saying you lost it ? Do you know how much that equipment bag is worth ?
Hyejin was about to retort that she was the one forgetting it in the first place and was partially at fault too but suddenly she felt a hand patting her right shoulder
- Hey you ! I thought I had lost you in the crowd earlier ! You forgot that on the ground when you left !
She turned her head to the side and here was the beautiful man from earlier extending the camera bag to her. Hyejin was about to thank him and apologize but her sister stepped in before she could say anything. She took the bag and flashed her best smile to the man in front of her
- Oh my ! Thank you sir ! You are saving us ! I’m sorry my little sister gave you a hard time ! She can get really clumsy sometimes ! Come on Hyejin, don’t be rude ! You should apologize too !
Hyejin felt her ears and cheeks heating. She was both embarrassed and annoyed. Her sister was clearly acting in order to make her look like a child and have the part of the caring big sister. By her expressions and voice, Hyejin could tell Sora had activated her charming mode and knowing her she had the hots for that man without a doubt.
Hyejin bowed to the man anyway
- Thank you sir. I’m sorry I troubled you ! I hadn’t realized the bag had left my shoulder.
- It’s okay. But you should be more careful in the future.
Hyejin felt totally uncomfortable. It was the second time she was getting lectured by him in less than 10 minutes. His voice was still not annoyed but you could feel an authoritative vibe to it. Before she could add anything her sister stepped in with enthusiasm showing her hand to the stranger, in the most seductive way
- We are a bit in a hurry right now but can I offer to repay you with a meal some other time ? I’m Kwang Sora by the way. I work as a photographer for Sunshine Shooting enterprise. And this is my little sister Kwang Hyejin. She is a senior in Highschool.
To their surprise, the man did not shake her hand but bowed politely to both of them.
- Thank you for the offer but I didn’t do anything worth repayment. I was heading this way anyway.
Not destabilized at all by his coldness, Sora took out her wallet and looked for her business card. She finally found it and passed it to the man grabbing his hand
- Well at least take my card. If you ever change your mind you can call me to this number !
If the man was annoyed by Sora’s pushy behavior at least he didn’t let it show. His face was still polite and unaffected while he stored the card in his own wallet. Hyejin couldn’t believe how bold her sister was. She didn’t know anything about him but was able to hit on him in her own workplace.
- I have to get going now. So if you can excuse me.
The man bowed once again and finally turned around to go near the elevator of the administrative section on the opposite side. Sora also resumed walking and Hyejin followed her. While they passed security check to enter an area reserved to staff members only Hyejin couldn’t help herself scolding her big sister
- Don’t you have any self control ?
- What are you talking about ?
- You can’t hit on any man you pass just because they are looking good !
- Why is that ? If you don’t ever try, you won’t get anything in life Hyejin ! You know your issue ? You’re far too reserved ! How do you intend to make friends or find a boyfriend if you never take a risk ?
- I have friends ! And as for a boyfriend it doesn’t seem to me like you have any either ! Maybe if you were less superficial your own relationship would last more than 2 weeks !
Retorted Hyejin with anger. She didn’t like how her sister would always push on her weakness to annoy her. She knew she was too introverted but it didn’t mean her sister’s behavior was good either. Sora opened a door to their left and showed the inside to Hyejin.
- Well I would love to keep this argument with you sis but we are here, so we will postpone it for later ! Now, be discreet and don’t get in the way of my work okay ?!
