PROLOGUE: The Past of Jesse Jung & Stephanie Hwang

I don’t know what it was with you that made you attractive.

You never smiled. You never even looked my way.

You weren’t any different from my brother, Leeteuk, and his friends. Just like any other 14-year old boy, you were lanky, you had that impish schoolboy attitude, and you were lazy. Heck, you were lazier than the rest of them. While Leeteuk oppa and the others actually put an effort to study, you were on our couch asleep, zoning out, or reading a book not related to school.

But still, my stomach feels all woozy every time I pass by the living room and I see you zoning out.

You were too cute for words, with your eyes staring off to blank space and your shiny blonde hair sticking out in all directions.

People said you were cold and egoistic, but I just couldn’t see that. To me, you were this innocent, adorable boy who just happened to have an almost perfect set of genes and of course, an uncanny ability to fall asleep anywhere.

I was sure I have a huge crush on you.

I never dared to tell my brother that, though. He’ll probably laugh at me, or tease me whenever you’re around.

And you’ll probably laugh with him when he tells you.

But you probably still won’t notice me.

After all, I was just a naïve 12-year old girl crushing on her brother’s best friend… just another girl crushing on the coolest kid on the block, Jesse Jung.

…

I remembered when Leeteuk oppa said you and your whole family were leaving California for good and moving back to Korea right after middle school. Just a couple more months, and you’ll be gone.

I felt sad that you were leaving. I still haven’t had the chance to talk to you… Before you go, I wanted to see your smile directed at me… I wanted you to at least notice me…

…

And one day, I finally had the courage to talk to you.

It was an ordinary Saturday. I passed by subtly and you were lounging at our couch again, just staring at the ceiling, while the others watched football on TV and goofed off like always.

I was at the dining room, doing my homework on the dining table while munching on cookies and sipping some orange juice.

“Hey sis, did umma hide all the junk food again?” Leeteuk oppa asked me as he peered at me from the kitchen door.

“No, we’re all out,” I said as I looked up from my book.

“Well, can we –”

“No, you guys can’t have my cookies… umma made these cookies for me.”

Oppa sighed. “Fine. We’re going out to buy some snacks then… Do you want anything?”

“Strawberry ice cream, please! Thanks, oppa!” I smiled gratefully at him. My brother was a pain in the sometimes, but he can be really sweet and thoughtful.

“Okay Steph,” he patted my head with a smile and went back to the living room.

“C’mon guys, let’s go get some grub! Jesse. Dude, are you coming?”

“No…”

My heart raced as I heard your faint voice. I felt like this was my chance. I was thinking of all the ways I could talk to you without making a fool of myself. I wasn’t sure how long I’ve been thinking, but I was way immersed in my thoughts that I failed to notice you standing a few feet away.

“HEY, KID!”

I blinked and my eyes widened as I saw you so near. “Oh! Um… w-what?”

A smirk formed on the corner of your lips, and I swear my heart raced faster – if that was even possible.

“I asked if I could have a cookie,” you muttered.

I could only nod as I watch you take another step.

You silently grabbed a cookie and bit into it. “Thanks, kid.”

“It’s Stephanie,” my tongue slipped and I instantly felt my cheeks heating up at my sudden surge of boldness.

You stared at me for a second, your expression passive as always. “Okay… whatever.”

You turned around, and I knew then that it was ‘now or never’.

“Wait!”

You turned your head back at me.

I took a deep breath and tried to put on my best smile. “W-Will y-you… Will you help me with my Math homework?”

But before you could even open your mouth to answer, your cousin Yuri Kwon suddenly appears through the doorway.

“Jess, we forgot to ask you what –” he stopped in midsentence as he looked at me and back to you. “Ah… am I interrupting something?”

The usual mischievous smile appeared on Yuri’s face, and I felt myself blushing as he playfully teased you. “Hey, Jesse… is there something the guys and I should know??”

“No,” the annoyance in your voice was unmistakable, and right then, I felt my heart sinking.

And it sunk even more when you turned back at me with the coldest stare I’ve ever seen in my young life.

“Listen, kid. I know you’ve got a crush on me. I notice you staring at me, and believe me, I know because I get those kinds of stares all the time at school. I don’t wanna get your hopes up, kid. How old are you? 10?–”

“She’s 12,” your cousin interjected.

“Whatever. 10, 11, 12, it’s all the same. I’m not into little kids, kid. I would never ever fall for little whiny kids.”

“That’s enough, Jesse,” Yuri interrupted once more, and I was glad he did.

One more word from you would’ve made me break down.

You most probably didn’t know, but I wanted so bad to cry right then and there. It felt like my little heart’s been ripped out and stepped on a thousand times over. I might not know what love was, but hearing such mean words from you… it hurt a lot.

I never thought you’d really be the person people said you were. I never once believed it…

…but now, I do.

Jesse Jung was cold and egoistic.

…

…

But I never forgot you, even after you left and years have passed.

I’ve matured over the years because of you. I’ve become more confident of myself, because I never wanted to feel like what you made me feel that Saturday afternoon. I wanted to be able to defend myself from mean people like you.

I’m 16 years old now… years older and years wiser.

I’m transferring as a sophomore in one of Korea’s most prestigious schools… Lee Sooman High School.

…

I never thought our paths will cross again… and this soon.

Would you still remember me, Jesse Jung?