✖ 

“It’s beauty that captures your attention,

But personality that captures your heart.”

✖ 

“________-ah!”

I turned around to see my best friend grinning at me. He was waving wildly, with a mad grin on his face, and once he came over, he wrapped me in a warm hug. “I missed you so much! Where were you? I’m so glad you can finally see me model. It’s been two weeks since I got the job, and you still haven’t visited me. ” He pouted cutely as he spoke to me, and I smiled at him.

“Jonghyun, mihanae. But it must have been fun, right? Surrounded by a bunch of pretty girls, huh?”

“Well, I will admit that they are pretty, but you are the most beautiful.”

I laughed, and held his hand as we walked over to the photoshoot. A white screen was put up, with a bunch of lights and camera surrounding the area. Cameramen were bustling around, carrying heavy equipment, while a bunch of girls walked around, dressed in beautiful, abstract clothes. There was a tall girl strutting in a dress adorned with rose petals, and another girl wearing killer heels decorated with shiny spikes. They were all immensely beautiful, with long, wavy black hair, legs that ran for miles, and a pure, snow-like complexion. 

“Jealous, huh?”

Jonghyun stared at me, and I shook my head.

“I think they’re jealous of you, _______ . “ 

He whispered in my ear and took a strand of my hair, placing it behind my ear, as I shivered slightly. Lately, it seemed like Jonghyun and I weren’t just friends anymore-it was like something had crossed the lines of friendship and dating. He’d always been my best friend, the boy who I’d always relied on, and the boy who I really couldn’t live without. He’d been my shoulder to cry on, and had seen me at my worst and my best. I didn’t know how Jonghyun felt about this-he was used to being with many girls, and he was handsome as well as popular. Maybe this was just normal for him. Yes. I didn’t mean anything to him. This is just like how Jonghyun is like.

“Stop flattering me, Kim Jonghyun, and go take your damn photos.”

He grinned, returning back to his normal self. “Yes, m'aam!”

Smiling again, I sat down in a chair, and watched as Jonghyun started a couple of poses. He made a cute pose one time, and then instantly changed into a cold, frightening mood, while never losing his “handsome” charisma throughout the takes. He really was photogenic-being my best friend; I’d never really noticed him as a man. As if to agree with me, a couple girls standing at the side were starting to squeal and talk in hushed voices, and kept eyeing him. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, I decided to look somewhere else. My eyes fell to the door, which was where I wanted to go through, where I wanted to escape. Even though Jonghyun was my best friend, and I owed him a lot, I wanted to get out of here. Surrounded by so much perfection, I felt intimidated and scared. Gently touching at my cheek, I glanced around, and noticed that people were already staring.

Crap. Can you please just look away?

Pretending to ignore them, I looked back at the door wistfully. Why couldn’t I just get up and exit? Why couldn’t I just leave this place? I was already constantly thinking about my looks, and didn’t need others to confirm that I was hopelessly ugly. As if to make me feel more inferior, the door opened, and a tall, handsome stranger suddenly walked in, his eyes covered by sunglasses. Dressed in black pants, and a white shirt, his outfit was formal and immaculate, and he looked like he’d just jumped out of a magazine. Holding a suit jacket, which was swung over his shoulder, he entered the room with an air of importance.

Wasn’t that the man I’d seen in the magazine earlier?

A man instantly rushed to his side.

“Hero Jaejoong!”

He bowed to him, and I curiously watched the exchange. The man, named Jaejoong, dismissed him with a scoff and threw his jacket over a nearby chair. “I want a cup of water. Now. The ride here was excruciating.” I rolled my eyes.  He was nothing interesting, just another spoiled celebrity brat who would probably get a lecture from the director of the shoot. Getting ready to hear his attendant yell at him, I opened my eyes wide when I heard his response:

“geureosseumida.”

The man dashed off, in search of some water and perhaps some food, and Jaejoong turned his head, staring right at me. 

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