She couldn’t help but think that she was in a contemporary adaptation of Cinderella, minus the happily ever after.

There she was, looking every bit like the modern, elegant and classic beauty that she really was in a sleeveless Elie Saab lace cut-out gown. The black number’s bias-cut skirt, bateau neckline and sheer lace-inset cut-outs showed off her long, slender figure, fitting to her hips snuggly and comfortably. Her dark brown hair had been pulled up into a sleek ponytail; her side fringe resting neatly against her forehead as a pair of diamond drop earrings adorned the sides of her face. She looked very regal and every bit the glamorous, glowing and beautiful princess as a fairy tale would put it.

But even then, she felt like every bit the wallflower of the party.

Choi Sooyoung stood off to the side just like every other guest in attendance, leaning against the wall with her gaze fixed on the now empty and spacious dance floor of the grand ballroom. She watched as the man of the hour, Seoul’s most elite and sought after bachelor, Choi Siwon, stood by the end of the staircase in his Ike Behar black slim fit tuxedo with its satin notch lapels, two-button single ed front and match pants and vest. His hair was perfect – everything about him was – as a charming, somewhat excited smile crossed his face; his back partially facing the crowd as they all waited.

Then, she appeared on the top of the staircase.

Like Sooyoung, Tiffany Hwang looked every bit a princess as she could possibly be. She stood there; her trademark eyesmile lighting up her face as the guests could only marvel at her beauty. She was in a rose-colored Grecian Lanvin gown no less, made of liquid jersey. The belted waist, A-line skirt that fell to the marbled floor, the high neckline that tied at her left shoulder, the pleated A-line silhouette and keyhole detail gave her a sophisticated yet fun and youthful look. Her currently jet black hair had been left down, styled in chic, soft waves that cascaded up until the middle of her back. She looked absolutely and breathtakingly beautiful.

In the midst of the awed silence, the band hired for the party began to play. The soothing, classic melody coming from the violins and cellos and the piano and the harp all reached their ears as Tiffany descended the staircase, mindful of the train of her gown as she made each step. Her eyes were solely fixed on the dashing man waiting at the end of her short journey just as his eyes were only on her; everything else around them fading into a mere hum in the background.

It went without saying that society’s newest ‘it’ couple had just been born.

This wasn’t Sooyoung’s fairy tale no matter how in her eyes, Siwon had always been Prince Charming.

But Siwon had a Cinderella, and it wasn’t her. Instead, it was that goddess-like woman that he was slowly leading to the center to the dance floor so he could dance with her.

It was painful. It really was. But Sooyoung had no intentions of being a modern-day version of the wicked stepsisters in Cinderella’s fairy tale. She was happy for them. She really was. Though it hurt, she was going to it up because she’d be damned if she’d become anything but a good friend to them both. And so as Siwon twirled Tiffany around the dance floor with matching goofy yet elated smiles on their faces, Sooyoung tried to smile, reminding herself that there was a chocolate fondue somewhere in that ballroom that her name on it.

But facades had always been hard to keep and so when hers began to break, she retreated to the safety of the balcony of the ballroom.

Yet, she wasn’t alone.

Standing by the edge of the balcony with his arms resting on the railings and his attention focused on the vast gardens ahead was one the most sought-after eligible bachelors that China and Canada could co-produce, Kris Wu. Sooyoung had never really personally met the guy but she had seen enough pictures and heard enough swooning from countless girls to know who he was and as she stood there, she didn’t know if it was fortunate or unfortunate for her that they were going to meet this way.

She considered heading back inside and pretending that she didn’t step foot in the balcony at the first place but before she could move, he noticed her presence and turned, facing her in all his blond hair and black modern-fit, Concord Calvin Klein suit. The suit was everything that one would expect from one of the world’s leading bachelors with its two-button single-ed front, self-notch lapels, satin besom pockets and top collar with satin trim that complimented every inch of his six feet, two inch-frame. Sooyoung was quick to blush as he looked at her with amusement that heavily contrasted his natural, default face.

“Choi Sooyoung?”

Inwardly chastising herself that she should know better than to lose grace when pressured, she gave him the best polite, comfortable smile that she could muster. “And you’re Kris Wu.”

“I have to admit that this isn’t how I thought I’d meet you.” So was it safe to assume that she had crossed his mind before this party? “Would you like to join me, Ms. Choi?”

“I’d like that.” A beat passed. “And none of the whole ‘Ms. Choi’ business. Ms. Choi is usually my older sister, Soojin. I’m just Sooyoung.”

Kris arched an eyebrow at that, waiting until she had come over to join him before he spoke again. “So what brings you out here in the cold?”

“I… It was getting stuffy inside, that’s all.” He seemed nice enough yet it didn’t give her enough reason to tell him the truth. “You?”

“Same. I don’t like parties.”

“Yeah?” It was her turn to raise an eyebrow. “You could’ve fooled me for a second there.”

“How so?” He asked.

“