"...So then he told me I might become a lesbian instead. The nerve of that guy! Just because I didn't accept him after that time..." Jinri abruptly stopped in the hall and nudged Krystal. "Yah! If you're that busy with your thoughts, you should have stayed at home." Krystal looked at her friend apologetically and s her arm around Jinri's. The latter pouted and started walking again, leading Krystal to one of the shops.

"Seriously, what's been going on?"

"It's nothing, really." Krystal pushed glass door with her right hand and both girls walked inside. Once there, they separated for a while and looked through some cute outfits. After Jinri was done changing, she saw Krystal secretly looking at her phone as if it should come alive any moment. Jinri waited for her friend to notice her, but after standing for no avail, she snatched Krystal's phone which was now fought over by the friends. Krystal lost the fight. 'It's great to be so tall', Jinri thought, smiling deviously. She then checked Krystal's phone.

"No new messages? Who should be writing to you?"

"Taemin. After our hangout a week ago he hasn’t wrote me once. He said we are friends now, but what kind of friend forgets about others so soon?" Krystal was sulking by now. She had a great time with him last time and she would love to meet someone other than Jinri for a change. Not that her friend she was currently shopping with was a bad company, no, but Krystal felt that something between the girls was still missing. It's hard to admit, but Krystal's not the only one that changed. Jinri used to be so romantic in high school, dating boys and fantasizing about her wedding. But look at Krystal's friend now- Jinri says she doesn't believe in love, that she's good on her own. Krystal, being so dreamy most of the time, doesn't have many girly things to talk about with Jinri, aside from shopping and beauty. It's getting tiring, really.

"Maybe he's really busy?" Krystal took her phone from Jinri's grip. "Fine, be that way. Write to him first."

"But I don't want to be annoying... What if he's busy, like you said," Krystal said, but opened Taemin's contact nevertheless.

"Liar; you're already annoying someone. Me. Just ask or you might never know." Jinri smiled sweetly and took a few clothes she has chosen and went to the casher.

Krystal sent a message 'Hi, oppa! Where have you been? I waited for your call since the last time, but you never called... Is something the matter?” Fifteen minutes after, girls went to the cafe; no respond from Taemin. After Jinri's scolding, she buried her phone in her bag and gave the other girl her full attention. Now the topic was upcoming photo shoots.

"You should definitely come! I really believe you might get into some company."

"I don't think so. It's fun watching you, but as long as it's work, it's boring." Krystal bit her cupcake. "So where are you going?"

"I can't decide between London and Oslo. Wanted to go to Tokyo, but since I'm not a professional, I have no chance of going there anytime soon. Where would you suggest to go?"

"Oslo. I've heard the mountains are really pretty. When are you going?"

"The day after tomorrow. I already have the tickets. I should come back just when the university starts."

"For so long? It's almost a month!" 'She's always so busy. No wonder we're not as close as before,' inner Krystal was feeling unhappy about the news. She still had to ask something. "Who's going in your place to London then? Shouldn't you report to someone about it?"

"I'll take care of it. Instead, could you do me a favor?"

"Sure. Anything."

"Promise?"

"Yeah."

 *

'She'll pay. Never thought she's so sly. Getting me in this mess.' Days ago Jinri asked Krystal to come to her modeling agency and return some papers to Jinri's agent. Little did Krystal expect was that as soon as she gives the packed documents, she'll be taken to auditioning hall for modeling try outs. Turns out that Jinri's documents were actually audition application for Krystal.

As much as Krystal wanted to run away, she couldn't. Jinri left a note for her agent asking to look out for Krystal. She can go home only after audition. She was really afraid. It also didn't help her anxiety seeing so many competitors here. The hall was full of skinny, tall and beautiful girls. Oh, how Krystal wanted to run away...

"Numbers 102, 113 and 146 come." It was now her turn, she didn't have even a slightest clue what to expect. What if there will be bikini try outs? It felt really embarrassing walking with those two pretty-faced girls too. Maybe she should just come up with an excuse and disappear?

One of the girls opened the doors, revealing a big, spacious room with lots of lights and people. Krystal spotted at least four photographers. Also some important looking people, probably they'll choose the models. She was left as the last of their small group, watching as two other girls striked poses in front of many cameras and briefly telling why they should be chosen. They seemed quite arrogant, telling how much attention they receive because of their looks. Krystal couldn't help but feel amused, noticing a few photographers and designers frowning at the two talking. They were friends, Krystal guessed, because they didn't separate even for a moment, posing and talking together at the same time. They weren't done speaking when one of those suited man bid them good bye. After girls left, Krystal greeted the photographers and started the introduction.

"Hello, I'm Krystal Jung, a 20 years old university student in Seoul. What should I start with?"

"Model never asks what her job is," interrupted a middle aged woman. 'Probably a designer,' Krystal thought, because the woman was choosing clothes for her. The woman then gave Krystal dark blue killer heels and short orange dress with white feathers. "Try these out and take some photos." Krystal nodded thankfully and did what she was told. While taking the photos, people in the suites discussed a lot and told the designer something, to what she responded with a wide smile. The woman interrupted Krystal's photo shoot and took her to make up artists. They worked on Krystal for only two minutes then send her to the next hall. She was then  left alone, confused, still with tryout clothes and make up on, when one of the designer's assistant came up to her.

"They said you're accepted. Now you only have to sign up here..." the assistant said while handing Krystal the paper sheets. She signed up and was told to try taking photos with profession models in the third hall. After hearing the directions, she came into a huge place, with many magazine models and well known Korean designers here. After a few introductions with the photographers she started the professional photo shoot. Most of the time she heard nice things, like how natural she poses and how pretty her figure is, that she almost felt comfortable, when someone late came in, grabbing everyone's attention. Krystal almost gagged. It was Kai. She froze when their eyes locked. He came up to her photographer and talked with him about something for mere seconds, then he suddenly took his baggy t-shirt off in front of everyone and came to pose with her. All of a sudden she started acting really stiff, not comfortable with half Kai beside her, posing ily. She excused herself for some water, leaving him to take her spot of attention completely. Almost everyone stopped their work only to gawk at Kai. Krystal had to admit, he was a professional. But she definitely felt stupid for signing the contract moments ago; with Kai's arrival she remembered he was Jinri's co-worker. She had no intention of staying anywhere near him just how she promised his older brother, furthermore working with him. She felt sick thinking how many pictures of her and Kai were taken already. It wasn't even an hour after the audition started and she already wanted to leave. She tried leaving, but was spotted by other photographer and then was paired with other girl to pose.

Two hours of intensive work and secret glances at Kai who was staying away from her, almost all models were done for the day. When Kai was gone, she again felt excited. She was actually recruited! Maybe after some time she and Jinri can go to photo shoots together! With most of others now gone, she posed relaxed than ever, again receiving praises from workers. Thirty minutes after, she too was done.

Krystal finally went out of the building, only to be greeted by dark cloudy skies. 'It will probably rain soon,' she concluded. Signing to herself Krystal strolled down the street, quietly cursing at herself for leaving spare money for the bus at home. She'll have to walk all the way home, around two kilometers. With such a nice weather (now she could feel a cold freeze too), the trip home will .

Not many people were on the street, it felt really gloomy and scary. Her phone informed it was already few minutes after eight o'clock. Not the best time to be walking alone in a short dress with a light purse in Seoul's center, not to mention the awesome weather coming up. She was still close to the modeling agency and could see some other models getting in their cars. She was debating with herself whether to ask some of them for a ride home, but was beat to it when all of them drove away. Well, except one. 'Why is it him again. Is someone playing with my fate right now?' He noticed her and smirked, sadly for her (she didn't want to admit it) got in his car and just like others, left her standing on the other side of the road, trying to cover herself from raindrops that now had started to fall. She still walked. What else can she do in this situation? She don't have anyone to call right now, her sister being in Milan with her husband Kevin, Jinri away in Oslo. She could call Luhan, if she actually knew his number. They met quite a lot recently, totally ignoring him-being-drunk-and-kissing-her accident, but they still forgot to exchange numbers. 'Stupid, stupid...' all she felt right now was feeling dumb.

Krystal almost tripped down when an unexpected yank was heard from a car now behind her. She looked back and saw Kai sitting in his car, slowly approaching her.

"Need a lift?" my, how much did Krystal want to slap his smug look off of his face, when he said that. In normal circumstances, she would reject his offer, but then again, with the sky looking like that and with these small rain drops, she changed her mind. She walked to the passenger's seat and got in. Right that moment it started to rain heavily.

"Thanks. I live..."

"Oh I know where your place's at." He turned to the left. She couldn't help but look at him with a questioning look. Without looking at her, he knew she wanted an explanation. "Saw you documents that day we met in the principal's office. I believe he was sorting them just before my arrival."

"You really are a stalker."

"..." Kai just rolled his eyes and drove further into the town. Krystal noticed he was headed to the wrong direction to her house.

"Um, Kai, but my apartment is in another side of the town. I thought you knew that."

"I know. But who said we're going to your place?" he gave her a quick glance and smirked to himself. Krystal turned her body to him on her seat. was open. Where was he taking her then?

*