Chapter 1

    It was a pretty normal day for Jessica Jung.  She yawned into her hand blearily as she shouldered through the nightlife of Seoul.  She got out of her classes late because she had been discussing a paper with her professor and had lost track of time.  Now her precious sleep was in jeopardy. And she definitely had to get up early to get to work on time.  She almost stomped her foot in exasperation but saved the open display of frustration for another time.  

    She glanced at the stairway leading down to a subway. She could go home. Honestly Jessica knew she should go home. Yet she didn’t want to brave the crowds of people crammed into a subway.  She wasn’t claustrophobia but there was something about being stuffed in a stiflingly tight space with a bunch of exhausted people.  Definitely not the most appealing way to end her night.  

    Jessica pressed her back against the front of a glass window of a clothing shop as she pulled out her phone.  She skimmed through her texts, from her mom, her sister, her friends.  A drunk text here, a cry for help with a paper there. It was nice to be included and wanted. But sometimes she just needed to get away from it all.  Slipping her phone into the pocket of her jeans, Jessica dodged a motorbike speeding through the street as she turned a sharp right.  Without looking at the sign on the store she strode inside.  

    The lighting was brighter inside the shop but when Jessica’s eyes adjusted she realized it was a well lit book store.  She pressed her tongue between her lips as she walked down the aisles of books, eyes appreciatively roving the shelves. 

    “Self-help, romance, non-fiction,” she recited in a monotone voice as she took in each genre.  Out of the corner of her eye she noticed another figure standing in front of a shelf of books to her left.  The English section.  The person’s face was obscured by a dark navy hat and its figure was hidden under baggy sweats and a light grey hoodie.  Jessica could barely tell if this person was a girl or boy save the brown pony tail looped through the back of the hat.

    Curiously Jessica sidled up to the person and gazed up and down the wall of books. She had lived in America for awhile until her sister had come to South Korea to train for SM.  That had transplanted her whole family into Seoul, Korea, no ifs, ands or buts.  Jessica vaguely recalled planning to try out as a trainee too but something had made her back out.  She didn’t remember if it was a stomach ache or a sore throat but she had not gone through with the audition. But SM loved Krystal.  They just had to wait for a few years until the girl was old enough to train.  And then the whole Jung clan flew to Korea and Jessica had to start her life all over again. Any dreams of American high school and college were thrown out the window.      Sighing Jessica absentmindedly reached for a book and glanced at the back.  She needed to distract herself from thinking such resentful thoughts. Krystal was happy. F(x) had debuted and they were doing well.  Jessica wasn’t doing too shabbily either at Yonsei University’s College of Medicine.  Her parents were so proud of both their daughters.  There was absolutely no need to be insecure or doubtful about the past.  She had done her duty as a supportive sister, diligent daughter, and engaged student. She had no reason to be discontent.   

    “Be careful there, you might crack the spine of that book.”

    Jessica blinked slowly and turned her head to glance to her side.  The girl next to her wore a smile so wide that her eyes were pressed into barely open crescents.  And she was pretty too, with clear, unblemished skin and pearly white teeth.  

    “O-oh. Sorry,” Jessica muttered sheepishly, feeling a blush rise in her cheeks.  She was about to place the book back on the shelf when the other woman gently took it from her grip.

    “Have you read this one yet?”

    “Mm, no I haven’t. I just picked it up because...” Jessica ducked her head as she felt hot embarrassment make her face flush.

    “Because?”

    “The cover art looked interesting.”

    The girl let out an amused chuckle.

    “Can you read English?”

    Jessica registered the words, feeling vaguely insulted.

    “Yes, I can,” she responded back emphatically in English.  Her valley girl twang came out hard, she realized, but she didn’t care.  The girl probably wouldn’t know the difference.  

    But of course she got an excited reaction instead.  The other girl practically vibrated with excitement as she rocked on her heels, smile wider if that was humanly possible.

    “Oh mai gawd! Are you from California?”

    “Yeah. It’s the accent, huh?”

    “Mmhmm. It’s a dead giveaway, haha.” Jessica tried to take a half step backward from the overly excited girl but she just followed her, invading her personal space with gusto.

    “What city are you from?”

    “San Francisco.”

    “Oh mai gawd, I was born in San Francisco! That’s such a coincidence!”

    Jessica’s mouth twitched at the words and she couldn’t help but chuckle.  This girl was so excited about such an insignificant connection. But it was almost like a puppy getting a treat.  It was kind of cute.  A little bit frightening though. 

    Suddenly Jessica realized that the lighting at this particular spot of the store highlighted the other girl’s face more.  She could make out the slope of her cheekbones, the purse of her lips, even the brightness of vivacious brown eyes.  Wait... did she know this girl?

    Her scrutiny must have scared the girl though because she sobered at the intense stare, her smile dying on her lips.

    “Wait. Have we met before?” Jessica asked tentatively, gesturing between the two of them.  The question caused the other girl to adorably tilt her head to the side in confusion.

    “You don’t recognize me?”

    Jessica felt like she was vaguely familiar but no name or place was popping out at her.  

    “I’m sorry, I’m really bad with names and faces. Do you go to Yonsei University?”

    The other girl wrinkled her nose at the question and shook her head.

    “Mm, do you shop a lot at Lotte in Myeongdong? I work at a department store there.”

    The other girl’s smile started to flicker back into its former brightness as Jessica continue with her nervous questions.  Finally she lapsed into silence as she gazed at the huge megawatt grin.

    “You don’t know who I am,” the girl said slowly.

    “Um, no? Do you know who I am?”

    “No! I have absolutely no idea who you are!” the girl practically shouted with a delighted giggle. She linked arms with Jessica excitedly as she began to drag her out of the store.  

    “Y-yah! Where are we going?”

    “Let’s hang out! Do you know a good place to get food? Preferably dim lit though. My uh eye sight is sensitive.”

    Jessica closed before she mentioned something obvious like the place they had just been in was extremely well lit and she had seemed just fine.  Resigning herself to being dragged off by this crazy person she got tugged toward the door of the book store.  The things she did for cute girls on boring Thursday nights.

    “Excuse me, Miss!”

    They turned and gazed at the expectant cashier who was pointing at the other girl. Jessica realized that she had still clutched the book in the one hand that wasn’t clutching Jessica’s arm in a death grip.  

    “Do you wanna buy it?” Jessica asked tiredly.  The other girl seemed nervous now as she eyed the guy at the register, still waiting for a reaction.  She seemed to deflate as she tugged the brim of her hat anxiously over her eyes.

    “Could you buy it for me? I’ll give you money.” 

    Jessica made a face.

    “Are you afraid of doing this kind of thing?” You seemed fine with kidnapping a perfectly innocent stranger just a few seconds ago.

    “Mm, y-yeah.”

    “Okay. Just give me...” Jessica checked the back. “15,000 won. That should be enough.”

    Wordlessly the girl handed her the money, head still ducked.  Jessica could see her nervously biting her lip.  For some reason the sight stirred pity and sympathy in the pit of her stomach.  Giving the girl a quick pat on the shoulder, Jessica strode confidently forward, money and book in hand. 

    “Hello.”

    She realized the man was looking past her, eyes narrowed curiously.

    “Excuse me, sir?”

    The man shook out of his daze and mutely took the book, scanning it efficiently.  She wordlessly handed him the cash.  Jessica definitely did not like the way he was staring at the girl.  

    “Is everything alright, sir?” Jessica asked as she took the book from him with a crunch of the plastic bag.  

    “Your friend... she looks just like a famous person I’m a fan of.”

    Jessica pursed her lips as she cast a glance over her shoulder.  The girl was looking back, shoulders hunched.  The other occupants in the store were staring too.  Jessica felt annoyed.

    “Well, she definitely is not famous. I don’t hang out with famous people,” declared Jessica calmly, linking arms with the other girl and striding out of the store with as much grace as she could muster.  

    They both let out sighs of relief as they walked out of the store, right in the thick of the anonymity of the crowds of Seoul.  

    “That was really weird,” muttered Jessica as she glanced at the girl at her side.

    “Yeah. That happens a lot.”

    “That must be really uncomfortable for you.”

    “You get used to it,” she mumbled, eyes downcast. 

    Jeez, Jessica thought, what happened to that lively and energetic girl from earlier?

    “Do you wanna get something to eat?” Jessica asked, scratching the back of her neck with her free hand as she they walked along the brightly lit streets.  Food vendors were shouting their wares and she could smell the tantalizing scent of street foods.  

    “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

    Jessica frowned.  For some god forsaken reason this really cute girl was trying to hide her face from public.  Despite the alarm bells that the girl may be a serial killer or some sort of dangerous criminal, Jessica reached into her purse and pulled out her glasses.  Forcefully, Jessica turned the girl toward her and pulled the brim of the hat upward as she slid her black framed glasses into place.

    “There we go. It’s harder to see your face now.”

    Jessica didn’t realize just how close their faces were until the other girl let out a shy giggle and the warm breath tickled her cheeks.  She blanched at the close proximity and was about to put some distance between them when a warm hand grabbed her wrist.

    “My name is Stephanie.”

    Jessica processed the words carefully.  She was really going to burn this name and this face to memory.  And of course the closeness was doing nothing but helping this.  God the closer she was the more she realized just how cute this girl was. 

    “Jessica.”

    “What?”

    “My name is Jessica.”

    Stephanie gave her another dazzling smile and playfully held out her hand.

    “It’s nice to meet you, Jessica.”

    And when Jessica held the other girl’s hand in hers she felt such a comforting warmth in her palm that she couldn’t help but smile back.

A/N This is a nice break from the angst fest that is Your Kiss Is Like Poison. I hope you guys enjoyed!