Ahreum touched the reflection and sighed. She wondered why she was feeling so afraid. It was funny how sometimes, she almost couldn’t recognize herself. It still took some time whenever she sees herself in the mirror or glass panes. At times, it almost felt like someone else was looking back at her. Taeyeon’s 11:11 brought her back to her senses. Running to her phone, she hurriedly picked up the call.

“Come down in 15 minutes.” Sunggyu said and hung up.

Ahreum put on her loose shorts and tightened it with a belt. Throwing her favourite oversized shirt over her head, she grabbed the black sling bag on the sofa and left.

Sunggyu arrived 5 minutes early, as if already anticipating that she would be early.

“Hop on.” Sunggyu said as he wound down his car window.

 “Where are we going?” Ahreum asked.

“You’ll know in a while.” Sunggyu said, keeping his gaze on the road.

Entering the departmental store, Ahreum felt out of place. The departmental store looked so grand and polished. She stood out like a sore thumb in her practice clothes. Ahreum thought Sunggyu was fetching her to the practice studio as always. She watched the staff greet Sunggyu respectfully as he passed by. Hurrying along, she quickly caught up with Sunggyu's pace. She followed him into a luxurious looking store. And she was proven right when she looked at the price tags.

“Are these even clothes? More like diamonds.” She thought to herself.

“Try these on.” Sunggyu passed Ahreum a few dresses.

She nodded at his words and went into the fitting room. Ahreum felt uncomfortable after putting the red dress on.

“Isn’t this a little too tight?” she scratched her head.

“Are you done?” Sunggyu asked, knocking on her door.

“Ne.” Ahreum hesitantly opened the fitting room door, revealing her new look. 

Sunggyu scanned Ahreum from head to toe and remained silent for a good 15 seconds.

“It looks bad on me, right?” she concluded. 

“I will quickly change into the next one.” Ahreum hurriedly added and was about to close the door.

“No.” Sunggyu stopped the door with his hand. 

“It’s perfect.” He added with a smile.

His smile unconsciously made Ahreum smile along. It had been long since he smiled like this.  

 “She will take this red dress.” Sunggyu turned to the store assistant.

“Yes, Vice President Kim.” The staff bowed humbly at his words.  

“Here.” Sunggyu handed Ahreum a pair of 4-inches heels. The heels had perfect workmanship, completed with glistening swarovski crystals.

“May I ask what’s the event later?” Ahreum finally mustered up courage to ask. 

“We will be going to a party.  Potential investors for your debut album will be there.” He added.

Ahreum bit her lips nervously. Investors. She couldn’t help but worry whether people would want to invest millions into making an album for her. Not anyone else but Park Ahreum. The girl who couldn’t even get people to listen to her. Could someone like her really convince them?

"Looks good." Sunggyu broke her train of thoughts as he dragged her to another venue. 

“Here. We are done, Vice President Kim.” The hair stylist spun Ahreum’s chair around.

The red dress hugged her curves perfectly. Complimented by her new hairdo, she looked like those girls that’d walk out from the magazines. Ahreum could sense Sunggyu’s intense gaze on her. He nodded in satisfaction before giving an ‘okay’ sign. Ahreum didn’t know why but Sunggyu’s approval gave her confidence. She felt slightly  relieved now. Looking herself in the mirror, Ahreum felt surreal. Today felt like a day she would have dream of in those nights filled with endless tears.

“Ouch.” Ahreum exclaimed as she pinched herself in the cheek real hard.

It’s real.

“Stop doing unnecessary things and follow me.” Sunggyu shook his head at her kid-like action. 

“Ne.” Ahreum quickly followed behind Sunggyu unstably in her heels.

-

The car halted to a stop and Ahreum felt her heart stop together with time. She was nervous beyond words.

Would everything be okay? She played with her fingers out of habit and Sunggyu noticed it.

“Hey, listen to me.” Sunggyu said.

Ahreum turned to Sunggyu and inhaled deeply.

“I am here. Everything will be fine.” He said, placing his hands on her trembling hands.

Ahreum nodded at his words and Sunggyu got out of the car to open the door for her. The flashlights were endless the moment she stepped out of the car.

“Who is she?”

“She is not a model. An actor perhaps?”

“Wow. She is beautiful.”

“Why did she come with Kim Sunggyu?”

“Do you know her? She walks like a duckling. Look!”

Ahreum tried to ignore the flashlight and surrounding words. However, she simply couldn’t. They made her self-conscious and unsure of herself. Slowly, Ahreum came to a stop. She just couldn’t do it, after all. Sunggyu noticed that she had stopped walking. Shaking his head, he walked back up to her.

“Yah. You are no longer the same Park Ahreum. Walk with some confidence.” Sunggyu said and placed her left hand on his arm.  

“Tonight, you’re Kim Sunggyu’s partner. Remember that.” Sunggyu whispered in her ear.

“Don’t worry. I won’t disgrace you or anything.” Ahreum said, recollecting herself together.

“Good.” Sunggyu replied shortly.

Entering the venue, Ahreum couldn’t help but notice how the scene was so grand and beautifully decorated. From the crystal chandelier to the well-dressed guests, it almost felt like a scene straight out from those fairy tale ballroom parties.

“Wait for me here. I’d be right back. Let me greet my father’s close friends first.” Sunggyu said.

Ahreum nodded and stationed herself at the nearby guest table. She observed how everyone had a glass of wine in hand so she picked up a glass from the waitress too.  

“Hey pretty.” She heard someone call out.

Ahreum almost pointed at herself questioningly but she held herself back. Looking around, she figured that he was indeed referring to her. There was no one else nearby.

“Hi.” She replied simply and took a small sip of red wine.

Ahreum darted her eyes around the crowd to find Sunggyu. Help. 

“Seems like you came with SN’s Entertainment CEO’s son?” he laughed.

Ahreum wondered why he couldn’t just say Sunggyu. She was sure he knows his name.

“I am his partner.” Ahreum replied, hoping he would leave her alone.

“You know, rich bastards like them gets tired of their new toy very soon. But I am different-” He took a step closer. Too close in Ahreum’s opinion.

“I am not sure what you are saying but excuse me-” Ahreum tried to leave but she was stopped by his grip.

The man’s expression changed instantly as he tightened his grip on her, “I am still talking, how dare you-”

“Is everything okay?” Sunggyu appeared out of nowhere.

“If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate if you keep your hands off my partner.” He smirked and pulled Ahreum towards him.

Bumping into Sunggyu’s chest, Ahreum felt the world fade out. She inhaled the scent of Sunggyu’s cologne and she could feel his body heat at the same time. Ahreum could see Sunggyu’s mouth moving but she didn’t know what he was saying. She noted that the other man had stormed off unhappily in the end.

“Are you okay?” Sunggyu asked again, looking down at Ahreum.  

Ahreum nodded her head repeatedly and straightened herself. She could feel her face heating up.

“The investors want to meet you.” Sunggyu said and led the way.

“Let me introduce. This is Ahreum, our company’s new singer.” Sunggyu introduced and casually placed his hands around Ahreum’s waist. Ahreum flinched slightly at his touch and Sunggyu awkwardly laughed it off.

“She’s kinda shy.” Sunggyu explained and the group laughed at his remark.

“How old are you?” One of the investors asked.

“I am 20 this year.” She replied with a bright smile.

“Oh. You’re same age as Sunggyu.” Another older man nodded.

In the middle of their conversation, the lights dimmed as the music in the hall became more audible. The couples excused themselves and proceeded to the dance floor to dance. Using this opportunity, Sunggyu quickly led Ahreum away to the balcony.

“Yah. I need you to act naturally.” Sunggyu hissed.

“Sorry… I-I am just not used to guys, you know, holding me. What was that for anyways?” Ahreum felt her face heat up at her own words.

Sunggyu sighed and whispered in her ear, “One of the investors wants to bed you.”

Ahreum was certain she didn’t hear him wrongly. She swallowed her saliva and looked at Sunggyu blankly. It was no wonder that people always said entertainment industry was not as perfect as it seems.

“But don’t worry, I lied that you are girlfriend so please act naturally, Park Ahreum.” Sunggyu said.

“Yah. Don’t tell me you don’t know ballroom dance?” Sunggyu noticed the new problem at hand.

Ahreum bit her lips and shook her head slowly.

“Never mind. Just follow my lead.” Sunggyu took her hand.

In that moment, Ahreum felt like a princess. The chandelier hanging from above, the slow music filling the hall and the almighty Kim Sunggyu dancing with her. Everything felt so unreal. Ahreum nervously looked around as she saw people whispering. She accidentally stepped on Sunggyu’s shoe in the process. All eyes were now on them and she swore she saw some of the girls laugh. She wanted to run away so badly now.

“Hey. Just look at me.” Sunggyu said gently.

Ahreum continued scanning the crowd nervously and Sunggyu sighed. He then pulled Ahreum closer and she could feel the tip of her heels against Sunggyu’s shoes. He tightened his grip on her other hand and Ahreum almost thought she was imagining when he smiled. Ahreum inhaled Sunggyu’s intoxicating cologne again and she wondered if he could smell her perfume too. He was looking at her the whole time, in a way she had never seen before. In all honesty, she couldn’t remember what steps she took after that. She couldn’t remember whether the people were still whispering. She couldn’t remember when the song came to an end. She only remembered Sunggyu’s eyes and his smile.

The party was over and Ahreum wondered why they were still here. Sunggyu has been out of the situation ever since he picked up a call. Sunggyu downed yet another glass of red wine. His face was starting to get red and Ahreum deduced he might be drunk when he started talking gibberish. Ahreum called up Sunggyu’s chauffeur to pick them up. There was no way Sunggyu could drive in this state.

“Sunggyu.” Ahreum tapped his arm and he tore his gaze away from the wine glass.  

“It’s my fault.” Ahreum could barely make out his words.  

“Sunggyu, you’re drunk.” Ahreum tried to remove the wine glass from his grip.

“I should have stopped him when he told her to go for plastic surgery… If I did, Taeyeon wouldn’t be in so much pain now…” He collapsed on the table.

“Taeyeon?” Ahreum was certain she didn’t hear him wrongly.

Ahreum shook Sunggyu repeatedly but he refused to wake up. She struggled to get him to stand up with her strength. Then, he shook his head to sober himself up. Sunggyu smiled and pointed at Ahreum out of a sudden. Without warning, he placed his hand on her face. Ahreum could feel her face heating up.

He caressed her cheeks gently and said, “You know, you’re really beautiful tonight.”

“So beautiful that I almost forgot you were the fat Park Ahreum that bumped into me when we first met.”

Ahreum didn’t know why but Sunggyu’s words made her feel a stab in the heart. His words brought her back to the very moment when Sunggyu said those hurtful things. She knew Sunggyu was drunk. She knew those were things of the past. However, Sunggyu’s words still made her feel disappointed. Sunggyu despised the old Park Ahreum, just like everyone else. He laughed at her. She almost forgot all of that. However, he was also the one that made her who she is today. The Park Ahreum everyone else could readily accept. Deep down inside, Ahreum felt conflicted. 

“Young master Kim. Are you okay?” The chauffeur appeared in a timely manner.

“Miss Park, shall I send you back to the dorm first?” he asked. 

“It’s fine. I will hail a cab. Thank you so much.” She bowed politely.

Ahreum looked up at the crescent moon fading into the dark clouds. She didn't know why it seem to reflect her unspoken feelings. 

"The duckling tried so hard to become a beautiful swan everyone liked"

Author's Note:
I am back with a new chapter after a new round of internal struggles.
I have read all your comments and it gives me strength.<3
Thank you so much! Hope you'll like the upcoming chapters~
'Scarred Beauty' is one of my favourite story on hand.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I am writing it ^^