September 04, 2013  |  Taipei, Taiwan

AMBER’S POV

It’s almost 2am by the time we decide to leave. As we reach the door, I notice flashes of light outside. Krystal, who is ahead of me, hesitates, then turns towards me. I pull her back towards me a give her a reassuring smile before draping my orange bomber over her shoulders, “It’s going to be fine. They’re just paparazzi.”

Krystal’s face screams nervous while her lips say, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” I pretend not to be nervous, even though I feel the same amount of anxiety I had felt waiting to go on to the program two days ago. I grab her hand and charge ahead. This was our life. Game face on.

Pushing the door open and strutting out, I whisper to her, “We’re models on a catwalk.”

She whispers back with a smile on her lips, “Let’s do this thing.”

We steel ourselves as the paparazzi swarm us. As the cold, night breeze hits our face and the flashes on their cameras dance in front of our eyes, I push forward towards a small alley ahead. As they begin to yell, asking questions about this and that, I feel Krystal’s grip on my hand become tighter. Although she can’t understand their Mandarin, I know she recognizes each and every time they say her name. I squeeze her delicate hand back, letting her know I am right here with her. When I see an opening, I make a break for it, pulling her along with me.

KRYSTAL’S POV

I usually hate running, but tonight feels different — magical, almost surreal. My hand in her’s, we run forward, laughing as the wind rips through our hair. We turn into an alley and slow our pace. Amber isn’t even panting but she waits for me to catch my breath. I burst out laughing, “That was amazing.”

“Well, at least we know what’s going to be in the news in a couple hours,” she laughs. She glances down. Suddenly, we become aware of our hands, interlocked together like they do not want to separate. I blush and try to pull my hand away, but she holds on without a word.

“I thought I told you,” I say, “Let’s keep our hands to ourselves tonight.”

Laughing, she clutches my hand even tighter, “Not a chance, Princess. Not a chance.”

We continue walking, slowly this time. I give in. Somehow, after two days, she already has my heart; the same one I told myself I wouldn’t give to anyone. “Amber, where are we going?”

“I gotta take you to your hotel somehow,” she answers, cocking an eyebrow. At the end of the alley is the answer to my question: a shiny, black ’66 Mustang.

Suddenly, she pushes me up against the car. I gulp as she leans forward slowly. My eyes jump to her lips, which she slowly. My mind races, and I give in to desire. I close my eyes as she leans in, an inch away. I can feel her warm breath so close to my lips. Then, all at once, the warmth goes away, and I hear the chirp of the car door unlocking. “What are you doing, standing there with your eyes closed? I was just trying to get the keys from my jacket pocket,” she smirks.

AMBER’S POV

She looks so cute, that I can’t help teasing her. Her eyes shoot open and she looks down the pocket of my bomber, which is still draped around her shoulders. Her cheeks turn bright pink, so much so that it is visible even in the dark alleyway. “I-I,” she starts.

Opening the passenger-side door, I decide to save her the embarrassment. I had a little too far, “Get in.” I make sure she doesn’t bump her head, then head around to the driver’s side. As I settle into the driver’s seat, I glance at her. She sits quietly, playing with her hair. “Princess,” she looks up from her hair at me, “If you don’t put on your seatbelt, I’m going to have to almost-kiss you again.”

She reaches for the belt, then hesitates. “Is that supposed to make me want to put on my seatbelt, Amber?” Her eyes twinkle as she teases me.

I feel the tension fill the car. “Touche,” I say, and lean over to grab her seatbelt. Our lips are so close, yet so far. I feel her breathing become shallow, and her eyelids flutter in anticipation. The click of the seatbelt in its place is my cue to pull back, as much as I don’t want to. The engine roars to life and I pull out of the alleyway towards her hotel.

Silence fills the car as we speed along the city streets. With one hand on the wheel and the other on the gear stick, I try not to think about how this will end, yet the thought of her flight back to Korea in three hours sits in the back of my mind. I have to make this count. It might be my last chance.

KRYSTAL’S POV

I don’t want her to drive so fast, not that she’s driving fast. I just don’t want this, whatever this is, to end. Her right hand rests on the gear stick, but I want it to be in mine. I give a light cough, look down, and move my left hand slightly down my thigh. I hear a low chuckle, and when I look up, her right hand is face up, right in front of my face, “As you wish, Princess.”

Smiling to myself, I interlace my fingers with hers and place our hands on my lap. Studying her fingers, I smile at how cute they are. If only I could hold her hand tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. “Was it that obvious that I wanted to hold your hand?” I ask.

“That’s why I said as you wish,” she continues, “You don’t have to say anything. As your loyal servant, I could just feel your I-gotta-hold-that-hand energy.”

I laugh. If only it were that easy. If only I could feel her energy and know exactly what she’s thinking. But since I don’t have that ability, I might as well just ask, “So what are we? What is this?” I see her jaw tighten slightly.

AMBER’S POV

She asked the questions I had been trying not to think of an answer to. And I don’t know how to respond. What are we? What is this? She plays with my fingers, “I thought you said you can feel my energy,” she jokes, “So since you already know how I feel, tell me. What’s going to happen when 5am comes around and I have to get on a plane back to Korea?”

I huff a breath of air out, then say, “I’ll tell you exactly what’s going to happen.” She tenses up, waiting for me to continue. “You’re going to get on that plane, and I’m not going to stop you.”

I look at her out of the corner of her eyes. Our hands are still interlocked, but her eyes look out the window and past the bustling nightlife. “And that’s it?” She asks me, still staring out the window.

“Of course not,” I answer, pulling up in front of her hotel, “We’re here.”

She stares down at our hands, fingers twisted together tightly, “Oh. We’re here.” I sense her nervousness, and try not to grin at the cute lip-biting thing she does when she’s anxious.

“Soojung, the second I held your hand, I planned to never let it go,” I confess, “So if you think that once you get on that plane, this will be over, then think again.”

She takes her hand out of my grasp and opens my hand up. Still staring down, she traces the wrinkles that run across my palm and the tattoos that mark my wrist. “How?” The single word strikes me down. How?

“Honestly, this lowly servant doesn’t know either, but we’ll figure it out. That, I promise,” I pull her face up to mine and look her straight in the eye, “I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, though. Love never is. But if you’re as willing as I am, we can make this work. Just answer me one thing: will you be my girlfriend?”

KRYSTAL’S POV

They say eyes are the windows to the soul. If that’s true then Amber’s soul screams love, determination and trust. I know mine on the other hand, betrays a hint of doubt, a dash of fear, but contains a whole lot of love. Will you be my girlfriend? I want to yell “of course” from the rooftops, but something in me holds back. I try opening my mouth but the words don’t come out, so I simply nod my head. Amber leans back with a defeated look on her face, “You know what? Never mi-”

Without another thought, I decide it’s time to follow my heart instead of my head. I lean in towards her and capture her lips with mine. Pulling back, I whisper hurriedly, “Actions speak louder than words,” before crashing my lips back onto hers. Her lips move slowly at first, but soon, her feelings get the best of her, and she presses her lips hard against mine, biting gently, then teasing them apart. Her tongue flicks into my mouth, searching for a dance partner. Both our breaths are released, shaky and shallow, as we pull apart, just to come right back together. Again and again, she pulls my head closer to hers, each kiss more fiery and demanding than the next.

AMBER’S POV

I taste the sweetness of the moment, my lips lingering on hers. I slowly open my eyes, as does she. Her shy giggle breaks through the hot and heavy silence. “I’m gonna take that as a yes,” I say, still trying to catch my breath. Her hair falls in front of her face as she nods. I push the soft, brown strands back for her, and lean in to get another taste of her lips. “This is going to become a habit,” I mutter, before getting in one more peck.

Her pink cheeks get pinker, but despite her shyness, she leans in and gives me a slow, sultry kiss, “This one’s for you to remember for next time.”

I raise an eyebrow, “Then, I can’t wait for next time.”

The alarm on her phone rings, breaking our reverie. It’s 3am. “My flight’s at 5, Amber,” she says gently, “I have to get back to the room, or my manager’s going to start calling.”

Disappointment fills the air. I unbuckle her seatbelt for her. “Let me walk you up,” I say almost begging. My hand reaches to open the driver’s side door.

Her hand on my arm stops me, “Amber, you know you can’t. It’ll be too obvious something’s going on.” I see tears start to form in her eyes.

“But something is going on,” I insist, even though I know what her answer will be.

“Amber, we’re already going to be all over the news for suspiciously holding hands and running from paparazzi,” she continues, “Please, don’t do this — for both our sakes. You know I want you to walk me to my room — not just to my room, but to the airport and back to Korea. But you also know that you can’t. I’m sorry.”

Cupping her face in my hands, I speak slowly, trying to stall the inevitable end, “Don’t be sorry. You’re right. I know I can’t, but hey, a girl can still try, can’t she?”

Placing her hands on mine, she says softly, “See you, Amber — somewhere, somehow. Remember, you promised.”

I take my pinky and interlock it with hers, “Not just any old promise, Princess, a pinky promise.”

KRYSTAL’S POV

Tears fill my eyes as I rip my pinky from hers. I can tell, her grip was meant to never let me go. Opening the car door, I walk out alone towards the hotel. I resist the urge to turn back. I resist with all of my might, but my body doesn’t listen. I turn my neck to look at her. She’s already gone. I hold back a sob as I knock on my manager’s hotel room door. When he opens the door, he invites me in with a look of pity, “Love at first sight didn’t work out so well, did it?”

I let out a bitter laugh as tears begin to fall like rain, “It worked out.”

He looks at me confused, “Then why are you crying?”

“Because it worked out.”

Although confused, my manager tries his best to comfort me. Then he realizes, “He’s Taiwanese, isn’t he?”

My laugh is again bitter, “She. She’s Taiwanese.”

My manager’s eyebrows shoot up, “S-she?” I simply nod. He lets out a laugh of his own, “This is even more complicated than I thought, but unfortunately, we don’t have time for this conversation.” Handing me a pair of sunglasses and a mask, he says softly, “You can cry in the van. Talk to me about it when you’re ready.”

As the pitch black sky slowly turns a dark blue, I watch the Taiwan sunrise flash by through a haze of tears and tinted windows. Who knew that coming to Taiwan for promotion would mean I would leave my heart with someone there? As the airport pulls into view, I steel myself, ready to face the world. The flashes outside the van that once had frightened me are now not so frightening at all. As my manager slides the door of the van open, I imagine Amber’s hand in mine. I’m a model on a catwalk. Let’s do this thing.

AMBER’S POV

As she walks away from the Mustang, I feel tears building up in my eyes. I step on the gas and speed away. If I had seen her turn back, I would have ran out of the car, dragged her back in, and drove us somewhere far, far away. My tears blur my vision and I swipe angrily at them. My childhood was full of goodbye’s and see you’s, from my mother, to my father, to the countless foster families, yet somehow, this is the only time I have actually cried, and it wasn’t even like I was never going to see her again. I arrive at the dorms in a daze. I check my phone for the time. She should almost be on the plane by now. I send her a quick text.

Let me know when you’ve landed.

- Your Loyal (and Responsible) Servant

She responds quickly.

I will.

It’s only two and a half hrs.

Don’t worry about your princess too much.

And it’s “Your Highness”.

Smiling at my phone, I suddenly realize I didn’t take any photographs of her when she was here. All at once, the tears are back in my eyes. I hold them back and decide to Google her again. Typing Krystal’s Chinese name carefully into the search bar, I notice a bunch of results with my name on it. It dawns on me — these articles are about what had just happened a couple hours ago! I quickly click on the first one and read the title: “Tomboy Superstar and Korean Beauty: Amber and Gal Pal Krystal Jung Have a Fun Night Out” I chuckle. Of course. Gal pals. That’s what we are. Relieved, I read on: “Seems like our very own, Amber Liu, has become good friends with Korean starlet, Krystal Jung. The two were spotted coming out of a jazz bar in the Da’an District of Taipei early this morning. The two ran out of the bar holding hands, looking quite chummy. A source tells us that the two met just a day before during a talk show and have been inseparable ever since. Looks like Liu’s vast friend group has gone international. The American-born Taiwanese and American-born Korean chatted up a storm in both Korean and English on the program, and seem to have connected instantly. Some are even speculating that Jung will be learning Chinese in order to better communicate with the C2C member.”

I scoff. Fake sources, exaggerated storytelling, and random speculations are the epitome of celebrity gossip, but I’m just relieved that because of the conservative, Asian culture, two girls holding hands can apparently only mean one thing — they’re friends. I copy the article link and send it to Krystal.

Looks like I could have walked you to your room after all.

They probably would have said that we were having a gal pal sleepover in your hotel room or something… ;)

September 04, 2013  |  Seoul, Korea

KRYSTAL’S POV

Physically and emotionally drained, I had fallen asleep the moment I sat down on the airplane seat. My manager had woken me up when we had landed, and now I’m on my way to the van. Paparazzi are everywhere again, but I just continue to imagine that Amber’s hand is holding mine up until the van doors close. As my nervousness subsides, I remember I need to tell Amber that I’ve landed. Switching airplane mode off, a message from Amber pops up. I grin. Reading the text, I am happily surprised by her message, although slightly disappointed to have missed the opportunity for a “gal pal sleepover”. After reading through the article she had linked then considerately translated into English, I feel surprisingly relieved. I text her back right after I finish reading.

Hey, I’m back in Korea.

I wasn’t expecting the gal pal response.

Next time, you should walk me to my hotel room… and maybe even come in and stay for a bit…

Before I can exit the message app, Amber has already responded.

I wonder what they would say if they saw us “gal pal’s” making out in my car…

My face flushes as I think back to the hot and heavy make out session in Amber’s Mustang.

You know what the bigger problem would be? Your car isn’t exactly inconspicuous, you know?

Her response makes me giggle.

Your swollen lips weren’t exactly inconspicuous either… but what can we do?

My hand grazes my lips. If I shut out the rest of the world, I can still feel her teeth, nibbling my bottom lip. My manager turns to me, “Are you feeling better now?” He is cautious and doesn’t seem to want to pry any further into my love life.

“Yeah I think I’m feeling better. Thanks, Oppa,” I say, grateful for his concern.

“That’s good,” my manager tries to brush off his concern as if it were work related, “Because we don’t have time for you to be upset. You should take a nap now. You have another schedule in a few hours.” I sigh. Taiwan was like a dream, but now I am back in reality. I just hope that Amber doesn’t disappear as quickly as Taiwan did.

September 04, 2013  |  Taipei, Taiwan

AMBER’S POV

“Hey Llama, wake up!” Our group’s leader Qian yells and throws a shirt at my face, “We’ve got a meeting with the CEO in an hour!” I groan and check the time. 8am. I had slept for a grand total of 15 minutes.

As I pull the t-shirt over my black sports bra, Luna, our group’s lead vocal yells at me from the bathroom, “Amber, where were you last night, huh?”

Her cheery, teasing tone tells me she already knows. I groan, “Not sleeping, that’s for sure. How the hell can you be this happy in the morning?”

Laughing out loud, Luna responds, “It’s because we usually have to wake up way earlier than this!” I give her a groan of acknowledgement and she begins to hum a tune while blowdrying her hair.

“Amber!” Qian yells again from the kitchen.

“Okay, okay!” I drag my aching body and half-beaten heart out of bed and pull a pair of skinny jeans up. Looking around, I yell, “Who took my orange bomber?”

The visual of our group, Xue Li, yells back, “No one else wants to look like a walking orange, Big Bro.”

I chuckle, “Alright, fine! Then where is it?” I run a hand through my messy, blonde hair. Last I remember, I was taking my keys out of its pocket… as it draped around Krystal’s shoulders. I hurriedly send a text to confirm.

Hey, you still have my favorite orange bomber?

Xue Li walks over to me. “Big Bro,” she laughs with wide open, “You’re hair makes you look like a pineapple!” I look in the mirror, put a glob of gel on my hand and try my best to at least look like an organized pineapple. My phone buzzes.

Yep. I have it. It smells like you.

I’m keeping it btw.

I smirk.

Keep it. Hell, wear it out.

Everyone should know your MY walking orange.

“Amber, you ready?” Qian shoves a homemade breakfast sandwich and one of my jackets from off the floor into my hands before shooing us all out of the door and into our manager’s waiting van.

As the van bumps along I check my phone again.

Haha. Very funny.

You think wearing matching clothes would make us BEST gal pals?

Smiling to myself I respond swiftly.

Princess Jung… Will you… be my…

BGFL (Best Gal-Pal For Life)?

I picture her trying to hold back laughter as she reads this.

Loyal Servant Liu…

I will.

Not.

I smirk. Of course. I should have expected that answer. My phone buzzes again with another message from her.

I gotta go to another schedule. FaceTime me later?

I okay her request, not noticing that I’m smiling goofily at my phone. “Amber, what’s so funny?” Qian gives me a quizzical look. I simply shake my head.

Luna blurts, “You’ve been like this since you got back this morning! Anything we should know? Is it… a girl?”

Before my head even gets halfway through my nod, Xue Li and Luna squeal, “Who is it?!”

Laughing, I say, “I’m sure you guys will know soon enough.” The rest of the ride is serene and quiet. As tired as I am, I can’t fall asleep.

Arriving at the CEO’s office, the whole group crowds around his desk. “How are you guys doing?” Our CEO smiles, taking his glasses off and leaning back in his seat.

“Very well,” Qian says, sitting prim and proper in her seat.

The CEO smiles kindly, “I just heard some news about Amber this morning.”

Qian shoots me a deadly look, before preparing to answer about something she knew nothing about, “Well, sir-”

“Amber,” he addresses me directly, “This is some good PR!”

I try to hide my surprise, “Uh, about Krystal, sir?”

He nods, his graying hair bobs with his head, “Yes! I know you’re friends with almost everyone in the industry here in Taiwan, but I didn’t know that became friends with Krystal during your one year stay in Korea.”

The rest of the group stays silent, having absolutely no idea what the CEO and I are talking about, “Uh, I didn’t, sir. We met during the talk show a couple days ago, the one I went to alone.”

It’s the CEO’s turn to look surprised, “And you’re already this close?” He pulls a picture up. Krystal’s hand is in mine. My orange bomber is around her shoulders. We are mid-run, with laughter across our lips and love in our eyes. I notice Luna jab Xue Li in the ribs and raise an eyebrow at the jacket. Qian shoots me another look.

“Uh, yes, sir.”

The CEO’s stern look turns bright again, “Great! Because of this news, I am happy to announce that we will begin our promotion phase in Korea! Amber, you’re a hot topic in Korea at the moment, because of your friendship with Krystal, so be prepared for a lot of questions about that. The rest of you, work on your Korean. You guys have a month before promotions start, so get on it!”

With a smile plastered on our faces, we stand up and thank the CEO. As we walk out the door, I whip out my phone, more excited than ever.

Hey, I’ve got some good news and some not-so-good news.

FaceTime me when you’re done.

I thank god that the time difference between Taiwan and Korea is only an hour (she’s an hour ahead). “So,” Luna starts.

“Don’t even start, Luna,” I say, cutting her off before she bombards me with a trillion questions, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out in… about a month.” I grin and walk them to their Korean class.

“Big Bro,” Xue Li calls from behind me, “You’re so lucky you already speak Korean. I don’t want to go to class!” I laugh. As the youngest of the group, Xue Li is also the most whiny.

“Xue Li, you’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going to go and play now. I’ve got work to do too,” I slow my steps so she can catch up, and ruffle her hair.

“Xue Li,” Qian’s stern voice calls from the front.

“Yeah, Mom?” Qian’s mother-like qualities earned her the nickname.

“You better study hard, okay?” Qian’s voice is tinged with a hint of playfulness so slight that only member’s of our group can detect. To those who don’t know her well, she is much less of our mom and more of our boss.

“Okay, Mom,” Xue Li walks up to Qian and leans her head on her shoulder, “Love you too.”

“And Amber,” Qian calls while Xue Li’s hair, “Make sure you practice and do it right.” She turns her head back and shoots me a look that screams I-know-you-and-Krystal-aren’t-just-gal-pals.

“Yeah, Big Sis. I got it.”

“Good,” she says curtly, and enters the classroom.

“See you, Amber,” Luna calls out in an accented English as I wave and turn to walk to a different room.

Training goes without a hitch. I practice how to reply to certain questions in Korean and translate some prerecorded dialogues, as I have to be the the unofficial translator in a month. The girls practice basic Korean greetings and learn some Korean culture mannerisms, like how to address people politely. After the training ends, we head home together, and I collapse on my bed. Just as I’m about to drift into slumber, my phone rings. My eyes shoot open and I check who the FaceTime caller is: Princess Jung Soojung. Not even bothering to straighten out my hair, I accept the call. A gorgeous, fully made-up princess appears on my screen. I rub the sleep out of my eyes and sit up in my bed “Princess…” My voice trails off as I am once again stunned by her beauty.

Her expression remains slightly hard, “Bad news first.”

My lips curl up at her adorable tone. “First of all, it’s not bad news — it’s not-so-good new. Second, you made the wrong choice, but I’ll do as you wish,” I say, “Not-so-good new is… it’s going to be in about a month, maybe a little more.”

I watch as confusion takes over her face, “What’s going to be in about a month.”

“The good news,” I smirk.

She rolls her eyes, “Then what’s the good news?”

“I’m coming to Korea.”

I watch as surprise blankets her face, and excitement take over, “Wait, what did you say?”

“I’m coming to Korea,” I say a little bit louder.

Her screen suddenly goes black.

September 04, 2013  |  Seoul, Korea

KRYSTAL’S POV

She’s coming to Korea. In a month. I mute my microphone and shove my phone into the pile of blankets on one side of my bed. Holding my pillow to my face, I scream as loud as I possibly can, letting out all my excitement in one long breath. “Princess? Where’d you go?” I hear her concerned voice muffled in blankets. Composing myself, I pick up my phone, and turn my phone mic back on. I see her concerned face turn bright again. Her platinum blonde hair spikes up all over the place. I burst into laughter. This is the first time I get to see the cute, vulnerable side to her. “Wh-what, wh-why the…” I laugh, gasping for air, “P-pineapple?”

Her smile breaks into laughter, and her white teeth dazzle me through the screen. “Did you just say ‘What the pineapple’?” She mocks my voice by using a high-pitched Valley girl accent and flipping non-existent long hair.

Composing myself as much as I can, I point out, “Your hair! Why do you look like an adorable pineapple?”

She makes a llama pout and says, “Whatever. I’m your adorable pineapple, just like you’re my adorable walking orange.”

Chuckling, I turn the camera to the other side of my bed, where her orange bomber lays. “I cuddle this at night, you know,” I say shyly.

Her eyes dance as she says, “Just wait a month. Then you can cuddle the real thing instead.”

Blushing, I say softly, “I miss you, Am.”

“Yah, Jung Soojung,” she switches to Korean, “If you keep that up, I might go to Korea before this month is even over.”

Shooting back a retort in Korean, I joke with a glint in my eye, “That’s too bad, because you’re not invited.”

Suddenly I hear a stern voice yell Amber’s name, followed by a few words of Chinese. “Sorry, Princess. I gotta go. The group’s going out for dinner to talk about the whole Korea thing. I’ll talk to you later?”

I nod and remind her, “I’m going to be pretty busy the next two days. I might not be able to talk too much.”

September 04, 2013  |  Taipei, Taiwan

AMBER’S POV

“Hey, don’t sweat it,” I run a hand through my pineapple hair, and do my best to smile, “That’s the good thing about dating someone in the industry, right? As hard as it is, we can at least say there’s one positive thing — I get how busy you can be.”

I seem to reassure her enough. She breaks into a smile and says, “Alright then, go eat. And make sure you fix your hair before you go out, unless you want to be the first walking pineapple.”

Laughing, we wave to each other through the screen and hang up. I fix, my hair, put on some casual clothes, then head out with the group. During the dinner meeting, we begin to discuss the details of our coming promotions in Korea. “So I finally saw next months schedule,” Qian reports, “And were going to be heading to Korea in exactly 6 weeks, on the 16th of October. We’re going to be doing a bunch of stuff there, for about two weeks. Amber, you have a couple of individual schedules, so be prepared for that. The rest of us, we’re going to be focusing on album promotion with a couple commercials thrown in…” Qian’s voice fades out as my mind switches into worry mode. Individual schedules, the kind I hated most, in a foreign country… what was I going to do? Thoughts rush through my head of all the questions that they could ask me. I begin mentally preparing myself, trying to answer every personal question possible as impersonally as possible.

“Amber!” Qian scolds, “I’ve been calling your name for a while. Are you okay? You aren’t eating or talking.”

“I’m fine, Big Sis,” I try to tone down the worry in my voice, “I’m just a little worried about the individual promotions.”

Qian gives me a reassuring smile, “Amber, you’ve always done well. You’ll do just fine without us. I know it makes you uncomfortable, especially when they ask personal questions, but you just have to be smart about it. Don’t let them get to you.”

I nod my head hesitantly. “Big Bro, I got your back. We all do. Don’t worry so much. Worse comes to worse, just pretend you don’t understand what they’re saying!” Xue Li throws her head back and gives her signature laugh.

“Thanks, Xue Li. That’s a good solution, I guess, especially since they won’t waste money getting a translator to translate for someone who is already decently good at Korean.” Any questions about my past will be met with a confused look, I decide.

“And Amber,” Luna says, “You’ll also have… a special someone to cheer you on while you’re there!”

Qian clears , “I won’t ask questions, Amber, but all I ask is that you keep your private life private. I don’t want any unexpected news creeping up on us and affecting the rest of the group, got it?”

Bobbing my head up and down, I reassure the group as best as I can, “Don’t worry guys. I won’t let the group down.” I won't let her down either, I think to myself. I pinky promised.

———

Author’s Note: Hey, everyone! Hope you’re enjoying the story. It’s my first time writing and I’m enjoying it a lot so far. I would love it if you guys left comments letting me know what you’d like to see next/more of/less of — your comments are greatly appreciated! Also, I want to say a big “THANK YOU!” to those who have already subscribed or have left comments — your support make me even more motivated to write. <3 Final thing: the next chapter title should always be up in the foreword section so you can get a sneak peak of what's coming next!

See you guys in the next chapter!

- RYTK