Chapter 1

Kevin Woo

Real name: Woo Sunghyun

Status: single for the whole 20 years of existence.

"Yah Kevin-ah, you're turning 21 next month!" Eli sipped his redbull as he pointed at the calendar that read October's dates.

"Yeah, what about it?" Kevin looked up from his breakfast.

"You're single," Cereal was caught in Kevin's throat.

"And you're still a ," Cereal and milk came flying out of his mouth.

He coughed a fit while his hyungs and the traitor maknae laughed triumphantly as Kevin spluttered at Eli.

"Eew! Kevin!" Eli complained, dabbing tissues to clean up.

Kevin was still pounding his chest.

"YAH! I'm pretty sure ALL of you hyungs are also s!"

"Ohhh! He didn't deny!" AJ pointed out, making the rest of U-Kiss burst with another wave of laughter.

"Tsk, tsk. Kevin, this is why you're so innocent; we don't mean it that way, you're just...so pure,"

"Kiseoppie! Don't say that in front of little Kevin!" Hoon was either really siding with Kevin or is deliberately teasing 'little Kevin'.

"But Kevin, you really have to man up! How do you plan on staying a saint for the rest of your life?" Leader Soohyun finally raised a statement.

"But...but....I can!"

"Then," Eli had a smirk forming on his face.

"How about we make a bet?"

The members' ears perked up as Kevin asked about the bet.

"Get a girlfriend by a month,"

"…………………..Ehh? Why so fast?"

"A month's enough, Kevin hyung," Dongho answered a matter-of-factly.

"Bring her here to our dorm for proof!" Kiseop added.

"And kiss her," Eli looked at Kevin meaningfully, "Passionately if you have to,"

Kevin choked for the third..or was it fourth time since this morning.

"Then you won't ever need to worry how everyone mock you of being girly,"

Kevin gulped, he knew deep inside that even though he always seemed to not mind being called a pretty girl and avoided questions and demands about acting girly from his fellow members, he's a guy. He's a guy with pride and dignity, having those two aspects crushed and stabbed in national television, over and over.

He's lying if he said he's okay with everyone calling him a girl, it still hurts when they mock him about it.

The other members had huddled together and discussed about the plan.

"So, how about it Kevin-hyung?" Dongho was the one to turn and ask him, "We'll raise up the bet, if you win, WE'll go down town in mini dresses and wigs,"

Kevin's eyes flickered, "And photo it up into the internet?"

"Deal,"

"And if we win, you'll be the one hitting on a random girl while we video it, arasso?"

"Deal,"

"...Are you guys sure?" Hoon nudged Kiseop who was beside him.

"Gwaenchana yo! We aren't even sure that Kevin can get a girl by a month, right? Nothing to worry about," he stated lightly.

Breakfast ended with an approved deal from both sides.
 

Okay, so we're free for the rest of our day.

How do I start this? Should I just walk around and find a girl? Or should I just ask noona to introduce me to a friend..?

I looked around the room as my eyes zeroed on the laptop.

Online dating sites! Thank you internet!

I typed furiously and clicked on the first site that shows up. I scanned all the face of the woman section and all their info beside their pictures.

Gaahh! I'm already on the eleventh page and the best I could get ever since was a 40 year old ahjumma that posed as a "hot bodied 25 year old single noona <3". At least so far she has the most bids; there was a small button below each profile to say that you want her on a date, etc etc. At least she got about eight.

I was getting desperate as I was scanning through the twenty seventh page. Then I saw her.

My eyes were now glued to the screen.
It wasn't a selca like the others, wearing no make-up like others, and she was reading a book, someone took a photo of her without her own notice.

She was wearing a hood shadowing half of her face, but her chocolate eyes shone under her long lashes that looked real, everything on a beautiful glowing cream complexion that made her features stand out. Beautiful—that was a word to describe her.

I eagerly read her profile.

Other profiles would narrate:

"Hey there cutie pie, I'm ____! I'm a hyper and bubbly girl that is cute all the time [insert a series of emoticons], I'm a hot [insert age which varies from 20-29 even though they were ahjumas] noona that can pleasure you well <3 Noona wants you to call if you're interested, here :* 0XX-XXXX-XXXX ooor, you can fight over me with the button below! hehehe :3" and I shiver or cringe afterward. These noonas are so desperate its scaring me.

What I read was:

"I can't describe myself here, you should just see me right out in person, I can't display my number, just press the button below, go to my profile and tell me about you. And stuff."

‘And stuff’? Bwahahahaha another person who’s inexperienced in this type of thing huh?

When I saw the number of bidders I think my eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

Three...

……hundred…

...thousand..!?

But seeing as she's still here, meaning she isn't taken yet. Once I clicked on the button, the page was redirected to her profile display and I went for it.

Name: Hwang Riae
Age: 22
Location: Seoul, South Korea

Occupation: -

Interests: -

About me: Appeal to me and I'll meet you. Or stuff.

I scrolled down to see her page being spammed by numerous comments that tried to get to her but never bear fruit as she hadn't replied any of them.

Okay, so how am I going to 'appeal' to her?

Should I just... ………………Nah, then should I... ….But...

Aarrghh!!

Annyeong! I'm Kevin from U-Ki--

I slammed a finger on the backspace button.

Have I lost my mind!? What kind of idiot would introduce himself as someone from a boyband in a dating site!?

I blew in and out to vent my insides. It's just an introduction to a girl, nothing hard! I'll just be myself..! Yeah, yeah, I'll do that.

Annyeong, Choneun Kevin imnida. I just came across your profile and I thought you were interesting. I can't give you my number either, so how about replying to this post?

P.S.: Noona is so pretty kekeke

Okay, let's read that again to double check.

OH MY GOODNESS WHAT ON EARTH WAS I THINKING WRITING THIS!?

Start over—

"KEVIN!!"

"@$&/(!*+\%}^[>!!!!!" I nearly fell off the chair as I turned and tried to cover the laptop behind me.

Hoon blinked then formed a smirk, "What is that your were looking at in your laptop?" he paced forward.

"N-Nothing!" gaaah, stay away!!

He was just a few steps in front now and I tripped a finger onto the keyboard.

I slapped the innocent laptop to close harshly and not reveal anything.

Hoon was raising a brow in suspicion. This is the time when I usually squeal like a girl.

"Kevin," that's weird, he's saying my name in... awe..?

"Were you doing what I think you were doing?"

Oh my god is he on to me?

"HYUNG!" he peaked a head out the door, leaving me there flabbergasted, "KEVIN'S ACTUALLY WATCHING !!!"

"WHAT!?!?" the scream resonated from all the occupied rooms in the house, well, including mine.

"ANIII!!!” I think I just shouted my denial enough for the whole house to hear.

But seriously, !!??

Kiseop and Soohyun-hyung were the ones to arrive first. "WHERE? WHERE??" as the jumbled onto me who was clinging on my laptop like my life depended on it.

Soon after the others arrived and fired me with rapid questions in disbelief. The finally Eli strode here and—

"GAAAH!! ELI!!!!" I was shrieking a lot today. But Eli just snatched my laptop. ELI JUST SNATCHED MY LAPTOP. AND I DIDN'T CLOSE THE DATING SITE WINDOW.

Oh no oh no no no no no.

AJ and Kiseop locked my arms back as the others were waiting eagerly for Eli who was setting the laptop down and opened it.

This is it, guys.

Kevin Woo, not even 20. Cause of death: embarrassment.

The room erupted in the loudest laughter I'd ever heard coming from them.

"GAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! A DATING SITE!! KEVIN WHY ARE YOU SO CUTE??"

"AND I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WOULD USE DATING SITES FOR THE BET!!"

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! AND YOUR COMMENT POSTED THERE TOO!! WHERE DID THAT COME FROM??"

I think my jaw dropped to the pits of hell. My soul was extracted out.

I never curse out loud, but,

HOLY SH—!!!!! THE COMMENT WAS POSTED!?

I forced both arms out of the evil clutches of AJ and Kiseop and I bolted toward the laptop.

I eyes were bulging out so far I think they'll fall out and roll down on the floor.

I found myself banging my forehead on the computer keyboard.
 

"RIAE! RIAE!!" I heard the alarming voice of a friend of mine, a friend that I haven’t seen for a whole peaceful year was blaring like a siren the first thing I know. Her footsteps were storming throughout the library.

Not bothering to close my books, I slipped down the table, hoping that maybe she won't notice me as people near me were eying my curiously.

She was abruptly stopped by a librarian whom shushed her up and lectured her. She bowed frantically and now started to hiss my name.

Hide, hide, she has never been any good when screaming...

I felt my body loosening when she was out of sight. I'll hide a bit more just in case.

"Riae?" a breath blew on the back of my neck.

"GYAAA—!!" I banged my head on the table. I rubbed it painfully and hissed her a, "What!"

"Aigoo... I haven't seen you for about a year and not even a 'Deanna! Where have you been? I missed you~~~', what kind of hubae are you, hiding from your unnie the second she sees me?"

"Jeez, okay, okay." I rolled my eyes and made my way back up the chair.

"Hey, Deanna-unnie," I brought her into and embrace. Truth be told, even if she’s this bothersome person over here, she was my very first best friend that last well… over a month since we were in Middle school despite her being a sophomore while I was barely twelve at the time.

"Kyaah~ I forgot how you always smell like books and honey," I chuckled as she said that. I always tend to scream my lungs out, smile and laugh randomly only when she was there, so yes; she’s a very special person….. I guess.

"So," she started as we were already on the corridor toward the exit of the building, "How was the dating site coming? Got anyone interested yet?"

I blinked incredulously.

Dating site? What dating site?

Deanna nudged me, "Yah! You forgot?!"

"H..Huh?"

She slapped her face with a palm. "The dating site profile that you made a year ago, rings a bell?"

Dating site, dating site...

"Yah, Riae-ah! You're already 18 you know??"

"Yeah, so?" I didn't look up from my book.

"'Yeah, so?'!? Girl, you haven't gotten a boyfriend since forever!!"

"Yeah, so?"

"I swear, I'm gonna slap you some time soon," she sighed dramatically, "Being the good best friend and sunbae here, I'll try to get you one,"

"Huh,"

"Yah! Pay attention already!"

"Huh,"

She grumbled then greeted her laptop, typed and clicked various things as I resumed with my book. Since we weren't in the library, we were just at the wooden bench on campus at night, the peaceful breeze caressing my face. I hummed to a melody.

Only hope.

"You still didn't get back to singing?" Deanna was looking up to me from her laptop computer, her eyes were staring at mine with depth and sadness.

"I quit for good, remember?" I sang to the chorus, hitting the notes casually.

"That's such a waste of talent, Miss Agma," she sighed.

I chuckled at the reminder of my nickname—Agma, Americans called me the Eastern Demon. Not such a good thing to call someone, but they started calling me that after I sung for the seniors’ graduation ceremony, they said I sounded like a devil. Till today, I still don’t get what they meant by that at all.

"Julliard too,”

And  I… had applied for the scholarship program for Julliard once when I was thirteen, and I was accepted. I couldn’t be happier, but mom and dad had different plans.

The devil lost his wings and fell back into the abyss.

Ah well, moving on with my life.

"Riae, how do you describe yourself when you write profiles in the internet?" she dropped the subject.

"Can't. They'll have to meet me in person.”

“Phone number?”

“Can't give them my phone number, they'll have to meet me. For all you know, they're some psychos that come after you,"

"Aish, why are you so hard to get?"

I chuckled.

"If you'd write your personal data what would you write?"

What is she trying to do here asking me all these weird questions?

"I'd display my real name and location, but I'll fake my age,"

"Mhm, what about interests? Occupation and stuff about you?"

I eyed her curiously, "What's with the questions?" she’s up to something.

"Just answer them! I'm just curious!"

"I'll leave the interest section blank, occupation too, but I'll write something in the about me section, I guess."

"Oh? If people would want to be 'friends' with you, what would you write then?"

"Appeal to me,"

"You are so hard. Expensive,"

I rolled my eyes playfully.

Click.
 

"You were asking me weird questions then took a photo of me then I tried to strangle you for setting me up into a dating site,"

Deanna rubbed her neck, "I can still feel your claws on my neck,"

"So, you haven't seen the site since then?" Deanna asked.

"Uh...no,"

"I knew it!" she shrieked in English.

"What? I didn't know anyone would want to get me anyway," I replied in the same language.

"You idiot," she flicked my forehead, "Who would NOT want a single, cute girl? You're like a flower amidst junk in the site!"

I rolled my eyes.

She searched through her phone, visited the popular section.

"Popular section? So sure?" I asked.

"THERE! You're like, on the first page!"

Okay, what the hell?

"With over 300000 bidders!! Omo, omo! Pick your favorite, dongsaeng!" Deanna shoved her phone in front of my face. I sighed and took the phone.

I shuddered in disgust at all the revolting comments saying that they want me to meet and date and marry them.

"Seriously, Deanna, do I even need to date? I'm not so desperate,"

"But I am,"

I sighed again and continued.

The most recent comment caught my eye.

Annyeong, Chonun Kevin imnida. Finally, someone that says a proper greetting.

 I just came across your profile and I thought you were interesting. Interesting?

I can't give you my number either, so how about replying to this post?  ‘Can’t give you my number either’? I chuckled.

P.S.: Noona is so pretty kekeke

Is it creepy to smile at your phone at someone’s comment? Pretty, huh?

Though the others did say I was pretty, they added some regurgitating additions that said something about being hot and y and getting hard when they see me. (What does that mean anyway?)

My thumbs unconsciously glided to reply.

Meet me at the pasta house at Hongdae. Tonight at 7? The table with the white rose

"Riae!?" Deanna snapped me back to my senses. "Oh my gosh! I thought I lost all hope already!!"
She continued to spazz.

"Who's the lucky guy??" she squeal girlishly.

"Kevin,"

Deanna coughed. "What!?"

"Kevin, he said his name was Kevin," I repeated.

Deanna snatched the phone away and read his comment. Then shook her head.

"Haha, a moment then I thought you said Kevin! I thought you meant my little brother, hahaha," she laughed nervously.

"Your little brother? Huh?"

"They have the exact same name! But my brother's pretty popular here so it's impossible right? Why would he even need a girlfriend? Hahahaha,"

Brother? Popular? Impossible? What?

I just shrugged it off.

"Ah! Ah! He replied!" Deanna spazzed.

Ok. See you then

I could feel myself smiling.

"Yah, that's too quick to be falling for him already!" she pinched my cheek. "This awesome unnie will make you a princess tonight!"