“Oh my god!  CL-roo!”  A petite girl, wearing a black cocktail dress adorned with glittering diamonds, went up to her and hugged her.  “Aigoo, my little CL-roo has grown up so much!”

 

 

Chaerin trapped her tiny frame in her arms.  “You are just short, Darong.”  As expected, the smaller girl hits her lightly in the arms.  

 

 

They were in the Christmas Ball that Park Han Byul’s family throws every year.  It is one of the annual events that all of them never misses out, especially right after they graduated from high school and went different roads.

 

 

"Are my eyes just tricking me or you did actually get a very expensive dress this time?  This is one of the new collections for this season!" Dara twirled Chaerin around and studied her from head to toe.  "Did you finally buy something from the store you've been managing since forever?"  

 

 

Chaerin shrugged it off.  "Are you crazy?  I will not waste my hard-earned money for a dress I will only wear once.  This," she pointed to the red silk gown she has on and continued, "is not supposed to be what I should be wearing tonight.  But when I asked Taemin to pick up my dress  at the dry cleaner's, he came back with this.  The owner said that they accidentally put bleach on my dress."

 

 

 

"Waaaah.  Ain't that something?  My CL-roo finally lets her y body be wrapped in Chanel.  This is like my dream come true."  She who has been managing a Chanel store since they graduated but never take out her money to buy even a piece.  Dara then noticed the shiny object around her neck.  "Did it come with the jewelries too?" She ran her hands on the Chanel necklace.  "Man, where is your dry cleaner's at?"

 

 

 

"Shut up.  Mrs. Cho insisted on lending me this.  She said it goes well with the color of the dress.  The dress I can keep, but not these babies though or else Mrs. Cho will skin me alive.  I have to give it back to her first thing in the morning before I lose it." 

 

 

 

"But you do look great today.  That's right!  Show you're good-for-nothing, chimpanzee looking ex-boyfriend of yours that the world will still turn without him.  Screw men and their sky-high egos."  Chaerin could only shake her head at her best friend.   

           

 

 

“Am I missing something?”  Another girl, came jumping in between their conversation, trapping both their heads in her arms.

 

 

 

“Yah, Park Han Byul!”  Dara quickly detached herself from her friend’s infamous headlock.  “You are ruining my look tonight.”

 

 

 

Byul whispered loudly to the amused Chaerin, “It’s not like her ‘Jiyong-ie’ will show up anyways.”  Both laughed at their friend's stupefied look.  “When will your boyfriend ever learn how to keep even at least one of his gazillion promises?”  

 

 

 

“Shut up.” Dara grabbed a drink from a waiter passing by and chugged it like a sailor.  “He is a busy man especially now that he is about to debut as a singer.  And besides, he is not my boyfriend.  We are just friends.  How many times will I have to tell you that?”

 

 

 

Chaerin who was just silently watching the two banter, yet again, caught the change in her bestfriend’s eyes.  

 

 

 

“Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?” Byul, known for her utter distaste towards Dara’s ‘friend’, ended up in a childish wrestling match.  

 

 

 

She couldn’t help but just laugh at the two self-proclaimed adults battle each other out through flicking of foreheads.  Everything seemed to have not change since high school - Dara and Byul getting on each other’s nerves, and her being their referee, well of course after she enjoyed watching them pull their hairs out.  But the best thing about their friendship is that no matter what the reason is and who is at fault, one will fight for each other.  ‘They sure will be fighting a huge fight once I told them about it.‘ She thought to herself.

 

 

 

“Waah, Chaerin-ah you are so beautiful!” Park Bom, Dara’s cousin came with a younger girl beside her.  

 

 

 

“JUST Chaerin?” Byul teased.  

 

 

 

“Minji-ah, stay away from this woman.  She tries to bully everybody but...”  The younger girl nodded in confusion.  “always fails at it.”

 

 

 

“Puahahahaahaha.  She got you on that one, Byul-ie.” Dara high-fived her cousin and stuck her tongue out Byul. 

 

 

 

“Everyone, this is Gong Minji.  She helps me take care of the flower shop on weekends.  That pretty lady in red is my roommate Lee Chaerin.  This cute little rabbit right here is my cousin Dara, and this scary woman is Park Han Byul.”  

 

 

 

The girl bowed to them and gave them the cutest smile that all ahjussis and ahjummas can’t resist.  “Annyeonghaseoyo.  My name is Gong Minji.  But everyone calls me Mingki.  It is nice to meet all of you.”

 

 

 

“Thank you for inviting us, by the way.” Bom lightly nudged Byul.  

 

 

 

“You are very welcome.  At least, you showed up.  Unlike other people.”  She laughed.

 

 

 

Dara, after sensing that Byul was again pertaining to Jiyong, pushed her. “YAH!” 

 

 

 

“Unnie!  You guys are scaring her.”  Chaerin pointed at the bewildered teen.  

 

 

 

“Why don’t you just find somebody else who would actually take time for you?”  Byul told Dara as she flattens her dress.  “Like...That one! Choi Seung Hyun.  Why don’t you just give that guy a chance for crying out loud.  Go out with him and make beautiful babies.”

 

 

 

They all followed her gaze.  The guy in a sleek tuxedo approached a girl and was obviously hitting on her.  

 

 

 

“Pssh.  Should I always remind you that I am happy being single?  I have too much in my hands right now I don't have time to make a fool out of myself.  And Choi Seung Hyun?  That jerk only thinks he likes me because I keep on rejecting him.”  She grabbed another drink from a passing waiter.  “Guys think that they already found 'the one’ if they come across a girl who is different from all the girls they’ve met before.  That kind of guy right there only wants nothing but to hump you in bed.  They'll make you believe in rainbows and butterflies and that unicorns exist.  Once you do, when you least expect it, they will rip your chest apart, butcher your heart without a glint of remorse, throw it into the ground, stomp on it, and walk away without looking back.”

 

 

 

“Gosh, Sandara Park.  Way to go traumatizing an innocent girl.” Byul pointed at a now wide-eyed Mingki.

 

 

 

"What?  I'm just saying.  It's much better to let the youngsters know what's ahead of them."

 

 

 

"Somebody woke up at the wrong side of the bed." She mouthed at Bom.

 

 

 

“Ah, Mingki-yah, are you hungry?  Come on, let’s go get something to eat!  Byul-ie’s omma is a really good cook!”  Bom led the younger girl away after giving the other two a death glare.

 

 

 

Unaware to all of them, somebody was more than affected on what she just heard.  In her mind, questions began playing in her head.  Is it true that guys only think they are in love if they find somebody different?  That men, in the end, will always just make your heart get crushed into pieces?

 

 

 

“Andwae!  I really wonder how Doong-wook can marry such a scary person like you!”  

 

 

 

"Yah!  Get yourself out of that jerk's life before he kills you!"

 

 

 

"I have to tell you guys something."  Chaerin blurted out.  The two turned their heads her way, completely forgetting the petty argument that they were having.  'How am I going to tell them?  Hey, guess what?  Teddy Park, you know that really cute guy from tv?  He actually told me he likes me.'  She shook her head.  'Ani.  They won't believe that.'

 

 

 

"I..you see.."

 

 

 

"Excuse me, ladies.  If you don't mind I just need to steal my wife for a while.  Omma is looking for you."  DongWook s his arms around Byul's waist after greeting everyone.

 

 

 

"Honey, just one second?  Chaerin was going to tell us something."

 

 

 

Her breathing hitched as she tried to find the words all jumbled up in her head.  The prolonged silence and the anticipation of the people had gotten her palms soaking in sweat  'Why am I having a hard time telling things like this to my own best friends?' 

 

 

 

"Are you okay?" Dara took her hand.  It pulled her out of her current state.

 

 

 

"Oh my god!  Please don't tell me you got back with that piece of crap!"  Byul pointed an accusing finger at her.  Her husband gave her a soft pinch as people nearby gave them curious looks.

 

 

 

"A-aniyo!  I was just going to tell you guys..." She bit her lower lip and asked the heavens to shower her with courage.  "...MERRY CHRISTMAS!"  What came out of only earned frustrated groans from her expectant audience.

 

 

 

"M-merry christmas?" Byul walked towards her in confusion and gave her a hug.  "Chaerin-ah, please take this as an advice from an unnie to her dongsaeng, but next time you let yourself fall, make sure that that person will really catch you.  I'm saying this because I don't want to see you get hurt again."

 

 

 

"I'm afraid to tell this but for the first time tonight, I will have to agree with crazy wifey here.  Enjoy the time being single even for just a while, yes?  Put your heart on hiatus and recharge?"

 

 

 

Seeing the eager faces of her bestfriends, she couldn't say another word to them.  Maybe, they are right.  Maybe. 

 

 

 

"Oh well.  I'll get going before my mother spits out fire.  See you guys later.  Same time, same place.  Arasso?"  She bid them goodbye and strode happily towards her family in the other side of the banquet hall.  

 

 

 

Meanwhile as she watches her friend from across the room, engage in a conversation with her husband and as her eyes twinkle every time she looks lovingly at him, she couldn't help but get a tinge of envy.  From all the failed relationships that she had, her heart has begun to question all things surrounding her.  Her father once told her to make mistakes and learn from them.  And she did, a lot of them and she made sure that she had learned from it but what her father missed to tell her is that most often than not, those risks taken leave you wounded.  Some wounds heal quickly, some leaves terrible scars, some doesn't seem to heal at all.  Can she still bare one more heartache?  

 

 

 

"You know, I've been noticing."  Dara inched closer to her.  "That guy has been looking over here for quite a while.  At four o'clock." 

 

 

 

They both discreetly looked back.  "I haven't seen that guy before. Oh!  Maybe he is checking you out.  Yieeee!" Dara giggled like a school girl pinching Chaerin's sides.  It only stopped when her phone rang.  She took it and stared at her phone before finally answering.

 

 

 

'He does look kind of familiar.'  She thought as he watched the guy get another glass of alcohol.  

 

 

 

"I have to go."  Dara placed her phone back in her purse.  "...."  

 

 

 

"Jiyong?" 

 

 

Dara nodded and placed a quick kiss on her cheek.  "The princess needs to go save her knight in shining armor."  She gave a her a hug and whispered, "I'll wait till you are ready to spill whatever it is that is bothering you.  See you at midnight!"

 

 

 

Chaerin watched her hurriedly run across the room until she vanishes behind the huge banquet door.  It isn't new to her how her best friend always plays the superhero to her "friend".  Although she never admitted to them about her feelings towards the guy, they know that she'll sell her soul to the devil with just a mere mention of his name.  And every time they confront her about being 'stupidly in love' with somebody like Kwon JiYong, she will just vehemently deny any malicious connections with him and will storm out afterwards.  

 

 

 

Denial.

 

 

 

'No, the break-up rumors are not true.  Han Eun Mi and I are still together.  The picture with another girl at the ski resort was just blown out of proportion.  She...she was just a friend I happened to meet again.'

 

 

 

The interview Teddy had last night has already spread like wildfire throughout all social networking sites.  Netizens sighing in relief as their real life fairytale continues on while the unknown girl, the witch who was trying to steal the prince away, has been casted off.

 

 

 

His voice echoed in her ear once again.  Just two days ago, he came to where she was working.  Although it is nothing unusual for them to cater to celebrities, the pandemonium he had caused to their entire staff made her realize how much of a high profile Teddy Park is.  It was chaos as people start gathering outside of the show window just to take a peek of him.  He only stayed for a couple of minutes and bought a pair of stilettos, that, according to eavesdroppers are for Han Eun Mi.  As every one of her staff swooned over him, she just remained frozen on her spot even when he approached her and whispered, 'You are too cute getting so nervous like that.'

 

 

 

The voice in her head is strongly spouting words declaring how much it hated the thought of her believing his words, but the dancing beat her heart is doing is beginning to overrule.  What will become of this?  She doesn't know.  

 

 

 

"Just so you know, the floor is not going to open and eat you up anytime soon." 

 

 

 

Wearing an arrogant smirk, Lee Seungri, took the empty seat beside her.  Normally, she would have retorted at his remark but she thought that maybe this night she'll call a ceasefire.  He handed her a cocktail drink that she gladly accepted.  "I see that you took extra time dressing up this time."

 

 

 

"My, my.  You and your lame attempt of saying I look good tonight.  Oh well, I still appreciate the effort."  She chuckled and raised the martini glass at him.  "Anyway, you don't look as bad as your normal self."  

 

 

 

"Well, thank you.  I try to at least step a level down so I won't outshine everybody.  It's hard to be the center of attention all the time."  He winked at her sending goosebumps all over her body.

 

 

"So full of himself."  She mumbled, shaking her head.

 

 

 

"You doing alright?" He asked nonchalantly, taking the other's stance to fall back.  The tone of his voice somewhat altered to a different one that she's been used to.  This was gentle and anxious.  As far as she can remember, Seungri wasn't one to ask people questions about how they feel more so if it concerns her.  What had changed the course of the wind?  It is either, this is his way of poking fun at her or her ears are playing a very terrible trick yet again, she thought.  Nevertheless, when it comes to Lee Seungri, she learned never to let her guards down.  It is an everyday constant battle she doesn't want to lose.   

 

 

 

She heaved a deep sigh and mustered up all the spare happy energy hidden inside of her.  "Yes."  And as those words rolled out of her tongue, Teddy's chinky-eyed smile flashed before her eyes and it all drowned out the  worries she'd been feeling.  She then turned to him and said, "Surprisingly enough, I am perfectly fine."

 

 

 

Seungri averted her gaze and bowed down, a smile spreading across his face.  "Good.  Good to know."  Awkward silence fell between them.  She waited for him to say something that will fire her up to make her want to kill him but he just kept on drinking his of glass wine.  Perhaps, it's the alcohol. Or maybe, he does really wants to know how I am?, she told herself.  It was the chatters from the other table that drowned out that thought aside.

 

 

 

"Heard about Teddy Park scandal?  I bet you those pictures were real!  That is his alright.  You know I have seen him in a club I frequent to before, and he practically was hitting on all girls.  Poor Han Eun Mi.  The things she has to go through because of that womanizer, don't you agree?"  A girl about Chaerin's age, who she recognized from one of the birthday parties Byul threw for her husband.

 

 

 

"I know!  I've heard the same stories from a friend before.  How could he still look at other girls when he already have the most beautiful girl in his hands?"  Another added.

 

 

 

"This is all that 's fault.  What kind of person is she to ruin a perfect relationship? If-"

 

 

 

"Do you want to dance?"  Seungri's words finally brought her breathing back to normal.  Surprised, Chaerin looked at him and just nodded. The voices in her head began to strongly mock her.  'What kind of person are you, Lee Chaerin?'

 

 

 

"Are you sure you're alright?"

 

 

 

"Huh?..Ye..Yes." She tried forcing a smile.

 

 

 

As he led her towards the dance floor, she caught sight of his bandaged right hand.  "Your hand-"  

 

 

 

"Fell in the bathroom."  He finished, cutting her off.  If it was an ordinary day, his quick and short answer would have piqued her little curious mind but apparently it isn't.  It just kept on bugging her with words such as 'womanizer' and '' and every possible word synonymous to that.

 

 

 

"Yah, Chae-cat." Seungri prodded through her beat up brain.  "You know the thing about your stupid ex-boyfriend Seungho, he is too much of a douche that he doesn't know it.  His brain is filled with just air.  Soon he will realize how much of a he was for leaving you like that."

 

 

"Huh?"   

 

 

"One day you will find somebody who will actually appreciate you for who you are.  The hurt might linger for a while but there are a lot of people who are here for you.  You'll find happiness with the right person - with a person you can truly trust.  You know..I..uh..I.." She noticed him getting a little bit fidgety.  "I know you are still upset over what happened between you and-"

 

 

 

"What are you saying? I'm not upset." Chaerin said calmly.  She looked back at Seungri's eyes and sensed a tinge of pity.  

 

 

 

"It's alright to be upset, Chaerin.  People make mistakes.  You know-"

 

 

 

"I am not upset."  She cut him off. Heaving a deep sigh, she unhooked her hands wrapped around Seungri's neck.  "I am happy, not upset.  Didn't I already tell you earlier I was perfectly fine?"

 

 

 

"'Rin it's okay-"

 

 

 

"I am okay!"  She half-screamed.  "How many times do I have to tell you that I'm fine, I'm okay, I'm alright, see?  Oh, I know why!  Because you take pleasure knowing how miserable I am.  You love it when I always end up broken after a yet again failed relationship.  You love the part where you would rub it in my face how stupid I am for believing obvious lies.  The thought of me never finding happiness, in truth, actually excites you, isn't it?  Well guess what, I actually did find someone.  Yes, you heard that right."

 

 

 

Clearly flabbergasted by her sudden outburst, he calmly smiled and spoke, "No you didn't."

 

 

 

"Yes I did."  She countered.

 

 

 

"Chaerin, you don't have to lie to me for you to make your point."

 

 

 

"Teddy Park.  I am dating Teddy Park.  He said he likes me.  No, he IS crazy about me."  There she said it.  Finally, getting the cat out of the bag.  It may be to the least person she would want to tell it to but at least she felt that a big boulder was taken out of chest.

 

 

 

Seungri was just staring blankly at her, seemingly studying her every move.  "Funny how he never mentioned about it during his press conference."  A gleam of victory twinkled in his eyes as if saying 'gotcha!'.

 

 

 

 

Right at that second she regretted having a pint size patience for Seungri.  "Of course, he won't.  His agency wont let him.  Yet."  A fabricated lie she just sewed in a mere split second.  Amazing how situation can make you turn into a great liar.  'It wasn't totally a lie,' her brain trying to make appease.

 

 

 

"Go on." He folded his arms across his chest and motioned for her to continue.

 

 

 

"We met at the ski resort.  Remember when I left without telling you guys where I went?  I bumped into him and he told me that he's been looking for me all along.  And that I found out how much he likes me and that he is serious about me.  That girl in the picture, that was me."  

 

 

 

"What about Han Eun Mi?"

 

 

 

"He..he's going to break it off with her."  Another lie.  The last time she and Teddy talked was two days ago after he dropped by the store.  They never once talked about Han Eun Mi.

 

 

 

"And when will this be?"

 

 

 

"He said as soon as she comes back from her trip."

 

 

 

She waited for a response but she didn't get any.  He just kept on staring at her probably thinking she just went bonkers.

 

 

"You still don't believe me, do you?"  She turned and was about to walk out on him but was spun around in full force.

 

 

 

"Let's say, I believe everything that you just said.  But what if, you were just one of his numerous flings?  What if he doesn't have the guts to break-up with Han Eun Mi?  What if he was just saying all these words to you so he can get inside your pants?"

 

 

"He is telling the truth."

 

 

 

"Chaerin, don't be ridiculous!  Do you seriously think anyone would believe you?  Wake up for crissakes!"

 

 

 

"Fcuk you Seungri." 

 

 

 

He held onto his wrist tighter, his eyes boring through hers. "Are you that desperate now, huh?"

 

 

 

It all happened so fast that the next thing she knew her hands are now in throbbing pain.  She was trembling in so much anger looking at him holding his sore cheeks.  And Before turning to leave she spoke, "Maybe I am desperate.  Maybe I will get hurt, get so broken after this I might just want to die.  Maybe I am lying just so I could ease my hurting ego.  What is it to you, huh?!"  She balled her fists to prevent herself to inflict more physical pain to the person in front of her.

 

 

 

"Whether I go crazy or kill somebody, jump off a building or have myself run over a truck.. that doesn't concern you."  She locked her eyes back to him, clearly unaware of the small attention some people were now giving them.  "I will do what I want to do with my life.  And you..just do what you do best - be the arrogant son of a gun that you always are and always will be."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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