...

"Don't worry, I'm fine Mom, I'm a big girl already," Kim Minjoo pouted even though she knows that the other person on the other end won't see her make-face. She briskly walked as she pulled her luggage from behind, she looked around and admired the aesthetic environment of the place. Although struggling, she managed to carry all her belongings in a go with class.

"I'm here already, ah, I could see Aunty waving at me! Call you later Mom!" she dropped the call in an instant as she saw her Aunty walking towards her with excitement. 

"Aigoo! My niece grew up pretty well!" said her Aunty as she welcomed the girl with a big hug. The woman was around the age of 50s but that didn't hinder the fact she could dress outstandingly wearing a khaki trenchcoat. 

Minjoo noticed how her aunt was always the fashionable one among her relatives, and she was influenced by how she dressed up, and calling her Aunty her 'favorite Aunt' was an overstatement. 

"I like your fashion today huh! How was the flight?" her Aunty asked. Minjoo smiled and removed her shades.

"It's just a short flight Aunty, not a single hassle," she answered.

"You must be hungry then! Let's go eat at my favorite sushi place," said the old woman.

The two started to put Minjoo's stuff inside the car and continued talking. As they started to move from the airport, Minjoo observed the busy streets and people. 

"It's always busy here, yeah?" 

 "Well," Her Aunty chuckled.

"Welcome to Japan,"

...

Minjoo was in awe seeing the food being prepared in front of her. Her Aunty smiled in amusement.

"It's really reasonable for its price," Minjoo commented while munching on her food.

They were in a popular sushi restaurant in Tokyo which also happens to be her Aunty's go-to place. Minjoo and her aunty started enjoying their meals. They talked about Minjoo's schooling in Korea and how she ended up deciding to go to Japan for university.

"The fashion industry in Japan never fails Aunty," she shortly replied and smiled.

"Don't worry, you'll like it here," her Aunty assured. 

Of course, Minjoo knew she shouldn't be worried especially if she has someone with her. It was always assuring to be with someone outside your home country and she was lucky enough that her Aunty decided to settle down in Japan instead.

"Let me know if you want to go around and I'll accompany you, okay?" 

Minjoo nodded cutely and her Aunty couldn't help but pat her head.

Soon after, the two-headed to where Minjoo will stay for the next couple of years, none other than her Aunty's home.

Minjoo laid down on the couch while her Aunty quickly prepared for Minjoo's room. After a while, the young girl was lead to her new safe haven. To no disappointment, her room fits well with her taste, the colors, and minimalist design made her feel homey. She just couldn't thank her Aunt enough for accepting her freely. The older woman was widowed and didn't get the chance to have a child. Perhaps the reason she had poured her attention on her sister's only daughter. The good thing about Minjoo is she isn't the type of spoiled brat that grew up not only from a wealthy family but also with lots of love around her.

Although there's something she can't remove from her personality, it's the utter competitiveness she had all her life. Making people around her a possible hindrance to whatever she wanted to reach. This made her social life a bit unstable because of the friends who left her alone, they couldn't stand the so-called competition all the time resulting in Minjoo's now tough wall.

She hasn't done anything yet to be called greedy, but once she had set a goal on something, she always makes sure to reach it with all her might. With minimal failures, Minjoo grew more confident with herself and with the things she does. She picks her challenges well, when to dwell with a situation and when to not pay attention to it.

Maintaining a positive and active attitude made her life easy yet exciting, she didn't regret anything when she would only have a few hours of sleep just to study on her academic subjects, with that kind of hard work, it was needless to say that she usually achieved being the top-notch of the class and their whole level.

"You will meet a lot of wonderful people here in Japan, and I want you to enjoy your school life okay?" Minjoo heard her Aunt as the old woman was folding her clothes. 

"That, I am not sure, but I might get a friend or two." Minjoo chuckled nervously but she managed to give her aunt a reassuring smile. 

...

Minjoo tried her best not to drop her jaw at her new school. First-day jitters are all over her and the excitement is uncontainable. She observed her surroundings seeing the things she expected to see, well-dressed people with flashy outfits, class, and different styles made her stomach turn upside down. There were no regrets in flying to another country to pursue her dream.

From her morning class until the last, Minjoo enjoyed listening to her professors and even knowing new people around her. One of her classmates that dared to talk to her was named Kang Hyewon, she seemed harmless for Minjoo's standards and wasn't even the type of girl who'd befriend the popular, because the first thing this Hyewon girl did was gave her a ballpen with glitters, she said it was "a newfound friend" offering. It seems like she found comfort in Minjoo because they share the same nationality which the latter didn't make a big deal, after all, it's better to stick with someone with the same culture. 

"Minjoo-ah," the girl was surprised to hear her new friend address her informally quite fast, but she just shoved the impression away. She greeted Hyewon with a friendly smile. 

"Let's go get some food," said Hyewon. Shortly after, the two girls found themselves walking in the busy streets of Tokyo, they went eating Ramen and other street food that can be seen in the busy streets. 

Minjoo learned that Hyewon was also a newcomer in Japan, no wonder the clinginess she felt today on their first day of school. They talked about random things to the point that Hyewon was asking her random things like love life.

"I never felt that though, sort of not interested, to be honest," said Minjoo as she chuckled at Hyewon's absurd face.

"Are you serious? I mean, I've never seen a prettier girl than me before, and that pretty girl happens to have zero experience in relationships?!" said Hyewon while Minjoo continued chuckling.

"What's so bad about it?" asked Minjoo as she calmed herself.

"Well? At our age I think it's really nice to have someone to spend time with, especially now we're in a different country, you should look for someone to be with, maybe go and date someone out?"

Minjoo scoffed. "I don't want to treat people as a time killer you know, I deserve more than that and they too," she smirked after.

"I want to date in the future when everything had fallen into its respective place," added Minjoo.

"Now that's unrealistic. You should consider my suggestion some time, I mean, isn't it exciting to date while you're away from home? It's like eloping without hassle," 

Both of them laughed. They walked in silence after leaving Minjoo some thoughts on her mind. She never altered her perspective because of someone's suggestion and she knew that even people will give her promising points in the future, it wouldn't matter. She would still stick with her own world view.

One good reason for her was simply because it's easy to get carried away with other people, but at the end of the day, the only thing you have is yourself.

...

Minjoo took one last look from the mirror, she checked her outfit for the night. She was wearing an elegant black blazer hanging on her shoulder with a signature bag. Her Aunt couldn't help but squeal at how fashionable her niece looked like and with that, they already headed outside. It was their school's freshman orientation, but with a party. And what do we expect in a party full of aspiring designers?

 Class and elegance, which Minjoo possessed.

"Have fun okay?" 

Minjoo nodded at her aunt as she opened got off the car. She bid goodbye to her Aunt and looked at her phone.

"Oh, Hyewon-ah, I just got here, oh! There you are!"

Once Minjoo saw her friend, she waved her hand but she was wondering why Hyewon was looking shocked as she walked towards her.

"Why do you look like you've seen a ghost? Is my face too pale?" Minjoo worriedly asked while she tried pulling a compact mirror.

"Silly, you're so pretty! Oh my God, dashing!" 

"Aigoo.. stop joking too mu-" Minjoo gulped when she observed the other students whispering and admiring her beauty. She blushed after realizing it.

"Oh well, we're used to it aren't we?" Minjoo cracked a joke and Hyewon indeed laughed. The two-headed inside the party. A large and luxurious buffet in the middle along with non, and alcoholic drinks. 

They could see everyone partying including Hyewon while Minjoo tried to dance a little. They met some of their classmates and spoke with them. 

They were having fun and Minjoo somehow denied that she's enjoying these types of party. She saw Hyewon talking to someone, or more like flirting as she observed. She shook her head and laughed, then, Minjoo decided to get some fresh air because inside the place was too crowded. 

At the parking lot of the venue was a bit quiet and Minjoo found a perfect spot for her. 

She walked towards a nearby tree and leaned on it, closing her eyes. She was appreciating the little things in the current situation and how the breeze touched her face. 

Minjoo emptied her mind, feeling the still of the night. 

A few minutes after, to her displease, she heard a sound of footsteps nearby, as much as she wanted to ignore it, it got bigger and bigger. She furrowed her eyebrows, quite annoyed. 

Minjoo decided to open her eyes and checked the noise, but to her surprise, she was welcomed with a loud thud. Minjoo felt the grass on her face.

"What the h-" she almost cursed but stopped when she realized there was a person on top of her, scratching the back of her head.

"AAAAH!!!"

Minjoo shrieked but the person quickly covered and eyed her to stop.

"H-hey hey!! Stop!! I'm sorry!!" said the person.

"G-get off me!" yelled Minjoo as she struggled. The person realized their situation and mentally smacked herself. She stood up and quickly dusted off her shirt.

Minjoo quickly stood up and hugged herself while looking at the stranger with annoyed eyes.

"Can you please watch your step next time?" Minjoo irritatingly said. In front of her was a tall girl, perhaps close to her age. She quickly checked her from head to toe, and Minjoo cringed from the choice of clothes. 

The girl was wearing a white shirt with a thick jacket, tight black skinny jeans, and a pair of old chucks. She was taller than her, she has these round eyes and pale lips. Her dimples were evident with most of her reaction, she observed. 

Plain.

Minjoo thought. 

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to trip..." said the girl. "You, you're new here are you?" said the stranger.

Minjoo looked at her sketchily. "How'd you know?" she raised an eyebrow.

But instead of answering, Minjoo saw a hand in front of her. 

"My name's Yujin!" the girl excitedly said. On the other hand, Minjoo ignored the handshake, she removed her gaze.

"Minjoo,"

Yujin pouted with the slight rejection, she pursed her lips and smiled. 

"Are you alone?" 

For some reason, even though Minjoo wanted to shove this person away, she couldn't, and funny, because she's willing to answer her questions. 

"I'm with my friend, I'm just getting some fresh air," she said.

Weird.

Yujin looked at the flashing lights near the venue.

"Ah, it's that time of the year again," said Yujin as she put her hands in her pocket. 

Minjoo swore she saw a somehow sad reaction from the girl. But, she convinced herself to not even ask questions, she's just too aloof with strangers.

"Are you from around here?" and with that, Minjoo failed. She couldn't help but ask questions.

She heard the girl chuckled, quite offending her for a moment.

"What's so funny?" Minjoo started to express a displeasing attitude.

"Nothing, it's just that..." Yujin looked at her amused. "You didn't even notice I'm speaking the same language as you,"

Minjoo felt cold in