--   04   --   A gift came for you a week after your last encounter with Sunggyu. Your thoughts weighed you down to the point that you actually became sick and had to miss a few days of school. The price for your coming of age was the talk of the school according to Jia. It was the last thing on your mind while you were wrapped up in your blankets in your room. Some of the helpers came by to attempt to feed you, but you could only force one or two spoonfuls down before curling back into your blanket.   Gyuri stuck her head into your room and asked if you were well enough to come see your gift. You mumbled something before sitting up and rolling out of your bed with a blanket wrapped around you. Gyuri rolled her eyes before disappearing out of your room and into the courtyard where several boxed laid.   Mother had the boxes opened already and was going through their contents with a detailed eye.   Kimono of every pattern from the finest fabrics flowed over Mother’s hands as she inspected them. Gyuri grinned and crossed her arms over her chest. “If I were you, I’d tell him to save his money for the bid and not expensive gifts for you.”   “Who are these from?” you asked, knowing full well what the answer was.   “Save rhetorical questions for the patrons. And you would do well to listen to Gyuri. He should be saving his money for the bids. They’ve been climbing exponentially.” Your expression fell again, and you excused yourself back to your room.   --   The sickness passed after a few days, and you were back to being miserable. Gyuri was waiting for you outside of the school when class ended, and you were surprised to see her. She hardly ever came near the school, claiming it was the cause of the worst times of her life, an exaggeration, you were sure.   “Come with me,” she said, grabbing your hand. Jia shrugged and said she would meet you at home since you promised to help her practice the koto. “Don’t tell Mother you saw us! If Mother asks, tell her she had to stay behind to teach an extra lesson.”   Your eyes widened in shock, but Jia just nodded and turned to leave. “Gyuri, where are we going? Why does she have to lie to Mother?”   “I’m doing you a favor since you’ve been so miserable. Oh, don’t give me that look.” Gyuri dragged you down the street to a familiar teahouse and fixed up her clothes before fixing yours.   “What are we doing here?”   “You are going to sit down and have a good long talk inside. I will be there too, in the background to make sure nothing improper happens. Now, let’s go.” Gyuri opened up the door and waited for you to step inside first.   A familiar figure hastily got to his feet to greet you and Gyuri. You stared at your feet while you greeted him. Gyuri sensed the awkwardness and sighed heavily, brushing past you and knocking into you before greeting someone at another table and making her way over there.   Sunggyu caught you before you fell, and you cleared your throat, quickly stepping back away from him. “Please, sit,” he said, gesturing towards the table. You sat down, and one of the waitresses brought tea and cups, leaving the handle pointed towards you.   “Would you like some tea?” you asked, not waiting for an answer. You just wanted to busy your hands with something. You poured the tea and offered him a cup before placing your hands back into your lap. A few moments of silence passed before Sunggyu spoke.   “You’re still angry with me.” It wasn’t a question. It was a simple statement that had you wondering if you really were angry with him. But why would you be angry at him in the first place? He didn’t insult you.   “No, I wouldn’t say that,” you said, twiddling your thumbs.   “But you’re upset. I’m sorry if my words upset you. I guess it was because I was taught that everyone had an opportunity to become whatever they wanted, so I didn’t really think too much about your situation...” He breathed out a sigh when you finally looked up at him.   “I suppose. But it’s not like a geisha to get upset over words.”   “Is it like you to get upset over words?”   You stared at him for a moment, not knowing what to say. You’d word the geisha persona for so long, you’d forgotten what it was like to let loose and be yourself, whoever ‘yourself’ was. Maybe that was the reason why it was so hard for you to relate to people on a personal level.   “I...”   He smiled at your confused expression before taking a sip of his tea. “I like your company. Not just your company as a geisha, but just you, too.” Still unable to say anything, you settled for a sigh and a smile. The two of you sipped tea in silence until Sunggyu’s eyes fell onto the bracelet on your wrist. “Do you like butterflies?” he asked.   You placed your cup of tea back on the table and gently one of the butterfly charms. “Yes. I do.”   Sunggyu smiled at you before clearing his throat, and suddenly, his expression became serious. “I had some business with you, actually. I didn’t just call you out here for idle chatter. I actually wanted to invite you to my birthday party out at the estates in the country. It’s a bit of a train ride, but it’s beautiful out there. My father insisted on having a party, but I suspect it’s his excuse to invite all of his friends to brag about me.”   You smiled at him and tilted your head. “Are you inviting me as me, or as company?”   Sunggyu blinked rapidly. “Well, I’d like both, but your caretaker would probably only allow you to come as company, right?”   “Gyuri will have to come, too. After all, I’m still an apprentice.”   “Right. But you’ll be there?”   “We’ll see,” you said with a mysterious smile on your face. Sunggyu sighed with mild exasperation and shook his head.   “I hate it when you do that.”   “When I do what?” you asked, feigning innocence.   “That.”   --   As it turned out, Sunggyu’s father already invited you and Gyuri to the party at the estate outside