Bom called for an emergency girl-bonding night.

She reserved a VIP room at a club owned by Seunghyun's family.

Minutes later, Chaerin and Minji arrived.

 

Minji was dying to hear the complete details of Hyuna's plan in joining GD-Fam Entertainment.

She kept pestering Chaerin to tell the whole story while they wait for Dara.

Bom was also getting interested but Chaerin insisted that they wait for their friend first.

 

"Aigoo Chaerin-ah, just some tiny details." Bom urged her.

 

After several minutes of persuasion, Chaerin gave in.

She even told her friends how Jiyong didn't show any interest in taking Hyuna in.

 

".......that's what oppa told me." She proudly said.

 

Bom clicked her tongue and stared at her.

 

"You're taking advantage of your boyfriend, Chaerin-ah." She said, shaking her head.

 

"I beg your pardon, unnie." Chaerin said, narrowing her eyes. "I did NOT take advantage of him. He's the one who decided it, it's not like I told him to do that."

 

"She's right, Bom unnie." Minji agreed. "I think oppa did that because unnie's feelings are more important to him.”

 

Bom rolled her eyes and raised her hands in mock surrender. "Whatever!"

She was not in the mood to argue with her friends that night.

 

"Where's Dara anyway?" She asked, checking her watch.

 

"She said she'll be here in less than ten minutes." Chaerin said while reading Dara's text.

 

To kill time, Chaerin also told the girls about the Minho and Seunghyun meeting.

As usual, Bom lectured her for interfering with them.

Their conversation was cut short when Dara arrived.

 

"It's about time." Bom said rolling her eyes.

 

Dara quietly sat beside her not greeting them.

 

"What's up with you?" Bom asked, examining her friend.

 

"Nothing." She grabbed a bottle of beer on the table and took a big gulp.

 

The three girls exchanged glances. They knew that it wasn't just nothing.

 

Bom arched an eyebrow.

 

"Have you been crying?" She asked, noticing her puffy eyes.

 

"No," Dara replied defensively.

 

"What do you mean no? Don't lie to us, Dara." She snapped.

 

Dara sighed.

 

"I'm fine. I just didn't get some sleep last night." She told her friends, giving them a faint smile.

 

The girls knew better.

 

Bom was about to comment when she felt a nudge.

 

"Stop harassing her already." Chaerin came to Dara's defense. "Just tell us why we're here."

 

Chaerin noticed that Dara wasn't herself.

The moment she entered the room without saying a word, it's obvious that there's something wrong with her.

She was always the bubbly one among them and her not greeting them in an enthusiastic way is a sign that there’s something bothering her.

As much as she wants to know why she's down, she just let it slide knowing she'll open up once she's ready.

 

'Does it have something to do with what happened yesterday?' She couldn't help but wonder.

 

"Yeah, Bom unnie," Minji suddenly spoke. "Why did you call for us on short notice?"

 

Bom looked at them and sighed.

 

They watched as she pours beer into her glass.

Then she took a deep breath and drank it straight.

The girls narrowed their eyes, even Dara was surprised.

The last time they saw her getting drunk was when she and Lee Junki, her ex-boyfriend, broke up.

 

Dara frowned seeing her refilling her glass.

 

"Yah!" She tried to stop her by grabbing her hand but Bom ignored her and continued.

 

After she gulped it all down, she slammed the glass on the table.

 

"U-unnie, what's the matter?" Minji managed to ask.

 

Bom gave out a heavy sigh.

 

"My parents want to set me up for an arranged marriage." She said, wearing a gloomy face.

 

"WHHAAT???" The three girls chorused.

 

Seconds later, Chaerin burst out laughing.

 

Dara and Minji turned to her and gave her a warning look.

 

"Sorry, sorry... Arasseo.... This is bad news." She could barely suppress her laugh. "But seriously. Bom unnie?? Arranged marriage??!!" She let out a snort.

 

Bom groaned while messing up her hair.

 

"This is serious girls! I don't wanna get married--yet! Not now. Especially not to someone I don't love!" She whined.

 

Dara looked at her friend helplessly. "Maybe if you start dating, aunt and uncle might change their minds." She suggested.

 

"Well actually," Bom sat up straight. "That's exactly our deal. If I start dating, they'll stop looking for a potential groom."

 

"Great! Then you should start dating now." Minji cheered, but she suddenly realized something. "Errrr... Do you somehow... like anyone?"

 

Bom paused for a moment then she started wailing.

 

"Wahhhhh... My life is ruined! "

 

 

**********

 

 

Daesung was biting his nails while watching his opponent walking around the billiard table.

 

Seungri was carefully measuring the distance of the eight ball from the cue ball.

When he was satisfied with his calculation, a smile crept on his face.

He bent himself over, positioned the shaft of the cue stick on his left hand and grips the of the stick with his dominant hand.

He glanced up at Daesung who was seriously watching him.

 

"Say goodbye to your sports car, hyung!" Seungri gave out an evil laugh as he aimed his cue stick.

 

Squinting his eyes, he takes a shot.

 

"Yeah!" He screamed in triumph.

 

Daesung's mouth fell open, realizing he just lost the game. He shook his head, aghast.

 

"Ahhhhh!!!!" He yelled. "*&%$#%^&!!!"

 

Seungri walked to him flashing a big annoying grin.

 

"Don't worry hyung." He said, putting his arm around Daesung. "You can borrow the car from me anytime."

 

Daesung groaned while he did his victory dance.

 

After discussing the handling of the sports car, Daesung looked around the room.

He saw his other friend sitting alone, at the mini bar, drowning himself in alcohol.

He elbowed Seungri.

 

"Aww! What the.." Seungri stopped when he saw him motioning his head to the mini bar.

 

"What's wrong with him?" He asked.

 

"Beats me. He's been like that ever since he arrived." Seungri said putting his cue stick on top of the billiard table.

 

Daesung furrowed his eyebrows and wondered.

 

"I tried talking to him earlier but--" Before Seungri could finish his sentence, he was already dragged away. "Yah! Wae--"

 

 

**********

 

 

"How about if I set you up with some guys from my school?" Minji suggested.

 

"No!" Chaerin cuts in and faced Bom, who was sitting opposite her.

 

"I'll introduce you to some models.... or.... celebrities!" She paused and snapped her fingers. "That's right; I'll introduce you to Kim Bum."

 

The girls looked at her like she said the dumbest thing ever.

 

"Geez, it was just an idea." She said rolling her eyes.

 

Dara and Minji shook their heads.

 

"Thanks, but no thanks." Bom sighed. She slumped in her seat and put her one hand on her forehead.

 

"I can't believe that I'm actually having this conversation with you girls." She quietly said. "I mean, I don't understand why my parents want me to get married now. I specifically told them before that I'll date AGAIN after graduating vet school. How can they do this to me?!  This is crazy!" She groaned while covering her face with her hands.

 

"As of now unnie, you don't really have a choice." Chaerin said. "It's either you date or settle with the guy your parents choose for you."

 

 

After hours of talking about Bom's dilemma, Chaerin announced that she had to leave first.

 

"Sorry girls, I really need to go." Chaerin said apologetically. "I got an early flight tomorrow."

 

"Good luck with your fashion show, unnie." Minji said. "Hwaiting!"

 

"Break a leg, girl." Dara said with a smile.

 

"Thanks girls." Chaerin laughed and gave each of them a hug.

 

"Good luck, Chaerin-ah!" Bom whispered while hugging her.

 

"Don't worry about it too much, unnie." Chaerin said hugging her tight.

 

"When I get back from Japan, we'll go look for the man of your dreams, okay?" She added, winking.

 

Bom narrowed her eyes and smiled.

 

"Go now," She said playfully pushing her to leave. "Say hi to Jiyong for us."

 

 

After Chaerin left, the girls continued discussing Bom's situation.

 

"I'm doomed!" Bom muttered under her breath.

 

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out." Minji said reaching for her friend's hand.

 

Dara just finished another bottle of beer.

 

"Park Bom!" Dara suddenly spoke in a loud voice, almost shouting.

 

The two girls were alarmed when they heard her.

 

"Why don't we find ourselves a man tonight, eh?" She said, slurring her words. "What do you say, Bommie-ah?"

 

She unsteadily stood up and pulled her friend along.

 

"C'mon, Boooommie-ah! Leeeet'ssss go parrrrtttttty tonight! Let's go out and daaaaance!"

 

Dara tossed her head and swayed her body like she can hear the music coming from the outside of their room.

 

Bom and Minji glanced at each other, surprised and wondering at the same time.

 

Minji's eyes slowly went to the table.

 

"Omo!" She gasped, pointing at the bottles in front of Dara. "Six bottles, unnie." She whispered, looking at Bom.

 

Dara looked at them with her flushed face and half closed eyes.

 

"What?!" She smirked. "Am I not old enough to drink as much as I want?"

 

"Da-" Bom started.

 

"I'm getting bored here. Let's go out and dance." She cuts her off and pulled them up from their seats.

 

They reluctantly submitted to her request, both looking at each other as Dara led them outside the VIP room and into the dance floor.

 

"We're dead." Minji mouthed to Bom.

 

 

**********

 

 

Youngbae was scanning his cellphone while sipping his beer.

He just realized that he has tons of pictures of him and Dara saved on his phone.

Some of them are his favorite pictures from college.

Everytime he gets a new cellphone he never fails to save some of their pictures and transfer them to his new one.

He paused when he saw a very old but memorable picture in his cellphone.

 

"Nice."

 

Youngbae almost jumped off the stool when he heard Seungri's voice over his shoulder.

 

"You still have that, hyung?" Daesung asked as he took the seat beside Youngbae.

 

Seungri went to take the other empty seat, making Youngbae in the middle of them.

 

"Are you okay? You seemed pretty quiet." He asked, hoping to get a reply from him.

 

Youngbae just sipped his beer.

 

"Let me guess." Daesung said, opening a can of beer. "It has something to do with Dara nuna, correct?"

 

Still no answer.

 

"Aissshhh," Seungri muttered. "How can we help you if you're not speaking to us?"

 

"Who says I need help?" Youngbae asked glaring at him.

 

"So what you're saying is that you don't have a problem?" Daesung confirmed.

 

"No. What I'm saying is that you two better shut up and stop asking questions or I'll break your neck." Youngbae snapped.

 

The two guys were shocked.

 

Seungri noticed the cans of beer in front of Youngbae.

 

"It's the alcohol that's talking." He whispered, glancing at Daesung. "Not hyung."

 

Daesung couldn't help but glare at Youngbae.

 

They sat there quietly not talking to each other.

 

A few minutes later, Youngbae chuckled.

 

Daesung and Seungri who were both busy texting people, glanced to look at their friend.

 

"Hyung, what's funny?" Seungri asked curiously.

 

Youngbae gave out a chuckle again while looking at his cellphone.

 

"It would be a lot funnier if you share to us what's amusing you." Daesung said with sarcasm in his voice. He was hoping that Youngbae didn't notice it.

 

"I just remembered something." Youngbae quietly replied with a smile.

 

********** Continuation next CHAPTER - CHAPTER 24 - Picture Perfect (Part 2)