Jessica stared at her pale face in the mirror, while moving her hair from side to side, trying to find the perfect look. She squinted her

eyes in disapproval,

grabbing two bobby pins from her dresser and pinned half of her hair on both sides. She turned her head to the right and then to the

left and sighed.

But before she could change her choice of hairstyle, her sister yelled from below,

          “Get a move on Jess, Myungsoo just left you!”

Her eyes widened as she sat up from her chair, grabbing her book bag as she ran down the flight of stairs, coming out to see that

her best friend Kim Myungsoo

had driven off, leaving her behind. Jessica rolled her eyes as she adjusted the strap on her bag and tapping her foot. It was only a

matter of time

before he came back. Like clockwork, a smirk played on her lips when she saw the Mercedes make a U-Turn, and park right next to

the curb in front of Jessica.

She opened the door to the passenger seat and closed it right when she sat down, Myungsoo driving off.

          “Did you think I was going to leave you?” Myungsoo asked, cooly.

Kim Myungsoo was Jessica’s one and only best friend since the beginning of their time. They couldn’t imagine life without each other,

and they never dared have it that way.

Myungsoo always had Jessica’s back, like she had his. Myungsoo was a cool, collected, intelligent individual. He was just as playful

with anyone else, if he

wanted to. Myungsoo was a wiz at almost everything, which was why he was such a very-well liked person in school.

          “Not for even a second.” Jessica answered with a smirk.

Jessica on the other hand, was a refined, charismatic, hot blooded person, to a point where she was Myungsoo’s opposite. She was

friendly with everyone

who treated her the way she wanted to be treated. Jessica never took no for an answer and found some way to change someone’s

mind. She wasn’t one to

follow anyone’s needs or expectations but hers. Jessica was one of the most beautiful girls in the school, and her personality made

her genuinely respected and liked.

Myungsoo parked right against the curb and both he and Jessica stepped out, the moment they did the school began chirping away about the two.

Theyboth waved to whoever greeted them, still keeping their steps as they made their way into the school and to their lockers.

It was an understatement to call

them ‘popular’ they were Gods to these people.

Jessica and Myungsoo never understood why but that’s how it had ended out to be. Jessica leaned herself

against a random locker, and waited for Jessica to get his things, swiftly poking him on the side, making him squirm.

          She let out a laugh, “Why do you always have to do that?” he asked her.

          “Because,” Jessica replied, “It’s funny.”

          Myungsoo rolled his eyes, “After how many years I still can’t predict when you’re going to do it.”

Jessica was about to say something when Myungsoo’s best friend Sungyeol came over with a panicked look on his face,

          “Please tell me you have last night’s History questions?”

          “Yes, but give me one good reason I should let you copy?” Myungsoo answered as he shut his locker closed.

          “Because you love me?” Sungyeol answered.

          “Hmm, fair enough.” Myungsoo said, taking a sheet of paper from his bag and handing from a now dancing Sungyeol, “I need it before 3^rd period.”

          “Thank you!” Sungyeol saod as he dashed away.

Jessica laughed as she hugged Myungsoo’s waist, him immediately wrapping both on her shoulders. It was always like this, ever

since the moment

became friends, Jessica was never stingy with skinship. Myungsoo didn’t mind with reciprocating it, she had always been so

affectionate.

          “This is our last year,” Myungsoo said, “And we’re off the real world.”

Jessica pulled away, “You make it sound like as if we’re going to die.”

“Our teenage years are.” He said, “After graduation, we’re going to be fully fledged adults.”

“It’s too early for this talk about graduation!” Jessica said rolling her eyes, “We’re seniors! We’ve got this whole year to go out with a bang.”

“Exactly what did you have in mind?” Myungsoo asked curiously.

“I told you I still want to dye my hair blonde.” She said, “The pretty kind, not the ugly one.”

Ever since Jessica was old enough to reach the shelf of hair dyes at the drugstore, she continuously gabbed to Myungsoo about how

she wanted her hair

into a beautiful shade of blonde. Despite this, he had a feeling she would never have the guts to do it. Her hair was dark brown, soft,

smooth, and shiny.

Having it chemically processed would ruin it, and Jessica secretly took pride in the look and feel of her locks.

“That’s not exactly going out with a bang since you say this every year.” He said in a matter of fact tone.

“Still,” she insisted, “I want you to know that I haven’t given up on the dream yet.”

“Let’s make a promise.” Myungsoo suggested.

“Okay,” Jessica said, “Is it something worth promising over?”

“Of course,” he said confidently, “Let’s promise that nothing will get in the way of us having the time of our lives this year and

whatever happens after graduation, nothing will change between us.”

“I promise.” She said with a contented smile, “Now I have something very Sungyeol like to ask you.”

“Oh God,” Myungsoo said in lament, “What?”

“Can I borrow your Calculus book?” Jessica said, sheepishly.

Myungsoo shook his head and handed it to her. She jumped up happily and gave him a hug,

          “Gomawo~! What would I ever do without you?”

          “I ask myself this at least once a day.” He replied.

“Haha, shut the hell up.” Jessica said, sticking her tongue out at him.

“C’mon go to class,” Myungsoo said ushering her into her classroom, “I’m going to need that book after!”

--

Jessica walked past the glass doors of her soon be restaurant. There was a lot of work to be done with renovation and she couldn’t

afford to have anything out of line.

She was still a fairly new chef, and her name wasn’t circulated enough to earn a name on her own, this restaurant would throw her

completely into the battlefield of culinary arts.

On top of that her mentor, spent half of his savings to even get Jessica’s restaurant a standing chance, his reputation was

on the line whether the restaurant succeeded or not.

She placed the bag of apples on portable table and called over her team,

          “You guys should take a break.”

Murmurs of agreement came within the staff; they surrounded the table and took an apple, thanking Jessica as they made their way

out or finding

themselves a comfortable spot in the area, she grabbed an apple herself a took a bite. She felt bad, lying to Myungsoo like that.

In fact it really was

restaurant business, but it wasn’t important enough for her to take off and leave. It was only a question of which chairs she liked

better, mahogany or teak?

But to see him so suddenly, after four years, and at the most random of places, she could feel that dull hurt coming back to her. She

just had to fabricate the

situation a little more for it to be a probable excuse. Jessica laughed bitterly, she knew it was high school but she couldn’t help but

get bitter.

What happened he had asked, she sighed. He still hadn’t realized how much that girl had affected their relationship.