You know that feeling, when you've been anticipating something nice only to get something you could have really done without?

 

Yeah, I'm going through that RIGHT NOW!

 

The silver moon shines spitefully, smiling maliciously at my helpless figure and the creature ahead of me. It walks beside a wall, away from the light. It's ever approaching body scaring me witless. If I try to stand up, my legs give way and I fall back down again. Do you know who I wish I had with me right now?

 

The matokis.

 

One in particular, who knows no fear.

 

Casey lets out a low, menacing growl, but it's all just a mask; hiding the terrified puppy inside. The creature stops. A deep and heavy exhalation leaves the creature's mouth, amplifying my terror. It starts walking again, strides longer and faster now, as if that noise released some sort of weight on it's shoulders. 

 

The creature continues towards us, it's figure reaching the end of the wall. I finally manage to stand up, picking Casey up along with me. I take a few steps back and my hand reaches the brass doorknob. The creature makes it into the light and a terrified howl escapes Casey's mouth.

 

"Yah... YAH! People are trying to sleep!" Yongguk yells, covering his mouth from the approaching yawn. The creature is really just Yongguk with a giant panda on his back, exactly his size in height.

 

Casey squirms out of my grip and runs to him, snaking around his legs hoping for a meaningful pat. Yongguk stumbles a bit, but catches himself before he falls. He smiles and whispers something to Casey, bending down as much as possible to greet her at her eye level.

 

"You scared me to death!" I breath a sigh of relief, walking up to the tired Matoki. "I thought you were some crazy creature coming to eat me."

 

"I wouldn't want to eat you." Yongguk stands up and looks me up and down in disgust. "Nasty!" He smiles jokingly and walks with tired steps towards the door.

 

"Glad to see you too." I roll my eyes and chuckle.

 

"Here," Yongguk drops the giant panda by my feet and yawns. "It took me forever to get it for you. I swear, that game must be rigged or something. You kept failing because you only kept your eyes on the ship. You needed to look at the entire game to succeed."

 

"You... Got it for me?" I run my hands through the soft panda's fur, staring at the Matoki in disbelief. My stomach feels funny, and I feel my cheeks growing hot. Thank goodness it's too dark for him to see. I'd never hear the end of it from him.

 

"Yeah. Jongup couldn't do it, and I still had money, so I thought I'd give it a try." The man before me stretches, yawns, and opens the door to my house, using his hand to signal me to go in first.

 

"Didn't you go to the haunted house?" I ask, pushing the panda through the door. The panda continues to smile at me with it's black and white cuteness as it's oversized body refuses to go through the door.

 

"Are you dumb or what? Haven't you ever heard of an excuse?" Yongguk stands beside me and aids in pushing.

 

We finally manage to get it through the door, but the panda rolls down the hall while I fall on the floor. I look to my right, and find a small black bunny with a red mask instead of the human form he previously had.

 

"I have heard of an excuse, but I find it hard to believe you'd do something like that, just to get ME a panda." I stand up and close the door. "My only question is this," I crutch down in front of the tired Matoki, "why?"

 

"Because dhkdndndi...." Shishi doesn't finish his sentence as his head drops and his breathing slows.

 

"Because what?" I poke his right ear, and he snaps back to life.

 

"Because I think djkdndindknik...." His head drops again and I give up.

 

"Well, whatever the reason," I scoop the red matoki up in my arms and walk upstairs, "thank you." I kiss the bunny's forehead and place him gently under the covers beside Tatsmato. Shishi grumbles before sinking lower into the pillow.

 

I chuckle quietly and leave the room. I trek back downstairs, grab my panda, and carry the thing to my room. I put it in my empty corner and lie down between it's chubby legs. Casey trots towards me and curls up in my arms, falling asleep almost instantly. I pat down her fur one last time and rest my head on the panda's chest.

 

His smell is lingering to it. It's a soothing smell, and something that makes me comfortable as I fall asleep.

 

•  •  •

 

"Thanks for letting us off on Saturday." I say to Han, cleaning up the various sinks and counters after another successful day in the restaurant.

 

So many people ordered the really big dishes, cleaning up the plates. Apparently, word spread around that the restaurant had fine cuisine and amazing service, thanks to a rich sixteen year old kid who visited here with his parents. And I quote, 'It was a wonderful experience. It wasn't the usual high class dining arrangement that I'm used to, but a lovely family aura that surrounded the place. I admit, I was stubborn at first, but a beautiful and kind girl, who is somewhat eccentric, proved to me that a small restaurant can be big. The people who work there are six-star quality, just like the food.'

 

Business has been booming! We actually have reservations piling up, and the seven waiters Han hired (matokis and I) have come in handy.

 

"No problem!" He smiles, packing away the last of the plates. "The restaurant needed a bit of repair anyway. It was the perfect day."

 

I finish the sinks and move onto the food splattered floor, mopping up spills after spills after spills. Spices and sauces scattered everywhere, making the tile a strangely pretty piece of abstract art. After a few minutes of cleaning, the floor shines with a new-like brilliance. 

 

"He-Jin, can you please help me with some boxes in the back?" Hangeng yells. And I was just about to head home for the night.

 

"Yeah, sure." I dry my hands and follow him out. 

 

The two of us pile and sort boxes of different dimensions. We unpack some supplies, throwing away the empty boxes, and stow away the boxes full of stuff for future use. We finish at eight pm, and not a second later.

 

"Thanks for your help." Hangeng takes off his apron and neatly folds it up.

 

"Anytime." I respond and smile. Hangeng hugs me and I hug him back. "May I ask a favour?" 

 

"Sure."

 

"Can you please undo the knots on my apron?" I chuckle sheepishly. Hangeng nods, not breaking the hug. He starts undoing the knots and my apron falls to my feet.

 

"HEY!" Yongguk's voice booms. His footsteps are heavy and full of anger as he charges straight towards my school friend. "What do you think you're doing?" He hisses, grabbing Hangeng's collar, coming between me and him. "Why are your hands touching He-Jin like that, huh player? I know you have other girls wrapped around your finger, ready at your disposal, but I'm not letting He-Jin be a part of it! Ya hear me?"

 

"Yongguk! What the heck are you doing?" I shout, prying his hands off of Hangeng.

 

"What am I doing? What are you doing?!" He shoots back.

 

"Hangeng was helping me undo my apron, for crying out loud!" I straighten Hangeng's shirt and glare at Yongguk. "You think Hangeng is a good-for-nothing player? You don't even know him! Got girls wrapped around his finger, ready at his disposal? What is wrong with you? Sure, he is stalked from time to time, but he breaks so many girls' hearts, because he's in a relationship." I put emphasis on my last word.

 

"You have a girlfriend?" Yongguk asks, finally calling down.

 

"No. A boyfriend." Hangeng smiles.

 

"You're-"

 

"Hangeng, Heechul's here." Han yells.

 

"Coming!" Hangeng runs out of the loading area, followed by us.

 

"Hangeng!" Heechul screams, wrapping his arms around the man.

 

"See." I elbow Yongguk in the side.

 

"I came to pick you up." Heechul smiles and kisses Hangeng on the cheek.

 

"Okay, okay. Let's go." Hangeng waves goodbye to all of us before leaving with his partner.

 

I turn to Yongguk and kick him hard in the shin. "Good-for-nothing dummy..." I mumble under my breath, grabbing my coat and leaving the restaurant.

 

The other six soon follow, my glare boring down into Yongguk's soul. The bus reaches our stop and we all get off. I reach into my coat pocket, and a small blue note falls out. I pick it up and read it, a smile forming on my lips.

 

-Dear He-Jin. You're graduating is in two weeks, right? I know 'cause Hangeng would shut up about it. I hope your exams go well, and I hope you get into the university of your choice. With love, Han-

 

•  •  •

 

"Do you have a dress yet For your prom?" Kris asks, fumbling with yet another Rubix cube. It's his what, third one tonight? Does he have some sort of obsession?

 

His friend/co-owner of the company, Tao, decided to come in and do some office work, making things go along much faster. A lot of the female employees that already swooned for Kris swooned twice as fast when the two handsome men walked down the hall to their office. I got so many jealous looks, since I was following close behind them.

 

I'm usually ignored by a lot of the female employees, since I'm young and I do work close to their (apparently) god-like bosses. Their words and looks affect me like a small breeze pushes against a mountain. I'm here to stay and earn my fair share of money. Come at me all you want. I can take you all on!

 

"No-"

 

"What?!" Tao basically screams, standing up from his seat beside Kris. "How- why- you-"

 

"Calm down, calm down..." Kris says to the man. "Why don't you have a dress? You are going to prom, right?"

 

I eye Tao cautiously, desperately hoping he doesn't freak out a second time. "I'm not a dress person, and formal dances aren't really my thing."

 

"GUCCI!!" Tao yells, pushing Kris, and his chair, away from the computer. "I saw a wonderful dress on the Gucci website." His fingers fly across the keyboard. 

 

I walk reluctantly over to him as he searches frantically for the dress. The picture comes up, and the man smiles like a a maniac.

 

The dress is a simple grey material, reaching right at the model's knees, there are no straps and the top of the dress falls back down to form a lip over the chest area. A black leather belt with a stunning gold buckle ties around the waist. The dress isn't tight after the waist, letting the material fall loosely around the hips and thighs, making light trenches in the design.

 

"It's nice, but not my style." I say politely, slowly backing away from the computer screen.

 

"Oh well." Tao shrugs and starts searching the website for personal desires.

 

That was one week ago. I'd already asked Han and Kris for some time off to study for my exams, but the closer these exams come, the more nervous and unprepared I feel. For the past week, the matokis would go to work, make dinner, care for Casey and stuff while I would go to school, come home and study, and then sleep. My marks are high, and I pay a lot of attention in school, but I get so nervous for tests that I over study. Okay, so I still get high marks on my tests, but these exams are ten times more important and ten times more difficult.

 

I dry my hair and open the bathroom door leading to my room, running with tired steps and slumping down into my panda's arms. Exams start tomorrow, and I'm going to fail!!

______________________

 

This was a happy birthday gift to Snowflake. Her birthday was two days ago, and she asked me if she could write the layout out for the next chapter. All she wanted me to do was help her with the overall aspect. I give all credit to her, and I love how much her writing is improving.

 

*sob* They grow up so fast! *sniffle*

 

Hey guys! Long time no see!

 

Write. Long time no write. I can't see any of you...

 

It was the HARDEST thing I've ever had to write! Not even my English exam came close. I wanted to keep the writing consistent, so I had to reread the recent chapter and analyze them so I could create this one.

 

I LOVE SHIPPING HEECHUL AND HANGENG TOGETHER!!!

 

I couldn't help but put them in this story.

 

sorry about that awkward Hangeng, He-Jin and Yongguk moment. I need words.

 

I also had to search the Gucci website for a dress, and that's the dress you see in the description.

 

Another reason it was so hard to write is because I couldn't meet Chestnut in person. She was, and still is, sick with the cold, so we were line chatting 'till un-godly hours in the night. That didn't work out perfectly either, since she was having a TON of trouble breathing. (ty asthma)

 

My birthday was simple. I'm not as anti-social as The Chestnut, so I invited some friends over to hang out. It was fun.

 

I feel fat from all that candy....

 

So, yeah.

 

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

 

I love dresses, but Chestnut hates most of them. He-Jin is a tomboy with a chill and funny attitude. She loves to have fun and laugh and smile, but she's also not a dress person.

 

Can you help us find a dress for her graduation? Simple, not princessy please (Chestnut would kill me).

 

Thanks for reading!

 

TTFN!

 

MaruraM: thank you! I hope it's long, too. I have a bunch more ideas, but I have to make sure they don't end up getting a little confusing. Did you know:

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