Chapter 10

Change of plans. We will no longer have the party. Bom will have her surgery earlier than what was originally scheduled. She told me this when her Mom dropped her off to our house before we went shopping for wigs. Her doctors will conduct the operation in Seoul General Hospital where Bom will be cared for better. The change in the schedule was brought about her fainting the other day and the head doctor, after examining and getting the latest test results, suggested that they operate as soon as possible.

Although Bom did not voice out her concerns about it, I know that the added sense of urgency forebode something unpleasant in the test results. She and her parents will fly out Sunday afternoon and the surgery will be on Thursday, which is my birthday. Talk about timing, huh?

Since I can’t go with them to Seoul, I asked my Mom if I can sleep over at Bom’s and she agreed. So my bestfriend and I had an afternoon date where we had our nails done, watched a rom-com movie and ate all the food our stomachs could hold. The movie and food were her treat since she won’t be present on my birthday. That evening, while lying on her bed, I took out the little box that I brought from my house after our date when we dropped by to pick up my change of clothes. We then used my Vespa to drive over to Bom’s house.

“What is this?” Bom asked, sitting up when I handed it to her.

“Just some things to keep you occupied in the hospital while you recuperate.” She will have to remain in the hospital for two weeks after the surgery.

She excitedly opened the lid and took out what’s inside one by one. I haphazardly added whatever I could get earlier in my room so it was nothing much. There were 3 paperback romance novels, some CDs of our favorite boy bands, a vintage purple bandanna which I found in a flea market last week, a nail art kit with 2 different colored gel nail polishes which I sneakily bought earlier, a picture frame of me and our friends taken last year during our Christmas Ball party and a rolled up glossy map of Paris.

“Tokki …” Bom’s eyes are shining. I can tell that she was touched by my gifts.

“So you’d better come back healthy, arrasseo?” I bravely smiled. “We still need to meet those brothers in Paris.”

She laughed. “Arasseo. As long as I get the cuter brother” Bom said.

“Did you forget? They’re supposed to be twins!”

“But I don’t want them to be too identical. How else will we know which one of them we’re dating? I think it’ll be too weird.” Bom arranged the things back in the box.

We talked until the wee hours of the morning of our future plans and adventures and made up some funny stories about our twins. Bom decided to name hers’ Pierre and mine is named Michel. We even named our babies. We were giggling and talked the night away until Bom’s mom eventually knocked on her door and asked us to go to sleep.

After a few minutes of silence, Bom called. “Dara? Are you asleep?”

“Hmmm mmmm …” I moaned.

“In case … just in case the surgery doesn’t go we-“

“Shut up” I interrupted in a stern voice. “The surgery will be successful. You’ll come home tumor-free and will be the most gorgeous bald chick ever. We’ll graduate, go to Paris and get married. That’s the plan. Remember?”

Bom stayed silent and I could hear her sniffles. I let her cry and I didn’t say anything else. I just wrapped my arms around her until she fell asleep.

Chaerin was disappointed that we won’t have the party she planned for but she understood why. We will just have a welcoming party once Bom comes back from the hospital. Bom was calling everyday and she said that she’s bored but she met a cute doctor intern so it makes her days a bit happy.

Wednesday morning came and when I walked inside the classroom, there’s a huge Kiiroitori plush doll sitting on my desk. There’s also a greeting card propped beside it signed by my friends. Tomorrow is Bom’s surgery so we are celebrating my birthday a day earlier. I was soooo happy because it’s my favorite plushie and I was touched that they all chipped in to buy this for me directly from Japan.

After school, I treated them to my favorite pizza place and that was the only time Seunghyun knew about my birthday. I invited him through a text message and he met me right outside our classroom.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he said with a frown.

“It’s no big deal.” I shrugged.

He looked at the Kiiroitori which I am hugging. “Oh, this? It was given by the gang.”

He still looked put out for some reason. “I’ll treat them to pizza. Come join us!” I smiled brightly.

He raked his fingers through his hair. “I can’t” he said reluctantly. “Had I known, I wouldn’t have committed to doing some extra hours today at the garage …”

My face fell. “Oh …”

Minzy, Chaerin, Taeyang, Seungri and the rest were waiting so I signaled them to wait at the parking lot and I’ll meet them there.

“So …” I was secretly thinking if I should ask him to ditch work which would be too selfish but knowing he needed the money, I didn’t. Still, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed and I know that it shows on my face so I willed the corners of my mouth to curl up and smile.

“I’m sorry …”

“Don’t be” I said. “It’s fine. It’s no big deal.” I waved away his apolo