“I’m sorry for yesterday.”

Soo Hee couldn’t help but feel ridiculous. After telling herself over and over again that she will be avoiding the one person that has been the reason for her pain, said person just had to come and talk to her in the middle of a gathering crowd.

“It’s fine, oppa. It was no big deal.” She faked a smile.

Joon Myeon scratched the back of his head and gave her a sheepish smile. Soo Hee couldn’t help but smile back before turning around to stop herself from just hugging the damn person. She clutched her books closely to her chest and walked away from a still unconvinced Joon Myeon.

“Soo Hee, that was just…”

“Shut up, Wu Jae Hee.” She snapped.

“What?! What did I say? I was just going to compliment her on her self-discipline! It was fun to watch her stop herself from just hugging Joon Myeon.” Jae Hee explained to Ha Ra with a laugh.

“Shut it, Jae Hee. Where’s your manners? You should be calling him ‘oppa’, you disrespectful girl.” Ha Ra scolded as to which Jae Hee just stuck her tongue out.

“Guys, not now. You’re making my head hurt.” Soo Hee whined.

“Then take him off your head and you’re gonna feel a lot better, I guarantee it!” Jae Hee exclaimed before running away from Ha Ra’s fist.

“Can’t catch me, slowpoke!” Jae Hee ran as Ha Ra chased after the maknae.

Ha Ra stopped when Jae Hee took refuge behind the tall figure of Zi Tao. Soo Hee stood next to Ha Ra and watched as the two maknaes got into a playful fight of rock-paper-scissors.

“I can’t believe that girl.” Ha Ra sighed.

“Then again, that’s what made her attractive.” Soo Hee laughed at her own words when she heard someone calling her.

“Soo Hee-ssi! Soo Hee-ssi!”

Soo Hee turned around to greet the smiling face of Kim Min Seok who was running towards her. She could hear Ha Ra’s soft whistle and giggle from her side but she dared to not react.

“Annyeong, Min Seok-oppa.” She greeted him.

“Annyeong.” Min Seok bowed in return before looking at Ha Ra with a message behind his eyes.

“Oh right. Gotcha!” Ha Ra winked at her upperclassman before bolting towards Jae Hee and the other gang members.

Soo Hee stared at her friend’s retreating figure with a troubled expression. What? She was still staring at Ha Ra and the others when Min Seok cleared his throat, making her turn around to face him.

“Um… I… ugh… well, you see…” Min Seok tried to explain.

“Oppa?”

“Well, I just you know…”

Soo Hee was starting to laugh when she caught a glimpse of Suho’s figure a few meters behind Min Seok. Her face faltered as she stared at his curious expression which was directed towards them.

“Soo Hee?”

Soo Hee snapped out of her reverie and stared at Min Seok’s embarrassed face – cheeks tinted bright red – before asking him what he just said.

“I said, would you like to go to the mall with me this Friday?” Min Seok repeated his question.

Soo Hee couldn’t help but blush. Oh my gosh! What is this? She found herself staring at Suho again but now, the boy was nowhere to be found. She felt disappointed. Why?

“Yah, Soo Hee! Don’t keep him waiting!!” Jae Hee shouted from where she was standing.

Soo Hee glared at Jae Hee who gave her a ‘thumbs up’. Everyone else was laughing, except for him. Joon Myeon. She didn’t notice that he was already with the others and in comparison to the others, his expression was anything but happy.

Keep it together, Soo Hee! You’re supposed to be moving on! Don’t let him bother you! Dammit! Park Soo Hee, get over him now!

“Soo Hee-ssi, you don’t have to say y-”

“Yes.” Soo Hee answered before letting out a deep breath.

“What?” Min Seok couldn’t believe his ears.

“I said, ‘I’ll go with you to the mall’, oppa.” Soo Hee giggled when Min Seok shouted and punched the air in victory and wolf-whistles erupted from the group behind them.

That’s right, Soo Hee. Move on. You’re doing great.

Soo Hee watched as her friends were congratulating Min Seok. Joon Myeon was nowhere to be found.

~mylovewillprotectyou~

“You should look pretty. You should go to a salon. You should, you should…. I know! Try this and this and that and this…”

Soo Hee blew a strand of hair away from her face as Ha Ra buried her in a mountain of clothes and shoes. Soo Hee dragged an excited Ha Ra and an annoyed Jae Hee to her home so that they can help her get ready for her date. Turns out, inviting the two was a bad idea.

“Just let her go as she is, Ha Ra-unnie. They’re just going to the mall.” Jae Hee remarked as she sat on Soo Hee’s bed, texting away on her phone.

“What are you saying?! Soo Hee should look voltagious!”  Ha Ra contradicted as she continued to rummage through Soo Hee’s wardrobe.

“She’ll be fine in her normal clothes.”

“She has to look great for Min Seok-oppa!”

“Min Seok will accept her for what she is.”

“She has to show him that she made an effort!”

Soo Hee covered her ears as the two girls fought without even looking at one another. She glanced at her wall clock and realized that she had just about 15 minutes to get ready and look presentable before Min Seok arrives.

“Oh my gosh!” Soo Hee scrambled around the pile of clothes, throwing garments here and there before picking a few pieces of cloth and bolting to the restroom.

Ha Ra and Jae Hee exchanged glances before staring at the closed door where Soo Hee emerged from moments later. She was wearing a black balloon skirt that reached a few inches above her knees and a pair of black open-toe heels. Her black and white polka-dotted blouse with ruffles in the front was inserted and topped off with a brown leather belt by the waist, hugging her body perfectly.

“Kyeopta! Unnie is so amazed, Soo Hee-ssi!” Ha Ra ran in circles around Soo Hee, admiring her look and giving the younger one a smile of approval.

“Not bad, Soo.” Jae Hee complimented as well, giving Soo Hee a nod and a ‘thumbs up’.

“Now for your hair.”

Soo Hee sat in front of her dresser as Ha Ra fixed her brown hair and her face while Jae Hee rummaged through her jewelry box, picking out a set of bangles and matching earrings. She gladly put the accessories on as she contemplated on her now wavy brown hair and lightly made-up face.

“It’s perfect, Ha Ra-unnie! I love it!” Soo Hee beamed as she turned in her seat to look at her hair dresser.

“Don’t thank me yet.” Ha Ra said as she took off Soo Hee’s eyeglasses.

“Wear contacts. Then you can thank me.”

“O-okay.” Soo Hee replied with a nervous chuckle before putting on her green contacts. She momentarily closed her eyes to let the slight irritation pass.

“Wait, wait! Don’t open them yet!” Jae Hee excitedly said. Soo Hee felt a pair of hands around her neck, then it was gone.

“There! Now you look perfect.”

Soo Hee slowly opened her eyes and looked at the girl in front of her. She smiled and her reflection revealed a beautiful smiling girl. She continued to adore herself when her gaze momentarily landed on the necklace around her neck – the one Jae Hee put on her.

Her smile wavered as she clasped the small blue pendant that was shaped like a water droplet around her neck.

You look beautiful, Soo Hee.

Soo Hee clutched the pendant tighter; forcing herself to smile once again as she stood up the exact same time the doorbell rang.

“OMG! He’s here!” Ha Ra squealed in excitement, making Jae Hee roll her eyes.

Ha Ra hurriedly ran towards the door with Jae Hee in pursuit and Soo Hee slowly walking after them. Soo Hee could hear Ha Ra’s delighted shriek from the doorway of her home as she herself, descended the stairs.

“And here she is. Tada!” Ha Ra extended both arms towards Soo Hee’s direction while shaking her hands as if advertising a product.

Soo Hee could feel herself blush as she watched Min Seok look at her from head to toe. She was fiddling with her hands as she reached the end of the staircase.

“Kyeopta…” Min Seok found himself saying as he stared at Soo Hee.

“T-thanks…” Soo Hee avoided his gaze.

“Ah, I mean! Um… Ugh…” Min Seok panicked as he forgot where he put the flowers he bought earlier, only realizing a second later that he was holding it all along. He mentally face-palmed himself as he presented the bouquet to Soo Hee.

“You look beautiful.” He said as he hid his embarrassed face behind the flowers.

Soo Hee couldn’t help but giggle at this oppa’s cute gestures. She took the flowers and gave them a whiff, remembering the relaxing aroma it was giving.

Each flower symbolizes the moments I kept thinking of you.

Soo Hee mentally shook her head and placed the bouquet in a vase to display it in her living room. After that, she gladly took Min Seok’s arm as he ushered her outside her home and towards a sleek blue car.

“Goodbye you two! Have fun!” Ha Ra waved goodbye from the doorstep.

“Have her home by 10, Xiumin-oppa! If not, I’ll report you to the police for !” Jae Hee shouted from beside Ha Ra, earning a smack on the shoulder from the older girl.

“Yah! Jae Hee-unnie!” Soo Hee whined as she blushed and looked at Min Seok who was blushing himself.

“Yah, don’t worry, girls! I’ll have her home on curfew!” Min Seok replied before opening the passenger’s door for her.

Soo Hee relaxed once she was inside the car, happy that her friends, especially Ha Ra was supporting her, and that she was finally starting to move on. She heard the door on the other side close and she turned to look at Min Seok who was smiling at her with gleaming white teeth.

When you smile, sun shines.

“Thanks for the opportunity, Soo.”

Soo Hee laughed softly before answering.

“Well, I couldn’t just turn down someone as kind and good-looking as you, oppa.”

Min Seok’s cheeks flared up at her compliment and he cleared his throat as he turned the engine on.

“Don’t worry, I’ll treat you nicely.” Min Seok assured her.

“I have no doubts.”

“Then, where to, my Princess?”