Chapter 1: Challenge

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It was one of the days that I wasn’t working behind the counter, and I started to simply wander around the shelves, available for any customer who might need help. I stared at the various products mindlessly, and I listened to the song playing –it must have been the newest k-pop hit, since I couldn’t recognize it. It wasn’t that bad, even though I’d never admit that out loud.  I had a reputation for hating everything idol-ish, and I wasn’t going to change that.

I decided to make my way towards the counter, where the other girls were seated, just to chat for a while, since no one seemed to enter the grocery store. As I reached Myu Ri, my closest friend from the three girls that I worked with, I noticed that something was off about their behavior: they were blushing and whispering as if they were fourteen.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, and the girls started giggling, pointing at something –someone- behind me. I turned around and saw a man browsing through our various products, and, even though his features were hidden, I could guess that he was probably handsome. Why would the girls laugh like that after all?

“What about him?” I said again, because, even if a handsome man appeared in front of you, giggling like a teenager wasn’t your usual approach, normally.

“Oh, come on, Lydia! Even if you don’t like idols, it’s impossible that you haven’t heard of him! It’s Lee Joon! It’s freaking Lee Joon, and he’s in our shop!” Hye Rin, another co-worker, practically yelled.

Lee Joon?  I had actually heard about him. After all, it was impossible to be unfamiliar with k-pop groups when they were all around you. Even if you were not interested in k-pop, you couldn’t escape from knowing some bands and some idols.

So, I knew a few things about Lee Joon. I knew that he was a member of MBLAQ, a well-known boyband, and I knew that he liked to act stupid, something which I didn’t really appreciate. I hated how k-pop idols always seemed so carefree, and Lee Joon was a shining example of that ‘trend’.

“Yes, I’ve heard about him.” I answered, and the girls squealed in delight. “Right? He’s quite the looker, isn’t he? And he’s so cutee! But he can be y as hell whenever he wants to, with that body of his.”

To that fangirl rant, I had no reply.

Thank God that “the looker” moved towards the counter, interrupting the holy session of fangirling that would have gone on and on otherwise. Yong Yee, the girl whose shift was at the counter today, almost fainted when he approached and he beamed at her, while the other girls looked as if weekends were cancelled for the rest of the year.

I could only stare in amusement, as the worshipped idol failed to give immediately the right amount of money and handed out more money that he should. As Yong Yee politely gave the remaining money back, I heard some “Awws” from the rest of the girls that could only make me roll my eyes in despair.

“Since when does not knowing mathematics qualify as cute?” I thought to myself.

Lee Joon was now heading towards the exit, after having awkwardly apologized for his mistake with a huge smile. And as he exited our shop, I couldn’t help but think that he had, indeed, a very nice behind, ermm, body…

It was only when he was out of sight that the girls erupted into squeals and loud giggles. “Did you see? Did you see? You can’t deny that he’s just too handsome!” Myu Ri said to me.

“While it’s true that he’s a very handsome man, he behaves like a fool. How is that appealing, may I ask?” I replied.

“It’s cute, that’s why it’s appealing.” Yong Yee answered.

“I’m sorry, but I just don’t find cluelessness cute.” I said strictly, but what came after made me regret my tone.

“Either way, you are never going to be half as good as him, so you better stop talking like this about Joon oppa!” Yong Yee suddenly shouted.

I looked at her shocked. “I didn’t mean to-”

“Just stop, Lydia! You are just jealous and bitter because a girl like you would never be able to catch the attention of such a man!”

Now, that was totally unexpected and unfair. When had I showed a bitter attitude? I just thought that no matter how beautiful someone may be, he had to be equally smart to be interesting. There was nothing illogical about this.

But, even more than that… As a woman, I felt hurt. Because I might not have been the prettiest girl ever, but never had I felt like complete trash either.

And Young Yee’s comment made me feel exactly like that: trash.

“Yah, Park Yong Yee! You have no right to speak to me like that!”

“But it’s true, isn’t it? That’s why you act so snobby against idols. Because you’ll never be able to catch their attention.”

That was it. Now I was mad. Who did she think that she was?

“I can catch any man’s attention, if I put my mind to it, and you are well aware of that!” I yelled, mentioning all the times that I had successfully hit on someone.

I knew I had made a mistake when a smile formed on her face.

“Oh really? Then what about… this man? Can you make him interested that easily as well?” she said, gesturing towards the exit, where Joon had disappeared.

I felt my body get tense, and I knew that I had to reply very, very carefully.

“I could, if I wanted to.”

Myu Ri’s eyes looked at me worriedly, as Yong Yee said just two little words, that would certainly create havoc in my life: “Prove it.”

…I was doomed.

“What if I don’t want to?” I asked. It might be true that I didn’t have a lot of respect for Lee Joon, but that didn’t mean I would play with him like that.

But Yong Yee had a different opinion. “Oh, you will, Lydia, you will. Because, if you don’t play by my rules, I’ll make sure that you get fired.”

Well, Yong Yee, being the daughter of the owner of the grocery store, could definitely make threats like that. But I couldn’t care less about it. “Fine. Fire me if you want.”

Yong Yee’s eyes became harsh, as she said: “You’re just scared that you won’t succeed, aren’t you? You’re just a coward.”

I don’t know why it was those words that triggered something inside of me, when even her threat had left me unfazed. I was too prideful, in the end, and that’s why I couldn’t let such an insult go like this.

“What do I have to do?”

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