'You don’t need to feel guilty about it Tao, she made Hana cut her hair and you know how much Hana’s parents love her hair. Once they see how short it is Hana is going to get into trouble.’

Tao pointed towards the changing rooms indicating that he would take his time. He hoped Hana hadn’t spent too much money. He grimaced, Hana was doing things she didn’t normally do under the influence of her fiancé’s sister, ‘How long will it take for Sehun to cances the wedding?’ Tao’s grip tightened on the hanger he was holding, he wouldn’t let Hana get hurt.

He removed the clothes from their hangers and inspected them before he tried them on. He posed in front of the mirror and smiled, Gucci looked good on him! He considered taking a selca since the lighting of the dressing room shone considerably well. Tao chuckled to himself as he left his companions in wait for him outside.

Seryung played with her gold master card as she checked the time on her watch, ‘He takes longer than I do in changing rooms!’ She craned her neck and watched as people left but Tao was took his time, he came out eventually and winked at Seryung, making her fluster but the wink was soon illustrated to be his trademark gesture. He did the same to Hana when she looked his way. Seryung stretched her legs before taking to her feet.

‘He must be one of those I’m-friendly-with-everyone folk.

‘Pfft, more like I’m-flirty-with-everyone folk!

‘I don’t even know him yet.

‘It doesn’t matter, he’s a flirt, watch out for him.

‘Don’t I watch out for everyone?

‘Guys like to flirt with you.

‘I think I give some kind of weird pheromones or something.

‘Nah, they just think you’re easy.

‘Shut up!’
 

Seryung squeezed her eyes shut to stop the voice in her head from talking to her further, instead she followed Hana and walked up to Tao.

“Is that all?” Seryung asked pointing to the black and white attire, she was awarded with a smile, for her interest in his fashion.

“Yeah, you’re buying, right?” He asked dropping his new attire into her hands. Seryung wrinkled her nose gingerly, “Why are you giving these to me? I though you going to wear them out?”

“I was but since you’re buying, I need to wait for approval.”

Hana forced a smile and watched the spectacle that was taking place.

“You guys, can we hurry it up, these bags are heavy!” Hana informed them with a pout. Tao took them from her hands and inspected their weight, “Not that heav,. I’ll carry them for you.” Seryung pressed her lips together in discontent, “You go pay,” he told her making her grumble unhappily.

‘So much for helping people! This is why I can’t stand helping others, they take advantage of you!’

Seryung obediently did as he asked while she frowned at how unnaturally close Hana and Tao were, she watched them chat and laugh from the corner of her eye and she disapproved of the intimacy.

Seryung stalked back to them with a grim expression on her face, she tightened her grip on the bag she was holding and met Tao’s eyes, “I need to talk to you.” She told him before walking off and leaving behind an incredulous Tao.

Tao looked to Hana for help, or at least something that he could use to understand the situation but she just shrugged and asked, “Did you ask her to buy you something ridiculous?”

Tao arched his brow, “Would you believe me if I said no?” He replied in wonder as he followed Seryung who was waiting for him with dislike written all over her face.

“What is it?” Tao asked crossing his arms. “Why are you creating drama? You said you’d buy, what’s the problem?”

Seryung shoved the Gucci shopping bag towards him, “I did but that’s not why I asked you to talk.”

Tao shrugged gruffly and avoided her piercing gaze.

“What’s your relationship with Hana? Do you like her?”

Tao frowned and ran a hand over his hair, he turned away from Seryung and faced the mirror to fix the hair that had fallen out of place, “Why do you care about what our relationship is? I know you don’t want to hear it but what goes on between us is none of your business.”

Seryung rubbed her temples. “So you do like her?”

Tao smirked and eyed her reflection carefully, “Of course I do but why does that bother you? Do you happen to like Hana?”

Seryung folded her arms to resist the urge to hit him. “Hana said you guys are 'just friends.' Did you forget that she’s engaged?”

Tao raised an eyebrow as his eyes sparked interest, “How could I forget that?”

Seryung frowned, Tao knew Hana was engaged but he was still going after her! Her anger began to boil, her cheeks turned red and she glared at him menacingly.

“Don’t you dare let my work go to waste!” She spat, “I’m not hanging around with her for fun. I want to see the marriage between her and my brother work out so don’t you dare interfere!”

Tao simply shrugged of the threat, not bothered with the fuming little girl. He knew she wouldn’t hit him and if she tired, he was capable of defending himself. However, it irked him that she was talking down to him as if he were her age or younger.

“I’m older than you, shouldn’t you talk to me with respect? I thought Koreans were big into respect, or are you the exception?”

Seryung huffed and bit her tongue. There was nothing she could say against the first part of the last statement. She rubbed her temples again and groaned in frustration, “If you want me to respect you then you’ve got to earn it. I don’t want you chasing after my brother’s future bride, understand?”

Tao laughed. He couldn’t help it. She was as ironic as they got! “You want to see the marriage go through? Why is that? What’s in it for you? You’re a spoiled rich kid, are you bored? Are you looking for fun? Don’t mess with Hana, I’m warning you, you 17-year-old-midget. Don’t give her hope for something that might not happen.”

Seryung stumbled as he prodded her forehead with his index finger, she swatted his hand away, and caught the shopping bag he tossed at her, “Do what you want with it.”

“YAH!”

Hana jumped from where she stood, Tao and Seryung had been getting along from what she could tell but now she sensed there was discord between the two. Seryung was pointing at Tao’s back as Tao left the shop waving his hand dismissively overhead. Hana groaned to herself before rushing over to Seryung, “Are you okay? What did he say?”

Seryung her lips and stared at the door Tao had just walked through, “Nothing,” she muttered and hurried after him.

Seryung raced after Tao and caught his arm, “Yah! Don’t go around saying whatever you want,” she tossed the bag back at him. “It’s yours! This way, there’s no owl and no coffee. We’re even. Don’t hold those things against me. As for Hana, I’m not playing with her. I don’t know about you but I want the two of them to get married. If you’re here to try and stop that marriage I’m going to tell you to back off, nicely.”

Tao tossed the bag onto the ground spilling its contents onto the floor. Seryung bit her lip and stared at them. Angry tears filled her eyes, “You told me to buy it, and now you don’t want it. What are you doing?”

Tao scoffed at her and smoothed his coffee stained clothes, “You really are a spoilt rich kid! You think if you throw money here and there you can solve problems? Don’t joke with me! You’re playing with Hana because you’re bored, you’re trying to turn her into something she’s not. After you’ve had your fun you’ll get tired of her and find something else to do, she’ll end up hurt.

“As for the owl, I tried to be nice and let MAMA go. Why are you bringing that topic up again? Are you trying to rub it in my face? And those clothes,” he pointed to the branded shirt, jeans and jacket lying on the floor, “You think almost scalding me is okay after you’ve bought me those? If you’re not a spoilt brat, what are you?”

Seryung’s lower lip trembled while he shouted at her. She shook her head at the misunderstanding. She clutched onto him determined not to leave while he adopted the wrong impression of her, “I’m not like that!” She told him desperately. A ghost appeared and stared at her solemnly as if to suggest something.

“I’m not a spoilt rich kid, I’m not someone who would throw others away. I-I wouldn’t hurt someone l-like that, not on p-purpose! I-I won’t,” Seryung stuttered over her words until the remainder of her sentence became incoherent. She released Tao’s arm and began to pick up the clothes on the floor. She sniffed every so often, and it was enough to let Tao know that she was silently crying.

Tao’s stomach churned with guilt, he felt a pair of eyes on them and knew it would be Hana. Tao exhaled slowly, Hana would be thinking whether or not she should interfere. Tao cursed under his breath and helped Seryung. She froze once she noticed him, but didn’t dare to look up. Her trembling hands faltered before they reached to something up but Tao was faster than she was.

Amid the tension a ghost watched them. She was young, with a round face and her hair was short, she wore a navy hairband and a school uniform, she tilted her head but didn’t dare move closer towards them. Instead she continued to watch Tao tidy up, the corners of her lips curved in an upward motion. She turned her attention to Hana who was leaning against a pillar with worry etched on her face. The ghost zoomed in to have a closer look, Hana was upset too, not as upset as Seryung but maybe halfway? The ghost, smiled, they were all upset for different reasons.

Hana was upset because she didn’t know how to help them, she’d chosen to let them sort out their problem but feared she was the cause of them. Hana didn’t want the two of them to fight each other. They were both people she cherished and held close to her heart. Seryung whom she considered a younger sister and Tao who was an older brother to her. Hana didn’t want to see them fight nor did she want to interfere and ruin her relations with both of them.

Seryung was upset because Tao’s words had hit closer to home than he’d anticipated. His words had triggered something Seryung would always insist wasn’t her fault although she was a contributing factor. Seryung’s ‘image’ was all a lie and being told she was a liar was something she didn’t like. Seryung had been working so hard to try and change herself in ways that she was incapable of doing, yet Tao had spotted what Seryung was trying to gloss over – a dark past!

Tao was upset because he didn’t understand the extent of his words. He’d hurt Seryung, enough to make her cry and was at a loss of how to comfort her, his brash nature failed him when it came to something as delicate as a crying girl and when she trembled he felt guilt clutch at his heart. He was aware that Hana was also watching and from what he knew Hana would be upset at seeing him hurt her best friend.

Tao had no intention of causing her to react so violently but she had and he knew no way of consolation except maybe a pat on the back. He tried to help her up but even on her feet she refused to raise her head, instead she brushed past him and dashed until he could no longer see her.

The ghost knew Seryung’s thoughts and decided it would be best to leave the girl to herself as she cried her heart out. Miyoung didn’t like to be reminded either so rather than following Seryung she decided to see what Sehun was doing instead.