Bomi’s POV:

Listen to my story today,

Secrets that no one knew about

(I’ll tell you) I love you, I love you,

Shout out with a voice no one can hear

“I was wondering… if you would like… to be my girlfriend…”

The words had left my lips softly almost like a whisper. I didn’t dare to meet her eyes as I looked at the ground and waited for her to say something in response. Those were the longest five seconds in my life.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

Five…

“…sure...”

The reply was whispered and as I looked up at my brand new girlfriend I saw an evident amount of blushing on her cheeks. I held out my hand because I didn’t want to rush things with her and instantly I felt love for the first time when she took hold of my extended hand.

It was as if her warmth rushed through our connected hands and touched my heart. I looked at her and caught her looking away shyly again. She was perfect. From her straight raven black hair to her kind and smart personality, she was beautiful and perfect, inside and out.

Park Chorong, I’ve known her for about a year but I only got to really know her in the past 3 months. As soon as we talked we clicked and then everything just went really well from there. We texted often, she knew I liked someone but didn’t know who and I got crushed when she told me she liked some guy at her cram school. After knowing her well for six months I confessed and her response definitely made me surprised.

We were a bit fast paced but we were happy and content with what we had.

During the first set of holidays that we were together, we managed to go see a movie and just hang around at the mall. Chorongie wanted to keep our relationship a secret so we didn’t tell anyone except our closest friends. When we went out on dates we didn’t kiss or do too much PDA in case people noticed. Instead we just did our usual things like trading lunches and sticking close together but with a lot more blushing.

I still remember our first date; while ‘The Notebook’ was a great movie I’m pretty sure only Chorong paid attention to it. I was too busy staring at the girl holding my hand throughout the whole thing. The warmth was still there and it felt great. Being with her was great.

Eventually she would discover the single piece of information that I had withheld from her. The reason why my parents were never home and why I never really invited her over… it was all revealed on that day.

We were walking home again as usual but instead of dropping her off at the bus stop, today we kept walking. Today she was coming over for the first time. We passed streets full of houses; one by one there were less and less houses until we reached an empty road that lead out of the residential area.

Chorong unnie looked confused but continued to walk beside me with her hand in mine. I could feel her hand grip a little tighter as we continued to walk for the next ten minutes.

Finally we reached a gate with a golden ‘Y’ emblazoned on each one. There was a long paved path that led to a large mansion. The front garden was well kept with a fountain in the centre, the water reflecting off sunlight casted a rainbow in front of the giant house. In front of My house.

“You live here?!” Chorong turned and looked at me in shock. I simply nodded as I typed in the pin on the gate’s keypad. My girlfriend’s jaw would not stop dropping as we slowly made our way towards my home.

I had to get out my keys as the servants were all out shopping this time of the day. I opened the doubled doors and again Chorongie’s mouth remained wide open as the interior of my home was revealed.

It felt weird having her here, but it felt comfortable at the same time. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be living in this house together? I walked towards the grand staircase and she followed behind looking like a lost child. It was adorable.

“Let’s drop off your things in my room first.” I shyly suggested. She followed me up to the third storey. My room wasn’t too big but I knew it wasn’t exactly a normal size either. With a super king sized bed in one corner, a piano in another, a large ebony desk by the window and a balcony somewhere else, it’s not likely all middle school students’ rooms looked like this.

I sat down on my bed as she placed her bag beside mine. All her movements were so graceful and gentle it was like watching a ballet recital.

“S-so… what do you want to do?” I stuttered a bit as she looked up and I realised I was creepily staring at her for too long.

“Well first, why do you live in such a big house, alone?” she had asked for the one piece of information that I never told anyone. I wondered for a moment whether or not I should tell her. Father always said that people who knew my status would come after us for our money, but Chorong unnie was the first person I fully trusted. Yes, I trust her.

“My parents are politicians… and my dad especially… he’s a minister.” I hadn’t told her that he was the minister of education. If I did she might think I got my grades because of father’s influence at work. I didn’t like being accused of things.

She nodded as if understanding and slowly processing the information.

“I guess the intelligence runs in the family.” She said as she played with my fingers. Suddenly as I was about to speak again I felt something warm press onto my cheek. It took me a few seconds to realise what was happening and by the time I noticed her lips had already left my now heated face.

An awkward but comfortable silence surrounded us as I tried to register everything that had just happened.

Chorongie just kissed my cheek… she just kissed my cheek… she just kissed me…

“I’m sorry! I don’t know what came over me! But my friend said it would make you happy so…” She got up and I saw her face was flushed. She must have been really embarrassed but if anything her friend was right it did make me happy.

I grabbed her wrist as she was about to take her things and leave. I didn’t want her to go yet, I wanted to tell her it was ok. Time was ticking and without thinking I placed my lips on her forehead.

After about two seconds I moved away but still holding her hands and staying close to her. My face was burning and I saw that hers was too. Her eyes were wide open but she avoided my gaze.

“S-s-sorry! I didn’t mean to…” I slowly released my grip on her wrists, but I was suddenly pulled forwards and before I knew what had happened I felt Chorong unnie’s warm lips on my own.

I felt a strange sensation unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It was as if a current of electricity was passing through my entire body, in a good way. I didn’t want the feeling to go away so I continued to press my lips against hers. Similarly she matched my movements perfectly as if our lips matched each other’s exactly.

We finally pulled away as we ran out of air and again our faces were flushed. Feeling awkward I went over to my piano and started playing randomly. That was how we spent the rest of our afternoon together just playing the piano together and kissing some more as we tried to get used to the routine. Before we knew, it was five o’clock and unnie had to leave.

I escorted her to my front door and watched until she exited the front gate and slowly disappeared from view. As I headed back to my room to finish some work and wait for the maids to make my dinner I couldn’t help but reach up to brush my lips.

“Her lips were so soft…” I said aloud to myself.

I quickly scanned the hallway I was in for servants. Thank god I was alone; I don’t want anyone to know of our relationship yet either. At least no one in this house should know.

That was how we spent the rest of our year together. She had told me that she was going to a different high school so we would be seeing each other a lot less after this year. In preparation for that we started spending a lot of time together at my place. Before exams we studied at my place or if we had spare time she’d come over and just spend the afternoon with me. Most of the time we left the books and games after ten minutes and just kissed the rest of the time away but it was nice and acceptable because my parents were never home.

Everything went well and soon it was time for us to graduate. It wasn’t compulsory to attend so Chorong didn’t go because she lived quite far away. However, majority of our class turned up even though we wouldn’t be getting our certificates on stage. The only people who went on stage were the ones who got a ranking in certain subjects.

So here I was at the end of the ceremony sitting in my seat with a prize in electronics and my graduation certificate. I was about to go out and head home when I got stopped by my friend, Namjoo and her parents.

“Hey Bomi unnie, let’s take some photos together!” I saw her parents with a camera right behind her. They were nice people who I’ve known since I was a kid.

“Sorry for intruding.” I said as I joined them. We took plenty of photos together and we ended going out for coffee together before I headed home. As soon as I was alone again, I got my phone out and texted Chorong a good night message before plopping onto my bed.

I had finally graduated middle school.

The last few weeks of school flew past and soon it was the holidays again. As usual Chorong and I had planned to meet up but both of us were bombarded by Christmas obligations. In my case I had to attend party after party with my parents as everyone expected me to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a politician of some sort.

Chorong unnie also got invited to a lot of house parties that her friends and their families organised. We both trusted each other, or at least I did, so when we had to go parties with partners I thought it would be ok.

Our first fight happened all because of what I did at a Christmas party.

I didn’t have a partner with me so I had decided to just sit on the second floor after greeting everyone with father and mother. I was about to text Chorong unnie asking how she was doing at her party, when a voice called out to me.

“Yoon Bomi?” I looked up and saw a cheerful girl with somewhat exotic features smiling at me.

I didn’t say anything but I gave a curt nod and a smile back. Seeing she had the right person she sat down next to me and we began to chat as we laughed quietly above the ballroom on the first floor.

Her name was Hani and she was the daughter of the minister of health. We spent our night just sitting there talking about everything. She knew how it felt being a politician’s child, how no one would be home and how much pressure we got from the other politicians ensuring our future careers to be similar to that of our parents’.

She was my type of girl, active, cheerful, witty and she wasn’t bad looking either. If I didn’t have Chorong unnie, who knows, maybe Hani would’ve been the one. I felt it was rude to suddenly take out my phone and text so I just kept it in my pocket as the night passed.

We didn’t realise how much time had passed until the clock chimed for eleven o’ clock.

“Oh, I should find my parents now since it’s getting late.” Hani looked at me sadly as if she didn’t want to go. “It was nice talking to someone who understands me for once.” She then did the unexpected. Hani bent down and kissed my cheek. I sat there just staring at her.

“Maybe I’ll see you around next time smarty pants!” Yes, smarty pants because my father ran the department of education. She then descended back down to the ballroom.

I thought everything was fine, since it was just a peck on the cheek and I wasn’t exactly cheating on Chorong. Too bad, the damage had been done. I received the result exactly eight hours later with a single message from my girlfriend.

‘We need to talk.’

I had agreed to meet her at our usual place: a park near my house and her bus stop. We arranged to meet at around 9 o’clock at night because it was when she could slip out of her party even though I told her not to because it was dangerous for a girl to be out late at night. She stubbornly insisted and so here I was, sitting on a bench under the lights that followed the park path.

She came out from the trees still dressed in her bluish silver gown and despite her slight frown she still looked stunning. I stood up and gestured for her to sit next to me, though hesitant she sat down carefully.

“So what did you want to talk about?” I asked as I took my seat next to her.

“Suho showed me a photo from your party last night…” she bit her lip as she paused: a sign that she was nervous or uncomfortable.

I was wondering what the photo showed, since everyone except my girlfriend knew Suho would do anything to steal Chorong from me, and as if she could read my mind she reached for her phone and handed it over to me so I could actually say something. The picture displayed a girl in a red gown bending over to peck a girl in a suit while they were in a balcony area above a ballroom.

It was a picture of Hani kissing me on the cheek from the night before.

“Oh.” Was all that came out of my mouth, was she jealous? Maybe she was upset. Whatever she was feeling my short response didn’t exactly calm her down.

Bad move Bomi… very bad move…

“So is this it? Are we done?” Chorong’s voice was trembling as she continued to question me. The question was simple but I couldn’t help but find her reaction too dramatic.

“It was just a peck, there were no feelings involved so of course we’re not over.” I explained rationally, however even though she wasn’t facing me I saw tears dripping steadily onto her lap.

Uh oh… what do I say now?!

In that moment I only knew that I wanted her to stay as mine so I began to voice out what was on my mind recently.

“You know that I only have eyes for you and that she’s nothing but a friend because I love-“ I was cut off when she squeezed my arm.

“Please don’t say it, I don’t want to hear it.” She looked up at me tearfully and I felt a crack in my chest (no I didn’t break a rib.)

Was this how heartbreak felt?

“ I don’t want to hear it from someone who’s unsure of their own feelings.” She looked down with a painful expression as she got up to leave.

“But I am sure of my feelings, and they’re telling me that I love you, Rong-ah.” I said as I grabbed her wrist gently however she struggled and pried my fingers off.

“Stop it! I don’t want to hear it anymore.” She ran off and, while normally I would’ve been impressed by her ability to run in heels, I was about to chase after her when I felt a strong grip on my arm.

“She just needs some space ok? Just try talking to her again tomorrow.” A low, kind voice said. I turned around and found a tall guy with features that resembled Chorong’s, it was her brother: Chanyeol. I gave a nod both towards his words and as acknowledgement.

“She’ll be alright…right?” I asked with my head down. I felt a hand on my shoulder; he was comforting me just like his sister. No words were spoken but I knew she would be ok soon and that I could only wait until tomorrow morning before I could talk to her again.

Even as I woke up the next morning I felt cold. It was different, knowing that your loved one was upset casted an eternal winter over my mood. I quickly reached for my phone to see if I had received any messages.

Nothing. It was expected but nonetheless painful. I checked the time, it was 10 o’clock, knowing Chorong she wasn’t a heavy sleeper so she should be awake by now. i barely ever called her so I awkwardly dialled her number for the first time. Once… Twice…

“Hello…?” Finally on the third try I got through and heard the voice I had been longing to hear since last night.

“h-hey…” I awkwardly spoke. I already hated having to speak via a phone and the fact that my girlfriend was most likely angry and upset didn’t make it any easier for me.

“What do you want?” she asked bluntly across the line.

I swallowed before answering, what was the best thing to do now? Apologise. Even if you haven’t done something wrong you should apologise because you might be doing something wrong by assuming you did nothing wrong.

“I’m sorry…” I whispered into the receiver and waited for her reply.

“You said sorry… so does that mean you did something that requires an apology?” her voice was sinister as it was laced with barely detectable anger. “You admit you cheated on me with that girl in the picture?!”

“No I didn’t.” I was panicking on the inside but honestly I did nothing wrong so why should I cower away? I was about to give an explanation but I heard giggling on the other end.

“I’ve already forgiven you silly! Suho managed to explain everything to me last night and Chanyeol already punished him for me.” I was still gripping my phone tightly as shock was etched into every inch of my face.

“Bbom-ah, are you still there?” she asked using her gentle voice once again.

“Y-yeah, I’m here. You scared me there.” I was still a bit shocked as my words came out in abrupt sentences. More girly giggling was heard before she spoke again.

“So… about what you said last night… could you say it one more time? Just so I know you mean it…”

What was she talking about? Did she want another apology from me? Women were so confusing. I replayed what I had said to her last night. I said ‘Oh’ and I asked her why she wanted to see me then I told her I love her…

Oh… Haha. So much for smarty pants…

“Rong-ah, saranghae.” I confidently spoke and finally felt comfortable with the phone. Although it wasn’t my first time saying it to her my cheeks still burned for some reason. Once I had cooled down a bit I realised there was silence on the other line.

“Hello?” this time it was my turn to question her existence. I heard what sounded like laboured breathing on the other end before her voice came back.

“…I love you too Bbom-ah…”

My chest felt an odd sensation as if it could leap out and fly away any second. I could feel a stupid grin on my face as I heard her words.

“Oh and this might be a little late but… Merry Christmas.” She then hung up.

For once I felt loved on Christmas and my cold mood instantly went away after that plot-twisting conversation. That was definitely the best Christmas I’ve ever had.

Soon after Christmas a new year began, my parents left for work and my life was busy again. Chorong unnie and I didn’t get to meet up after mid January, but we did text often. During lunch breaks and homeroom we would be focused on our phones just so we wouldn’t feel distant even though we were in completely different schools.

I don’t know about unnie’s school but for us it was really busy within the first few weeks of school. We had the school swimming sports competition in the third week, the school sports days in the fourth and the first week back is only one or two days long depending on your year level. Of course aside from school events there was also Valentine’s Day which was in week two.

To my friends it didn’t really seem like a big deal because they were all single and they thought it was the same for me which meant my acting worked. Because I had arranged to meet Chorong unnie after school on that day, she had mentioned that she had wanted to meet up so I agreed.

When Valentine’s Day finally arrived it felt as though all my classes flew past and I was home within seconds instead of hours. I had arranged for unnie to meet me at home and to text me when she was at my gate. Even though it was supposedly the most romantic day of the year, we had just planned to do our usual hangout stuff at my place.

I had, as usual, arrived home to an empty house and within thirty minutes my girlfriend texted me that she was here.

Man that’s one fast bus…

I pressed the button to open the main gate and kind of mixed skipping and running as I went towards the door. Sparing no time at all I opened the door and there she was.

I had changed out of my ridiculous uniform but Chorong unnie was still in hers. A black skirt topped with a blue blouse and red blazer. She looked stunning in anything whether it was her uniform or a ball dress. She giggled as she invited herself in, and I realised then that I had been staring at her with my mouth open this whole time.

“So… how has school been?” she asked randomly when I turned around after shutting the door.

“You sound like a mum.” I chuckled and avoided the question, after all nothing interesting had happened at all for me.

She started strutting towards me as if she was flaunting her curves while she was wearing this flirtatious smirk on her face. I stood there rooted to the ground as she placed her arms around my neck and as a reflex my hand found her waist. She leaned towards me leaving no space between us and as my face reddened with my increased heart rate she whispered into my ear.

“The things you do to me say otherwise…” Her low husky voice entered my ears making them just as bright as my face. “I’ll let you do them if…” she continued and left me hanging as she blew a warm breath into my ear. “…You can catch me first.”

And without another word she pulled herself away from me and sprinted towards my room while I was still a mess from her earlier “attack”. I laughed to myself as I jogged up to my room after her. I often forgot that she was ranked second on the track team during middle school, another reason which I found her to be too good for a weird person like me, but she seemed to think otherwise.

I enter my room and shut the door behind me. Turning around I found her sitting on my bed, patting the space next to her as if telling me to sit. I had just sat down before I felt her soft touch on my cheek turning me to face her, then she placed her lips on mine and all my thoughts and doubts were erased as my brain turned to mush.

We never got any further than making out and the occasional touches with most of our clothing still on. Today was the same, we were tilting our heads trying to find the best angle for our kiss and her sweater was already on the floor. I had just undone the first two buttons of her blouse and was about to move on to the third when my door was suddenly opened.

“Bomi, we’re home. We’ll be staying for a few months this-“ a gasp was heard as we broke apart and I looked towards my door to find my mother staring at us as she tried to regulate her breathing. Embarrassed, Chorong unnie quickly hid behind me despite her lack of .

“Hello mother.” I replied curtly as if nothing too big had just happened. Seeing my calm demeanour my mother regained her composure as she then spoke normally again.

“I didn’t know you had a guest coming over, you’d best greet your father with her. He’s in his study.” She gave unnie a look and a small smile before walking away. I waited until Chorongie redid her buttons and put on her sweater before I held her hand and guided her to the part of the house where she hadn’t been yet, my parents’ bedroom and individual studies.

She looked a bit intimidated as we stood in front of the grand wooden doors, a simple gold plaque that displayed my father’s title and name was the only highlight on the doors aside from the intricate frame pattern.

I gave her hand a squeeze before knocking on the block of varnished tree tissue. Although he was my father we weren’t close and even though I wasn’t close to mother either, he exuded a different aura from the woman. An aura that would leave most cowering a bit under his glance, in fact it wasn’t until I graduated primary that I got used to it.

“Come in.” the low voice of my father slipped through the doors and as he had ordered we both went in.

The room was quite comfortable with a velvet carpet and high bookshelves that contained all sorts of information as they towered above us. Then in the back centre was a large wooden desk with tidy stacks of paper everywhere. In the seat sat a middle aged man wearing a pair of black horn rimmed glasses and a simple but neat grey suit, my father.

“Welcome home father.” I said curtly and bowed before taking a seat in one of his couches in front of the fireplace. Chorong unnie had bowed with me and now sat on my right. Father hadn’t looked up when we greeted him instead he replied also with a small nod.

“Aren’t you going to introduce your guest?” he asked in a commanding tone. I had just sat down but knowing my father he preferred to be answered by someone who was standing up.

“This is Park Chorong father, she’s my girlfriend.” I stated as I held unnie’s hand. It was warm but slightly damp; she must’ve been sweating due to the anxiety. Though it was unpleasant to feel it was understandable considering how intimidating the figure before her was both in terms of status and physical appearance.

For once he looked up from his work as he scanned Chorong unnie from head to toe with his cold onyx eyes. I gave my girlfriend’s hand a squeeze as I hoped that some of my courage would reach her. When my father was done with his x-raying we bowed again before leaving.

Now we were just sitting in the living room because it felt awkward going back to my room after what had happened. I was just dribbling a basketball when unnie stood up and because the silence felt strangely heavy we just started passing the ball between us. After a while I found the silence unbearable and after catching the ball I walked up to her and gave her a kiss.

She didn’t respond at first so I just kissed her again. This time she responded only slower and it was still a bit awkward. We pulled away and couldn’t even look into each other’s eyes. All of a sudden she spoke which snapped me out of my trance.

“Where’s my bag?”

I went up to my room alone and got her bag for her. I understood what she meant when she finally spoke up. It was an awkward day and we should leave it as it is for today. So I didn’t reject or ask any further when she requested for her bag. I headed back downstairs and found her already at the door putting her shoes on.

I held her bag in silence until she stood up and reached out for it. Before leaving she gave me a peck.

“You should check around your room a bit.” Then she opened the door, whispered in her husky tone a ‘see you later’ and ran out to the gate.

“I’ll text you when I’m at the bus stop!” she yelled back towards me.

I smiled and waved at her as I watch her exit the gates. After she was gone from my sight I closed the doors and headed towards my room. What was I supposed to be looking for?

I checked my bed, nothing. I glanced at my bookshelf, nothing. I looked at my desk from every angle and finally noticed something yellow on my chair. Reaching for it I held in my hands a box of pepero, my favourite chocolate snack. At the same moment, my phone got a message from Chorong:

‘Happy Valentine’s Day! Found my present yet? ^^’

I smiled and ate some before sending her my reply.

‘Eating it now~ it’s sweet like you. :P’

The taste of the extra sweet chocolate was still lingering in my mouth as I began to think about what I should get her as a return gift on White Day.

A Few Weeks Later:

It was only 2 weeks away now, White Day. I had managed to befriend some of Chorong unnie’s new friends such as this girl named Irene who apparently had experience in karate. Together with Irene unnie I had secretly planned Rongie’s White Day gift, which was quite simple really. It involved me folding a hundred origami roses with notes in each flower then making them into a bouquet and putting a small ring on the string of the bouquet.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked nervously into my phone.

“Yeah of course, it’s a great idea! Bomi, are you sure you weren’t cupid or something in your past life?” Irene unnie joked back across the phone.

Hearing Chorong unnie’s best friend’s confirmation made me feel better; it was as if nothing could possibly go wrong. We continued to talk over our plans for the day, how Irene unnie would lure her to the spot and then I would present her with my gift. We finally perfected our plan at 11pm and got off the phone round then too.

Now I just had to make everything and wait for the big day!

The following morning I was woken up not by my alarm but by my mother. It was a Saturday so it was strange that she was home and not out with business partners.

“Bomi, your father wants a word with you.” she said simply.

I noticed that she had a strange expression on her face. I could only deduce it as pity before I got dressed and ready to meet my father.

As if it were a routine, I found myself in front of the grand doors again, only this time I was alone. I entered with less caution this time, being alone meant there was one less target I had to protect from my father.

“Good morning father.” I bowed towards the man reading the morning paper.

“Let’s cut to the chase Bomi,” he never liked to waste time on me, unless it was something I had to do to help him. I gave him a nod, signalling him to continue. “You will be meeting a good friend of mine’s daughter for dinner at our house sometime this week.”

I knew what it meant. It was the fate for all us ‘rich kids’ anyway, I just prayed that it would be a normal dinner and that he would send me away with a simple ‘make sure to be on your best behaviour’ but the odds weren’t in my favour.

“Regardless of your choice, you two are to be engaged at the second dinner which will take place in 12 days time.”

I felt my world smash to pieces. I wasn’t even out of freshman year yet, and I’m getting engaged? It sounds ridiculous but deep down I knew why my father was so intent and firm about his decision. It was because he wanted to remove every possible threat to my succession of him. He saw my relationship as a threat.

“But I have a girlfriend, father. Can’t I just be with her? It would make my publicity go up more if I was with a commoner.” I reasoned through gritted teeth, I had never referred to anyone by their ‘class’ before as it was degrading but I would do anything right now to change my father’s mind.

“Nice try, child. However, I am positive that your future will benefit from my decision and so I would like it if you stopped seeing your commoner friend as soon as possible. Of course, before the first meeting with your fiancé would be most preferable.”

My blood boiled, I was always calm around my father but this time it was different. I wanted to stand against him this time.

“No.” I answered flatly.

He looked at me eyes wide and a humorous smile spread across his face as he mocked me.

“No? Haha, how brave of you to try and defy me,” he laughed heartily as if my response was the funniest thing in the world. “You do know who it is that you are speaking with right? As the Minister of Education I have access to all school records of every student in the country. Your peasant girlfriend too might I add.”

I gulped as an uneasy feeling came over me when I saw my father’s smirk.

“A simple paper that I sign can completely destroy a person. For example let’s make it compulsory that all students have to have attended their middle school graduation in order to enter high school. Should any student fail to meet this criteria they will be denied the right to enter the advanced facility. But I really wonder, who could this possibly apply to?” he plotted with false innocence.

I felt sick. My own father was blackmailing me to hurt my girlfriend. On one hand I could stay with her but her future paths will instantly crumble in this world where high school education is the minimum requirement for employment. Or I could break her myself and leave her as a damaged lady with a promising future.

It didn’t take long for me to decide. I’m sorry Chorong unnie but this is for your own good.

“I understand father.”

Few days later:

“Would you be kind enough to show me around, Bomi?”

“Sure, please excuse us.”

It was a formal dinner so it was no surprise that I had to dress formally but in place of dresses I preferred specially designed suits. I was naturally courteous but uncomfortable throughout the whole ordeal. We had just finished and the parents were just talking about political matters and financial ordeals when I was saved by my soon to be fiancé.

No taller than 165cm with brown hair, uniquely attractive features and a beautiful eye-smile, the daughter of the secretary for the Minister of Transport, Jung Eunji was definitely a dream girl for all teenage boys and girls. Except for me.

She had been regularly keeping up with the conversation throughout dinner while I had just been eating and smiling. She seemed to be quite kind and friendly, the role model of all ‘high class’ children. We were just out in the garden when she did something that took me by surprise.

I was strolling along beside her when she reached out and grabbed my necktie forcefully. I saw no reason to resist as she pulled me to a bench that was out of our parents’ sights. She then dug around in her small purse and whipped out a phone. The wallpaper showed her in a casual attire of a white blouse and jeans hugging a beautiful, goddess looking girl who seemed to be around our age. I watched as she deleted the photo right in front of me.

“That was a picture of me and my girlfriend.” She stated while I stared at her blankly. “Now that I’ve erased her, I expect you to do the same with your girlfriend.”

Was this girl commanding me to do something? I looked at her sceptically as if saying ‘no way’ with my eyes. She slapped the back of my head before continuing.

“Yah! You know we have to do this.” Her gaze and tone softened when she saw the traces of struggle in my eyes. “We both know it’s not our choice, we were born without having much freedom in our future decisions. I know you love her, but you want her to be happy right?” she asked me like a mother would, I just nodded at her words.

“Then let her go. We ‘rich kids’ aren’t like the ones in fairy tales; we can’t give happiness to our loved ones because in this cruel reality people judge us for all our decisions. Instead of being powerless we can rebel a little but our actions are so little that we still follow our parents’ wishes just not completely. You get me?”

I sat there for a while as Eunji comforted and reasoned out everything. I should be lucky that she is a kind girl, I’m not fond of most girls and if I had gotten a mean one as my fiancé, I don’t think I can live till the wedding. The night’s silence was calming yet cold it was like me. I was calm because I knew what I had to do but it was such a cold decision.

We bid farewell to the Jungs soon after and I watched as my new acquaintance put on an act again of us being extra friendly. My parents were also satisfied with my behaviour and allowed me to retreat to my room without much further complaint. They smiled at me as they said goodnight.

The knowing smile, everything was going to end tomorrow.

Countless words that lingered in my mouth

I knew I shouldn’t do this as I closed my eyes

The Next Day:

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and everyone was happy that school was over for the day but all that was going to change for a certain couple.

I love you~ Do you love me~? - Rongie^^

A simple message was all it took for everything to be gone. With shaking hands I trailed behind my friends a bit on the walk home as I replied to the one person who loved someone as cruel as me.

‘I don’t know anymore.’

And then the spam of anger mixed with painful sadness started, I struggled to keep up with my friends as my phone kept ringing from the incoming messages.

“Hey is your phone alright?” One of my friends, Hayoung, asked with knitted eyebrows.

I gave her a short reply of ‘it’s getting old’, as she shrugged it off and kept walking. As soon as she turned around I checked the spam and almost broke down on the spot. There were a number of messages that were from a heartbroken Chorong, but also quite a few from an angry Irene unnie, asking why I had ruined things 2 days before our plan was to be executed.

The last was a request from Chorong unnie asking if we could talk this over face to face. I agreed and we were to meet at my house at around 4 in the afternoon.

‘If this is what will give you the best future, then I’ll do it even if it kills me.’

That afternoon was brutal. I could always recall it when asked because the impact was just that scarring.

Instead of one girl, two girls appeared on my doorstep. They came in for about 30 minutes then left. They left with slightly sore knuckles but nothing else; I was left on the couch with several bruises that had already started to form on my stomach and upper arms. I didn’t hit back or run after them, I wasn’t that low. I wouldn’t hit a girl or beg for undeserved forgiveness. I watched Chorong unnie walk out of my life.

You don’t wanna be my heart

You don’t wanna be my life

I don’t understand this moment

My parents were still out of town and wouldn’t be back until the next dinner with the Jungs, I took this chance to release my pent up frustration. Day after day, tears streamed down my face as I kept apologising uselessly to Chorong unnie. Soon the day of the engagement dinner had arrived.

“Mr and Mrs Jung, I would like to formally ask you for Eunji’s hand in marriage.”

“We would be honoured for you to have her, Eunji dear why don’t you go for a walk with your fiancé while we discuss the details.”

“Yes father.”

I walked over to Eunji as she stood up in her stunning red gown. I took her by the hand and headed out to the gardens again. Even as we walked out I could hear Mr Jung call out to us.

“Take care of her for me Bomi!”

The moonlight was watching us again, only this time it was more comfortable than the last. I still felt guilt over what I did to Chorong unnie but what’s done is done I have to keep up my act in front of my parents and the Jungs rather than wallowing in my own self pity.

“So now that it’s all set in stone, partners?”

Eunji’s hand stretched out to me under the moonlight and I understood what it meant, an alliance. A truce to act accordingly as lovers but remain as friends. I kept my head down as I took her hand; apparently my lack of response annoyed her as I got slugged on my injured arm.

I let out a little grunt of pain and her playful stare changed into one of concern. As she rolled up my sleeve, the ugly black blotches came into view. She seemed to understand where they had come from and caressed them softly.

“Tell me this stuff more often; we’re going to be with each other for quite some time from now on.” She teased as she hid my wounds back under my sleeve. I gave her a bitter smile as I accepted our alliance and future.

Fifteen years later:

Time passed slowly and without Chorong unnie around each day was a blur of the exact same events. Before I knew it I was out of high school and had enrolled in the army. Then some time after I climbed through the ranks and with my family influence I became the youngest and only female Governor General the country had ever had. Having finally achieved a high position, father had decided to proceed with the wedding and I was wedded with the one who knew me best.

As I sit here in my own office typing up all the secrets behind my life and rise to position a gentle knock woke me from my trance.

“You ready for the party, Governor General?” the bright eye-smile of Eunji appeared at the door. A little girl with the same radiating smile wearing a purple stylised suit tottered in after her.

“Daddy, look isn’t this prettier than a dress?”

“It sure is Minah-ah,” I smiled as I patted my daughter’s long brown hair. “Why don’t you go out and find Hyeri to go play with?” She gave me a curt nod before running out to find her friend, leaving her parents alone.

“Thinking about her again?”

It was no surprise that she knew of my habits. After fifteen years she knew what it all meant, a simple gaze or a barely noticeable movement, she knew me like the back of her hand. It’s what fifteen years of an alliance does to people. I took her hand in mine as we headed down to greet our guests.

“You know me the best.” I said as I patted her hand gently.

“Of course, I know that you love her and only her so for now bear with me ok? Get that fake smile on your face and let’s greet some more fakes.” She taunted and gave me a wink.

She wasn’t like Chorong unnie, but she kept me sane. I smiled at her and did as I was told.

It was for the best of everyone’s interest after all.

I thought about it,

Look around you,

You will always be my love.

A/N: It's getting late over here so I couldn't be bothered checking for any names or gender words  I forgot to change from my draft. Hope you enjoyed this one-shot (it's something that's been haunting me for a while now) I promise next time it'll be something happier. Like I said in the foreword "sorry ^^" until my next update. Bye~ (and please feel free to leave comments whether they're constructive feedback or compliments, it feels nice knowing how people feel about my random writing ^^)