Hyolee cannot forget what Hyesung has done for her. She is surprised but secretly glad to receive such attention from Hyesung. She knows that his family is one of the wealthiest in the region and that his parents are famous for being very generous and compassionate. She wonders what it would be like if she were to be Hyesung’s girlfriend. She imagines how happy it would be to live with him and his parents. When she returns to her own home, her angry parents greet her.

Dad: Where’ve you been?

          Her dad asks quietly, but Hyolee can already sense the anger.

Hyolee: Out...

Dad: Out where? (He shouts)

Mom: With whom?

Hyolee: I went over to a friend’s house to work on...a project.

          She lies, hoping her parents will not think it’s weird to be working on a project at the end of the year.

Dad: At midnight?

Hyolee: Well, since I have to work before that, it is the only time I have to spend on my schoolwork! Why don’t you two pay for my tuition fees so I’d never have to go out this late again, huh?

          She screams and runs up to her room, banging shut her door. Her parents begin fighting downstairs. Her dad blames her mom for not teaching Hyolee properly and spoiling her like this. Her mom says that Hyolee is his responsibility also and that it is his fault he lets her behave so disrespectfully. Hyolee puts on her headphones and listen to some k-pop instead, trying to block out the two voices she hates so much but have heard all her life.

          The next day, Kangta phones her asking if she wants to go shopping for a dress to the prom. They arrange to meet at the mall in half an hour. Hyolee quickly changes into her leather jacket and black jeans, already thinking of a beautiful nightgown encrusted with diamonds. She finishes dressing and hurriedly leaves the house, eager to find her dream prom dress.

          Kangta has finished changing already. He double checks his wallet to make sure he has enough money to buy Hyolee a nice dress and perhaps a little bracelet to go with her soft white hands. He had worked all his weekends this semester to earn money so he could buy Hyolee something pretty, he wants her to be the “jewel” of the prom. Suddenly his phone begins to ring.  He picks it up, thinking it is probably Hyolee telling him to hurry up. 

Kangta: I am coming right now.

Girl: Kangta? It’s me, Eugene.

          She sounds worried, wonder what’s wrong. Kangta thinks to himself.

Kangta: Hey Eugene, is there anything wrong?

Eugene: I was on my way to get my grocery, but my car suddenly broke down. I am on a bridge right now, I don’t know what to do... (she starts crying)

Kangta: Hey, don’t worry, Eugene. I’ll be right over, just stay where you are.

          After hearing Eugene’s worried voice, Kangta forgets all about Hyolee and her prom dress. He rushes out of the house and jumps into his car wishing he could be with Eugene right this moment to comfort her. When he arrives, he finds Eugene standing alone by her car in the middle of a bridge. The wind is blowing violently on this late spring day. Eugene, who has only a thin shirt and a mini skirt on, looks like she will faint any second. Kangta pulls over and leaps out to take Eugene to his car. He takes a look at Eugene’s car to see what the problem is and then phones his friend who fixes his own car for him to help him out. Kangta reassures Eugene that the car will be fine, that his friend will come tow it to his place and get it fixed. He looks at her pale face and shaking hands. He takes her hands and begins rubbing them with his own to help her get warm quickly.

          Eugene looks at Kangta while he gently warms her hands. She is afraid to speak. She is afraid that if she opens her mouth, she will not be able to stop herself telling Kangta how much she loves him. She knows Kangta is with Hyolee and will reject her.  She remains silent, satisfy that Kangta still cares for her as a friend, for now.

          Hyolee has been waiting for Kangta for over an hour. She called him a dozen times but no one answered the phone at his house and his cell was off. She is so irritated she decides to phone Hyesung and see if he’s free.

Hyesung: Hello?

Hyolee: Hey Hyesung, it’s me, Hyolee.

Hyesung: HYOLEE!!! 

          Hyesung is so happy he is now wide-awake while three seconds before he was still sleeping like the dead.

Hyolee: Yeah, it’s me. I was wondering if you would like to go shopping with me right now. Kangta was supposed to be here an hour ago, but he still hasn’t shown up yet. He probably ran off to do his own stuff instead. I am at the Grand Avenue Mall.

Hyesung: Oh okay, sure! Of course! I just need to get dressed first. Wait, I will be over in ten minutes. Wait for me, okay?

          Hyesung is so eager to see Hyolee, he jumps out of bed, rushes into the bathroom, changes, and in three minutes leaves the house.

          He meets Hyolee at the mall and together they shop for Hyolee’s prom dress. Hyesung takes Hyolee to the most expensive shops and urges her to try on every dress that she likes. In the end, he ends up buying her not only one dress, but at least half a dozen. He is even so considerate as to her feminine need to “glow and shine” (To stand out among other people) that he takes her to the jewelry store his parents often visit and asks her to choose anything she wants. At first, she chooses a crystal bracelet, but Hyesung says that it is not good enough for her, and he chooses a diamond necklace of the latest style for her.

*** End of Chapter 7 ***