Kangta drove Eugene home and when he got back to his apartment, he finally remembered his date with Hyolee. He immediately called her house but no one answered so he went to the Mall where they were supposed to meet. He searched every store but couldn’t find her. He became very worried and decided to go to Hyolee’s house. No one was home so he sat in his new Honda Civic outside waiting. He got angry with himself for not caring for Hyolee more and swore that if anything happened to Hyolee, he would never forgive himself. And yes, something did happen to Hyolee, she just spent her happiest day on earth and Kangta saw it. He watched in his car as Hyolee arrived in Hyesung’s Mercedes. He watched as Hyolee smiled brightly when Hyesung kissed her. He watched Hyolee fingering her new necklace while watching Hyesung drove away.

          He watches her now as she shuts the door and leaves him in the coldness and darkness of the night.  Inside the house, Hyolee softly hums to herself, unaware that with her rash act, she has finally severed the friendship between Kangta and Hyesung. Kangta and Hyesung are going in the opposite direction to their houses. They also have opposite feelings in their hearts. Hyesung’s heart is filled with joy and triumph while Kangta’s heart is filled with pain and anger. Kangta gets home and decides to give Hyolee a call, since they did have a date.

Ring, ring... ... ...

Hyolee: Hello, this is Hyolee speaking. (Hyolee is in a very good mood, Kangta notices.)

Kangta: Um, Hyolee, this is Kangta.

Hyolee: Kangta ... what happened? Why didn’t you show up today?

          Hyolee who was mad at Kangta for not showing up is now less angry, actually she doesn’t really care right now, since she got what she wanted anyway, a prom dress, and much more.

Kangta: My car broke down. I am sorry. I should’ve given you a call, but my cell ran out of battery.

          Kangta lies. He feels guilty though he doesn’t know why.

Hyolee: Oh, how unfortunate...

          Damn, I am not the one who hooked up with my girl’s best friend, why do I feel guilty? She should be the one to feel that. Kangta is getting angry at the thought of Hyolee and Hyesung together. 

Kangta: Yes, very.  What were you doing? I phoned you after I got home but no one answered the phone.

Hyolee: Oh, I called Miyoun and we shopped around together. Oh yeah, don’t worry about my prom dress anymore, I already got one myself.

Kangta: Oh, is that right? And not only one too, I bet. You wouldn’t be satisfied with just one dress would you? 

          Kangta is getting angrier and angrier now, as he remembers her carrying packages of things Hyesung must have brought her and the way she had fingered her shiny new diamond necklace. 

Hyolee: What’s wrong with you? (Getting angry herself too, hearing Kangta speaks to her this way.)

Kangta: I am sorry

          He doesn’t want to fight with Hyolee. He likes her, didn’t’ he? Kangta suddenly isn’t so sure anymore. His head aches, and it feels as though his mind is in chaos. He is so confused he doesn’t know what he feels anymore.

Hyolee: It’s alright, I guess you’ve had a bad day. Go get some rest. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

Kangta: Ok, bye (Kangta hangs up.)

          Hyolee goes back to examining her new properties, one after the other, dreaming happily of Hyesung and his Mercedes. The next day, Kangta phones Hyolee and says he’ll take her to a movie and then out to lunch.  Hyolee agrees to meet him at the theater and Kangta shows up promptly this time. They have a peaceful but quiet date and then each leaves to go back to their houses.

          For a few days, Hyolee does not phone Hyesung, and he begins to despair. He wants Hyolee so badly.  Every waking moment, his mind is filled with images of a smiling Hyolee, a laughing Hyolee, or a joking Hyolee. He cannot take his mind off this girl whom has attracted him so much. He decides to take some actions. He puts on his nice clothes, buys a bouquet of red roses and most importantly, a pair of matching male/female Omega silver watches. He drives to Hyolee’s house and waits for her to come out, hoping to give her a surprise first thing in the morning. A little while later, he sees Hyolee and Kangta coming out together. 

Kangta: What the h*** do you think you are doing? What’s with these roses? Hyolee’s my girl, and you stay away from her.

          Kangta is so angry to see Hyesung standing there in his nice clothes and Mercedes trying to chase his girl he forgets everything about manner and control.

Hyesung: Kangta, I can give to you my lunch, as many as you may want, but that doesn’t mean I can give to you the girl whom I love.

          Kangta is angry to be reminded of Hyesung’s charity to him, and he’s angrier that he’s trying to steal his girl from him. He punches Hyesung in the face and picks up a fallen branch from the ground. 

Kangta: This is you and I!

          Kangta breaks it in half and pulls Hyolee into his car, then without a look at Hyesung, he drives away.

*** End of Chapter 8 ***