Blue Flower (Boys Over Flowers Fanfiction)

Chapter 5

After relentless convincing, Jan-Di finally agreed to go to the party. The moment we stepped into the grand ballroom of the five-star hotel, the sound of our heels clicking against the marble floor seemed to echo louder than usual. I could feel the weight of countless eyes on us, scanning our every move. Dressed in a short pink dress, Jan-Di looked elegant yet slightly out of place, just like me.

As the double doors opened, we were greeted by the sight of F3 waiting near the bar—minus Ji-Hoo. Jun-Pyo's expression lit up the moment he spotted Jan-Di, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. Meanwhile, Yi-Jung and Woo-Bin turned their attention to me, their gazes warm and welcoming.

"You look beautiful," Yi-Jung complimented as Jun-Pyo eagerly pulled Jan-Di away.

I glanced down at my red lace dress, its fitted bodice accentuating my frame. I hadn't thought much about my appearance, but hearing those words made my confidence soar.

"Thank you," I said, offering him a small smile.

Before I could say more, a familiar figure caught my eye. Ji-Hoo had arrived, his usual composed demeanor slightly faltering as he walked in with Seo-Hyun by his side. The effortless way he held her hand made something inside me tighten. She was everything—elegant, poised, the kind of woman who seemed like she belonged in a fairytale. For a brief moment, I envied her. Not just because Ji-Hoo clearly adored her, but because she knew what it felt like to be loved so completely.

"I'm going to find a dance partner," Woo-Bin announced, already setting his sights on an older, glamorous woman across the room.

Left alone with Yi-Jung, I sighed. The room was too loud, too extravagant, filled with chatter and indulgence that I could never quite fit into.

"Not a fan of parties?" Yi-Jung's voice was laced with amusement.

I turned to him, my honesty slipping out before I could stop it. "I hate them. Actually, I'm sick of them."

His smirk widened. "Then let me change your mind. Dance with me?"

He extended his hand, waiting patiently for my answer. The truth was, no one else was going to ask me, and despite his reputation as a playboy, Yi-Jung had a way of making people feel special.

I placed my hand in his, and he led me onto the dance floor. His hands found my waist as we swayed to the rhythm of the music. Being this close to him, I caught the faint scent of his cologne—Patchouli, rich and warm, balanced with a hint of nutmeg. It was sophisticated yet undeniably alluring.

"You know," he murmured near my ear, his breath sending shivers down my spine, "I think you're the most beautiful woman here."

I chuckled, tilting my head slightly to meet his gaze. "Mr. So, if you keep talking like that, I might actually start to believe you're flirting with me."

He smiled, clearly enjoying my playful attitude. "Maybe I am. A woman like you deserves to be in my arms."

His words were smooth—too smooth. I wasn't blind to his reputation.

"Too bad I don't believe you," I teased. "You're a playboy, Yi-Jung. My trust issues are still very much intact."

For a moment, his expression faltered, but he quickly masked it with a charming grin. "Then I'll just have to prove you wrong."

The dance ended, and as Yi-Jung got swept into another conversation, I slipped away to get some fresh air. Standing on the balcony, I looked up at the night sky. A week ago, I never would've imagined myself here, wrapped up in the world of F4, my heart beating faster because of them.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Ji-Hoo standing alone. Seo-Hyun had just left, her absence leaving an undeniable weight on him. As I got closer, I saw something that made my heart clench—tears silently trailing down his face.

"The stars look beautiful tonight," I said, pretending I hadn't been watching him.

"Yeah," he whispered, his voice strained.

I hesitated for a second before pulling out a handkerchief and offering it to him. "Here. Please don't cry."

He took it but didn't wipe his tears right away. "She's leaving for France," he murmured. "I should be happy for her, but my heart... it hurts."

Yi-Jung's words from earlier echoed in my mind—Seo-Hyun was everything to Ji-Hoo. His mother, his sister, his first love.

"You'll heal, Ji-Hoo," I said gently. "But if you keep crying, you're going to make me cry too."

To my surprise, he stepped closer and pulled me into a hug. He was warm, solid, but fragile in this moment. I stood still, letting him hold onto me as he silently grieved under the watchful moon.

Minutes passed, and when he finally pulled away, he managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you. I feel better now."

Before I could respond, a scream cut through the night.

"Jun-Pyo fell into the pool!"

I turned and rushed back inside. A crowd had formed around the pool, murmurs of concern rippling through the party. My eyes widened as I saw Jan-Di kneeling beside Jun-Pyo, pressing her lips against his in an attempt to perform CPR.

"Wait, can't he swim?" I asked Woo-Bin, who shook his head.

"He's hopeless in water," he admitted.

But then, in a split second, Jun-Pyo's eyes fluttered open, and the smug grin on his face told me everything I needed to know—he had been faking it.

Jan-Di, realizing she'd been tricked, immediately punched him, and the party resumed as if nothing had happened. I covered my mouth to suppress my laughter.

F4 truly was something else.

—

The next day, I was walking down the school hallway when I spotted Jan-Di with Ji-Hoo behind the building. He was playing his violin, his expression distant—until the string suddenly snapped, cutting his finger. Jan-Di immediately rushed forward, wrapping a handkerchief around his injury with the utmost care.

Before I could say anything, I noticed Miranda and her friends filming the scene.

"What the hell are you doing?" I snapped.

Startled, they bolted, clutching the camera tightly as they disappeared down the hall.

I barely had time to process what was happening before I found myself outside the F4 lounge. As I expected, Jun-Pyo had already seen the footage. His jaw was clenched, his knuckles white from gripping the broken camera.

"Jun-Pyo, calm down," I said cautiously, stepping toward him.

But he wasn't listening. His anger was palpable.

"How dare she be all lovey-dovey with him?" he growled.

"Don't go," I blurted out, grabbing his arm. "Getting mad won't change anything. You can't force her to like you."

He shook me off, and I stumbled back. My breath hitched as I braced for impact—but before I could fall, Jun-Pyo caught me. His hands tightened around my waist, holding me in place. Our faces were mere inches apart.

A strange silence settled between us.

"I just..." His voice softened. "I just wanted her to like me. But instead, she's falling for Ji-Hoo."

I looked at him, seeing past the arrogance and temper to the vulnerability underneath.

"Sometimes, we can't have what we want, Jun-Pyo," I whispered. "No matter how much we wish for it."

His grip on me loosened, and he took a deep breath before stepping back. A bitter chuckle escaped his lips.

"Sora," he said suddenly, his gaze unreadable. "Is it possible for us to fall in love instead?"