BOOK 1: The Heir Series; Choi Seungcheol

5: COMPUNCTION

What if Seungcheol really makes it happen?

She ruffled her already messy hair. She let her emotions control her. Her Dad always tells her not to make decisions when her emotions are over her - but she just did.

Now she knew what he meant. She's regretting her own words, her own deed.

Seungcheol didn't bother texting or calling her for the past three days.

Her face scrunched in annoyance. Maybe he's with that girl she saw him with. Then let them be! She doesn't care anymore!

She sighed. Then how about her prom?

Sadness took over her as she looked at the date that was marked on her table calendar. Now that Seungcheol and her broke up, she doesn't want to attend the said event.

"You're really not going?!" Shin asked in shock. "What happened? Last week you were so excited then now, you're not going?!"

She continued arranging her things.

"I just don't want to. Period. Stop asking." She said seriously.

"Are you at war with your heir boyfriend?" Shin tried catching her eyes but she just stared away from her. "So I'm right then? You're just having a cold war and you're not attending?"

She rolled her eyes. "I just don't want to since I don't have a partner." The truth is so difficult for her to admit.

"What?! Just because of that? That's what you are worrying about all day long?" Shin walked towards her and whispered. "What if someone asked you, would you attend?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "Maybe." She herself doesn't know.

"Urgh. Whatever." Shin grabbed her things from her and directly stuffed them inside her bag. She sat down and listened to her lecture. "You know, instead of locking yourself in your room on that night, crying your heart out, why don't you attend? So what if you're in war mode? Seungcheol's not the only guy in this world, Taerin."

Sweat is dripping on her body as Taerin finishes her volleyball training. Since she has the best game potential on their team, she was appointed by their coach as the team captain. They're going to go against the other school that's why they need to practice harder.

"Cap, I'll go first." Her teammate said waving at her.

She's the only one left on the court. The others left to take a shower. She's going to rest first before taking a shower.

She pulled out her iPod and plugged her earphones in both ears. Not reaching a full song, she can feel someone staring at her.

When she opened her eyes, she immediately saw the guy standing on her side.

She blinked a few times. "W-what are you doing here?" She doesn't need to ask for his name since she already knows him.

"I was going to talk to you but you're still resting so I end up staring at you," Soonyoung said smiling at her. His small eyes formed into an adorable thin line. Soonyoung is Seungcheol's younger brother. Out of the four Choi siblings that is on the same batch as her, Soonyoung is the most approachable and kind one. Wonwoo is arrogant and cold. Junhui is so silent and scary and Jihoon is just so not approachable.

So why is he here?

"You can now stop staring at me." She said, sitting up properly. "Why do you want to talk to me?" She stared at him as he sits beside her like they were dear old friends.

"I overheard your conversation with Shin a while ago. About the prom." He said, smiling again at her.

He knew that Seungcheol is her boyfriend. And he is his older brother; he should have known better than to ask her to the prom. But why does she feel that that's what he is planning to do?

Soonyoung shook his head, looking at their shoes. "That is also my problem. I don't think I would attend without a partner. So since you don't have a partner. . . ." She looked her way, his eyes twinkling. "Can I ask you to be my date then?"

She heaved a sigh before giving her hand to Soonyoung. She's still thinking about how and why on earth she accepted to be his date as she stared at him tying the corsage on her wrist.

She always dreamed of this scenario, when Seungcheol would tie the corsage on her wrist with her favorite flower on it. But it's Soonyoung who's doing it for her.

Is it because of him that's why she's sad? That Seungcheol is not on her side anymore?

She mentally shook her head. No, it was never her fault. Seungcheol lied to her. He cheated on her. It was his fault because he hurt her, fooled her.

"Taerin?" She looked at her Mom. "You okay, darling?"

She smiled forcedly and nodded. "Just nervous, Mom."

"Gentleman, take care of our daughter." Her Dad told Soonyoung.

"No need to worry, Sir. I'll take care of your daughter." He all smiles as he shook hands with her father.

Soonyoung wasn't so bad. He's respectful towards her parents and he even dreamily looked around her house as if he's not living in a much larger mansion.

Even though she's still contemplating her reason for letting Soonyoung take her to prom, she knew what Shin said was right. Seungcheol was not the only man in this world. She should not lock herself at home while the other is busy being happy with some other girl.

She's just a senior student. She has a lot ahead of her. She will meet many people in the future. Her life won't go down because Seungcheol left her.

She's been sitting alone in the corner for heaven only knows how long. She doesn't know if she'll punch the hell out of that Soonyoung for leaving her behind.

"Gentlemen, it's now the romantic time! You may now dance with your fair ladies!" The DJ announced. Then a love song filled the whole venue.

She just sighed instead of doing a retouch. What for? She will never dance with Soonyoung. She doesn't plan on standing on the dance floor, staring at him the whole time.

You and I, we're like fireworks and symphonies exploding in the sky

With you, I'm alive

Like all the missing pieces of my heart, they finally collide

So stop time right here in the moonlight
'Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes

The crowd of couples started moving to the dance floor. The seats are getting empty from time to time.

Then she saw Soonyoung.

Without you, I feel broke

Like I'm half of a whole

Without you, I've got no hand to hold

Without you, I feel torn

Like a sail in a storm

Without you, I'm just a sad song

I'm just a sad song

Her eyebrow furrowed when he just croaked his head to someone instead of approaching her.

With you, I fall

It's like I'm leaving all my past and silhouettes up on the wall

With you, I'm a beautiful mess

It's like we're standing hand and hand with all our fears up on the edge

So stop time right here in the moonlight

'Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes

Everyone gasped and some stopped dancing when they saw the last person they were expecting to see tonight at the entrance. Choi Seungcheol is there, in flesh and in his all glory.

She was stuck in her seat.

WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?