An Unlikely Love Affair

5 - Sorn's Party

LISA

"Yah! Seriously. I still can't get over your Halloween tryst with Irene unnie!" Rosie burst out laughing when she picked up the photobooth pictures of me and Irene that I put on top of my vanity.

"It wasn't a tryst and it's not funny."

"It's a little bit funny." Rosie said, still chuckling. "I bet you acted weird all night."

"I acted as I normally would in those types of situations." I cringed at the remembrance of it.

"Well, you normally act weird when you're nervous and Irene unnie makes everyone nervous. No matter, you definitely redeemed yourself with that 'give you my shoes, don't mind walking barefoot' move... It's like a scene straight out of a Korean drama!" Rosie wasn't even there to witness it first hand but she's lost in her own recollection of what happened, thanks to Jisoo's overly detailed story telling.

"Unfortunately, my actions are irredeemable. The impression has been made and it's not good." I closed my eyes, trying and failing to mentally erase the images of me being awkward and embarrassing myself.

"Come on, cut yourself some slack. You're quite charming, you know... when you're not a nervous wreck." She snickered.

I just shook my head, eyes still shut.

"Look at your faces!" Rosie burst into renewed fits of laughter as she glanced at the photos again. "I wish you had shown me the 2nd half first. I bet it looked even more awkward. You both look legit shocked."

"I'm glad you're immensely entertained by my humiliation but can we please proceed to what I called you here for?" I said sarcastically, grabbing my half of the photo strip from her. The other half I gave to Irene. It was only right that she kept a part of the sole remembrance of our unexpected halloween together.

"Seriously. Korean dramas start off like that. Awkward and then sweet and then boom! They fall madly in love! You should know. You're the avid drama queen out of the four of us."

"Aish. Be serious, Chaeng. This is Irene unnie we're talking about and we're not in a drama, this is real life. Now, can you please stop letting your imagination run wild and just focus on doing my makeup? I'm already late."

"You're no fun." She made a face and went on dabbing, brushing and working her magic.

Rosie was actually helping me get ready for a party. It's Sorn's birthday and I'm going. Since I'm not good at doing my own makeup, I had to seek help from an expert.

"I'm jealous. How is it fair that you'll be having all the fun while I'm stuck doing work?" She complained.

She was supposed to come with me but had an unexpected schedule she needed to attend to.

"I'll make sure to have double the fun to compensate for your absence." I smirked as she rolled her eyes at me.

The party was packed. Sorn had a number of friends in both the movie and music industry, so there were a lot of familiar faces. I looked around and saw Jihyo, Mina and Minnie sharing a table with some members of a junior group. I decided to join them after I find the birthday girl.

I continued to look around and spotted Wendy saunter across the room with a tray of drinks. I slowed my pace, enough to follow her with my eyes and see who she's with. Was Irene here too? Not that I was hoping to see her again, I was merely wondering whether Wendy came with her members. Besides, I doubt Irene's the partying type.

"Whoa. Watch out!" Somebody grabbed my shoulders from the front to prevent us from colliding.

"Oh, sorry." I extracted myself from his grip and bowed without looking to see who it was.