Broken Guitar Strings

Chapter 19

(ALLIE'S POV)

I sit in my room with Beats on. All that's been playing on shuffle are ballads. I think my phone is trying to tell me something. Just as "Dream" by B2ST ends, I hear a knock on my door. Shortly after, my mother comes in. She's wearing her pajama pants at two in the afternoon and her hair's in a messy bun, but I'm not surprised. Even someone like my mother has to take a break from pearls, lipstick, dresses, and suits once in a while. "Allie, you have to tell me what's wrong. You can't just come home during the middle of the day and lock yourself in your bedroom without a word."

"Mom, you won't understand."

"I may be a famous actress, but I was once a teenage girl just like you."

Pffft. I look away.

"Don't be embarrassed. Come on."

"Okay. So...you know how someone like me gets asked a lot?"

"Yes." She knows what I mean.

"I never really liked them back. But now there are two guys who both like me and I don't know who I like and I don't know what to do-"

"Whoaaa, there, Al. Calm down. Tell me what happened, from the beginning to the end."

I know I'm 16 and I should be mature enough to handle this shit. But I've honestly never been through anything like this before. I told my mom about how Chanyeol asked me to be part of a fake relationship. And then how he started to develop feelings for me. And then the Halloween party, and how because of the composition project Lay and I developed feelings for each other.  And also how Chanyeol and I both know that Samsung and Adidas are looking for a connection toward each other. And finally...the guitar playing competition. She listened intently all the way through to the very last word.

"So the question is...do you like Park Chanyeol or this...Lay?"

"My question is, do you like Park Chanyeol or Lay."

She sighs. "Al, the thing is," she says, "a partnership with Samsung would benefit our company by so much. Your father would be less stressed. The Parks would be more satisfied too. Also, did you know that you appeared in the newspaper last week?"

"What?" Media coverage on our family wasn't something new, but me? Individually? Well I mean, I've always been included in newspaper coverage on the Thompsons' formal gatherings (where my parents invite employees and coworkers and other business people to our house), but that was because it's our home. And also, there was this one time where a female reporter stopped me at the mall and asked me what I do to "make my hair so luscious." What the hell is that even supposed to mean? And who was she covering for?

Anyway, my mom leaves to retrieve the issue. A couple of minutes later she returns, and on the third page I see the Parks' gigantic mansion lit up with all the beautiful lights. And..there was a girl at the front door. In white. Facing a tall boy in a blazer. The heading was "Heirs Bond on Halloween."

That reporter...shit.

"Why..." I groan. My mother comforts me. "It's okay," she says gently. "It's good for you two to get closer with each other and get to know each other better."

"That reminds me. You still want us to be together, right?"

"...Al, I know you might not be happy about what we want for you. But I do believe that he will grow on you. I've already figured some things out."

"Like what?"

"Really, it's just a minor thing, so don't worry about it. I've already talked to his parents about it, but I'm not sure if he knows. Anyway, I'm sure he will be glad to know. Early engagement."

What.