You are best friends with Hyun-Hee, whom you met at an international boarding school and immediately clicked. Her brother is Hwang Hyunjin, who is a couple years older than the two of you.
This story is about how you have fallen in love with Hyunji...
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⏳nine months ago
(The Ski Lodge thingy happened about three years ago...We're moving closer and closer to the present!!!)
Needless to say (a.n Sunflower is playing in my head), your friendship with Hyun-Hee wasn't always perfect. One topic that often came up during arguments was stepping out of the house. Hyun-Hee was naturally more extroverted whereas you preferred the comfort of your home.
Hyun-Hee had dragged you to this high-profile party as her plus one. Nayeon was at her parents' home and Hyun-Hee simply 'could not go alone or would combust at the sight of others bringing a partner'.
Regret at deciding to attend university in Korea was dawning on you (but nowhere else would you get delicious kimchi). You had agreed partly since you needed some fresh air and also Hyun-Hee's never-ending begging.
Beads of sweat clung to your forehead as you surveyed your surroundings. The party was filled with drunk people that were gossiping with each other. You rarely attended such events with Hyun-Hee; this was her circle, not yours. :(((
Even at such an event taking place at a simple rooftop restaurant, you spotted the occasional man wearing an entire three-piece set and a woman rocking an evening gown. You had confirmed with Hyun-Hee about what the dress code was multiple times leading up to the event. She kept reassuring you that it was 'casual'. Clearly, the upper-class definition of casual and yours were worlds apart.
You were wearing a white crop top, black skirt, and beige jacket that was currently below your shoulders and caught in the crook of your elbows. It was getting too hot there and you took it off a few minutes ago.
You had already shook off quite a few men approaching you with a look in their eyes which made you quite uncomfortable. Having excused yourself countless times using numerous excuses (you had to use the skills that you had picked up as an introvert), you decided to step out onto the open area to catch some fresh air.
You glanced at the cup in your left hand, not knowing where it came from. It definitely looked like alcohol though, and you sent a nasty glare towards the cup while you set it on the first surface that you could find.
You rarely drank, and today you decided against it. You were planning to drive yourself home and knew that Hyun-Hee was going to be wasted, having lost her a few minutes after entering the party.
You knew that Hyunjin was there too, and were uneasy at the possibility of seeing him again. After the ski lodge, you never really met him again. He had taken your phone number once while he dropped off you and Hyun-Hee snowboarding while you were there at their lodge.
You both rarely texted, never going beyond the yearly 'happy birthday' and exchanging wishes during various holidays. He never asked why you stopped coming to the library during your visit, just giving you an understanding nod when you linked arms with Hyun-Hee and looked at him with guilt evident in your eyes.
