얼음꽃 (Frost Flower)

Chapter Two

The sun was at its highest position in the sky and for the majority of the population of Seoul, half a day of work and activities had already gone.

Beneath the covers of a sophisticated sphere bed in a certain mansion, however, lay a woman in her early twenties, lightly snoring away. For most people, sleeping with their mouths open was probably one of the most unflattering things ever but she managed to pull it off pretty well.

She had the face of an angel and the beams of sunlight streaming in from her bedroom window served to accentuate that fact. Hugging what seemed like a Rilakkuma body pillow closer to herself, she stirred ever so slightly before dropping back to sleep, soft snorts filling the room once more. From the way she rested, one would derive that she was a carefree individual with few or no worries.

"Oh, Yoona..." Murmured a voice beside her, causing her eyes to shoot open instantly. Lifting the sheets and peering underneath, she realized she was stark naked. Hurriedly, she sat up, bundling the soft blankets against her chest as she watched the figure beside her in horror.

"Good morning, baby. Last night was pretty wild, huh?" Continued the voice as a hand reached out to stroke her bare shoulder.

"You weren't supposed to spend the night, Natalie."

"It's Nicole."

"Whatever. You promised to leave when we were through. What the fuck is this?" The woman named Yoona brushed the hand off her shoulder with a grimace.

"I'm sorry, baby. I was so tired."

"Well, you've had your rest so get off my property." Getting off the bed, Yoona grabbed the girl's clothes off the floor and threw them in her face.

"Aren't you gonna at least make me breakfast?"

"What do I look like, your fucking nanny? You know where the door is." Yoona stated before stepping into her bathroom.

"Oh, Yoona, why do you have to be so mean? I thought we had fun last night, baby."

"Yeah well, fun's over. If I still find you here after my shower, I'm taking drastic measures. Knives may or may not be involved. I'm not joking. Bye, Nadia."

"It's Nicole..."

Slam!

"Call me?" The girl on the bed sighed with a helpless look on her face.

---

An hour or so later, the tall girl stepped out from her bathroom, large doe-like eyes surveying the premises to see if the annoying thing was still there. Her lips tugged into a satisfied smile when she realized she was safe.

Then, grabbing her cellphone off the dressing table, she hit speed dial number two before pressing the device to her ear.

By the third ring, a voice answered, "Go for Taeyeon."

"Engaged at work?"

"Nah, things are taken care of today so I'm on the couch channel surfing as I stuff my face with crackers. It seemed like a good idea at first but now I'm plain bored."

"Well then, ad hoc coffee meeting, my place, in say, twenty?"

"Roger."

"Awesome. See ya."

---

"I blame you, Tae." Yoona glared at a blonde girl seated across from her in the kitchen as she stirred at her coffee.

"Whoa. I hardly receive thanks from you when I help you get the hot, easygoing ones and I'm liable for the needy ones? Tell me again how this is fair to me." Her friend responded, deciding against taking another sip.

"Whatever. I'll be heading down to the bar again tonight. Pray hard I find someone good or I'm ordering a hundred jugs and putting it on your tab." Draining her mug in one gulp, she reached for the coffee pot and filled the cup up to its brim once more before tossing in a couple of sugar cubes.

"Yah, I know I own the place and stuff but you can't extort me like that. I could sue."

"Try," Yoona replied casually while rummaging the cupboards for a bite to eat, "Ugh. I so need to go food shopping."

"I agree. You should really start doing your own food shopping instead of making me run your stupid errands all the time."

"Taeyeon, come on, be a pal. You know I'm part vampire. I melt when I get exposed to the sun. You wouldn't wanna see your best friend of ten years end up like the witch in The Wizard of Oz, would you?"

"Actually, that would be rather interesting."

"Oh, Taetae..." In the sultriest tone she could manage, the girl ran a lone finger down her friend's arm, causing her hair to stand.

"Okay, okay, please don't. I'll go, I'll go." The blonde raised her hands in defeat and nodded profusely.

"Aww, you're the best, Taeng. Come here so I can give you a big wet kiss!" Spreading her arms, Yoona attempted to embrace her friend but the girl dodged out of it just in time.

"Sorry, big wet kisses are reserved for Fany. You can give them to whoever you meet later tonight."

"There you go again, making it sound as though she's your one and only for the rest of your life..." Yoona cringed at the thought of being attached in a romantic relationship. What exactly was so fun about being with the same person for an extended period of time?

"I plan to make it so, Yoong."

"Isn't it boring? I mean, you guys must have been seeing each other for at least two years. You've been chained up for two freaking years, Taengoo. That's, like, seven hundred and thirty days... I'd rather kill myself."

"Hey, I completely respect your dating policy. Let me keep mine, alright? You make it sound like it's such a bad thing but it's not. In fact, being with somebody you love is the best thing that could ever happen. Just wait till the day you meet Miss Right."

For a little while Yoona seemed to be deep in thought. Seconds later, she shrugged, "Nope. Never gonna happen." Taeyeon only shook her head in dismay, mentally giving up any and all hope on this friend of hers.

"Here's my grocery list, by the way." And an entire page of messy scribbles was forced into Taeyeon's hands.

"I swear your handwriting is getting worse by the day. Should I sign you up for some penmanship classes?"

"Very funny. I'm gonna get changed. Later, Tae." Yoona waved and headed for the flight of stairs leading to her room.

"Where are you going?"

"Jinri wants me over at her place so..." The girl wiggled her eyebrows suggestively before making her way off.

"Hopeless." Taeyeon muttered under her breath.

"I heard that but don't worry, I'm in too good of a mood to rebut."