Mochi

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Breathe.

Just breathe.

That's all I can think of as Namjoon's little sister helps me get ready. Kyungmin is playing the part of hostess tonight, a role that she seems to be rather excited about. Brushes are being shoved in my face and scalp from every which direction, and my hostess continues to pepper me with excited chatter. Briefly, I wonder whether she's actually grown a second pair of arms.

But then, she pins something into place in my hair, which has been delicately braided and coiled into an intricate shape at the nape of my neck. She tugs just a little, and then steps away, yelling for reinforcements.

A whole gaggle of women arrive, each carrying a piece of my wardrobe for the evening. Quietly and one at a time, they leave their item with Kyungmin. But as the last two women attempt to hand over their offering and leave, my hostess stops them, whispering excitedly.

The servants faces light up, and they begin to nod frantically, clearly pleased with whatever idea it is that she has just relayed to them.

"I'm so excited for you!" Kyungmin squeals, "I can't wait to see what you look like when we're done!"

I chuckle half heartedly, bracing myself as she begins to stick pins of some sort into my updo at intervals that make absolutely no sense to me.

But as she rotates the chair around, ready to begin working on the finer points of my makeup, I get a glimpse of my hair.

It is gorgeous.

Two braids have actually been wrapped around my head, and within the each braid she has placed an assortment of pearl tipped pins. A few tendrils remain to frame my face, giving me a youthful look, while the neatly wrapped braided bun in the back, lends to my face a sort of elegance.

"You have a really pretty face, you know that?" She gushes as I close my eyes, waiting for the feeling of brush against skin. "You don't wear a whole lot of makeup, do you?"

I blush, embarrassed to admit it but I've always been a bit too lazy to bother with makeup. I tried once, for Jimin back in high school, but it was a catastrophe. Without a female friend, or a mother to teach me, I'd been utterly lost.

I'd been more engaged in other things, too, and in the end I still haven't developed more interest in makeup, or fashion ironically.

A bit of an embarrassing quality to reveal for someone like me, someone who's father is a big name in the entertainment industry.

"Truth is, " I admit softly, "I've never been a very good heiress."

She laughs, and I then begin to feel her work upon my face.

"From what I hear, you are a pretty bad heiress, " she admits with a chuckle, "but I also hear that your dad loves you, so I'd say you're not totally screwed."

"Kyungmin!" Namjoon exclaims, surprising not only, but apparently my hostess as well.

She jumps, and her hand hard ever so slightly too far to the left. She huffs in annoyance.

"Get out Joonie!" She shouts lividly. "You messed me up!"

"Don't let Eomma catch you speaking like that!" He warns.

I suddenly hear a startling loud smack, the kind of sound that only skin on skin can make.

"Ouch!" Namjoon yells angrily. "What was that for? Why are you so violent?"

"You deserved it! You ruined my masterpiece! Get out!"

I feel the complete absence of Kyungmin's presence, but hear the sound of several successive jabs, as well as a few of Namjoon's very enthusiastic protests.

"Kyungmin stop!" He exclaims.

I open my eyes to find them actually smiling at each other, and I sigh in relief.

"You know you'll just paint another masterpiece!"

"Quick save, pabo." She jabs at him playfully once more as he leaves, and I can't help but smile a little myself.

She shoves him out the door, but he pokes his head back inside, dimpled smile on full display.

"This is gonna be great guys, " he exclaims.

And finally, Kyungmin completely ejects him, shutting the door quickly behind him.

She manages to get my makeup done in next to no time at all.

And just as she is finished applying the finishing touch, the two serving girls from earlier appear. They bring with them a curiously decadent box, dark blue with a shimmering logo on the side in small elegant script.

"I know Jin picked out another necklace for you to wear, " Kyungmin tells me, eying her finished work with pride. "But I'd actually be really happy if you'd wear my mother's pearls."

She pulls a delicate string of pearls from within that blue box, and I am floored.

"I'm not sure that's appropriate, " I reply, "but I'm really touched."

"I insist, " she returns, smiling brightly.

She loops her arms around my neck, and fastens the pearls with the practiced ease of a little girl who spent far too many hours playing with her mother's things.

It's only now, as she pulls away, that I notice just how sad her smile is. How bittersweet.

"For one, " she says, dabbing her eyes daintily with her now clean fingers. "It goes perfectly with your outfit. And for two, they deserve to be worn. My mother is the reason Joonie's so into fairy tales, and these were her favorites. I'd like to think that in this way, eomma will be here. Even if only in spirit."

"Thank you, " I reply, fighting the urge to dab at my own eyes. "I'm really honored."

She hugs me, and awkwardly, I return it. There is something about this moment that feels surreal. Like the calm before the storm. I breathe deeply, and Kyungmin giggles as she releases me.

"Tonight, " she chirps happily, "you are the princess. I hope we help you get your prince."

I nod, nervousness beginning to spread through my stomach like actual butterflies. But Kyungmin eyes me knowingly.

"You'll see, " she tells me, softly, reassuringly, "everything is going to be grand."