A Wind Of Change [1] || EXO ✓

041: The Masquerade Ball- Part 1

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Soyeon was mesmerized the moment she entered the palace. She considered Hazel's house to be one. And the queen: Bianca. She caught the sight of Hazel's mother order the maids to serve her refreshments with a subtle movement of a tended hand. Soyeon wondered why Hazel was not half as elegant as her mother. She had brought along her text book to study, just in case she'd ever feel bored and it was one big mistake. She heard Bianca bicker at Hazel, how she was to focus upon her studies like Soyeon.

Soyeon savoured the delicacies served to her upon entering Hazel's house. "Dear, eat all you want." She heard Bianca say. She meant it in a good way, of course but Soyeon thought that maybe her mother was repulsed by her underweight frame and said it out of pity. On the other hand, she heard Bianca tell Hazel not to overindulge in sweets or food as a whole. She went on to tell how Hazel was to not spend her free time daydreaming, reading novels or wiling away time on any such nonsense.

After spending sometime in the hall, Hazel pulled Soyeon upstairs. "It's a great deal that your mother agreed to you coming to my house." Hazel chirped.

"That's so true. My mother wouldn't know to dress me up and I'd end up looking like a fool. Oh yes. I'm going to look like a fool either way." Soyeon shrugged.

Hazel rolled her eyes. "Here you go again." She pulled the backpack that slung over Soyeon's shoulder. "Let me take a look at your dress."

Soyeon bowed her head with a mirthless smile when she observed Hazel inspect her dress with a you're-kidding-me look. "It's not good, right? My taste is bad. But this is all I got." Soyeon had pathetically dreamt of finally dancing in Chanyeol's arms and her hopes seemed to have crushed even before she knew.

"It's not like that. But it doesn't suit our theme. It's too plain."

"You're right. I should have stayed at home to study." Soyeon sighed and sat on the bed. "I'm going to look like a peasant."

"Peasant?" Grandma entered slyly into the bedroom, adjusting the glasses up her wrinkled nose. "I can only see two princesses in this room." Grandma said and shut the door behind her.

"Granny!" Hazel exclaimed, jumping off the bed. "Granny, help me find a good choice of dress for my bestie."

With mouth agape, Soyeon marvelled at the million dresses that fit into Hazel's closet. She loved every other dress in there, but she heard Hazel go on to tell things like, "This is fine but the colour is too bold.", "This is very plain.", "This design is good but I don't like the bow." She knew that she shouldn't think this way. But she couldn't help wonder if sometimes Hazel was hesitating to give her a nice looking dress.

When she finally changed into the dress she loved, the mirror reflected a disastrous looking Soyeon. "I thought it'd fit me." She mouthed to herself. The flowy red dress was not suited for her flat-chested body. She did have an idea that Hazel's dress was in no way going to fit her but they were too pretty to not have tried. Embarrassed, she came out of the bathroom without changing into that dress.