Jade Ring

Chapter 1- Jade

"Yo JADE!" 

I whipped my head around to see a familiar face waving at me: bright smile, fair skin, bushy brows, and a pair of sparkling, crescent moon-shaped eyes. I could instantly tell it was Choi Ji-Hoon, my best friend since the womb, partner-in-crime, my Ji-hoon, Hoonie, my Choi. But something was off. He looked, well, polished. 

Instead of his usual messy hair and crinkled outfits with kimchi stains, Choi was sporting a silk, sky blue gown-suit and a beaded gat* that finished his slick hair-do. I was completely caught off guard. College did him good, I thought to myself. 

"Choi, you're kidding me. Look who finally became human!" Choi gave me a mischievous smile as he walked towards me and patted my hair like a puppy, just as he always did. I threw my arms around him and held him tighter and tighter. I hadn't seen Choi in AGES after he had left for Sungkyunkwan University. I missed him beyond thought. He grew a few inches too, definitely. 

Choi started tapping my arm. "Alright, alright, let go, let ME-" His face turned blue. Fine, he was choking. I let go. 

I jumped up and down like a rabbit. "You need to tell me all about school! How were the professors? The teachings? What are the dorms like? What are the boys like? Are they cute-" Choi playfully shoved me to the side, cutting me off. 

"Just shut up and let me buy you some food!" he exclaimed. I didn't object. 

We headed towards the city and sat down at our usual spot of our favorite chicken soup restaurant, Auntie Geumja's. We were regulars here for as long as I could remember. Choi and I would always come after having our ears screamed off by our parents for crazy acts we would commit together. 

You see, Choi's the only child of the Chief State Councillor, a good friend of my father, the Minister of Defense. So he would always be cooped up in his room, forced to study and meet his dad's unrealistic expectations. And as the righteous, amazing, stunning, and sympathetic people my brother and I were, we would often sneak Choi out from his excruciatingly painful lessons to explore the city. This led to countless beatings, lectures, and threats, courtesy of my truly caring parents, but it also brought the three of us closer than ever. 

Yeah, the three of us. My brother, Coral, was the same age as Choi. They were the OG best friends, so close to each other that I would always feel left out. Coral was a shining star. Until one day, he became a shooting star, and fell from the sky. 

Anyway, that story's for another time. Just know that because he isn't around anymore, I'm his lousy replacement as Choi's right-hand man. Right-hand woman, I guess? Doesn't really have the same ring to it. 

The only reason we're still allowed to stick around each other is because of our arranged marriage. Both Choi and I never took it too seriously, though. We're best friends, have always been and always will be.

"Auntie, two whole steamed chickens please. And don't forget the extra broth!" Choi yelled. Our go-to order.

I leaned in. "So tell me, what's it like?"

Choi seemed to ponder. "Well, the professors are all great. They all seem to like me, I think."

"Yeah, no kidding," I snorted, "Don't want to get on the Chief's bad side."

He smiled and continued, "I don't really hang out with the other guys though. They're always drunk and partying at the kisaeng* homes. It's disgusting. They're practically animals. This one guy in particular, though, god is he a pain in the ass. The son of that old, rotten Right State-" 

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "And that's exactly what you should be doing too! Having fun, getting drunk, hanging out with some of the kisaeng girls, and-"

"Uh, no thank you." 

Aside from our occasional, delinquent quests, Choi's always been the obedient, quiet type. Maybe it's because his father is scary strict, but he always carried a slight high-and-mighty "son of the Chief State Councillor" attitude. I didn't really mind, though. That was just Choi. 

"Besides, I got a girl in mind," he said, as he flashed a small grin while his eyes fixated on his chicken broth. 

I was ready to pounce with a million questions when he immediately followed up, "And before you even think about saying anything, the answer is no."

I simply pouted. If Choi said no, it was a no. But I have to admit, my heart skipped a small beat when he said that. I wasn't sure why, so I just muttered a quick response. 

"Whatever," I said.

He chugged down the rest of his chicken broth and slammed the table with an empty bowl. "Thank you, Auntie!" he hollered. "Okay, Jade. Ready to go have some fun now? You know, for old time's sake." 

*gat - Korean traditional hat worn by men

*kisaeng- women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic and sexual entertainment/conversation to men of upper class