.com/albums/ii151/kyamamoto_ (G R A P H I C)

Status: On-going

Genre: Romance, Drama

(Not so much a comedy as it is a drama so don't expect to find it genuinely hilarious..)

Introduction

So there's this girl....Born and raised in California. She speaks English and Korean. Her age....16.

Kang Yeunja. (That's her name.) She's your average American(Californian) high schooler → you know, torn skinny jeans that look like they've been worn one too many times, graphic psychedelic t-shirt, chucks, and headphones covering her ears. Sound vaguely familiar?

Then there's this boy....born and raised in Korea. He speaks fluent Korean and that's it. His age....17.

Choi Seunghyun. (His name.) He's your average Korean high schooler → Neatly ironed uniform, tie adjusted to near perfection, hair combed somewhat decently, shirt tucked in (at least during class, after he's caught with it out). (Maybe I'm stereotyping, but really he's not like the perfect student all the time....Not at all.)

So here's the scenario. What happens when a formal society goes head to head with an informal society?

If you don't know already then let me enlighten you on the subject of each society:

The differences of the average high school:

Korean High School: Classes start at 7:20 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., it is necessary for students to stay till 10 p.m. to study. Afterward some even go to private lessons to review what they have learned which makes them return home in the early morning. Students are required to wear uniforms and keep up a professional composure. School is one of the most important parts in a person's life − it decides one's future and ensures a good life. Over 90% of the Korean population have at least graduated from high school.

Then there's American High School: Teachers are laid back and tend to be extreme push-overs. Students hardly ever work and lean towards the lazy side (with a few exceptions − Honor students). Dropping out is usual in some cases. Drugs and underage drinking → totally 'normal'. Disorganization and chaos...? Yes, that would be American adolescence.

Chapter One

Transferring to a different school is a difficult, uneasy process. Its not hard in the way of signing papers and such, but the fact that moving to a school with a different atmosphere and all-new faces is a bit intimidating. But moving to a new school in a country clear on the other side of the map, the world map, is not even acceptable. And we're not talking foreign exchange here. We're talking new home, new country. The phrase 'new kid' has advanced in meaning, just a bit.

Kang Yeunja suddenly found herself on a plane from Los Angeles destined for South Korea. After her grandfather's abrupt death, her father who she never knew personally, but only knew about, had contacted her aunt and offered to take her in. And he said that too : 'taker her in', as if she was some poor, lonely orphan and not his flesh and blood. Yes, this lost little girl was on her way to her new home in Seoul, to live with her careless father.

The plane ride seemed to last much longer than it really was since she was anticipating the landing. She'd hardly slept at all and she knew once she got off the plane she had to go to school since it was the first day. It was March. She was forced to finish her sophomore year early in America just so she could start her second year of high school in Korea. She should've just stayed in America like her aunt wanted her to…Instead she was going to live with a father who didn't really care for her as it seemed. So why did he even ask her to come live with him? Hell if she knew. She always figured she was an unwanted child, and after what she experienced her whole life, she was almost convinced of it.

The taxi pulled to a stop in front of her school, she had already sent her luggage ahead and her father had told her on the phone he would have someone bring them to the house later. The way he talked made him sound obnoxious she had noted. He was probably a lawyer or some high-standing person in a big company…(not stereotyping.)

She merely shrugged the thoughts away and headed through the gates of her new school, following the crowd of students flooding in. They were all wearing uniforms, navy blue and white. Ugh, so it's this kind of school, she thought bitterly, looking down at her own apparel. Pale, torn skinny jeans, an A7X t-shirt, a black sweater, blue vans, bracelets…yeah, and not to mention the purple skullcandy™ headphones, which were currently playing Black Eyed Peas. The word outsider slammed into her mind and she was pushed back by the mental force of insecurity and terrifying facts of what was to come. But she kept walking after recovering from her brain fart, until she reached the entrance of the only building on the campus. She stopped to study the long L-shaped building and its fairly plain exterior. It wasn't small, she noted that, but it wasn't as big as her old school, and still it was intimidating. She didn't even hear the motorcycle approaching, though she was wearing headphones…

"Yah!" someone grabbed her should and shook her out of her thoughts. "Yah!"

"Huh…?" she turned to see a boy standing with a motorcycle helmet covering his head, but his dark piercing eyes still shown through. Quickly she removed her headphones so she could hear what he had to say.

"You're in my way," he said taking off the helmet to reveal his annoyed, yet stunning face.

"Oh, sorry," she muttered, still refraining from speaking Korean, and stepped to the side, just enough to let him pass. She shook off her amazement at his sinister features. She'd never seen someone look so…what was the word? Frightening? Yet pretty hot…

He got on his bike and moved it forward until it was parked where she had been standing.

"Wow, seriously? You could've just parked were you already were," she scoffed. "What's the difference between five feet?"

"That's my park," he said with a confused look and walked into the building.

"Really now?" she muttered and followed him through the entrance. Yeah, so much for those mysteriously handsome looks…

"You're Kang Yeunja-ssi?" the teacher guess when she approached her before class.

"Yes," Yeunja nodded in response.

"Have you seen your father yet?"

"No, I came straight here from the airport," she replied.

"Oh, I see," the teacher smiled. "You speak Korean well. I'm guessing you didn't know about our dress code." She gestured to her clothes.

"No, I'm sorry."

"Well, I'm sure I can let you get by with a warning since you're new to our country."

Yeunja nodded again.

"Please take a seat there," the teacher instructed, pointing towards and empty desk near the window. "Next to Choi Seunghyun."

Choi Seunghyun…The guy who rode the motorcycle? Kang Yeunja took a deep breath before sitting down.

"Hey, I saw you earlier," Choi Seunghyun said spitefully, as if reading her mind.

"What?" she tilted her head slightly as if to pretend not to understand. "You know you don't have to be so OCD about parking."

"O ssi di? I have never heard that before," he muttered. "But then again you are American."

"Really? I don't understand," Yeunja replied timidly.

"This is Korea, so speak Korean," he retorted.

"Yes, I'm a naïve American, so what?"

"Are you even a citizen yet?" he asked.

"Are you?" she muttered, turning away from him.

He smirked and shrugged.

Kang Yeunja wasn't one to make enemies easily, she was actually a very friendly person, but this Choi Seunghyun was different. It was his arrogant personality that made her frown.

Her school day passed by slowly and to make matters worse than they already were she had 'physical education'. At her other high school she would have been done since she had taken the class her first two years. But apparently not at this school.

"Seriously?" Yeunja groaned as she dragged herself to the locker room to change with the other girl's in her class.

"Do you have clothes?" a girl asked from the locker to her right.

"Um, no," she replied, shaking her head in her unfortunate state.

"I have extras," she said cheerfully. "Want to borrow them?"

"Thank you," Yeunja nodded as a tiny amount of relief washed over her, releasing the tension from her already troubled mind.

"I'm Seo Minjee," the girl introduced herself as she handed Yeunja a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. "Nice to meet you."

"I'm Kang Yeunja," she replied.

"Ah, okay," Minjee smiled sweetly. "Pretty name."

"Thanks," Yeunja returned her smile with as much enthusiasm then began to change into the p.e. clothes the girl had loaned her.

"You managed to get p.e. clothes but not a uniform?" Choi Seunghyun asked when he approached Yeunja during stretches, and motioned to her clothes.

"Seo Minjee loaned these to me," she replied, trying to remain polite and still speaking English.

"Well that's convenient, you should just wear this the rest of the day. Your other outfit was a bit out of style."

"You would know," she scoffed, "considering all you wear is a uniform."

"Still not speaking Korean? You are stupid," he retorted.

"Whatever," she muttered. "I won't argue with you, since you can't even understand what I'm saying."

"What? You're going to fail if you keep this up."

"Really? Are you trying to get on my bad side?"

"Idiot," he grinned and walked back to his place in line to finish his stretches.

"Dumb ass kid," she grumbled.

"You'll get used to him," a new voice said in English.

She turned to see a tall boy pulling his arm behind his head as he followed the stretches. He was really pretty. Like girl-pretty. Prettier than her, which wasn't saying much, but still.

"Dong Youngbae," he introduced himself.

"Kang Yeunja," she replied.

"Nice to meet you," he nodded politely.

"What were you saying before?"

"Choi Seunghyun isn't the most agreeable person at this school," he explained, staring at Seunghyun stretching in line. "But somehow the girls end up liking him."

"Why?" Did I even need to ask…?

"He's good-looking, smart and a delinquent. Girls like the bad-type right?"

"Um, he's the bad-type? Just because he rides a motorcycle?" Yeunja smirked. What a gangster…

"Not exactly," Youngbae shook his head. "He gets away with anything around here because his dad is part of the school board and he hangs out with others like him."

"So he's a spoiled rich kid."

"Pretty much," he shrugged. "I'm sure you'll get what I'm saying in a few days of enduring him."

"Um, sure…"

Dong Youngbae tilted his head to the side and smiled at her.

"You'll find Korea is the farthest thing from America when it comes to society," he said.

"The farthest?" she repeated.

"Well, pretty close."

"You've got that right," she laughed dryly.

From her American point-of-view Korea had too many rules. But crossing her fingers she kind of hoped she would get used to it in the next two years. And then it's back to America.

Kang Yeunja grabbed her bag after school finally ended and headed outside.

What the fuck was with staying till ten p.m. to study?! She wanted to scream. Good god, how could my life get any worse? And that kid, Seunghyun, just walked out of class, when it ended at 5 like he was the shit, and no one could mess with him.

She didn't even know how to get to her new house and she had no money left for taking a taxi.

"Ah, shit!!" she mumbled, completely exasperated when she stopped at the front gate. She couldn't go anywhere so she sat down and turned on her iPod before putting her headphones on. Eventually someone would come looking for her…

"Hey…? Kang Yeunja-ssi?" someone was standing next to her for a good three minutes before she noticed.

"Huh? Dong Youngbae?" she took off her headphones and stood up.

"Are you…I don't want to say lost, but—"

"Yeah…a little." She nodded. "I've gotten this far." She motioned to the gate of the school. "Brilliant, huh?"

"Where do you live?"

"All I have is an address," she replied, pulling out a slip of paper from her back pocket. "not much help to a foreigner."

He took it and nodded. "This is just a few blocks from here. It's a nice neighborhood too."

"Really?" Yeunja took the slip back and turned around to start walking. "Thanks."

"Uh, Yeunja-ssi?" Youngbae stopped her by grabbing her arm. "It's this way." He started to walk in the opposite direction. "Come on."

She laughed to herself and hurried along to keep pace with him.

"Youngbae you don't have to walk me the whole way," Yeunja pointed out as they entered the neighborhood. "Just tell me where to go."

"Youngbae?" he repeated. "That's a bit…informal? I mean we're not that close of friends…"

"Oh sorry," she mumbled, covering her mouth. "I forgo—"

"It's alright," A smile stretched across his pretty face. "I'm 17 in May, what about you?"

"Not till June…" She replied. "So, how about it, oppa?" she asked, nudging him with her elbow. "I can take it from here."

"It's fine really. I'll take you. It's just around the corner," he insisted gently so she would give up.

"But I'll feel bad. It's almost eleven…" she frowned.

Youngbae ignored her which let them walk quietly for he rest of the distance. It wasn't that she didn't try to hold a meaningless conversation, but he would ignore her every time she said something. Until they reached her house at least. It was one of those modern houses which only well-off people could afford. Symmetrically structured and high-priced. Far too high-priced…

"This one?" Yeunja asked with an incredulous glance at Youngbae(oppa).

"You don't see us standing in front of any other house do you?" Youngbae was laughing at her gawking expression.

She swallowed and started up the steps.

"Thank you," she called back to him over her shoulder, in a near inaudible voice.

"See you tomorrow." He waved and walked away, still chuckling to himself.

When she approached the door she felt her body freeze. She wasn't going to just walk in…No. Too rude. Her hand flew up and pressed the doorbell, though it felt like she wasn't in control of her body, even her bag had slipped off her shoulder and was hanging limply in her hand.

Several seconds later a girl opened the door.

"Kang Yeunja-ssi?" she guessed stepping aside to let her in.

"Anyong haseyo," Yeunja made a quick bow, but it was hardly that.

"I'm Dae Sangmi. You're half sister." The girl held out her hand.

Yeunja blinked several times before shaking her hand.

"Here, I'll take your bag," Sangmi offered, grabbing her shoulder bag before she could protest. "You can take your shoes off here." She motioned to a spot where several shoes were set neatly beside the door then started towards the stairs. "Want to see your room?"

Yeunja kicked off her shoes off, setting them somewhat neatly by the other shoes and followed Sangmi up the stairs just as a boy was coming down.

"This is my twin, Dae Youngjae," Sangmi said, addressing the boy. "We're both in our first year at the same high school as you."

"That high school? Why didn't I see you?"

"We were at a recital. We both play the piano, cello, and violin," she replied.

"Whoa…" Yeunja was taken back. "What else do you do?"

"Youngjae plays basketball, baseball, and soccer," his sister answered. "And I play basketball and swim."

"That must keep you busy."

"Have you seen dad yet?" Youngjae asked, changing the subject.

"Nope," Yeunja shook her head.

"I'm showing her room to her," Sangmi explained. "Come on, Yeunja-ssi. Dad will be home soon."

"Yeah, you better change too," Youngjae added. "He doesn't approve of that kind of adolescent fashion."

"This is all I wear," she replied feeling a little offended that some kid, her junior, was making remarks on her fashion sense.

He smirked and continued down the stairs.

"Ignore him," Sangmi put in and dragged her up the rest of the stairs, to the first room on the right.

It was average size. Empty, her luggage appeared to be unpacked already, everything was set out neatly. But still the room was bare.

It's the walls, Yeunja clarified to herself.

"Well?" Sangmi turned expectantly to face her.

"I like it," she stated truthfully, but didn't say anything about the walls. Sangmi grinned just as the doorbell rang. "Ah, appa's home!" She grabbed Yeunja's arm and dragged her back down stairs.

What was she going to do when she saw him…? Yeunja felt like everything was passing by in slow-mo as she moved down the stairs. Thousands of thoughts were ripping through her mind…Mostly: What did he look like? Who was Sangmi and Youngjae's mom? What was he gonna say to her? What was she gonna say to him? How were they gonna act towards each other? What is he gonna tell her about her past? Her mom? The reason why he didn't bother taking her in when she was left alone as a child? Was he even going to be friendly? Or…?

"Appa!" Sangmi's over-enthusiastic attitude distracted Yeunja, pulling her into reality.

A man stood in the front room, holding a black, leather case and wearing a black suit. He was probably in his late thirties early forties and still absolutely attractive. His face looked familiar, but she knew the only place she'd seen any part of that was in the mirror. Her eyes were like his. That's what she guessed since examining her few pictures of her mom that she had.

Ugh, god! Why was she thinking about who she looked like?!

"Kang…Yeunja-ssi?" the man addressed her as if he didn't already know her name.

She didn't respond. She tried, but her voice didn't come out

Why was he being so formal?

"I'm sorry," he continued to speak, "I couldn't be at the airport this morning."

"It's fine…"

"So, how-how is your aunt?" He was trying to carry on a pointless conversation, which wasn't her style.

"You mean your sister?" she replied.

He looked down, scratching his head as an awkward moment of silence passed.

"I'm not sure what else to say," he finally admitted.

Sangmi looked at Yeunja then their father and left them standing in the front room, staring at each other, as she headed back upstairs.

"So you met the twins?" he set down his brief case and sat on the leather couch.

"The twins?" she repeated. "That's what you call them? Who are they even?"

"They're your step-brother and sister."

"Well I know that…I meant who's their-their mom."

He looked down at his shoes that he hadn't taken off.

"You know what, I don't know how to start," he said.

"Well…where is she?"

"We're divorced."

Yeunja took a deep breath and held it. Don't think about the 'other' woman…she told herself.

"What else do you want to know?"

She shrugged, letting out her breath.

"I know your curious, but I can't answer all your questions."

She nodded, biting her bottom lip. Maybe the answers she was looking for didn't exist…What the hell was she looking for anyways?

"I'll just go up to my room," she managed to say and tried to go as fast as she could up the stairs.

She passed out on her bed after enduring jet-lag, a long ass day at school, new 'family' drama, annoying people…

"Yah!" someone hit her arm that was propping her head up as she was drifting asleep in class.

Her head hit the table with a thud and she jerked back up, trying to get a hold of herself and keep her eyes open.

"What the fu—"

"Kang Yeunja-ssi??" The teacher practically shouted.

Choi Seunghyun was smirking at her when she straightened up instantly.

"Shitfaced?" he asked in English. With horrible pronunciation too… It sounded like sha-teu-fai-ce-du...(If you can even pronounce that.)

"Shut up, will you?" she muttered.

"Aha, drool-face," he retorted in Korean.

She turned the other way and wiped her mouth.

Youngbae, who was seated several desks behind them, looked up from his notes at Yeunja, who was attempting to stay awake. Choi Seunghyun met his eyes, glaring, or just looking at him with his deadly stare.

"Oppa?" Kim Nayoung poked him from across the aisle before getting his attention then handed him a note and pointed towards Seo Minjee who was sitting in front of him.

He tapped Minjee on the shoulder and dropped the folded paper on her desk.

She read the note before crumpling it up in her hand and turning back to face Kim Nayoung she shook her head and tossed the note under the table.

The bell rang, making Yeunja jump up from being startled at the sudden loud sound. Everyone looked up from their notes and stared at her.

"Alright, lunch time," the teacher announced.

Youngbae waited for Minjee to leave before grabbing the crumpled note she had tossed away.

Do you think Choi Seunghyun-oppa will go for Kang Yeunja too?

He smirked and dropped the paper. God, did they have anything else to obsess about other than him?

"Youngbae-oppa?" Yeunja approached him as he was heading out. She was scratching her head awkwardly. "I still can't get used to calling you that…I feel like I'm becoming a naïve and narrow-minded girl."

"Not that you already are…" He grinned. "Oh, and nice Korean…glad to see you can speak it."

"Oh, thanks," she scrunched her nose reproachfully.

"I noticed you're wearing your uniform today."

"Oh, yeah…" she let out a heavy sigh and looked down at her pleated navy-blue skirt with a matching jacket and white blouse. She was surprised she hadn't stained it yet. "This whole dress code is bull shit for public school…"

"I'm used to it," he shrugged. "Where are you eating lunch?"

"Um, I don't know. I don't have one."

"You forgot it?" he guessed.

"Uh, no, I didn't bring one."

"I'll share with you, come on," he grabbed her arm and tugged her out into the hall.

"It's cool, man," she replied hastily. "I'm not hungry."

"It's important to eat," he informed her, leading her down the stairs.

"Yeah, I know," she sighed.

"You're weird. Are all Americans like you?"

"Thanks…and not exactly..."

"Really?"

"Sure, we're all different. But I guess we have a certain way of doing things that you can label as Americans," she shrugged and started towards the front of the school.

"Hey, right here," he pulled her down against the wall, below a window. "Look." He pointed towards the opposite wall at the bulletin board.

"What is it?"

"People post their writing up there," he answered, pulling out his lunch from his bag.

"Writing? Like stories?"

"Poetry, lyrics, sometimes short stories."

"Why do they put it there?"

"It's just something people take interest in."

She got up and walked over to the bulletin board.

"Choi Seunghyun?" she muttered to herself, noticing a piece of lined paper on the bottom of the board, beneath several colorful stationary. She only saw his name. What would he put up there? Was he really 'poetic'? She smirked to herself and tore the paper off, before shoving it in her pocket.

"See anything interesting?" Youngbae asked.

"Ooh, for sure…" she grinned and returned to sitting next to him.

School was all she could focus on.

There wasn't enough time to call her friends or family in America because she used her extra time to sleep. She really hated it there…Even her classmates who showed her kindness (obviously not Choi Seunghyun) were hardly enough for her to grow to liking her existence there.

Sure, Youngbae was her closest friend there, but that didn't help the fact that every single day was miserable for her.

A/N: Yayy!! Prologue & Chapter One!!!! Yeahhh it's kinda long(?) sooo....REVIEWS?! xD hope there are lots of Big Bang Fans on here...x3 This is gonna get pretty intense...No silent readers PLEASE!!!! (:

& lastly E N J O Y ! ! ! !