It was a bright and sunny day as MC walked down the street, parasol in her hand up and protecting herself from the sun's harmful rays. Of course, she didn't care so much about getting a little tan but the members of her friend group did, as well as her grandmother. As soon as she reached her destination, she was greeted by her best friend, Saeyoung Choi. He had a head full of messy red hair and was wearing a long red pea coat with a white shirt, black vest and red ascot that was pinned down with a golden, diamond-encrusted '7'. The seven was a reference to his nickname, 707, or just Seven. She smiled and curtsied to him, using the manners her grandmother had drilled into her since she was young.
"Sir Choi, how do you do?" She said in a high pitched voice, holding back a giggle.
"Lady MC, so good to see you on this high afternoon. Would you fancy a cup of tea?" Saeyoung bowed and held out his arm to escort her further, to the tavern where the rest of their friends were waiting.
They both laughed until MC had to stop for a coughing fit. She held on to him for support and he rubbed her back. "Are you okay, MC?" He asked, his glasses-clad eyes widening.
"Yeah, yeah. My handmaid must have pulled my strings too tight this morning. I can barely breathe…" she laughed it off, an embarrassed blush coating her cheeks. It wasn't exactly normal to talk about a lady's corset with a person outside of the family, let alone a male. She couldn't help it, he was just so easy to talk to!
"Maybe I could loosen them for you~?" he joked, wiggling his eyebrows.
She couldn't help but laugh, and playfully hit his chest. They both continued on.
"So how's your grandmother?" he asked, probably just trying to make polite conversation.
"Old and strict as ever. How's Vanderwood?" Saeyoung seemed to visibly deflate at the mention of his "maid".
"Also as old and strict as ever…" his eyes closed tightly and he grimaced. "He threatened to kidnap and torture my poor Elizabeth the 3rd for slacking off again! That big meanie~ Doesn't appreciate my dear Elly~!"
MC quickly put her hand up to her mouth to cover up her loud laughing. "Yeah~ poor Elly!" She quieted down her laughing when she noticed people on the street watching the both of them. She wiped the tears from her eyes and continued talking. "I'm really glad to see you again. It's been so long! I can't wait to have our next ball. Do you have any ideas for guests?"
Saeyoung thought it over for a second. "How about the cat shelter we used to visit all the time. What was it called…?"
"P.A.T.S.?"
"Yes! That's where I got dear Elly~" He smiled brightly.
She thought it over. "I'll have to send them a letter, then! Don't let me forget." The two of them continued walking in a comfortable silence until they reached the Cheritz Tavern. The Tavern was kind of small and didn't get a whole lot of business, but that was good for the some of the confidential things their group would often talk about. When they walked in they were greeted by the sight of their fellow friends sitting at the largest table, in the back of the bar.
From left to right sat Jihyun, or V, a man with green-tinted hair and eyes, which were shielded by dark glasses. He was wearing a dark suit with a mint green cravat. Next to him was Zen, another man with long platinum blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. His outfit was white with a single red rose in the coat pocket, which matched his eyes. Sitting next to him was Yoosung Kim, a bright University student with messy blonde hair kept out of his face with pins. His eyes were a bright shade of lavender and he was wearing a black suit with a green tie. Finally, the only other girl in the group sat next to Yoosung. Her name was Jaehee and she had close-cropped brown hair and gold eyes. She was wearing a mostly yellow dress with silver flower patterns on it.
They walked up to the group and sat down next to Jaehee. "Hi guys!" she smiled brightly, and Saeyoung took a seat next to her.
The group, including MC, all immersed themselves in catching up before the meeting could actually start. Yoosung was still addicted to his board games. Jaehee was still being worked to the bone by her boss but still, she found time for Zen's opera performances. Zen was self-absorbed as always and even seemed more so since he had landed a role as the main lead in a very popular play. And V, well, he never seemed to change. He still painted and even had a gallery opening very soon.
After stories were swapped, MC started the meeting by asking if a spot had been chosen for the ball. Then, once that had been confirmed, the others listed off potential guests, all of which she wrote down since she'd have to send them all letters as soon as the meeting was adjourned.
Soon, the talking died down and everyone sat looking around. Jaehee was the first to stand. "I really must get going back, or my boss might throw a fit. It was nice talking to everyone, hope to see you soon." she curtsied and grabbed her bag to leave.
Yoosung stood up afterward, saying, "I have to meet my parents for brunch. I can't wait until the party!" he picked up his coat and left as well.
Then it was only MC, V, Zen, and Saeyoung.
"Oh! When I was working last week I had busted a cult and look at one of the things I picked up!" Saeyoung was kind of a collector of strange things, and he pulled out a large and old looking book.
Zen's eyes shot open. "Is- is that a pentagram on the front?! Seven, what are you doing with that thing?!"
Saeyoung laughed. "I'm going to summon a demon! Haha, just kidding. But there is a 'spell' on how to do something like that in here. Wanna see?"
"No! Creepy stuff like that will ruin my complexion!" Zen shouted, and both MC and Saeyoung laughed at him.
Despite Zen's protesting, Saeyoung opened the big book to a page in the middle of it. "See? You can summon a spirit to come guide you in a sticky situation!" She leaned over his shoulder to read the page, while Zen spouted off about how witchcraft like that was bad for your skin, and V laughed.
The on the page was a large star with a circle around it with some weird symbols around the circle. She couldn't help but study it very closely, as it was quite intriguing... The page described having to use paint or chalk to make the star, and underneath had weird words that she was assuming was what one would have to say to summon the spirit. She studied that too. Saeyoung checked his pocket watch and snapped the book closed. He stood up and ruffled MC's curly red hair. "I have to go, the boss said if I'm not in his office with the reports by 7 pm he was going to send me on another mission to Russia! See ya guys~!" He leaned down and kissed her cheek, and before she could hit him for it, he was already gone.
"That reminds me, I have to get lots of beauty rest for rehearsal tomorrow. Not that I'm already beautiful enough~!" Zen winked and stood up, giving MC a hug before walking out.
...Which left her alone with V.
He sighed and rested his head on his hand, looking at her over the top of his darkened glasses. She smiled politely. She felt somewhat awkward around him since it's been so long since she'd talked to him one on one. Then she felt guilty for feeling awkward. He was her closest childhood friend!
Her parents and his parents were really good friends before her's had perished, and at one point MC and V had even been betrothed. That was until he had met Rika… They had met at his parents' art gallery and had fallen in love. His parents, being the hopeless romantics they are, had broken off their engagement to him and let him get engaged with her.
Okay, so what if she was a little bit jealous? He was good looking, she had every right to be jealous! ...At the time. Harboring those feelings until now might have been a little unhealthy but oh well.
This had infuriated her parents, but they couldn't do anything about it. Her hand was then, ahem, handed off to the next suitor. That engagement was broken off when he, and her parents, died in a fire set by someone out for revenge for something her family didn't even do.
Oops, she went off on an inner monologue again…
"You know, with everyone else talking about what they've been doing, we never got to hear how you're doing. So… what's new in your life?" V asked, making MC jump.
"O-Oh… I'm good! I've just been doing the same old stuff I always have…" She trailed off. "How's…" she had to clear her throat before saying her name. "...Rika?"
"She's… gone. She, um, she threw herself into the ocean, after Sally died…" V said, looking away from her's.
"Oh… Oh God Jihyun I'm so sorry… I had no idea… I should've known since she wasn't here…" She moved to sit next to him and put her hand on his back. He leaned into her touch, and let out another long sigh. Suddenly, she felt bad for being jealous of Rika.
He nodded. "No need to be sorry, MC. It happened a year ago, and you've been abroad for two, so there was no way for you to know." He straightens up and looked at her, a tired smile on his face. "You should be getting home now, it's unsafe for a lady such as yourself to be out in these parts at night. I can walk you home if you'd like."
She shook her head and stood up, grabbing her parasol. "No, no. It's okay. Thank you for the offer." She curtsied, while internally cursing herself for being so polite to someone she's known for almost 23 years, when she was born. "It was nice seeing you again." She turned and began walking out.
"Wait!" He quickly stood up and jogged over to her, not that he really needed to with how long his legs were. He could have easily reached her in two strides. "Are you free tomorrow at noon?" When she nodded, her eyes wide, he continued talking. "Do you want to meet me at Mystic Cafe? Maybe we can catch up some more over coffee or tea?" His mint green eyes pleaded with her, and when she took too long to respond he said, "I don't want to spend so long apart again… I missed you while you were away."
She nodded again, her resolve crumbling away almost as soon as he hit her with his puppy-dog eyes. Which, by the way, wasn't fair since he knew she could never hold out against his gaze when he looked at her like that. "Um… Yes, I'd love that." She held her gloved pinkie finger out, and he took it in his own. They both shook each other's pinkies, then kissed each other's cheeks. This was an old tradition they would always do as kids, as a way to seal the deal in a promise. She pulled her pinkie away and bowed her head again before hurriedly walking out of the tavern, her heart beating wildly.
It was one thing to kiss each other's cheeks as kids, but now that they were both adults it felt wrong… in a good way. She felt a smile creep on her face as she thought about. She held a little squeal back.
Unknown to her, someone lurked in the shadows, watching and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.