Chapter 2

Beams of sunrise had shine through my window pane. My eyes were just a slit open when adjusting it to the sunlight. Suddenly, mum and Dad had burst into my room holding my presents. Mum looks more elated than I am even though it's my birthday.

"Happy birthday!" She quickly jumped on my bed and gave me a hug which I could easily suffocate and gave me wet kiss right on my cheek. I looked totally stunned by what she had done.

"Darling! You should have seen the look on her face! You've already scared her! You just burst into her room and you were screaming in delight!" Dad complained.

"Oh honey cheeks! It's her birthday and it's her sweet sixteen!" Then she looked at me. "I'm so proud of her to be my daughter." Then, tears were streaming down her face. Great, she's having the issues of being proud of having too many blessings in her life! I quickly grab a tissue paper and wiped her face. "Oh Mum, you don't have to cry on my birthday."

"It's not just that, honey. Year by year you've grown so big and then you'll finish school and then you're off to work and then you get a husband and I will be a grandmother."

Immediately my Dad butt in, "Ok honey. Why don't you just leave Chae Kyung with her presents while we go down and prepare breakfast for her?"

"Ok ok we'll just leave you alone, dear."

As Dad lead Mum out of my room, my Dad turned behind and gave me a wink. I soon smiled back in reply. While they were out, I quickly tore the present wrappers apart to see what unfolds in it. It turns out Mum and Dad had bought for me what I really wanted. Fully unveiled is an iPod Touch which I really wanted in my entire life. Its silver case gleamed in the sunlight and it looks like a priceless jewel. Without further ado, I changed into my school uniform and headed downstairs to have my breakfast. At the dining table, Mum had cooked for me my favourite food which I had begged Mum to cooked for me even though she doesn't has the time to do it. It was kibimbap, a sushi-like dish which is rolled to perfection with the seaweed on the outside layer and the vinegary-rice on the inside stuffed with smoked meat or smoked fish together with chopped raw vegetables. Without hesitation, I stuffed my mouth with those awesome tantalizing food.

"Slow down, dear. Don't want to see you get choked."Mum butted in.

"Thanks Mum. I love it, "as I was wiping my lips after chewing down. I grab my backpack and headed out the door.

I was out on the driveway when Mum called out "Have a great day honey!"

I quickly ran with a man's strength towards the school just a mile away. Gosh, I can't wait what's Yong Jae's surprise for me when I reached there. That's the no. 1 reason why I'm rushing for school. No 2, is too see my friends wishing me in school.

With my utter strength, I shouted "I WILL BE THERE FOR YOU MY LOVE!" I turned at my left and I was able to see a bewildered elderly woman who must have a shock of her life wondering "What's wrong with this girl?" It must be random for me to scream at a morning like this. But well, can you just feel the anticipation when you're going to see your crush a few moments away? If you were in my shoes, you would feel that too.

Suddenly, someone just woke me up from my daydream.

"Chae Kyung!"

OMG! Is it him? My beloved calling to me after he has heard his name being called?

Suddenly this figure caught up. It turns out...it was Soo Hyun.

Realizing I had enough daydreaming, I quickly slapped myself to snap out of it.

Soo Hyun totally looked puzzled by my manner. "Is something wrong?" with an act of concern.

"Heh...no. Thought there was a mosquito on my face."I answered.

He nodded. Then he said, "Happy birthday, my friend." "Thanks, then," I replied. "I was wondering you looked like you're in a hurry just now. Thought you had something urgent to go to school early."

To avoid suspicion, I answered. "Well, you know, for a change I just wanted to be in school early." "Cause it's your birthday!"He teased at me.
I just faked a smile to prove nothing's going on.

Just in time, we were already at the school gates. The morning breeze has just blown and you could smell the sweet scent of flowers.

"Happy sweet sixteen, Chae Kyung!" Turns out Min-Ri and Ji Soo had planned to surprise me at the school entrance! I smiled in delight. See! That's what friends are for! Then, my eyes seem to catch something suspicious. Looks like they are hiding something behind my back.

I grinned at them. "Looks like you have something to hide from me."

Then I heard Ji Soo whispering to Min-Ri. "How did she know we're hiding something?"

Soo Hyun spoke up. "Girls, it's too obvious that you're hiding something. She can just see that your hands are behind your back!"

Min-Ri blushed when she realizes it."Oops! A mistake!"

Then the both of them revealed something, which is true enough...one of the favourite things I would love to have it in my room. It was a laptop skin and it's a Hello Kitty-themed wallpaper. OK , don't mind me. I'm such a girly person to the max.

"Awww...THANKS!"I hugged the skin to my heart. Then I asked, "How did you get it? I thought it was expensive!" Min-Ri replied, "That's what friends are made for right?"She nudged me with a slight chuckle.

While having a laugh with them, someone whom I have wished for turned up.

"Hey, good morning!" Yong Jae gleamed.

With a quick reply minus the stuttering when you see your crush, "Hey! So what was the surprise that you wanted to tell me?"

Behind me, Ji Soo and Min-Ri were in a fits of giggles and it turns out Soo Hyun still has that unsatisfied look.

"OK. Close your eyes."

"But I want to see it! Remember last night? You told me I would get it today!"Gosh, am I desperate?

"No no no... Trust me! Close your eyes and you will see it."

Oh my gosh, am I just bedazzled by his teasing and his smile? AHHHH!

Ok cut to the chase. I better just do what he intended me to do.

So I decided to close my eyes. A few seconds later, I heard Ji Soo and Min-Ri were screaming hysterically. Ok what is going on? I thought Yong Jae said it will be a big surprise but why are they screaming as they had seen a horror movie?

Then I heard Min-Ri screaming,"Oh my god! It's so cute!"

"I wish I could have one!"

I opened my eyes and there it appeared right in front of my eyes. Turns out that Yong Jae got for me the cutest teddy bear that I've ever seen.

Its golden brown fur was dazzling and a red bow on its chest with its white paws and it seems there was a 'Happy birthday' note in its paws.

My first reaction was "Awwww! It's too cute!"

"Happy birthday!" Yong Jae wished as he held out the teddy bear to my arms.

With a confused look, I asked, "Wait, how did you know it was my birthday?"

"Not to worry. I heard from people around here that it's you birthday. So why not to ruin the surprise?"

OK, I am blushing right now. And I am hyperventilating. I can't believe he knew my birthday! That's going to be the best birthday of my life!

"Just a request." He asked.

"Yeah?"

"Since it's your birthday, why not I decided to take you out for a date tonight?"

I was clueless. "Wait, are you serious?"

"Do I look like I am joking to you?" He chuckled.

"Oh no no. I thought it was for real."

"It is real."

"Ok, so where the venue is and what time should I be there."

"It's ok. It's an Italian restaurant at Lotte World. And don't worry about time, I'll pick you up. You just have to tell me where you're staying."

"I'll tell you the address."I smiled in reply.

After giving out my address, he said, "I'll pick you up at 7."

Then he did a flying kiss at me and went off.

Suddenly, Ji Soo and Min-Ri crowded me with many questions as though they're the paparazzi.

"I can't believe he asked you out on a date! You are the luckiest girl in the world. Oh my gosh! I can't believe it – Kwon Yong Jae..." Ji Soo kept spazzing about it.

"Whoa... it's just a dinner celebration!"

"A dinner celebration? The most popular guy in this school asked you out on a date and all you've got to say is... a dinner celebration."

"It's just that...he wants to celebrate my birthday. That's all. What's the big deal about it?"

"Fine. If I were in your shoes, I would just fall dead right now when he asked me that."

Gosh, both of them can be such a pain when it comes to love.

Then, Ji Soo spoke up, "So, can we come to you house this evening at maybe 5.30 in the evening?" They looked sinister there.

"Well, what for?"

"Maybe we could do make up and your hair for you on your first date."

"But does it trouble you guys to come all the way to my house to just do a makeover for me?" I can't believe they were willing to do this.

"Hey that's what friends are for!"Min-Ri joined in.

"OK, you can come, then." I said after a few thoughts.

The bell had just ringed. That means by now we have to rush for class. Someone seems to be not there when we were talking.

"Hey, where's Soo Hyun?" I asked.

"Well, I have no idea. Was he there with us?"Ji Soo asked.

"No, he must have left for class. I guess."Min-Ri answered.

I turned and scan around for Soo Hyun but he seems to be not there.

Wait! Could he have seen me with Yong Jae just now? Man, don't tell me he's jealous and he decided to leave the conversation.

By the time were at the corridor, Soo Hyun was at his desk and he is...reading. But something is troubling him and I've never seen him being like this.

I slapped myself. Come on, Chae. Tonight is your big night. Don't worry about him. Just focus on the date tonight.

I took my seat and prepared for the next lesson. Sometimes he does need to mind his business about my life, though.