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Warning: Alternative Universe
Summary: Chu Ga Eul was perfectly ordinary until best friend Jae Kyung forces her to pose in one of her commercials. Now she's the hottest new model around, has plenty of suitors and a lot more money. But the thing that she wants the most lives a few blocks away, is completely out of reach and goes by the name of So Yi Jeong. What's a girl to do but up the ante when she wants the most notorious playboy around? At least that's what Jae Kyung says anyway…
A/N: Oh goodness, I did skip a chapter indeed. Thanks to aznlittlelil for pointing it out. And thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. :) It's been awhile since this has been around and I'm glad it's still remembered and/or enjoyed even now.
I LIKE IT (SO) HOT
We have two hours left and we still haven't found a dress. Even I was starting to panic a little. At home, there was a hair and make-up crew that I had assembled which was patiently waiting for us, which is exactly what they should do since I am paying all of them by the hour. But then again, top notch assistance is extremely important, especially since this is Ga Eul's first date with Yi Jeong. Also, Woo Bin will be there and this is my chance to dress up and knock his eyeballs so far back into their sockets that he'll have to search around in that thick skull of his to find them. Did I mention I'm a little frustrated with him not making a move on me yet? But I'm sure everyone will understand when I tell them that I've been waiting for two years.
"How about this?" Ga Eul has pulled out a pink confection from the rack.
"It's pretty but too ordinary."
She rolls her eyes but puts it back. "And how about this one?"
"Orange? It's not that kind of party."
"This one?"
"Too old."
"And this one?"
"Too last season. The couture and fashion hounds there will spot that in a second."
She gives a gigantic sigh to convey her irritation and I ignore it. I know she doesn't mean it and I can't be kind and sensitive when we have one hour and fifty minutes left. I pull out an ivory dress, it's short with soft dreamy folds that fall flattering to the knee and it's strapless with black beading around the bodice. It's almost ethereal but too bridesmaid looking perhaps. I hold this up and look over at Ga Eul, trying to imagine her in this. At that moment, she pushes something aside on the rack, something very pretty that catches my eye.
"Wait! I'll buy this." I hand the dress over to the saleswoman and rush over to Ga Eul's side. "What was that?" Without waiting for her to hand it over, I grab the dress and hold it out. I was wrong, it's not very pretty. "It's gorgeous!" I breathe. "And it's the perfect colour for you."
"Gold? And isn't it too daring?"
I raise an eyebrow at Ga Eul. "After your last photo shoot, one would think you would have changed your mind about what constitutes daring."
"Hey! I was dressed at all times even though it didn't seem that way in the shots. I had a tube top and short tights on."
"And those aren't daring?"
While Ga Eul is frowning and trying to work out the logic of my argument, I examine the gown. It's a halter neck dress which is completely backless, which is probably why Ga Eul passed it over at once. The front is daring, two separate soft gentle folds that are clinched at the waist are all that will preserve her modesty. The material is very rich and soft, it glimmers under the lights. The skirt of the gown ends in elegant folds that pool on the floor like liquid gold. Ga Eul is right; it is daring, even by my standards. But Yi Jeong would have to be blind not to react to her in this dress. "We can adjust the front so that it covers a bit more. But this is your dress."
She looks panicked. "Jae Kyung, I can't wear that. I'll feel so uncomfortable—"
"I'll give you some soju on the way there in the car." And with that, I pass the dress over to the saleswoman and tell her to bag it. That dress is coming home with us.
"It's too expensive! Did you see the price?"
Waving a hand to dismiss her concerns, I go back to the rack. Now I need to find a dress of my own. "It's my treat. Small price to pay to see So Yi Jeong's tongue hit the floor and roll out like a red carpet."
Ga Eul turns completely red and she mutters something under her breath that I can't quite catch. "What was that?"
"Nothing. Thanks for buying the dress, I think."
I send Ga Eul to another part of the shop to look for shoes, giving the saleswoman strict instructions to get something either with crystals or in a soft nude colour, nothing too complicated. Actually, she could be barefooted for all anyone would know, the gown would cover it up. But still, it's the overall look and great shoes make a difference, visible or otherwise.
Now, if only I could find a dress that will make Woo Bin realise I'm not just a monkey tomboy…
…
We're slightly early, but definitely on time. Most of the younger socialites usually skip cocktails because they find them too boring but I decided we should mingle. Number one, because my parents are in America and need me to convey their well wishes to Mrs So, Il Hyun and Eun Jae. Number two, because while I am doing that, I'm going to leave Ga Eul alone and watch as the men swarm in.
"Are you sure I look alright?"
Coming from anyone else, it would have been fishing for compliments. But Ga Eul looks so uncertain that for a moment, I feel protective, like she really is the younger sister I always imagine her to be. "You look like a golden goddess. And stop fidgeting with the front. There's enough sticky tape in there to silence a roomful of gossipmongers and I assure you, nothing will pop out."
Her hair is swept in a soft loose bun, and she has gold drop earrings on and an antique gold ring with a cluster of rubies sitting on top of it that will blind anyone who looks too closely at it. All this is mine and my parents would kill me for letting Ga Eul wear a ring that has been in my family for one hundred years but what they don't know won't hurt them and most importantly, me.
She squeezes my hand appreciatively and I feel a little guilty about throwing her to the sharks. But if I tell her, she's going to hide in the ladies and wait until Yi Jeong appears. So to make up for it, I open the limousine's mini-bar and pour a drink for her.
"What's this?
"Absolut Kurant, just enough for one shot. For courage and to your first date with Yi Jeong."
"You mean our first pretend date," she corrects before we down our drinks. But perhaps with a little bit of luck, some alcohol to sweep away inhibitions and one hell of a dress, it won't end as a pretend date.
…..
I sip tentatively at the champagne, trying to resist the urge to drink the entire glass at one go. Jae Kyung seems delighted by the response when we stepped into the huge ballroom but I just feel conspicuous. However, it does feel good to see a couple of opened mouths and glazed eyes as we walk through the crowd. None of the F4 members were in sight, including Yi Jeong. And just when I tell myself it's alright and that I have Jae Kyung, she tells me that she has to go speak to Mrs So and her family and that I should just wait here for her. And so I am, standing here with one glass in my hand and my purse in the other, feeling completely out of place. Maybe I should go to the ladies and wait for Yi Jeong to get here.
"Hey beautiful."
I look up, an automatic smile pasted on my face. I'm so grateful for some company that I ignore the smarminess of the pick-up line. "Hey yourself," I shoot back.
"So, why are you standing here all alone?" He smiles at me and I realise he actually isn't too bad looking. At least he's tall and has size. "I'm Soo Pyo, by the way." He takes my glass from me so that we can shake hands and then hands it back to me. I can't help but think of Yi Jeong.
"I'm Ga Eul," I introduce myself. "And I'm not alone. My friend knows the So family so she's gone over to congratulate them."
"You look familiar…"
I wait for him to guess who I am and before long, he realises I am the Simply Perfect model. He says a few things, one of which is that I really am perfect and I try not to roll my eyes at that line. I'm wondering how to continue the conversation when suddenly, another man comes up to Soo Pyo and says hi. Apparently they are friends, although Soo Pyo doesn't look too happy. Naturally we are introduced and after a few minutes, I realise that all three of us are in a conversation. I try looking out for Jae Kyung but it's a bit hard with two tall men standing in front of you.
And then another friend comes by and then another. And another. If this keeps up, I'm not going to remember anyone's name!
…
I'm nibbling on some shrimp and keeping an eye on Ga Eul and her growing crowd of admirers when I hear a collective feminine gasp followed by some whining and swooning. F4 are officially in the house. Swallowing the rest of my shrimp, I hurry to the staircase and wait impatiently for them to descend it. They all look very handsome and smart, especially Woo Bin but I am biased.
Yi Jeong is scanning the room, looking for Ga Eul I presume. Since the place is crowded, it's up to me to give him a push in the right direction.
"Be still my heart," I sigh and flutter my lashes in an exaggerated fashion. "Hello handsome, all four of you." I wink at Jun Pyo and he rolls his eyes at me. He hasn't brought Jan Di along, which is not surprising since Darth Mother Gu is also in the house and nobody wants to watch a war start. Besides, Jan Di hates these kinds of social events. And I didn't tell her that Ga Eul is attending. If she were here, there would be a lot of dead men lying around and Ga Eul would be wrapped in sackcloth and on her way home.
"Hey Monkey, you look nice." Woo Bin gives me an appreciate look-over and I do a little twirl. I ended up wearing the ivory dress. It's deceptively simple but classic, and wearing black diamonds makes me look even fairer. I feel like a princess and what do you know? There is a prince available.
"Jae Kyung, have you seen Ga Eul? I sent her a message awhile ago and she told me that she's here already but I can't see her anywhere."
"Well, I can't see her too, not with all those men around her."
Four pairs of eyes zoom in on me and a silence descends as I point in the direction where I last left her. "She was alone for a few minutes when I went to give your mother my well wishes and to let her know the gifts will arrive tomorrow. When I got back, it was impossible to get through the crowd! I mean, the guys behaved as though I wasn't even there. All they wanted to do was talk to Ga Eul or look at Ga Eul…"
I haven't finished speaking before Yi Jeong stomps off, looking icily furious.
"Somehow, I get the feeling that Yi Jeong is being set up," Ji Hoo murmurs, giving me a pointed look.
I shrug innocently but my wide grin gives me away. "He won't know what hit him when he sees her in that dress."
"I knew you were making it up," Woo Bin snorts. "As if any guy could ignore you."
It's not often that the cat gets my tongue but Song Woo Bin sometimes manages to do it.
"Besides, if you really wanted to get through and they were in the way, you would have beaten them to a bloody pulp and walked over their bodies," Jun Pyo says knowingly.
"I can think of beating someone else to a bloody pulp," I say sweetly. "Can you get me another drink Prince Song?"
"Anything you say, Princess Monkey."
….
It's getting a little overwhelming, especially when I realise that there are so many guys around me. And I don't want to answer personal questions. What do I study, where do I study, when's my next advertisement coming out, is my birthday really in autumn, how old I am (!) and the list goes on. At first the attention was nice and I could juggle the guys but once number seven joined in, I started struggling.
"Hey, look who's here," someone says and I realise that Jun Pyo, Yi Jeong, Woo Bin and Ji Hoo have arrived.
"Ga Eul-ssi, you may not know who that is but So Yi Jeong is the biggest playboy this side of the world. Don't be taken in by him yah? In fact, you should stick with me for the rest of the evening."
Obviously Big Mouth over there has had too much to drink and is oblivious to the glare I send his way.
"Hey, didn't Yi Jeong use to date Eun Jae? I heard a rumour about that going around. Geez, imagine how embarrassing this must be for him."
"Casanova being made to eat humble pie. And by his own brother too."
There are sniggers all around and I realise that men, in their own way, can be as bitchy as the female of the species.
"Oh look! He's coming over."
My heart jumps into my mouth and I put down my glass. I don't want to do something stupid like spill my drink down my front. I wonder if he'll like the way I look tonight.
Although they look reluctant, the other guys make way for him and it is clear who the alpha male in this pack is. For a small eternity he just stands there, looking at me and I completely forget about all the other people. He's all I can see.
"Hello Ga Eul yang," he says very softly.
"Sunbae."
And then he holds out his hand, an indication that I should go with him. I gladly comply, relieved to be rescued from this crowd. "Sorry gentlemen, but I have to leave now. It was fun talking to you all."
"Aw, don't go Ga Eul-ssi," some of them mutter, shooting murderous stares at Yi Jeong who's completely unfazed.
There's no need to reply but I remember the cruel comments they were making and I can't resist taking a shot at them. "I have to. This is the man who has stolen my heart and won't return it to me. So I have no choice but to follow him."
I feel Yi Jeong's eyes on me but I don't dare look up. Instead, I smile sweetly at my crestfallen would-be suitors, and wave at them before tucking my arm around Yi Jeong's as I let him lead me away.
