Chapter 4

Present day, Shinhwa HQ

''Do you know why the public's opinion is so frightening, Secretary Jung? Because they are ignorant. Masses are often mindless, moving like sheep, one after another..." Explained the calm voice of Kang hu joo, CEO of Shinhwa group of industries. "We have to get this situation with those girls under control as soon as possible," she mused.

"What should we do madam?" Mr. Jung asked in an extremely composed and calm voice.

"We are offering those girls scholarships to attend the school. They're commoners, it'll calm public outrage and also result in positive PR for us," she replied.

"As you wish madam, all arrangements would be made and starting tomorrow, they will be in attendance to our school," Mr Jung stated, taking silent permission to leave.

•••

That evening, Geum Jan di and Ga eul were returning home, tired and exhausted from work at the porridge shop. Usually work wasn't as taxing but it was an unusually busy day. There had been a high volume of customers and being the only waitresses, they had a lot of work to do. Although they had to work hard, both of them were pleased with their lives...

"We're back.." Jan di announce before going to freshen up. Soon everyone was sitting at the dinner table. "Jan di, Ga eul... We need to discuss something important with you," Jan di's father started...

"What is it dad?" Asked Jan do, looking concerned.

"We got a visit from Mr. Jung, the Secretary of Shinhwa head office today..." Her mother said.

"Shinhwa group is offering you both scholarships to attend Shinhwa highschool," her father explained further, a sad note in his voice.

"We're not attending uncle," Ga eul exclaimed, her hands folded near her chest and her stance screaming finality of her decision.

"We don't think that would be a good idea Ga eul... We want what's best for you both girls, and although it's not possible for us to provide better education to both of you, under normal circumstances, that's where you would have gone to school." Jan di's father explained in a wary voice.

"It would be a nice change for both of you girls-" Her mother started.

"No, it won't be mom! We all know everyone there is an absolute snob! We saw the condition of that boy before he tried to jump. And we would be outsiders there... mom, you know what people can do to those who are considered as outsiders," Jan do exclaimed.

"So you're afraid then?" Her mother challenged, knowing exactly what buttons to push to get her daughters to agree to something.

"No, that's not the case auntie!" Ga eul exclaimed.

"Oh? Then do explain what exactly the case is," her father said in a deadpan voice. "We vowed to act in your best interests when we adopted you Ga eul. We want what is best for you both and this indeed seems the best option for now," her further explained.

"Besides if two commoners refuse such an invitation, that's going to look extremely suspicious girls," the matron of the family said, doing the trick. Because no matter what, they couldn't risk the safety their disguise as commoners provided.

•••

"I can't believe we're agreeing with this craziness Ga eul ah..." Jan di exclaimed, once both of them were back in their room, getting ready for bed.

"Neither can I, Jan di ah..." Ga eul replied with a disappointed sigh.

Both of them were lost in thought when Jan di got up excitedly. "Ga eul.. If we have to do this then what do you think about breaking the status quo in this school and introducing new equations to these brats?"

"What do you have in mind Jan di ah?" She asked, definitely interested in what her friend and adoptive sister had in mind.

"I have zero interest in getting involved with these people, but we can't ignore bullying in front of our eyes either... And more than that, I refuse to get bored out of my mind sitting with all those snobs... So let's shake their world up girl!" She replied with a wicked grin on her face.

•••

The next day came too fast for the girls' liking. Everyone was having breakfast when Jan di said, "Dad, would do you mind dropping us off at school?"

"Not at all princess," her father replied without a second thought.

"Thanks Dad! We'll get ready in a bit," Jan di replied before going off towards her room and dragging Ga eul with her.

"Jan di ah, what's up with you? And why did you ask uncle to drop us off? If he's going to drop us then all of us would have to go in..." She paused abruptly. "Oh.. Ohhh.. Is this your plan Jan di ah?" She exclaimed.

Jan di waited patiently knowing her friend was connecting the dots together in her head, and replied affirmatively with movement of head when question came, along with packing their school bag at the same time.

Finally she replied, "Yes! Now get ready, I don't want dad to back off!"

•••

"Dad! Come on let's go!" Jan di yelled, standing outside the gate of their house along with Ga eul, waiting for her father to appear.

He came in their dry cleaning van, which was the only vehicle able to carry more than one person at once, currently in possession of family.

"Jan di, are you sure you want me to drop you off? I'd forgotten we didn't have a car here when I said yes during breakfast..." Her father said skeptically.

"Yes I'm absolutely certain, now let's go!" She exclaimed before sitting in the front seat of the van. Ga eul too got inside the van and they went off towards Shinhwa high.

As the van entered the premises of the highschool after the mandatory security check, Jan di started the loudspeaker attached to the van that advertised a dry cleaning business.

"What are you doing Jan di ah?" Her father exclaimed, shocked.

"Just greeting all these brats dad. If I have to be here then I'm going to enjoy myself at least," she said, before getting out of the van, along with Ga eul.

"Don't over do it girls..." Her father muttered underneath his breath before turning the advertisement off and going back home.

•••

As she'd expected, everyone was watching both of them when they exited the van, and were busy whispering among themselves.

"You think we can piss all of them off before the end of the day?" Ga eul asked, amused.

"We can certainly try," Jan di replied, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Well at least you get a pool and I get unlimited painting supplies! Being here seems like a small penalty for that," she said as they entered the class.

Most of their classes were the same except for a few optionals such as painting and swimming.

As the day went on, they went their separate ways, Jan di in search of the swimming pool and Ga eul the art studio.

Jan di was roaming around in woods, in search of a pool, but not exactly in a hurry to find one. Enjoying herself in the calmness of woods, relishing in her love for nature, she came across a beautiful, yet sad melody of a violin. Her feet pulled her towards the source of the melody. She soon found the producer of such a somber song.

A white clad teenager around her age, who was also extremely handsome with his straight golden brown hair, was playing the violin in the middle of the woods. Under normal circumstances, she would've snorted at sheer likelihood of finding someone else she knew, but perhaps with a different instrument. But she was so mesmerised by the melody that she didn't make a single sound, too absorbed in the music and afraid of disturbing his concentration.

Finally his bow struck the last notes and he, along with Jan di, opened his eyes. Jan di gave a short applause without even realising it, saying, "That was beautiful."

He just stared at her. Expecting some sort of acknowledgement and only getting a constant stare in return, she got a bit uncomfortable and asked, "Um, I'm looking for a pool, would you mind telling me where it is?" She emphasized her question with raised eyebrows.

He just raised a finger in direction without saying anything, which annoyed Jan di a little as she'd gotten used to friendly behavior of the middle class and poor people and had almost forgotten people could be so arrogant.

"Arrogant snob," she muttered underneath her breath as she walked in the direction pointed to her. Soon she found the pool and exhaled a sigh of relief.

At least he wasn't a liar, she thought to herself, before diving in the pool.

•••

Ga eul was heading towards the gym where she was going to meet Jan di. She was already in her gym clothes when she got there. She was apparently first to arrive as no one was around. Taking in her surroundings, she decided she could do with few early minutes before anyone else arrived.

Doing a quick warm up, she headed towards the hitting bag, punching and kicking it in quick succession. All the while changing her stance and moving on her feet constantly to gain speed.

A guy with reddish brown hair, wearing a leather jacket, who had been sitting out of sight in the shadows, noticed her working out on a punching bag and decided to approach her. Something he should've thought better of considering his experience, yet thinking of her as a mere girl to poke fun of, he snuck up on her.

As he was about to put a hand on her shoulder, she turned around. Catching his hand, she twisted it around her shoulder, and moved to slam him down on his back. He was able to get his balance before hitting the ground, and quickly got up, all the while maintaining perfect grace and composure.

"Oh my.. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to do that, but you shouldn't sneak up on people," she said.

"I was just going to say hi woman! Are you crazy?" He exclaimed.

"Hey I said I'm sorry, besides you should know better than to sneak up on people, especially when they are working out on a punching bag! If I'm crazy then what are you? Stupid?" She said with narrowed eyes.

He stared at her, before shaking his head and walking off, deep in thought.

"Huh? Weird guy..." She muttered underneath her breath when Jan di's voice called out to her. Turning around to see her best friend standing near other students, she went to her.

•••

Lunch arrived soon enough. Both girls had home cooked dosiraks* with them, which according to them were much better and healthier than fancy cafeteria food. They were sitting at a table when three girls approached them.

"So, you both are those commoners right?" asked one of them.

"Oh my god! This is the first time I'm seeing commoners," another one of them exclaimed loudly.

Their absurdity was enough to make anyone laugh, but Jan di and Ga eul controlled each and everyone of their facial muscles to stop themselves from laughing.

Suddenly Ga eul got up and did a perfect imitation of a girl who'd spoken before, said, "Oh my god! This really isn't first time I'm seeing a bimbo"

Everyone who heard this remark laughed out aloud, but were soon quitend with glare by the trio.

"You consider yourselves smart huh? Keep it leashed or you will regret it." The third one among them said, continuing with, "I'm Ginger! This is Sunny and Miranda"

This, followed by excited proclamations of Sunny and Miranda saying they were queen bees of Shinhwa made an amusing show for Jan di and Ga eul.

Controlling her laughter, Jan di replied, "Well, miss bees, we don't consider ourselves smart..."

Ginger tried to interrupt her but Ga eul cut her off saying, "We are smart. And mind your own business or you will regret it." She finished her sentence with glare.

Ginger, Sunny and Miranda, not used to being stood up to, took their leave with as much grace as they could, which admittedly wasn't much.

A girl with black curly hair and a dimpled smile approached them soon after the trio went away.

"That was just awesome!" The newcomer exclaimed. "Hello! I'm Oh Min ji!I'm not like them! I don't like them either. I'm new here as well, recently transferred from Germany," when she saw a skeptical look directed towards her on Geum Jan di and Chu Ga eul's face.

Jan di and Ga eul smiled at this thinking perhaps not everyone's bad, and asked her to join them.

•••

Lunch hour was over and everyone was heading towards respective lecture halls when a crowd of students gathered near the entrance of the building. Everyone was whispering among themselves excitedly, when a group of four students, who were most noticeably, not wearing uniforms entered the hallway. Everyone seemed focused on them.

Jan di and Ga eul were walking towards the classroom when they noticed their entrance. Wanting to see why everyone was crowding around them, they waited around.

The group came to a stop when a girl approached them with a cake in her hands. One of the boys, with an aura of being the leader, stepped forward. Not a single curled hair was out of place which gave a polished look to go with his tailored black suit. He came to a stop just before her and to everyone's great surprise, he took the offered cake from her hands.

Ga eul and Jan di were thinking again that not everyone was bad indeed, when he slammed that cake on poor girl's faces, to their shock and disappointment. That was when both of them noticed the guys they'd encountered a few hours before. That poor girl went off crying, soon everyone went on their own ways, but they were approached by Ginger, Miranda and Sunny again.

"See them commoners? They are kings of this place. Flower boys or F4 as everyone calls them," Ginger said, smugly.

"Oh, so they are king bullies of this school!" Jan di exclaimed.

"Take care how you speak of them commoner, you're not even worthy of saying their names!" Ginger fumed before storming off.

"Are those girls for real?" Jan di asked with disbelief.

Ga eul snorted at this before saying, "are you surprised?"

To which Jan di replied with a shrug, realising she was not at all surprised at their behaviour.

•••

Classes were over for the day and both girls had some time before they had to go to the porridge shop. So they decided to celebrate their new friendship with Oh Min ji with a treat of ice cream. All three of them were goofing around when Min ji suddenly slipped, and fell down. Which was unfortunate as her spilled ice cream landed on a pristine pair of leather shoes. To her horror, Oh Min ji looked up to see who the shoe belonged to. Goo Jun pyo, who had been passing through with his friends, glared down at her. Among his friends, Jan di and Ga eul again instantly recognized two members of his posse.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to..." Min ji apologized, on the verge of tears.

"Your apology is not going to clean my shoes," he replied in a cold voice.

"I'm really sorry! I'll pay for it.. Whatever I can.. Please forgive me." She pleaded.

"Lick it off," he said.

Jan di and Ga eul stared at him in absolute disbelief. This was a new level of arrogance, even for them.

"Hey, she didn't do it purposefully, and she's already apologized. This is a violation of her dignity," Ga eul defended her.

"And who are you? And just why are you putting your nose where it doesn't belong?" He asked snidely.

"We are her friends, but I don't suppose you even know the meaning of that word now do you Mr. Rich, spoiled and arrogant?" Jan di asked.

"Do you even know the cost of these shoes, bugs?" Goo jun pyo asked all of them in general.

"Why? Is Shinhwa going bankrupt? Can't even afford a pair of shoes anymore?" Jan di asked with an innocent face.

Goo jun pyo's face twisted in an angry scowl. "So, you are her friends huh? Why don't one of you lick it off then?" He asked with a smirk.

Jan di and Ga eul shared a look, smirks playing off on their lips.

Jan di stepped forward, bending down towards his shoes. He had a smug and satisfied look on his face as she lowered herself. But it did not last long when she straightened up, smashing her ice cream on his face to everyone's shock.

"Oh and if the cost of shoes become too much, send them to this address, you will get affordable dry cleaning services," she said with the same innocent look on her face. Looking him in the eyes, she threw a dry cleaners visiting card in his face and walked off with others.

As soon as they were alone and out of sight, controlling their laughter was no longer possible for them.

Dosiraks* - Lunch boxes in South Korea.