CHAPTER 1-49: KEY POINTS
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Note:Hello everyone!
Decided to do a mini summary update.
The new chapter 50 is fully written, but still not very satisfied with the result. I'll try an update before Christmas, just need to figure out the transition to chapter 51.
Bellow the Day 1-7 update is a preview of the next chapter, stay tuned!
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Day 1 - Thursday
In the wee hours of the night, the story's MC, Mina Choi, finds herself joining a peculiar charity organization called the R.F.A. after a messenger app gets downloaded on her phone which guides her to an uninhabited apartment. The girl had just been forced out of her old crummy apartment, her only possessions being a heavy luggage and backpack. She had just finished up a conversation with her mother on the phone while trying to mask her grief and keep the tears at bay.
The girl had been careless about her wellbeing, but all goes seemingly well as she is quickly given a role in the organization she had "hacked" into – she became the party planner for the R.F.A.
Brief interactions with the boys happen, the girl losing the notion of time. As well as the notion of alarms clocks which had not been set, promptly missing the beginning of her shift.
It was the last straw that had her lose her latest of waitressing jobs, this time at a coffee shop. She had to come in regardless that morning as she needed to empty out the locker there.
During her trip back to Rika's apartment, she had bumped into an old teaching assistant from SKY University, a place she had attended for 6 months nearly 2 years ago, in the field of art but various circumstances had her put her education on hold.
Assistant Lee had never forgotten the disaster who was Mina Choi, as well as never forgotten the abilities she had displayed outside university hours, while skimming her art book.
He was working closely with a theatre director who was in search of fresh, creative artwork for his upcoming theatre show in order to revitalize and hype up the newest theatre production. It became a university assignment, but results were quite unsatisfactory so far. Faith had them bump into each other when Assistant Lee was in a slight pickle. And seeing as though Mina Choi wanted the assistant to attend this party for the R.F.A., he thought he could catch two birds with one stone.
Thus, Mina had a new art task she had to do for Assistant Lee for him to even consider the thought of joining their charity party. Somehow – she had also ended up going to the theatre with Assistant Lee, the same theatre were Zen was working and rehearsing for the same musical the director had requested posters of. But their paths had narrowly crossed, the actor only managing to see a profile shot of the girl whom he felt was a close resemblance in voice to the R.F.A.'s new party planner. Dismissing the thought, the actor was brought into a meeting with Assistant Lee while the party planner was on her way to Rika's place.
Close to the apartment complex, on a bench, an old woman covered by rags was seen and Mina took pity on the poor lady. However, her kindness had been taken advantage, the girl seeing a young hand coming out of the sleeve, grabbing onto her own. Frightened, she had started running away, leaving behind a chuckling ol' troll who hadn't made his identity aware.
Back at the apartment, a food box had been left in front of the door from the R.F.A.'s own hacker, Seven, who was nowhere to be found. *cough*
A new sketchbook was included, the hacker learning of the girl's art skills during his research on their newest sneaky member.
The rest of the day went by with MC struggling to answer these strange and crazy R.F.A. e-mails while also preparing for this new art deadline by going through the endless amount of documents e-mailed by Lee.
Their talk also included re-enrolment discussions, Assistant Lee advising the girl to return this academic year if she still wanted a place in their university and not be formally kicked out for good.
Pressures were growing, but Zen's presence was a calming factor regardless of her raising heartbeats while conversing with the actor.
Day 2 - Friday
Mina had to buy art supplies so she had to get out of the apartment again. However, things had taken a dangerous turn the other day, Mina recollecting that stranger lurking right next to the apartment complex who had been dressed as an old lady, frightening Mina who wasn't aware of the man's true troll-ish identity. Seven.
Mistaking him for Unknown, she was certain her whereabouts and safety were compromised.
As such, she was given bodyguards as a security measure to help the girl safely maneuver around the city despite protests against Mina even leaving the apartment so recklessly again – these men were the five Dandelion boys, Jisoo being the leader of this small task force.
They stood out.
A lot.
And caused more troubles upon the girl than she thought possible. Heart-wise as well.
Mina thus visiting art supply shops nearby SKY University, a holy grail of designers attending the school. She had also visited the campus, entering the main building due to Assistant Lee's small "threat" of enrolment. Somehow, during the SKY mess, Jisoo lied his way into saying he was MC's "cousin" and managed to swoon an uptight secretary who finally agreed into grabbing the enrolment papers for Mina who could finally fill out the forms - shakingly.
Thus, the re-enrolment process at university had begun, but it was only a first step out of a few more she had to do.
Meanwhile, the Dandelion Squad presence had caused the students to post the story online which had been caught up by the media and press. Mina had been appalled, during the rush outside nearly meeting with Yoosung, who ends up upset and super jealous at the lost opportunity.
After today, Mina became dirt poor because of the art supplies she had bought with her last bit of cash saved. However, half of the supplies go to waste as the girl's stalker had tracked her down. The man was also a huge factor as to why she had trouble keeping an apartment and job down, let alone attend classes – the stalker was a former neighbor living in the same building complex as she had been. Next door neighbor actually.
He nurtured an unhealthy obsession about the girl who was probably resembling an important figure in his life – and became a target that not even the police could help erase.
The stalker found Mina and hurt her in a failed kidnapping attempt, but Jisoo had been quick to rescue her thanks to the girl dropping a key chain in the car that he wanted to quickly return to her before getting in the building.
As a result, Mina's swollen wrist was in its cast again, the same problematic wrist that had plagued her health as a teenager after recklessly abusing it while painting/drawing in wrong postures throughout the years.
Day 3 - Saturday
Going to the theatre for deadline on a weekday - Saturday.
Going with Jisoo – ruins his expensive coat with her *BLERGH* breakfast.
Nearly meeting Zen, bumping into him on the way out of the theatre's toilet.
The art meeting is a success and everyone applauds Mina's efforts – gains a small confidence boost in her abilities. A sort of awakening.
In her stupor, she forgets her USB in Assistant Lee's laptop.
USB is given to Zen by A. Lee – he is 100% certain of MC's identity at this point.
Mina receives med supplies and food from Seven.
Answering e-mails.
V sets up party date.
Zen confuses Mina with Seven and lashes out at her – later in the day, they reconcile.
Seven admits he's still searching for the intruder.
Day 4 - Sunday
Zen and MC dream about each other for the first time, but she soon forgets what she had dreamt.
Zen confides in Mina about his new acting role – he is hesitant whether to accept it or not cause of the production scale and people working on it.
MC thinks he should take any chance he gets even if it's new/scary for him.
Zen has a meeting at the theatre.
Gets this new acting role but had to pass on the old theatre one – he couldn't say 'no' regardless.
Echo Girl doesn't show up for this meeting but her manager is there.
Jaehee scolding MC about her on-growing relationship with Zen.
During her distraught state, MC realizes her USB had gone missing and reaches out for Zen's help. Reacts coldly to his revelations about her missing drive.
MC internally acknowledges she has a crush on him and tries to ignore the feelings and puts out an 'ice princess' front.
Zen confronts Jaehee when learning the truth about MC's strange behavior – she went too far in assessing things she did not fully understand. Whether there was anything happening between them or not, it was not her business to interfere and put the pressure on MC.
Seven gets rope-action from Vanderwood and is struggling.
Jumin has a new cat business idea in the evening and thinks Zen might be suitable for it.
Zen refuses – the intensity of his cat allergies become known to Mina.
They exchange "confessional" letters, but conclusions are quite vague on both parts – there is a chemistry they both acknowledge - Mina jokingly, while Zen is more serious about it.
Before getting a chance to continue the discussion, connections to MC die out as another hacker attack started upon the apartment, the signal to her phone breaking off. Seven works tirelessly to solve the issue while the girl spends a white night in utmost fear.
Day 5 - Monday
Eventually, the attack had been put to a hold by Seven. Meanwhile, unbeknown to the red head, MC's account had been hacked into and her ID used to send out various messages to the members, Yoosung and Zen included.
After the sweet messages between them, the 180-degree message from MC had doused Zen's world in confusion as he couldn't focus all day during practice hours.
A jealousy fit encapsulated Zen when hearing about MC's planned "date" with Yoosung at the party and when trying to reach out to the girl for answers, she instantly leaves the chat room in order to finally rest her eyes after last night's events.
She wakes up at a startling message from Jisoo.
The stalker has been set free from police custody due to an error. Nothing could be done to prevent it in time for Jumin had been made aware of this fact after the culprit had already been bailed out of his cell. Seven was working on finding the man, as well as tracking down the hacker's whereabouts.
MC's cold attitude had thus returned and it was frustrating the actor to no end, whose mood was also not the greatest and worsening.
Jumin pisses off Zen further with his lack of professionalism shown in refusing such a good job due to silly reasons and bias against the CEO kid.
All these thoughts clouded the actor's mind and in his inattentive state, Zen had managed to miss a jump and sprain his ankle at home – badly.
It was close to midnight.
Day 6 - Tuesday
Still pitch-dark outside and during a snow storm, Zen grabbed a cab to head out to the hospital and while in his ride, some light is shed upon the situation with Mina, horrified to learn about the hacker's attack the other night. Also, it turns out that the messages received from Mina weren't written by her – their broken and twisted bond is slowly untangling to its previous state, Zen vowing never to trust in such messages so blindly without having an actual conversation with MC as to prevent future misunderstandings.
They share goodnights as no other message/call is received until late morning/afternoon.
After multiple tests done on him to prove his medical files weren't fake, as well as examinations done on his ankle, it seems the actor will be wearing a cast on his leg for nearly two weeks.
He might have to give up on his new acting role with Echo Girl, but he makes up a plan to go around his injury and still keep his part thanks to a chatroom between MC and Jaehee – however, the inspiration given by the party planner is futile as the rehearsal date had been pushed ahead of schedule by a couple of days, the first day of shooting coinciding with the day Zen planned to return to the hospital and get his cast removed.
The world came crashing down on him as he returned home on foot, supported by his pair of crutches.
On his way to the apartment, Zen stops at a fish bread shop but not even his favorite treat can fix the heartache drowning his essence. Nothing can cheer him up – besides the thought of MC's presence near him.
He selfishly confesses he wants to see MC for it will be the only thing that could cheer him up at this point.
And MC agreed, writing down her reply after Zen had logged off the messenger.
Day 7 - Wednesday
Zen is ecstatic to learn of the party planner's trip to his apartment and spends the entire day prepping the place for her visit and planning activities for the girl.
Unbeknown to him, Mina had established a deal with Jumin – she would be escorted by Driver Kim to the location, however the price for the trip was an important mission: convincing Zen to play in a cat commercial for C&R at the director's request. If that one fails, then no other answer would be satisfactory for Jumin to hear unless Zen agrees to model for the tea commercial – the next best option.
Easier said than done, though. The plan ended up in flames.
Meanwhile, that morning, Zen went out in crutches to buy his favorite goldfish bread snacks from a street vendor close to his apartment, but this endeavor is shortly interrupted by the arrival of the idol, Echo Girl. A very handsy woman who knows no boundaries, she gushes about working with the actor with pure glee despite him being injured and wanting to quit the role. The idol made a shocking reveal, telling Zen how he'd truly gotten the role – because of her persistence to the producer and threats to leave production if her wishes aren't met.
Echo Girl doesn't hide her admiration for the actor's looks, unsubtle about wanting to become a couple, but Zen has no eyes for the idol.
Another shocking reveal was the girl knowing about the R.F.A. planning a new party and wanting to go as well. Eventually, Echo Girl's manager takes her away, leaving Zen behind, feeling very troubled by the interactions until his thoughts went back to Mina.
Jisoo, the bodyguard, was in the car with Driver Kim and personally escorted the girl to Zen's door, leaving the two to enjoy a wonderful evening. The few hours had dragged on to more hours at Jumin's distress, who kept pestering the girl about the mission and, again, Mina had failed a promise to the trust fund kid.
Zen wasn't going to do either.
Alas, the evening ends with the infamous rooftop scene with the actor sharing painful moments of his past when he was still living with his parents and brother, then how he'd ran away from home, eventually meeting up with Rika , V and Jumin.
The cold weather and previous snowfall had made the entire area quite slippery and Mina had clumsily fallen over the actor. Holding Mina by the waist, Zen was unable to stop his feelings from confessing his desires about having the party planner for the entire night. Still maintaining control of his actions and senses, he deemed it best to put an end to her visit before he did things he would regret.
Mina would not regret though.
And yes,
She had forgotten to take back the USB drive from Zen.
The actor thought Mina would return for it not soon after leaving with Driver Kim and Jisoo, but the person at his doorstep was none other than Echo Girl. She was more persistent in her advances, but Zen stood firmly on his feet and basically shoo'ed the annoying idol away.
The one who had his heart was another.
However, Echo Girl's untimely visit to Zen had shaken Mina to the core, feeling extremely jealous of the situation despite the actor having dismissed the idol.
The party planner had cut off connection with the R.F.A. for the remainder of that night, until…
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TO BE CONTINUED
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PREVIEW – Chapter 50!
Zen had barely registered Mina's abrupt disappearance from the conversation when his surroundings changed just as abruptly, his vision going dark. As the actor was feeling his way towards the electric switchboard, a wave of agitated voices could be overheard from the building's other residents. Surprised, he then threw a quick glance outside the window and noted how the entire street block was mirroring the situation indoors, with the moonlight temporarily being the neighborhood's main light source.
"Strange…"
In all the years spent within the confinements of this apartment, Zen had never experienced such a grand-scale power outage before.
"Hm."
The timing of it was very sus…
Could this power outage really be an unfortunate coincidence or was there something more nefarious at work?
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*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK *
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The person behind the door was very persistent and at the back of his mind, Zen couldn't help but feel uneasy due to the RFA crisis looming over the group, his thoughts wondering towards all sorts of dangers. Grabbing a sturdy umbrella from the corner stand, the actor was ready to swiftly strike any potential threat lurching at him,
