Love at First Sight (1st Chapter)

Chapter 1: Introducing Me
Ji Eun’s POV
Damn, it just had to happen all over again, this time not without getting all the attention from whoever that was there outside the main gate, which is a lot. Now I’m stuck between two men in full black suits in this white limousine driving down the road to who knows where. With the help of Hyuna, Nicole and Lizzy, I tried to escape using the short-cut alley on the other side of the streets before they could grab hold of me while they distracted the men by asking them to judge their ridiculous and pointless arguments about nothing. But luck wasn’t on my side, and their incredulously strong arms weren’t helping either. In the end, I had to follow them into the car obediently and waved girls goodbye before I got them into trouble, but not without noticing those expressions on their face that were about to break out into fits of laughter once I’m out of sight.
Oh hold on a second, everyone. Please don’t get confused. I’m not getting kidnapped or abducted by the two buff men in black, bringing me into an abandoned shelter to demand a handsome sum of ransoms from my parents while my friends just stood there laughing at my misfortune. Well, allow me to introduce myself.
I’m Lee Ji Eun, daughter of South Korea’s well-loved President, Lee Soo Man. I just turned last week and I’m currently studying in Kirin High as a year two vocal major student. I’m considered the perfect height for girls of my age, but I may not be the best looking out of all my friends. I’m not fat though, just normal sized without much curves, and a pair of cute eyes that restricted my vision whenever I smile. I love food and especially seafood, but I can’t have too much of them either or I’ll have to stay in bed with a swollen face the day after. I’m great at singing, or at least that’s what my friends all tell me, but just another amateur in the dancing profession. I don’t have two-left foot but I do know a thing or two for dancing, thanks to my girlfriends and Ricky that taught me during our break times.
Although I’m the only child of my household, lucky for me, I have four awesome friends who are like family to me. They were always there for me when I needed someone, and they all loved me for who I am, not what I am, and that’s exactly what I love best about them. We have been friends since our middle school days and it’s still amazing how we actually became friends from those unforeseen situations. Well, it’s going to take the whole night long to tell the whole story, not that I mind, but I shall save it for some other day and cut short on the details.
I knew Ricky ever since we were born because our fathers are best friends and we’re both born on the same month, just with a difference of one week. He was like a brother from another parent, and he had been very protective of me since young, but I never got tired of his almost 24/7 presence next to me. We did everything together, even showering, when we were still kids and eventually went to the same schools from Gangnam Elementary to Haewon Middle School and Kirin High, the one that we’re enrolled to right now. I had a lot of interesting memories tracing back to Haewon Middle, the place where I met my three girls: Hyuna, Nicole and Lizzy. Those aren’t really their real names (except for Hyuna) but they prefer me calling them that since they want to hide their not-so-nice real names, but that didn’t stop me from blurting them out whenever I get mad at them for teasing me overtly.
Ok, back to the flashback. Ricky and I both knew Nicole after the playground incident that eventful night. On the other hand, Hyuna became our friend after we saved her from getting kicked and bullied during middle school. She was still shy and timid then, but I guess hanging out with us opened up her heart and she turned into one of the most daring one out of all of us. Well as for Lizzy, we went through some up and downs before we finally got together as best friends, it's a long story, really. We all know that Lizzy can be a little to chirpy and optimistic for her own good, but I think we all kind of got accustomed to it and it'd make us feel uneasy and weird without getting a dose of 'Lizzy-ness' every day. Up till now we still tease her about her unlimited enthusiasm, but she doesn’t seem to be affected by it and it already became the part of her that we love most. But I never regretted those mistakes that I made, because they were the reasons for the start of our beautiful friendship.
Ever since then we’re practically inseparable like we’re super glued together or something. We always shared everything together but those people who were jealous insisted that they were leeching off me. In the beginning, I wavered and thought that maybe those people were right; what if they didn’t want to befriend me at all and just got near me so that they could enjoy those benefits? But as the time passed, they proved me wrong and I realized how stupid I was to even believe those false gossips.
No one could break us apart even if they tried; those useless and false rumours spread by T-ara never worked either. We knew everything about each other and came together to form a group called F1RST for our very first showcase performance in Kirin, and we have been receiving a lot of love from our fans (which are mostly made up of the students in our school) ever since. Except the fact that we got hated by T-ara and her fans who called themselves ‘Diadems’, because our ever-daring Hyuna asked them to grow some balls and suck it up when they wouldn’t stop insisting that we were swept off from the list of Kirin legend. It annoyed us but we couldn’t care less.
I have also never been in love before, let alone knowing anything about it. But Nicole on the other hand, acts like she’s the doctor of love and goes about talking about her eye candies and falling in love with a senior at first sight. I would always roll my eyes whenever she starts going on about love at first sights, not that I hate her or something, please I love her like she’s a sister that I never had. But I just don’t believe in such things as love at first sight; they’re all just fairytales that belonged to my childhood. They all knew that as well and accepted it without trying to change my point of view.
Well, I don't want to be categorized under that 'goody-two-shoes and academic abled' stereotypes of the nation's daughter, I was nothing close to that. Surely I can’t reveal my true self of being a slightly vulgar person when I’m in a bad mood (well, who doesn’t?) and being a not-so-obedient tomboy-ish girl to them or I’d probably be creating many of the unfavourable controversies for as long as my dad was on the position.
I hold a black belt in taekwondo (since my father made me to learn it for self-defense, but I’m proud of myself for finishing the entire course), and I’m a rebel when it comes to dealing with the same few ridiculously strong (as much as I hate to admit it) and stubborn bodyguards that forces me into the car every single time. There’s one thing I’m not proud about though, which is my position as probably one of the bottom few in school. Before you judge me, I have to clarify this first: I’m bad in studying because of those confusing numbers and funny formulas that were introduced to me in mathematics during my middle school days, and I haven’t liked it ever since. You know when you hate something, you’ll tend to switch on your selective hearing mode during lessons, and regret it when you don’t understand a single shit that the teacher just taught in class? Yeah, that’s pretty much like my case. On the other hand, I’m pretty good at language and science, so I guess that’s why I’m able to get promoted to year two right now. But since Kirin High is more about talents and aesthetics-based, my singing ability aid me in passing my first year in Kirin despite my that shouldn’t even have existed.
Since young, I’ve been trained by my personal butler and social etiquette teachers to learn how to behave appropriately outdoors, be it my postures or habits, and how to handle situations that ends in the most unbiased and mutually beneficial way. Many girls would have forked out a big sum of money just to attend these lessons. But honestly, these lessons are nothing but boring, demanding and tiring, trust me. I would always end up going back home with backaches, blisters and even eye bags thanks to their crazy military-inspired trainings. Psh, so much for being not obligated to serve the army.
Alright, enough of me and now back to my rants about being dragged into another party. It wasn’t like it was the first time that I’m forced to go; it could’ve been any other day and I’d quietly comply with my father’s orders. But damn, it just had to fall on the day when my all-time favorite idol (who used to be my senior in my major) had finally organized a fan-meeting event tonight.
Well as a matter of fact, I’m just complaining because I didn’t want to sacrifice my one and only dinner date with our school’s idol whom debuted recently for another stupid and meaningless social party with my dad and the presidents (or sometimes their ambassadors) from who-knows-where, and getting into trouble because I disrespected them and didn’t gave him face. Do you know how hard it was for me to get a chance to squeeze myself into a short meet-and-greet session (alongside a whole group of his fans) with him?! I was still thinking of trying some ways to see if he would want to scout me into his management company. Looks like my hopes are all gone… So taa-daa, here I am on my way to yet another high-class ballroom that I’ve been to ever since I was 5 years old, for another non-exciting gathering all over again.
Urgh, this is exactly the part of my life that I hate most: Awkward social conversations or interactions with ambassadors or their President’s child. Seriously? Why do I have to get dragged into this? Dad could’ve just gotten a few of his secretaries and trustworthy subordinates to the party with him to build the relationships between countries, but no, he just had to put me into the picture too. He insisted that it was for the well-being of my image… We even had to get certified translators to understand what they were saying. Gosh, not to mention that it’s just plain boring too.
But like I promised my dad back when I was still a little kid, that I would behave like a sophisticated girl, and everything that the nation’s citizens thought of me as, during the extended social parties with the ambassadors. Honestly, I wouldn’t have bothered about what others thought about me, or even their first impression on me was good or bad, but I was a girl of my words and I don’t plan to break this promise anytime soon. Haven’t your mom always said to you that we’re not born to please everyone? So why bother to go under those girlish make-ups and uncomfortable (but I must admit they’re kinda pretty) dresses in matching heels to the cliché and uninteresting social parties?
Thank god I have Ricky, who was also the son of my father’s most trusted secretary, that was always there for me, and he’d never let me go alone to the party. As much as we both hated this type of social parties for adults, it was still acceptable so long we had each other’s company to keep ourselves entertained.
The car came to a halt outside Angel’s Boutique Shop that I always go to before heading to the gatherings. When I went inside, my mom and butler were already there, all dressed up and waiting for my arrival. “Hi Mom. Hi Uncle Kang. Sorry I’m late.” I greeted them quickly when I stepped into the boutique. “Well Ji Eun, you surely did put in more effort to escape this time. It took you longer than usual to reach here,” my butler, Uncle Kang joked. He had been my butler ever since I was a baby and he treats me like a real uncle would do. I smiled sheepishly and grabbed the dress that the lady was holding and went in to wash up and change.
While they were doing my make-up, I couldn’t stop complaining about the height of the heels and what kind of trouble they’re going to get me into. “Do I really have to wear these heels, mom? Look, I won’t even be able to walk properly in a straight line without losing my poise. Plus, don’t you think this dress is a little too long? I look more like I’m going for a prom date or wedding than a social party. Why can’t I just wear the type of normal dresses that I usually wear to the gatherings?”
She stopped admiring me and shot me an apologetic look. “Eun-ah, this party is unlike any other gathering that you’ve went before, this is especially important because the president of the United States will be coming over personally this time, so you have to put on your best and be a good girl that you are, alright sweetie?” I sighed and nodded reluctantly, “Alright mom, I promise...but there had better be seafood for me on the buffet table tonight,” I said, almost whispering the last part. Her face turned into a smile and reassured me, “Thank you dear. Plus Changhyun’s going to be there with you to keep you company isn’t it? It’ll be fun.” She said before we headed out of the boutique store and into the white limousine.
After an hour’s ride, we finally reached the entrance of the five-star hotel. I calmed myself down and switched from ‘Lee Ji Eun’ to being the ‘President’s Daughter’ for the next three hours or so. I’m not two-faced or what, but it’s just like a switch that goes off and on according to the circumstances. The porter who was stationed by the podium walked over and opened the door for me. “Thank you,” I shyly said and got out of the car gracefully, hooking my arms with my mother. Before we entered the ballroom, my mum looked at me and mouthed for me to smile. I nodded, took in a deep breath and flashed by signature smile before opening the door and heading inside. I greeted the guests (mainly the prime ministers and all the reputable people that you can think of) who were already there and spotted my dad speaking to the ambassador of… Japan, I think. I made my way there and welcomed the Japan ambassador, exchanged some common greetings before excusing myself to the corner of the ballroom.
“Ricky, where are you?” I called for the fifth time using my cellphone, which was strictly not allowed in my trainer’s book of social etiquettes, but I couldn’t care less because I’m about to go crazy from the number of sentences that the adults shot at me like machine guns in those foreign languages that are unknown to me.” Sure I know some common greetings in different languages since I was ‘forced’ to learn them with the courtesy of my dad, but that doesn’t mean I’m as good as the translator around here! “I’ll be right there in about 5 minutes, Eunnie,” Ricky replied hurriedly through the phone, because he too, wasn’t allowed to bring his cellphones into places like this. “Yah! This is already the 5th ‘five more minutes’ that you’ve told me! How many more of those must I hear before you would finally arrive? I’m dying here and as my bestie/childhood friend/’oppa’ (A/N: sometimes she calls him oppa just because he’s a week earlier!), you’re not supposed to let me die so fast, not in this type of situation! You promised -” I dramatically whined through my phone and started to get a little more insecure, I wasn’t used to staying in this type of places alone without Ricky with me. Before I could say anymore, he cut off my sentence and defended himself saying that he would never let that happen, and promised that this is the last five minutes before he really arrives. Smiling to know that he’s finally going to be here with me, I brightened up and quickly ended the call, hiding my cellphone before getting caught by my mom.
While waiting for the five minutes to pass by, I started to wander around the especially huge ball room with a champagne glass filled with orange juice. I knew well that I couldn’t keep my balance in those kill heels that my mom forced me to wear, but I thought that nothing would happen within such a short span of five minutes like tripping over my own dress or losing my balance, causing a ruckus in such a formal setting. Wrong move. I almost tripped in those kill heels of mine while trying to maneuver my way through the crowd and just when it was about to happen like I imagined, I felt a hand grab my waist and turn me over in one smooth move before I could fall.
My eyes were closed, bracing for the impact and loud commotions that never came but instead, I felt a strong arm around my waist. No wonder I didn’t fall, thank god. I quickly looked up and almost shouted, seeing a face that’s just a few centimeters away from mine. I blinked twice and immediately balanced myself, breaking away from the embrace with a total stranger, and dusted my white dress, not wanting to ruin it. I swear I saw the blue haired boy in branded tuxedo flashing a mischievous grin to me before he looked away and handed me the champagne glass that he had managed to catch in time before it fell to the ground as well. “T-thanks,” I stuttered while avoiding eye contact for the whole time, and before I could turn to walk away, he grabbed my wrist lightly and pulled me down the corridor, towards the balcony. “Follow me.”
Oh my god, what does he think he’s doing? This is creepy alright. Damn it Yoo Chang Hyun, where the heck are you when I need you?!