Cinderella, Your Glass Slippers...

I would call myself stupid!

How could I be so blunt and ask him such a question?

Do you like me?

I must be nuts!

Aera, do you think your life is a high school melodrama?

But,

I wanted to let curiosity kill the cat in me.

But then again, it was suddenly embarrassing to face him.

I bit my lower lip hard and clenched my fingernails into the textbook's hard cover.

As if he knows what I loved the most about him,

He did it.

He smiled and swiftly looked away from me.

Was that a blush?

Did…

"What makes you think I like you?" He finally asked, staring into my face and this made my face flush.

I twirled a little and then activated my 'cute fake' voice.

"I mean… you solved math equations for me and also ran out of school to get me this textbook with a limited edition tag. If you do not like me, what else does this mean?"

He took a deep breath and raised his hand at me.

Is he going to hit me?

I panicked a little, curling back to dodge his attack.

But…

His hand softly landed on my head and he patted my hair like I was his favorite cat or something.

"Aera, this second chance we have received from the heavens is not for pleasure, we do not want to fail them, right? Let's get things straight this time and think about us later."

I could say,

Hyun Min was one of the elements that formed the sun.

He was so bright and he had the coolest things to say.

I folded my lips and gave him an obedient nod.

"For now, we have somewhere to go."

"Where?" I inquired, a little bit confused.

Where is he planning on taking me?

"What you wanted in exchange for telling me how I died, remember?"

"Ah… that." I murmured as his words had cut my expectations short.

Pingle!~

My phone shimmed and I quickly brought it out to check what it was after giving him a quick look of; 'hold on a minute'. I flipped the phone open and it was a message notification.

From Aruem.

A frail sigh escaped my lips and I pressed a button to read.

[Areum]

Aera, where are you? I have to go to my acting club for a quick role showcase. I have about three hours to spend there. Will you be okay? The driver will come to get us when I'm done. Are you okay with that?

I couldn't be more glad.

Three hours without Areum around me?

Goodness!

I quickly pressed on some buttons to type in my reply.

[Aera]

Yes, I'm okay with that. I also have somewhere to go…

I had wanted to include; 'see you later',

But…

[Send]

"Guys, she's also busy for a while. Let's go!" Areum announced to her friends the moment the notification for Aera's message popped in.

She was happy Aera had something to keep her busy.

She was a little sad Aera wasn't her club member.

But…

°~°~°~°

Arriving at the study cafe, Hyun Min registered for two cards.

One for me,

One for him.

He led me inside the cafe and fortunately for us, our seat numbers were right beside each other.

I was happy.

So, I smiled.

Hyun Min helped pull out my chair a little and I tried so hard not to blush hard.

But I did.

What a gentleman.

"Thank you." I pouted, carefully sitting pretty like a cat.

"T-that's my seat though." Hyun Min said, his voice quivering a little.

How embarrassing.

I tried to stand up, but he pulled me back into the chair while he took his seat on my initial seat.

I pulled my hair over my face.

It was embarrassing to face him at that moment.

And to place the cherry carefully on an iced cake,

I could hear him chuckle as he pulled out his textbooks and writing materials.

And then, lessons began and I paid rapt attention to what Hyun Min taught me.

He was a good teacher.

Really good.

I understood all that he taught me and I couldn't be more grateful.

I was a pre-dummy in my last highschool phase, but now, with Hyun Min as my teacher, I'm confident I can do better than last time.

He made sure I was tagged along on every single topic I had difficulties in and of course, he handed out assignments.

Is it just me? Or does time seem to flow really differently when you enjoy things?

Three hours was over really quickly and I knew it was time to leave.

After checking out of the cafe, I pulled out my birthday invitation card as I had to invite Hyun Min as well. I waited a little outside the cafe as he had rushed off to get some things for himself.

And when he arrived, he stretched his hand at me and handed me a banana milk. He had poked it already and I readily sipped it a little while he watched.

"Vitamin B6, it's good for the brain… for concentration." He said softly, stuttering a little.

Tch.

I didn't ask.

"Uh?" I shrugged feeling a little weird.

I had never tasted such before.

I had never tasted anything cheap.

I had never tasted anything ordinary.

All my life, I had only been consuming exorbitant meals, snacks, and every other thing.

But now…

"Do you like it?"

I nodded curtly, taking in more sips.

And after a while, I gave him the invitation card.

"It's on Sunday. My house's direction is drawn at the back. Will you come?" I blurted out, tightening my fingers around the bottle I was holding.

Will he reject this?

Will he not make it to my birthday?

Figures, he wants to become a medical doctor. Why bother to invite him when he will be busy studying?

"Fine, I will see you on Sunday then." He replied with a smile.

I was glad.

Happy he would come to my birthday.

"I guess you will have to call me oppa from now on." He teased me. [*Oppa*: In Korean, this either means; boyfriend or elder brother.]

"Uh?!" I panicked, almost spilling my drink.

"I mean, I'm clocking twenty this year and you, eighteen?" He laughed.

Tch.

"Whatever."

"So, what are you going to ask your parents for on your birthday?"

"That's right. I've never thought much about it. I need to ask them for something that will be helpful in the future, do you not think so?"

"I know a perfect match for a present."

"Tell me!"

"Aera!"

I heard Areum's call widely catching my attention and Hyun Min's at once. We both looked and driving up towards us was my dad and Aruem who had her head out of the window and she was waving at me like we hadn't seen each other for years.

What's her deal?

I waved Hyun Min goodbye and got into the car while dad drove off immediately.

Why is he here in place of the driver?

"Mr. Baek has some things to settle… his mother suddenly dropped sick so I had to come pick you guys up on my way back home from work." Dad explained.

Right.

"I bought some fish buns." He added, stretching a street food bag at us and Aruem quickly grabbed it viewing its content at once.

She mouthed 'wow' and picked one for me.

"Hyun Woo sent you guys outfits for your birthday. I'm sure you both will wear it on that day, right?"

"Dad, are you being serious?" Aruem gasped, grabbing the driver's seat to herself as she lurched forward.

Hyun Woo.

"Uhm… he's landing in Korea on Sunday. He will join the party before it ends."

My heart stinged.

I really miss Hyun Woo.

My baby.

My husband.

And then, I smiled.

"Your grandparents will also make a trip down here." Dad continued maneuvering a sharp turn into our neighborhood.

Grandparents!

Areum sulked a little, reclining back into her seat.

She wasn't their favorite anyway.

She was supposed to be sad.

And that makes me happy.

I will finally have the people who treasure me around me.

On my special day.

On that day, I will be turning eighteen.

I looked out of the window and smiled.

°~°~°~°

[SUNDAY NIGHT; BIRTHDAY PARTY]

"Young master Hyun Woo is here." A maid whispered into my ear and a wild smile engulfed my whole face.

I was happy.

I will be meeting him again.

Only if he knows how much I have missed him.

His soft kisses,

His soft touch,

His eyes,

His everything…

I picked a handful of my flowing dress and stood up from my seat.

Ready to see him.

Ready to meet my husband.

Just like Cinderella, I dashed out of the house, but I made sure my glass slippers didn't slip off my feet.

I had to meet my prince as a complete set.

I had to be perfect.

As I made my way out of the mansion and carefully descended the stairs, Hyun Woo began to emerge from below, ascending the stairs with a beautiful flower bouquet seated in his hands.

I should be the one he's holding.

I giggled.

"Hyun…"

I tried to call his name, but I had to halt to a quick pause.

Aruem had rushed out for nowhere and engulfed Hyun Woo in a hug while he carefully wrapped his hand around her.

And all I could do…

…was watch.

Is this when it all started?

Is this when Aruem began to convert my snow?

Is this when she started to steal my roles to become his cupid?