TEENAGE PROBLEMS (II)

"Anna, are you sure this is the right address?"

"Yes, this is the address Mía wrote on the paper, and it matches the location she sent us last night."

"Well, this building looks very… extravagant."

Standing in front of an imposing building, Anna and Sophie were amazed by the modern construction in the heart of Seocho-gu, a popular residential area for the upper class residents of Seoul.

The building in question, a modern residential tower, was something both girls had only seen in movies and dramas. Compared to their own homes, it was enough to make them cry in embarrassment.

"Come on, let's go in. Mía is probably waiting for us," Anna sighed and took the first step.

"What? No, wait a moment," Sophie stood still. "It's better to send her a message and let her know we're here, just in case she's in the middle of something and we end up bothering her if we show up unannounced."

"Really? I hadn't thought of it that way. You're very cautious, Sophie," Anna was surprised and nodded at her friend's suggestion, then started typing on her phone.

"Haha… ha… what are you saying?"

Mía tried to smile, but it was the last thing she wanted to do at that moment. She hadn't suggested sending a message to Mía just to be considerate; she wanted to avoid the possible embarrassment of being kicked out of a luxurious building for entering without permission.

Although Korean society is known for being relatively harmonious among compatriots, when it comes to famous and wealthy people, classism can reach astronomical levels.

This part of the city, in particular, where celebrities enforce strict security measures, entering without permission could get you treated like a thief.

Sophie was almost certain that Mía Woo had made a mistake with the address or was playing a not-so-funny prank on them, as this wasn't where she lived.

It wasn't that she was being classist or anything, it was just implicit for her. The blonde knew that Mía lived on the other side of the city, near the 'humble' area surrounding their school.

Sophie didn't know exactly where, but she knew that she, Anna, and Mía probably came from the same urban area since she almost always ran into her when they walked to school.

So, how could Mía have arranged to meet them in a place like this? Sure, they were going somewhere other than her house, but she thought it would be some kind of library or a public place, not a very exclusive residential area.

That's why Sophie didn't want to go in until she was completely sure she wouldn't be embarrassed.

She didn't know what could happen to her and Anna, so she couldn't afford to be overly suspicious.

"She replied," Anna's words pulled the blonde out of her thoughts. "She says we should go in and wait at the reception, that she already gave our names to security so they would let us in and that someone will come to get us."

"And she won't come? She's the one who invited us," Sophie wasn't convinced by that message.

"Hmm, let's see, yes, she sent another message, she says she'll be in the apartment and will wait for us there, that she had a small mishap and that's why she can't come down," Anna put away her phone. "Well, let's go then."

"Anna, I don't think it's a good idea," Sophie bit her lip. "What if Mía is playing a bad joke on us?"

"Huh? A joke? Why do you think that?"

"I'm not sure... I don't know if it's true, but... What if she's getting revenge?"

"Revenge? Why would she do that?" Anna asked, confused.

"You know, everyone in the class knew what Eunice did to her… Maybe she's resentful."

"Come on, Sophie, don't be like that," Anna smiled. "Don't be so suspicious. Even if it doesn't seem like it, I'm also wondering how Mía Woo could be in a place like this, but I trust that nothing bad will happen, okay?"

Sophie looked at her friend in silence. In fact, she had forgotten that Anna wasn't an airhead, but knew how to read various situations. In situations like this, where Sophie overthought things, Anna became the voice of her conscience.

"Whatever you say… but if I see that things are not right, we will leave immediately, so you'll listen to what I say, okay?"

"Okay~"

Both girls crossed the street and approached.

The building stood majestically, with a facade of glass and steel that reflected the sunlight.

The main entrance had large automatic glass doors that opened with a soft hum, revealing an impressive lobby.

Flanked by two imposing columns of brushed steel, the lobby looked more like a contemporary art gallery than a simple reception area.

"Welcome, I suppose you are Miss Sophie and Miss Anna, right?"

A middle-aged man in uniform approached from the reception desk and greeted them cordially, causing the girls to stop staring at the place in awe.

"Huh? Oh! Yes, that's us," Sophie reacted quickly, trying to hide the growing embarrassment she felt.

"Miss Mía told us that the young man would come to see you. Would you like anything while you wait?"

"Oh! I would like—"

"N-No, we're fine, thank you," the blonde smiled apologetically and quickly pulled her friend to sit on the furniture, not giving Anna time to finish speaking.

"Sophie, I wanted to see if they offered any kind of dessert," Anna pouted.

"Shhh! You know you shouldn't accept food or drinks from strangers. Besides, you said you'd listen to me, remember?"

"Bleh," the dark-haired girl stuck out her tongue in protest.

Sophie just shook her head as she sat next to her friend to wait for Mía to come and get them, so she could do nothing but look around.

The waiting area on one side of the lobby was furnished with white leather sofas and gray linen armchairs, surrounded by glass and stainless steel coffee tables.

On the tables, there were perfectly aligned design and fashion magazines, and in one corner, a glass vase contained an arrangement of fresh flowers that filled the air with a soft and pleasant fragrance.

The floor was polished concrete in a light gray tone, reflecting the natural light coming in through the large glass windows. Geometric design rugs in black and white added a touch of warmth and style without breaking the minimalist aesthetic.

The high ceiling was decorated with recessed lights that provided soft, even illumination. Some areas were adorned with light wood panels, creating an elegant contrast with the predominant white in the rest of the space.

Anna and Sophie sat for several minutes in the lobby of the modern building, waiting for Mía to come and get them.

The minimalist and elegant ambiance of the place did little to calm Sophie's nerves, who couldn't stop looking around, trying to distract herself.

And it was no wonder, since with every detail she saw, she felt poorer and poorer. This was extravagance in its wildest state!

"Hey Sophie, let's bet. Who do you think lives here? I think it's a relative of Mía's, what do you think?"

Suddenly, Anna asked curiously.

"Ah… I don't know, maybe yes, maybe no," Sophie snorted. "Maybe Mía got herself a millionaire boyfriend."

"You think so?"

"Yes, no… I don't know."

"Well, I think that…"

Sophie didn't pay attention to her friend, as her mind wandered off after mentioning the word boyfriend, as she remembered hers.

'Oh damn… What can I do?'

Ding

Suddenly, the elevator door opened and it wasn't Mía who appeared, but Robert.

Seeing him, Sophie's heart skipped a beat, because right at this moment she wasn't only thinking about the misfortunes her boyfriend was experiencing, but also about the one who caused those misfortunes!

What the hell was he doing here?