Chapter 7

"So let’s run through this again. How many guests are we expecting?”

"Not more than a 100, the invites are only extended to your business partners, investors, overseers of the children home that has worked there from the very beginning and other high profilers we are trying to get on our side”

“What about the fund raiser”

“We have multiple paintings from professionals and the children alike to showcase their creativity.”

“What about the video, showcasing the foster home and the new renovations we would like to include?”

“It’s been already prepared.”

“The security has also been increased because of the number of high class profiles we are supposed to expect. They have been placed around the top and ground floor so that the people coming in and out of the venue will be thoroughly monitored.”

“I guess with that, the meeting is over”

It has been exhausting preparing for the party but we are finally at the last stages of it, all that was left is to actually go to the party. Hajun ran over everything like 5 times adding to the rate of exhaustion but that just showed how well he really wanted this to work. Everybody was so focused on the task at hand that it sometimes made me feel inadequate.

Park Sung ho as his communication manager, had such great connections that finding a venue didn’t even take a day. Han Suk-chin as the campaign manager, checked the numerous amount of high profilers and highlighted the ones that could be useful for the coming election and others we should watch out for, Ayeong and Chung hee as the fund raiser and treasurer took care of the budget for the entire party while all I did was to strengthen the security. All of them are such high class professionals with different skill sets while I couldn’t even be a full time teacher. Sensing my distress I was called outside and led to the balcony by Hajun.

“What’s with the uncomfortable face? Did something happen when I wasn’t looking?.” He asked with a grin but I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t even look at him.

“What happened?” he said coming even closer to me but I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t possibly tell him that I was jealous of his friend's credentials. Ayeong and Park Sung ho studied in America before coming back to Korea, Han Suk chin graduated from one of the best schools in Seoul and has one of the biggest law firms in gyeongi do providence making him a rival in business to Hajun and Choi chung hee is an influential fashion designer. He has different friends from different professions and I am just there, a loser with barely any credentials.

I still wasn’t able to answer till I heard a splash from down below signaling that they have all gone down to the pool.

“What are you guys waiting for? The pool is warm.” yelled Ayeong from the top of her lungs.

“We'll be right there” I said while trying to zoom off, before Hajun caught me by my hand.

“Don’t think this conversation is over”

******

“So what is the deal with you and hajun “ said Ayeong causing me to nearly choke on my drink.

“You guys are always together and he always teases you so what is the story?” She said while wiggling her eyebrows like a maniac.

“Nothing” I said while bursting into laughter at the crest fallen look on her face. “We are just childhood friends”

“Really? Nothing more?” she said with so much disappointment that I couldn’t help but laugh even more.

“Pay up” said a familiar voice behind me causing me to jump. When did he even get there? I thought while holding my hands to my chest.

“I told you they were not together!” chung hee said triumphantly while collecting 200, 000 won from her. I just stared at the exchange because I had already been warned by Suk chin about how much of a BL enthusiast she was. She once had a bet on him and Hajun because they always butted heads.

I couldn’t even enjoy the banter between ayeong and chung hee in peace before being thrown in the water by Hajun.

“You are so dead!” I exclaimed while chasing him around unbeknownst to the conversation going on around us.

“When they act like that, how am I not supposed to ship them!” muttered ayeong causing Chung-hee to laugh at her.

“The bond they have may look like that but it seems we might be misjudging it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, there is more to it”

Later that night.

“So are you going to tell me about what happened today”

“I won’t, just know that you are lucky to be surrounded by so many people.”

“I am lucky, especially now that you’re here.”