3:12pm
Meeting with investors at the karaoke club. Akiaya made sure that the room was booked and had an abundance of alcohol, with plenty of food. Every song that she knew each investor liked was queued for them to enjoy. She looked around to see their spirits were high. Her father who never drinks, accidentally picked up the wrong cup. Akiaya watched him put the cup to his lips. She quickly coughed; loud enough to grab his attention. Geun glanced her way, but attempted to take another drink. Akiaya started to cough uncontrollably, which garnered the investors attention along with Geun Hye. He hastily placed down the cup and ran to his daughter. "Akia you alright? Did you not eat properly?" She only nodded her head daring not to speak in front of the investors.
Once their attentions returned to the merriment she whispered to her buchin, "Papa you idiot! You almost drank sake. You know what mama says about you having alcohol." He only ruffled her hair before grabbing a different cup filled with tea. She breathed out a sigh of relief. Sipping her own cup of tea, she watched the men act like a bunch of high schoolers. As the alcohol continued to flow, the men continued to gush about their latest toys and wives. They seemed to all have forgotten her presence. Akiaya could only bury her head in her hands embarrassed by their conversation. She received a message from her mother. [Akia tell papa that he needs to be home by 6 tonight. We have plans.<3] She looked from her phone to her papa and sent back her reply with a smirk. [Aye ya Mamacita aleumdaun. I'll bop him on the head and tell him to leave. Also papa had unicorn blood today. So.. you know just saying.] She snickered just lightly when she received an angry reaction. A few moments later she heard her father's phone ringing. He looked down to see it was Kenisha <3 wifey. He hurriedly answered the call. "My lo… uh huh… yes dear." He looked over at Akiaya with narrowed eyes. She only smiled back at him. Geun Hye bowed to the investors before making his departure. Akiaya stood up and explained that her father had an urgent matter to attend at home. The men understood they all valued their wives and left as well. She was tidying up the room before the attendants came to finish. She checked her watch to see the time. She still had a few hours before she needed to be ready to meet Chun-Hei.
6:19pm
Akiaya reached her home just after traffic was dying down. She walked the two flights of steps, barefoot before reaching her apartment. Her phone rang to see it was Chun-Hei calling. Fumbling with her keys, she placed her phone between the juncture of her shoulder and ear. "Yeah, did you need me oh horrible cousin of mine?" She unlocked her door when she heard the excited squeals of Chun-Hei on the phone. "Please don't be mad. I promise you'll have lots of fun plus you'll be meeting my nae salang. Now be ready in one hour. I'll pick you up ok?" Before Akiaya could refute the new time the call ended. She sighed in exasperation over her cousin's demanding ways. An hour didn't give her much time to prepare. Quickly, she found her red short Gucci dress with leopard print trimmings that cinched her waist with a belt. Grabbing her black five inch heels with the red strip she rushed to freshen up. Pulling her hair from the confining bun, she had for work, to allow her natural wavy hair to shine. Cleaning her face she prepared it for the nighttime scene. Garnering red eye shadow and lipstick. She finished her makeup with mascara, elongating her lashes. Akiaya was dressed and ready by the time she received the call from Chun-Hei that she was downstairs.
7:25pm
Akiaya descended the stairs and rushed to hug Chun-Hei. It had been a few years since she seen her. Their family was still treated as outcasts because her father, the eldest son, decided he wanted to marry her mother, a southern African American woman who was fascinated with the Asian culture. It only improved slightly when her father bought out her traditional grandfather in his inheritance. It was quite the scandal for a few days. The news outlets couldn't believe it. A disinherited son buying out his father and removing him from the board of directors. The media was in a tizzy. She was about ten years old when she finally met her father's family, after the buy out. Her grandfather called for a sit down with them to discuss Geun Hye ruthlessness against his family. Akiaya was so happy to see them that she ran eagerly to him calling him baba. "baba, baba. It's so good to see you." She lunged at his waist nestling her head against his stomach. He took a step back to brace himself against her accelerated body weight. He grunted at the contact looking from her to his son. Eum Bing In-Su, felt his heart melt just a bit at her warm hug. He pulled her from his body and kneeled down. "I am not your baba. Baba is father in Chinese. I am your harabeoji little one. And what is your name?" She had looked up to him with bright clear eyes and a smile. "Mama and papa named me Akiaya. She said it means destined one. I think she watched too much anime and read too many manga. That's what she would read to me at night. Do you read manga?" That's when she had meet Chun-Hei. A precocious little girl that ran up to her as she had to her harabeoji and hugged her. "Cousin, cousin. You look so pretty. Harabeoji, I want hair like kai mai."
Akiaya had smiled at the memory and hugged her tighter. She ruffled her hair and kissed her cheek. "You horrid cousin! How could you get engaged before me and then not tell me? I'm inclined to disown you. What is your compensation?" Chun-Hei kissed her back on the cheek before lightly slapping her arm. "Sachon, I promise to let you eat and drink you're belly full and give you all the details of our relationship. Is that compensation enough kai mai?" Akiaya nodded her head in agreement and made her way inside of the Audi R8. She buckled herself in before turning to the driver side to ask her where they were going to go. Chun-Hei didn't look her way instead she just drove off, taking her in the direction of Club Opum. They booked the entire club, catered with tons of food. There were bottles and bottles of alcohol lined up behind the bar. The club started filling up with friends of Chun-Hei and her fiancé friends. Akiaya didn't recognize anyone.
8:45pm
The doors opened wide, the man of the hour walked in. Chun-Hei looked over to see that her fiancé was there. The sound of her heels clacking against the floor surrounded, the now quiet building. Everyone's attention turned towards the door. Akiaya eyes gleamed when she seen who her cousin wrapped her arms around. It was Victor Johnston. Her mouth dropped open and tears brimmed her eyes. She couldn't believe her eyes as she seen the man she loved in the arms of another woman; and the woman was her cousin. Akiaya looked up and away to stop the tears from falling down. She donned her best smile and walked over to them feigning happiness. She stood over to the side and cleared her throat. "Ahem, Mr. Johnston you didn't tell us you were engaged. My father would have thrown you a party as well." Victor looked at her with keen eyes then gave a smile. "Mrs. Eum I didn't expect you to be here. Do you know Chun-Hei?" Akiaya nodded her head while Chun-Hei chuckled. They both answered at the same time. "She's my sachon." They looked at each other and smiled. "Chu chu you didn't know Victor works for papa's company as the executive director?" She tsked at her cousin. "Well Victor, you must take exceptionally great care of my dear cousin. Or I'll make sure that fortune's favor gives you the worst luck ever. Your life will be a living hell." She gave him her sweetest smile even though her eyes held daggers within them. Victor looked taken aback at her sweet threat. He was dumbfounded.
Akiaya walked away keeping her emotions in check. She reached the bar and sat down. The bartender came near her and she placed her order. "Jell-O shots and keep them coming." The bartender nodded his head and brought her a row of shots. He lined up five different flavors in front of her; lime, Strawberry lemonade, blue Hawaiian, cherry bomb, and lemon drop. She downed them one after another. When she finished with those five, he gave her another set. She kept taking shot after shot until her mind became numb.
Time blurred as she continued taking shots. The bartender eventually stopped supplying her, the mind numbing alcoholic dessert. Akiaya attempted to stand up. Her legs were like jelly as she walked out towards the bathroom. She bumped into someone. Looking up she caught sight of beautiful grey eyes. She gave him a smile but it looked more like a grimace. She attempted to walk past him; only to trip over her own foot. How clumsy of her. Her body lurched forward colliding into him. The sudden movement jolted her stomach. She looked up to see beautiful gray eyes. Once she landed on top of him, Akiaya emptied the contents from her stomach onto his shirt. Soon her eyes closed as she passed out.