It was Friday, and seventeen years old Kim Haewon couldn't wait for her literature class to end so she could be on her way home.
It wasn't like she had any grand plans for the weekend. All she wanted to do was paint and relax with her big sisters, Selena and Ivy.
The moment the bell rang, Haewon and her closest friend, Charlotte, stood up from their seats at the same time, making Haweon, who sat behind Charlotte, smile.
They've been close friends from the very first day Charlotte walked into the classroom. Perhaps, she had been drawn to her because, like her, Charlotte was of Korean heritage, and they were both the only foreigners in their class.
It had been lonely for her initially, being the only foreigner in her class until Charlotte came along two years ago, a year after her.
Although, unlike her, Charlotte had been born in the States but had only been able to transfer to her school thanks to a scholarship she had received.
"What are you smiling for? I thought you'd be dying to get out of here by now," Charlotte said as she picked up her school bag.
"I am dying to get out of here. Let's leave already," Haewon said as they both locked arms and strolled out of the class together.
"Hae?" Charlotte called softly, and Haewon looked at her with a curious smile.
"Yes, Lottie? You look like you want to ask for something," Haewon observed thoughtfully.
"I'm sorry…"
"There is no need to be. What do you want? You know I'd do anything for you," Haewon assured her with a smile.
"I know this is an impromptu request, and considering how you feel about such things, I feel like a bitch for even wanting to ask," Charlotte said, making Haewon even more curious to find out what was going on.
She was not someone who enjoyed being teased with information or anything else at that.
"Can you just tell me what it is?" She asked impatiently as she stopped walking and turned to look at Charlotte.
"You know how much I've been dying to attend one of Sandra's parties, right? And well, you know she only invites a certain class of people," Charlotte said with a shrug, and Haewon nodded.
"Yeah. If you ask me, I don't think you'll miss anything by not going there. Sandra is full of herself and…."
"I really want to go, Hae. I don't care that she is full of herself. Unlike you, who rejects her invitation every single time, I've never received one. I'd love to mix up with them and experience those fun parties," Charlotte cut in, sounding a bit harsh.
"Oh!" Haewon said softly and sighed, "I see. So, what do I have to do with this?" Haewon asked, and Charlotte shrugged as she looked away guiltily.
"Sandra is throwing a party tonight. She said I can be there only if I come along with you," Charlotte explained.
"She said that? I wonder why she keeps inviting me to her parties when we both know she hates me," Haewon said with a shake of her head.
Charlotte giggled, "She does not hate you; she is just jealous of you and pretends to hate you."
Haewon squinted her eyebrows thoughtfully. "Sandra? Jealous of me? No way! I mean, I have nothing that she should be jealous of."
Charlotte shook her head, "Yes, you do. You might not flaunt your wealth, but everyone knows you are from a conglomerate family. I mean, your family is not even here, but back home in Korea. Still, everyone knows about them…"
"Sandra is from a wealthy home too. And why does that even matter?" Haewon cut in, and Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"Well, her family is not as wealthy as your family, that I know. She would give up all she has just to be you. With your beautiful brown eyes and thick, shiny hair. Haven't you noticed she has been wearing brown contacts and wigs that look just like your hair?" Charlotte said, surprising Haewon.
"She has? I hardly spare her a glance, you know?" Haewon said, and Charlotte nodded.
"It's obvious you don't. Cause if you did, you'd notice she copies your style a lot. So?" Charlotte asked, returning her attention to the subject.
"So what?" Haewon asked, and Charlotte frowned.
"Please, Haewon. Attend this party for my sake. Please? Pretty please?" Charlotte pleaded as she took Haewon's hand.
Before Haewon could respond, Selena pulled up in a convertible car in front of the school with Ivy in the front seat, engrossed neck-deep in her phone.
"Ready to go home, kiddo?" Selena called out to her.
"Give me a moment," Haewon called back as she turned to Charlotte, who was waving at Selena and Ivy.
"Please, Hae. This would mean a lot to me. I promise never to ask you for this sort of favor," Charlotte pleaded, and after a moment, Haewon sighed.
"Give me a minute to talk to my sisters," Haewon said as she walked away to meet Selena and Ivy.
"You didn't tell me you were picking me up," Haewon said as she looked from Ivy to Selena.
"The chef at the restaurant is trying out a new recipe today. We were headed there, so we decided to stop by and see if you'd like to come with us. You don't have to…"
"You know I will. I love trying out new recipes," Haewon said with a grin.
"I told you," Ivy told Selena.
"So, why are you not getting into the car? And why is Charlotte just standing over there?" Selena asked curiously.
"Well, I wanted to seek your permission," Haewon said as she shifted on her feet awkwardly.
"Permission?" Selena and Ivy asked in unison as they exchanged a look.
"Yeah. Can I go to a party tonight? I know it's sudden and…."
"A party? You? That's not like you," Selena asked in disbelief, and Ivy giggled.
"What's happening? Got a guy you are crushing on?" Ivy asked with a teasing smile, and Haewon rolled her eyes.
"It's not that. This is my senior year. I figured I should at least attend one?" Haewon asked uncertainly.
"I don't see why not. As long as you give me every detail I need to know about the party before you leave, stay close to your phone, and promise not to drink or indulge in any distasteful activity," Selena said, and Haewon smiled.
"Alright. Give me a minute to get back to Lottie, and then we can leave," Haewon said as she returned to join Charlotte.
"I'm doing this only because I love you. I won't be there for more than an hour," Haewon warned and smiled when Charlotte jumped on her and embraced her.
"Great! Thank you, Hae. I love you right back! I owe you for this," Charlotte said, and Haewon rolled her eyes as she pulled away.
"You don't owe me nothing. The experience might come in handy. I need to leave now. Do you want to come with us? Or maybe we can drop you off on our way," Haewon offered, and Charlotte shook her head.
"No, thanks. I've got other plans. I will come over to your place later, and then we can leave together," Charlotte said as she blew her a kiss and hurried away.
***********
If there was someone eighteen years old Jake Davies knew almost as well as he knew himself, it was Kim Haewon.
He could swear that her name was the first name he learned to pronounce even before he could pronounce his own name. He knew her favorite everything and pet peeves, and whatever concerned her. His grandmother had made sure of that.
In the same way, Princesses of medieval times were groomed for their Princes, His grandmother had groomed him all his life with one sole purpose in mind. And that was to make him Kim Haewon's husband.
He had grown up following every news that concerned her and her family. He followed her on all her social media platforms. And he even had more pictures of her than he had of himself.
With the amount of information he knew about her, one would think they were best friends, but that was far from the truth.
Well, maybe not exactly far since he didn't really have any friends, and she was the closest thing to a friend he had, even though they had never crossed paths.
All he knew about her, he knew from a distance. But that was going to change tonight.
In a couple of hours, they would be crossing paths. That was because he would be making his first appearance to her tonight. It was all set.
"Are you certain that you are ready? You can't make any mistakes," Regina Davies, his grandmother, asked as she stood in his room, watching him with eyes that made him want to shift uncomfortably.
"You've made certain that I'm ready my whole life. I won't make any mistakes," Jake assured her confidently.
He was ready to avenge his father's murder. He was ready to pay back everyone who hurt his father and grandmother and to take back all that belonged to him.