The next day at school was everything I had ever dreamed of. Heads turned as I walked down the corridors, and whispers began to fill the atmosphere. I held my chin high, taking in the popularity that Kyung-ho granted me. I could feel their envious glares and admiring gazes of the students in my school, their whispers floating through the air.
"Is that Seon-yun?"
"She's a total hottie!"
"Is she single?"
Even Jae-hyung noticed me. His jaw dropped, his eyes tracing my body for longer than a second. My heart skipped a beat as he approached, a hesitant smile playing on his lips.
"S-Seon-yun?" he stuttered. "You look d-different...in a good way."
"Thanks, Jae-hyung," I softly replied.
As the day went on, the attention only grew. My confidence flew through the roof, usually, I would be terrified about answering questions in class but today I waved my hand in the air. Ms Williams was shocked and called me up to the board to write my answer, it was correct! My classmates who previously ignored me now wanted to be friends. It was like living in a dream. My social media blew up with friend requests and messages, all of them complimenting my glow-up.
During lunch, I sat with The Queen Bees who had never given me the time of day before. Soo-jin, the queen bee herself, looked at me, she had very beautiful eyes; almond-shaped, with a slight upward tilt at the outer corners that gave her a captivating, cat-like appearance. Her double eyelids added depth to the definition of mischief, enhancing the natural allure of her beauty and her thick eyelashes which framed her eyes wonderfully.
Was she even Soo-jin? The Soo-jin I know has daggers for eyes.
"Seon-yun, you should join us for shopping this weekend at COEX mall," she said," We could use your fashion sense."
My face turned crimson red, "I'd love to."
Saturday arrived, and I met the girls at the mall. The bustling crowds and vibrant storefronts made my head spin with excitement. Soo-jin, Hana, and Eun-ji greeted me warmly, their glamorous outfits shimmering at me.
"Let's start at that new boutique," Soo-jin suggested, pointing to a chic store with elegant displays. I heard they have amazing dresses."
"But I prefer hoodies-"
Hana and Eun-ji quickly intervened, their eyes silently warning me to play along.
Soo-jin's face was blank as she slowly tilted her head.
"Oh, Seon-yun, hoodies are so last season. Don't you want to impress everyone?"
I swallowed and forced a smile.
"Of course, let's check out the dresses."
We walked into the boutique, and the girls immediately began browsing through racks of clothes. The store was filled with beautiful clothes but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched and judged with every step I took.
Soo-jin immediately started pulling dresses off the racks, holding them up against me.
"This one would make all the guys go insane!" she squealed, handing me a sleek black dress.
Hana and Eun-ji flanked me, both of them nodding in agreement.
"You should try it on," Hana chimed in.
I took the dress and headed to the fitting room. Looking in the mirror, I hardly recognized the girl staring back. The dress hugged my figure, highlighting my curves and making me feel both powerful and exposed. I stepped out, and the girls gasped in approval.
"You look like a babe!" Hana exclaimed. "That dress was made for you." Eun-ji added, "We should definitely get it."
As we continue shopping, I finally felt like I found some friends who cared about me. The girls included me in their conversations, asking me for my opinions and treating me like one of their own. Remembering the loneliness that tormented me each day before I found out about Kyung-ho and his promise was frustrating, so if it wasn't for him I would have been forced to live a miserable life.
After a few hours, we decided to take a break at a cozy café. We sat at a corner table, sipping iced coffees and chatting about school, boys, and the latest trends.
"So, Seon-yun," Eun-jin leaned in, "Do you have a crush on anyone?"
I blushed, my thoughts drifting to Jae-hyung. "Well, there's someone, but I don't think he notices me."
Hana laughed, "Oh, trust me, with the way you look now, he'll notice."
Eun-ji added, "You should go for it, confidence is the key."
Maybe they were right. Maybe my life finally did turn around.
As we continued our day, trying on clothes and taking selfies, a nagging feeling tugged at the back of my mind. The boy's warning echoed in my thoughts: Be mindful of what you wish for, for it may come with unexpected consequences."
But in that moment, surrounded by new friends, I pushed my doubts aside. This was my chance to live the life I had always dreamed of, and I wouldn't let anything ruin it.
When I got home that evening, I looked at the new clothes and accessories I had bought. The day had been perfect, and I truly felt happy for the first time. I carefully hung up my accessories and a new dress, my mind filled with anticipation for the days to come.
The following Monday, when I walked into school, Everyone's eyes were glued to me as I reveled in the attention. Even the teachers were surprised at my participation and enthusiasm in class.
Jae-hyung, however, was living rent-free in mind. I caught glimpses of him throughout the day, his presence a reminder of my unresolved feelings. During lunch, as I sat with Soo-jin and the girls, I decided to take their advice.
I reluctantly stumbled upon Jae-hyung and his friends' cafeteria table. He's an extrovert when he's ready but right now he had his earphones in, he couldn't hear me so his friend, Zack, nudged him with his elbow. Jae-hyung raised his eyebrow as he looked up at me.
"I was wondering if we could hang out sometime," I said, trying to sound casual.
His smirked a bit and replied, "Sure, that sounds nice."
As we made plans, I couldn't control my mouth forming into a smile, like it had it's mind of its own. Everything was falling into place, just as Kyung-ho had promised. Life was worth living again.