Pretty girls are my kryptonite. That's undeniable. But let's get one thing straight, I don't just fall for any pretty girl who crosses my path. No, no, no—I have standards.
Sure, I'm a socially awkward nerd with a penchant for overthinking, but even I have a checklist. Some might call it unrealistic, but I call it knowing what I want.
Hopeless? Absolutely. But hey, a girl's allowed to dream, right?
Kind. Genuine. Honest.
That's it—those are the essentials. Nothing too extravagant. Just someone who's effortlessly beautiful, inside and out. Is that too much to ask? Probably. But I'll keep dreaming anyway.
It's rare to find someone who truly embodies all those qualities. Some might have one, maybe two, but never all three.
Someone can be nice, but kindness—the genuine kind that comes from the heart—is harder to come by. Someone can be honest, sure, but being genuinely honest without pretence or ulterior motives? That's an entirely different level.
See what I mean? It's a tricky combination, like trying to find a unicorn in a herd of horses.
Who am I to judge, right? I get it—I'm just a nerd with a sassy inner monologue. But my words aren't pulled out of thin air, they're rooted in experience.
I've always been open about my sexuality, which, unsurprisingly, comes with its own set of challenges. When certain acquaintances found out I was gay, the reactions fell into predictable categories:
The boys who thought they could "fix" me, as if my orientation were a malfunction they could smooth over. The girls who cloaked their curiosity in sweet, flowery words, hoping to use me as some kind of experiment.
See what I mean? Call it judgmental if you want, but I've learned to recognize who deserves my trust—and who doesn't.
And Ari? She's exactly the kind of person I know I should avoid.
Why, you ask? Well, for starters, just look at her. That face—so perfectly symmetrical it's almost unsettling. She has the kind of beauty that feels untouchable, almost weaponized. The type you just know she's used to her advantage. Call it a hunch.
Second, and most importantly, she radiates straight-girl energy. Straight as a ruler, no doubt about it. And if there's one rule I've learned the hard way, it's this: straight girls are a no-go. Too much heartache, too much trouble.
"Yuu." Gigi's voice pulled me back to reality. "Stop overthinking, okay? I'll take the blame for not telling you sooner—it all happened so fast. She doesn't know anyone here, and honestly, I'm her only friend in Seoul."
"Wait, what? Where is she from?"
"Busan. She has lived there her entire life, so moving to Seoul is a huge adjustment for her."
Well, what about me, Gigi? This is all new for me too! You've brought in a stranger—a gorgeous stranger, for crying out loud.
But, of course, I kept those thoughts to myself. Saying them out loud would only make me the villain of this story.
"Come on, Yuu," Gigi pleaded, giving me her best puppy-dog eyes. "Ari's kind and fun—you're gonna love her."
No. Highly unlikely. In fact, I was already brainstorming my escape routes to avoid her entirely.
"She might even become your new best friend," Gigi teased, her grin far too smug for my liking.
I scoffed. "Please. I already have two insufferable best friends. I don't need to add another one to the collection."
"I'm just saying," Gigi shrugged, "you could use another friend."
I let out an incredulous scoff. "I have other friends," I shot back. "Mrs. Sun is my friend."
Gigi stared at me, deadpan. "Yuu, Mrs. Sun is the school librarian."
"And?"
"She's fifty years old, Yuu."
I gasped, clutching my metaphorical pearls. "Gigi, how dare you? Mrs. Sun is sweet and cuddly—she's like a grandmother to me!"
"Okay, I didn't mean it in a rude way," Gigi said, her tone softening. "I'm just worried about you. You know, as your friend."
I raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.
"Some of my batchmates said my best friend looks... well, menacing to approach."
I scoffed again, louder this time, because seriously?
"They just want to get to know you," Gigi pressed on, her voice calm but insistent. "And Ari? She really wants to get to know you too. I know you have your trust issues—I get it, I do. But could you just give her a chance? For me?"
I groaned, slumping in defeat. "Do I even have a choice? This is your house, after all."
Gigi shook her head firmly. "It's our house, Yuu, and I care about your comfort too. I'm not forcing you—I just think you'll never regret getting to know Ari. She's genuinely a good person."
I sighed, long and heavy, before muttering, "Fine."
Gigi let out a squeal of delight and wrapped me in a bear hug, practically crushing me in her excitement.