Jisoo couldn't wait to tell her friends about her encounter. The moment she stepped into the loft, she called out, "Guys, you won't believe what just happened!"
Vanessa, lounging on the couch with her phone, perked up immediately. "What now? Did your relatives finally act like normal human beings?"
Jisoo shook her head, dropping her bag by the door. "No, it was awful. Jiho and Minji cornered me on the street."
Asha, who was pouring tea in the kitchen, spun around. "What?! Those two again? Why didn't you call me? I'd have given them a piece of my mind."
"I didn't need to," Jisoo said, collapsing onto the couch. "A stranger stepped in and saved me."
Chloe, sitting cross-legged on the floor with her laptop, raised an eyebrow. "What kind of stranger? Was he cute? Please say he was cute."
Jisoo felt her cheeks warm. "I mean…he was tall, and his jawline was sharp enough to cut glass, but that's not the point!"
Vanessa leaned forward, grinning. "Sounds like the beginning of a K-drama. Did he sweep you off your feet?"
"No!" Jisoo said, laughing despite herself. "He just stood up to Jiho and Minji, told them off, and walked away before I could even ask for his name."
Asha placed a cup of tea in Jisoo's hands. "Mystery man to the rescue, huh? Maybe he's your guardian angel."
"Or a stalker," Vanessa added dramatically, earning a pillow to the face from Jisoo.
"Thanks for ruining the vibe," Jisoo said, rolling her eyes.
Chloe smirked. "But seriously, Jisoo, are you okay? They didn't say anything too horrible, did they?"
Jisoo sighed, the earlier pain creeping back into her chest. "They were their usual selves. Criticizing me, saying I don't belong. But this guy…he made me feel like I did. Even if it was just for a moment."
As the room fell silent for a beat, Vanessa suddenly jumped up. "Okay, we need to cheer you up. Asha, it's time."
Asha groaned. "Vanessa, no. Not again."
"Yes, again!" Vanessa declared, pulling her phone out and opening TikTok. "We're doing the 'APT' dance challenge. Bruno Mars and Rosé are calling, and we must answer!"
Jisoo snorted into her tea as Vanessa dragged Asha to the middle of the room. "This is going to be a disaster," Asha muttered, but a smile tugged at her lips.
Vanessa started the music, and the two launched into the dance. Well, Vanessa launched—Asha stumbled through the first few steps, muttering under her breath, "This choreography is made for people with no hips!"
"Loosen up, Asha!" Vanessa said, twisting her body dramatically.
"I'm trying, but my ancestors are judging me!"
Jisoo and Chloe dissolved into laughter as Vanessa twirled, nearly knocking over a lamp. Asha attempted to mimic her moves but ended up flopping onto the couch in defeat.
"That was…something," Chloe said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
"You're welcome," Vanessa said, bowing dramatically.
As the laughter subsided, Chloe clapped her hands together. "Okay, listen up. I have some news."
The girls turned to her expectantly.
"I scored us tickets to the hottest art gallery display in Seoul," Chloe announced, her eyes sparkling.
"Wait, what?" Jisoo asked, sitting up straight.
"You heard me," Chloe said. "There's a gallery featuring works from some of the most renowned Korean artists, and I got us tickets for tomorrow night."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "This isn't some stuffy event, right? Like, we don't have to whisper and pretend we know the difference between abstract and cubism?"
"It's not stuffy," Chloe assured her. "It's chic. Trendy. The kind of place where we'll blend in perfectly with our impeccable style."
"Speak for yourself," Asha said, eyeing Vanessa. "She'll probably show up in her TikTok outfit."
"Rude," Vanessa shot back, sticking her tongue out.
Jisoo smiled, her spirits lifting. "I think it sounds amazing. Let's do it."
Chloe grinned. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, we're going to the art gallery. Dress to impress, ladies."
As the group erupted into a mix of excitement and playful teasing, Jisoo felt a flicker of hope. For the first time in days, she wasn't thinking about her relatives or the pain they caused. She was thinking about the possibilities ahead—and the mysterious stranger who had stood up for her.