EPILOGUE Part  13

“Me? Alone in this house?”

“…It is a bit big for one person, but we’ll be here for vacations and holidays—”

“Oh, the main house is too big. Maybe the guest house.”

As soon as Sangjin was caught in Taejun’s plan, Taejun seized the opportunity.

“Then, I’ll assume you’ll be living in the guest house, Dad. Lopez, my personal assistant, will hire Max Monroe for the interior design. We’ll aim to complete the interior before the wedding, as soon as we close the contract.”

“What is all this…?”

As Sangjin sat there in disbelief, Lexi, who had been attentively following their conversation in Korean, chimed in smartly.

[This house isn’t on the market yet, but once it is, there could be a bidding war. The owner wants to sell quickly, so it’s best to put in an offer as soon as possible.]

Taejun nodded calmly.

[Please send the necessary documents via email.]

[Yes, understood. I’ll do my best to help you become a resident of beautiful Hilton Head Island soon.]

Lexi, with a freckled smile that reminded Minhee of those summer days, turned to her.

[Minhee, welcome home!]

* * *

On the way back to the real estate office in Lexi’s car, she switched from realtor mode to old friend mode, chatting with Minhee in the front seat.

[Today’s the Rosewood High School homecoming, right? It’s the event the whole island looks forward to. One of my colleagues at the office is an alum and on the planning committee, and they say the alumni RSVP is unusually high this year. Noah said he’d attend, so everyone’s excited.]

[Oh, remember Brianna? The queen bee from your school we met at Noah’s party. She recently returned to the island! She left for New York to become a Broadway musical actress, but it seems things didn’t work out. She’s now working the counter at her dad’s mini-golf arcade.]

[And do you remember Trey Davis? The hyena from the Rosewood football team. He’s apparently really successful in New York now. Became a hotshot Wall Street banker. Maybe I should head to New York too? Life here is too boring, and every day feels the same.]

As they headed to Sangjin’s house, Minhee, who had been lost in thought, made a decision.

“Taejun, I want to go to the homecoming party. Will you come with me?”

“Of course. I have to go too.”

Taejun enunciated each word with emphasis. He knew what this ‘homecoming’ party meant to Minhee. Besides, he had already overheard the conversation between the realtor and Minhee. Taejun’s eyes glinted coldly as he pressed his lips together firmly.

‘I won’t let Noah Brown take Minhee away right in front of me again.’

As soon as they got home, Minhee locked herself in her room to get ready for the party. After a couple of failed attempts, she elegantly pinned up her hair and applied makeup just as she had learned at Francine’s makeup studio not long ago.

She vividly remembered the first time she bought and applied lipstick at fifteen, wiping it off awkwardly with tissue because it felt so strange. Now, looking in the mirror, her skilled hand applying makeup felt both familiar and unfamiliar.

Minhee changed into a fitted white lace dress and stood in front of the mirror again.

‘Toddler.’

She recalled herself just before the high school prom, staring into the mirror with a trembling heart. With a timid and uneasy gaze, she had forced a smile while gathering her self-esteem scattered on the floor.

The reflection in the mirror still looked younger than her age. But she didn’t apply heavy makeup to appear older.

Emphasizing her clear, white skin and gray eyes was enough. She liked how she looked. She felt attractive because she knew there was someone who loved her just as she was, no matter how she appeared.

Her large, gentle eyes met hers in the mirror, calm and steady. She smiled at her reflection.

‘I’m ready.’

A cautious knock sounded.

“Seol Minhee, are you almost done? Taejun’s been waiting for a while. How much longer? You can’t turn a pumpkin into a watermelon—”

(Korean idiom that conveys the idea that you cannot change something’s fundamental nature. In essence, it means that no matter how much effort or desire you put into it, certain things just can’t be transformed into something they’re not.)

“I’m ready!”

Minhee flung the door open. Sangjin’s eyes widened comically.

“Oh my, who are you?”

“It’s your daughter.”

“Outshining the master. You’re prettier than your mom.”

“Outshining…? Anyway, you mean I’m pretty, right?”

“In high school, you didn’t want to go to parties because of that resort boy, but today you seem excited.”

“…Dad, you knew?”

“Of course, did you think I wouldn’t know just because you didn’t say anything? You cried every night back then. I felt so sorry because I didn’t know what to do for my teenage daughter.”

Sangjin’s eyes reddened as he spoke. Minhee’s nose also turned a shade of red.

“Ahem, ahem. My daughter, have fun at the party with Taejun today.”

Sangjin awkwardly turned his head and called out loudly to Taejun in the living room.

“Taejun, Minhee’s ready!”

Taejun, already dressed in a suit and catching up on work on his laptop, stood up at Sangjin’s call.

Minhee walked out in her white dress. Could a temptress, disguised as an angel, mercilessly slash a man’s soul like this?

Taejun froze, scanning Minhee from head to toe, then quickly composed his expression when he saw Sangjin standing nearby.

The lace dress, revealing her slender neck and delicate shoulders below her pinned-up hair, clung to her curves but was much more modest compared to the dress she wore on his birthday.

Taejun involuntarily sighed in relief.

“How do I look?”

Minhee spread her arms and twirled around. Taejun’s breath caught. The dress was cut in a deep V down her back. It was a dress that left you wondering what was hidden beneath. Taejun, who knew what was hidden, felt dizzy.

“Uh, very….”

“Taejun, isn’t she beautiful?”

“…Yes, Dad.”

Feeling his body heat up suddenly, Taejun took off his jacket and stood next to Minhee.

“Taejun, let’s go now. Dad! Don’t wait up for us; we might be late.”

“Okay, okay. Have fun, you two!”

Sangjin peeked his head out the window, watching the two cross the small yard.

After some back-and-forth, Taejun’s jacket ended up on Minhee’s shoulders, and his arm wrapped around her. Sangjin chuckled softly.

“Ah, young love.”

* * *

The dance party in the high school gym had its own kitschy vibe. The party decorations were particularly tacky, and the food was terrible. Yet, the clusters of attendees were eager to appear ‘cool,’ and the room buzzed with the heat of people subtly eyeing each other under a guise of indifference.

It was as if everyone stepped into a time machine and traveled back to the past, and the alumni party was no exception.

Minhee felt it too. But unlike before, she was entering the venue arm in arm with a tall, handsome partner.

Upon entering, Minhee scanned the gym. There weren’t as many familiar faces as she expected. She felt a mix of relief and disappointment when a familiar voice called out to her.

[Minhee?]

Minhee’s eyes widened in delight as she looked around.

[Madison!!]

Madison, her best friend from high school, had settled in Florida after attending college there. They met every summer on Hilton Head Island during college, but it became harder to meet after they graduated and started working.

After exchanging warm greetings and introducing Taejun, Madison squealed and hugged Minhee.

[Congratulations on your engagement, Minhee!!]

The exclamation drew the attention of those around them. Taejun excused himself to get drinks, giving the two friends some space to catch up comfortably.

[Oh my God! I’ve never seen an engagement ring with such a big diamond!]

Madison gushed, holding Minhee’s left hand.

[Holy moly, who’s this?]

Minhee and Madison turned their heads simultaneously.

Brianna, flanked by her entourage just like in high school, strutted over as if she were in a movie scene.

Brianna’s gaze dropped to Minhee’s hand held by Madison, then rose with a frown to look down at her from her tall height. It was the half-lidded, dismissive look that sometimes appeared in her nightmares.

[Hi, what was your name again? Mina? I remember the nickname, though. Heh.]

The story of a high school queen bee returning as an ugly, fat loser was something that only happened in movies. At twenty-six, Brianna had married, divorced, and had a child, yet she remained tall and slender with her blonde hair.

Her father ran a large arcade in the center of Hilton Head Island, and even if her career had failed, she wouldn’t face financial difficulties.

Though there were some wrinkles around her mischievous eyes and her lips were swollen from fillers, she still looked like the cheerleader captain in her tight hot pink dress.

[Brianna.]

Minhee nodded her chin.

Her heart rate increased slightly, but she was okay. Madison stood silently beside her, holding her hand tightly. Come to think of it, Madison used to secretly hold Minhee’s hand whenever Brianna’s group bullied her in high school.

Brianna looked Minhee up and down, then snorted.

[Mina. Seems like you’ve grown a bit since then?]