Bom had never thought that she'd see him again. It has been almost 5 years since she saw him and it wasn't a nice memory to begin with, it was a nightmare. She had suffered every night waking up to the painful memories and fearing that it would happen again.
It was true, she had changed, far from who she was before, her clothes, her hair, her face, and how she viewed life. Love, She doesn't even know what that word meant anymore.
5 years ago...
How it all started began with an innocent night out at a bar.
"Cheers! Finally, medical exams are now over," Chaerin sighed as Bom smiled brightly, her eyes twinkling behind her thick-rimmed glasses. They both sipped their light-alcoholic drinks and chatted on about what the hardest part of the exam was. Earlier, they had dined with their other female friends before heading off to the bar to just enjoy the night.
"I almost called out all the gods in heaven when I saw all the questions," Bom giggled while Chaerin shook her head before taking another sip. Unexpectedly, Bom's eyes met contact with a guy near the bar. He smiled at her while she on the other hand quickly looked away. Chaerin saw the small connection between them nudged her.
"Yah, I think the guy wearing a grey jacket likes you," Bom looked at Chaerin in disbelief.
"No he doesn't. I mean why would he?" she said taking another sip of her drink. "As you can see I'm not the prettiest being inside this bar," her words made Chaerin shake her head.
"Bommie, are we going to have this talk again?" Chaerin adjusted her seat so she could look at her clearly while Bom groaned and reluctantly looked at her best friend. "Oh god, here we go again," she muttered while pretending to shake in fear.
Not giving in Chaerin continued. "Listen to me, you're pretty. Why can't you see that?" she said getting a bit frustrated when she heard Bom sigh. "Uh, do I really have to say this? Look, you're even prettier than me,"Chaerin said humbly. "I have a problem with my eyes," Chaerin continued and Bom almost choked on her drink.
"Hul! Chaerin-ah, can't you see us right now? We're the complete opposite of one another," Bom protested. She had a point. Looking at them, Chaerin wore more fashionable clothes and shoes. Her hair was styled prettily and she didn't have to wear glasses. Bom, in contrast, wore thick rimmed glasses and didn't even bother styling her clothes which are more conservative and dark brown hair which she ties up all the time.
"How could we not be opposites of each other? I keep telling you to lose the glasses, let your hair down more often, and the... clothes," Chaerin was left speechless as she looked at her. She had always wanted to style her and lend her more fashionable clothes but Bom kept rejecting the idea.
Before Chaerin could speak further Bom spoke. "Thinking about it, I guess we really are pathetic. You can't confess to the guy you like and I have self confidence issues. I'm really thankful for the encouraging words but can't we just-- ah!" Bom had just been bumped by some tipsy guy.
"Oops, my fault... I'm sorry miss..." the guy started in a deep voice. He's words came out in a drunken tone. "...you're so cute... what's your name? I'm T.O.-"the guy didn't finish his introduction when his friend came up and pulled him away.
"Hyung, let's go home," his friend said in a bored tone. Chaerin could see his friend's arm tattoos and frowned. To some it may be cool but to her it just shouts ex-convict, drugs and danger. He was wearing shades, which was weird since it is eleven in the evening. He glanced at her and she looked away immediately. Oddly, she never got intimidated by just one glance, this guy just was... different.
"C'mon, G...I don't want to go home yet... I want to go meet... cute girl back there... she's my ultimate type,"the tipsy guy yelled as his friend dragged him back to their table, shoving him down to the sofa.
Bom and Chaerin were left stunned as they looked at each other. "Eew, did you see that? That...that alien tried to touch my face," Bom complained as she placed her hand on her chest and took a quick drink. "Too bad he's handsome," Bom added to herself but then shook away those thoughts. She wondered why she even contemplated about his features.
"Well, at least he thinks that you're cute, see, I told you," Chaerin said, laughing lightly.
"That doesn't count, the guy is drunk, drunk enough to say that I'm his ultimate type," Bom said as she and Chaerin hurriedly finished their drinks and paid the bill. Bom fears that he'd come back and harass them both.
They have gotten up from their seat ready to leave when the "drunk alien" as Bom would like to call him stood up at their table, wobbling a bit before singing loudly
아껴온 한 마디 살결을 가까이
(That word that I've been holding back till now, our skin's almost touching)
널 절대 실망시키지 않아 girl I promise
(I'll never disappoint you girl I promise)
우리는 닮은꼴 남들과 다른 soul
(You and I are alike. We have a different soul than others)
지루한 세상을 등에지고 let's rock and roll
(Let's carry this boring world on our backs and let's rock and roll)
Oh oh oh na na na oh yeah Oh yeah oh yeah...
"Hul, Chaerin-ah let's get out of here," Bom said as she pulled Chaerin with her. "Why does he have to sing my favorite song of all songs and in a drunken perverted way," Bom thought as she and Chaerin head out of the bar.
The air was chilly outside as they walked towards their car. Bom fumbled for the car keys in her huge green hand bag when someone called out from behind. Initially, she didn't think that the person was calling for her that she was so surprise when someone lightly held her arm. Turning around, she was surprised to see the guy wearing the grey jacket. He smiled at her which she thought looked really cute and offered his hand to her. "Hi, I know this is a bit weird but I've been watching you for a while and I don't want to end the night not knowing your name. I'm Han Seo Jin, nice to meet you," He said smoothly as he gazed at her intently that she blushed.
"I-I'm B-Bom, Park Bom, is there a-anything you need?" she stuttered seeing as this was the first time that somebody asked for her name other than the drunken alien a while ago.
"Yeah, actually I do need something, your number," he smiled shyly as her heart beat raced.
That night, they ended up exchanging numbers. That night was the night she met Han Seo Jin, her first boyfriend. It was the night she regretted the most.
They started dating and eventually she fell for him. He was sweet, funny and he'd bring her flowers or gifts every time. She also knew about his reputation among the women, that he was a playboy but then he assured her that it was a thing of the past and she believed him. That was her mistake, the world wasn't as kind as it used to be anymore and that was what she learned the hard way. It was all too late. She had already given him her heart, her body and her soul.
"Bommie! Bommie, open the door, it's me, Chaerin," Chaerin's worried voice echoed across the hall as she knocked again at Bom's apartment and she didn't care whether she'd wake the neighbours up. She had a feeling that something was wrong and that feeling never fails. "I must be some psychic in my past life," she thought as she heard noise coming from the apartment. The door opened slightly as Bom peeked from inside.
"Chaerin-ah, w-what are you doing here at this time?" she asked softly. It was way past midnight, two in the morning to be exact.
Whatever Bom wanted to hide from her was useless since Chaerin knew her all too well. "Open the door,"Chaerin demanded. Reluctantly, Bom gave way so she could come in. Chaerin walked inside and faced her. Bom's hair covered half her face and Chaerin immediately brushed it away, exposing her face. "Did that bastard do this to you again?!" Chaerin almost yelled out in anger seeing the bruise near her lip.
"I-It wasn't like that... he just got drunk last night. It was also my fault, I asked too much instead of just trusting him," she said, avoiding Chaerin's gaze.
"So that gives him all the right to this? And that girl, who the hell is she?" Chaerin pressed further, trying to talk calmly.
"She is his relative," Bom answered.
"Relative? Do you see me clinging tightly to my cousin's arm, holding hands and acting all sweet? Bommie, this isn't right anymore," Chaerin just wanted to beat up that guy already. She was about to burst out again but seeing Bom's eyes slowly tearing up made her stop. Stepping towards her, Chaerin gently wrapped her arms around Bom. "I'm sorry... but no one deserves to be treated like this, not even you,"
People have limits and when those limits are reached the silence ends and everything gets replaced by anger and then hatred. How far would you go for someone you love?
"Seo Jin oppa, I'd like to talk to you,"
"Bom-ah, what is it this time? I have some important things to do,"
"But--"Bom stopped hearing a woman's voice calling his name at the background.
"Bom, I really need to go," the line went dead immediately as soon as he says the last word.
He was at his bachelors pad, throwing a party, the "important" thing he had to attend to. The music was on full blast and the party was heating up. People partied around, dancing hard not minding the girl who's heart was breaking into pieces as she watched him. He sat at the sofa with women on both his sides flirting heavily with him and he enjoyed it as if he didn't have a girlfriend. It didn't end there, another woman sat on his lap and seductively whispered in his ear before shamelessly giving him a kiss. Bom stood there, looking at the sight of him returning her kiss. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she painfully took in the truth. All the lies he told her, all the promises he made, his sweet gestures, nothing was real. She has reached her limit, it was enough.
He was "busy" with his women and didn't notice what was coming his way. A splash of water hit him and the woman he was with. He opened his eyes as water dripped down from his hair to his shirt while his woman stood up immediately wiping herself. His eyes then travelled to the culprit, Bom. He stared at her, surprised to see her and couldn't believe what she just did. Gone were those understanding eyes she always showed for him, it was more of pain and hatred. Unable to hold back she slapped him and threw anything she would see while her tears fell. No words could even express what she felt that she only kept crying and throwing stuff at him.
Back when they were still small Chaerin was more of the fighter, defending her friends from bullies, she was outspoken and outgoing whilst Bom was a sweet and shy kid. She played in a corner and loved to dream that sometimes she spaces out. Being a gentle kid, it was very unlikely for her to lose control and lash out.
"Why the hell are you here?" Seo Jin yelled after pulling her by the arm and dragging her to a room. Bom could smell alcohol from him.
"How could you do this to me?" she yelled back, twisting her arm away from him. "You lied to me, you jerk!"she hit his chest and that's when he slapped her on the face with the back of his hand. He hit her hard, making her lose balance and land on the bed behind her. She stared at him fiercely while her tears silently fell. This wasn't the cute and charming guy she met before. To her he was the ugliest creature she laid eyes on.
"I gave you everything and you only toyed with me...you're not even human... I hate you," she said in a firm tone.
He stared at her and only gave her a sarcastic smile. "Yeah, you're right I did. It's actually hard getting rid of you once I got bored," he's words were cold and it attacked her heart cruelly.
"You got your wish. Have happy life, die painfully and go to hell," she said making him lose control and look at her darkly.
"You-!" he yelled as he hit her again several times. She cried out in pain but it was useless. "No b.itch messes with me. How about a goodbye f.uck? Is that what you want?" he yelled again as he started yanking her blouse.
"No! Stop! Get off of me, jerk!" she screamed while he starts tearing her clothes apart and disgustingly kiss her neck aggressively. "Stop it! Help!" she cried out in desperation. His hands were everywhere as he starts attacking her jeans.
She thought it would have been the end of her. The desire to rather die than be in this guys hands grew. Everything seemed hopeless when the door of the room opened and somebody hit him in the head, making him stop. He turned around groggily only to be hit in his balls which caused him to fall at the side of the bed.
"Bommie!" Chaerin quickly took off her jacket and wrapped it around her before helping her up. They got out of the room and out of the building. Her knees were weak and Chaerin could feel her trembling beside her. If she didn't put an arm around her she might have fallen.
Fortunately, Chaerin had a taxi waiting outside of the building since Bom was in no condition to drive. Inside the car she leaned on to her best friend and cried hard all the way home.
Chaerin had to stay with her for fear that she might do something terrible to herself. It was also her who tended her bruises while she, Bom, could only stare in space. She had no more tears to cry.
After a whole evening of silence Bom finally spoke. "Chaerin-ah, how did you know?" she asked softly as she lay on Chaerin's lap.
"You sent me message remember? I had that usual bad feeling when something wasn't right so I went there,"Chaerin replied, gently brushing Bom's hair.
They both became silent once more before Bom spoke again. "I'm so stupid," she whispered.
"No you're not, the guy was an a.sshole," Chaerin replied, shaking her head. She wished that she had kicked him more but then she also knew that Bom had to get out of there as soon as possible.
"Chaerin-ah, thank you." A single tear fell at the corner of Bom's eye. The final tear she will ever shed for a guy.
After that incident Bom had changed or more on that she had welcomed changed. She dyed her hair red and threw all her old clothes, exchanging them with new ones, from her old conservative style to a more revealing fashion. Even her sneakers were exchanged with expensive high heels. She even wore make-up, putting emphasis on her eyes and lips. She did all of it with the help of Chaerin who at first feared that she might be doing too much but then seeing the determination on her best friend's eyes she finally supported the idea. The change felt very refreshing and liberating to Bom and now, no one can take her down.
She never talked about love or relationships except when it comes to Chaerin. All this time, her best friend was the only one she'll ever trust.
5 years later...
He couldn't believe that it was her. The girl in front of him was far from the shy girl he met 5 years ago. He eyed her from her red hair which fell to her shoulders to her blue mini dress that exposed her long legs. Officially, she was a total turn on to any guy inside and outside the club. She had gotten used to men whose gaze follows her like she had some magnet or something. Both she and Chaerin have always been the center of attention in a crowd back at when they studied at med school.
