Linda was still curled up under her blanket when the sharp trill of her phone broke the silence. She groaned, dragging a sleepy hand across the nightstand until her fingers found it.
"Hello…" she mumbled, her voice caught between sleep and wakefulness.
"Linda, it's Sophia," came a sweet, familiar voice. "Are you going to the gym today?"
Linda frowned, eyes half-shut. "Wait… isn't today Thursday?"
"Yes! But school are going to do anything important anyway. Just some boring activities with the outgoing students."
Linda's lips curved in a drowsy smile. "Oh, in that case… let's meet at the gym then."
"Perfect!" Sophia chirped, and with that, the call ended.
Dragging herself up, Linda shuffled to the bathroom. A splash of cold water erased the last of her drowsiness. By the time she dressed and strapped on her backpack, she felt her energy returning. Soon, the wheels of her bike hummed against the road as she rode to the gym.
She arrived first. The place smelled of faint sweat and rubber mats, the sound of punching bags thudding in the background. A few other early risers were already training, but her friends were nowhere in sight. Without waiting, Linda warmed up, her movements sharp and focused.
Minutes later, Alex and Sophia walked in together, waving. The three of them fell into rhythm—punches, kicks, stretches—pushing themselves until sweat soaked their clothes. By the time they collapsed on the benches, their breathing was heavy and uneven.
"What should we do next?" Sophia panted, wiping her forehead with a towel.
"Rest," Linda said firmly, leaning back against the wall. "Then home."
"And don't forget tomorrow's party," Alex added with a grin.
They all laughed, then split up, each pedaling home.
---
By the time Linda pushed open her front door, the sun hung high overhead. Her stomach growled painfully; she hadn't eaten a thing since morning. She headed straight to the kitchen, quickly throwing together a late brunch. The warm meal dulled her hunger but couldn't silence the nagging thought of the party.
She wandered to her wardrobe, tugging dresses off hangers one by one. Nothing looked right. Nothing felt like her. Her fingers clenched at the fabric, frustration bubbling in her chest.
Then her eyes flicked to the small stack of bills resting on her desk—the money Secretary Kim had given her when she'd first arrived in Seou. "Ho, I can buy a dress," she said.
Minutes later, Linda was on her bike again as she ride toward the mall.
At the entrance, a man brushed past her roughly, shoulder colliding hard against hers. She staggered back, nearly falling. By the time she steadied herself, the stranger had already disappeared inside.
Linda exhaled shakily and entered the mall.
The place sparkled under bright lights: polished marble floors, shop windows glowing with color, the hum of voices blending with faint music overhead. Perfume lingered in the air, and advertisements flashed across wide screens.
Then she saw it.
Then she saw a stunning red dress, its fabric shimmering under the display lights. It looked bold, alive, almost daring her to try it. Her heart quickened. She stepped inside the store and reached for it.
"Excuse me," she asked politely, holding the dress up. "Can I try this on, please?"
The salesgirl's eyes flicked over Linda, her lip curling in distaste. "Not without payment. Go to the counter and pay first—in case you ruin it."
A couple of her colleagues glanced over, smirking.
Linda's jaw tightened. "Fine. If I pay and it doesn't fit, I can exchange it, right?" Her tone was calm but steady, her chin lifted with quiet pride.
The salesgirls exchanged glances before nodding. "Yes," they chorused, mocking.
Linda reached for her back pocket, but her fingers met nothing. Cold realization struck. She checked again, patting herself frantically—her wallet was gone.
"Oh my God…" she whispered. Panic rose like fire in her chest.
Before she could explain, the salesgirl yanked the dress from her hands. "Thief!"
The accusation cut through the air, drawing stares.
At that moment, a young man walked into the shop. Tall, poised, his presence made the salesgirls instantly straighten. Their arrogance melted into nervous politeness as they recognized his face.
"What's going on here?" His voice was calm, deep.
"Sir," one of the girls said quickly, "this… this girl tried to steal the dress."
"What?!" Linda's voice trembled with disbelief. Her fists clenched.
The man's gaze shifted to her, then to the dress. "This is the one?"
"Yes," the girls nodded eagerly.
He studied Linda, his eyes softening. "Do you like it?"
Linda swallowed hard, her face hot with humiliation. "Y-yes… I was going to buy it. But my wallet—" she hesitated, her voice cracking. "Someone at the entrance… he pushed me. I think he stole it." Her chest tightened, shame and anger tangling together.
The man didn't doubt her. "I'll pay for it."
Linda's head snapped up. "No—you don't have to—"
But he was already walking to the counter, his tone brooking no argument. "I insist."
He handed the dress to her, the fabric neatly folded in its bag. Linda's fingers brushed his as she took it, and a shy warmth rushed to her cheeks.
"Th-thank you very much, sir," she said softly, bowing her head. Gratitude and embarrassment tangled in her chest, her voice quieter than she intended.
The man gave a small, reassuring smile. "I'm Julian," he said, his tone calm but warm. "I came here to shop with my sister. She's outside, catching up with some friends—we haven't seen them in years."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek card, holding it out to her. "Let's meet again sometime," he added simply.
Linda hesitated for a second, then accepted the card with both hands, her politeness instinctive. "Okay… thank you," she murmured.
Julian gave her a slight nod, as though sealing an unspoken promise.
With that, Linda turned to leave, glancing back once to wave goodbye. His calm gaze lingered on her for a heartbeat before she stepped out of the shop, clutching the dress to her chest as if it were a treasure.
At the entrance, Ava had already noticed her with Julian. As Linda walked past, Ava called out warmly, "Hi!"
Linda returned the greeting with a polite smile. "Hi," she said softly, before heading toward her bike.
The moment Ava stepped into the mall, she spotted her brother standing there with a soft smile still lingering on his face. Her brows arched playfully as she leaned closer.
"Who's that girl?" she asked, her tone dripping with mischief.
Julian cleared his throat quickly, trying to look casual. "Her name's Linda. We just met."
Ava's lips curved into a knowing grin. "Mhm… just met, and already you're smiling like that? Don't tell me you've fallen for her already."
Julian shot her a look, but his ears turned slightly red as they walked past the rows of boutiques and glittering displays. Ava kept teasing, nudging him every now and then. "Should I start planning the wedding colors? Maybe red, since you bought her a red dress?"
Julian sighed, shaking his head, but the small smile never really left his face.