CH6- Pride & Prejudice

Pride & Prejudice

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Seunghyun’s POV

How should I tell Dongwook hyung of what I’ve heard without making me look uncool? Should I just admit straight out that I eavesdropped on their conversation? Or, could it be that hyung knows what Sandy is really like? I mean it’s not a crime … what she does. But still, why do I feel betrayed somehow? Gah! I don’t like the fact that I’m thinking of that girl. She’s not someone worth my time. I can probably broach the subject another time but not tonight. Yes, that’s right! Tonight is for celebration. She refused to meet us anyway so I don’t have to worry.

What she does and who she does it with is none of my concern.

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Dongwook’s POV

Donny returned to the VIP room shortly after Seunghyun and he immediately whispered to me that Sandy refused and that she didn’t care about my offer. 

Tsk, that girl. 

Sometimes, I wonder who the boss between the two of us is. She’s the only girl who works for only 3 times a week and for just 2 hours at that. She’s the most sought after among the girls who works here and I and the managers always have to come up with excuses why she can’t join any of the VIP parties. The guests are decent enough and I don’t allow indecent acts inside the club. I am also protective of my employees.

She is a constant source of my headaches. 

But Dara has grown on me. It’s very rare that Byul would introduce a girl to me and she even asked me to hire her. She told me about Dara’s other job and I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t surprised. For one thing, she doesn’t look it and two, I never thought Byul would even be friends with Dara knowing her preference when making friends and meeting new people. I’m not saying that Byul’s a snob but with us growing up with privileged family background, we don’t really get to mingle with people beneath our social circle. But Dara’s a sweet girl once she lets you in. She will never admit it but I know that she’s a softie inside. One must get past her thorns first.

Sigh. I smoothed my knotted forehead. I told Donny that I’ll take care of it and ordered him to stay.

“Hey” I told my friends, standing up. “Seems like I’m needed outside for a few minutes. I’ll be back.”

Before I was completely out the door, I heard Jiyong whine, “Hyung, how much longer do we have to wait for her huh?” Argh! I can feel the symptoms of a headache coming.

I hurried my strides because she would use her ninja skills to leave the club as I radioed the doorman. I knocked a couple of times and turned the knob of the dressing room door without waiting for a response. Just in time, I saw her zipping up her backpack rearing to go. 

“Dara-ya…” I said, with my puppy eyes “it will only be for a few minutes…” I said beseechingly. I know that she knows what I’m talking about.

She quickly slung her backpack over both shoulders without looking at me so I stood directly in front of her and crouched so she can see me making puppy eyes since she didn’t see the first time. “Pwease…” I said with aegyo, with both of my hands clasped on my chest. Byul never fails to give in when I do this to her.

I can see Dara clamping her lips so as not to laugh. 

“Pwweeettty pwweeease….” Blink, blink, blink.

She burst out laughing, losing the annoyed look. 

I straightened. Yup, never fails. I congratulated myself.

“Ya! Oppa, that’s disgusting!” she said.

“Ya! You should be honored” I retorted, laughing with her.

“C’mon can’t you grant Oppa’s request? I promise that this will be the absolute, final, the very last request” I promised and crossed my heart.

She looked at me, eyes, now turned serious. “Are those people really important to you?” she asked.

“Yes” I nodded. “They are like my brothers. We grew up together so I can vouch for them. They’re good guys.” I added for good measure.

“You won’t leave me there?” she said after some thinking. 

“No! Why would I leave you? Like I said, I’ll just introduce you to them and then we’ll just tell them that you have a prior engagement to attend to or that your boyfriend is waiting for you at home.” I know that she doesn’t really have a boyfriend. It’s just the excuse that we mostly use when somebody asks for her.

“You owe me big time” she finally said and I hugged her briefly.

I knew she’s a softie.

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Jiyong’s POV

“Oppa, let me pour you another drink” said the girl sitting beside me. I think she said her name was Tiffany or was it Jessica? I shook my head. It’s too early to feel drunk. I’m getting frustrated with all the waiting and I am downing shots of Patron like its water. I was about to go outside to get some fresh air when my mobile phone began ringing.

I saw the caller ID and immediately answered. “Yo! Where are you, man? I think I’m already drunk and you’re still not here. Are you bailing on us?” I accused.

“Sorry” the voice of my best friend said. “The meeting went longer that I thought. Mian. I had to change clothes and I got caught in the traffic.” He continued. “I’m almost there … maybe in about 10 minutes …”

“Arasso … hurry up!”

“Neh …”

Hanging up, I went back to my seat, forgetting my plans earlier.

“Oppa…” one of the girls hugged my right arm to her bossom. I know that she planned for me to feel the size of her breasts and boy are they big! If it’s any other night, I would definitely be interested but not tonight. Tonight, I’m waiting for someone else. Someone with the name of Sandy.

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Author’s POV

Dara was looking so out of place as she and Dongwook were walking towards the VIP rooms upstairs. One would think that an underage schoolgirl is inside the club. She was garbed that way the first time Byul introduced her to Dongwook when they met for coffee. Dara can be a chameleon sometimes. She can be sweet and innocent and then turn into a temptress the next.

Dongwook reached the door to where his friends are first and gave Dara a look before opening it. Dara nodded and followed. “I’m back” he announced.

He then opened the door wider and ushered another person in. For a second or two, the occupants of the room just looked at the girl in front of them. Dongwook’s employees immediately recognized her but the 4 boys are still processing the transformation of the sexy seductress earlier to this girl who looks like a high schooler. 

“Annyeong haseyo Sandy-imnida” Dara greeted with a slight bow. 

Dongwook raised his eyebrows and glanced at Dara amusingly. Why did she go all formal?

Dara raised one eyebrow back at him, not letting the guests see. You do know that I have the talent in making awkward situations, her look conveyed.

“A-Annyeong …” the boys finally replied with heads bowing, except for Seunghyun.

“Uhh … so you’ve now met Sandy” Dongwook said to break the formal atmosphere. “Sandy, meet my friends. These are my hyungs – Teddy …” Teddy is wearing a black leather jacket but has a hoodie underneath which covers his head and wearing a cap. What a weirdo, Dara thought. “… and this is Kush.” Kush is dressed appropriately but is wearing dark sunglasses and is smoking a fat cigar. “Yo!” he greeted, letting out a cloud of smoke. “These two are my younger brothers” Dongwook gestured to the two sitting next to each other.

“The blonde guy is Jiyong and I believe you’ve already met the birthday boy, Seunghyun”.

Dara smiled at them. The blonde wearing flashy clothes gave her a wink while the other was looking at her with a scowl. What the hell? Dara thought. Dongwook’s friends are weird, she concluded.

She then looked at the other faces in the room. Donny was glaring at her while the girls are either ignoring her or sulking.

“What would you like to drink?” the blonde guy, Jiyong asked Dara.

“Nothing, thanks” she answered.

“Come on” he said standing up went near her and put an arm around her shoulder. “Join us for a while…” winking again.

“No, thank you” Dara said and slowly removed Jiyong’s arm.

“Hey, we don’t bite” Kush said.

“I really have to be going. My boyfriend is waiting for me” Dara reasoned.

Seunghyun shifted in his seat. She has a boyfriend and still goes with different men for money? What kind of girl is she? He thought. His opinion of her is getting worse.

Jiyong didn’t think what Sandy said was important. He doesn’t care if the girl has a boyfriend or not. All he wants is to have fun tonight and it’s not like he’s looking for a girlfriend. It’s all no strings attached for him.

“I’m sure he can wait for one night” he coaxed. He is getting rather testy with the situation. “What would it take for you to say yes?”

“Try asking her how much instead, Oppa” interrupted the girl who was pouring drinks for him.

Dara looked at Jessica dangerously. Jessica has been rude to her since Day 1. She doesn’t like the fact that Sandy is getting more popular than her. Aside from that, she’s also jealous because of the attention Donny is giving her. Sandy heard from the grapevine that Jessica and Donny are f*ck buddies.

“Jessica…” warned Dongwook.

But Jessica had a little too much to drink already and is unstoppable. She’s tired of the obvious favoritism almost everyone is showing to this girl who just showed up a month ago and usurped her place. “Why, Oppa? Didn’t you know that that with the right price, she’d go out with men? She’s playing hard to get to get more money. She’s just a great actress pretending to be better than the rest of us!” Jessica is now glowering at Sandy, challenging her to refute her accusations.

Dara didn’t say anything but instead glanced at Donny. So he already blabbed, she thought. 

Donny couldn’t meet Sandy’s eyes and instead glared at Jessica. “Stop it!” he said to her as he pulled Jessica to her feet.

“I apologize” he bowed to Dongwook’s friends “she’s had too much to drink.”

“Why are you apologizing?” Jessica tried to shake off Donny’s hold but he didn’t let go. “Where are you taking me?” 

Donny continued bowing to everyone while pulling Jessica out of the room. “I’m sorry” he kept saying, the last one aimed at Sandy.

“Go” Dongwook said “take care of her. She’s drunk” referring to Jessica.

With one last bow, he dragged Jessica the now screaming Jessica out of the VIP room.

“I’m sorry about that, guys” Dongwook started. “Let’s forget what happened and just enjoy the night, ehh?”

“Is what she said true?” Seunghyun all of a sudden said, speaking for the first time since Sandy entered the room.

“Ya!” warned Dongwook.

Seunghyun wanted to hear the truth from Sandy herself. There’s a part of him that hopes that he just misheard what he did earlier but also anxious if Sandy denies the accusation. 

Sandy and Seunghyun were having a staring battle when Sandy shrugged after a moment, as if to say I don’t care and said simply, “Yes.” She didn’t shy away from Seunghyun’s intense stare. There’s no trace of embarrassment at all on her voice.

Tension is now palpable inside the room. Sandy knows what they are thinking and she doesn’t care.

“How much?” Jiyong asked breaking their gazes. He's not a stranger to these kinds of arrangements.

“Jiyong!” Dongwook warned, standing up.

“What?” he asked innocently. “I just wanted to know her asking price.”

“Enough of this!” Dongwook said and walked towards Sandy who is still standing in the middle of the room. “I apologize for my friend’s behavior …" he said squeezing her arm.

“I’m not asking her to have sex with me. Just stay here with us and have some drinks!” Jiyong exclaimed. “Can’t you stay even for an hour? Name your price” he said arrogantly.

Jiyong wanted to stop the words coming out of his mouth because he knows that he’s being a jerk but he felt insulted and hurt by Sandy’s rejection. He felt like he’s being played. If it takes money for her to stay, then he’s willing to shelve money. He’s confident that he’ll charm her socks off and then he’ll do the rejecting. He can play the game that she’s playing. “I’m being generous here. Name your price, babe.”

Dongwook is losing his patience and can’t believe that the night is turning into a disaster. He should have just let Sandy go home. “Stop it, GD” his tone now serious.

Jiyong was about to open his mouth when Teddy motioned with his hand to make him stop. “Sandy, I apologize for my dongsaengs” he said. “They turn crazy in front of beautiful girls” he tried to joke. “I hope you’ll forgive their rudeness if you were offended.”

Sandy looked at Teddy and she realized that he’s good looking even though he’s got a weird fashion sense. She returned his smile and looked unaffected by all the drama. She has been through uglier situations like this so she refused to let hurt get to her. In her mind, she’s reciting her mantra – “You’re going to be alright, Dara. You’re going to be alright.”

“It’s alright, Oppa” she said sweetly. “No offense taken”

Oppa? She called him Oppa? Jiyong thought. How dare she flirtatiously smile at his hyung when she’s acting like Jiyong doesn’t even exist? This girl is seriously eating up his patience. 

“Do you really have to go?” asked a hopeful Kush.

“Ye-” Sandy began to say. She was about to make her final goodbyes when she heard a voice coming from behind. 

“I’m here!” the voice announced. “Sorry the meeting took longer than I expected and then I got caught up in traffic on the way here and ..."

The voice stopped and the person who came in is now standing in front of Sandy, his eyes going wide as they can.

“H-Hi…” he said, sounding surprised.

Sandy smiled. “Hello”

“You two know each other?” Dongwook asked, seeing the way they look at each other.

“We’ve met” Sandy said, the same time Youngbae said “Yes”.

Youngbae showed her his smize again. “Wow! I thought I’ll never see you again!” he exclaimed.

“Is that a good or a bad thing?” Sandy teased.

“Definitely a good thing” he readily answered with a chuckle. “So, what are you doing here?”

“I work here.”

“You do?”

Sandy nodded. 

Seunghyun doesn’t like it that one of his best friends is acting all friendly with Sandy. Is Bae one of her clients? Nope, he shook his head. Bae is pure and wouldn’t resort to hiring a woman just to lose his virginity. He’s too shy for that. Still, he doesn’t like it.

“I thought you were leaving?” Seunghyun reminded Sandy. It sounded like he couldn’t wait to see her go.

Sandy doesn’t know why but she doesn’t like how the birthday boy looks at her. It’s like she’s done something that personally offended him. Could it be that he didn’t like it when she sat on his lap? Or could it be the kiss? Could it be that he’s gay? Well, if he is, he didn’t give her that vibe when she was dancing around him earlier. So what is his problem? She noticed that he was already glaring at her even before Jessica opened her freaking mouth. She returned his glare.

“You’re leaving already?” Youngbae said with a frown. “I just got here…”

“I was about to leave …”

“Please stay?” Youngbae pleaded. “Please?”

Sandy can still feel the laser like eyes of Seunghyun so she decided to piss him further. 

“Why not?” she decided. She then looked at Jiyong. “Hey blondie!” she called him. “Does your offer still stand?”

“What?!” Jiyong who was silently trying to keep track of the interaction between Bae and Sandy was caught offguard.

“You said name my price, right?” she reminded him.

Jiyong could only nod.

“Okay. I changed my mind. I guess I can stay for an hour or two” she pointedly looked at Seunghyun and smirked.

“Are you sure?” Dongwook sounded worried.

“Don’t worry, Oppa.” She answered; letting the backpack she’s carrying slide off her shoulders and settled it on top of the couch near her. “Youngbae here owes me some things…”

She sat on the couch and Youngbae sat beside her.

The rest of the occupants of the room can only stare at the two of them at the sudden turn of events.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, modify, create derivative works, or in any way exploit any content of this story without a written consent from the author.

All rights reserved by Ms/Mzbookworm4life. © April 2013.