CH10- Experiment

Experiment

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“Tell me, why do girls prefer the bad boy type?” asked Youngbae. He and Sandy are sitting in a quaint coffee shop sipping their favorite frappucinos. It’s their first day out after they signed the contract.

Sandy shrugged. “I guess they want excitement? You know girls have this notion that they can turn a bad boy into a good guy. It becomes an accomplishment for them.”

“But if they want to eventually end with a good guy, why not date a nice guy in the first place?”

“That defeats the purpose” Sandy reasoned. “Girls like to think that they’re able to tame the bad boy and bring out the best in him. That way, they can have the bragging rights that they tamed their man. It’s better than be with a good guy at first and then you just bring out the worst in him, right?”

“Good guys finish last” Youngbae quoted with a sigh. 

“You can say that. But for guys it’s different. They initially want a bad girl to fool around and have fun with but when it comes to choosing the ideal wife, they want a nice girl to be the mother of their children and to present to the parents” said Sandy. “Bad girls actually finish last in reality.”

“I think it doesn’t matter as long as you really love each other” Youngbae said in a serious voice. “I don’t care if she’s a bad girl or not.”

Sandy smirked. “Ha! It’s so typical. Look at you, obsessing over this Krystal girl that you even had to hire me. You do know that she falls under the bad girl category, right? Why do you like her anyway?”

Youngbae tried to think of reasons why, when in reality, he doesn’t really like the girl. “Uhm … she’s pretty?” was his lame answer.

“See? Typical male answer.”

Sandy looked outside the café. “I think you need a make-over” she said after a while.

“Make over?

Sandy nodded. “It’s just your luck that I happened to hear what Krystal and her friends like in a guy. And” she gave Youngbae a look from head to toe, “you definitely do not fit the bill.”

“How about you? What is your ideal guy?”

“It doesn’t matter what I like as long as he’s rich” said Sandy with a laugh. “C’mon. Get up! I’ll be your fairy godmother today and you’ll be the Cinderella-man.”

*******************

“Not the hair!” Youngbae protested. They are now inside a salon and Sandy was talking to the senior hair stylist for a suitable hair style for him. 

“Trust me” said Sandy patiently. “Those ugly braids got to go… no offense” she added. “The hip-hop look doesn’t look right for you. You need to be more neat-looking if you want to catch a girl’s attention…”

“But this is my style” Youngbae said stubbornly.

“Precisely why you need a change. Do you want to be in a relationship or not?”

Youngbae mumbled something incoherently. Sandy pulled his arm and settled him in a swivel chair in front of a large mirror. She then turned her attention to the stylist and told her how she wanted Youngbae’s hair cut.

“Ehem”

Hearing the sound, Sandy looked up from the magazine that she’s reading and a smile spread on her face. “Wow” she uttered. Standing up, she made Youngbae turn around so she can inspect the haircut. “Mohawk really suits you. Edgy and neat. Exactly what I envisioned.”

“You like it?” Youngbae asked, touching his newly shaved head. He has to admit that although he wasn’t thrilled to lose his braids, he looks better with his new hairstyle.

“The question is, will Krystal like it?” said Sandy with a twinkle in her eyes. She’s feeling good about this make-over mission. It’s the first time that she’s taking charge over a client’s appearance. Usually, it’s her clients who take her out to the salons and dress her up in fancy clothes. 

“Hand me your credit card” she ordered. 

Youngbae gave her his black card. 

“Perfect!” said Sandy. “We’re going shopping!”

After 4 hours of shopping and dinner, they finally called it a night and both Youngbae and Sandy are exhausted. Bae is now driving his car after insisting on taking Sandy home instead of letting her take the bus. When they reached Sandy’s neighborhood, he offered to walk her to her door but Sandy vehemently refused. Her apartment can’t be reached by car and she has to hike up two flights of stairs to reach the narrow street that leads to her place. 

“Just meet me here tomorrow at 7AM” she said. “We need to work on your body next” (A/N: let’s pretend that Youngbae is still skinny here) 

“Oh, and thank you for these” she held up the three shopping bags that she got for herself and her brother. Youngbae offered to buy her some so who was she to refuse?

“Are you sure you don’t need help?” Youngbae asked, worried for Sandy since the alley looked dark enough for a robber or rapist to lurk about.

“Don’t worry. I can defend myself” she assured him.

Youngbae could only nod and watch Sandy climb the stairs and disappear from his sight. He doesn’t want to be obvious just like what Dongwook advised him. Sandy might doubt his feelings. Sighing, he got back into his car and drove off. Tomorrow, he’ll see Sandy again. Things are progressing smoothly.

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They’ve been running around Han River for about an hour now. Sandy said that Krystal’s ideal is a beastly type of guy much like Nick and his friends. She made Youngbae promise to work on getting some muscles and she even advised him to drink some protein shakes. What Youngbae didn’t tell Sandy is that he just recently signed up for a gym membership and has been working out for a couple of months now. He plans to keep it a secret if it meant that he can spend more time with her since she accompanies him while exercising.

He’s quite impressed on Sandy’s stamina. She’s like an energizer bunny that never runs out of energy. He suggested that they rest for a while and they lay down on the grass. They just lie there in comfortable silence beside each other as they felt the gentle breeze that was brought by the late November wind. In a month, early snow will be a possibility according to the news and Sandy thought how nice will it be if she were in Jeju with her brother during the holiday seasons. But of course, she can’t. She has to earn some more money and Youngbae’s contract with her will end mid February. Honestly, this is the biggest pay check she’s had and she’s happy that she won’t have to be with different clients for three months at least. Youngbae was pleasant enough of a company and there’s no pressure to act lovey-dovey with him since he has his eyes set on another girl. Too many times, her clients get too attached and profess their love for her but that’s the deal breaker. She never went out with any of them again.

Turning her head, she observed Youngbae whose eyes are closed and seemingly fast asleep. “Hey, Youngbae” she called softly.

Automatically, Youngbae opened one eye and turned to look at her.

“Shouldn’t we go try and test your new look soon?” she said.

“I guess” he answered.

“Don’t you have a party or something where you can meet Krystal?”

“Well … there’s this masquerade ball at the end of the month …” he said hesitantly.

“That’s great!” Sandy said. “You should attend that”

“I don’t know. I don’t think I’m ready yet” 

“What?! “ Sandy reacted rather violently, sitting up. “Are you a man or what? I thought you wanted to get her attention?”

“I do. It’s just that I still think that I’ll be awkward. I’ll probably act like an idiot or something … I’m just socially inept when it comes to girls …” Youngbae tried to reason.

“I’m a girl and you’re not awkward with me” Sandy countered. “Or, is it because you don’t see me as a girl? I mean like in a romantic way?”

Youngbae’s eyes widened and also sat up. This conversation is taking a wrong turn for a lot of reasons. First off, he doesn’t want to think that Sandy believes that she doesn’t see her as a girl but he can’t let her know that he actually likes her and not Krystal. He’s in a dilemma and he started doubting Dongwook and Byul’s advice. What if when the time comes that he finally confesses his feelings, Sandy already relegated him into friend zone?

“Sandy …” 

“So about the masquerade ball, make sure you attend it and we have to prepare a hot outfit for you. Hmm, I wonder which superhero costume will suit you?” she put her thumb and forefinger on the top bridge of her nose. “How about Spiderman? Batman? I know, Ironman…”

“No” Youngbae shakes his head. “I don’t want to come as a superhero.” He was put out by the change of subject.

“Wae?” 

Youngbae stayed silent.

“How about Jack Sparrow?” she asked. 

“I told you I don’t want to go.”

“Tch!” Sandy made a displeased sound. “How will we get to your goal if you won’t make a move? Just listen to your seonsaeng-nim arasso?”

“Seonsaeng-nim?” asked Youngbae.

Sandy nodded with a pleased smile on her face. “I am your love guru right? I was thinking last night” she said in a tone full of mischief, “I’m going to make you my apprentice.”

Youngbae blinked.

“In no time, you’ll be a certified gigolo” she winked.

“Bwoh?!”

“Isn’t that what you want? That way you can attract Krystal’s attention and other girls as well. To be honest, I really don’t like that girl. You can do so much better. The party will be a perfect opportunity for you to get girl’s attention.”

Youngbae can only stay silent. This is going horribly wrong.

********************

“Hyung, what do I do?” Youngbae whined at Dongwook.

“She’s right. You have to go to the party. We’ll be attending as well so we’ll see you there.”

“But she wants me to hook up with Krystal at the party. And you know what else she said? That she’ll make me into a gigolo!”

Byul and Dongwook burst out laughing. “Boy, I can’t wait to see that” Byul teased.

“Noona!” Bae pouted.

“I think Darabbit is having fun with her latest assignment” Byul observed. “This can work for you, you know. If she’s going to teach you all the right moves that girls like from a guy, you can use them on her.”

“And with our help, we’ll make you into a ladies’ man in no time.”

“But I don’t want that. I only want to Sandy’s man” Youngbae said cheesily which made the two lovebirds curl their fingers and pretended that they were covered with goose bumps all over their body.

“My man” Dongwook patted his younger brother’s shoulder “I thought you wanted to reinvent yourself? This is your chance. Let’s all meet in the party and try to make the moves on Sandy pretending you’re practicing for Krystal. That’s what you have to do. All the things that you learn, apply them on her. Just tell Sandy you’re using her as a test subject. An experiment, you might say.”

“It doesn’t sound right but it can work” Byul concurred.

“We have to make Sandy attend as well”

“I’ll take care of that” Byul assured her boyfriend.

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Dara received a call from Youngbae that he’ll attend the masquerade ball if she’ll attend as well so she’s here now with Byul shopping for a ballgown. This will be the first time that Sandy will attend such an event so she’s feeling a bit excited. She and Byul have already tried on a lot of gowns and they are having fun taking pictures while wearing them. Byul and Dongwook will come as Batman and Catwoman so the catsuit is no longer an option for her. She originally wanted to wear one but Byul beat her to it. Indulging her friend, she allowed Byul to choose her costume for her.

Looking at the floor length mirror, Dara marveled at her gown. Byul let out a squeal of delight when she saw her and pronounced that it’s perfect! Absolutely perfect! She then went and asked the store’s attendants to bring her all the shoes that could possibly match Sandy’s gown. She then turned her attention back to Dara and started to think of a suitable hairstyle to match her gown.

Dara cut out her friend’s musings. “I don’t think it suits me” she said.

Byul was looking at her like she lost her mind. “What are you talking about? It’s perfect on you! You look absolutely stunning and so pure!”

“That’s why” Dara reasoned. “It’s so not like me …” she stepped down the platform in front of the mirror and walked towards the changing rooms.

“Dara” Byul warned, “You will be wearing that gown no matter what,” stressing out every word.

“Byul, I don’t feel comfortable in it. I feel like such a fraud.”

“Isn’t that the point? It’s a masquerade ball for God’s sake!”

She held on to Dara’s shoulders and willed her to face her. “Try to loosen up, will you? Let yourself have fun once in a while” she coaxed. “I swear, sometimes you’re too hard on yourself. Don’t forget that you’re still a young, beautiful girl that has the right to be carefree, fab and fun and flirty …”

“Indulge me, okay? Do this for me, please? …”

“Oh, Alright” Dara gave in. “Just don’t forget that you’re paying”

“I have that covered, girlfriend” she said, brandishing a black card. “Youngbae gave me this so sky’s the limit” she winked.

“I’d better get the most expensive shoes then” Dara proclaimed.

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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.

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