Chapter 2: First Impressions

    Lizzy glanced out the window, watching as the trees passed by with their jade leaves glistening in the sun like jewels. The sun’s rays softly shone through the gaps in the leaves, shining down onto the path next to the winding back roads heading towards YoungHwa High School.

                ‘What did that woman mean my comeuppance?’ he was truly befuddled. Her word was law in her house. Rarely was she told off, and only by her mother. ‘That woman had some nerve getting up in my face,’ she thought. She couldn’t fire her, that was her Nana; she had taken care of Hee Sun since she was born. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had enough to worry about at the moment.

                “You need to start taking responsibility for yourself, Lizzy,” Brenda Song slammed her coffee cup onto the breakfast table. “Face it, dear, with grades like yours, you’ll never get into a good university, let alone a piss poor community college.” She glared at her daughter, who hung her head down, her long auburn hair covering her face.

                “How do you plan on making a living? You can’t live here forever, dear. You have no ambition, no drive, it’s like you don’t even care what happens to us, or what happens to yourself! According to your grades, you’re dumber than a sack of rocks. We could never trust you with either of the family businesses, what are we going to do with a useless daughter like you?”

                “I CAN do it! I DO have ambition, I DO care, and I’m NOT dumb!” Lizzy shot up from her seat, using her hands to steady herself, she was so worked up her arms were shaking, and it was taking everything she had to hold back her tears.

                “Then act like it goddamit!” her mother shot back at her as the conversation got heated. “Act like you care! Take your academic career seriously for once! Study! Act like a lady instead of a heathen! Listen to me,Lizzy! You need to at least pick out a field of study so that you have a specific path to follow,” her mother sat back in her chair and took a deep breath.

                “Right now Lizzy, I see no other option, than an arranged marriage.”

                “But, Mother!” her mother put her hand up, and Hee Sun obediently shut her mouth, and slowly sat back down.

                “Tomorrow, you will meet Mr James Wilson, he is a graduate of Yale University, and he graduated with a degree in Business, with honors, might I add.” She shot a look at Lizzie. “He is the heir to the Sol Trading Company, a fine match for you. There will be no objections, do you understand?” she waited for Hee Sun to respond. Hee Sun, in response, sulked her head and crossed her hands in her lap.

                “Yes, Mother.” She replied quietly.

                “Good, now that we have reached an understanding, Becky, will you come here please?”  Becky slid into the room through the giant oak doors, approached Brenda Song and bowed.

                “Yes, ma’am?”

                “Take Lizzy and make sure she actually makes it to school on time today,”

                “Yes ma’am.”

                “Also, make sure she makes it on time every day, she is going to turn over a new leaf, line up private tutors up for her as well, I don’t think we should humiliate Mr Wilson by giving him a stupid wife.”

                “Yes, ma’am.” She bowed and walked over to Hee Sun. she pulled out her chair and signaled her to follow.

                As they made their way to her room she turned to Becky and glared.

                “What was all that about? Yes ma’am, is that all you know how to say in front of her? She is pawning me off on a man, just like she did Hayley, and you said nothing! What am I going to do now?” her eyes stung with the pain of the tears finally emerging. Hot tears ran down her face, leaving small wet trails down her pale cheeks.

                “My dear, you dug your own grave. This too is you’re doing.” Becky explained. “Had you applied yourself in school your mother wouldn’t feel the need to marry you off to someone she deems smarter than you. Right now she just hopes you graduate high school earning passing marks. She expects nothing more of you because you gave her nothing to believe in from the beginning.”

Lizzy wiped away her tears, only to be greeted by a wave of tears cascading down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop herself, and dissolved into inaudible sobs as she slid down onto the floor, right outside her room.

                “My dear, don’t cry,” Becky took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away her tears. “Stop it, don't worry my dear, I’m sure you will think of something, just like you always do.”

                “No, Becky, I don’t think that this time I can.” She pulled at her hair in frustration. She felt completely helpless.  “I don’t know what to do, Becky, I really don’t! I’ve never had this kind of problem before.” Becky patted her on the head.

                “Life never throws a problem our way without knowing that we have the tools to fix it. Have faith my dear, hope and faith will set you free in times of need.” She took her hand, and stood her upright.

                “Okay, Becky, I will try.” She wiped away her tears and straightened herself.

                “That’s my girl, now, let’s get going!” Becky led her into her room so that she could get ready for school.

                As her limo approached the school, she received a text from her friend, Skye Nielson:

                “Yo girl, where you at?” she chuckled as she texted back.

                “Don’t worry, I’m just around the corner.” She gathered her things and took a deep breath; she was ready to face the day.

                Eli walked through the doors leading into the foyer. The school was enormous. Of course, this was expected, but the degree of its size was colossal. He looked up. To his amazement, the ceiling was painted with little cherubs, along with many other mythological creatures. There were white marble pillars erected throughout the hall. His mouth was agape in awe; all the detail was so specific. Right down to the polished wooden staircases, their beautifully crafted banisters, and the delicate tapestries and rugs adorning the hall.              

                As he stood there, he heard shouts, so he turned around to see what all the ruckus was about.

                “They’re coming! F4, they're coming!” he was shoved left and right as the students rushed to get a glimpse of this, “F4” thing. He jogged up to the crowd, a patted a boy on his shoulder.

                “Um, what is F4?” he asked. The boy was about his height. He had strawberry blonde hair and wore a smile like you wear shoes. His bright grey eyes shone like pools of clear water, this made Eli feel uncomfortable for some reason.

                “Oh, you don’t know?” he asked in amazement.

                “Um, no, I’m new here. So what is it?” Heejun asked.

                “Ha! F4 is not a ‘what’ they are a ‘who’. They are the richest and most beautiful girls in the school, they call themselves, the Flower Four, hence the name, "F4". Look!” he exclaimed as he pointed towards the crowd. Heejun peeked over the crowd to see four young women, dressed to the nines. He pointed at the blonde one.

                “That one there is Skye Nielson; she is the daughter of Harold Nielson,”

                “Wait, the mob boss Harold Nielson, the guy who runs the casinos?” Heejun asked. The boy nodded.

                “Yep. She is pretty ruthless. She once took a girl by her ponytail, and threw her across the room because she refused to change her outfit once Chaerin figured out that they were wearing the same one!” he pointed to the next one; she had a sweet smile, wearing a periwinkle blue bow in her hair.     “That one is Yasmine Delru; she is the sweetest of the four. She is a magnificent painter, and has had her paintings on display in various museums and art exhibits throughout the country, and one I hear, is on display at the Louvre in France!”

                “Whoa! That’s impressive!” Heejun let out a sigh of amazement. “What about that one?” he asked, pointing to a girl with short black hair, and a sullen expression.

               
                “That one is Gina Thompson. Her mother died when she was still a toddler. No one knows what happened to her father. She was raised by her grandmother. She is a very talented classical singer and actress.” Heejun nodded. “And last, but certainly not least, is Lizzy Song,” he directed Heejun’s gaze to the girl with the long flowing brunette curls. Her eyes glittered in the sunlight coming in through the tall windowpanes in the hall. She seemed to glow as she walked through the room, like an angel.

                “She is the heiress to the Song Financial Empire. Her mother is a very successful fashion designer. She is the richest girl in school. But, looks can be deceiving.”

                “What do you mean?” Heejun asked the boy.

                “She is the most ruthless out of all the girls.” He shrank back behind him. “Last year, she had a girl half beaten to death for dropping an ice cream cone on her Prada shoes. After the girl refused to clean it up, I hear Skye Nielson and some other girls beat her in the girls’ bathroom up on the third level. She almost died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.” Heejun shook his head. As he thought, shallow, self-serving women. He had to admit, they were beautiful, there was no mistake about that, but they were hideous on the inside, and that’s what disgusted him most.

                As she passed by him, Eli made brief eye contact with Hee Sun. he quickly looked away, and turned to his new friend.

                “So, what’s your name?” he asked him. The boy smiled and bowed.

                “I'm Jace Mathers! It is a pleasure to meet you, and your name is…?”

                “Eli Smith,” he put out his hand, and shook the poor boy. After Yoon Jae steadied himself, he chuckled.

                “Well, Eli, what do you say we find out our homerooms? The list should be posted over here,” he pointed towards the wall next to the nearest pillar. “Come on!” Jace grabbed him by the hand, and led him away to the list. After a few moments, he gasped.

                “Hey, look! We are in the same homeroom!” Heejun let out a sigh of relief. He wasn’t really one to hang out with someone so chipper, but it was better than being left alone in a hell hole like this.

                As they made their way to their homeroom, Hee Sun looked back. That boy had actually dared to make eye contact with her.

                ‘Bold,’ she thought. ‘I like that in a man.’ That’s when it hit her, a brilliant idea. She smiled to herself as they entered homeroom. ‘Mystery boy, you WILL be mine!’
 

END OF CHAPTER 2