“How are you feeling?” Jungkook asked as the car started.

“It feels like a distant dream. I’m still not sure if this is even real. I’m still confused on how you became-” He pinched my cheeks and squished them. “Ow, Jungkook!”

“It hurts, see? It’s not a dream at all.” He giggled and massaged my face to make it up. “Does it hurt a lot?”

“Not really. On the other hand, where are we going?” I asked. He squeezed my hand on the leather car seat between us.

“We’re going to a dress shop!” He informed me that we were heading to One Jeon Corps.’s number one shopping district.

“Can we not?” My happy mood started to dissolve. “I can’t afford, I mean, I need to save money.” How awkward of me to say that!

“I didn’t say you were buying anything. I already have everything prepared.” He winked, giving my cheeks a flush of pink. “You have to dress nicely for tonight.”

“Tonight? What’s going on then?”

“You’ll see, you’ll see.” He winked once more, giving me a rain of pecks on my lips. Without hesitation, I returned the kisses back to him. The chauffeur must feel so awkward.

A few hours- and one quick nap on his shoulder- later, we arrived to the high-end streets that were filled with people; arrogant woman and tired men created a crowd. It seemed to me that all the men shopping didn’t want to be and all the women shopping did. Interestingly, in my case, Jungkook was more interested in spending money more than I was.

“Wow, Jungkook! Everything is so fancy here!” We giggled as the cars weaved through the roads.

“We’re here!” he happily exclaimed a while later. As the car- or in our situation- the line of cars lined up against the curb of the sidewalk, a lady with a feather boa walked out.

“Mr. Jeon, darling! I’ve been expecting you!” Stressing her consonants, the woman led us into the shop. Every word she said was emphasized and accentuated. Suddenly, she stopped and studied at my clothes and body features. This must be our 'meeting at 3'.

“Are you sure she is the girl, sir?” She squinted her eyes to make sure she was seeing right. I bet my eyebags and pale face didn’t fit her standards. Was she expecting a model or celebrity? I would be expecting someone like that, too.

“Yes, Madam Ailee!” Jungkook said happily, still holding my hand. As soon as we got into the store, Ms. Ailee flipped the tail of her boa over her shoulder and began to examine me. Her shop was filled with cocktail dresses and all kinds of tuxedos.

“A loofah tuxedo?” I asked Jungkook, pointing at a label, “Is this a thing?”

“It has a lot of frills and lace,” Jungkook replied, “but, unfortunately, it is a thing. I wouldn’t wear that though, even in a shower.”

“Ahem! First of all,” she went up to me and took my bag off, “we don’t wear this with dresses. We are getting you a purse.”

“But my things-”

“When you go to fancy parties, sweetie,” Ms. Ailee continued, “you only carry your phone, money, makeup, and ego.” I faced Jungkook, my jaw-dropping. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to steal your things. I bet there’s nothing in there worth taking.”

“You’re taking me to a party?” I questioned aloud. He playfully shrugged and took a hold of my shoulders.

“Minji! I don’t want to walk in with some random lady the CEO set me up with. I told him myself that I would find myself a partner, so- drumroll- you’re going to be my partner!”

“How subtle!” Madam Ailee sarcastically said, “I like how straightforward you are. Now, excuse us, Mr. Jeon. Ladies!” As she called out, seven more women appeared, wearing the same style of clothes as Madam Ailee but without the extra feathers. “Let’s fix-” she gestured to my clothes, “- whatever this is.”

“Um, Jungkook-”

“I’ll see you soon, Minji!”

Once he said that, my Cinderella transformation began. After saying farewell to Jungkook and Madam Ailee, I was taken to the second floor. I was stripped from my work clothes and my nude body was measured. They instructed me to lay down on a spa massage table. Once I did, still clutching my bare body, they scrubbed my dead skin off before applying lotion on my body as they painfully massaged me. Jungkook, what are you doing now? What poop did you sign me up for? Later on, my body felt renewed in an odd but satisfying way.

“Ouch! Ow, ow, ow!” The seven ladies plucked my eyebrows and shaved my legs and arms, clearly not giving a poop if my eyes were in pain or not. By then, I was put in a soft bathrobe. Madam Ailee arrived with a clipboard in hand and tapped her pen on her chin.

“You have a very nice body, Minji. It’s such a waste to put it in those shabby work clothes.” Ms. Ailee said, her seven employees nodded in agreement, “Do you like French designs on a dress?” French designs? I prefer French fries, thank you very much.

“I’m fine- ow- with whatever works best.” I replied, still trying to suppress the pain. Her stilettos walked out of the room and *CLICK CLACK* when she came back, she brought a white dress (just a reference so please imagine) that was definitely too pretty and too fancy and- ultimately- too expensive for me.

“You’ll be wearing this. Honestly, I think you’ll look good in it!” Madam Ailee continued, “You’re lucky you have such model legs. Maybe that’s why Mr. Jeon chose you.” Model legs? Don’t you mean chicken legs?

Two more compliments later, I found myself in that sleeveless dress. I couldn’t help but stare at the mirror inside of my dressing room. It’s so beautiful. I looked at the price tag that was still attached to my neck and had a small heart-attack. Holy poop, Jungkook! You must be crazy as ducks (you know what I mean) right now! Over 1 million won? What the ducks? I could buy my own goshiwon or two!

“Ms. Yeo?” one of the women assisting me spoke, “do you need help? Can we come in and assist you?”

“Oh! No, no, no! I’m fine! Just, well, admiring it I guess.”

“When you are ready, please come back out so we can apply your makeup.” Makeup?

After I stepped out, I was told to sit in a chair to start ‘the process’. From glitter to powder and from contour to blush, they did the whole job. I haven’t worn this much before. Will I still look the same? I bet Jungkook won’t even recognise me. They had me close my eyes for the time being until they were done.

“You may open your eyes now,” they said in unison, “Ms. Yeo.” They started clapping as if someone had cut the red ribbon. It was absolutely embarrassing. What was even more embarrassing was when Madam Ailee displayed me to Jungkook as if I was a new creation.

“Stunning! Isn’t she stunning? What a work of art! Gorgeous! Just gorgeous!” She continued to compliment me, completely ignoring the fact I looked like a complete hobo an hour ago. Jungkook was more shocked that I was.


“M-Minji, uh,” stuttered Jungkook, in a well-matched white tuxedo, “y-you’re so, uh, y-you’re, um-”

“He thinks you look amazing, too, sweetie!” Madam Ailee patted my bare shoulder, “I remember those days when I was hot and gorgeous, just like you.”

“Thank y-you so much. I’m sure you were very pretty, Ms. Ailee.”

“Aw! Darling! You’re sweeter than you look. You can call me Amy next time we meet. Have fun you two!” We said our good-byes and left the studio. At first, the car ride to the party was awkward. But when we stopped looking out the window, we faced each other and spoke at the same time.

“You’re-”
“You-”

We giggled and sighed. We took each other’s hand and leaned on each other.

“You-”
“You’re-”

“You can go first-”
“You can go first-”

“Rock, paper, scissors!”
“Rock, paper, scissors!” Jungkook won and patted my knee. “I choose you to go first.”

“You look so handsome. I never imagined you in a tuxedo like this before.”

“I’m pretty speechless. You look amazing! I’m going to show you off to everyone.”

“Tch!” I playfully pouted, “Am I a trophy wife now?”

“Not yet,” he said, “not yet.” Another wink.

His watch read 6:08 when we arrived to the party. It was held at the Astro building, of course. As always, there was a paparazzi and a crowd of flashing cameras that wished to take one picture of a famous star. When the ride slowly came to a stop, a valet opened the door. This is it. This is it!

“Welcome!” the valet grinned as he helped me out of the car, “Watch your step.”

Notes

DISCLAIMER: Loofah tuxedos do not exist. It is not a thing.

Taehyung, Namjoon, and Jimin will appear in the next chapter.
Hoseok and Yoongi will appear in the chapter after that.
Jungkook will frequently appear.
Jin will appear, but not yet.
:D