Door#1 “My Boyfriend is Rich”

My father told me about an organisation which ruled by the most influential people in our country. The rulers, who are rich, frightening and killed countless people for the organisation's credits, have been passed through generations. Because I was still young, I couldn't remember the other information my father shared. But his last will before he died when I was 12 is still vivid in my head, as if everything just happened yesterday:  

  'Find HongYoonChoi organisation's heirs and tell them his name.'

Years passed by and now I am 25 years old. Yet still, I couldn't fulfill my father's wish. 'Who will have a courage to face a frightening organisation?' I don't want to become a fool by raising my hand while saying: I DO!

 "Here is my invitation card." I gave the white envelope card to the person standing in front of the wedding hall reception. This guy has observed me from head to toe and it was enough for me to feel intimidated. 'I tried my best to look good today, though.'

 Anyway, today is my highschool friend's wedding. She's the lucky gil who met a rich guy in New York and just came back here a week ago. When I've met her last Monday, she introduced her future husband and then gave me a wedding invitation. I still remember how surprised I was when I saw the big diamond ring around her finger. I was so jealous!

Setting aside my friendly jealousy, the first thing I worried was my outfit for the event. It took me an hour of hesitation before I decided to buy a branded dress using my credit card. I have 12 months to pay for it. 'Damn.'

"Welcome ma'am. Enjoy the party," the guard greeted with a friendly beam as he lead the way in. At least, dolling myself to look elegant has worked out well.

I stepped in with my stilettos, and it made sounds along with the haha huhu hihi chatters of the guest in the background.

Looking around, I found my anxiousness grew inside a foreign surroundings. Every corners seem so bright. Jazz music plays softly and servants served like those staff from 7-stars hotel. People are wearing brands from famous designers while they hold their glass wine in refined way. Even the smallest gestures they made looked so elegant. I knew that everyone here is living in a world different from mine. But standing together with them has proved my status even more. 

'I suddenly wanted to leave.'

"OMG Celine! You came!"

 The thick invisible shield around me, that kept me suffocated, has vanished the moment I heard a familiar voice. I quickly turned around to the main star of this event, the girl in her white wedding dress.  "Kyla!" I muttered like a wet puppy wiggling my tails. "You are so beautiful today."

Kyla warmly welcomed me as she cupped my hands together. "Thank you," she chuckled before pouting her lips. "I'm so glad you came, Celine."

Kyla came from a wealthy family. But ever since before and until now when she tied together with a successful husband, she is still so humble. Unlike our other high school classmates who had time for picking a fight against me when I have nothing to offer for their entertainment.

"I'm sorry I am late. The traffic was so bad," I explained. "Anyway, Congratulations, Kyla. I am really happy for you."

 She tightened her grip and spoke with giggles, "Awww. Thank you." Soon her smiling face crumpled with guilt. "I really wanted to talk to you a little bit more but my husband wanted to introduce me to a loooooooooooooooooot of his friends."

We laughed together before I patted her shoulder and said, "Okay. Let's talk later, Kyla."

"Ah, did you see your table number?" she asked.

"Yeah. It's table number 9?"

"Oh. Sit there and enjoy the food. I know you love to eat, bitch," she reminded while squinting her adorable eyes.

"Okay okay, you witch!" I teased back, then she walked away and now I'm alone again. 'Hooooo, let's see. Where is table number 9?'

I looked around and found it, 10 steps away from me. Excited to fill my stomach, I dashed forward and perched down. When my gaze lifted from looking at my empty plate, I met three pair of eyes. There are three unfamiliar men sitting at the same table with me! It was then I was caught in a moment of daze while looking at their beautiful appearance. 

 The first guy has black hair perfectly matched with his black suit. He has rounded deer eyes with long lashes. His skin is as pale as snow I thought he doesn't have any blood left but his natural red lips told me he's alive.

The second guy, sitting across with the table between us, has different aura than the first one. He has brown hair, beige skin, slanted cat like eyes with pair of plum cute eyebags to make them look cheerful yet gentle. He's wearing a brown turtle neck shirt under a gray and white checkered suit. Even if he looks as gentle as a prince I always imagined in any fairy tale books, the silver piercing on his left ear caught my attention. Though, it didn't affect his kind image because of his friendly smile.

Last, the guy sitting at my right side. He has a face that if we exchanged clothes right now, he will be the prettiest woman in this party. But I am not confident to wear his dazzling red leather suit if that happened. Anyway, the third guy has long blonde hair which he tied with black hair band. Only men with pretty face can pull this kind of hairstyle, and I agreed he deserved a huge praise. He has charming double eyelids eyes, straight nose and thin pinkish wet lips. Those lips parted a little as he stared at me in surprise.

After fangirling over these handsome men, it is now the time to answer the mystery behind this weird sitting arrangement. 'Why did Kyla put me at the same table with these guys?'

As if they can hear my thoughts, the black-haired guy dropped his cold question. "Why are you sitting here?"

The spring's flowers turned into a hailstorm. I gulped from his mellow inquiry. When I was about to open my lips, someone spoke.

"Hey Cheollie~ Don't scare her," a soothing voice from the pretty man with blonde hair.

Right after he talked, the brown-haired guy detached his mouth. "Hi, miss," he called me in a very friendly tone. "Mind checking your table number again? I think you made a slight mistake."

I was also wondering about that, therefore I quickly checked my invitation that was on my hand. That's when I realized that I mistook it as number 9 instead of 6 just because I was holding it upside down. 'OH MY GOSH! THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING!'

Turning myself into bubbles like Ariel in Little Mermaid is way too impossible even if I am desperate. So I guess, giving my apologies comes first. Well, that's my only choice.

"S-Sorry. I made a mistake."

After I apologized, I stood up and dashed away. 'Argh argh argh! Stupid me! How did I mistake 6 as 9?!'

 "Oh? Isn't that Celine?" someone said from the next table near the place I just walked away. When I cocked my head, I recognized those bitches sitting on table number 6.

I thought that my mistake before will be my regretful moment for today but... I realized it's just the beginning of hell. I rather sat with those handsome guys than bear looking at the faces of these people who tormented my days in highschool.

 

"What are you doing? Come and sit here!" they welcomed me with their usual unfiltered beams.

Even if I'm not happy to sit beside them, I had no choice but to do so. So I dragged my feet and filled the empty seat with a sigh.

"I never thought you are invited too, Celine."

'Kyla is my friend so why shouldn't I?'

"Yeah, me too. I was so surprised to see you here, Celine."

'I am surprised too and really hated to see you, idiots.'

"Gosh, you can buy expensive dress now. Congrats Celine."

'Oh yeah. I still have 12 months to pay this while you and your damn girls can buy this with one swipe. Sh*t.'

"We are happy to see you again. You know, we've been talking about you a moment ago."

'Liars. You are happy to see me so you can tease and humiliate me just like before. Talking about me? Yeah, like talking trash behind my back'

Cursing inwardly, I sipped a cold water. It's better to remain unresponsive than ruining Kyla's wedding. Because if I said those out loud, we will ended up pulling our hairs. That's not a good idea since they outnumbered me.

"So, how are you Celine? What is your work? Are you married? Or do you have a boyfriend? If you have, what kind of man he is? Is he rich?"

On the outside, it seems as if they care that's why they're asking. But it was only a trap to drag me down. I can tell them that I'm jobless right now and never had the chance to date anybody. However... this stupid pride won't allow those words to slip from my lips. Worst, it guided me to defend myself with absurd lies.

"I am working as an editor in a magazine. But my boyfriend asked me to stop working because he doesn't want me to get tired. Isn't he so sweet?"

"What?!" They exclaimed." Who is your boyfriend? I mean, what is his work?"

'Work? What should I say? Prosecutor? Doctor? CEO? Lawyer? But I'll get caught if they started digging more information about my invisible boyfriend. I should say someone they didn't know. Yes. Someone... Someone like...'

"My boyfriend? Huh. He is the heir of HongYoonChoi organisation."

'HongYoonChoi! Why did I suddenly think of using that?! I must be crazy!'

"HongYoonChoi? I never heard of that," they uttered.

'Stop now, Celine. Don't say anything about HongYongChoi!'

"Well, HongYoonChoi is one of the richest organisation in the world. And my boyfriend is their heir."

'I'm doomed. I AM REALLY DOOMED.'

"Ah, I remembered hearing that name before. Where did I hear it?" Liza shared, looking up while trying to remember a thing.

'I need to stop now. What is the best excuse to leave?!'

"Hi ladies," a man from behind greeted. When I looked back, I saw the pretty blonde guy from table number 9.

'Why is he here?'

All of them was amazed by his beauty with their eyes turning into pair of hearts. I was wondering what business he has but when put his hand on my shoulder, I had a bad premonition.

"I am sorry to take miss Celine in the middle of your sweet conversations. But her boyfriend is looking for her."

'Boyfriend?! What did he mean by my boyfriend!? I don't have one!' With my wide opened eyes, I looked upon him. When he slowly turned into my side, I felt his grip tightened.

'What is happening?!'

"Then, if you excuse us," this man bid goodbye. Next, his hand fell on my wrist then he pulled me away in force. 

"W-Wait...!"

I tried to resist but his grip is so strong. Not long after, we arrived outside the hall. The garden was filled with lights and flowers. But I didn't have time to enjoy the view. Because as the lights from the venue faded while we kept on walking, dangerous thoughts clouded my mind.

"Ouch! Hey let me go! It hurts!" I protested.

Finally, the man stopped. He has a sweet expression before but when he looked back at me, his piercing gaze sent chills even to the last tip of my hair.

"Shut up while I'm asking nice, bitch," he muttered.

I wanted to scream. But no voice came from my trembling lips until he pushed me inside the men's comfort room. My butt fell down on the cold ceramic floor that is as chilly as my wet palms. Breathing heavily, I looked around.

A click sound from the door was heard before I met the three men from table number 9 again. They were all standing in triumph while I was still on the floor.

"You...! You...! What do you want from me?! P-Pushing someone and locking her in f-force is a crime! Let me go before I shout!" I shouted my plea in disguise of a threat. But no one among them has sent me a look of pity. "I will really s-shout..." I uttered while crawling backward.

"Go on. Shout," the blonde-haired guy chuckled. After he bent his knees to match my gaze, a sharp shining thing dazzled from his hand. It is a knife. "Just try shouting right next to us. But I'm sure that my blade is faster than anybody outside the door."

'He has a blade! They are really dangerous so I shouldn't provoke them. But still... I don't want to end up like this!'

"I will guard the door, Joshua. If you need something, just call us," the black-haired guy said to the third one. They exchanged gazes before he looked at the freak with knife. "And you..."

The blonde haired guy looked upon him. "Me? What? What do you need from the most awesome guy named Jeonghan?"

Instead of answering his question, he grabbed his collar and dragged him outside the comfort room like pulling a luggage. Then, he shut the door with a BAM!

For a moment, I felt a sense of relief. Yet that offset didn't last as soon as I was eyed by the only man left in this eerie place.

"Then, that means we'll be alone together." He sat down to meet my level. His voice sounded sweet, but I sensed a forbidding gruesome under his tongue.

My breaths were shallow. My hands were shaking but I took a courage to say,  "I d-don't know what you really need from me. However, doing this to me is..."

A strong force pulled me, as if I'm a steel in front a giant magnet. Something wrapped around my waist. In an instant, his angelic face came in front of me and our lips suddenly were pressed against each other.

"H-Hey! You----!" I tried to push him away. But locked my legs between his and pulled my face with his both hands, digging his tongue inside my mouth the moment I opened them to speak a protest.

"Hmf!"

Throbbing pain of pleasure and fear came out the same time. My body temperature was rising from my lower abdomen and my heart was beating so fast that I could not pull myself together.

He visited every corner of my mouth with his tongue, turning his head the other way. Now my strength gave in and I could hardly breathe.

My first kiss isn't as sweet as I thought it would be. Instead, fear engulfed me like a storm. As if there re hundred of thunder and lightning going inside my head.

When he pulled away, I saw his face that looked terribly satisfied. Tears swelled up at the corner of my eyes as I uttered in trembling voice, "W-What are you doing? W-Why did you..."

"Why not? You said I am your boyfriend. Remember?"

'I did? When did I...'

"HongYoonChoi's heir," he added, pulling back the smile that once disguised as a blooming spring. When the tail of his mouth soared into a grin, the door to hell has opened.

"How did you know about our HongYoonChoi organization?"

He held my chin and pressed them hard.

"Tell me everything you know about us. If you ever dare lie, this boyfriend of yours won't hesitate to kill you. So open your damn mouth, small kitten."