Ayumi gave me an address, and when I arrived there, I found myself looking at a somewhat fancy hotel in the distance.
She explained that one of her old classmate had managed to snag a really wealthy boyfriend and was now treating everyone because it was her birthday. Ayumi didn't really want to attend this gathering, but her other friends persuaded her to come as it was supposed to be a reunion.
The hotel she mentioned was a little bit expensive, no doubt about that, but to be completely honest, it was like comparing a kiddie pool to an actual pool after the hotel Elaine and I had just visited.
Of course, for a bunch of high schoolers, being in a place like that was like finding a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. They were really excited! They were all chatting, and they couldn't stop taking pictures to show off on social media, letting everyone know they were at a fancy party in an expensive hotel.
I looked down from a higher vantage point using my crows and saw them all dressed up in their finest outfits. Instead of heading straight to where they were, I decided to wait a bit.
Ayumi looked adorable in her short pink dress that accentuated her figure. She's not very tall to begin with, so long dresses were a big no-no for her. This particular dress covered her melons, but it was a tad too roomy, leaving just enough to the imagination about what was underneath.
She was hanging out with her friends, Ria and Lizzy. I did not know it before, but it seemed that these three had been classmates since their middle school days, forming a tight-knit trio over the years.
"Hey Ayumi, it's been a while!" A rugged-looking guy approached them, bringing along another group of people who are all males.
"Long time no see," Ayumi responded with a tone that was neither too cold nor too warm.
The guy seemed to pick up on her reserved response, and it clearly struck a nerve.
"You three are still sticking together, huh? You've always been an... interesting trio," he chuckled with a hint of meaning, and his laughter was contagious as their old classmates joined in.
Ayumi, Ria, and Lizzy exchanged glances, all sensing the undercurrent of teasing and inside jokes they were not part of.
I could see that Ayumi was uncomfortable, and I had to admit, I was starting to get a bit irritated myself. This guy had just insulted the girlfriend of someone who could easily give break his neck from a distance.
Suppressing my urge to kill him made me realize that, little by little, I'm beginning to have better self-control.
'Don't worry, Ayumi. I'll get back at them for you later,' I chuckled to myself. It seems my self control can only last for a few moments.
Finally, after a couple of minutes, the star of the night arrived - a black Porsche Cayman parked in front of the hotel. Everyone began taking pictures after seeing it, as if it were their first time encountering such an expensive luxury car.
"They're already so impressed by a 40K USD car?" I chuckled to myself, leaning back in the leather driver's seat of my 150K USD car.
As everyone began showering the birthday girl with compliments from the side, her boyfriend smugly stepped out of the driver's seat and opened the car door for her.
To be frank, the boyfriend looked quite average, not particularly ugly but far from handsome. His appeal seemed to be largely tied to the fact that he had a nice car.
On the other hand, I couldn't help but feel a little proud of my face. I could roll up to the hotel on a bicycle and still look like a model. That's the huge contrast between us.
"I'm so glad you made it, Ayumi," the birthday girl beamed, her smile carrying a hint of an underlying message.
"Happy birthday, Misa," Ayumi replied, her smile appearing somewhat forced.
I couldn't help but facepalm myself, thinking, "She's just too innocent for her own good," as I observed the situation unfolding before me.
—
—
The front entrance was abuzz with chatter as the birthday girl, Misa, made her grand entrance.
Before they could even head to the actual venue, students swarmed around her like flies, snapping pictures with the Porsche Cayman in the background.
It was a typical reaction for kids these days, always eager to capture moments with flashy possessions.
Misa was feeling great at the moment. Although she was acting humble, deep down, she was incredibly proud of having a wealthy boyfriend she could boast about. In fact, she had requested her boyfriend to do all of this just so she could show off to her former classmates.
Among these classmates, there was one girl she wanted to brag to the most: Ayumi.
During middle school, Misa had a childhood crush on a boy she had been infatuated with since they were young. She had longed to be with him, but Ayumi had disrupted there relationship.
Her childhood friend had confessed his feelings to Ayumi, and although she had rejected him, it didn't deter him from pursuing her.
Consequently, Misa couldn't reveal her true feelings because her childhood friend constantly spoke about Ayumi, and she carried a deep-seated resentment toward her.
Now, she wouldn't let this chance slip by to make Ayumi feel inferior compared to her.
"I'm so glad you made it, Ayumi," she greeted her with a fake smile, and everyone could tell that she didn't mean every inch of it.
"Happy birthday, Misa," Ayumi's voice quivered slightly, revealing her discomfort. She wasn't oblivious to Misa's hostility.
"Darling, this is Ayumi, a friend from my middle school days," she introduced her boyfriend.
"Ayumi, this is Fred, my boyfriend. His family owns several businesses in Seoul, and he's also studying at the University of Korea," she said, emphasizing Fred's achievements and background.
Everyone was taken aback after hearing her introduction. The University of Korea is a prestigious institution, and you can't gain admission solely with wealth. You need to have the necessary qualifications to enter.
"By the way, Ayumi, I heard you have a boyfriend. Did you invite him? I heard he's a substitute teacher earning minimum wage. Well, you always like teachers, so I don't think this is shocking news," she giggled.
Her comments elicited laughter from everyone, leaving Ayumi in an embarrassing situation.
"I..." Ayumi began to speak, but before she could finish her sentence, the sound of a roaring engine jolted everyone's attention.
VROOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
VROOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
VROOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
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