The noise of the mall was a dull roar that Jae-hyun didn't want at the moment. He leaned against the cold metal railing of the escalator, phone in hand.
This store was popular across the internet, mainly on TikTok, as the number-one mall in Costa Mesa, California. It could even be said to be the largest in the entire U.S.
A place where only celebrities and those with too much money in their accounts went: South Coast Plaza.
And even though he was in the midst of all these people, who had the spotlight wherever they went, he was still the center of attention.
"Wow, that guy's hot," one famous influencer whispered to her friend. It wasn't only her; the whole store's attention had turned to him the moment he entered.
"Too bad you're a minor, right?"
Jae, who had been glued to his phone, raised his head. An average-height girl, with looks that could destroy friendships, stood by his side, their hands linked together.
She had brunette hair and light brown eyes. She wore a black satin gown that hugged her curves, the front doing little to hide her cleavage.
"You…" a soft baritone voice slipped from the young man's lips. "…know I'm eighteen, right?"
"Hehehe, I know, oppa. Now we're legal. We can make babies."
The girl in question was Cat, Jae-hyun's girlfriend and one of the princesses of one of the richest families in Los Angeles.
She was a spoiled girl who never listened to anyone until she met Jae-hyun. A Korean boy with intoxicating beauty and a body built to entrance women.
His parents were high-ranking people in society, so it didn't take long for her to officially meet him, the man who, within his first month of coming to the U.S., had gotten six women arrested for being PDFs.
Jae was always kind to others, and especially sweet to her. He wasn't a loser like other boys she knew, who would get beaten up by mafia bosses. She wanted to date a strong man, so she could post him all over social media and mess with any guy who came her way.
And for the past year, she had been living that fantasy. After she started dating him, her social media followers had tripled, and no matter who messed with her, he could save her, and their parents could cover it up.
They were the couple of the decade.
'He looks so cute,' Cat thought as she stared at the young man.
Messy black hair in a neat Korean wolf cut, sharp light-grey eyes, a chiseled jawline, and features that shouldn't even exist together in one person.
185 cm with a well-ripped body and strong, firm arms. As if his physical looks weren't enough, he was crazy good in bed too, like some NTR doujinshi villain.
And today was the day before their second year began. That was why they were here, to buy clothes and other back-to-school items.
However, Cat couldn't help but notice how strange Jae-hyun had been acting since they got out of the car. He was always the type to show the least expression on his face, although he was still funny and talkative, but today he seemed very distant.
"Jae, did something happen?"
Jae-hyun glanced at her, then faced forward. For a moment, he didn't speak, then slowly answered, "I'm heading back to Ko—"
Jae couldn't even finish before a loud voice drowned out his words. "JK!"
Both Jae and Cat turned their heads. Behind them were two guys: the taller one, a white kid with slicked-back hair, a baseball jacket with a polo inside, and oversized trousers; the other, a Black kid with cornrow braids and a large sweatshirt with oversized short jeans. In contrast with Jae's white shirt, black tie, vest, and trench coat, the two of them looked like gangsters.
By each of their sides was a girl nearly as pretty as Cat.
The moment the white kid, who was the biggest and bulkiest in the group, reached him, he wrapped his hand around Jae's shoulder. "Man, did you forget your best friends?"
"Leave the idiot; he always forgets us," the other kid, David, muttered while fixing a slight rumple in his shorts. "So… are you guys done shopping, or do you lovebirds need another minute?"
Cat punched David lightly on the hand. "Stop teasing me, you idiot."
The taller guy, Richard, laughed out loud. "Our Latina princess is all shy."
A small smile formed on Jae's face. "And here I was, wanting peace and quiet when you idiots exist."
Richard's hand around his shoulder tightened while David punched him in the chest.
"Enough of that," Cat said, swinging her bag in the air next to her friends. "Since we're done shopping, let's get something to eat. It's not every day we're all available."
The three boys looked at each other, then shook their heads. "We'll pass, princess," David answered first.
"Yeah, Cat, go back without me. Me and the guys have somewhere we have to go."
Cat darted her gaze between the three before nodding. "Okay, but call me when you're done."
Without another word, the three girls walked further into the store, leaving the three guys alone in its center.
Once they were sure the girls couldn't hear them, Richard let out a sigh. "Don't tell me you didn't tell her."
Without turning his head, Jae answered, "No, I didn't. And you interrupted me when I was about to."
"I knew your mouth would get us in trouble one day, Richard."
"Shut up, Dave."
Jae let out a breath. "Still, I'm leaving tomorrow. My parents have made up their minds."
The atmosphere between the boys seemed to dim at the sound of his words.
Richard, seeing the mood sour, slapped the two of them on their backs. "No need to act like he's dying. We can fly off to Korea any day. And unlike us, he didn't grow up there, so let's allow him to visit his hometown."
The three of them smiled a little. After a moment, Jae muttered matter-of-factly, "Just know you won't stay in my house if you come."
Richard's eyes twitched, then he pounced on Jae. "Bastard!"
David just stood by their sides laughing. "No worries, man. As your homies, we'll make sure to calm Cat when you're gone and make sure she doesn't impulsively travel to Korea."
"Hey, Dave, don't give promises you can't keep. You know how crazy the princess is." He turned to Jae. "But we'll try our best till you get settled."
Jae gave them a nod, and the three just stared in the direction of the exit.
"Want to get something?" Dave asked, holding his stomach.
"Yeah."