After training, the group gathered under a tree, the shade cool against their tired bodies.
"Linda," Ha Rin said softly, "come with me to Alex's cousin's welcome party… please?"
Her eyes were hopeful in a way Linda couldn't resist.
"No…" Linda still muttered, hugging her knees. "I've never been to a party. I don't even know how to act there."
"Come on, please," Ha Rin begged, "I and his cousin have been friends for so long, even before I knew Alex, it will be rude of me not to attend, and I don't want to go alone."
"It'll be fun," Alex added, smiling gently. "We won't leave you by yourself. I promise."
"Okay, but am not promising anything, I might change my mind before tomorrow."
"You are the best!" Ha Rin said wrapping her hand around her neck.
When Linda got home, she prepared a simple meal.
She ate and bathed, then sat down to watch her favorite TV show. But her mind drifted back to the party she had agreed to attend.
"Oh my," she exclaimed, standing up quickly.
She went to her wardrobe to search for something to wear.
"Nothing here is fit for a party," she murmured, throwing clothes onto the bed. She ended up emptying her wardrobe, yet still found nothing good enough.
"What am I supposed to wear tomorrow night?" she hissed, blaming Ha Rin and Alex for giving her something new to worry about.
As she stood there thinking, she remembered the money Secretary Kim had given her.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, opening the other side of the wardrobe. She brought out a small purse and opened it.
"This will buy me a good dress," she murmured, relieved, then settled back into her TV program.
-----
The next day, after her morning routine, she picked up her bike and drove to a famous mall.
As she arrived, she parked her bike and walked inside. At the entrance, a guy wearing a cap pulled low over his face collided with her. She staggered backward, almost falling. The guy didn't look back, nor apologize, he just walked away.
Linda didn't mind his behavior. She headed straight to the section where fancy female clothes were displayed.
As she ran her hand through the clothes, the two salesgirls there stared at her with irritation in their eyes. They hardly ever had customers who were Black. In fact, Linda was the first. They observed her with contempt.
Linda moved around the racks and finally found a red dress she liked.
She picked it up and went to the counter to pay. The salesgirls watched from afar.
They packaged the dress and waited for her to pay.
Linda checked her pocket, her purse was missing.
Seeing her searching, the two salesgirls came closer quickly.
"You know you don't have money, yet you came to a place like this to buy a dress?" one sneered.
"Do you think it's easy to steal here?" the other added.
By now, other customers were already staring and whispering.
"I came with money, I swear," Linda said as shame and humiliation washed over her. This had never happened to her before.
"Look at her . You think you can buy this kind of dress looking like this?" they mocked, even though they knew she was beautiful.
One of them dragged the dress from her hands. Linda felt her heart twist. She turned to leave, but one of them grabbed her arm and pushed her against the wall.
Linda's fists curled, ready to react, but then a sharp, intimidating voice cut through the scene.
"What is going on here?"
The salesgirls froze. Linda turned toward the voice, and froze too.
Standing there was the senior student who was now her master, looking at her with that same smirk tugging at his lips.
"I'm doomed…" Linda murmured as he stepped closer with long strides.
"I asked a question," he said, voice cold, eyes fixed on Linda even though he was speaking to the girls.
"This Black girl came to steal our latest edition," one accused, pointing at Linda.
"I didn't!" Linda said, humiliation and frustration tightening her voice. "I bumped into a guy at the entrance. I believe he was the one who stole my money."
The girls tried to interrupt, but he shot them a hard stare.
"Did you check the cameras?"
They shook their heads slowly.
"Did you see her trying to run away with the dress?"
"…No," they both answered.
"Next time this kind of behavior repeats, that will be your last day working here," he warned.
The girls walked away shamefully.
When they were gone, he stepped closer to Linda, unnecessarily close.
"You like this dress?" he asked.
"Yes… I mean...no… wait I...," she stammered I wanted to buy it, but someone stole my money."
"I swear I didn't want to steal," she added quickly, embarrassment all over her face.
He laughed softly at how cute she looked trying to defend herself.
"You can have it," he said.
Linda's eyes widened.
"You can have it. This is my personal business. Don't worry, my parents won't scold me." He said smiling.
That only made her face grow redder.
"Now thank me," he whispered into her ear.
Linda punched him in the stomach and ran away with the dress in her hand.
His laughter echoed through the entire mall, drawing attention from other customers.
As the evening approached, Linda's heart began to beat faster. She went to the bathroom for a bath, letting the warm water calm her nerves. Afterward, she carefully put on the red gown, the fabric flowing elegantly around her. She stepped in front of the mirror, adjusting the neckline and smoothing the hem. For the first time, she allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. Not bad… she murmured, genuinely pleased with what she saw.
A few minutes later, the sound of a car pulling up in front of her house made her jump slightly. Alex's car.
Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her hair one last time and opened the door.
"Wow!" Ha Rin exclaimed as soon as she saw her, eyes wide. "Linda, you look… amazing!"
Alex stepped closer, a grin spreading across his face. "I didn't know you had this side of you," he said, giving her a playful wink. "Absolutely stunning."
Linda felt her cheeks warm but couldn't hide the small smile that spread across her lips. "Thanks… I just… tried to pick something nice," she replied softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Ha Rin twirled slightly, showing off her own outfit. "Come on, let's not keep the car waiting!" she said, taking Linda's hand lightly.
Linda stepped down carefully from her porch, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, and got into the car. Alex opened the door for her, sliding in smoothly beside Ha Rin.