It's barely 9 a.m. when Yuna's phone blares an alarm labelled "Emergency Sparkle Time"...set, naturally, by Mina, who's already waiting outside her apartment door like a human espresso shot.
"WAKE UP, CINDERELLA!" Mina screeches the second Yuna cracks open the door, still in mismatched pajamas. "We're going dress shopping."
"Why are you yelling?" Yuna groans, squinting into the hallway. "It's illegal to be this perky before coffee."
Ari pops up beside Mina, waving a reusable coffee cup and a grin. "Brought you an Americano. No excuses."
Sori leans into view, sporting huge sunglasses and a high ponytail, one Air Pod jammed in her ear. "Get your butt in the shower, Yuna. Black tie waits for no one."
"But...but...J-Min..." Yuna tries.
"J-Min is banned," Mina snaps. "This is a girls-only mission. No boys. No distractions. Definitely no heart eyes. Let's go!"
Twenty minutes later, Yuna is wedged into the back seat of Ari's tiny hatchback, still damp-haired, clutching her coffee like a life raft. Mina, riding shotgun, types furiously on her phone.
"Are you texting J-Min?" Yuna asks suspiciously.
Mina gasps. "I would never! Except, yes. He's trying to bribe me for pics."
Ari howls with laughter. "He's like a toddler trying to peek at birthday presents."
Sori rolls her eyes. "Tell him to behave. Or I'll replace his in-ear monitors with recordings of Raejin's fart noises."
Yuna buries her face in her coffee. "Why is my life like this?"
"Because you fell for a pop star," Sori says. "And now you're stuck with us."
Their first stop is a massive department store known for high-end gowns and suspiciously aggressive salespeople.
Inside, glitzy dresses hang like shimmery rainbows under soft lighting. A gold sign reads:
"Dream Like A Diva."
"Oh god," Yuna murmurs, eyes wide. "Everything here costs more than my rent."
Mina flings an arm around her shoulders. "Yuna. Sweet Yuna. You're dating half of HWAON™. You can't show up to a gala in your 'Please Don't Talk To Me' hoodie."
Ari's already rifling through racks. "Sequins? Feathers? Lace? Ooh, what about something scandalous?"
"No scandal," Sori warns. "Classy. Elegant. But also hot enough to make J-Min malfunction."
A sales assistant glides up, her hair styled like a Disney villain. "May I help you ladies find anything...specific?"
"Yes!" Mina cries. "We need our girl here to look like the queen of the world."
"Preferably the kind of queen who inspires marriage proposals and mild heart attacks," Ari adds helpfully.
Yuna wants to melt into the tile floor. "I hate all of you."
Dress Disaster #1
Sori shoves a sapphire satin gown into Yuna's arms. "Try this. You'll look like a Bond girl."
Yuna emerges from the changing room moments later, teetering in sky-high heels. The gown hugs every curve and has a thigh-high slit that's practically indecent.
Ari squeals. "YES."
Mina fans herself. "This is so spicy."
Sori nods. "That slit could cause global diplomatic incidents."
Yuna scowls. "I can't sit down without flashing half the audience."
Mina gasps. "Exactly. Think of the ratings."
Dress Disaster #2
Ari tosses her a shimmering rose-gold mermaid dress. "Try this. You'll look like a sexy Oscar statue."
Yuna emerges, wincing. "I can't breathe."
Mina tilts her head. "But you look amazing."
"I can't feel my ribs," Yuna rasps.
Sori waves her off. "Details."
Dress Disaster #3
Mina finds a black velvet gown with sheer panels.
Yuna steps out. "This one is...see-through."
Ari whoops. "I love it."
Yuna crosses her arms. "My mother would kill me."
Sori considers. "It's hot. But maybe too hot."
Mina sighs. "Fine. Next!"
Meanwhile, in text land...
While Yuna changes, her phone buzzes:
[J-Min]
I'm dying. Are they torturing you? Send pics.
[Yuna]
NO. Go rehearse or something.
[J-Min]
My entire soul needs to see you in a dress.
[Yuna]
Stop being dramatic.
[J-Min]
Too late. I'm dramatic. It's my brand.
[Yuna]
I hate you.
[J-Min]
You love me.
[Yuna]
Ugh. Maybe.
Sori snatches Yuna's phone and types:
[Sori]
She looks so good it's criminal. Now leave us alone.
[J-Min]
I demand photographic proof.
Mina cackles. "He's so whipped."
Dress Disaster #...
By dress number fifteen or so, Yuna's hair is a frizzy halo and she's given up on dignity.
Mina holds up a glittery neon yellow number. "How about..."
"No," Yuna growls.
Sori mutters, "Even Raejin would say no to that."
Ari lifts a slinky red gown. "Okay. One last shot."
Finally...The Dress
Yuna tries on the red dress.
It's elegant, draping over her shoulders in soft folds. The neckline is deep but tasteful. The skirt swishes around her ankles like liquid fire. She stares at herself in the mirror, stunned.
Mina clasps her hands. "Oh. My. God."
Ari fans her own face. "J-Min is going to explode."
Sori grins. "You look like a goddess who could conquer nations."
Yuna blinks back tears. "I...don't look like me."
"You look like the version of you that deserves to be seen," Mina says softly. "The version who deserves the spotlight."
Yuna swallows. "Okay. I'll take it."
The sales assistant beams. "Excellent choice. Would you like matching shoes?"
Sori slams a pair of gold stilettos on the counter. "These. And a clutch. And sparkly earrings."
Yuna returns home, dress bag slung over her arm, exhausted but weirdly giddy.
Her parents are waiting. The second her mom sees the dress, she gasps. "My daughter is a MOVIE STAR."
Yuna's dad squints. "Can you walk in those shoes without falling? Because I'm not paying medical bills."
Mina lounges on the couch. "She'll be fine. J-Min will catch her."
"J-Min is not allowed to see this dress until the gala!" her mother cries.
Her dad points. "And if he tries anything funny, I know how to fix a leaky pipe and break kneecaps."
"DAD!"
An hour later, Yuna's phone pings again.
[J-Min]
I'm going insane. Which dress did you pick?
[Yuna]
Not telling.
[J-Min]
I'll cry.
[Yuna]
Nope.
[J-Min]
Fine. I'll send you a thirst trap.
[Yuna]
J-MIN!
He sends a blurry mirror selfie, shirtless, abs fully visible, captioned: "Consider this emotional blackmail."
Mina screams from across the room. "OH MY GOD."
Yuna fumbles to hide her phone. "STOP LOOKING!"
Her mother squints. "What's he sending you now?"
"Nothing!"
Her dad looks horrified. "Did that boy send you a nude?!"
"NO, DAD."
Mina fans herself. "Technically it's art."
"MINA!"
Later that night, they all crowd around Yuna's laptop, looking up articles about the upcoming charity gala.
Ari scrolls through headlines. "This event is gonna be bananas. CEOs, movie stars, political big shots..."
Sori leans closer. "You know ONARI™ is going to analyse every second you're on that red carpet, right?"
Mina winks. "YUMIN™ supremacy, baby."
Yuna groans into a pillow. "Can we NOT talk about me as a ship?"
Her mother shrieks from the kitchen. "YUMIN™?! I LIKE IT!"
Her dad yells back, "Ask if he's done military service!"
"DAD, WE'RE NOT EVEN...oh my god."
Yuna lies in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, heart pounding.
Her phone buzzes one last time.
[J-Min]
I can't wait to see you tomorrow.
[Yuna]
Same. Kind of terrified.
[J-Min]
Don't be. You'll be the most beautiful person in any room. And if it all goes wrong, we'll escape and go get ramen.
[Yuna]
You're ridiculous.
[J-Min]
You love me.
[Yuna]
Ugh. Maybe.
J-Min sends another message:
[J-Min]
Also... I'm 99% sure I'm going to kiss you the second I see you in that dress.
Yuna's pulse skitters. She types:
[Yuna]
I'll try not to fall over in my shoes.
[J-Min]
I'll catch you. Always.
She hugs her phone to her chest.
Outside, the city glitters like a thousand paparazzi flashes. Inside, her heart races like it's already running the red carpet.
And tomorrow, the next chapter of chaos and possibly love...awaits.