Femme Fatale

Chapter 3: Dating is scary and Girls are scarier but Love is Scariest

I’m the fourth child of the third son of the well-known Uranus Nevaeh, the man who’s dominating the sky as our family began from aircrafts business. My paternal grandfather has three children and all of them are sons, but none of those three are interested with aeronautics, that’s why he put his faith to us third generation and still none of us eight were giving signs that we want what our fathers declined. Though all of us males in the family are all interested in engineering but not aeronautical, that’s why people say that it’s in the Nevaeh’s blood to be an engineer.

My two cousins and three older siblings they all went to Yonsei University for college but me I just want to get away from the capital and from the limelight that our family has. I enrolled at National Maritime College in Busan where its whole campus is located inside an island, a perfect place for me to get out from the city and not to have the media attention on me. Because of my school’s choice and the program that I want, I’m the first in our family who get to experience a dormitory life during college.

I don’t mind sharing room with three more people as long as we have our private bathroom, than being in a single, double, or triple room that needs to use the common bathroom. Since most of the students are males and only few females their rooms are located at the top floor, definitely prohibited for us to go to in any circumstances but they can go to other floors as they wish. People are going crazy about love during high school but now in college they just get crazier as if they’re not in school to study but to mate with others.

Saturday, 14th of July 1973, Busan, South Korea

Final examinations just ended yesterday and I want to sleep until late morning today since it’s the start of summer vacation but then someone knocked on our door loudly. It’s either me or my other roommate who’s sleeping on the lower deck of the beds would open it but we both don’t want to get up.

“Urgh! Can someone open the door?! It’s only 6:30 in the morning.” roommate A sleeping on the upper deck above mine

“Moon Weehi, get the door, will you?!!” roommate B sleeping on the upper deck above Wihi

“Fine, I’ll do it!” Weehi walked towards the door as the loud knocking continues “Don’t you have better thing to do, first thing in the morning??!” opens

“Morning Weehi!” familiar voice that I heard and I just want to continue to sleep like it’s just my illusion “Don! Wake up!! I’m here to pick you up.”

“Where are we going, Sunbae-nim?” sits up on my bed as I feel him staring at me “Can it wait a little later?” covered my mouth as I yawn

“I’m afraid not, how can you sleep peacefully when your sunbae is heart broken right now??!” Seaof opened the balcony door and let the summer breeze in to our room “I broke up with Jijang half an hour ago, I back to being single and lonely man.” being dramatic at the balcony

“Wait, Sunbae-nim!” roommate A suddenly get out from his bed almost jumped down “You mean Lee Jijang is no longer dating you??!”

“Why are you deaf, Sun Kyunghee-ssi?!” Seaof sarcastically answered “I just announced that I broke up with her, what’s hard to understand?!!”

“Don’t mind him, Sunbae-nim.” roommate B got down from the ladder on his bed “10th of April you broke up with Lee Ilya, the very next day you’re in a relationship with her friend Hyobe and you broke up with her on 12th of June, also the next day you’ve dated their last friend Jijang then end your relationship in just a month and a day.” drinking water “How come you’ve dated those three sexy ladies within only one semester, Sunbae-nim??!”

“I didn’t intend to but those two took their turns after I broke up with their leader.” Seaof shrugged his shoulders “Why are you so well informed about my dating life, Kim Dongkyu-ssi??!” raising his eyebrows at him

“Everyone knows Sunbae-nim.” Weehi said “But Dongkyu-hyung, remembers the exact date.”

“Don! Did you tell everyone about my stories?!!” Seaof turned to me

“Of course not, Sunbae-nim!” waving both my hands to deny

“Not Don, and definitely not us!” Dongkyu said “Ilya-noona and Hyobe-noona also Jijang-noona, they’re always caught up in a cat fight whenever they meet each other because of you Sunbae-nim, but now that you’re no longer in a relationship with anyone of them, I hope they stop brawling.”

“I’m just a man, you can’t blame me if those ladies throw themselves onto me, all I did was open my arms to catch them.” Seaof said proudly

“You won’t date Jijang again right Sunbae-nim?” Kyunghee making it obvious that he’s interested with Seaof’s ex-lover

“No, I don’t date someone I already broke up with, if you want her to like you now is the right time, go ahead and console her.” Seaof said coolly

“Look yourself into the mirror first Kyunghee before you dash out from here to go to your princess.” Weehi reminded Kyunghee of his appearance

“I don’t really understand why are you getting into such complicated relationships, Sunbae-nim?” fixing my bed after I got out “It’s clearly not love.”

“Well those three didn’t love me too, they just want to outshine each other by using me and I let them used me, not because I’m being nice but because it’s more convenient to be with somebody else without investing too much emotions.” Seaof sits on the chair at the middle of our room

“I’ll just take a bath then I’ll go with you, if you’ll excuse me.” walk towards the bathroom “I hope we’re not going somewhere he can get another girl.”

I regret the moment I sit beside Seaof when I returned my professor’s book during lunchtime on 11th of April. I didn’t want to be rude and declined their invitation so I listened to his story how he broke up with Ilya and Hyobe seduced him after she found out that he broke up with her friend. The four professors seemed to be cool listening to his story but he polluted my cleansed mind once again with his lustful words. Since then he befriends me, though I thought it’s because I’m a Nevaeh and he’s a Godeth and it’s for business purposes in the future, but he became too comfortable to me.

“Where are we going Sunbae-nim?” catch the car key he throws at me “You want me to drive your car??”

“To the airport, take me somewhere far Don, let’s go for a summer vacation together.” gets in to the passenger seat “Father is using our family plane so mother used mine when she went to the other part of the world, you’re the only one I personally know who have a private plane on his own.”

“Ah I see, since it’s summer here how about we go to Iceland?” I said without thinking much

“It’s alright with me, as long as we’re out of the country, since it’s very unlikely for those three to be that far.” Seaof said as he checks his passport on his pockets “It’s here, let’s just buy everything we need at the airport.”

“This is my first time traveling without any preparations at all, as if I’m on the run with a fugitive.” drive the car and get on the road to the airport

“Shall we stay in Iceland until summer vacation ends?” Seaof staring ahead on the road

“Apologies but I can’t Sunbae-nim, there’s a rule in our family that prohibits staying out from the country of residency for more than seven days including the travel hours.” refusing him politely

“I completely understand, we’ve got some weird rules in our family too, so I can relate with what you’re saying.” Seaof sighs heavily “It’s fine.”

“It’s hard to be tied up with family rules, right?” sympathizing with him as we’re both in the same situation “You can’t disobey because of the consequences you might create with your actions.”

“Yeah right, they set those rules because they know what’s the best for us, so tell me in details what kind of rule about traveling your family has.” Seaof said as he looks at me curiously “Why seven days only??”

“My father told me it’s 5 days, 20 hours and 23 minutes, that’s the exact maximum time we can go on for a vacation and the rest is for flight to and from that specific country.” telling him what I know “He tried to go on for a vacation exceeding that time then he saw something that he wished he never see in his entire life and it was chasing after him while telling him to go home, the horror ended when he boarded the plane.”

“If you tell me that story when I’m only 14, I maybe laughing out loud at this moment and say that it’s all bulls**t, that they’re just making up stories to scare the hell out of you, but when I was 15 3/5 years old, my mind got open for any craziness the world has to offer.” Seaof said seriously

“Everyone in our family had that petrifying experience and they never did it the second time around, it’s only me and my two younger siblings who never done it so we don’t know if it’s real but because no one disobey the rule twice, we’re very much convinced that it’s true.” I said calmly

“Better be safe than sorry, so the maximum days we can spend outside the country is five days without worrying the time, right?” Seaof replied

“Yes, we should be on the road going to and from the airport during the remaining hours.” I nodded “Sorry, if I’m not an ideal travel mate.”

“You don’t have to be sorry; I totally understand your position.” Seaof smiles at me “Then after you come back home after a week vacation for how long should you stay home before you go to another vacation??”

“A week but that’s exactly seven days, weird right?” I said as I glance at him “We can’t even go for a straight vacation.”

“It’s weird but I know weirder than that, anyway should we grab breakfast first at that restaurant?” Seaof pointing the restaurant nearby

“Yes Sunbae-nim, I’m starving too, we’re not in a rush, are we?” driving towards the restaurant we saw “I should also make a phone call at the airport.”

“Sorry if I didn’t give you time to prepare for our trip.” Seaof scratching his head “Can you do me a favor, Don?”

“What is it, Sunbae-nim?” parking the car at the space

“Please don’t call me Sunbae-nim anymore, you can be casual to me, call me by my first name like the American way.” Seaof said “Aside from our professors friends and my parents, no one else calls me by my first name without adding at the end of it, my classmates calls me Seaof-ssi though I know it’s normal because we’re here in Korea but it’s different when you’re being called by just your name.”

“It’s fine with me to call you Seaof besides you’re calling me Don which is my nickname, and I also called Hera my older sister just Hera, she’s older than you by four months anyway.” getting out from the car “Since we’re being casual to each other, I would like to say that this is my first time driving someone else’s car but fortunately I’ve got the hang of it as time passed by.”

“Then may I go to sleep while you’re driving us to the airport??” Seaof walking beside me “I’ve stayed up all night since I’m making love with my ex.”

“Yeah, you better sleep than tell me in details what happened to you last night.” keep the door open for the woman next to us who’s entering the restaurant with her baby “I’ll have the seafood breakfast, what about you Seaof?” looking at the menu at the counter

“Chicken breakfast, if they could give me leg parts only then that would be great, I’ll look for our table.” Seaof leave me to fall in line to the counter

“Uhm, excuse me.” lady standing from behind “Are you and that friend of yours, interested to be a model? You’ve got the looks and that young man too but you’re more handsome than he is, it’s rare to see good-looking young men here in Busan most of them are in the capital.”

“I’m sorry but I’m not interested, we’re only here to eat breakfast.” finally reached the counter “One seafood set and one chicken set please, as for the chicken can you make it all leg parts?” talking to the cashier as she takes my order

“Yes sir, wow you’re so handsome!” cashier smiling as she punches my order at the machine

“He could be a model, right?” lady still insisting her offer and getting a supporter “His face should be in the magazines or in TV.”

“I agree.” cashier nodded “That would be 26,000 won in total.”

“Here.” giving her 30,000 won in cash “I’ll donate the 4,000 won to the charity.” pointing at the box on the corner

“Thank you, sir, I’ll just prepare your orders.” cashier preparing my orders in a rush but careful manner

“I’m sorry lady, but will you please stop staring at me? You’re making me feel uncomfortable with your stare.” asking the lady behind politely

“Ah sorry! I didn’t know I was staring at you, it’s just you look somewhat familiar, I just don’t know exactly where I saw your face.” lady go back to her line behind me “I’m pretty sure, I’ve seen you before.”

“Orders complete, do you need some assistance with these two trays sir?” cashier asking me nicely

“That would be helpful, thanks.” carrying one tray with both of my hands as the other crew followed me to the table

“Enjoy your meals sirs!” crew left after he get the tray from us

“This is one heavy breakfast for us.” Seaof said with a satisfied smile on his face as he sees the leg parts of the chicken on his meal

“I agree and this is a fast food chain restaurant after all.” eating my breakfast after he took a bite since he’s older than me

“Hi there, I’m Lee Weeon from Busan Magazine.” the lady earlier “Do you guys mind if I join you for breakfast?” sits on the chair between me and Seaof without waiting for our response “So I asked your friend before but he declined my offer, how about you taller guy are you interested to …”

“No, I’m not, sorry but both of us don’t want media attention and we absolutely don’t need to earn money with our looks.” Seaof cut her off immediately

“I see, it’s a shame though, you two should be seen by the public eyes, but if ever you two change your minds, I’m leaving here my calling card.” Weeon said as she stands up from her seat and leave me and Seaof alone

“You’re going to need media attention when you promote your family business in the future.” I said with a bit smile

“Yeah you too, but not this time, was I too rude with that lady??” Seaof getting worried “I didn’t mean to, I’m just a bit shy talking with strangers.”

“It’s alright, she was startled but it’s effective for her to leave us and have a peaceful breakfast.” continue eating my breakfast meal

“Are you really like that Don?” Seaof eating while having a conversation to me “You’re very polite and considerate to everyone.”

“Am I? maybe because I was born living with my paternal grandparents and our other relatives aside from my own family.” reminiscing the past

“I think that’s the effect of having older siblings, you’ve got two older sisters and one older brother, right?” Seaof getting inquisitive about my family

“Yes, that might also be the reason, and I have one younger brother next to me and younger sister that I have to considerate most of the time.”

“About your older sisters, you said one of them is the same as my age, right?” Seaof talking around the bush

“Hera she was born on ’52 but she’s very complicated and you’ll have to surpass Zeus first before you get onto her and that’s a mission impossible for anyone who tried, so I suggest not her.” telling the truth to him “As for the oldest, Ter, she’s 1 1/3 years older than Hera, but she her qualification of men is too difficult to understand, so she’s a no too.”

“How about your cousin, you’ve got one female cousin right?” Seaof seems to be determined to date one member in our family

“Ah Leto?!” smiles at him “You’re too late she’s already three months pregnant, she’s going to marry Zeus Latona of Jong Dae Electrical Company before Christmas this year though it’s only a civil wedding for now, they’ll have their church wedding next year after she give birth to their child.”

“Then it only leaves to your youngest sister, how old is she?” Seaof shamelessly aiming for my youngest sister

“She’ll be 17 next month but Toto is keeping his eyes on her so you better not push your luck with our youngest.” threatening him but not too obvious

“I see, there’s no chance for me to date one member of your family.” Seaof sighs heavily “I guess I’ll find another girl out there who will like me.”

“For a person who feels shy presenting himself to people, you’re the only I know who’s confident dating and dumping girls, are you sure you’re really introverted type of person?? You seem outgoing to me.” observing his personality thoroughly

“Hahaha, that’s because I’m comfortable towards you, I couldn’t speak about myself if I’m with others.” Seaof chuckles “It’s not me who’s going after girls, it’s actually the opposite, the problem with me is I can’t say no to them, but never in my life I will date two girls at the same time, one at a time is enough for me, so I’m proud to say that I’m a loyal lover.”

“Yeah, I know, but still I think, dating those three girls who were friends with each other wasn’t a good idea at all, just saying.” I said calmly

“Now you’re comfortable to scold me too, but I like it, this only means you’re considering me as your friend.” Seaof said with a smile on his face

“I’m done eating, I’ll just make a phone call to the airport, take your time with your meal.” stand up and go outside to the phone booth

To be honest I’m just being polite to Seaof first because he’s my senior at college, but then we’ve been always hanging out together since the second week of April. But for three months being together I consider him as my friend, that’s why I can tolerate him ordering me around.

We arrived at Iceland after a day worth flight, and on our third day stay, Seaof got himself a girlfriend again, so my duty as his friend ended. I left Thursday night than spend another night again with them and listened to their moaning and watched them being too intimate with each other.

On the 4th day of August, Seaof returned from Iceland and visited me to Seoul, since I’ve told him that I’m spending the vacation with my family at Gangnam district. I thought I was relieved from him because he already got a girlfriend but they didn’t even last a month this time.

“I really envy your family.” Seaof sitting on the couch in my bedroom “Urgh! Why am I an only child?!”

“You don’t have to envy mine; this family isn’t that ideal.” trying not to spill the deepest and darkest secret of my family

“Is there something between Hera and Zeus?” Seaof noticed the two-odd people in our family while having dinner with us “All of you are at ease with one another but those two never talked or even looked with each other.”

“Ah!” clearing my throat “Please don’t mind them, anyway you’ve met my sisters like you wanted.” changing the subject

“Just like you told me, Hera is really off-limits, as for your oldest sister Demeter and younger sister Hestia, they’re clearly not interested to me.” Seaof said with a slight smile on his face “I don’t know how to court ladies so I’ve got no chance being with one of them.”

“Hahaha, well you’re invited with Hera’s birthday right, you might find another lover in the party.” cheering him up “You just broke up but you’re into searching for a girl again, can’t you stay single for long?”

“You’ll never understand until you find yourself a girl.” Seaof stand up “I better go home, I’m telling my parents that I’ve got an invitation for a Nevaeh party, they don’t know yet that you’re my friend so I’ve got a lot of explaining to do with them.”

“You may stay the night, we have three guest rooms here, you may leave tomorrow morning.” considering that he’s tired from the long flight

“Nah, I’m fine, I’ll just see you on Wednesday.” walk towards the bedroom door

“Then let me send you off to the airport.” getting out from my bedroom with him “You already bought your flight ticket to Busan, right?”

“Yes, I think we’ll be on time when we arrived the airport.” Seaof looking at his wrist watch

Seaof brought me and even my family, souvenirs from Iceland, though he’s shy at first to give out his presents, my parents welcomed him warmly like they always do whenever one of my siblings bring, they’re friends home. He’s embarrassed to sleepover that’s why he declined my offer, during these times I can see that he really is a timid person.

But August seemed to be Seaof’s month of being in an instant relationship, he broke up four times with four girls in just a month. On the 2nd with the girl from Iceland, 15th with the girl he met at Hera’s party on 8th, 25th with the girl he met on the beach whom he dated for only four days, then on the 30th with the girl she only dated for two days during the start of the second semester.

During the first week of September, he dated his classmate for only a day, they agreed to date last midnight before they made love with each other but then she broke up with him before midnight too. That girl was the first one who initiated break up with him that she made a great impact.

“She was sexually harassing me during the entire class and I’m too cautious of getting caught by anyone.” Seaof complaining at me “We made love from midnight until morning, and in lunch break, then last evening, after I filled her up with all of my c*m the entire day, she just broke up with me??!”

“And she pretended you’re a stranger after everything you’ve done together yesterday??!” drinking a soda while sitting on the bench with him

“Yes, she didn’t look at me the entire day today and I tried to talk to her but she’s ignoring me as if I’m nothing.” Seaof continue whining at me

“Do you like her or because she’s the first one who dumped you after giving you so much pleasure in a day?” solving his problem for him

“I don’t think I like her so it’s probably the latter.” Seaof realized the answer by himself “Yeah right, I shouldn’t go after her if I don’t like her.”

“Uhm, excuse me.” a girl suddenly stopped in front of us “Hi, I’m Lee Hyori a sophomore student taking up data information under the engineering department, I’m actually putting up a club with a goal of increasing the female population in this college, would you two be so kind to assist me?”

“Alright, we’re listening, what do we need to do?” Seaof response quickly because of the beautiful smile Hyori gave us

“Are you two aware of the top 10 most handsome and beautiful faces contest?” Hyori said as she sits on the space between me and Seaof

“Ah that contest, I’m the top one last year and I didn’t even know how I got nominated.” Seaof chuckles shyly

“I’m the one who created that contest, and this year you two are the top contenders.” Hyori proudly said “I’ll put the official nominees tomorrow at the bulletin board so everyone could start casting their votes, anyway that’s not the reason I came to you too, I’m here because I need your help.”

“Hyori sunbae, you said earlier that the purpose of your new club is to increase the female population, right?” figured out what she wants us to do “I’m sorry but I don’t think I can help you with that.”

“But you haven’t heard what I’m about to say.” Hyori pouting “All I need is for you two to be a boy who can be with a girl for twelve hours, Poseidon you’re perfect to be the Friday boy or Saturday or Sunday boy, it’s your choice which day you want to be scheduled for a date with the lucky girl.”

“Ah! … I’m sorry but I’m really not interested with any of your ideas.” declining her politely

“I’ll take the Wednesday!” Seaof raised his hand “If we get more female population the girls’ dormitory will be permanently separated from us, and I think that’s a good idea for girls to have their own building instead of sharing with us.”

“Exactly my point Seaof sunbae-nim!” Hyori exclaimed with a wide smile on her face “It’s best for us to have our own building than staying at the top floors of every dormitories.”

“Good luck with whatever you two has in mind, I won’t do anything but I could give moral support.” Absolutely not interested with the dating thing

I’m pretty sure that Seaof agreed because he always want to date girls and the founder is such a beauty, but dating is really a bother to me so I refused.  I didn’t know that this college have this kind of ridiculousness since last year and it piqued Seaof’s interests, and as he volunteered, he became the Wednesday boy among the other top 8 nominees excluding me.

When December comes, Seaof’s 21st birthday aligned on Wednesday and because it’s his special day, he got the option to choose whom he’ll give his 12 hours with. And with no surprise at all, he chose Lee Hyori to be his date, of course he told me everything what happened between them even if I didn’t ask for any specifics. He only talks to much when he’s around me but he’s too quiet when he’s with anybody else.

Before the Christmas break, they announced me as the top one in the crazy contest that they had, and Seaof was on the second place. I thought this kind of rubbish only happens in high school but some people really never grow up. Nonetheless, they succeeded attracting more female students the next school year because of their romanticist idea that most of the female species like and girls’ dormitory is finally separated from us boys.

“Everyone thought this is a dating school and not college, seriously what are you going to do with those hopeful students that they could find their mate here instead of studying their chosen program?” trying to be calm while too irritated inside because I’ve been bothered by girls the whole day

“I can continue dating these girls every Tuesdays for this semester but I have to think about it next.” Seaof being carefree

“So, you’re the Tuesday man now, huh?” chuckles “Is dating and being with different girls once a week really fun??”

“Well in my case, having a conversation with different kind of people helps me to be confident and outgoing, I don’t want to feel shy anymore about presenting myself to people, I’m the successor of the Godeth family I can’t be a weak person.” Seaof said with determination

“Being shy doesn’t mean you’re a weak person, you’re daring yourself to do things to overcome your insecurities so I think you’re a strong one.” I said

“Thanks, mate!” Seaof pats my back “I’m so excited to be on the sea tomorrow, finally I’ll be on a training ship!” smiling widely at me

“Goodluck with your training tomorrow mate! You’re already on your final year while I still have three more years to go to be a marine engineer.” I said

“Time flies so fast, Don, you’ll get there eventually.” Seaof getting out of my bed “I’ll go now, all of you should get high grades this year too, alright?”

“Of course, sunbae-nim!” my roommates replied to Seaof “Take care of your way back, sunbae-nim!” Dongkyu closed the door after Seaof got out

“Seniors don’t have written examinations, right?” Weehi asked “They’ll be graded according to their ship training performance.” Kyunghee answered

And just like a snap of fingers Seaof graduated and went to California as he accepted a job offer to work for a prestigious company for marine engineers in America. I haven’t seen him for two years until my graduation, everyone decided to see the last sunset together before we all go home and celebrate with our own families, but then it all became a party all night long at the beach and everyone getting drunk while reminiscing everything.

I was walking along the shore when I noticed a girl with a long straight hair sitting alone, I only drink a little so I’m not that drunk enough to have hallucinations. She probably felt that I’m staring at her that she turned her face on my direction, I’m used seeing beautiful faces but her face is too charming that I felt like she’s pulling me towards her. I’ve never been this attracted to any girls before but how could she make me drawn to her??!