The scene unfolding before Sandra's eyes is like a déjà vu. It is almost the same as when she first stepped foot in the frat house for the first time at Halloween Party.

Though, the current party isn't as wild and crowded as the one she attended last year. And she is not alone in attending this party anymore. She already knows a couple of people.

Even if many attendees were students from Madtown U that Sandra doesn't know of, she is still with Kwanghee, who is giving her company. He also kind of gives her input on who is who at the party once in a while.

Sandra has been quiet in one corner for a while now and is just silently observing the partygoers there, letting Kwanghee do the talking all the time.

Sandra's face might have appeared calm outside but deep inside her, she is trembling. Her heart beating fast...as she recalled the events earlier when the party started.

Ted invited outsiders to the party. Mostly gorgeous women. She heard they were models from New York.

Sandra would have not cared except for one thing.

And it's the reason why she is standing in the corner right now, and avoiding the 'welcoming' greetings from the other attendees. She's avoiding one of Ted's guests.

A particular model from Japan.

Sandra bumped into the said model earlier. And the model even spilled her drink on Sandra's dress in the process. Whether it was intentional or not.

"Gomenasai!" (I'm so sorry!) The model said out loud, then stared at her face—too long for her liking.

For the party, Sandra decided to remove her glasses and wear contact lenses instead.

The model's eyes then squinted after, trying to recognize Sandra's face.

"Atta koto ga arimasu ka?" (Have we met before?) She even looked at Sandra from head to toe.

Sandra's sweat dropped because of this and she tensed right away. She knew the model. It's Lala Komatsu. A rising supermodel in Japan. They have met before in Tokyo Fashion Week. Though, it was a brief encounter, it was still a close call. And Sandra didn't expect Lala to recognize her as Sandra is not a big model in Japan like her.

But then, Sandra has been told multiple times before that she has a distinct look for a model that's hard to forget. It must be it.

"Are you OK?" Kidrey asked too. He was beside her at that time. He was quick to offer her a napkin to wipe herself up.

"Lala, this is Dar Rose." Ted quickly introduced. He looked entertained seeing the stain on her dress. "This is her Welcome Party as the new addition to the fraternity," Ted informed Lala then paused. "Also Dar doesn't speak Japanese."

Lala nodded. "Sou ka." (I see.) Still looking at Sandra before her eyes turned to Kidrey, Sandra saw how Lala's face changed from curiosity over her to the dreamy look she gave towards Kidrey. Lala is interested in him.

And Sandra couldn't blame anyone. Her boyfriend is hot.

"I'll get you a new drink," Kidrey whispered to Sandra's ear, kissing her on the cheek, as well, before leaving her.

Sandra saw the intriguing look Lala gave because of Kidrey's sweetness to her.

Lala looked at Sandra from head to toe again, almost demeaning her this time. "Zannen." (What a pity.) she whispered but enough for Sandra to hear, then she walked away from Sandra along with the other models she was with.

Smirking, Ted followed them behind.

Kwanghee then whispered to Sandra's ear when they left. "I don't understand Japanese but I think she was being bitchy."

Sandra didn't answer Kwanghee. She didn't even realize she was biting her lips for a while now. She didn't care about Lala's attitude towards her, she cared more about the fact that Lala almost recognized her.

Seeing a fellow Japanese model here gave Sandra almost a heart attack right on the spot. She thought for a while that her real name would be blurted in no time and her cover would blow up to everybody.

That's when Sandra asked Kwanghee they settled in the corner instead. Away from the other guests. Her friend seemed to not mind it, though.

To calm herself, Sandra busied her self to watch the other people there instead.

Mateo was playing blackjacks with the other Madtown U students. Betting a large amount of money.

While TOP is talking and hitting on women near the bar area.

Everybody else seemed to be having fun in their own groups there. Dancing and bopping to the live music.

The only thing Sandra likes so far at the party is the live band Jon hired for tonight. He even invited the rising international singer L-Hi.

Sandra liked listening to her voice as she bobbed her head to L-Hi singing. She saw Jon dancing on the dance floor, too, to one of the singer's songs.

Other than that, Sandra wishes the party would be over soon. It doesn't even feel like it's her welcoming party. Her mood dramatically went down after the short encounter earlier with Lala.

"Look at that ass, oh la la," Kwanghee whispered beside her.

He has been observing other male partygoers there for a while now and would comment once in a while to her. He is a bit tipsy, too, from drinking too much alcohol.

Sandra looked at the guy Kwanghee was looking at right now. The guy's back is facing their way. But she recognized who it was anyway.

Because of this, Sandra snatched her friend's drink much to his protest.

"Hey!" Kwanghee protested.

Sandra gulped his drink in one go, and gave back the empty glass to him.

Kwanghee pouted at this. "Not fair. Your boy St. Creed is getting your drink for you, you know. He should be back soon."

"Well, stop staring at TOP's ass if you want to live tomorrow. You're drunk." She said.

Kwanghee seemed to sober up to that. "That was William's?" His eyes widened.

As if on cue, TOP faced their direction while still talking to one of the women there. He seemed oblivious that he was the topic of their conversation.

Sandra nodded. "Yup. So, don't lust on my fraternity members' asses. They're not worth it."

Kwanghee laughed out loud when she said that.

Sandra looked up when she felt someone staring in their direction. It's TOP. Kwanghee's laugh might have caught his attention.

TOP is looking at Kwanghee longer before looking at her.

Sandra ignored him as she looked away instead.

"Kwanghee!"

They looked to the source of the voice, and Kwanghee immediately waved at the person who called him.

"It's Kai from the Basketball Club," Kwanghee told her. "I'll just say hi..." he then winked at her. "...and we might talk about 'balls'." He even acted dribbling an imaginary ball then threw it up in the air football style next before he left her. She smiled because of this.

Sandra was left alone again as she waited for Kidrey to be back. But it seemed he was not back as quickly as she expected he would be.

Sandra shrugged her shoulders as she decided to get her drinks instead. She's getting thirsty.

She looked for Kidrey herself.

And then...it seems like a scene from a movie in which you feel gutted and have a feeling you won't like the ending. It also feels like looking at somebody else's eyes, and moving in a cinematic motion when that scene falls before Sandra's eyes.

Kidrey is talking to Lala.

Her heart throbbed fast right away. She is even holding her breath.

Kidrey's head was low so he could hear what Lala was speaking to him. Her lips were almost touching his ear while wearing a seductive smile on her face. Kidrey seemed to be also listening closely to whatever Lala was telling him.

For whatever reason, Sandra felt a pang of pain seeing the two together. She even wanted to pull Lala's hair right away at the sight.

When...there should be nothing to feel bad about it in the first place. She should not even care. But Sandra is still surprised to find herself...feeling this way.

'Are you jealous?' Her subconscious mind dressed in a red leather tight-fitting dress hisses to her ear like a devil.

If that's not enough of a torment, Ted James suddenly stood beside her. Drinking his gin while seemingly entertained seeing the look on Sandra's face.

"Don't they look good together?" Ted even asked her.

Sandra didn't answer him.

"If you think you got God, you are wrong," Ted whispered in her ear this time. "Women go to him like a flock. Japanese models...or not." He offered her a drink. "You want to celebrate?" She still ignored him. He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't trust you joining the fraternity anyways so there's nothing to celebrate about...and I'll be watching your back, Dar Rose."

At this time, Sandra walked away from Ted but seemingly remembered something as she stopped on her track along the way. She then looked over her shoulder and stared coldly at him.

Sandra then mouthed, "Baka." It means idiot. She turned away her back to him after.

Ted looked surprised at that but Sandra didn't care anymore.

In the background, Sandra faintly heard the song L-Hi playing next on the stage. It's 'ROSE'.

Sandra walked in the direction of Kidrey and Lala.

Something snapped inside Sandra that night. She was fully reminded of her goal. Of her purpose. Of why she is here in the first place.

'Not distracted anymore?' Her subconscious mind added. Seemingly pleased at her full focus now.

Kidrey is a distraction to her, she finally admits. And she let him be, again. She realized, her feelings were getting too deep for him...and it was unwelcoming and unwanted to the whole of her. It is alarming.

My love is like a red rose
It may be beautiful now
But my sharp thorns will hurt you

Sandra continued walking in the direction of Kidrey and Lala. Her eyes locked on them.

Kidrey noticed her first as he raised his eyebrow at the look on her face.

Sandra is now standing in front of him.

My love is like a red rose
Yes, I may be fragrant
But the closer you get,
the more I'll hurt you

Without saying anything, Sandra held Kidrey by the neck and captured his lips on hers. Kidrey smiled on her lips right away because of this.

Sandra's eyes were opened as she glanced at the surprised model. Some guests were looking at her and Kidrey making out, too.

Sandra released the kiss as she hooked her arms on Kidrey's arm after.

"Where's my drink? I waited for you." Sandra asked this to Kidrey, but her eyes were looking at Lala—challenging her.

Kidrey handed her new cocktail. "Sorry, it took a while. Miss Komatsu here was telling me something interesting about you." he chuckled after saying it.

Whatever it is, it might have sounded silly to him.

Sandra's eyes darkened instantly at that.

"And what is it?"

Don't look at me with that light glance
Don't speak of love easily
If you want my heart, you need to take my pain too
Because you will be pricked by my thorns someday

Kidrey shrugged his shoulders. "That she thinks she saw you modeling in Japan."

Sandra's heart sank. But she got a good grip on herself as she laughed it instead while sipping her drink. "That's bullshit, darling,"

Kidrey smirked, pulling her closer to him. He even kissed her jawline. "I know right? You don't even have a passport."

Sandra smiled cunningly at the envious look Lala gave in their direction. The model turned her back harshly right away and left them. It was satisfying to watch.

"Right," Sandra whispered. As she held Kidrey's head, pulling him closer to her.

Don't trust me too much
You don't know me that well yet
So just run away run away
I said ooh ooh ooh

Don't love me
You don't know me that well yet
I said run away just run away
Don't come to me

At the corner of her eyes, Sandra saw Ted James looking at them. The redhead is drinking his gin while looking seriously at her. Then TOP stepped beside Ted and joined him looking at them too. A cold expression on his face.

Sandra smirked at them as she cradled the head of their leader like a fragile child. Showing them the power she has on him right now.

"Don't leave my side again." Sandra even whispered in Kidrey's ear.

My love is like a red rose
It may be beautiful now
But my sharp thorns will hurt you

My love is like a red rose
Yes, I may be fragrant
But the closer you get,
the more I'll hurt you

"I won't," Kidrey promised.

Emotions? That's an extravagance to me
Love? That's Obsession's best friend

So run away just run away
Cuz you and I must come to an end

Sandra closed her eyes and held Kidrey close. She is moving forward. Not distracted anymore.

Every rose has its thorn

⊶⊶✞⊷⊶

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Lee hi - ROSE (English Translation)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]