[002] charming strangers

                                         Eun-jung couldn't just keep waiting in the shadows and watching anymore. She decided to move in and get to meet Joe's newest love interest. Obviously, that meant alerting Joe to her presence but Eun-jung wasn't scared. If anything, she was ready for Joe to see her once and for all.

                                         Eun-jung wanted Joe to know that she was coming for him.

                                         As the girl stood outside of Anavrin, she worries the soft skin of her lower lip with her teeth. Nearly biting down until she broke skin and blood rose to the surface, Eun-jung snaps out of it when someone jumps into her. They apologize quickly before heading inside, stunning Eun-jung a little. She was used to everyone being an asshole back home, but it seemed to be different here.

                                         People were snobby and shallow but at least they could apologize to people when they were in the wrong. Eun-jung supposed she had to count her blessings.

                                         Deciding that now was as perfect of a time as any, Eun-jung walks inside of the popular store with a smile on her face. She moved effortlessly through the crowd, all the while looking for any sign of Joe. But she didn't spot him anywhere, wondering if he had even bothered to show up for work.

                                         Of course he would. He'd do anything to be around his new girlfriend. Eun-jung knew she'd bump into him sooner rather than later.

                                         As she walked past the fruits, she'd immediately notice a familiar petite woman with long brown hair. Eun-jung ventured closer and realized that it was Love Quinn herself. She was organizing some fruit, seemingly lost in her own little world. She was smiling to herself, tucking strands of light brown hair behind her ears decorated with small gold hoop earrings. With light makeup and almost simple clothes, she didn't exactly scream rich girl but maybe that was the whole point. She wanted to blend in rather than stand out, unlike her twin who loved to do the exact opposite.

                                         Eun-jung couldn't help but admire Love, even if she felt guilty for doing so. Her heart belonged to Beck and she thought it always would. But not even she could deny Love's allure. She was beautiful and from all appearances, fit the criteria of Joe's dream woman.

                                         It was no wonder Joe had become obsessed with her.

                                         Realizing that staring wasn't going to do her any good, Eun-jung looked away and her eyes landed on packs of strawberries which seemed to be on sale. She grabs one before opening it up, venturing towards Love. She takes one and bites into it, humming softly

                                         "Sorry. Didn't mean to disturb you," Eun-jung replied, her tongue running along her lower lip to capture the remaining juice from the strawberry. "It's not against the rules to eat the fruit in here before buying it, is it?"

                                         "As long as you promise to pay for them, it'll be our little secret," Love assures her with a wink.

                                         Eun-jung smiles before she takes another bite, looking away while still feeling Love's gaze on her. She'd notice the faint freckles which dotted her face, her dark eyes and somewhat mischievous smile. Whoever the woman was, she was charming and beautiful and Love couldn't seem to stay away from pretty things.

                                         Especially ones that looked lonely.

                                         "I haven't seen you around here before, and I like to think I'm familiar with just about everyone that shops here," Love adds a moment later.

                                         "What, are you the owner or something?" Eun-jung teased, although she knew the exact answer to that question. She just had to play dumb.

                                         "Yeah, actually," Love admits with a soft chuckle.

                                         Eun-jung giggles. "Holy shit. That's awesome. This place is amazing, by the way. One of the coolest stores I've been to in a long time. You're doing an excellent job so far."

                                         "Thank you," she responds, holding out her hand. "Love. That's my name actually."

                                         "That's so unique. I'm Caitlyn. Not nearly as cool but -," Eun-jung begins to say as she shakes Love's hand which was warm but thankfully not clammy.

                                         It felt nice actually, leading Eun-jung to wonder just how desperate she was. How long had it been since she had someone to hold her hand? The last time had been Beck but it hadn't been in the way she wanted.

                                         Eun-jung forces the thoughts out of her mind, remembering that she had to stay focused.

                                         "It suits you. It's very nice to meet you, Caitlyn," Love responded as the two let go of each other.

                                         "You too. Ever since I moved here, things have been so crazy and hectic. And the people... they're something else," Eun-jung sighed.

                                         "Really? What brought you here?" Love asked, not realizing how nosy she looked to an absolute stranger. But Eun-jung was more than prepared with a story of her own. The fact that Love was so friendly and curious and seemingly naive was exactly what Eun-jung had been hoping for.

                                         It'd make her plan so much easier.

                                         Revenge. "A fresh new start. I... just figured that I could do a lot better here than back home. Between heartbreak and losing someone important to me, I just had to get away," Eun-jung answers with a shake of her head.

                                         "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that," Love apologized, her features softening as she pouted. Even when she was pouting, she looked beautiful.

                                         "Thank you. I'm beginning to move forward. But L.A's so... L.A., you know?" Eun-jung responded.

                                         Love giggles. "Yeah, I get it. It can be overwhelming to someone who didn't grow up here. But if you need any help, I'd be more than happy to help. In fact, it'll be my mission to help you feel more at home here."

                                         "Really? Oh my God, you're so nice! I think you're the first nicest person I've ever met since I got here," Eun-jung smiles.

                                         Eun-jung wondered how someone could be this big of a sucker. Perhaps it was her wealth and privilege that made her so naive, assuming that nothing bad could ever happen to her. She had been protected her entire life and was therefore unable to see the worst in people. To her, every stranger that wore a friendly face was worthy of befriending.

                                         She wouldn't have survived in New York. Especially not with the likes of Peach Salinger and the rest of those bitches.

                                         "Seriously?" Love raised a brow.

                                         "Yeah. And just for the record, I promise I'm not a serial killer or anything. Just really lonely and in desperate need of a frienf," Eun-jung's quick to add.

                                         "Well, you're in luck. Besides, you're the last person I'd ever assume was a serial killer. Me, on the other hand... it depends. How many kills does it take before you actually become a serial killer?" Love responded.

                                         "Five... probably?" Eun-jung shrugged her shoulders. Admittedly, she had lost track of how many people she had killed.

                                         "Never mind then, you're all good," Love replied, making Eun-jung chuckle. "This is gonna sound super creepy but you're actually really pretty, especially when you smile."

                                         "Me? Compared to you, I probably look like a potato or something," Eun-jung's quick to deny. And yet the compliment had her swooning nevertheless.

                                         "Stop it," Love smiles, playfully waving Eun-jung away.

                                         "It's the truth. I bet you even have a boyfriend and everything, don't you?" Eun-jung remarked.

                                         Love turns sheepish for a moment. "Actually, I do."

                                         "That's a shame," Eun-jung sighed.

                                         "And why's that?" Love asks, glancing up at her.

                                         But their conversation would be interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching them, followed by a very familiar voice. "Love? I was just -."

                                         Joe freezes instantly when he locks eyes with Eun-jung. It was like he was seeing a ghost. Only Eun-jung wasn't dead or another one of his hallucinations. She was real and talking to his girlfriend.

                                         What. The. Fuck?

                                         "Oh my God, is that you?" Eun-jung asks, her eyes growing wide as a smile graced her lips.

                                         Love glances between the two of them before settling her gaze back on Eun-jung. "Caitlyn... you know Will?"

                                         "Yeah, I do! Isn't that right, Will?" Eun-jung nods.

                                         Joe falters for a moment before he nods, a smile plastered onto his lips as well. He had no choice but to play along with whatever sick game Eun-jung had in store for him. "That's right, Caitlyn."

                                         "We went to school together for a while before I decided to drop out. I'm surprised to see you here. When you moved away, I didn't think you'd go to L.A. of all places. This really is such a shock," Eun-jung replied.

                                         "Believe me, I'm even more surprised than you are," Joe replied.

                                         "Give me a hug!" Eun-jung exclaimed, pulling him in for a hug which he awkwardly reciprocated.

                                         Eun-jung squeezes him just a little too tight, patting him just a little too hard on the back before she finally lets him go.

                                         "Wow, this is crazy. You never told me about Caitlyn," Love says, standing by his side now.

                                         "I don't blame him. It was years ago. I'm just so happy to see you again. We really should catch up sometime," Eun-jung explained.

                                         "Yeah, I think that's a really good idea," Joe agreed. He needed to talk to Eun-jung and find out what the fuck was going on. He obviously knew why she was here, no doubt trying to ruin his life after everything that had happened in New York.

                                         But he'd need to find a way to stop her once and for all.

                                         "And let me guess, this awesome lady is your girlfriend, right?" Eun-jung glanced between the two of them.

                                         "Yeah, she is," Joe reluctantly answers, just as Love holds onto his hand.

                                         "Did you two go out together?" Love blatantly asks, unable to hold back her questions for too long.

                                         "Will's not my type. If anything, you're my type," Eun-jung admits.

                                         "Oh," Love's cheeks turn red as she thinks back to their conversation. Now it made sense why Eun-jung had been so disappointed to find out she had a boyfriend.

                                         Love was head over heels for Joe and yet, she had felt more chemistry with the other woman than she did with Joe. Love wasn't too sure what it all meant but she knew she couldn't think about it too much. Or else it'd mess with her mind even more.

                                         "Hey," Joe replied.

                                         "Come on, I'm not doing anything. You're a lucky man, Will. You have a sweet and beautiful girlfriend so you better not let her slip away," Eun-jung playfully warned.

                                         "Thanks," is all Joe says in response.

                                         "In fact, we should exchange numbers. We can hang out and I'll give you all the juicy details about Will," Eun-jung offered.

                                         "I don't think that's -," Joe began to say.

                                         "I'd love to," Love quickly agreed, partly due to wanting to learn more about her boyfriend but also... because she's have an excuse to talk to Caitlyn without seeming like a total stalker.

                                         Eun-jung smiles at Joe before she puts her number into Love's phone, saving it under Caitlyn and handing it back to her. "Gosh, this has quickly turned into the best day ever. Well, I'll let you two get back to work now. Call me, Love!"

                                         "I will! It was very nice to meet you," Love smiles back at her.

                                         "You too! And Will, it was so nice to see you again," Eun-jung says, sending him a look which sends a shiver down her spine.

                                         "Yes, it was," Joe responds, forcing himself to smile back at her.

                                         And with that, Eun-jung leaves with the strawberries in hand. Love and Joe were both watching her - one angered by her presence and the other... growing more and more curious about the mysterious, beautiful woman who held ties to her boyfriend.

                                         And Love was determined to try and unravel her mystery.

(🔪🧁💔)

word count: 2037
notes: hope you guys liked this chapter! the next one is going to be a confrontation between her and joe and hopefully it'll be entertaining!