Chapter 1

Year 2005

Sulli’s eyes are widening. She’s stunned…can’t speak for seconds and just stared at the letter in front of her.

Luna entered the High school paper’s office.

“Well…I already got the article about the ‘most borrowed books’ from the library. I sure gave the librarian a hard time to provide this information.” Said Luna

Luna noticed Sulli just staring at the paper and gestured to Key who was then also just staring at Sulli’s shocked reaction

“Don’t ask me…I don’t know. When I entered, she’s already like that.” Said Key

Luna took a deep breath and went in front of Sulli pulling the paper from Sulli’s hand slightly away

“No! Don’t do that!” said Sulli

“Now I got your attention.” Said Luna.

“What’s up with that letter? You’ve been staring at that like…hours and with that ‘I made it to American Idol’ reaction too.” Said Key

Sulli can’t contain it already, she pulled Key  and Luna and hugged them both jumping.

“Wahhhhh!!! I have the best news ever!!!” said Sulli

“Ok…can you share it with us so that we can contribute to the ‘jumping with joy’ moment?” asked Key

Sulli stopped jumping and tried to control herself.

“We made it. The LUCEAT Bulletin did it! Remember I sent the last issue of our school paper to a competition?” said Sulli

“The Korean Peabody Awards?” asked Luna

“The biggest Award giving body for news and public affairs for the entire country?” asked Key

“Yeah yeah! So they had the new category on Student papers. They want to choose the best student paper in the entire country. And I sent our last issue for the qualifying round and that letter” Sulli had to stop to breath.

“The letter tells us that we made it to the qualifiers! We need to submit our next issue for the semi finals!” said Sulli excitedly

“WoW!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Luna shouted

Luna hugged Sulli jumping with joy “We did it! You are so great Sulli!”

Key just laughed looking at the 2 closest friends he has in the world looking all crazy.

“Now we need to call everyone for a meeting. We need to make sure everything is in order. We need to polish everything. We have a week left to change whatever needs to be updated.” Said Sulli in a firm voice

Oh no…Monster Editor in Chief has now possessed Sulli’s body

Key can only shake his head. This will surely bring stress to all the members of “The LUCEAT Bulletin”. Sulli is a perfectionist…everybody will be driven mad.

“So I already got the top 10 books being borrowed from the library.” Said Luna

“Let  me see.” Sulli looked at the list…Sulli’s brows are close together while doing her analysis on the list. It made Luna gulp at Sulli’s scrutiny.

 “No..this is not interesting at all…history books? Science books? People only read this because we are forced to…but this is not what we want to tell our readers. We want to show them what people like borrowing…The key word is LIKE. What they really want to read. So go to the fiction section. Get the most borrowed book from that section only. We need the article tonight. Can you do that?” asked Sulli

Luna had to blink 3 times…Wow…in a split second she went from the happy Sulli to the strict Perfectionist Editor in Chief!

“Umm…I’ll go to the library now.” Said Luna “I might still be able to talk with the librarian who gave me the list earlier.” Said Luna

“I am sooo excited!” Sulli said running out!

“Wow…this looks like it’s gonna be a lot of work.” Said Key

“Sure look so.” Said Luna

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Sulli went to the back of the school in front of the field. She leaned on the big tree and closed her eyes as the wind blew on her face.

Ahhh….it feels so good…so relaxing…

 “Yes, work work work! Everything has to be done on time…everything has to be perfect!” thought Sulli

Sulli started to list all the things that has to be done in her mind…Key’s article on the sports team has already been submitted, but she needs an article on the star player of the football team. The article about the latest trend on women accessories in the school has to go away. She needs to replace that by a literary piece to show case the talent of the school. And then she needs to check if  the drawings are already done for the editorial section. And she also needs to ask the artist to make a painting…she needs to put that on another portion of the paper.

Sulli opened her eyes.  “Yes!!! We can do this!” shouted Sulli

All her effort to make the school paper shine not only in their University but the entire Korea is at hand.

“I am wonderful! I am sooo wonderful!!!” shouted Sulli

Yes! She can do this! LUCEAT will definitely win!

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Sulli went back to the LUCEAT office and saw Key with a worried expression.

“What’s up? Oh, Key we need to adjust your article on the sports team, I want to highlight some portions about the star player…..”said Sulli…But why is her Asst. Editor in Chief so worried…Key keeps looking at the window and has that impatient look in his face.

“Hey…you don’t feel comfortable with the article adjustments I need?” asked Sulli

“No Sulli..that’s not the problem…I can just interview the star player later…but we have a bigger problem than that.” Said Key

“What is it? Is there anything we haven’t resolved until now? I’m sure we can resolve whatever that is in no time! And I’m Sulli Choi. Is there anything I can’t do?” asked Sulli

“Well…this might be the biggest test to know how much you can really do.” Said Key

“Hey. You don’t trust me?” asked Sulli

“Taemin…our artist…has got cancer…stage 4…he lost consciousness yesterday and…his doctor already asked him to stay in the hospital from now on…He’s already weak Sulli…he can’t submit everything you asked him to do any more.” Said Key

“No..I just saw him a  few weeks ago..He was healthy..he was fine.” Said Sulli

“He has always been pretending to be fine, Sulli. He knows he won’t last long anymore…so he wanted to give his best the last days…” Key stopped talking…Teamin is close to almost everyone in Luceat…He’s the only artist who passed Sulli’s meticulous taste. And he has been working hard. “His Mom went here earlier and explained everything…we won’t make it to the end of this week if we push to have those sections that were assigned to Taemin.”

“We have 2 options. First we take out all the portions that Taemin was supposed to do. Replace them with some other stuff. Or Second, we find another artist ASAP…someone who’s so talented that he can pull off everything we need before the end of this week. When I say another artist, you need to lower your standards Sulli…There is no way we can find anyone who is as good as Taemin with the limited time left.” Said Key

“No.” said Sulli “Option 1 is an absolute No. We can’t just replace them with anything…that’s like mixing spoiled tomato with good ones. That will spoil everything.”

“So, it’s option 2 then. I will talk to the Art’s club President then.” Said Key

“No…I’ll go ahead.” Said Sulli

Key took a deep breath and shook Sulli’s shoulder

“You understand that we need an artist ASAP right? An artist who has enough talent to do what needs to be done. If you go there yourself…You’re not going to find anyone. You’re too perfectionist, Sulli.  We’ll never make it to the finals.” Said Key

“Look, Key. If we find someone who only has “good enough” talent, but is not a real artist by heart like Taemin, we’ll lose the semi finals. If we don’t get the right artist, there is definitely no Finals for us if that happens.” Said Sulli “I’m going to the artist club.”

Sulli left the room  leaving Key alone troubled over what will happen.

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Sulli knocked 3 times but nobody opened the door of  the Artist Club office. Sulli opened the door and went inside.

Nobody is in?

Sulli looked around…Wow…it’s a big room…bigger than LUCEAT. It’s also more stylish.

What is with this Artist club that they get more favors than Luceat?

Sulli looked around. There are a lot of paintings on the wall.

“They really stand by their Club’s name.” thought Sulli

Sulli stopped by a small painting on the corner of the room. It’s a painting of a stormy night…the house in the middle of the painting looked eerie….It looked abandoned…And the wind in the painting is so strong that it feels like the house will not make it through the night.  Sulli felt shivers down her spine… It suddenly felt so cold…

“Does it give you the shivers?” asked a voice from behind Sulli that it made Sulli scream!

Sulli turned around to see 2 guys and a girl. One directly behind her laughing, another by the table and a girl by the door. All looking at her. The guy by the table walked towards her pulling the laughing guy away.

“You scared her Lee Joon.” Said the serious but good looking guy “What can Miss Sulli Choi be doing here in our office? A surprise visit?”

Ahhh Sulli remembers now…this is the Artist Club president. He attends some meetings where the school calls for all the club leaders to attend.

“You are the President.” Said Sulli

“Yes, I’m ‘L’” said L

That’s got to be a weird name, thought Sulli.

“I need to talk to you that’s why I came.” Said Sulli

L’s eyes dilated.

“What does Luceat need from us?” asked L

“I need an artist…I need someone ASAP. We have a competition by the end of this week. We need the drawings and paintings the next few days.” Said Sulli

“Does Luceat think they can just grab an artist from us anytime you want? You already did that with Taemin. What makes you think we’ll allow that to happen again?” Said the girl

That got to Sulli irritated. Who is this girl who had the nerve to speak when she’s not talking to her.

“Who are you?” asked Sulli her brows raising.

“That’s rude of us. “I’m Lee Joon, the club’s secretary. And She’s Hara, our treasurer.” Said Lee Joon, the guy who was laughing earlier.

“Look, I am BORROWING your member…not GRABBING.” Said Sulli emphasizing the words so that Hara gets her point.

“Luceat never returns what you borrow. Look at Taemin. Can you still return him to us? Ah yes..now that he’s dying in his bed, you do not have any use of him anymore…that’s why you’re here.” said Hara

This woman! Sulli is trying to control her emotion. This woman will get what she deserves later.

“I apologize for Hara’s words.” Said L “Taemin was close to her in middle school. It was hard for her when Taemin chose to be with Luceat over the Artist club.”

Sulli looked away. She was the reason Taemin left Luceat. But so what?! It was Taemin’s choice! It’s not as if she pointed a gun on Taemin’s head right?!

“I came here because I need your help.” Said Sulli

Hara shook her head.

“Hmm…What is the benefit to us if we help Luceat?” asked L

“Now you’re talking.” Said Lee Joong crossing his arms over his chest.

Normally, people will just bend their back and follow Sulli. These Artists, don’t they have an idea of what she’s capable of doing?

“Well, shouldn’t your question be ‘what will I do if you don’t help me?’” said Sulli her eyes threatening, but her lips is smiling.

Hara’s eyes widen at that. Lee Joong raised his arm like stretching.

‘L’ chuckled.  It’s an obviously fake laugh.

“Well then…Miss Choi  give me a day. I need to know whose schedule is available to accommodate Luceat.” Said L

“L!” Hara is furious. Why is L so easy to bend like that?!

Lee Joon is surprised. L is not the type who gets threatened.

“Hush Hara. This is between me and Ms. Choi.” Said L.

“I am not looking for just any available artist. You have over a hundred member.” Said Sulli

“Hmm…what do you mean? Are you specifically looking for someone?” asked L

Lee Joong coughed. “Ehem! She must be looking for the best. Ehem!” said Lee Joong

“Art is subjective, Miss Choi. What can be beautiful to one person is a thrash to another. What can be the best for you might not be the best for everyone…if there’s any Best at all that is. Everyone has their own style.” Said L

“No…I need someone who has the heart of an Artist.” Said Sulli

“Now that’s not going to be easy to find.” Said L

“Taemin had it. He was devoted to his art. I need someone who is like him.” Said Sulli

“It’s hard to judge if someone has that…heart.” Said Lee Joon

“Do you have a gallery here? I’ll know it. Just show the works to me. I’ll feel it when I see it.” Said Sulli

That brought all the 3’s eyes wide. So she has eyes for Art?

“Speaking of which…who made that painting there?” Sulli pointed the painting she saw earlier.

“Oh…that troubling painting there?” said Lee Joon “You liked that?!” the surprise is obvious on Lee Joon’s voice “Not everyone likes that piece. Well normally people doesn’t even want to look at it.”

“I think the person who painted that…has the heart…his painting…” Sulli can’t describe it in words…but it affects her so much.

“The Vice President of this club painted it.” Said L

The Vice President?

Hara chuckled “Well Miss Editor in Chief, Better start looking for other artists works in the gallery then.” said Hara

 What does she mean?