SHOPPAHOLIC
SEOUL,12PM,KRYSTALGROUPOFCOMPANIES**
Arizona'scriesfilledthewholeofficeandanyonepassingbywillthinksomethingbadreally
happened.
Hergorgeouslypedicuredlegsareonthetableandshehasabigbowlofpopcornwithher,she huggedthebowltoherchest.
She'seatingthepopcornasshecried,watchingadramaonTV.
"Howsad"shesobbed,eatingfromthepopcornagain.
Shehasfinishedalmostarolloftissueinwipinghertears.
"Guysarewicked,howcouldhedothattoher"shecried,eatingfromthepopcornagainasshe
continuedwatchingthemovie.
Hermanagerenteredtheofficeandsighed,knowingshe'satitagain.
"Ligamentisthatyou?"Sheasked,stillnotlookingawayfromtheTV.
"ManagerYang,notLigament"hereplied,cominginfully.
Hesighed,seeingthemessoftissuesontheground.
"Thosearen'trealtears"hesaidandArizonalookedupathim.
"Thismovieisheartbreakingseriously,howcouldHoseokbreakupwithJennyafterfiveyearsof
dating,fivef*ckingyearsLigament"shesniffed.
"It'sManagerYang,notLigament"Yangreplied,foldinghisfists,
Arizonacontinuedcryingwhileeatingpopcorn.
"Allmenaresnakes,Hoseokisacobra"shecried
"ThencanIcallMrBanksapython?"YangsaidandArizonaglaredathim.
"Mydad?,Areyoucrazy?,Areyoucrazy!"Sheshouted,throwingthepopcornbowlathim
Heavoideditanditlandedontheground.
ShestoodandputofftheTVbeforewipingherfaketears.
"AndyoushouldreallytakethisTVoutofthisplace,it'sanoffice,notalivingroom"Yangsaid.
"Igettodecidehowmyofficewilllooklikeok?"sherepliedandgasped.
"Mybluecarisarrivingtoday!"
"Anothercar?,Youboughtthreecarsthismonthalreadyandthisisjustthetwentiethdayofthe
month,youhavemorethanthirtycarsthatyouhaven'tdriveninyourgarage,Arizona!"Yang
cautioned.
Arizonasmiledandflauntedherhair
"What'ssowrongaboutit?,Iownmymoneyanyways,I'mthinkingofbuyingaskyscraperby
nextmonth,ohIneedanotherprivatejettoo,Igottiredofthecurrentone,thenI'llbuy...
"ThewholeKoreashouldcomenext,you'llbuythewholeKoreaatthisrate,lookArizona,Iknow
youhavethemoneybut....
"Whyareyouhere?,ThelasttimeIchecked,I'mdonewithallmyscheduledappointmentsfor
today"sheinterrupted.
"MrKeviniswaitingattheinstitutealready"Yangrepliedandhereyeswidened.
"Zanillia'smanager?"
"Yes,soyouhavetomeethimassoonaspossibleifyoureallywannagetthecontract"Yang
saidandArizonasmiled.
"Yes!,Arielleissodead!"Shegushed,walkingintoherdressingroom.
Yeah,shehasadressingroominherofficeandit'sfullofluxuryjustlikeherdressingroomat
home.
Shechangesanytimesheneedstogoout.
Shecameouttwentyminuteslater,lookingmorestunninginanotherdress,sheretouchedher
makeuptoo.
"Let'sgoLigament!"Shesaidhappily,almostbouncingonherheels.
"It'sYang...Yang"Yangmutteredashewalkedbesideher.
TheytooktheelevatordownstairsandherstaffskeptbowingasshewalkedoutwithYang.
HerguardsjoinedherinfrontofthecompanyandYangopenedthecardoorforher.
"Idon'tneedguards,stayback"sheorderedandthenumerousguardssteppedback
ShegotinthecarandYanggotinwithher.
"Theinstitute"Yangsaidandthedriverdrove.
Arizonakeptpressingherphone,orderingeverynewdesignershecomesacross.
"ding!,Thisbag!"Shesaid,orderingthefifthone.
"Canyoujuststopalready?,We'vebeenontheroadforjusttenminutesandIcan'tevencount
thenumberofshoesandbagsyou'veordered...please!,Justplease!"Yangcautioned.
"Ligament?"Shecalled
"It'sYang"hereplied.
"Haveyoueverboughtmeapant?"Shesaid,lookingathimwhiletossingherphoneonherPalm.
"Howcouldyousaysomethingso...Vulgar"Yangsaidandshegrinned.
"Iownmymoney!,SeemslikeI'vebeentoolenientonyouthesedays,Ishouldmakeyoudrink aloeverajuiceoncewegetbacktotheoffice"shereplied.
Aloeverajuiceisadrinkshespeciallymade,amixtureofjuiceandaloevera...f*ckingbitter.
Anyofherstaffswhomisbehaveswillhavetodrinkthreecups.
"No,okmylipsaresealed"Yangheldhislipsandshescoffed.
Shesmiledandreturnedtoherphonebutnoticedthecarisnotmoving.
"Heywhat'shappening?"Sheaskedthedriver.
"Someoneiscausingcommotionupfront"thedriverreplied.
"Commotion?,Onthisbusyroad?"Sheraisedabrowandgotherblackshades.
"Whereareyougoing?"Yangasked.
"Tostopthecommotion"sherepliedrichly.
"But....
She'salreadyoutofthecarbeforehecouldfinish.
Sheputonhershadesandsmirkedbeforestartingherstylishwalktothescene.
Awomanwholooksobviouslyrichisbusythrowingthethingsofanotherobviouslypoorwoman
acrosstheroad,thepoorwomanisbusybeggingbutitseemsthearrogantrichoneisnotready.
Therichwomansuddenlyslappedthepooroneandshefellblindly.
Arizonagottothescenejustwhentherichwomanmadetothrowanotherthing.
"What'shappeninghere?"Shequestionedthewoman
ShebroughtdownherhandandfacedArizona.
"Whoareyoutoquestionme"shebarked.
"WhoamI?"Arizonachuckled.
"Thisworthlessthingwassellingmilkshakesbesidethisroadwithouttakingpermissionfrom
anyone!,She'sdestroyingthefaceofKorea!"ThewomanshoutedatArizona'sface.
"Stayback!,Yousmellgross!,Wasyourperfumemadeofgarlic?"Arizonafannedhernosewith
herhand.
"What!"Mrsgarlic-scentrepliedshockingly.
"Sobecauseshewassellingherwaresbesidetheroad,youstartedtossingitaway,doyouknow
ifthisisheronlywayofliving?"Arizonasaid.
"Idon'tcare!"Mrsgarlic-scentsaidandkickedthepoorwomanwithherheels.
ArizonaturnedMrsgarlic-scenttoherselfandslappedhersoundly,makingeveryonegasp.
"She'sMrsYeji,thechairwomanofGoldgroup"Yangwhisperedbehindher.
"Ohreally?"ArizonasaidandslappedMrsYejiontheothercheek.
"Arizona!"YangcautionedbutsheslappedMrsYejiagainandagaintillshefell.
"Howdareyou!"MrsYejisaid,hereyesredalreadyasaresultoftheslaps.
Arizonapulledthepoorwomanupandwipedhertears.
"Yang,oneofmydebitcards"shesaid.
Yanggaveheroneandshegavethewoman.
"004,spenditjudiciously"shesaid.
"Huh?,Forme?,gamsahamnida!,Jungmalgomasseumnida(Thanks,I'mverygrateful)"the
womansaidandArizonasmiledasshewalkedaway.
MrsYejisprangedup.
"Arizona!,You'regoingdownforthis!"Shespat.
"Soyouknowmyname,Idon'tknowwhatmakesyoustupidbutwhateveritis,it'sworking
perfectly"ArizonarepliedandleftwithYang.
"Thebattlelinehasjustbeendrawn!"MrsYejiyelledafterher
"Arizona,MrsYejiisoldenoughtobeyourmotherhowcouldyou"Yangwhisperedbesideher.
Arizonastoppedandturnedback.
"Whydidn'tyoutellmethatearlier"shesaidandwalkedbacktoMrsYeji.
Yejismirked.
"Heretoapologise?"Sheglared.
"No,tocompleteyourdose"Arizonasmiledandslappedheragain.
"Arizona!"Yanggasped.
*******
HAESUNGUNIVERSITY**
ENGLISHDEPARTMENT**
"That'llbeallfortoday,let'scallitawrap"thecheerfullecturersaid,packinghisbooks.
"Yessir"thestudentschorused.
Vincetookhistwobooksandstood.
Hisjeanisfaded,sameastheshirthe'swearing,hissneakersarefarfromgoodbuthisfaceis
handsome.
"Areyougoingalready?,Westillhaveoneclassleft"Chrissysaidbesidehim.
Chrissyisarichgirl...everyoneintheschoolisrichexcepthim.
He'shereonscholarshiprightfromhisyearonetillnowcosofhisextremebrilliance.
Chrissyishisonlyfriend.
"Iwon'tbeabletowait,Ihavetogoworkpart-time"hereplied.
"Yougotanadditionalone?"Sheasked,standingup.
"Yeah"hereplied.
"Youhavethreebefore,plusthisadditionalone,makingfour,Vincethestress"shesaid,holding
hisarm.
"Iwasn'tbornwithasilverspoonlikeyou,Ihavetoworktosupportmyjuniorbrotherandmum"
hereplied.
"ButIcanhelp,Icangiveyouablackcardandyouwon'thavetoworkagain"sheoffered.
Sheofferedthatseveraltimesbuthehasalwaysturnedherdown.
"Canyouborrowmeyournewtextbook?"Heasked,ignoringthequestion.
"Ofcourse"sherepliedandquicklybroughtitout.
Hetookitandmadetogobutsheheldhimstill.
"I'llgiveyouaride,lemmedropyou"shesaid.
"No,youshouldstayforthelastclasssoI'llgetthenotefromyoutommorow"hesaidandshelet
himgoreluctantly.
"Ok,seeyou!"Shesaid.
HeleftclassandChrissyinhaledbeforesitting.
"Justhowmanyparttimejobswillhedo"shemuttered.
VincewasstillwalkingoutofschoolwhenhebumpedintoSummer.
Summeristhedaughteroftheowneroftheschoolsoshealwaysgetsawaywithanythingshe
does,goodorbad.
Shehasnevertrieddoinggoodthough.
"Heygoldenboy"shesaid,touchinghisfacebuthesteppedback.
Hetriedtakinganotherwaybutsheblockedhimagain.
"Whydon'tweclick?,Likegetcloser?"Shesmiled,tryingtotouchhisfaceagainbutheheldher
hand.
Shemoanedb*tchilyandsmiled.
"Iloveyourtouch,howIwishitwasonanotherplace,myb**bs"shewinked.
"Youhavealotofmoney,buysomedignityifpossible"heglaredandthrewherhandoffbefore
leaving.
Summerchuckled,watchinghimtillhelefthersight.
"Youbelongtome...Vince"shesmiled.
Vincehasn'tgottenoutoftheschoolwhenhisphonerang.
Hebroughtouthisphone...Thescreenisfilledwithcracksalready.
It'sBlazecalling,hisjuniorbrother.
HepickedquicklyandImmediatelyheardstrugglingsounds
"Hyung!"Blaze'svoicesaidurgently.
"What'sup?"Heaskedquickly.
"Thehouseownerishere,threateningtothrowusout"Blazereplied.
"Where'smum?"Heasked.
"She'stryingtobegbutMrsYunisnotreadytolisten!"Blazesaid.
"I'llbethere"Vincerepliedandhungup.
Hestoppedataxiwhichdrovehimhome.
Hegothomeandtrulythehouseowner,MrsYunisnotsmiling.
"It'sbeensixgoodmonths!,Sixmonthssinceyouloserspayedyourrent!,I'mnotrunninga
charityorganization!,It'smyhouseandyouneedtopay!"Sheranted.
"MrsYun...please...."Vincetriedtobeg.
"Don'tbegmeI'mtiredofit!,PeoplewillthinkI'mwickediftheyseemeshoutinglikethis,not knowingyouguysaretherealdevils!"Sheyelled.
"We'resorry,Ipromisetopayupbeforetheendofthismonth,Ipromise"Vincepleaded.
"Youbetter!,Ifyoudon't!,I'llthrowyouguysout!,Seemsyouguyswerecursedwithpoverty!,
Findawaytoliftthecurseandpaymemymoney!"Shesaidandleftangrily.
"Mumyoudidn'tshoutwithherdidyou?,Youknowit'sdangerousforyou"Vincesaid,holding
Alena.
"Ididn't"shesmiledsadly.
"Hyung"Blazesaid.
"Staywithmum,Ineedtogoworkrightnow"Vincesaid.
"Ineedtogoworktoo,Igotaparttimejobtoo,youcan'tbetheonlyoneworking"Blazesaid,
puttingonhiswornoutshoes.
"Itoldyoutojustfocusonreading,you'reresumingschooltomorrowremember?"Vince
protested
"Byemum!"Blazesmiled,rushingouttathehouse.
"Lethimbe,youknowhowstubbornhecanbe"Alenasaid.
"I'llbeonmywaytoo"Vincesaid.
"Alright"Alenasmiledasheleftthehousetoo.
******
ARIZONA'SFASHIONINSTITUTE**
AllherstaffsandstudentsbowedingreetingsasArizonawalkedin.
ThevideoofwhatshedidtoMrsYejiistrendingfastbutasusual,shecaresless.
YangledherintoherofficewhereMrKeviniswaiting.
MrKevinisthemanagerofZanillia
ZanilliaisamultibillionaireinChina,she'scurrentlyinneedofanewfashionistaforherdresses.
ArielleandArizonaarebothstrugglingtogetherattentionsoit'slikesurvivalofthefittest.
Anyonewhogetsthecontractwillsurelybecomemorepopular.
"HeyMrKevin"Arizonasatinfrontofhim.
"MissBanks"hesmilednaughtily.
Yangexcusedthem.
"Theshowcaseisnextweek,IneedyoutotellmeZanillia'spreferences"shesaidandKevin
smiled.
"Nothinggoesfornothing"Kevinsmiled
"IfIgetyouright,youwantsomethinginreturn"shereplied.
"You'rejustassmartasyou'vebeendescribed,wellyes"hereplied.
"Whatdoyouwant?"Sheaskedandhestood.
Hewalkedtoherandstoodbehindher.
Shesuddenlyfelthishandsonhershoulders,caressingit.
"You"hewhisperedandshesmiled.
Shelickedherlowerlipslowly.
"Me?"
"Yesyou,anightisok"hereplied,stillcaressinghershoulders.
Herexpressionsuddenlychangedandshegrabbedhisarm,twistingithard.
"Aarrgh!!!!"Kevinscreamedinpains.
Arizonastoodandflippedhimacrosshershoulder.
Helandedonthegroundheavily,histailbonealmostbreaking.
"Snake!,Freak!,Youwantme?,Hahahaha!,Howfunny,you?,Youmusthavebeenborninan
highwaycosthat'swheremostaccidentshappen"sheglared.
Anotherlookathisshoes,shepulledthemoffhislegs.
"No!...myshoes!"Heshouted.
YangrushedinandhiseyeswidenedwhenhesawKevin'sposition.
"Arizona!,Howcouldyoutakehisshoes,hecan'tpossiblywalkoutwithonlyhissocks,whatdid
youdotohim?"Hesaid,facingher.
ArizonalookedbackatthesocksonKevin'slegsandsmiledlikeawitch.
"ThanksforremindingmeLigament"shesaidandwentbacktoKevin.
Sherippedthesocksoffhislegs.