NEXTDAY,THEBANKSMANSION**
Arizona'slimousinemadeit'sentryandshehoppedout,lookingstern.
Theguardssurroundingthehousebowedassheenteredthehouse.
RitaandPaulson(herparents)arealreadywaitinginthelivingroom.
Sheremovedhershadesandsettledononeofthecouches.
"Coldwater"shesaidandoneofthemaidsgotitforher.
Shetookitandgulpeditdownslowlybeforegivingthecupbacktothemaid.
RitaandPaulsonkeptlookingatherinawe.
"Hey"shesaidandthemaidcameback.
"Anapple,sliceitintofourpieces"shesaid.
"Yesmiss"themaidbowedandleft.
ShecamewiththeslicedappleandArizonatookoneslice.
Shetookabiteandfacedherparents.
"Gooddaymum,what'supDad?"Shesmiled.
"Andwhat'ssogoodabouttheday,thewholeofSeoulistalkingaboutyouArizona!"Paulson
said.
"Iloveattention...Somuch"Arizonasmiled,takinganotherbitefromtheapple.
"Badattention?"Ritasaid.
"I'mbadtoosoionmind"shereplied.
"WhydidyoudothattoMrsYeji?"Paulsonasked.
"ah,sothepresssaidIslappedhermadnessoutofher,theydidn'ttalkabouthowshewas
molestingapoorwomanbytheroadside"Arizonasaid.
"Thenyouburnttheshoesandsocksofzanillia'smanagerafterflippinghim?,Helandedinthe
hospital,Arizona.....
"Idon'twanttotalkaboutit,notlikeyouguyscanturnbackthehandsoftheclockandevenif
that'spossible,I'lltaketheopportunityandslapYejimorethanIdidandburnKevintogether
withhisdarnshoesandsocks"sheinterrupted.
"You'rejustlikethedevil"Ritasaid.
"Iandthedevilarebesties,wegetalongjustfine"shereplied.
"Ohjeezcanyoujuststop?"Paulsonsaid.
Arizona'sphonerangandshesmiledwidelyasshepicked.
"Itarrived?,Cool"shesaidandhungup.
"Anothercar?"Ritaasked.
"Actuallytwo,Isighteditonlineyesterday,Iboughttwodifferentcolours"shesmiled.
"Twodifferentcolorsofsamecar?"Paulsonsaid.
"Yeah,can'twaittoseemynewbabies!"Arizonagushed.
RitaandPaulsonexchangedglancesbeforelookingatheragain.
"Myfriend'sdaughterisgettingmarriednextweekend"Ritasaid.
"So?,Youwantmetobeherbridesmaid?"Shereplied.
"she'stwentytwoyearsold"Paulsonsaid.
"Howlucky"Arizonasaid,takingthesecondsliceofapple.
"That'swhatI'mtalkingabout!"Paulsonyelledandtheapplefellfromher.
"Youscaredme!"Sheheldherchest
"You'retwentyfive,yetallmenarestillsnakes,you'restillclassifyingmenaccordingtotheir
speciesinthesnakefamily,tillwhenareyougonnadothis!"Paulsonsaidloudly.
"Getmarriedandcryeverydaybecauseofasnake?,Ain'tdoingthat,Iwatchdramaseveryday,
guysjustlovemakinggirlscry"
"Andthat'swheretheproblemiscomingfrom,Dramas!"Ritasaid
Arizona'sphonerangagainandshestood,walkingaroundasshepicked.
"Mycruiseship?,JeezIcan'twaittoseeit!"Shesaidandhungup
"Youhavethreecruiseships"Paulsonsaid.
"Igottiredofthem,Ineedtogoseemynewbabies"shetookherbag.
"AreyouonlygonnadropthisphilosophywhenAdamgetsmarried?"Ritasaid.
"OhbythewaywhenisthatbratreturningfromAmerica?"Arizonaasked.
Ritafellheavilyonthechair.
"It'sover"shemuttered.
Cassidycamedownstairs,dressedforschool.
"MumIneedapersonalmaid"shepouted,strappingherbackpack.
"Youcanjustchooseoneofthemaids"Ritareplied.
"NoIwantanewone,speciallyhiredforme"shecurvedherlips.
"AmIinvisible?,Whyaren'tyousayingyourgreetings?"Arizonasaid.
"Personalmaid,mummakesureyougetmeone,byemum!,seeyalaterdad!"Cassidywaved,
leavingthehouse.
"Thatlittle....comeherebrat!"Arizonashouted,goingafterher.
"Hypertensionknocking"Paulsonsighed.
******
FLOWERSHIGH**
Blazeinhaledhardwhenhegottothefrontoftheschool.
Hesmiledwidely,finallyhe'sinhisdreamschool,thankstoscholarshipandhisbrilliancy.
"HopeI'llsurviveinhere"hesaidandproceededin.
Newboy!
Ohmy!,Ohmy!
Hisfaceforme!
He'shandsome!
GirlsstarteddroolingoverhimImmediatelyashewalkedpastthehallway.
Cassidystoodbythedoorofthehallwaywithhermates,watchinghim
Shesmiledknowingly.
"Ireallyshouldn'tdothisbutmybrotherismorehandsome"shesaid.
"EveryoneknowssociopathicmissArizonaisyouronlysibling"oneofthegirlssaid.
"Adam'sidentityhasalwaysbeenhiddencoshegrewupwithourgrandmainAmerica,here"
shesaid,showingthemapictureofhimonherphone.
Ishehuman?
He'sstrikinglybeautiful!
Hisdimples!
WhenishecomingtoKorea?
Willheattendthisschool?
Ilovehimalreadylemmehavehisnumber
"MyAdamorthenewguy?"Cassidyasked.
"YourAdam!!"EveryonechorusedandstudentsstartedpavingwaysagainasHavanaappeared.
Havanaistheprettiestandthemostpopulargirlintheschool.
She'saninfluencerandapopularTikToker.
She'sonherphoneasusual,snappingpicturesandmakingvideosasshewalkedin.
Guyswishedtobethegroundshe'swalkingon,they'redyingasshewalkedpastthem,she's
currentlymakingavideo.
"Higuys!,I'mjustgettingtoschoolandI'mhopingtohaveaniceday...."Shesaidandlookedat
thejuniorgirls.
ShepulledCassidytoherside,makinghergaspinshock.
"TheprettiestjuniorgirlinFlowershigh,sayhitomyviewers"shesaid.
"Hi!,I'mCassidyBanks!"Cassidysmiled.
"Thanks,Iloveyou!"Havanasaidandwalkedaway,stillcontinuinghervideo.
Cassidyheldherchest.
"Shetouchedme,seniorHavanatouchedme!,,themostpopulargirlheretouchedme!,Igot
featuredinhervideo,shetoldmeshelovesme!,EvenifIdierightnow,Ihavenoregrets,I've
accomplishedmydreams...goshIwannadie!"Shegushedhappily.
Anotherlouduproarmadeeveryonestartgivingcommentsagain.
It'sAvery....thesecondmostpopular,Havana'senemy.
She'salsoaninfluencerandaTikTokerlikeHavanabutHavanaismorepopular.
Averyisarrogant!,Shecandoanythingtogetwhatshecraves.
She'smakingvideosasshewalkedintoobuteveryoneisavoidingher,shehateswhenanyone
popsupinhervideos.
Steponher,you'redead.
"It'syourS*xyManiacagain!,Higuys!,I'mcurrentlysteppingintoschool....
Cassidysmirked.
"SeniorHavanaisthebest!"Sheshouted.
Averystoppedandlookedbackatherdangerously.
"Senior...Havana....is...the...best"Cassidywinkedandenteredtheclass.
"I'llbreakherbonessomeday"Averysmirkedandangrilyendedhervideobeforesteppinginto
theseniorclass.
AllthegirlsarebusystaringathandsomeBlaze.
"Newbie?"Shewonderedandtookherseat.
HavanaissittingbesideBlazecoincidentally.
"Thenewscholarshipstudent?"Sheasked.
"Yes,BlazeMendelssohn"hesmiled.
"Nicetomeetyou,mynameis...
"HavanaSmith,Iheardstudentschantingitwhenyoucamein,youmustbequietpopular"he
interruptedandshesmiled.
Heconcludedimmediatelythathersmileisthemostbeautifulthinghehaseverbeheld.
"Well...yes,theysayI'mthemostpopularandthemostbeautifulhere,I'mintoTikTokandI'ma
socialmediainfluencer"shesaid.
"Oh,cool"hesmiled.
"Youmustbeveryverybrilliant,that'stheprerequisiteforgettingscholarshiptothisschool"
shesaid.
"Iam"herepliedandsheextendedanhand.
"Friends?"
"Sure"shetookhersofthandandAveryscoffed.
"She'sseducinghimwell"shesaid,rollingeyesatHavana.
*******
KRYSTALGROUPOFCOMPANIES**
Arizonawalkedin,jumpinghappilyonherheels.
"WhatshouldIbuynext?,Anhelicopter?"Shegiggledandgasped.
"Thedramawouldhavestartedjeez!"Shesaidandmadetograbtheremotebutwhenshesaw
thepileofdocumentsonherdesk,shestopped.
"Ligament!"SheshoutedandYangrushedin.
"Who'ssupposedtoworkonallthese?"Shequestioned.
"You"hereplied.
"Me?,Howcomeit'sthismuch?"Shescowled.
"You'rejustcomingtoworkby10:30soyoushouldexpectmuch"hereplied.
Shefellonherchair.
"Iwon'tbeabletowatchmyfavoritedramatodayallbecauseofthisdarndocuments!
"There'saconferenceonehourfromnowsoyouhavetobedonewiththedocumentsbefore
then"Yangsaid.
"One..onehour?"
"Yes,andtommorowistheseminaratHaesungUniversity,theoneyouwereinvitedtogive
Englishstudents"hesaid.
Arizonaheldherhead.
"Getout"shesaid.
"Takeiteasy"
"Getoutsnake!"Sheyelledandherushedout.
Shestartedworkingonthedocuments,notlookingupforonce.
Shepickedoutoneandsmirked.
"Ligament!"Sheyelled.
Yangrushedin.
"Whotypedthis"sheheldupthepaper.
"SecretaryMing"hereplied.
"Getherforme"sherepliedandYangleft.
Mingcameinafterwards.
"Ma'am"shebowed.
"Howcouldyoumakeatypointhiskindofdocument?,Youdidn'teatbreakfast?"Sheglared.
"I'msorryma'am,Iwasrushingtogetitdoneand...
Arizonastood,Mingunderstoodimmediately.
"Noma'am...nonoI'msorry".
Shewenttothefreezerandgotthedevilishbottleandacup.
Shepouredthefirstcupandgaveittoher.
"Idon'twantto!!"Mingsaid.
"Thenyou'refired"ArizonarepliedandMingquicklytookthecupofaloeverajuicefromher.
Sheclosedhereyesandgulpedit.
"Urrhh!!"Shegruntedatthebitterness.
Arizonapouredthesecondcup.
Yangcamein.
"Shegotcaught"hemuttered.
Mingdrankthesecondcupandscreamed,herthroatsmakingweirdsounds.
ArizonapouredthethirdoneandMingalmostcried.
"I'msorryma'am"
"Completeyourdose,aloeverahelpsbodyfreshness"shesaid,givingittoher.
Minggulpedthethirdcupandranoutoftheoffice,obviouslytopukehergutsout.
"Ihatetypos,italmostgotmeruinedlastyear"Arizonasaid,returningthejuicetothefreezer.
"30minutestothemeeting"Yangsaid.
"Stopremindingme!"Shesnapped.
Heheldhislipsandlefttheoffice.
"Ligament!"Arizonacalled.
Heclosedhiseyesinfrustration."Imightjustdieat38"hesaidtohimselfbeforegoingbackin.
******
HAESUNGUNIVERSITY**
ThesecondclassisalreadygoingonwhenSummercamein,wearingalotofmakeup.
She'swearinganextremelyshortbumshortandthefactthatshe'scurvymadeitsotight,thena
thin-strappedsinglet.
Herheelsmadeherlookmores*xy.
"SummerHwang,thisclassstartedthirtyminutesago,whyareyoujustcoming?"Thelecturer
asked.
Shesmiledandwalkedgingerlytohim.
Shepulledhistieandstudentsstartedmurmuring.
"Mymumownstheschoolsoit'snoneofyourf*ckingbusiness!"Shegnarledbeforelettinggoof
histie.
ShewalkedtoChrissywho'ssittingbesideVince.
"Getup"sheordered.
"Why?"Chrissyreplied.
"Areyouquestioningmenow?,It'smymother'sschool,youwannagetrusticated?"Shesaid
meanly
"Ihavenoreasontostand"ChrissyrepliedandSummergiggled.
"Howrich,getup!"
"Stopalready"Vincesaid,notlookingather.
"Iwannasitbesideyou!"Summeryelled.
"Idon'twantto"Vincerepliedflatly,finallylookingather.
Summerbreathed.
"Stoplookingatmethatway!,It'llonlymakemewantyoumore!"shesnapped
"AndyouChrissy,getreadycosI'llsodealwithyourcrap!"Shesaidandstormedoutoftheclass,
her@ssbouncingasshewalked.
Chrissysmiled,lookingatVince.
Hejustdefendedherwhichissorareofhim.
Herarelytalks,heignoreseveryonetotally,it'sstillsurprisingthathetalkstoher.
He'scoldbutmaybeshelikesitlikethat.
Theclassfinallyendedandstudentsstarteddeparting.
"AreyoucomingforMissArizonaBanksseminartomorrow?"Chrissyasked.
"Idunno"herepliedandbroughtoutthetextbooksheborrowedyesterday.
"Here,thanks"hesaid.
"Nokeepit,Iboughtanotherone"shequicklysaidbutheplaceditonherhand.
"Ihatefreethings"hesaid.
"Vince....
"I'mleaving"hesaidandlefttheclass.
Sheturnedbackandstaredashewalked.
Hereyescaughthissneakers.
"It'swornout"shesaid.
******
H_HEYRESTAURANT**
Highschoolgirlsfilledupthewholerestaurant,theyhavefoodsontheirtablebutthey'renot
eatingatall.
They'restaringatthehandsomeserver,Vince.
Morestudentsarestillliningoutside,waitingfortheirturntocomein.
It'sthedailyroutineintherestaurant,girlsarethemainpatronizersallbecauseofVincethe
handsomeserver.
Cute!
Hispoutylips!
Ilovehairyguyslikehim!
Thosefullbrows!
Thebeautifullysculpturednose!
Manyaresnappinghispicturestoo.
Hedroppedatrayoffoodonthenexttableandallthegirlsgasped.
Hisbiceps!
Whoa!!
Itwentontillpast4whenit'stimetogoforanotherpart-timejob.
Hetookoffhisapronandfacedhisboss.
"I'llbeonmyway"hesaid.
"Aboutyourhouserentyoutoldmeabout,I'llgiveyoutommorow,youradvancepayment"the
bosssaid.
HeonlybowedandlefttherestaurantonlytomeetSummeroutside,standingbesidehercar.
"Heyhandsome!,I'llgiveyouaride"Shewaved,smilingseductively.
Vinceignoredherandstartedwalkingaway.
Sherantohimonherheelsandheldhim
Hebrokefreeandglaredbeforewalkingawayagain.
"Ya!,ya!Vince!"Sheshoutedafterhim,stumpingherfootontheground.
******
NEXTDAY,HAESUNGUNIVERSITY**
Arizonacamedownfromhercarandsighed.
Shesmiledandadjustedherblackshades.
"IgraduatedfromOxford,firstclass,that'swhyIwasn'tsurprisedwhenIgottheinvitationfor
thisseminar,Ideserveit"shesaidandfacedYang.
"Don'tyouthink?"Shesaid.
"Ofcourse,justdon'tthinkofbuyingthestudents"herepliedandshesmirked.
ShestartedherusualstylishwalkintotheschoolwithYangbesideher.
MissArizonaBanks!
Thepsychobeauty!
DidyouseethevideoofwhatshedidtochairwomanYejiyesterday?
Iloveher!
Iwannabelikeherinthefuture.
Myrolemodel!
Arizonaremovedhersunglassesimmediatelyshesteppedintotherightblock.
"Welcomemiss"theheadlectureroftheEnglishdepartmentbowedinrespect.
"Theclass"sherepliedandshewasshowntheway.
Sheenteredthefullclassandthestudentsstaredinadmiration.
Wellexceptone,Vinceisbusyjottinginhisnote.
"MissArizonaBanks!"Astudentgushed.
"Thanksforintroducingme,ArizonaBanks,afirstclassgraduateofOxford,IstudiedEnglishas
oneofmymajorsandthat'swhyIgotaspecialinvitationtoexpandyourknowledgeofEnglish"
shesaidandeveryoneclapped,exceptVince.
"She'ssocool"Chrissysmiled.
"Straighttobussiness,let'sstartwiththecomponentsoflanguage"Arizonasaid.
Yangjustfinishedprojectingonthewhiteboard.
"Asyoucansee,therearefivewhichare;phonemes,morphemes,context,syntaxandlexemes"
ArizonasaidandVincelookedup.
"Wrong"hesaidandArizonagasped.
"What!'
"Theonesyoumentionedarejustthemainfive,thereareactuallyeight...includinggrammar,
pragmaticsandsemantics"Vincesaid.
Arizonascoffed.
"Areyoucorrectingmenow?"
"Norulesaysastudentcan'tcorrectawrongperson"herepliedcasually.
"Wrong?"Arizonasaidshockingly.
Noonehaseverusedthatwordforher.
"Isimplycorrected"hesaid.
"Correctme?,Whoareyou?,Whothehellareyou!"Shesaid,walkingtohim.
Vincestood.
"Whereareyougoing?"Chrissyasked.
"Igottiredofherseminar"herepliedandstartedwalkingoutbutArizonablockedhim.
"It'smyseminar,sit!"sheordered.
Hetookanotherwaybutsheblockedhimagain.
"Sit!"Sheordered.
"Youshoulddothatinstead,you'rebreathingheavily"hereplied.
"Ya!!!!"Sheshoutedandgrabbedhim.
Theybothsuddenlyappearedattheedgeofacliff.
"Apologize!"Shedemanded.
"Ihavenoreasonto"herepliedflatly.
"Begme!"Sheyelled.
"Idon'twantto"hereplied.
"Thenleave"shesaidandpushedhim.
Hefelloffthecliffandshewokeupfromherimagination.
It'sactuallyanimagination.
"You'renothingbutanarrogantsnake!,af*ckinganaconda!"Shesaidtohisface.
Everyonelaughedoutloud.
"Thenyoushouldknowananacondaswallows,Imightjustdothat"Vincerepliedandbrushed
pasther,leavingtheclass.
Arizonaseethedwithangerandherneckveinsstoodout.
"Ya!,Anaconda!"Sheshouted,rushingafterhim.