Most of the gifts are addressed to all of us, but there are individual piles too. No one says anything, but I can see each of us doing a quick scan of the piles to compare sizes. Sunhee’s shoulders deflate a bit when she sees that she has the smallest pile this time. She doesn’t complain, though. She opens her mail with the rest of us, chorusing along as we take turns reading funny fan mail or gushing over cute gifts.

“Who’s that one for?” Lizzie asks, pointing to an extra-large package set aside from the rest of the mail.

Mina looks at the label. “Rachel.”

Everyone turns to look at me. It’s rare that big mail like this makes it through the screening process. Unless it slipped through by accident, like it did for Hemy from Butterscotch. I gulp. I can tell everyone’s thinking the same thing by the way their eyes keep shifting to the package.

“What if it’s the serial fanboy?” Eunji says.

“What if he sent you a gum portrait?” Jiyoon says.

“Or his hair?” Sumin adds.

“From which part of his body?” Ari asks.

“Ari!” I say. “Okay okay, I’m just going to open it.” I take a deep breath and open the box, bracing myself.

Oh my god.

My hands start trembling before I even finish cutting open the packaging. The signature clean white box with simple black lettering says it all—ten black letters, starting with a B.

I hold my breath as I lift the lid.

It’s a handbag.

It’s the bag.

The blue Balenciaga.

“What? What is it?” Mina demands.

I slowly lift the bag, pulling it out of the box with utmost care. Even through the packaging, the leather smells divine. God. It’s even more beautiful than I remember it.

“Whoa, Rachel,” Sunhee says, her eyes growing huge. “That’s gorgeous.”

“I can’t believe a fan sent you that,” Ari says. “You’re so lucky.”

“Lucky” doesn’t even begin to cut it, but I’m too nervous about betraying my secret to express anything other than shock, like them. In the box is a simple white card that just reads, “The perfect blend of soft and strong. For the woman who is the same.”

Oh. My. God.

“That’ll be perfect for your Paris trip,” Youngeun remarks.

“Yeah,” I say, barely hearing her as I tuck the card away. I need to go text Alex immediately. “I’m going to put it in my room for now.”

The girls watch with wistful jealousy as I gather the bag in my arms and shuffle to my room. As soon as I close the door behind me, I grab my phone.

Me: Bag??? THANK YOU!! But really??

Alex: You’re welcome! I mean, I couldn’t not get it. I had to.

Me: But why?

Alex: I’ll let you choose your answer: A) Your outfit needed it.