A/N: Happy holidays, everyone! A big thanks to everyone who reviewed. Reviews make my day and give me the motivation to continue writing.
glorialopezgl534.03: Thank you for your review. There is some SoEul sweetness in this chapter. They have an arc coming up soon, as well.
Sunny: I'm so glad you liked the last chapter. I hope you enjoy this one as well. Thanks for reviewing.
phantomstimeturner: Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you liked the Woo Bin/Jae Kyung scene and that you share my love for Jun Pyo. After all, he's been making the plot happen since chapter one.
Special thanks to my beta Vnillachamomile for helping out with this chapter. Buckle up everyone, stuff goes down in this chapter. Two long-running arcs finally reach their turning points. Enjoy, guys!
Yi Jeong peaked into the kitchen. Ga Eul flew around the place. Stirring three different pots. Cutting onions. Peeling garlic. Soaking the piled-up dishes.
"Ga Eul."
"Yes, Yi Jeong."
It was midnight. She should get some sleep. "Aren't you tired? You've been on your feet all day."
"No. I'm good," she said while adding the crushed-up spices.
He opened the top button of his shirt. "Ga Eul."
"Yes, Yi Jeong."
"Can I help?"
"No. I've got it." She threw the vegetable peels in the garbage. "You really don't have to wait up with me, you know. I am fine."
"No, no. It's okay. I've work anyway. Tons of pottery to finish. I should return to that."
Seconds from leaving, Yi Jeong spotted Woo Bin entering the kitchen.
"I knew something smelled delicious." He tried the stew she offered. "If Chef Lee doesn't like this, he's not human."
"What you doing here so late? Out with your not-girlfriend? This is the only time Jae Kyung is free, right?"
Ignoring Ga Eul's snickers, Woo Bin walked out into the living room. Yi Jeong followed. It was best not to crowd Ga Eul. The cooking would go faster that way.
"I was watching a movie. Alone."
Yi Jeong reclaimed his precious spot on the couch, his pottery wheel in front of him. "You don't want to waste the precious time you get with her on a movie. How touching."
Instead of answering, Woo Bin spun the empty wheel. "Not your best piece, bro."
_oOo_
The next morning, Yi Jeong stood in Jun Pyo's room, holding the sheets Ga Eul had slept in. He should fold this up, for the next time she stops by. He was doing her a favor. A completely normal, non-creepy favor.
"You can go ahead and sniff it. I won't tell anyone," said Woo Bin, leaning against the doorframe.
Yi Jeong put the sheets down. "I was not. I was folding them."
"It takes you ten minutes to fold sheets? Okay. Whatever you say, bro."
Yi Jeong stuck his tongue out.
"This is the thanks I get for finding you a thoughtful gift."
"You bought me something? That's… kind of sweet."
Picking up the pillow from Jun Pyo's bed, Woo Bin handed it over. "Take it home. I'm sure it still smells like her."
He flung it at Woo Bin's head.
"Oooh, pillow fight," said Jun Pyo. He picked up another pillow and ran towards them.
"No, no." Woo Bin lowered Jun Pyo's hand. "Yi Jeong was just being his regular violent self."
Jun Pyo looked between the two, as if contemplating something, then sat down on his bed.
Fluffing the pillow, Yi Jeong put it back. "Thanks, by the way. For what you did for Ga Eul."
"Don't mention it. Least I could do, given everything." Jun Pyo shifted closer. "Which reminds me, I never got the chance to congratulate you."
"On what?"
"Your one-week relationship anniversary." He took one look at the shocked expression on Yi Jeong's face. "Woo Bin told me all about it." He engulfed Yi Jeong in a hug. "I'm so happy for you."
"Excuse me for one second, Jun Pyo. Woo Bin, a word. It's about our Business Ethics homework."
"Woo Bin is in that class too?" asked Jun Pyo, right before Yi Jeong shut the door.
Two Minutes Later.
"You better run. I'm gonna hack you into little pieces, then feed them to birds. You liar," said Yi Jeong while chasing Woo Bin around the living room. "You better tell Jun Pyo the truth right now or—"
"I'll do no such thing." Woo Bin ran behind the sofa. "I've not told any lies. Lying is a sin. We learned that in kindergarten."
"Is that so? Then let's tell Jun Pyo some more truths." Yi Jeong advanced towards him. "Like who you actually took on that hot-air balloon. After all, sharing is caring. We learned that in kindergarten."
Woo Bin stopped running. "You know you're family to me, right?" He took Yi Jeong's hand. "Don't do that."
"One moment, please," said Yi Jeong with a wide grin on his face.
He marched into his bedroom. Now, where did he put it? He checked the study table, the cupboard, and the little drawers beside his bed. No luck. Maybe it was in some book? After thoroughly shaking all the books on his shelf, he finally found it. Adding one additional point, he skipped back outside.
"My demands."
Woo Bin read the paper. "No way in hell, am I saying any of that."
"As you wish. Oh, Jun Pyo—"
"Wait. Fine. You win."
A minute later, both boys knocked on Jun Pyo's door.
"There is something Woo Bin wanted to share." Yi Jeong pushed him forward.
"Yi Jeong and Ga Eul are not a couple."
"And," said Yi Jeong.
"I only said that because I'm insanely jealous of his looks. And his superior skills with women. And sports. And music. Also, Clarrise is the most beautiful, most elegant, most precious thing ever created, and I'm stupid for making fun of her."
Years ago, Yi Jeong thought winning Korea's Face of Creativity Award was the ultimate victory. He was wrong. This was. And nothing would ever come close.
_oOo_
Double-checking the list, Woo Bin rang Jae's doorbell. It took a week, but he got everything he needed. He should definitely buy Byung Ho something nice. The guy was a lifesaver.
"Woo Bin? Hi." She moved aside. "Did I make plans with you and forget?"
"No. Nothing of that sort. Don't worry. I just—" He took another look at her. Dressed in plain clothes. Rubber gloves. Hair tied up in a neat bun. Today was cleaning day. "Bad time."
"Tinsy-bit. Yeah."
"I got you something." He handed her the package.
"Art supplies." Her face lit up. "You didn't need to do that… thank you."
"Consider it an apology. For the last few weeks."
She took a second to answer. "Don't you dare do something like that again. Do you've any idea how worried I was? Next time, talk to someone. Anyone. It doesn't even have to be me."
"I'm sorry. I'll try."
"You better." She fiddled with the package. "I should get back to work."
He surveyed the room. With the fridge opened, the empty basket lay stashed on one side. An assortment of jars, Tupperware, ketchup packets, and bowls with fresh vegetables crowded the floor.
"Finally cleaning the fridge?"
"If I put it off another week, I'll have mold."
He fetched a scrubber from the kitchen. "I'll help."
"Nah, I got this. I'm sure you've things to do."
"I got time."
Her eyes darted between the stains covering every inch of the trays and his face. "If you're sure."
They each picked a section and got to work.
"Until this year, I had no idea fridges needed cleaning," she said.
"We made that discovery—ten months after getting the lounge."
"Mold?"
He nodded. "We now take turns paying one of our household staff to do it."
"Whenever I go back"—she scrubbed the inside of the basket, using all her arm strength—"I swear I'm doubling the cleaning staff's wages. No, tripling it." She got up. "Let me rinse this off."
He put down a side-shelf and picked up another. "That's two down."
He continued working until he felt Jae's eyes on him.
"Thanks." She sat beside him. "I know this doesn't top your list of fun recreational activities."
"That's not true."
"You enjoy cleaning? On a Saturday?"
"No." He put the scrubber down. "But I do enjoy spending time with you."
"Thanks. So do I. You're a lot of fun." She looked down with a wide smile on her face. "Hand me those two—"
Ring, ring, ring, ring. Ji Ah's name flashed on his screen.
"You should get that."
He opened the balcony door. "Yo. What's up?"
"I wanted to apologize. For the last time. I may have blown things a little out of proportion."
"It's okay. I was being a jerk. After what Jun Pyo said, anyone would fly off the handle." He leaned against the railing. "And you were right, we should spend more time together."
"You free right now? We can go watch that movie you wanted. The one with the robot army."
"I'm a little preoccupied at the moment. Maybe tomorrow?"
"What you doing?"
"Don't get mad."
"You're with her, then."
"She needed my help with something."
"Of course she did. And I'm sure there's no one else she could possibly ask."
"Ji Ah—"
"I thought I made my feelings perfectly clear."
"You don't get to dictate who I hang out with."
"Do you honestly not see what she's doing? Or do you just enjoy the attention?"
"Careful."
"You're alone with another girl in your bedroom, but I should be careful?"
"No. I'm not. And of course it sounds inappropriate when you say it like that."
"I've been plenty patient, but—"
"So have I. You. Don't. Get. To. Tell. Me. Who. I. Hang. Out. With. Understand? Jae Kyung is one my closest friends and—"
A few feet away stood Jae, a shocked expression on her face.
"I can't do this right now."
"Woo Bin. Don't you dare—"
"I'll call you back."
He followed her inside. "You heard that?"
"So your girlfriend hates me."
"She doesn't hate you."
She scrubbed the top wall of the fridge so vigorously that it almost shook.
He joined her on the floor. "I've been MIA the last few weeks. So, she's a bit touchy."
"I don't want to cause you any problems." She moved on to the bottom wall, still scrubbing with the same aggression.
"You aren't." He touched her shoulder. "This isn't even about you. Not really. We had this huge fight about our relationship status. And I guess she's still pissed."
"Your relationship status?"
"Yeah. Like, sure. It's only been three months, but apparently, I'm stringing her along."
She bit her lips.
"Spit it out."
"She has a point. Kind of. It has been three months. If you like her, give her some kind of reassurance. Not a relationship, per se, but some gesture to show you're moving forward."
He crossed his arms. "I can't believe it. You're taking her side?"
She turned towards him. "I'm not. It's just—again, I'm not saying you're wrong—but… I can see where she's coming from. We've all been there at some point, right? Way more into someone than they are?"
He leaned closer. "We all? Right. Like there's a straight, single guy out there who wouldn't want you."
She met his gaze, a soft look in her eyes. And Woo Bin became painfully aware of how close they were seated. So close, he could smell the floral scent of her shampoo. So close, he could see the remnants of her pink cherry lip balm. So close that if he moved his hand, his fingers would brush against hers.
She stepped back. "I should finish cleaning."
"And I should go call Ji Ah. You'll be fine by yourself?"
"Yeah. Don't worry about it."
What was wrong with him? He put his shoes on. Yi Jeong. Yeah, it was Yi Jeong's fault for putting weird ideas in his head. And Jun Pyo's. He wasn't sure how Jun Pyo factored into all this, but he must.
Woo Bin tied his laces. He did not have feelings for Jae. He liked Ji Ah. Today was just temporary insanity caused by overexposure to Yi Jeong. And Jun Pyo. Somehow. Besides, it's not like anything happened.
He was half-way out the door when Jae spoke.
"The fight aside, does she make you happy?"
He turned to face her. "Yes. I'm not playing around. Ji Ah's drop-dead gorgeous. Smart. Fun. A great gamer. I like her. More than I've liked anyone in a long time."
There was a look in her eyes that he couldn't quite place. But he blinked, and it was gone, replaced by her usual smile. "I'll see you around. Thanks for all your help today."
_oOo_
Woo Bin rang Ji Ah's doorbell. He had no idea what to expect. Maybe she'd dump him. Maybe she'd throw water at him. Who's to say?
She peaked her head out. "What do you want?"
"Can we talk? Please."
Shutting the door behind her, she took a seat on the porch. "You've three minutes."
"I'm sorry I yelled at you." He scooted closer. "Now that I've had time to think, I can see where you're coming from."
She stretched her hair-tie.
"I'm not stringing you along. I do like you. Just give me another month. Please."
She stood up.
He touched her arm. "But I can see how that's a little unfair."
She didn't sit back down but didn't leave either.
"How about this? I'm not seeing anyone else right now. And, for as long as we are together, I won't."
"Exclusivity?" She joined him on the steps. "Fine. But one month. That's all you get."
"Before you make a decision, there is one last thing." He squeezed her hand. "I meant what I said about Jae Kyung. She's my best friend. I can't stop hanging out with her. Can you accept that?"
"That's it, then. Nothing changes."
"No. I'll spend more time with you. Call you more often. Meet you before classes. Whatever you want. But my friendship with Jae Kyung is non-negotiable."
She forced a smile. "I'll consider it."
_oOo_
Halfway through sorting the art supplies, something pointy pricked Jae Kyung's palm. An envelope.
She cracked a smile. Ever since they'd discussed her love for handwritten notes, this had become a ritual of sorts. Whenever he brought her something, he'd slip a note inside. Most days, it was folded up chits in lunch boxes. But it varied occasionally. The last one was in a care package. She had the sniffles. Not that he called it that; he insisted she caught the flu.
Dear Jae,
I've been told that I'm a terrible artist. Personally, I think my 'Yi Jeong-in-distress' drawing is 1) inspired and 2) the most beautiful thing in both the F4 lounge and Yi Jeong's living room, but I digress. The point is, I know nothing about art, but I know a lot about wasted potential (since teachers keep accusing me of it). And you, Ha Jae Kyung, have a gift you're wasting.
Now again, I may not know anything about making art, but I've spent entirely too much time with Yi Jeong to not recognize skill and effort. The painting you made had both. And unlike the stuffy, boring paintings Gran keeps buying (I swear they look better diagonal or sideways), your art has a certain vibrancy that's simply captivating. And I can't just stand back and let such talent go to waste.
I know what you're going to say—you don't have a lot of free time right now with your job, studies, and housework. But if Yi Jeong's lectures have taught me anything, it's this: an artist leaves a piece of themselves in their art. And as I sit here, staring at the painting you gifted me, I can tell it was a labor of love you enjoyed every minute of.
Jae, I don't care what they told you. Nothing that brings you this much joy can ever be a waste of time.
P.S. You can restock without getting scammed. There's another sheet in there where I've listed the shop name for each item and the price.
Adding the envelope to her box of letters, she closed her desk drawer. He did so much for her. The least she could do was sort out his relationship issues. Especially since they were her own fault. No matter what he said.
Scrolling to contacts, she hit dial.
"Hi, Jae. What's up?" said Woo Bin.
_oOo_
When Jae Kyung reached the cafeteria, Yu Ri and Hana were already seated. She was about to join them when Yu Ri's voice gave her pause.
She was in the middle of a yelling match with Hana. "—No. it's an ambush… stop meddling—"
Jae Kyung hid behind a pillar, hoping they didn't spot her.
"Because that went so well last time—" said Hana.
"There is a difference. Jae Kyung IS NOT Ha Ri."
Who the hell was Ha Ri? Jae Kyung inched closer, hoping to hear more clearly.
"It's for her own good"—Hana turned her head, looking directly at the pillar—"Hi, Jae Kyung. We were just discussing a movie."
"Hana has some strong opinions on it."
What a huge pile of hogwash. Should she call them out? No. Putting them on the defensive wouldn't do her any good. She'd just have to search for another opportunity to spy.
Jae Kyung slid in next to Hana. "You're free this Friday, right? For my lunch treat."
"Sorry. I totally forgot about that. I've a club meeting that day. Why don't you and Su Ho Sunbae do something?" said Hana.
"No. We'll just meet up whenever you're free. Maybe on a weekend."
"No need for that. You both have such hectic schedules. Just do it this Friday. Like planned."
"Hana. Are you… did he? No. Never mind." She went back to stirring her soup. Was Woo Bin right? This did look an awful lot like a setup.
"Jae Kyung. You've not touched your food for the past five minutes. It's scaring me a little."
"It's nothing."
"Dude, your expressions say otherwise," said Yu Ri.
"It's nothing. Woo Bin said this dumb thing about Hana canceling on our lunch with Sunbae."
"I really can't make it."
"I know. It's stupid. He was just being Woo Bin."
Yu Ri leaned in. "He said Sunbae's hitting on you, didn't he?"
Jae Kyung didn't answer.
"Don't be like this. Share the sweet, sweet gossip."
"It's none of our business," said Hana.
"Speak for yourself. I need my fix. Don't leave me hanging."
Jae Kyung gave Yu Ri the bare-bone version of the conversation. Leaving out anything remotely offensive. "Like I said, he was just joking around."
"Let me get this straight." Banging the table, Yu Ri inched forward. "In Song Woo Bin's own words, when a guy goes out of his way to rearrange his schedule for a girl—like—at the top of my head—keeping evenings free to pick her up from work, he has feelings for her?"
"No—that's not—he didn't—"
"Hey. He said it, not me."
"He didn't mean it that way."
Yu Ri grinned. "Sure, he didn't."
"He has a girlfriend."
"Say what now?"
"That's an interesting development," said Hana.
"Yeah. Her name's Ji Ah, and she's really nice." She tapped her lunchbox. "He's actually introducing me to her this weekend."
"I don't think that's—" said Yu Ri.
"That's a brilliant idea," said Hana.
"No. Jae Kyung. Listen—"
"There goes the bell." Hana pulled Yu Ri's hand. "Come on. We don't want to be late.
"One minute." Yu Ru freed herself. "Be mindful of how you two act around her. Okay? Try to tone it down a little. Maintain some distance."
Before Jae Kyung could recover enough to respond, Yu Ri had left.
_oOo_
Ga Eul diced the carrots. After wrestling with this for weeks, she'd finally made a decision. Both Unnie and Yi Jeong were correct. She'd come too far and risked too much to turn back now. But things couldn't continue in the same vein either.
She added the caramelized onions. Yes, chef class would remain a grueling, cutthroat environment. And yes, her parents were far too wonderful to idly stand by while she toiled away. But they didn't have to.
There was no need for them to witness her struggles at all. Chef Lee could help with that. Of course, all that hinged on her performance today.
A half hour later, Ga Eul plated her dish for the tasting.
"Pot-stickers?" asked Chef Lee. "Showcasing that you've learned nothing, I see. Well. At least you're honest."
She adjusted her apron. It was a calculated risk. Regardless of what France had said, her pot-stickers were amazing. Amazing enough to overlook the simplicity. After all, Vietnam had won the egg-dish competition with scrambled eggs. "Try it with the special sauce."
His face brightened. "Passable. Compared to all the poison you've fed me so far."
He wrote ninety-six on her paper.
"Glad you liked it, sir."
"The grade is relative. I just hated it less." He removed a slip of paper from his pocket. "A pass for restaurant work. Don't be late."
Despite her general disdain for that man, at that moment, she almost hugged him. "Thank you."
"Maybe you'll learn what food is supposed to taste like. But I won't hold my breath; Vietnam still hasn't."
Once class ended, Ga Eul caught Chef Lee at the door. "Sir, if you've a minute."
"Yes Korea. Flaking on restaurant duty already?"
"No, sir. I would like to discuss alternate accommodation options."
A simple solution that would solve many problems. Her parents would no longer witness her exhaustion. Yi Jeong and Woo Bin Sunbae could stop taking turns sleeping in the F4 lounge. Despite their colorful excuses, she knew why they refused to leave.
_oOo_
Jae Kyung checked her reflection. Everything was going to be fine. She fixed her lipstick. Even Jan Di liked her, and she was a tough nut to crack. Once Woo Bin's girlfriend spent some time with them, she'd see there was nothing going on. They would all be fast friends in no time.
She's got this.
Finished with the pep-talk, she rushed to the rendezvous point, arriving a minute before Woo Bin and his date.
"Oh my gosh. You're so pretty!" said Jae Kyung. "Like a real-life Rapunzel."
Tall, slender, with big, green eyes and smooth, blond hair, Woo Bin wasn't kidding. Drop-dead gorgeous was an apt description.
Ji Ah made a face. "Thanks. I guess. You're rather pretty too." She shot Woo Bin a glance. "A fact someone conveniently left out."
He rubbed his neck. "What's the plan for today?"
"We thought we could go see that new Soong Joong Ki movie—Poppy Field," said Ji Ah. "But that's later in the evening."
"Great. So, let's walk around a bit," said Woo Bin.
A walk. This would be a good opportunity. Gesturing Woo Bin ahead, Jae Kyung took his place.
"I heard you're from Hong Kong?"
"No. I'm Korean."
"I know. I meant you grew up there."
She nodded non-committedly.
"What's it like? I've never been."
"Fine."
Maybe talking about Hong Kong made her homesick? She tried a different topic.
"You're a hard-metal fan, right? Have you heard anything from Nirvana?"
"No."
"She likes Melting Faces. Right, Ji Ah?" said Woo Bin.
"That's such a cool name!"
"Thanks. Maybe you can recommend some songs from Nirvana later?" Without waiting for a response, Ji Ah joined Woo Bin up front. "Where are you running off to all by yourself? It's a walk, not a race." Slipping her hand in his, she matched his stride.
Jae Kyung fiddled with the straps of her purse. It made sense. They were dating. Ji Ah probably wanted some privacy. Plastering on a smile, she kept a respectable distance.
Things continued like that for a while. Ji Ah and Woo Bin ahead. Jae Kyung behind them. But at some point during the walk, without meaning to, she ended up next to Woo Bin. And just like that, a few comments here, a few quips there, and her mood changed completely. All her lingering nervousness disappeared as utter disbelief took its place.
"You can't possibly be serious," she said.
"Please." He looked her dead in the eye. "I should be asking you that."
"How can you be so confident yet so wrong at the same time?"
"Give me one good argument."
"I did. You wet first to get rid of bacteria. Apply the paste and then wet again for absorption."
"Absorption? Absorption? The only thing that'll do is make the paste all goopy."
"What are you so worked up about?" asked Ji Ah.
"Ji Ah, you can help us." He put his arms around her. "Tell me this. When you're brushing your teeth, you don't wet the toothbrush after putting the paste on it. Correct?"
She shot them a baffled look. Jae Kyung would like to believe his ridiculous suggestion bewildered her. But that probably wasn't it.
"No. I guess."
"See. She agrees." He flashed Jae Kyung a grin. "Two out of three. I win."
"Your girlfriend hardly counts as a neutral party," she said, returning his smile. "Who'll you ask next, Gran?"
"Of course not. She'll probably take your side." He tapped his foot. "So would Mr. Young. He adores you. Let's try—"
Ji Ah yanked his arm. "There's an arcade a few blocks away. Wanna play?"
"But"—he looked between her and Ji Ah—"Jae doesn't play."
"It's alright. I enjoy the graphics."
_oOo_
Jae Kyung peaked at Woo Bin's computer. 'YOU WIN' flashed across his screen in big block letters.
He fist bumped Ji Ah. "Five minutes. That's my personal best. Well done, partner."
"One more game?"
Jae Kyung suppressed a smile. After years of lamenting the F3's miserable gaming skills, he'd finally met his match.
"You realize you just blew your own defense lines, right?" asked Woo Bin with an amused expression.
"I tried blowing brunette Gandalf's first. But that wasn't going to happen. Ever. So, I thought, what the hell. An explosion is an explosion."
"Brunette Gandalf? Guess, I do see the resemblance." He pushed his chair closer. "Jump when I say so, okay?"
The game got a whole lot more interesting after that. "So dwarf He-man and Brunette Gandalf used to be friends? Ouch."
"Now you're getting it. Jump. While some idiots consider the lore to be bare-bones, nothing could be further from—jump right—it's actually much deeper—jump left—than people give it credit."
This went on for the next ten minutes. They'd discuss the different backstories while he taught her how to maneuver the game. Not that it helped. There was no way in hell she was winning this. "Let's detonate the watermelon."
"That might blow up our front lines."
"Let it. It's a lost cause at this point. We both know that."
"Woo Bin." Ji Ah spun his chair around. "Let's play another game."
"Sure. Let me just—"
"Go ahead. I think I got the hang of it now," said Jae Kyung with a smile.
_oOo_
A half hour later, the three of them sat at the back of the movie theater.
"I bet he turns out to be a turncoat," said Woo Bin, pointing to the main character.
"That would be an amazing twist." Jae Kyung chewed some popcorn. "But I don't think it's that kinda movie."
Ji Ah tapped his arm.
"What—"
Stuffing a nugget of popcorn in his mouth, she laughed mischievously.
"That was just—"
She did it again.
"You've done it now." He tried grabbing some popcorn, but Ji Ah kept steering the tub away.
Turning away from them, Jae Kyung focused on the action scene instead. It was a high-speed car chase. Those weren't too bad. Maybe there'd be an explosion.
Laughter erupted from the next seat. Done with their play-fighting, Ji Ah and Woo Bin were now engrossed in conversation. Leaning in close, he whispered something in her ear.
"I'm not so sure. Maybe…" She ran her fingers down his arm.
Jae Kyung hugged herself. She felt cold all of a sudden. Maybe the AC temperature dropped?
Something soft and warm fell on her shoulders. Woo Bin wrapped his jacket around her. "I'm fine. This shirt's quite warm."
Even from here, she could feel his girlfriend's piercing gaze.
"You cold too?" He placed his arms around Ji Ah and pulled her close. "Better?"
She grinned. "Much."
Jae Kyung pulled the jacket tighter. She should concentrate on the movie. The heist scene was starting. Those were always fun.
Snuggling up next to Woo Bin, Ji Ah rested her head on his shoulder.
Jae Kyung got up. There was some popcorn smudged on her face. She should wash that off.
Gripping the edge of the sink, she took a deep breath. Yesterday had been a long day. She was exhausted. That's all.
She sprayed some water on her face. And what if she felt a bit awkward? That was normal. She wasn't used to seeing Woo Bin act so touchy. It caught her a bit off guard. So what?
No big deal.
"Enjoying the movie?" Ji Ah shut the door behind her.
"Yeah. Great pick." Jae Kyung wiped her face with a handkerchief. "Thanks for agreeing to this."
"That's okay. I know how much Woo Bin cherishes his friends."
"You're super important too. He keeps going on and on about how wonderful you are." She clapped her hands together. "I'm so stoked to finally meet you."
"Likewise. We should do this again sometime. Like on a double date or something."
"Not looking for anything right now. Don't have the time." Jae Kyung smiled, trying her best to ignore the uneasiness growing in the pit of her stomach. Everything Ji Ah said was positive, but something in her tone didn't sit right.
"Sure? There're plenty of people I can set you up with. You should consider it." She readjusted her dress. "Boyfriends do come with certain perks, after all. 'Good morning' texts, late-night phone calls. Someone to chauffeur you around. You'll love it."
The sheer venom in her voice made the uncharitable implication impossible to ignore, no matter how desperately Jae Kyung wanted to. "It's not like that. Woo Bin and I—we're just—"
"Best friends? I know. He told me. Right after refusing a dinner date at that new French place." Ji Ah fixed her with an icy glare. "Because it was a weekday. He said the same thing when I wanted to watch the first showing of Poppy Field. Or when I wanted to go to Joon's party together."
"I am sorry. Listen. I can—"
"Speaking of Joon's party. Woo Bin's quite popular, you know. When he dropped me off, heaps of people came up to him. Joking about never seeing him anymore. Inviting him for drinks. He declined, of course. Again, it was a weekday. He couldn't drive drunk."
Far too ashamed to meet her eyes, Jae Kyung focused on the tiles below.
"You must be a great friend indeed. For him to sacrifice his entire social life." She picked up her clutch. "But I am sure you bring something of equal value to the table." With her hand on the door handle, she spared Jae Kyung one last glance. "I should get back to my boyfriend. See you around."
_oOo_
Ji Ah's words haunted Jae Kyung throughout the rest of the movie and the subsequent car ride back home. There was nothing she could say in her defense. She didn't know? Well, she should have. She never asked him to? Didn't matter. She readily accepted it.
"Think that's you, Jae Kyung," said Ji Ah with a smile.
"I'll walk you out," said Woo Bin.
"No need. It's a short walk." She took off his jacket. "Thanks. It helped."
"Jae. You okay?"
She jammed her hands in her pocket. "Of course."
A few steps from her building, she noticed he was still parked outside. He must be worried. She turned towards the car, intending to wave him goodbye. But she didn't get the chance.
Ji Ah wounded her arms around him and pressed her lips to his. For a second, he did nothing. Then, cupping her chin, he drew her close and deepened the kiss. Jae Kyung clutched her keychain, her thumb stroking the hula hoop. It was late. She should head inside.
A/N: Hi guys! Did you all enjoy the chapter? Who do you agree with in the toothpaste debate? What was your favorite part? Where do you think things are headed next? Tell us in the reviews.