Chapter 4: Keep talking
She now sat in her pyjamas in front of her TV watching a travel show having her food in peace when the ring of her phone disturbed her the second time that evening.
Surprisingly enough it was Ray who was calling her. Swiping the thumb across the screen she answered it.
Ye-Jin: Hello?
Ray: (in a croaking voice) she said no…
If it had been anyone else then they would have just had said hard luck, move on, you will find someone better but Ye-Jin wasn't someone and Ray wasn't a stranger to her at that moment.
Instead of calling his close friends, he had chosen to speak with her. So instead of ending the call with something philosophical and enjoying the peace and the warmth that her home provided she did the complete opposite.
Ye-Jin: (softly) where are you?
Ray: I am s-sitting on the footpath.
Without wasting another moment she grabbed her keys and purse and threw her coat over her night wear.
Ye-Jin: stay where you are Ray. I am coming.
Ye-Jin used the GPS on her phone to trace his location. Luckily enough for her, the technology of today was a god gift in finding the guy who was currently sitting on the footpath near the city's central park.
It was around midnight so there weren't any people who could recognize him.
She thanked her lucky stars when her eyes finally found him absently staring into the space looking lost. She hurriedly walked towards him feeling relieved.
He didn't look up in her direction at the approaching footsteps but continued to stare out into space. Ye-Jin sat down until she was eye-level with him. She could clearly see the streaks of tears on his perfect cheeks.
She saw his phone lying beside him on the ground. She picked it up and saw that it was unlocked. All this time Ray was just looking at her. He didn't say anything nor his face showed any signs of feelings.
He only stared at her looking for something on his phone. He was marvelled at how her face glowed in the light coming out from his device. He saw that she was calling someone and her speech was soft as always.
Ye-Jin glanced down at him worriedly clearly knowing that he was drunk and completely out of it. She ended the call and looked at him as if looking at a small child.
Ye-Jin: Ray your friend is on the way.
He nodded at her drowsily.
Ye-Jin: (putting her arms around him) Come on; get up let us wait for him over the bench there.
As soon as her hands touched him Ye-Jin noticed that he was cold and shivering. She had half a mind to scold him for coming out without a jacket but seeing him inebriated she was sure it would be futile.
Somehow she managed to haul him up and drag him to the nearby bench. She was left out of breath because of all the effort and was feeling hot. Instinctively she removed her coat and wrapped it around his drowsy heavy frame. The guy was thin and lean but he was sure heavy as hell. She sat down beside him on the cold bench trying to catch her breath.
Ye-Jin: You are really very heavy Ray.
Ye-Jin went completely still when she felt him resting his head on her shoulder.
Ray: (in a low voice) keep talking-
It took her a while to regain her senses; she wasn't even sure if she had heard him but decided to humour her imagination all the way.
Ye-Jin: I am your fan you know? I used to listen to your music back when I was in college. You guys are amazing.
…
Chapter 5: Don't go
Ye-Jin: I am your fan you know? I used to listen to your music back when I was in college. You guys are amazing.
…
She paused thinking that Ray had fallen asleep when she didn't hear any reply from him. She could not understand why she said yes to everything and anything he asked of her.
He got rejected and she was dragged in to find and get him home. He wanted her to keep talking and the words flew out from her mouth without much effort. For her, it was unusual.
Taking a deep breath she came to an epiphany that like every other girl she too every time succumbed to his godly good looks and gentle eyes (which were somehow piercing at the same time).
Ye-Jin: (chuckling) I probably look like an idiot talking alone to a sleeping man in the middle of the night on an empty road. Ah! What am I even doing? I was supposed to be sleeping in my warm bed.
Ray: (managing a weak smile) you are angry?
Ye-Jin: (looking down at his half-closed eyes in surprise) you are listening to me? I am not angry; I just don't understand how I got into this situation. Luckily I have a day off tomorrow. I can sleep-in. You too should take a day off seeing as you are drunk.
Ray: I am almost drunk not completely drunk.
Ye-Jin: (smiling at his logic) same difference. Oh! Your friend is here.
She stated looking at the black van which pulled up across the street. Ray too lazily looked up but again rested his cheek back on her shoulder- it was comfortable.
As Ye-Jin predicted it was Kai who got down from the car and along with him was Mui. The guys looked around the empty street trying to find their drunk friend. Ye-Jin waved at them to gain their attention.
Her wave caught Mui's attention and the two men hurriedly made their way towards the two figures sitting on the bench across the road.
The elder man bent down on his legs and shook his friend to gain his attention.
Kai: Ray, come on let's get you home.
Ray: (mumbling) I don't want to go.
Mui: bro he is clearly drunk. Let's carry him to the car.
Kai: (looking up at Ye-Jin who was now standing beside them) thank you Miss Ye-Jin.
Ye-Jin: (nodding at them both) you are welcome. I will leave now.
Mui: (concerned) how are you going back home?
Ye-Jin: I have my car.
Taking their leave Ye-Jin turned around to leave but she was stopped by someone grabbing her hand. It was Ray who was refusing to let go.
Ray: (pouting with droopy eyes) don't go.
The sight was enough to turn Ye-Jin's already thundering heart to melt into a pile of goo near her feet. For a moment she even forgot to breathe. On the other hand, Ray looked so cute with that unwittingly innocent expression on his face that she wanted to squeeze and pinch his soft smooth cheeks.
Many (not so suitable in this context) thoughts passed through her mind but somehow she succeeded in restoring her old pure cognitive processes.
Ye-Jin: (softly) Ray your friends are here now you should go home and get some rest. I will see you again tomorrow.
Ray: (puppy eyes) promise?
If there weren't people present around them she would have definitely pinched his cheeks this time. How can anyone be alright if their favourite idol was asking you to promise them with that kind of look? Moreover, Ye-Jin was a total sucker for his 'eyes'.
Ye-Jin: (looking up at the guys for some help) uh-
Kai: Ray she will come to meet you for sure. She has promised me.
Ray: (letting go of her hand) I will be waiting for you.
Ye-Jin nodded once in agreement and quickly made her way towards her car. As she walked away she could still feel their eyes on her back but the increasing cold and her thin pyjamas kept her resolve strong enough to keep moving and get to the warmth of her bed.
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