Chapter 34: Flight response
Aera couldn't take it anymore. She was so shocked that her limited wits were falling away badly. In the beginning she couldn't comprehend the relationship between the lioness and her bestie but now was too much for her to digest.
Park So-ah herself was telling that Ye-Jin was dating Ray. Thus, Aera's spit went down the wrong tube and she started to have a coughing fit. Felling angry, embarrassed, betrayed Aera triggered her flight response and excused herself from the room.
Ye-Jin's face turned solemn on seeing her reaction.
She had lost sleep worrying about how to break the news to Aera but now things were out in the open.
Ye-Jin: (looking at Aeras back) not you too big sis. He is just my friend.
So-ah: (raising an eye brow) I don't believe you, I have pictures of you and him. Sooru took them. You guys are too cheesy to be just friends.
Ye-Jin: I like him- just like his fan big sis. But I d-don't t-think- I l-like h-him l-like t-that.
So-ah: (glaring at her) ok, so how did he help in adoption?
Ye-Jin: (glad to be let off the hook) one of his cousins and her husband weren't able to have children of their own even after being married for 10 years. So they were looking forward to adopt a kid. He asked me if I could help them and I was glad to do it. He insisted that we let them adopt Sarangh.
So-ah: (raising an eyebrow) just like that?
Ye-Jin: (shaking her head) no, after all the procedures and verifications. They were credible so we didn't feel any hesitation in giving them Sarangh. I am pretty sure that he visits her every day.
So-ah: (questioning) how do you know that?
Ye-Jin: (smiling dreamily) he shows me new pictures of her everyday and calls me whenever he is with her. He has become pretty attached to the baby.
So-ah: (nodding) you have already fallen for him Ye-Jin.
Ye-Jin: (shocked) that is absurd!
So-ah: (shrugging) I am only telling you what I am seeing right now. You are being just like me when I had fallen for Jay.
Ye-Jin: (in disbelief) w-whatever.
So-ah: (shrugging) I will be here if you want advice Ye-Jin. By the way your friend over there didn't like the idea of you dating him.
It wasn't a question when it came from So-ah's mouth. She had a certain perception power about strangers and she was rarely wrong about someone.
Ye-Jin felt that there was no one she could blame but herself for keeping things from her. And from Aera's personality it was going to be a long arduous road for Ye-Jin to set things straight with her.
Ye-Jin: (sighing) I think so too big sis.
So-ah: she's a very shallow person Jin, You're going to have a hard time convincing her.
Ye-Jin: (nodding) yes I know, but it was my fault this time.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Sanchi94
Sanchi94 Her family is crazy pushing her towards a guy just like that right?
Chapter 35: Intentional
Ye-Jin spent two more hours with her sister before coming out and she was slightly relieved when she saw Aera sitting on one of the couches near the reception area.
The look on her face said it all. If not for her thick skin she would've already cried but the situation now wasn't any better. She looked like a living time bomb which would detonate any moment by even slightest of provocations.
Taking a deep breath and readying her ammunition's Ye-Jin walked towards Aera.
Ye-Jin: (slowly) let's go.
Aera didn't say a word. She quietly stood up and followed her out of the building.
The short walk out of the building was excruciating for Ye-Jin. She felt like she was walking through a dense field filled with thorns. All the way Aera didn't utter a single word. The storm in Ye-Jin's heart was picking up speed and her unease increased tenfold. She didn't wish to have any negativity between them because of some misunderstandings.
It was really a misunderstanding that everyone from her family seemed to have about her and Ray. They were all far from the truth.
Ray and she were only friends and 'good friends' if one exaggerated. There was nothing going on between them and she wasn't even sure as to what she felt for him. Still, everyone kept mentioning that they were a couple.
In these three months of their friendship, they had never made any public appearance. Moreover, Ray had not once let her meet his members despite her pestering him. She was annoyed at him for that particular incident.
He had visited her at her school with the pretense of 'adoption' a month ago. She was surprised and was glad that he thought a lot for the little baby girl they had saved together. But he later revealed his true intentions that he was alone and was only using her his 'eating partner'. She didn't know if she should laugh, cry or smack him hard on the head.
That day she was in a good mood so she decided against bickering with him and allowed him to treat her to lunch. Mid-way through the lunch he pulled out a stack of papers and place them in front of her.
Ye-Jin: (confused) what are these?
Ray: (avoiding her eyes) um... you'll know when you look.
Ye-Jin stopped eating and eagerly looked through the pile he had given her. She was bewildered by what she saw.
Ye-Jin: (vein-popping) Ray?
Ray: (clearing his throat) yes?
Ye-Jin: (gritting her teeth) why did you bring me these autographs of your members?
Ray: (innocently) you told me that you wanted them.
Ye-Jin: no I didn't. I told you that I'd love to meet them and get their autographs 'personally.'
Ray: (feigning surprise) oh! I see.
Ye-Jin: (glowering) and you clearly promised me that you'd help me.
She was one hundred percent sure that she asked Ray a week to take her to meet them when they were relatively free so that she could get their autographs. It was a dream of every fan and she wasn't any better.
Ray: that's why I brought this pile today.
Ye-Jin: (upset) you are unbelievable You could've just told me that you won't help me meet them! Why did you do this Ray?
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