Chapter 61: Engaged?
The guys all arrived at the concert venue and decided to wait for Kai in the room backstage. It hadn't even been thirty minutes after their arrival when the door of the room clicked open. Kai entered the room with an exceptionally happy face. His grin was stretched wider than his shoulders. That wasn't all but he was followed by a woman.
The members all zeroed in on this one point. Kai had brought a woman with him. That was shocking on its own. Although they knew he was a straight fellow, reading too many articles about how he was homosexual and dating Ray had slightly affected the troublesome trio's thought process.
Moreover, they couldn't get past the fact that the man and woman were holding hands. It was not a simple hold but the intimate ten-finger clasp. An alarm went off in the guys' heads. They could roughly guess what the scenario was and also imagine various ways to pull their leader's leg. Their exciting thoughts were interrupted by Kai's question.
Kai: did you guys wait long?
Mui: (looking at their entwined hands and back up at their faces) No. We came here moments before you did.
Ray: (not beating around the bush) Who is the lady with you Kai?
Kai: ah! (Pulling her to the front) this is Yoo Min-Soe.
Mel: (bowing to them) hello everyone!
Timo: (smirking) so are you two dating?
Kai: (shrugging) in a way, yes we are.
Vic: (loudly as if in shock) Oh no! It can't be!
Ray: (perplexed) what?
Vic: (more loudly) Kai! bro! When did this happen? Why didn't you tell us all?!
Timo: (bewildered) tell us what?
Vic: (exasperated) Can't you see the ring on her finger?
Ray: (wide-eyed) is that?! (Recognizing the ring) You told me you were looking rings for your Mom!
Mui: Awesome! When were you going to tell us?
Kai: (putting his hands up to stop them) will you let me speak? I wanted to surprise you all. Ray, Sorry! I couldn't tell you and spoil the surprise when you came with me while we went looking for the ring. Everyone let me introduce you to my fiancé, Yoo Min-Soe.
Timo: f-fiancé?!
Ray: (choking on his spit) w-what?
Mui: Oh god! Oh no!
Vic: h-how?
Kai didn't answer them but instead, he was rejoicing internally to have caught them all off guard.
Kai: (in Mel's ear) this is better than what I pictured.
Mel: (controlling her breathing at his sudden closeness) mm-hmm.
Kai put his arm around her waist and lightly kissed her ear lobe before pulling away smiling at the small shiver that passed through her body. He could see that her cheeks had heated up and she was overwhelmed by their proximity and she was trying hard to get her mind back to work. He was pleased to know that he had such an effect on her.
The guys all lowered their eyes at the sudden PDA. Also, the lady was their future sis-in-law. It didn't sit well with them to gawk at the couple's affectionate exchanges shamelessly.
They were all single dogs and took pride in the same. Although some of them were in several on and off relationships. How could their little hearts handle it when their trusted leader went ahead and declared that he was already engaged! This was betrayal!
Timo: (sitting heavily back on the couch) wow! I m-mean h-how?
Kai: (sitting opposite to Timo and pulling Mel to sit with him) it all just happened too fast.
Ray didn't believe that Kai was in his right mind ever since he announced this engagement. Then something clicked in his head.
Ray: (glaring) Kai tell us the truth, you got her pregnant didn't you?
Mel's spit went down the wrong tube at Ray's accusation. She started to cough and turned red in embarrassment. Kai was a completely different story, he was glaring at Ray and at the same time rubbing soothing circles on Mel's back.
Kai: (sneering) real mature Ray.
Ray: Huh? what?! You always wanted kids and you come here with the big news. What should we think?
Mui: (defensive) don't pull us in with you! It isn't 'we' but only 'you'.
Ray glared at the guy obviously displeased. Now wasn't the moment for them to be divided!
Mel: (still red in the face) I am not pregnant!
Vic: (handing her a glass of water) Min-Soe, Drink some water.
Mel: (gladly accepting) Thank you, Vic.
Kai: (concerned) you feeling ok?
Mel: (nodding) yes. I was surprised that's all.
Mui: (looking at the couple still in confusion) so how did this happen?
Kai: we met each other about a fortnight ago through our parents and I made it official by proposing to her today.
Mui: arranged marriage?! Whoa! This is unbelievable!!
Timo: (wide-eyed) are you both sure about it?
Kai and Mel both turned to look at each other to the big brother's question. Were they sure? No, they weren't but they were willing to give it their all. They were already aware that they had unmistakable chemistry between them.
The guys could once again only look down in embarrassment at the sudden warmth filled atmosphere. Seriously! What was it with today? Kai was engaged! His gaze was tender and they were all force-fed with loads of PDA!
Kai: (still looking into her eyes) I guess we'll be fine.
There goes that tender voice and gaze again! Ray was trying very hard not to roll his eye. Timo was controlling his urge to not curse loudly. Mui and Vic were almost scarred by their gentle leader.
They could only hope that he would revert back to his old self when he was around them- sans Mel. Kai like this was more scary and unbearable to these saint-like single men.
Ray: (in a serious tone) we can all see that Kai but this is marriage, not some game.
Vic: (being the voice of wisest man) I think we should trust him about this. I mean he has taken quite good decisions every time.
Timo: (shaking his head) don't mention his love life. It's a total mess.
Mui: (chipping in his two cents) I agree with Vic here. I believe in Kai and sister-in-law sure is beautiful.
Mel: thank you, Mui.
After the usual serious talks were out of the way, the guys didn't dwell on them anymore. They knew Kai. He was a good man and he seemed to be happy with Mel so all they could now do was to wish the couple.
Ray: (smiling) well! I am happy for you guys. Welcome to the family Min-Soe. Take good care of our weird brother and we'll be looking forward to getting to know you better.
Mel: (smiling) thank you Ray and I'll make sure to keep him in on his toes always.
Timo: (laughing) sis-in-law sure is witty, you are lucky to have found her Kai.
Kai: Hey! I brought her here so that you could all meet her, not for all of you to team up against me.
Timo: (winking at her) that's given.
Mel giggled at Timo's wink which made Kai burn in a sudden rush of anger.
Kai: Hey bro! Find a woman for yourself and keep your claws off my lady here.
Ray: (rolling his eyes) Min-Soe, come with me, I'll introduce you to everyone around here.
Mel looked at Kai once and seeing him nod in agreement she accepted the hand given by Ray smiling. Both of them left the room leaving behind the eldest and the youngest line to tease the- soon to be- groom.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Sanchi94
Sanchi94 Next chapter:
Ray will share the good news with his (future) girl.
and
Ye-jin would be helping Aera to sort things out.
and hopefully, they'll take another step towards each other.
Chapter 62: Take it slow
While Ray was busy getting to know his soon to be sister-in-law, the same morning, Ye-jin was lazing around at her parents home with Aera.
After the recent fiasco, the girls treated themselves to a mini-vacation in the Park family home.
In this rare moment of leisure, they were enjoying themselves by indulging in unhealthy treats, home beauty treatments- by the skilled maids, talking about this and that, watching trash teen movies- to sum up, they were having the time of their lives after a long time.
But good things never last for long. Aera's phone rang. When she saw who was calling, her face fell and she angrily turned her phone off.
Ye-jin saw everything from beginning to end. She couldn't help but sigh internally.
The marriage was inevitable. From what she had gathered, it was decided long back when the involved people- Aera and president Wang- were still in diapers. It was a little unfortunate and unjust that the parents agreed upon an alliance for their children when they couldn't even say the word 'marriage'. Who could say if this decision was a blessing or a curse?
Probably it was a good thing that the guy was interested in the girl he was engaged with but nobody ever bothered to ask what the girl wanted.
Ye-jin: Wang Xin?
Aera didn't bother to respond to Ye-jin's question. She was sure her expression was enough of an answer.
Ye-jin: (pulling the lazing girl up) want to talk? I'll get us lots of chocolate and ice cream?
Aera's ears perked up at the mention of ice cream. Her mood was sour and something sweet might just do the trick and cheer her up. She eagerly nodded with a pitiful look in her eyes.
Ye-jin: (chuckling) I'll be back right away.
There were servants in the home who could've done Ye-jin's bidding but she knew Aera needed to sort her thoughts before she could talk. So, with ice cream as the excuse she gave Aera the little time to do just that.
It took Ye-jin 15 minutes to come back to the pool where they were lazing around with the promised treats. She saw Aera sitting up with a clear look in her eyes. It was an indication that she had listed out all her grievances. After eating several spoonfuls of the sugary treat, Ye-jin indicated for Aera to start talking.
Aera: (scowling) I am not happy with their decision simply being shoved onto my shoulders. Marriage isn't a small affair! I am furious.
Ye-jin: did you talk to your parents?
Aera: I tried to but their only reasoning is that 'I'll get past this stage'.
Ye-jin: what do you plan to do next? I mean you can't ignore the guy-
Aera: I know. He is a good person. He treats me well but sometimes it gives me creeps when he acts like those overbearing CEOs. I want to take it slow. Everything feels so rushed, it's confusing and scary.
Ye-jin: then why don't you talk to him about your concerns? If he's the good guy that you think he is then he'll definitely listen to you and you guys might work things out.
Aera: (pouting) I would've done it even without your advice. Right now I am angry and throwing a tantrum. I'll do that after calming down.
Ye-jin could only chuckle at her reasoning. Of course, Aera was the spoiled little princess. She just hoped that the other party could put up with her.
Ye-jin: you'll have to grow up soon Aera.
Aera: (offended) hey! I am a grown-up and where does it say that grow-ups don't have a temper?
Ye-jin: (humouring her) yes you're an old grandma.
Aera: (rolling her eyes) you're just jealous that I've already got myself a fiance while you're still single.
Ye-jin: you wish! On a serious note, I am happy for you but looking at your pettiness it's still not the time to celebrate.
Aera: (patting her head) don't worry. I won't be petty for long.
The girls laughed out and spent the day in each other's company without a care for the world. Who knew what the future held? All they could do was enjoy living the moment, pampering themselves to their heart's content. They could care less about the troubles of tomorrow.
After making up with her close friend, Ye-jin was in an excellent mood. Her shoulders felt lighter and she longer had to hide anything from anyone. Everything was out in the open amongst the people she cared truly cared for. All she was missing in that instant was Ray's company. He would usually stop by her house in the evenings with food for both of them. But he was out of the city busy doing what he loved to do the most. After the fiasco, they hadn't talked much with each other more than five texts.
'I am leaving for Shanghai. Take care of yourself and you've got a lot of explaining to do when I return.'
That was the text he sent her before the plane took off.
'Have a safe trip, I'll be waiting.'
Was her short reply. Both of them were oblivious that their texts appeared intimate for a third person.
'SOMETHING BIG HAPPENED! ONE OF US IS ENGAGED!'
The capital letters revealed how excited he was. He had sent that text during noon when Ye-jin was busy with Aera followed by
'CAN YOU GUESS WHO IT IS?'
'IT'S KAI!'
'Wait! You can't tell this to anyone yet! It's a secret!
'You there?'
'Ye-jin?'
And our heroine saw these texts the following night right after she reached her little house after dropping Aera off. She fell down from the couch in shock and hurt her left knee.
Kai was engaged?
It was out of the blue. Slowly her shock turned to nothing cause she assumed that it was one of the jokes played by the guys. She simply brushed off the messages and sent her reply
'hahaha, good joke!'
'You almost had me there!'
'When are you coming back?'
Knowing he was busy and would reply later she turned off her phone and went to sleep rubbing her aching knee. She would definitely settle scores with them for trying to pull this one on her.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Sanchi94
Sanchi94
Exams and festivals next week.
Therefore irregular updates.
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