Chapter 75: Shocked
And just like that Ye-jin left from the room but for him, it felt like she had left him.
Ray felt sad and hurt at seeing her disappearing back. He didn't like the idea of her leaving him. His mind suddenly flashed back to the party where he had heard about her dating a new guy. The same anger rushed through him once again. The same burn returned with the same force. Every fibre of him felt as if it was on fire at the thought of her with someone else. Between all of it, he couldn't understand what was even happening to him. He was still deep in contemplation of his feelings when he heard a dry mocking chuckle.
Ray: what are you doing here again?
Bo: (smirking) she left, didn't she?
Ray: What are you up to Bo? I can clearly see you want to gloat over something.
Bo: (grinning) tell me you got rid of that woman for good! She clearly doesn't suit your calm temperament with her anger issues. And you've clearly seen her arrogance right?
Liu Bo hadn't followed the couple out when they left chasing each other. She had been busy gloating over the success of her plan. She was a hundred per cent sure that they would quarrel.
She knew that Ray had invited Ye-jin over to let her listen to his new solo track which he had written exclusively for her. He had been preparing for this day from the moment he returned from London. He had carried a smitten look on his face all the while making her sick. How could her mighty brother be reduced to this?
She had been annoyed would be an understatement. Coupled with her dissatisfaction with him not acceding to her request of returning home she was more miffed.
She had purposefully incited Ye-jin before and had also used her name to intrude on their affectionate time. She was delighted to watch their colourful reactions. Basking in the sweet taste of victory she gave the couple a little time to widen the gap between themselves. She then approached her brother in the hopes of adding the fuel to the fire.
But she would never have realised that she had miscalculated the whole ordeal.
Ray: (balling up his fists) who are you to ask me that? Bo, you're my sister that doesn't give you the right to bad mouth people who are important to me.
Liu Bo was a little surprised when she heard her brothers' harsh tone in reprimanding her. But she shrug it off as him being in a terrible mood after the fight with his girlfriend.
Bo: (casually blowing nails) come on Ray, you can do way better than her.
Ray: (glowering) Liu Bo know your damn limits!
Bo: (startled) don't tell me you really like Ye-Jin?! You aren't- She is-
Ray: (fire blazing in the eyes) not you. She is not you.
Liu Bo finally understood something. All this while she had been thinking that her brother was only fooling around with Ye-jin as a means of testing the waters. How could she have known that the brother she had not seen for almost five years had fallen for the first-ever woman he was dating. In her shocked surprise, she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind
Bo: (surprised) you l-love h-her!
Ray's anger almost completely vanished.
Did he love Ye-jin? How could he not know of such an important thing? They were his emotions and almost everyone was aware of them and not him? Why was life always this unfair?
The more he thought of it the more solid his realisation was. He actually loved her!
It was exciting and intimidating at the same time. He wanted to explore more but Liu Bo was with him and he didn't wish to embarrass himself in front of him.
Ray: (shocked but holding onto his anger) yes I do!
Bo: (astonished) what the hell bro! You've been going out with her a few months only!
How can her brother be this vulnerable to fall into that woman's trap this easily! Where was his previous arrogance and conceitedness?
Ray: (sighing umpteenth time) we aren't dating Bo-
How can he explain his suffering to anyone? The very first time he realised his feelings and was still reeling from the shock of it and his sister was asking him the same nonsensical question he was annoyed of!
Liu Bo struck by both thunder and lightning at the same spot for a long time. They weren't dating? The reports she had gotten were false? Wait! Doesn't that mean her plan was unnecessary in the first place? But looking at it now, she had unwittingly helped her dense brother realise his feelings! How she felt like she had shot herself in the foot! She had indirectly helped that woman! How infuriating was this?
Ray didn't bother with Liu Bo any longer. He felt like his soul would fly out at any moment due to the sudden discovery. Leaving his sister behind he marched away from the empty practice room face twisted in shock at the surprising realisation and turn of events leaving a dumbfounded Liu behind him.
He was feeling everything and nothing at the same time. The awareness that he had fallen for one of his best friends was shocking as well as exhilarating. It was definitely both good and bad to have a name for the emotional roller coaster he was riding from the past few days.
He now stood in front of his group's personal waiting room. He had no idea how he had come to be there. He opened the door to find his big brother and his friend going through some papers. They looked up when he closed the door behind him.
Kai: (noticing right away) what happened to you? You look pretty shaken.
Ray: (trying to cool down) n-nothing.
Timo: (not looking up) is Ye-Jin still here?
Ray: she l-left I t-think.
Timo: (raising an eyebrow) so soon? I thought you were going to make her listen to that new song.
Ray: (shuffling on his feet) well- she had some emergency so... what are you guys doing from morning?
Kai: (shrugging) big bro wanted to donate some of his collections so we were just going through with all the procedure and whatnot.
Ray: (nodding) are you guys hungry? I was going to have lunch.
Kai: (mouth twitching) Ray it's just eleven right now.
Ray: (shrugging nonchalantly) early lunch. I'll ask if Ye-Jin would join us.
He left the other two guys to their devices and dialled Ye-Jin's number feeling excited and dreading it at the same time. His call straight went to voicemail. She wasn't picking it up. He tried again but he got the same response. He gave up on the call and sent her a text asking if they could meet up. Once again he got no response.
Everything burned down to only a single point for him, he wanted to see her badly.
Ray: (frustrated) why isn't she replying to me? Big bro, give me your phone.
Timo: (hesitant) she might be busy. Besides she left here an hour ago-
Ray: (not heeding to others) it's ringing…
This time he was lucky enough as Ye-Jin received on the fourth ring. But she was clearly ignoring him and he now somewhat understood why..
Ye-Jin: hello?
Ray: (filled with grievances) Ye-Jin where are you? Meet me for lunch today.
Ye-Jin: (almost agreeing) um… actually I am a little busy. I can't speak now. Catch you later.
Ray: (disbelief) she cut my call. How can she do that?
Kai: (shrugging) cause she is busy. Come let's go for that lunch, I am quite hungry.
Ray: (returning the phone to Timo) I am not hungry.
He left the room again sulking and upset about Ye-Jin's bland refusal about his plan.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Sanchi94
Sanchi94 Time for Ray to suffer a bit.
Although they know their feelings they'll be petty for a (very) little while :)
Chapter 76: Ruse
It was a fortnight later when Ray was visited by Vic. He looked pretty upset and angry about something. Ray looked up from his computer surprised at his arrival.
Ray: what is the matter? You came without informing.
Vic: (scowling) bro why aren't you confessing to Ye-jin already? Your rotten mood every day is affecting everyone and rubbing people the wrong way.
Ray: (shocked) what are you talking about?
Vic: (sighing) Everyone can see that you've fallen for her. Then what are you waiting for?
Ray: (raising an eyebrow) Bo told you guys?
Vic: (defeated) how did you know?
Ray: (smirking) she was the only person who knew.
Vic: (grinning widely) then it's really true? We didn't really believe her in the beginning. I am so happy for you!
Vic couldn't hold back his excitement any longer. He jumped on Ray to give him a hug.
Ray: (happily) alright, alright. So, why did you really come here for?
Vic: We were all wondering why you hadn't made a move yet. I lost the bet and had to come ask you.
Ray could only roll his eyes. He had expected something like this happening soon.
Vic: (questioning) So?
Ray: (sighing) Ye-jin is dating someone. I can't possibly make a move on her like this-
Vic wasn't shocked to hear Ye-jin was dating someone.
Vic: what is stopping you? Even if she is dating, nothing is finalised.
Ray: (pinching between his brows) Vic, it won't be good for either of us. She's with this other guy and-
Vic: I know you might be feeling awful. I am no dating expert bro but believe these feelings shouldn't be kept in. If you ask me or any other guys, we'd tell you to go for it. You've waited long enough.
Ray: (chuckling) that way I'll ruin the friendship between us and also make her hate me in addition to getting rejected.
Vic: (scoffing) bro, that won't happen, believe me. Why don't you call her right now and ask her to meet you?
Ray: (reluctant) she's angry with me, I don't know why. She's ignoring me.
Vic: (exasperated) do you guys ever talk through things properly?
Ray: (shrugging) most of the times it is not necessary between us. Sometimes no.
Vic: (meaningful) that's cool but now is the time for you guys to talk.
Ray: (warning) ok, I'll do as you say for this once but if things go down the drain then you're dead meat!
Vic: (nodding) ok ok, call her already!
Ray didn't reply and dialled Ye-jin's number with his sweating palms. He was nervous and excited at the same time. It was exactly like when he was standing as an artist in front of people during their first live show. He was waiting for voicemail this time too but luckily Ye-jin picked up his call.
Ye-jin: hello-
Ray: (at loss for words) um...
Vic was sensible enough and left the room to give his brother a little privacy.
The air in the room turned thick with anticipation. Ray couldn't sit still and stood up to walk to the window in his room. They didn't speak, both were waiting for the other person to break the silence.
Ray felt that the whole situation was quite ridiculous, considering how close they were with each other a fortnight ago- before the realisation had hit him. Ye-Jin, on the other hand, was finding it hard to keep her feelings in check around him.
Having enough of it Ray decided to break the silence.
Ray: (clearing his throat) are you free tonight?
Ye-Jin: (frowning at his choice of words) free for?
Ray: I was hoping, maybe- we could g-go for d-dinner?
The sentence alone took a lot of courage on his part.
Ye-jin: um... about that-
Ye-Jin was currently with So-ah. And the elder Park sister was monitoring the phone call- the reason on her part was to keep an eye out for her baby sister. Truth be told, the would- be mother was bored to death doing nothing much the whole day.
So-ah: (mouthing) tell him that you've got a date with Tae-hee.
Ye-Jin: (hesitating) I, I've actually got a date with Tae-hee tonight.
So-ah gave a thumbs up to her sister.
Ray felt an acute pain in his chest. Subconsciously he placed a hand on his chest in hopes of minimising the hurt. But he still had to reply.
Ray: (swallowing his pride) so how is Tae-hee?
Ye-Jin immediately caught the barely concealed hurt in his voice. She lost her cool demeanor and her head filled with all kinds of thoughts. As a result, she forgot to pretend.
Ye-Jin: who?
So-ah almost kicked her sister in the shin for her lapse but luckily Ray didn't think much about her slip up.
Ray: (confused) your boy friend-
Ye-Jin: (feeling stupid at her momentary lapse) oh! He i-is f-fine.
Ray: (suspicious) Ye-Jin, what are you not telling me?
Ye-Jin: (averting her eyes from So-ah) w-what?
Ray: (catching up with her lie) there is no one named Tae-hee right?
His question seemed more like a statement to her ears. She cursed herself for not being careful around him but she had to now make up for her fault and cover it up before he grew more suspicious about her lie.
Ye-Jin: (plastering a smile on her face- although he couldn't see it) only you can think of such a thing Ray. I had a date planned with Tae-hee this evening- (faltering) which I already told you about. (excited) Come to think of it, you guys haven't met yet right-
So-ah was glaring daggers at her sisters lack of skills in this particular field. How was she going to win her man over if she was this clumsy? She couldn't keep her calm for a moment around him and stupidly proposed for her non-existent boyfriend meet her love interest.
Ye-Jin mouthed a quick sorry to her sister as an answer for her death glares.
Ray: (not liking the turn of events in the slightest) what are you hinting at?
Ye-Jin: (continuing the ruse) come to dinner with us. I want you to meet him this evening.
Ray: (still suspicious) o-ok I t-think it'd be great!
Ye-Jin: (biting her lower lip) I'll get going then, I'll text you the location and time later.
She was about to end the call when
Ray: Ye-Jin-
Ye-Jin: (feeling hopeful) y-yes?
Ray: w-why him?
Ye-Jin was surprised by the turn of the topic, her feelings clearly reflecting on her face. So-ah wasn't also an exception. She gave a huge thumbs up to her little sister. This could be considered as a win. But the war was a long one. (sigh)
Ray: (before she could reply) forget it, I'll meet you guys tonight.
and he reluctantly hung up.
Vic: So?
Ray: (lying heavily on the nearby couch) I got myself to be the third wheel on her date tonight.
Vic: then why don't you bring a date yourself?
Ray: (tiredly) get out Vic, before I skin you alive.
Vic didn't wait around and escaped before the threat could become reality. Also, he had to inform his other members of his useful findings.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Sanchi94
Sanchi94
Next chapter would be a little sensitive
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