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
Chapter 77: Assault
Thanks to her elder sister, Ye-Jin had been partnered with a perfectly qualified guy for their pretend date. And coincidentally his name was also Tae-hee. She was grateful for So-ah's farsightedness. It saved her in the nick of time.
The pretend couple stood in front of the restaurant waiting for Ray's arrival. Ye-Jin had been a ball of nerves ever since she left home for this ruse. She didn't even know how she got into this situation. She had been doing pretty well with her one-sided love/crush- by avoiding everything of course- but her sister had to interfere- to alleviate her boredom and now she was stuck.
Ye-Jin: (fidgeting) I hope everything goes according to plan. (Turning to the guy beside her) Are you ready Tae-hee?
Tae-hee: (smiling softly at her) don't worry Miss Ye-Jin, everything will be fine.
Everything seemed fine to Ye-Jin until Ray joined them both with beautiful and Sexy- with a capital 'S'- model latched to his arm like a leech.
Ye-Jin had been lucky that her face hadn't turned a horrible shade of green out of jealousy and anger.
Ray: (waving merrily at her with his free arm) Ye-Jin! You didn't wait for long, did you?
Ye-Jin: (smiling painfully) n-not at a-all. We came here moments before you. (Linking her arms around her pretend lover) Ray this is Tae-hee, my boyfriend.
Ray looked at the guy in front of him from top to bottom, keeping his face impassive. He finally let out a dry chuckle and gladly shook the guy's hand and greeted him enthusiastically. Well, he could chop off the guy's limbs but sadly he couldn't.
Ray: (sounding apologetic) I hope you won't mind another person joining us. I thought of making this a double date so I invited Tara with me.
Tae-hee: (placing an arm casually around Ye-Jin's shoulder) we don't mind at all, right honey?
Ye-Jin: (looking up in surprise) y-yes.
For a moment Ray's calm facade crumpled. He couldn't handle the sight of some other man putting his hands on the woman he truly loved. He was in time brought out of his stewing by a pinch to his arm. He exchanged quick thanks with the woman in his arms for keeping him in check.
Truth be told he had gotten to know of the sister's plan before coming to this fake double date.
***
After Vic had left him to his devices, Ray went out to meet with Shin Jay of all people. He remembered he had to take care of a few legalities on behalf of his sister. The girl wanted to buy a huge villa and he was left to deal with the procedures. With nothing better to do, he went to meet his lawyer.
His meeting with Shin-Jay which had been quite fruitful. The guy accidentally spilt the beans. After the negotiations, Shin Jay's phone rang, it was So-ah calling him. Ray was preparing to bid goodbye when their conversation caught his ears.
Jay: What are your wishes for the day?
...
Jay: (frowning) I don't think I know anybody named Tae-hee?
...
Jay: Well, I don't know where he currently is-
...
Jay: (sigh) ok fine, I'll track him down for you! Jeez, woman!
After ending the call, Jay was met with Ray's incredulous eyes. He knew it was the end of him. His pregnant wife would kill him in cold blood for ruining her perfect plan. How could he forget that the main character of the story was sitting in front of him? He was dead meat! He was sadly a henpecked husband.
In a state of panic, Shin Jay couldn't think of any proper excuses. He chuckled brokenly once and sighed in defeat. With one look he could tell that Ray had figured out things for himself.
Ray: (blandly) There is no Tae-hee who is dating Ye-Jin?
Shin Jay nodded in reply.
Ray: (confused) but why?
Shin Jay could only shrug and send him off quickly.
Thus, Ray was on cloud nine but he wanted Ye-Jin to drop her act and come clean. His only thought when he had left the lawyer's place was 'two can play the game Ye-Jin-ah.'
As a result, he had begged his long-time friend Tara to help him stage a drama with him that evening.
***
Throughout the painfully long date, Ray noted that the guy holding Ye-Jin's hand was pretty smooth with his job but he couldn't see that Tara had become a complete pain for Ye-Jin- who had been stewing in jealousy.
Half-way through their dinner, Ye-Jin had excused herself to the washroom, not able to handle the extreme PDA happening in front of her. Ray could only stare at her disappearing back before sighing in irritation.
Finding the opportunity Tara moved away from Ray and breathed a sigh of relief. She was tired of clinging to the guy the whole evening.
Tae-hee: (sipping the wine from his glass) why not tell her your feelings?
Ray: (taken aback) did you say something?
Tae-hee: (rolling his eyes) I am Shin-Jay's close friend, Ray, of course, I am aware of several things. Moreover, I do have eyes.
Ray: (running a hand through his hairs in frustration) you knew all along?
Tae-hee: (winking) Miss Tara is an amazing actress.
Tara: (rolling her eyes) don't tell me, I've been asking him to come clean already. This whole thing is a laugh riot.
Ray: (slumping in his chair) she started it.
Tara: (swatting him on the head) what are you? Five?
Ray: (annoyed) Hey! Don't hit me!
Tara: I will do it again if you don't confess soon and in the meantime if she finds someone else.
Tae-hee: (chuckling) she is right you know-
***
Simultaneously when this exchange was taking place at their table, Ye-Jin was about to open the door to ladies-room when someone grabbed her unceremoniously and pinned her to the wall. She was shocked out of her wits would be an understatement. The guy- a total stranger- was drunk beyond measure and his every breath reeked of alcohol.
Ye-Jin started struggling to set herself free but the man was too heavy and no match for her strength. He roughly put his mouth on her and forced himself on her- it effectively did cut all her air supply and made her go numb with fear. She felt the guy's hands wandering all over her body. She could feel intense pain when he bit her lips harshly demanding an entry. The pain that shot through her was like a wakeup call for her frozen nervous system. Her struggles became more rigorous and vicious.
The sudden rush of adrenaline was still not enough to set herself free. The man might've done this to a lot of women because he had firmly locked her two legs with her own. She started to feel utterly hopeless. But she couldn't give up, no matter what.
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