Chapter 87: Idiot
Silence hung over the trio as Liu Jian Yi finished narrating the incidents which happened half a decade ago.
The food they ordered had already turned cold and it was left untouched. None of them had any appetite to savour the delicacies present in front of them.
Ray's face was a mask of indifference. He sat staring straight ahead at a painting on the wall behind his father. It wasn't mesmerising but a way for him to avoid looking at his father's face. Ye-Jin could now somewhat understand Ray's actions. He might have felt stifled after the whole ordeal. After all his whole life was flipped over in a night's time.
If it was a logical person then they would have shrugged off the whole thing. After all, they would be too young when this happened, they wouldn't even remember the faces of Liu Ming and Yu Wan but it was Ray. He was an introvert and sensitive person from the very beginning. It was given that he'd flip.
Ye-Jin placed her palm on top of Ray's clenched fists to reassure him. She somehow wanted to show him that she was with him. He looked at her and gently smiled nodding in reassurance. He didn't want her to worry.
All the while father Liu was fed with PDA and was feeling anger rise in his chest. It was due to this brat that his wife was angry with him from the past five years. There was not a single day where she had spoken to him lovingly as she used to do in the past. This brat had taken away her happiness with him and it irked him to no end.
But this useless son of his now was showing off in front of him!
He felt an itch in his palms wanting to smack his head but he held back determined to endure. If he reacted now then his magnificent image in front his daughter-in-law would plummet to ground.
His silent glowering was cut short when Ray directly addressed him.
Ray: I still don't understand one thing.
Mr Liu: What is it?
Ray: why did you come here yourself? Bo was here already.
Mr Liu: (coughing awkwardly) Bo called me last night. She asked me to come here.
Ray: (intrigued) then how did you get Mr Park to set up your meeting?
Mr Liu: that was easy. I only had to call him and introduce myself. That's all it took.
Ray: (not believing) really?
Mr Liu: (defensive) are you doubting your father now?
Ray: (nodding) exactly. I am doubting your words. Never mind, I'll ask Bo.
Mr Liu: (furious) you!
Ray: (smirking) then why don't you tell me yourself?
Mr Liu: (unhappily) my team saved Park Hu-Ye from an assassination attempt long back. Thus, when you ran away from home only to come here I asked his help to look over you and he agreed.
Ye-Jin: (frowning) that means everyone in my family was already aware of his identity?
Mr Liu nodded and Ye-Jin felt like she was betrayed. No wonder they kept pushing her to date him. They knew who he was and were immensely satisfied with him. But-
Ye-Jin: then why does my father not like him?
Mr Liu: (chuckling) you're his dear daughter. Why would he be happy when there was someone around trying to woo you?
Ray: (smirking) that's why you threatened all those kids who tried to approach Bo, right father?
Mr Liu: (embarrassed) what are you saying? You brat! Don't make me beat you up now!
Ye-Jin: but why did you want to meet me?
Mr Liu: (awkward) j-just l-like t-that-
Ye-Jin wanted to roll her eyes. There was clearly some kind of hidden agenda behind his visit. Her doubts turned to shock after hearing Ray speak.
Ray: (rubbing his temple) what is the situation back home? Bo didn't give me any details but I can see that she's anxious about something.
Mr Liu sighed and all his playful/imposing/majestic aura vanished and all that was left behind was a battle worn soldier. Ye-Jin felt her chest swell with pride looking at him. He was charismatic no matter what. Liu Jian Yi sighed before continuing.
Mr Liu: when you ran away, our hold on the Yi family slackened. Those foxes fled the country and we thought that the feud finally ended. Liu Jing went ahead and joined the military. It was peaceful for a while but it's been a year-
Ray: (incensed) a year?
Mr Liu: (nodding) the Yi's have started to run rampant again. Liu Jing is away on some classified mission. Your mother suddenly fell ill. She was desperate to see you-
Ray: (clenching his fist) I-I a-am s-sorry.
Mr Liu didn't say anything. He knew his son better than anyone. His apology this time was sincere. They didn't intervene in his life before because they he felt he was happy by being away from them. How could they as parents not know that he always wanted to be a free bird?
Yi Qing was relieved when he ran away from home. She was the one who stopped Jian Yi from hauling his butt back home. She had stopped them from bothering him and let him lead his life as he wished to. And in the process, she had lost her spirit.
But now things were a little grave and Jian Yi was advancing in age. Yi Qing was also showing signs of fatigue but the cockroaches weren't cleaned up yet. They needed him to come back.
Ray: (hanging his head) I'll return soon… father.
Mr Liu didn't say anything instead he affectionately reached out to pat his back.
Ye-Jin was stunned. Her eyes instantly filled with tears. Her heart was constricted. She felt as if the room was closing in on her. He was going to leave. She had only one thought in her mind and that was to escape.
She abruptly stood up surprising the father and son. Without glancing back she ran away from the private room as if the devil himself was chasing her.
Mr Liu: (disappointed) exactly how much did you not tell her?
Ray: (guilty) err…
Mr Liu: (shaking his head) go after her. You're an idiot through and through.
Bidding his father goodbye Ray collected the items Ye-Jin had left behind- a handbag- and hurriedly ran after her.
Mr Liu shook his head feeling dismayed at his son's dense brain.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Sanchi94
Sanchi94 The atmosphere felt heavy so the duo tried to lighten the atmosphere.
Ray: I did that for Ye-Jin.
Me: cheeky brat!
Ray: (frowning) She was worried for me I had to do something.
Me: ...
Chapter 88: I'll miss you
Ray ran out of the restaurant with a frown on his perfect face. He started to feel anxious once he couldn't spot Ye-Jin anywhere near the private booth they were chatting in or out on the streets. It had been only two hours but it felt as if years had passed while the history was retold.
Fortunately, Ye-Jin couldn't go far. She found a quiet alley beside the restaurant to calm herself. She was regretting so many things that happened. She wished she could turn the time back so that she would be bold and confess her feelings to Ray the moment she realised them. She blamed herself for wasting too much time playing a pointless game. She felt like she was the dumbest person in the whole world. He was going to leave soon and it was going to be hard for him too and here she was drowning in self-deprecation.
Steeling her mind and heart, Ye-Jin walked out of the alley only to be pulled into someone's arms. She almost hit the person ut of reflex but stopped short when she heard his apology.
Ray: I am so sorry Ye-Jin! Please forgive me! Don't disappear like this, please! I feel lost without you! Ye-Jin I-
Ye-Jin: (pushing him away) I am fine. Your father is in there? Why did you come after me? He'd be upset.
Ray wanted to pull her into his arms again but he couldn't. He was hurt when she pushed him away but it was natural given he hurt her. He let his arms fall to his sides limply.
Ray: (pouting) It's alright. He will understand.
Ye-Jin: (breathing in) ok then, I'll see you tonight or not?
Ray: (chuckling dryly) I'll pick you up in the evening.
Ye-Jin nodded her head twice in satisfaction and walked away from him. Ray hung his head down not able to look at her departing figure. He too left after a few minutes since he had a lot to prepare and the first was to announce his retirement.
***
It was almost night and Ye-Jin was still in her cabin with her head buried in some documents. her assistant Matt cleared his throat softly to gain her attention but it didn't work.
He was confused by it. His boss had sensitive ears and she didn't respond to him that meant only two things: either she was asleep or she was mentally not present in the room. Matt shook off the first possibility and wondered what kind of miracle would cause his boss to divert her focus from work!
He tried again and this time he softly tried calling out to her
Matt: boss?
Still, he didn't get any reply. Feeling defeated he resigned his fate to put overtime that night. Almost all the company staff had left and with a few security personnel, he was the only one remaining with his boss in their huge office building. He sighed and continued to work silently.
A sudden chirp caught the attention of both of them. Ye-Jin who was imitating a statue sprang to life and eagerly checked the text.
Matt didn't know what happened after that. His boss who was so focused on the important take over papers in her hand threw them away like they were trash- well, his heart bled a lot when that happened. What hurt him more was the fact that she didn't spare him a single glance before hurrying away leaving him all alone in her cabin.
Ye-Jin wasn't even aware that her secretary was present with her. After she returned from that 'lunch' she had been brooding and pondering over the issue and couldn't focus on anything. She was busy whole afternoon and evening, coming up ways on 'how to cope with long-distance relationships?' or 'how to handle the pain of a breakup?'
Because there was this fear nailed in her head that if Ray left then they would break up. It was unthinkable for her yet logical at the same time. And what made her spring back to life was a simple text.
'Ray: I am here.'
That's all it took for her to trash the important documents and hurry out. If they were really going to break up then she didn't want to waste her time- being petty- once again.
***
The drive back home was quiet. Ye-Jin was quiet because she didn't want to say anything and Ray was quiet because he didn't know where he should start from. Ray drove to his little house where they spent the night together yesterday.
He ordered some take out for their supper. Both of them had not eaten anything since afternoon and food helped them fill up the silence. After they were full and satisfied Ye-Jin began grilling him.
Ye-Jin: when?
He knew what she was asking about. He was saddened by the fact that her tone was emotionless. There was nothing but acceptance in it.
Ray: (solemn) This Sunday.
Ye-Jin: That means we have only a week?
Ray nodded mutely. He didn't know what she was thinking but he wanted to explain things to her. Before he could say something she began again
Ye-Jin: (dryly) so our relationship wouldn't even last for ten days?
Ray: (surprised) what do you mean?
Ye-Jin: (nonchalantly) I mean you'll leave this Sunday and that's three days from today. And we starting dating yesterday. That makes it five days. I know it's childish of me but will you forget me after you go back? I mean after we break up-
Ray was stunned to silence by her once again. The last time was when she confessed last night. He didn't know how he should react.
Ray: (almost choking) b-break u-up? Y-you w-want t-to b-break u-up?
Ye-Jin: (defensive) why would I want to break up?
Ray: you said it yourself!
Ye-Jin: when did I say that I wanted to break up?!
Ray: (sighing) this is going nowhere! Ye-Jin why would we break up?
Ye-Jin: (flushed) Oh... It's really nothing!
She tried to hide her flushed face away from him. It was the result of her overthinking that she assumed that they would break up once he left her. She didn't want to let him know out of embarrassment.
Ray: (intrigued) you're making me curious now. Should I guess the reason?
Ye-Jin: (annoyed) Ugh! I just thought so. It's no big deal.
Ray was amused would be an understatement. She was trying to hide her red face behind her little palms and escape from the embarrassment. He had been so stressed recently that he forgot the possibility of her coming to weird and awful conclusions. He wanted to laugh but was afraid of upsetting her.
Ye-Jin peeked at him from the gaps between her fingers. She could clearly see his mouth twitch.
Ye-Jin: (smiling) You are allowed to laugh.
That was it and he laughed hard. She too joined him and for a good few minutes, there was nothing but the laughter that could be heard from the duo. Their eyes were filled with tears from all the laughter and it was a bittersweet moment.
It was thus established that they were not going to break up and make this long-distance relationship work.
Ye-Jin: (wiping away her tears) I'll miss you... a lot.
Those simple words were enough to convey what they were feeling at that moment. All the anxiety, fear, pain and anticipation disappeared in the blink of an eye after those simple words were spoken.
What surprised Ray more was that Ye-Jin took the initiative to bend over plant a quick kiss on his lips. Before he could grab her arm and pull her for more, she escaped into the bathroom to clean herself up for the night.
Ray sat smiling goofily staring in the direction of the locked bathroom door. She was shy when it came to intimacy but he had lots of patience.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Sanchi94
Sanchi94
It's my birthday today and I didn't want to make this an emotional chapter.
Also, I'll be starting to post a new story today. It'll be about Timo and other guys and will take place five years from this point.
I initially planned to finish this first and focus on it later. But I am 'floopy' so felt like posting it now. It's named 'Chance encounter (love at first sight)'.
Be sure to check it out and support it (if you like it).
Also, for the readers (if anyone here) of my other story (ACMC), I am delaying the epilogue because I am waiting for the right timing to merge these two stories.
And 'RRGLE' is ending soon (I predict five to six chapters).
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
0 Power
stone You may also Like
Paragraph comment