章 70: Three months

And Ray found her after half an hour of non-stop search. She was sitting on a bench out in the garden.

She was hidden by the shrubs and he would've missed her if he hadn't been paying close attention to the surroundings.

Ye-Jin looked up to see Ray standing in front of her. He was slightly out of breath and his eyes still reflected the anxiety from earlier.

Ray: (relieved) I thought you left.

Ye-Jin didn't speak. He saw her staring at him. Her eyes were clearer than before.

Ray: sweetie? Are you ok?

She still didn't speak instead she moved towards him. She was only three steps away from him when her phone started to ring. Ye-Jin swallowed a few curses that moment. She badly wanted to test the epiphany she had just had but her phone was not taking the hint. It probably was Satan's illegitimate child.

Annoyed she pulled the contraption out of her clutch and glared at it. Seeing it was a call from her secretary she ignored it and put the thing on silent and threw it back in.

Ray who saw her actions was surprised. He clearly knew how rare it was for Ye-Jin to get angry but if what he saw was true then Ye-Jin's expression towards her phone was one of pure resentment.

Ray: sweetie, pick up the call if it's urgent.

Ye-Jin shook her head at him still refusing to use words. In reality, her courage was faltering. She feared that if she opened her mouth, she would chicken out from what she was about to do.

A while ago when she was trying to find an escape, Aera stopped her. Looking at her frantic eyes the woman helped Ye-Jin to calm down.

Aera: (patting her back) what's wrong Jin?

Ye-Jin: (baffled) I like him Aera!

Aera: huh?

Ye-Jin: I like Ray!

Aera: (confused) you've always liked him, you are his fan-

Ye-Jin: (shaking her head wildly) no I actually like him!

Aera: (excited) really? you figured it out?

Ye-Jin: (shocked) you knew?!

Aera: of course! everyone knows! I am so happy for you!!

Ye-Jin: (despairing) what should I do now? I don't know when this happened! I don't know if it's real or just a crush! Aera, what should I do? What if it's real? He only sees me as a friend!

Aera: Jin calm down! It's not end of the world. Everything will be alright-

And thus Aera gave her the suggestion to confirm the credibility of her feelings.

Aera: (wisely) kiss him. You'll know for sure.

Ye-Jin: (horrified) what?!

Aera: drink some wine so you feel buzzed, that way you won't feel scared and it'll be a good ruse to cover up your actions. Make sure you kiss him on the lips!

Ye-Jin: (covering her face) stop it! It's not fair to him!

Aera: (rolling her eyes) he won't mind! Trust me on this one. I would never mislead you!

After a lot of coaxing, a few glasses of wine Ye-Jin was finally ready to execute the plan. Ray who was unaware of the plot was still looking at Ye-Jin with concern filled eyes. His sharp pheonix like eyes were so gentle when looking at her, it was enough to melt her heart.

Ye-Jin gathered her wits and moved closer to him. He was surprised by the proximity but wasn't repelled by it.

Ye-Jin felt mutant flies trying to burst out of her stomach. She put her arms around his neck and moved her face close to his.

Ray felt that something was wrong with this scene.

Why was Ye-Jin suddenly throwing herself at him?

His body turned stiff from both shock and surprise. His heart leapt into his throat. The perverted thoughts he had been having all these days- thanks to the guys constantly pairing him up with her- were starting to surface. His eyes turned darker and his breath turned shallow. His eyes clearly reflected his internal struggle but Ye-Jin didn't notice any of that.

Ye-Jin: (whispering in his ear) Ray, I want to try something.

Her hot breath blew over his ear and he lightly shivered. He also detected the smell of alcohol mixed with her breath. It was clear that she wasn't in her right mind. He wanted to push her away but his hands had grown brains of their own and weren't following his wishes. He was paralyzed on the spot. (a/n: why blame the hands when he wished to be kissed right?)

Ye-Jin moved away from his ear and stared intently at his lips. They were soft, full and juicy to see. She could bet they were delicious.

Before she could go for the kill she made the mistake of looking into his eyes. She saw how gentle they were. How trusting they were towards her. She couldn't do this to him. It wasn't fair to him. She couldn't bring herself to use him for her selfish means. Thus, Ye-Jin lost her courage and she slid down to the ground, dazed and confused. A lone tear slid down her eyes- an evidence of her inner turmoil.

Ray came out of his temporary paralysis when he witnessed Ye-Jin fall to ground. His desires all disappeared. He too squatted down beside her.

Ray: Ye-Jin?

Ye-Jin: (nodding) I am ok. Just give me a minute.

Ray didn't say anything but he picked her up in his arms- bridal style.

Ye-Jin: (surprised) Ray?

Ray: (with a straight face) It's cold. You'll fall sick.

She didn't speak more but nestled herself in his arms. Ray who was still reeling from the tingling sensations from before stiffened once again. He didn't ask her anything else but carried her to his car trying to make sense of his feelings for the woman in his arms.

An hour later, they arrived at her home. Before he could leave, Ye-Jin gave him a piece of news which brought him both joy and sorrow at the same time.

Ye-Jin: I am going to London tomorrow.

Ray: ...

Ye-Jin: I won't be back for three months.

He was happy that it was a good thing. Some distance would be beneficial for him to set his thoughts straight but not seeing her for three months was torture too!

Ray: (clearing his throat) I really don't know what I should say.

Ye-Jin: (sheepish) I am sorry for tonight.

Ray: (nodding) I guess this time apart is good for us?

Ye-Jin: I don't know. Maybe it is.

They didn't say anything else. Ye-Jin didn't get off the car. Ray didn't want her to go either. They sat quietly in the car, each lost in their own thoughts.

The almost kiss, left them both quite baffled. They both were internally wondering if they would ever get the chance to close that little distance between each other.

The only difference, one was exhilarated by the future possibilities cuz of her new found feelings.While the other was guilty of having such demeaning thoughts towards a close friend.

They didn't know how long they sat together in silence. It was Ye-Jin who first broke the silence. Now that she was clear of what she wanted she didn't want to have any regrets but she was cautious enough to not scare the oblivious guy away.

Ye-Jin: (smiling) it's late. Thanks for dropping me off Ray.

Ray: no problem, I'll come see you off tomorrow. Text me the time later.

Ye-Jin: (pecking his cheek) sure, Night.

She didn't wait for his reply but happily skipped out of the car and into the house. Here Ray sat back shocked, holding his cheek, with eyes wide open. But after a few moments of shock he shook his head blaming it on her being drunk. He didn't think much of it and drew away into the night.