It was almost 7 o’clock and Shin Hye and Geun Suk just left Hong Ki’s after chatting the afternoon away. They also watched some episodes of FNC entertainment’s reality show because Hong Ki insisted. She ended up laughing a lot seeing her friends act awkward on screen.
‘I thought you had dinner plans, why are you going home?’ Geun Suk asked Shin Hye as he drove.
Remember, you’re a bad liar. ‘My friend is coming over and we’re just ordering in.’ Yes, just leave the ‘who’ and you’re technically telling the truth.
Geun Suk didn’t reply and continued driving.
When they arrived at Shin Hye’s building’s basement, she unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to him. ‘Oppa, thanks for this afternoon. I had fun,’ she told him.
Geun Suk smiled. ‘Me, too. I really missed hanging out with you. We should do it more often if you and I are both not busy.'
Shin Hye nodded. ‘Although that's going to be hard. We’re both getting busier and busier.’
‘We still have that CF though,’ Geun Suk reminded her. ‘We can hang out after that.’
‘Ah, you’re right,’ Shin Hye tilted her head. ‘Was that finalized already? Joon oppa told me about it a few days ago.’
‘I think so. I already signed the contract. Haven’t you?’
‘Not yet. But it’s probably final if Joon oppa hasn’t told me otherwise…’
Just then, Shin Hye’s phone rang. It was Min Ho.
‘Yobuseyo?’ She answered softly.
It took a while before he spoke up. ‘Why aren’t you getting off yet? That’s Jang Geun Suk’s car, right? I can tell because it’s fancy.’
Shin Hye’s eyes widened as she looked around the parking lot from inside the car. ‘You’re already here?’ She immediately regretted her response because Geun Suk also started looking around.
Just then, Shin Hye noticed Min Ho’s car parked just a few meters away from Geun Suk’s car. Min Ho slowly lowered down the window, exposing half of his face. Omo… why are you doing that? STOP. STOP. Alarmed, she turned to Geun Suk, who was now squinting his eyes, looking in Min Ho’s direction.
‘Who is that?’
‘Ahh, my friend,’ Shin Hye replied. ‘Thanks for driving me here, oppa. I’ll see you in a few weeks. Bye,’ she said hurriedly as she reached for the car handle.
‘Is that Lee Min Ho?’
Shin Hye already had one foot out the door when she turned back to Geun Suk, her face pale. ‘Eh?’
Geun Suk looked at her, then at the phone in her hand. Shin Hye realized that she hasn’t hung up yet, and the screen was wide open for Geun Suk to see. She stupidly saved Min Ho’s number as Kim Tan. She immediately put the phone in her ear, but she knew that Geun Suk already saw.
‘I’m coming over,’ she said to Min Ho.
‘I heard him. He knows it’s me. It’s rude to just sit here,’ Min Ho replied. Shin Hye heard him hang up and anticipated what was coming next, although she hoped that he wouldn’t. His car door suddenly opened, and Min Ho stepped out. This time, Shin Hye looked around to see if anybody else was at the parking lot. Thankfully, no one was around. I’m going crazy. This is crazy.
‘Oh. It’s really him,’ she heard Geun Suk say. Shin Hye shifted her gaze from Min Ho who was slowly approaching the car, to Geun Suk who had an unreadable expression on his face. She came back to her senses and got out.
‘Oppa,’ she said to Min Ho, closing the car door. He smiled warmly and walked up to her. He was already standing beside Shin Hye when Geun Suk stepped out of the car.
Geun Suk faced them and smiled. ‘Annyeonghaseyo.’
Min Ho walked over to him and stretched out his hand. ‘Annyeonghaseyo, sunbae.’ He bowed his head slightly.
‘Sunbae?’ Geun Suk chuckled. ‘Just call me Geun Suk. We’re the same age, after all,’ he took Min Ho’s hand and shook it.
Min Ho looked down and laughed. ‘Ahh yeah, yeah.’
At this point, Shin Hye was standing fixedly on the spot. The two men were exchanging pleasantries but there she was, staring at them with no clue what was happening.
‘Shin Hye,’ Min Ho called out to her. She snapped out of it and smiled awkwardly before walking over to them.
‘Ah… uhh… so you know each other of course,’ Shin Hye started to say. She looked at Geun Suk who was smiling cheekily in front of her. ‘We… uhm. We’re…’ she looked up at Min Ho standing beside her, who was also grinning, waiting for her to finish her sentence. She let out a laugh. ‘You see, the thing is…’
‘We’re having dinner,’ Min Ho interjected. ‘Would you like to join us?’
Shin Hye's eyes widened at Min Ho's question. She tried to play it cool so Geun Suk doesn't notice.
Geun Suk paused, as if thinking it over, before chuckling and waving his hand. ‘Anya, anya. I don’t want to intrude. I just came to drop Shin Hye off.’
‘You’re not intruding,’ Min Ho replied. ‘We’re just going to order in and hang out anyway. We can have a few drinks after,’ he smiled. ‘What do you think?’
Geun Suk looked at Shin Hye, his expression waiting for her sign of approval. Shin Hye knew that Geun Suk was begging to eat dinner with them – it was written all over his face. The whole night is going to be amusing for him. Any chance to get close to anyone – especially Min Ho – he was going to take. And it was a rare opportunity for him to tease her and get a few laughs out of it.
She glanced at Min Ho who also looked thoroughly entertained by the situation. He was probably dying to ask Geun Suk questions about her. Her gentleman boyfriend forgot his manners and invited another man into her house. She knows that he means well, but they are definitely going to have a lengthy discussion about this later.
Only two things can happen tonight: they’re either going to be grown men and have deep conversations about acting and the entertainment industry, sharing their experiences and insights;. or they’re going to act like high schoolers at my expense.
Shin Hye sighed in resignation. This is really happening.
Geun Suk took that as a yes and beamed. ‘If it’s not too much of a bother, then okay. I can join you.’
‘Great!’ Min Ho replied enthusiastically.
Great, Shin Hye thought.
As soon as Min Ho got off the phone after ordering from a restaurant, he turned to Shin Hye who was sulking on the couch. Geun Suk insisted to buy drinks before he came up, since Shin Hye didn’t stack alcohol at her place. He said he was going to some nearby convenience store, leaving Min Ho and Shin Hye alone for a bit.
Min Ho sat beside her. ‘Are you mad?’
‘What do you think?’ Shin Hye replied gruffly, without looking at him.
He slid his arm around hers and held her hand. ‘I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me.’
She sat up and turned to face him. ‘Then why did you do it? Why did you invite him?’
‘Because it was rude not to,’ Min Ho replied. ‘You already told him we were having dinner, and he was right there.’ I gotta play up the cute, he told himself. He looked into her eyes, his lower lip protruding, and his cheeks slightly puffed.
Shin Hye scoffed, seeing through his act. ‘You could have stayed in your car, you know.’
‘But he already knew it was me,’ Min Ho replied, his tone higher than usual. ‘It would be more rude if I didn’t at least say hello.’
She let go of his hand and leaned against the couch. ‘He didn’t even hesitate when you asked,’ she blew some of the hair strands that was on her face. ‘You two are really compatible. Enjoy dinner,’ she stood up and headed to her room.
Min Ho stood up as soon as she did. ‘Where are you going?’
Shin Hye didn’t reply and closed the door to her room. Min Ho immediately walked to her door and knocked. ‘Shin Hye,’ he called. There was no response. He knocked again. ‘Shin Hye.’
Min Ho was starting to think he made a terrible mistake. He only invited Geun Suk because he thought it would be fun, but maybe Shin Hye really didn’t see it that way.
‘Shin Hye, I’m really sorry. I’ll make him leave if you want. Just… come out, please? I won’t even open the door when he arrives.’ When she didn’t answer, he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on her door. ‘Do you want me to leave, too? I’m sorry.’
Just then, Shin Hye opened the door, and Min Ho, who was leaning on it, lost his balance and stumbled inside her room.
‘Omo, kamchagiya! OPPA!’ Shin Hye yelled, startled.
Min Ho stood up awkwardly and combed his hand through his hair. ‘Hehe. You opened the door. I thought you were going to really let me leave.’ He grinned.
Shin Hye squinted her eyes and crossed her arms. ‘I can’t leave the door open while I change my clothes, can I?’
Min Ho’s eyes sparked as he bit his lower lip. ‘Actually…’
‘Get out,’ Shin Hye shoved him outside the room before he could finish what he was about to say. ‘Wait for your date out there.’
Min Ho giggled. ‘Arasso, I’ll wait for you.’
‘Anya, not me. Your date tonight is Geun Suk oppa. Make sure you look pretty,’ she hissed before closing the door on him.