Min Ho: How come you’re not picking up? Are you busy?
Min Ho: Are you still sleeping? Wake up, sleepy head! We’re boarding the plane in a bit. I can’t wait to see you. :)
Min Ho: Plane just landed. You’re still not picking up…
Min Ho: Is everything alright? I’m starting to worry.
Min Ho: Are you mad at me because I didn’t call you yesterday? I’m sorry. I was really busy. :(
Min Ho: Are you home? I can drop by if you want.
Min Ho: Do you have a schedule today?
Min Ho: Shin Hye… please reply. :(
Min Ho: YA! PARK SHIN HYE!
Min Ho: Just call me when you can. I miss you.
She was feeling very guilty and was about to reply when she remembered that Geun Suk was waiting for her downstairs. Min Ho was definitely going to call her if she texts him and she was sure it was going to be a long conversation. She wanted to talk to him but she couldn’t keep Geun Suk waiting.
She groaned in exasperation and hurriedly walked to the door.
As soon as she got back inside the car, Geun Suk drove off to Hong Ki’s house. Shin Hye couldn't help it and typed a quick reply.
Shin Hye: Oppa, I’m so sorry. I left my phone this morning and just got it. :( I can’t talk right now so I’ll call you in a few minutes. I hope your flight was okay…
Literally just seconds after she sent the text, her phone started ringing. Geun Suk turned to look at it, but Shin Hye was quick enough to pick it up so he wouldn’t see the screen. She looked at Geun Suk, a little alarmed.
He looked back at the road. ‘Aren’t you going to answer that?’
She flashed back to a similar scenario back in December. Except that time, she was with Min Ho, and Geun Suk was the one calling. Shin Hye closed her eyes and weighed her options. If she takes the call, her responses will most likely be awkward and unnatural – which will make both Geun Suk and Min Ho wonder why. They’re very sharp – they will definitely find it fishy. If she doesn’t take the call, it’s going to break Min Ho’s heart later on when she tells him why she didn’t pick up. Especially after all those calls and texts. She made up her mind and decided to risk it.
'Yobuseyo,’ she answered.
‘Why would you leave your phone at home? You’re a very busy actress. Do you know how dangerous that is?’
Min Ho’s tone was playful. She smiled. ‘Mianhe.’
‘More importantly, you have a boyfriend who goes crazy if he doesn’t hear from you for even just an hour. I’ve been trying to call you for,’ he paused. ‘SIX HOURS. SIX.’
She looked at Geun Suk who was focused on the road. ‘That’s a lie. You didn’t call me yesterday,’ she replied.
She noticed Geun Suk glance briefly at her. She wasn’t sure if he caught on yet.
‘That was an exception because they made me work all day,’ Min Ho’s tone fell. ‘I thought you weren’t answering my calls to get back at me.’
She scoffed. ‘I’m not that petty.’
She wanted to say more. She wanted to ask him about his flight, or where he was but she didn’t think a lovey-dovey conversation was appropriate while she was confined in a car with another man. The conversation has been short so far, but already, she was feeling awkward.
Min Ho must have sensed it, too, because there was a pause before he replied. ‘Why did you say you can’t talk right now? If you left your phone at home, then that means you’re home now, right?’
‘Uhm,’ she bit her lip. ‘Not really. I just dropped by the apartment to get it and left right away,’ she told him. ‘I’m on my way to see a friend.’
‘Friend?’ Min Ho asked.
This time, she knew that Geun Suk was fully listening.
‘Lee Hong Ki. You know him, right? FT Island. You know, the one who sang…’ she stopped midsentence and gave Geun Suk another sideways glance.
‘Ah, yeah. Of course I know him,’ Min Ho replied. ‘I remember you told me he got into an accident.’
‘Eo. He needs six weeks to recover. He’s been texting me that he’s so bored so we’re just visiting him for a bit.’
‘We? Who are you with?’
Shin Hye had no intentions of hiding the fact that he was with Geun Suk from Min Ho. She was just worried that once Geun Suk’s name comes up, it will give Geun Suk reason to ask her who she’s talking to, and probe her with even more questions. It didn’t seem like the right time to tell him that she was dating Min Ho. Not to mention, Geun Suk oppa tops Min Ho oppa’s blacklist. She couldn’t believe she was thinking it, but Min Ho would probably be less jealous if Yong Hwa was with them.
She conditioned her mind for what was about to happen next.
‘Geun Suk oppa,’ she replied. As soon as Geun Suk heard his name, he turned to Shin Hye curiously.
There was a pregnant pause before Min Ho made a sound. ‘Jang Geun Suk?’
‘Mmm,’ she responded weakly.
There was another pause. ‘Okay. When will you be home?’
‘Probably before dinner time.’
‘Arasso. Are you with him right now?’
‘Yeah. We’re on our way there.’ Shin Hye tried to sound as laid back as possible. It really isn't a big deal.
‘Are you driving?’
Shin Hye squinted. ‘Anya. I left my car at home because the van picked me up this morning.’
‘So he’s driving?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Okay then. Call me later. Be safe. I really miss you,’ he replied nonchalantly.
‘I will. You, too.’
She waited for Min Ho to reply but he just hung up. She tilted her head and wondered if he was faking indifference or if he was really okay with it. He sounded a bit bothered, which made her feel a little guilty. She sighed and cursed herself for leaving her phone. She wouldn’t be in such a weird situation if she hadn’t.
‘Who was that?’ Geun Suk suddenly asked.
Uh oh. From an awkward conversation, to another one that’s about to start. I swear, this phone is such bad luck!
‘Mmm? Just someone,’ she replied casually. With Min Ho, she had to be completely honest. She didn’t want to hide anything from him. But she wasn’t obligated to tell Geun Suk everything because… well, he didn’t have to know. Technically, she and Min Ho were in a secret relationship so keeping it from people was just expected of her.
Thankfully, Geun Suk didn’t pry anymore. But she knew that he probably sensed something more in the phone conversation. She wasn’t exactly the best liar. As a matter of fact, panic was probably written all over her face all throughout the call. That was something that would not have gone unnoticed by Geun Suk. She was just relieved that he chose to let it go.
‘What’s with your face? You look like you just ate something strange.’
‘Hyung, does this make any sense?’ Min Ho’s eyebrows were still creased, his hands in his pockets as he stood to face his manager. Up until a while ago, he was pacing anxiously. After he hung up from the call with Shin Hye, something didn’t feel quite right.
‘What?’
‘I mean, she doesn’t answer my calls or texts. And I’m here desperate to talk to her and to see her. You saw me, right? I looked nuts. So when she finally does, I’m over the moon. But then she tells me she’s with someone else,’ he crossed his arms. ‘Which doesn’t make sense because I’m here. Sure, she wasn’t able to answer my calls because of a valid reason, but shouldn’t she be running here instead of there? Because I’m here. She should come to me. Not there. And not with him. This feels weird.’
His manager gave him a confused look. ‘What in the world are you talking about?’
Frustrated, he exhaled and threw his head back. ‘I don’t know.’
‘Is Shin Hye with another man?’
‘No!’ he quickly replied, turning back to him. ‘I mean yeah... but no.’
‘Min Ho-yah, I think you need more sleep.’
He scratched his head and frowned. ‘Hyung, I’m not busy today – which is very rare. She’s not busy today – which is also very rare. We’re both not busy at the same time andwe’re in the same country. Now, that’s like a miracle. Doesn’t it make sense for her to be with me right now?’
His manager mulled it over and nodded his head. ‘It makes sense, unless she already made plans.’
Min Ho clapped his hands and pointed at him. ‘Precisely. Why would she make plans with anyone else BUT me?’ He paused. ‘Then again, she has an injured friend…’
‘YA! Is this your first time to have a girlfriend? You’re a freakishly tall, grown ass man nearing thirty. You look very silly right now.’
He scowled, but slowly closed his eyes and dropped his head. ‘You’re right. This is silly. I'm acting like a teenager.’
‘Yes. Yes, you are,' hIs manager walked to him and tapped his back.
'I should act more like a man.' He had on a determined expression.
'O...kayyy...' HIs manager replied tentatively, wondering what Min Ho meant. He dismissed it and walked to the direction of the kitchen. 'Now what do you want to eat for dinner? We can order in, or I can buy you something outside. Your fridge is empty again. You don’t even have ramen.’
‘It’s okay. Just buy yourself food, hyung. I’ll eat outside.’
His manager turned around, his forehead creased. ‘Where? And with who?’
‘Shin Hye of course,’ he replied. ‘Although… someone else just might tag along.’