Runaway Rich Guys Love Endeavour - Chapter 68：Hesitate

Ye-Jin: and here I heard men weren’t observant.

Her words startled Ray a bit. He was indeed not observant as she said but when it came to her somehow his senses were all wide open.

His mind flashed back to the conversation he had with the guys in the studio. From the looks of it they were shocked to know that he and Ye-Jin were just friends.

Vic: (scoffing) who’re you trying to fool?

Mui: a-are you sure?

Ray: no one and yes I am sure that I am still single.

Kai: (sighing) you’re a dimwit.

Timo: (rolling his eyes) without a doubt.

Ray: hold on! Why are you guys scolding me?

Timo: it’s nothing leave it.

Ray: but still-

Vic: (dawning look) wait! you reading are still a single dog?

Ray: (confused) if I wasn’t then I am sure I would’ve told you already. But really what made you all think so?

Timo: (thinking) well for starters, you guys have that suffocating chemistry.

Kai: and you obviously adore her.

Mui: your eyes sparkle and turn gentle when she’s infront of you.

Vic: (scrunching up his nose) you’re worse that Kai in this regards. Atleast he is aware of his surroundings.

Timo: (chuckling) that’s some comparison but truth be told both of them are terrible.

Mui: can’t handle being tortured by these lovesick fellows. Let’s kick them out of the group.

Vic: (excited) Big bro will be the leader. I will be a rapper and Mui will be a vocalist. We’ll be the ‘it’ of whole music industry.

Timo: (pitching in) I am all for the idea if you let me call the shots here.

Kai: …

Ray: …

The conversation went astray, thanks to Mui. The ‘lovesick fools’ thus ignored the trio after that.

Ye-Jin: (shaking him) where are you lost Ray?

Ray: (coming back to earth) uh… it’s nothing.

Ye-Jin: is something bothering you?

Ray: (shaking his head) nothing major. Something happened at the studio. Let’s go meet your father.

Ye-Jin threw him a worried glance but didn’t ask anything else. She escorted him to the room where her father was currently staying. Park Hu-ye was listening to the report from his secretary and Park So-Jin was peeling some fruits beside him unhappily.

Ye-Jin: dad? mom? what is happening here?

So-Jin: you’re finally here? your father is being stubborn and getting the reports from the company.

Hu-ye: (snorting) if I hadn’t done it then we wouldn’t have gotten to know how capable our little daughter is.

So-jin: (rolling her eyes) we would’ve know eventually. You simply can’t stay away from work. I am fed up of you!

Ye-Jin: (clearing her throat) uh… guys? there’s someone here to meet you.

Ye-Jin gently reminded the old folks about Ray, who by now had a gentle look in his eyes. The Park elders reminded him of his own parents back home. The memories were bittersweet and made his eyes sting. He concealed it well when the attention of everyone in the room turned to him.

Ye-Jin: dad, mon, this is my friend Ray.

Ray: (bowing respectfully) hello sir, hello madam. I apologise for my unannounced visit. I couldn’t help myself when I heard sir was sick.

So-jin: (smiling warmly) it’s no trouble at all. You coming here shows how much you care for our little girl-

Ye-Jin: (horrified) mom!

Hu-ye didn’t say anything, he frowned at his wife for a moment before nodding to Ray as a form of acknowledgement. It didn’t sit well with him that his little girl was grown up and was bringing guys to meet them.

The two ‘oblivious people’ were not aware of the father’s sour thoughts.

So-jin: what?!

Ye-Jin: nothing. What did the doctor say today?

So-jin: (excited) we can take your father home tomorrow!

Hu-ye: (nonchalant) all of you worried for nothing.

Ye-Jin: it’s better to be late than sorry dad-

The quartet in the ward chatted for a while. Ray soon was integrated into their group, courtsey of mother Park. She was secretly giving her little girl thumbs up for choosing a fine man for herself. On the other hand, father Park was feeling helpless as there came another man to take away his other little daughter. Life was so unfair.

Ye-Jin: (looking at her watch) it’s so late already. Mom, come I’ll drop you off to home.

So-jin: (shaking her head) no. I’ll stay here tonight.

Ye-Jin: mom?

So-jin: it’s just for a night. I’ll manage. Besides I need keep an eye on your father.

Hu-ye: (snorting) just say that you’re scared of sleeping alone.

So-Jin: who is scared?-

Finally it was settled that So-jin was going to stay with the old man for the night. Ye-Jin had to give in to her mother’s wishes. The woman wasn’t budging.

So-Jin: (bidding the couple goodbye) Ray, come visit us at our home in a few days. We’d love to have you over for dinner.

Ray: thank you aunty. I’d love to do that.

Hu-ye watched silently with no response. His wife had already set her heart on Ray as her second son-in-law and the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

When they were out in the car park, Ray broke the comfortable silence between them.

Ray: (smiling) your parents are-

Ye-Jin: I know they’re a crazy pair.

Ray: (shaking his head) no that’s not what I wanted to say. They’re admirable.

Ye-Jin: (pleased) thank you but don’t let my mother hear it. She’ll go to the moon and come back or worse adopt you as her son.

Ray: why is it worse?

Ye-Jin: cuz then you’ll be my brother-

She let her thought trail off. The scenario of Ray being her brother was hard to digest.

Ray: (raising an eyebrow) so?

Ye-Jin: nothing-

She didn’t elaborate and turned around to leave when Ray caught her arm and pulled her close to him. The touch left tingling sensation all over Ye-Jin’s arm. She was surprised by the sudden contact between them. The distance between them was not too close nor too far apart, it was the perfect amount for Ye-Jin to see his pupils dilating.

Ray saw himself being reflected in her clear eyes. For the first time throughout their relationship he felt the so called ‘chemistry’ between them. He suddenly had this urge to pull her closer and and lock her up in his arms.

Ray: (clearing his throat) um…

Ye-Jin: (looking at her arm) it’s-

For a breath or two neither of them spoke. They were tongue tied.

Ray: (trying again) let’s head back?

Ye-Jin: (absent minded) um… yeah ok?

Ray: (avoiding her eyes) ok then…

Ye-Jin: (curious) just now you felt something?

Ray: (hesitant) feel what?

Ye-Jin: (dejected) nevermind.

The mood turned awkward.

Ray: (trying to change the topic) I got to know that people think we’re dating.

He felt like he shot himself in the foot. The statement was so wrong in this situation for him.

Ye-Jin: (shrugging) I get that a lot.

Ray: (surprised) you do?

Ye-Jin nodded in reply. Her mood had turned sour when Ray denied to have felt anything. She didn’t want to have any amicable conversation with him. (It never feels great to be the only one).

Ray: you never told me?

Ye-Jin: The nurse mentioned it back in the hospital when we got Sarang, so I thought you knew.

Ray: no I didn’t!

Ye-Jin: oh… ok. I should better get going then.

And just like that she left, without looking back, leaving behind a confused top star.