As soon as he said that, he saw her cat eyes enlarge and the color on her face drain. She looked like she was thinking of murdering him right then and there.

“Oh really? Well Chaerin sure has not been keeping us updated.” Her father said, looking at Chaerin but she couldn’t look at him. “Maybe you should be the one to tell us what’s been happening with her.”

“Oh it would be my pleasure sir.”

“Jiyong! Your parents are probably looking for you. You should go home.” Chaerin said, gritting her teeth.

“Now, why don’t you go and walk your boyfriend to his car.” Her father said, a teasing tone clearly heard.

Chaerin was already cursing Jiyong in her mind. “What was that?!” she whispered when they were out of her father’s earshot.

“I saved you again, that was what. And you said I could say anything.” he said smiling at her and entering his car.

“UGH. I didn’t mean you could say that!” she said closing his car hardly.

“Easy there wild cat. This baby’s sensitive.” he said caressing his car.

Chaerin just rolled her eyes at him.

“It’s a win-win situation. I won’t tell your dad about the club thing and you’ll just go along with me being your boyfriend in front of him. It’s a good deal! What’s to get mad about? Or would you want me to actually be your boyfriend and not just in front of your dad? Because I’m totally fine with that.” he looked at her and raised an eyebrow deinitely teasing her.

“Ugh. Just go. Please.” She said. She can't deal with him right now. Not now when her father was watching them like a hawk.

“See you on Monday, BABE.” he said and drove away.

“Your boyfriend looks nice and he has a nice car too. Can you ask him where the best place to get some lambo is? I’ve been meaning to get one.” Chaerin knew her father was teasing her.

“Ugh. Come on dad. I’m tired. I wanna sleep.”

“Okay fine. But really though, your boyfriend looks nice. He’s nice enough to save your . Class project? Pfft. I’m a professor. I know how college students are.” He said looking at his daughter.

She didn’t say anything though.

“Okay fine. Let’s talk later. Go. Sleep.” Her father said and kissed her forehead.

Chaerin hugged him tight. It has been about two months since she last saw her family and now the feeling of missing them was creeping in.

“Thanks dad. I’m really glad you’re here. But let’s talk later. I’m dead tired. “

……

“Unnie, why do you wanna come here?” a curious Minzy asked because Chaerin dragged her out to the fountain.

“I just want to enjoy the weather. The sun’s out. It’s nice.”

“Are you looking for Jiyong oppa?”

“What? No I’m not.” Chaerin said a bit more defensive than she should be.

“Really? Then why have you been glancing at that certain table over there? I’m pretty sure I know the people who sit at that table are.” Minzy said looking teasingly at her cousin.

“No I wasn’t.”

“Well, Daesung oppa just said he wouldn’t come to school today but come to think of it, I haven’t really seen any of them today. Maybe they all skipped school.” Minzy said. She knows her cousin is too prideful to ask her anyway but she feels that Chaerin would want to know.

“Did he say why?” Chaerin just asked mindlessly.

“Oh I thought you weren’t looking for him?” Minzy said wiggling her eyebrows.

“I’m not. Just curious is all.” Chaerin said looking at her nails trying to act nonchalant.

“Nope. He didn’t say why though. Any more questions ‘Miss I’m not looking for Jiyong oppa’?”Minzy said smiling teasingly at her cousin who just rolled her eyes at her.

“No more ‘Miss Kang Minzy’.” Chaerin said returning that teasing smile.

“Yah! Unnie~” Minzy said cupping her face which was probably as red as tomato and Chaerin just laughed at the younger’s embarrassed face.

......

“Hi.”

“Oh my God!” Chaerin jumped and almost dropped her keys. “You scared me! What the hell?!” she said, clutching her chest tightly and breathing deeply.

“Sorry.” He said shyly, rubbing his nape.

“What’re you doing here? And in that?” Chaerin asked him pointing a finger at him up and down.

Her class has just ended and she was about to head home to her dad. She was about to enter her car when out of nowhere he appeared.

“I said last time that I’d see you Monday right? It’s Monday.” He smiled at her.

“You skipped classes and came to school just to see me? Aww. I’m touched.” Chaerin said with much sarcasm while batting her lashes. She was actually glad to see him but of course she wouldn’t say that to him.

Jiyong just smiled at her cuteness. It’s rare to see her like this.

“But really though, why are you in a suit?”

“Oh I just had some stuff to do but it’s over now. I’m going back to school tomorrow. You don’t have to miss me anymore.” He winked at her.

“Oh you wish.” She scoffed.

“I really do.” He said coming closer to her. Her grip on the car door becoming tighter with each step he took. And just when only a breath separated them…

“Ahem.”

That managed to break their trance and look at the source of the interruption.

“Dad!” Chaerin almost shouted, while backing away from Jiyong who straightened up and fixed his suit at the sight of her father. He always wanted to make a good impression to him.

“Hi sir. It’s nice to see you again.” Jiyong said and bowed to show respect.

“It’s nice to see you too, Jiyong right?”

“Yes sir.”

“Dad! What’re you doing here?” Chaerin said interrupting them. She didn’t want them to bond with each other.

“I just wanted to check out your school and was hoping we would go out after your class but if you already have plans, I could—“ her dad was teasing her again. She could hear it.

“Of course I don’t have plans. Let’s go out. Get in, I’ll drive.” She said heading to the driver’s seat.

“And why don’t we invite Jiyong here to join us. So you wouldn’t have to ditch whatever plans you two have made.”

Jiyong was delighted to hear that. He was actually ready to leave already since Chaerin didn’t seem to want to invite him.

“What? Why? We don’t have plans, right Jiyong?” she smiled sweetly at him but her eyes tell the opposite as if threatening to cut him if he doesn’t go along with what she’s saying. He just smirked at her.

“Well actually…”

“See? Jiyong, you don’t mind tagging me along in your date right?” Her dad asked.

“Oh of course not, sir. It would be my pleasure to spend time with you.” He said charmingly.

“You don’t mind driving right? Chaerin give the boy your keys.”

“But—“

“Come on Pudong-ah, let’s go.” Her father said, already making his way to the front seat.

Chaerin stomped her foot and grudgingly placed her keys on Jiyong’s waiting palm.

Chaerin never pictured herself in this situation. Driving her car was Jiyong who was happily chatting with her father about sports and she was sitting at the backseat, sulking. It was HER car! She couldn’t do anything but just curse Jiyong in her head and stay quiet. She didn’t understand guy talk.

“You’re exceptionally dressed well today. Is it for your date?” her father asked Jiyong and she just rolled her eyes.

“Oh heh. I actually just needed to do something important earlier and it needed a suit.”

‘Atleast he didn’t lie.’ Chaerin thought.

“But it’s also for Chaerin.”

She rolled her eyes. He was such a charmer.

“You know your way with words, son. I like you already.”

Jiyong just smiled at her father’s words and looked at her through the car mirror and smirked. She just scowled back.

They arrived at a steak house about 20 minutes later.

“I hope you like steak because Chaerinnie loves it.”

“Oh I love steak.”

Chaerin’s dad smiled. He can see how the kid was really trying to impress him.

“So Jiyong, tell me about yourself.” The three of them were settled on a table with Jiyong and Chaerin sitting beside each other and Lee Kijin, her father, was sitting in front of them.

“It’s not necessary to get too personal dad, let’s just eat.” She didn’t want to pressure Jiyong in telling anything but quite frankly she was curious as to who he really is. Minzy gave some hints that he’s rich. And all she knew about him are from her impressions and of course some rumors too.

“Oh of course. Uhm, I’m 21 years old, uhm… I major in Marketing and Business Management. I guess my life is pretty boring because that’s all I can say about me.” Jiyong chuckled making Chaerin smile a bit.

Kijin smiled at the boy. “So you’re into business huh?”

Jiyong just smiled back and not really answering the question.

“So tell me about your family. Chaerin here hasn’t been telling me anything about you two ever since I came.” Kijin said, shaking his head.

“Dad…” Chaerin was really feeling shy. Her father was really getting to know him, asking personal questions and stuff while she practically doesn’t even know him well enough.

“Well, that’s probably because she doesn’t know yet.” He looked at Chaerin and smiled tenderly. Kijin was watching their interactions and couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m the youngest in my family. I have an older sister. I have two cute dogs. And I would love for you to meet them sometime.”

“How about your parents?”

“Uhm… my dad works in a company. And uhh… my mom, she uh… she passed away. Last year.”

Silence.

“Oh I’m so sorry to hear that.” Kijin said suddenly feeling apologetic for bringing up the topic.

“It’s okay.” Jiyong tried to smile it off but Chaerin could clearly see it. It practically screamed from his eyes. Sadness. Pain.

After that, they steered clear of any personal questions and started to talk about sports. And it was clear that Chaerin was a 100% more interested in eating her steak than joining their conversation about balls.

“Why don’t you go and drop off Jiyong in his house. It was our fault anyway that he left his car in your school.” They were at the Lee’s residence and Jiyong was still the one who drove.

“Oh, I would never trouble a girl to drive me anywhere.” Jiyong said, stepping out of the car and deciding to take a taxi back to the school to get his car.

“Oh nonsense! It’s late and we don’t know what types of troublemakers are out there. Chaerin call me when you’re back so I’ll open the gate. And it was nice spending time with you Jiyong.”

“I could say the same sir. Thank you.”

Kijin walked inside their residence and waved at them.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to, you know.”

“Oh stop it. Get in.” Chaerin said, about to get in the driver’s seat.

“I would never let you drive for me. I’ll drive.”

The next thing she knew was once again she was not driving HER car.

“I’m sorry about your mom.”

“Yeah…”

Chaerin didn’t press on it much. They weren’t close enough to talk about things like that.

“So really, what’s with the suit?”

“You know that time when you asked me why we didn’t get any punishment for what happened at the club?” he asked taking glances at her.

“Yeah…”

“This was about that. We are getting punished for it.”

“What? Are you like going to jail or something?” Chaerin actually panicked a bit because she knew they were already in legal age to get arrested.

“Easy there wildcat. No one’s going to jail here. Worried you won’t see me?” It was Jiyong’s mission to every chance he gets.

“Then what?” Chaerin brushed him off.

“Well, we’re getting punished by the school.”

“What? Like suspension?”

“I wish it was suspension.”

“Then what is it?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

“Wait a second. Didn’t you say Youngbae’s family owned the school?”

“Yup.”

“Sooo?”

“Well it doesn’t work like that. Even if Youngbae was involved we still should receive punishments. It’s for the school’s reputation or something.”

“So all of you are getting punished?”

“Yup. Except Jay. I doubt he can do our punishment. Anyway, we’re here. Thanks for the ride even though I practically drove all the way.”

“You said—“

“I’m just kidding. Anyway, take care. Call me when you get home.” He said, stepping out of the car and getting in his.

Chaerin went to the driver’s seat and waited ‘til he started to drive his car.

Beep beep.

“You didn’t have to wait for me. But it’s alright I know you can’t help it. You like me. ” he smirked to which she responded by rolling her eyes and driving off without a word.

He couldn’t help but chuckle. Everything she does really has an effect on him.

Thanks a lot for the support guys! <3 I hope you enjoyed reading :)