Exacerbate - to make a situation worst. 

---

In the earlier hours of the day...

"He wants to set me up with someone who's also rich."

Yoona fixed her gaze on Jennie, a perplexed "oh" being the only initial response that escaped her lips. How should she react? Surprise? Shock? Disappointment? It wasn't her nature to be easily jealous or flustered by such matters.

"After Dad mentioned it, I walked away... and they haven't brought it up since then."

Yoona nodded slowly, processing the information. "Well, that's a relief then. It seems they've realized matchmaking isn't your thing," she responded, her eyes briefly looking away. "Unless, of course, you secretly wanted it."

Jennie's hands found their way into Yoona's grip, and she squeezed them gently. "Absolutely not. There's no chance I'd ever choose anyone other than you," Jennie stated, her smile warm as she Yoona's hands. "But you know how my dad operates. When he's quiet about something, it usually means he's plotting something I won't like. I can just picture him locking me in my room and staging some cliché movie-like setup."

Amusement escaped Yoona's lips, and she shook her head in agreement. "I won't argue with you on that one."

Jennie's laughter filled the air, and she regarded Yoona with an earnest look. "What if someday my parents turn against me? Would you run away with me?" Her straightforwardness was refreshing, though it caught Yoona slightly off-guard.

Yoona met Jennie's gaze, finding herself captivated by the sincerity in her eyes. She considered the question, aware of the gravity of Jennie's words.

Their gazes locked, carrying the weight of their emotions and the unspoken vows they shared. In that moment, an unbreakable connection seemed to echo through the air, weaving a destiny that would unfold in ways beyond their current comprehension.

"Have you eaten yet?" Jennie's question shattered the moment, drawing them back to reality. Satisfied with Yoona's response, she headed to the kitchen with an air of possession, as if asserting that "what's yours is mine," a sentiment of their budding relationship. "I haven't, but it would be nice if we could have dinner together."

Yoona observed Jennie as she rummaged through the refrigerator, contemplating whether to refuse. The hideout had been her and Yuri's secret haven, a place for private discussions and secretive planning. Jennie's intrusion disrupted its secrecy, a fact that irked Yoona. She chided herself for not foreseeing Jennie's desperation, realizing that she was dealing with an unpredictable force.

"How about you cook for me then?" Yoona finally voiced after grappling with her thoughts.

Jennie turned to her with a radiant smile, leaving Yoona momentarily awestruck. "Your gummy smile," she remarked, drawing a candid admission from Jennie. Memories of teasing from her friends resurfaced, but Yoona dismissed the idea of mocking her for it. "No teasing from me."

Jennie's laugh resonated in the air. "Then what?"

A soft smile touched Yoona's lips. "You're cute." She couldn't deny the appeal of Jennie's signature gummy grin. A faint blush dusted Jennie's cheeks, and the sight only deepened Yoona's admiration for the girl before her.

---

Upon arriving home, Yoona noticed a familiar car parked in the driveway—it belonged to Jessica's best friend. They must be having a slumber party right now.

As she entered the house, she paused outside their room, grappling with hesitation. Should I go in or not? Internal conflict brewed. Memories of the tense office scenario earlier clouded her mind. I definitely should not sleep here tonight. Jessica might forget it the next day, and I'm going to avoid that conflict, for now. She visualized worst-case scenarios, dissuading herself from entering the room. I can't. Alright, let's go and have some fun today, she resolved, turning away from the door.

A bar seemed like an appealing option. "Cover me up. I'm just winding up," she told Yuri over text, heading to a renowned club in the area. Surprisingly, she relished her solo time. Though approached by others, she politely declined their advances. "I didn't come here to hook up," she affirmed.

She observed the dance floor, where bodies swayed to the music. Enjoyment coursed through her, until an unfortunate incident occurred—an errant drink stained her polo. Irritation crossed her face as she turned to confront the innocent-looking, yet bothersome, young man. Suppressing her annoyance, she focused on the woman accompanying him, her cold tone sending shivers down the woman's spine. Swiftly, the woman led the inebriated man out of the club.

"An ," Yoona muttered, her patience tested.

Glancing at her watch, she noted it was past 6 am. She hadn't been paying attention to the time in the midst of her revelry. Her thoughts turned to Jessica, and she handed the bartender a tip before exiting the club. Outside, she spotted the same duo—now the young man was vomiting on her tire, while the woman comforted him.

"What the actual ?" Yoona's curse caught the woman's attention, who then realized she was the one they had accidentally spilled a drink on earlier. "Seems like the two of you are the reason why my day is ruined."

With unease, the woman nervously pulled the young drunk man away from Yoona's car, leading him toward a sleek black rebel motorcycle parked nearby. His attire indicated he was a motorcycle rider, and she suspected the bike belonged to him. Curiosity piqued, Yoona inquired, "What's his name?"

The woman hesitated, glancing at Yoona before shaking her head. "I don't want to give his name to you."

Yoona scoffed, her demeanor assertive. She nonchalantly folded the ends of her sleeves, her gaze fixed on the woman, clearly unsettling her. "Why not?" she inquired with an air of authority. "Is it so confidential that you can't share it?"

The woman let out a sigh, her resolve faltering. "He comes from a wealthy family. He warned me not to disclose his name to anyone."

Yoona chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. "Oh, the privileged ones," she remarked. "Well, maybe you owe me some compensation for ruining my expensive polo and, let's not forget, for that delightful surprise of him puking on my tire." She maintained her unwavering gaze, her demeanor still commanding. "Or perhaps I should take a trip to the police station and consider filing a case against him. Exposure might not sit well with him, I presume. After all, your concern for him seems rather limited, doesn't it?"

The woman bit her lip, her resolve crumbling under Yoona's pressure. With a resigned sigh, she relented. Yoona's triumphant smirk was not lost on her.

---

Yoona smiled as she observed the peaceful scene of Jessica and her best friend, Tiffany, comfortably resting in their bed. She felt a sense of relief, as if she had escaped from a trap. Now, her eyes were growing heavy, and she groaned at the prospect of not getting any sleep that night.

"Hi Yoong!" Tiffany, with her characteristic warmth, enveloped Yoona in a hug once they had both taken a bath. "How are you, charmer?"

"Stop flirting with her, Tiff. And didn't I tell you not to call her Yoong?" Jessica interjected, giving Tiffany a pointed look before leading Yoona away.

"Geez, such a killjoy," Tiffany playfully responded. "I'll be cooking breakfast today." She winked at the couple before heading into the kitchen.

Jessica's parents were away on a brief vacation, leaving the two lovebirds and Tiffany in the house. Jessica's sisters emerged from their rooms and joined Tiffany in the living room to catch up, hardly acknowledging the couple. Not that Yoona minded their lack of greeting.

"Good morning," Jessica greeted, leaning in to peck Yoona's lips. She cupped both of Yoona's cheeks, caressing them tenderly. "Should I talk to Dad and request that he not overwork you? Seriously, I can't bear the thought of you sleeping in your office. Your home is with me, and I can't stand you sleeping alone in that office, overworking yourself."

Yoona placed her hands over Jessica's, appreciating her concern. "It's okay. It's probably normal for a company's president to experience that, right?" She offered a gentle smile. "Don't worry about me; I'm fine."

Jessica reassured her by pulling her into a deep, sweet kiss. "So, I'm guessing you'll take a shower and head straight to the office?" She playfully guessed, delighted by Yoona's giggle. That sound was music to Jessica's ears, a melody that never failed to brighten her day. "I shouldn't have even asked."

"Enjoy your day with Tiff. I know it's been months since you've hung out together. I'll rest up once the celebration is over. I'll be going now." Yoona leaned in to peck Jessica's forehead and turned to leave for their room, only to receive a playful slap on her behind from Jessica.

Chuckling, Yoona looked back at Jessica with amusement. "You're a ."

"Your ," Jessica clarified, winking at Yoona. With that, Yoona laughed and made her way to their room.

As Jessica observed Yoona's retreating figure, she couldn't help but smile. She then walked into the kitchen, where Tiffany was busy catching up with her siblings.

"Remind me why I even agreed to let you come here?" Jessica whispered to Tiffany as she washed her hands. Tiffany looked at her with confusion. "I was about to have some morning intimacy with her, but you and the others showed up, ruining the moment. I don't want you all interrupting our time together," Jessica explained.

Tiffany chuckled at her friend's candidness. Jessica's bluntness mirrored her own, a trait they had developed during their years living in the United States.

"She's undeniably attractive in every way. When you see her, she's just... so perfect. Do you get what I mean?"

"Isn't that why I always call her a 'charmer'? You're one lucky woman," Jessica replied with a smirk. "And I know you'll keep complaining about not having morning until she leaves. So, why don't you go to your room and have breakfast together?" Tiffany teased, wiggling her eyebrows mischievously.

A playful tension lingered in the air as the two friends locked eyes. Jessica's soft chuckle broke the momentary silence. "I don't need to think twice about that. I'll be back..." She winked, ready to leave, but paused to add, "...before you know it." Tiffany watched Jessica's departing figure, astonished at the intensity of her desire. Her playful remark had unexpectedly ignited a fierce longing within Jessica, who, despite her long-standing relationship with Yoona, still craved more.

Tiffany smiled at the thought. "Jessica truly loves her," she mused, her mind drifting to their shared moments. "She never turns down my American waffles."

Glancing at Jessica's siblings, Tiffany noted their evident displeasure. "You two should come to terms with the fact that your sister loves Yoona deeply," she advised. Their groans met her ears.

"Who wouldn't? She flaunts it in our faces every day," the youngest sibling chimed in between bites of her waffles.

"And, honestly, Jessica's on the wrong path with her. She'd be better off with Tyler," the eldest added, with Krystal nodding in agreement.

Tiffany considered the situation. "Guys, you're missing the point. Yoona is a genuinely nice person," she said, hoping to persuade them to see beyond their preconceived notions. Their blank expressions reflected their skepticism.

"One day, you might end up loving her more than your sister, and I'll be there to laugh my off," Tiffany half-jokingly predicted, taking a seat in front of Krystal as they waited for Jessica to rejoin them.

The two siblings exchanged a glance before turning back to Tiffany. "You're on," Krystal sassed.

Tiffany couldn't help but smirk. "Well, if you two ever want to taste my pancakes again, you better watch out."

"Like that will ever happen," they retorted, their determination unwavering.

Tiffany chuckled internally, convinced that one day these siblings would come around. "We'll see about that," she thought, looking forward to the day when they would inevitably lose their bet.

---

(Monday...)

Yoona parked her car in the university parking lot, her eyes falling on the familiar rebel motorcycle beside her vehicle. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips. "Well, well, well, seems like my day is about to get interesting." She pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

"I need you to do something."

"Just tell me what, Ms. Im."

Yoona's grin remained as she glanced once more at the black rebel motorcycle. Entering the school, she couldn't help but overhear rumors about a new student in her section. Whispers filled the hallways about his handsome looks and his affinity for riding a motorcycle. Yoona absorbed this information with a knowing smirk. 

Outside the classroom, Jennie awaited Yoona's arrival, engaged in conversation with the new student. Yoona's eyes narrowed as she observed their interaction—the way Jennie seemed to try to end the conversation, only to have the guy persist in his efforts to keep talking to her.

"You can't stop your parents; the decision's already made," the guy's words lingered as he entered the classroom, leaving Jennie rolling her