Chapter 14

 

 

Fake 

 

 

My parents, especially Mom, were glad to see me and Jiyong in our house. Dad, well, he’s looking at Jiyong intensely as if he did something wrong. Oh, we did something inside my room though. Damn it. I’m still shocked Mom and Dad, especially Dad, allowed Jiyong inside my room. They’re not conservative and strict but still! A man in my room? That smells like trouble! 

 

“Yes, Ma’am. I’m also managing our family business.” Jiyong replied to my Mom’s question while enjoying the dinner that was prepared. 

 

I’m still in awe of how things escalated— why Jiyong is in our house, eating dinner on a random Wednesday night, and well, meeting my parents. Most guys hate to meet the parents of the girl they’re seeing. Meeting their parents means something— serious commitment. And what Jiyong and I have isn’t even on that page yet. Not close to a serious commitment. Not close to a relationship. Just… enjoying each other’s company and a potential next-level relationship. We both agreed to give it a try. And we will. 

 

“Amazing. Intelligent and hardworking,” She commented while giving me a meaningful look. Oh, Mom. “How long were you two going out?” 

 

I almost spit the food I am chewing. “M-Mom!” 

 

“You two were dating?” Dad seconded while giving Jiyong glares. Seriously? How old is he? Why is he acting all ‘serious daddy’ all of a sudden? 

 

I felt a secondhand embarrassment to their actions. We are not— wait, we both agreed to give it a try, right? So, technically we are dating now. Aren’t we? 

 

“Yes, Sir. We’ve just started dating.” Jiyong confidently said. Yes, he’s confirming it. Wow. Why is he so brave? Is he not afraid of my Dad, the City Mayor? 

 

Dad sips his glass of water while giving me dagger looks. 

 

“W-what?” I muttered silently. 

 

“Darling, you didn’t tell us about this… situation,” Dad said. “I thought you were just—“

 

“Oh, dear. It’s about time you start to date someone seriously and end those flings. Don’t be like your brothers!” Mom interrupted. “And Jiyong is a great man. Responsible and hardworking. I like him.” 

 

I felt my cheeks burned. Mom and her blunt words. I nervously looked at Jiyong who smiled at me. Good lord! Soft Jiyong is so damn adorable! 

 

“Thank you, Ma’am.” 

 

I heard Dad sigh. “Well, as long as you don’t get hurt.” 

 

“Thank you, Sir. I will do my best not to hurt her.” Jiyong said, subtly squeezing my leg. 

 

After a while, the conversation becomes light. Dad and Jiyong talked about business and fraternity while Mom and I went to the kitchen to get some dessert. More like she’s dragging me to the kitchen just for me to spill everything. 

 

“So, that’s him.” 

 

“Mom. Shh.” 

 

Mom giggled while I covered my face with both of my hands. I knew this was coming. Mom is ecstatic with the thought of me dating someone. She’s been telling me to start dating for real but because I am a hard-headed person like my Dad, I don’t listen to her. I date for fun like my brothers. 

 

“He’s attractive, indeed.” 

 

“And he is smart,” I added. 

 

“Darling, the spark in your eyes.” Mom said as she cupped my cheeks. “I am happy that you’re trying to fall in love and I am hoping and praying this will be worth it.” 

 

I smiled at Mom. Mom knows my secrets— the reason why I cannot open up my heart to others, why I don’t believe in love, and the reason why I don’t do relationships. She knows it all. 

 

“I am hoping too, Mom.”

 

“Darling, not everyone is like Donghae.” She said in a worried tone. 

 

I looked away upon hearing his name. 

 

Lee Donghae… the guy I despise the most. The guy who—

 

“What the heck are you doing here?!” 

 

Both Mom and I looked at each other upon hearing Chanyeol’s shouting voice. We both hurriedly went to the living room, where we left Dad and Jiyong, and saw horror when Chanyeol’s holding Jiyong’s collar. He is mad mad! What the heck is he doing? 

 

“Channie, stop!” I roared in anger as I punched him on his back, trying my best to induce pain so he’d let go of Jiyong. “What the are you doing, you moron!” 

 

“Why is he here, noona?!” 

 

“And why is that important huh? I can let anyone come here because this is also my house.” I glared at him. “Now let go of him!”

 

I saw Suho come in and hurriedly pulled Chanyeol away. “What the dude!”

 

“He’s not good enough for you, noona!” 

 

“Shut up, Chan.” Suho angrily said. 

 

“He’s not good enough because he is just faking it! He’s faking all of this just for a mere ing favor, for a mere position in the fraternity!” Chanyeol angrily said, then faced Suho. “Tell her, hyung! Stop lying to noona—“

 

“I told you to shut the up!” Suho roared as his fist landed on Chanyeol’s face. I gasped in shock. Never in my whole life did I imagine these two would fight. 

 

“That’s enough, all of you!” Mom angrily shouted. Her face turned red and her nose was flaring with so much anger. “Chanyeol, I didn’t raise you to be this barbaric to a guest! How could you barge in here and punch someone just because you want to!” 

 

“But Mom!” 

 

“Chanyeol, don’t raise your voice at your Mom,” Dad said, pissed. To Chanyeol or his words, I don’t know. 

 

I shifted my gaze and saw Jiyong looking at me, he looked like he was defeated. Like his secret is being discovered. He blinked his eyes and saw how he composed himself and faked a smile. 

 

“I’m sorry for the commotion, Ma’am. Sir. I enjoyed the dinner.” That is his cue to leave. He looked at me. “S-Sandara, I’ll go now.” 

 

“O-Okay. I’ll go with you—“

 

“Noona! He is faking it! Why are you still nice to him?” Chanyeol again shouted. “I heard it all. Suho hyung asked him to—“

 

“ you!” Suho again punched him in the face. “It’s not like he doesn’t have his mind and is stupid to do that ing favor!” 

 

“I said enough! You two, in my office now!” Dad shouted angrily. 

 

“Darling, accompany him to the gate.” Mom said as she looked at me and Jiyong. 

 

“I’m so sorry Ma’am,” Jiyong said, looking apologetic. 

 

“It’s… I want to hear your explanation but I guess Sandara needs to hear it more than me.” 

 

Mom left us alone. I sighed as I processed what happened earlier. And here I thought everything will gonna be alright. 

 

I sighed. “Let’s go.” 

 

I moved first as Jiyong followed me. He was silently following me as I walked towards his car. My hands were shaking, probably everything was now sinking in, and I felt my chest tighten. 

 

Jiyong opened the doors for me and I slid myself in. Position in the fraternity? A favor? From whom? From Suho? What does that mean? 

 

“You can be honest with me too, you know because we both want to give this a try,” I said to him, didn’t even dare to look him in the eye. “You have to tell me, Ji. Everything. I hate being lied to.” 

 

Jiyong sighed and nodded as he turned the engine on and drove away. I didn’t utter a word, I was just silently sitting there, thinking about his possible alibis. Jiyong is a future Lawyer, and Lawyers are good liars. He can tell me lies, and I might believe in him. 

 

Heck, am I going crazy if I believe in his lies? No, I shouldn’t think about this. I trust Chanyeol and I also trust Jiyong. First, I need to hear the truth. The benefit of the doubt. Innocent until proven guilty. 

 

Jiyong parked his car in the village garden. He turned off the engine and we both fell into awkward silence. 

 

“So… was it true? That you’re faking this? About the favor?” I bravely asked. I looked at him and saw Jiyong’s troubled face. I bit my lower lip. “Were they all… lies? When you told me you like me, was that a lie too?” 

 

“No, and a yes.” He said. He then faced me and saw how his face mellowed. And something inside of me melted. “It’s true that I asked Suho for a favor.” 

 

“W-What favor was that?” 

 

“Being this year's frat leader.” My eyebrows furrowed. I don’t know what he means as he continues. “Suho is supposed to be this year's frat leader and I asked him to give it up this year since he still has a year in Law School while I am graduating. In exchange for that, he asked me to look after you.” 

 

I blinked as I digest his words. Suho did what? Look after me? Am I a high schooler who keeps getting into trouble? 

 

“He said since you just came back and some of your batchmates already graduated, you might feel alone.” 

 

“The …” I mumbled. 

 

“I must admit, for the sake of the leadership and perks that it has, I agreed to him. I thought to myself, looking after someone isn’t hard, right? But I want to be casual in looking after you and yet you kept on coming to me. And when I first saw you at the club, I knew it will be so damn hard. You are the epitome of trouble, Dara. I don’t like you at first because you are so aggressive and blunt.” Jiyong sighed as he reached for my hand. “But everything isn’t fake, Sandara. The time I had with you, was real. The things I said to you, it was all real. I-I might have been a jerk at first but I… I really enjoyed being with you. And I liked you eventually.” 

 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” 

 

“Because it’s not important. I wasn’t even doing the favor. I didn’t look after you. I liked your company that’s why I am always with you. And I also like your smile and maybe everything about you and the things you do that’s why I started to like you.” 

 

I sighed and looked away. I don’t know what to think because it’s true, Jiyong wasn’t very nice to me at first. He is cold to me. He avoided me. And yet I am the one who keeps on coming to him; I was the one who keeps on giving him hints that I am interested in him. Am I to be blamed for this? 

 

But Chanyeol. My brother just wants me to know the truth. He doesn’t want me to be lied to. He knows I hate liars. He knows above all that I value honesty and integrity. 

 

“Do you really think I will do all of these things just because of a favor, Dara? Do you really believe I am that shallow? Do you even think that I will fake everything just for a mere position in the fraternity? Well, maybe I was not until I started to know you.” 

 

I shook my head. Jiyong isn’t that kind of person. 

 

He then sighed. “I know you will believe Chanyeol over me since he is your brother and I understand that. But I just want to tell you that I am true to my word. I am always true to you, my actions, and my words.” 

 

I was left speechless for a moment. 

“I want to go home for now.” I only said. 

 

He drove back to our house silently. I was looking out the window while contemplating things. I still have so many questions about Jiyong and his true intentions but I think this isn’t the right time for that. I need to talk to Chanyeol and Suho first. I need to know their side. 

 

“Thanks for the drive.” 

 

I was about to open the doors when Jiyong held my arm, stopping me. I felt the shivers through my spine, remembering how this man gave me this crazy sensation. 

 

“W-What will happen to u-us then? Are we b-breaking up?” 

 

I bit my lower lip. Break up? We just started, a few hours ago, and now we will break up. The thought… scares me a bit. Ironic. I’ve been avoiding relationships for so long and now that I am finally brave enough to start a relationship, it becomes messy. Disaster. 

 

Maybe because we are rushing? Maybe because the attraction is too strong we skipped a lot of things before getting into a relationship? Or maybe this is my karma? Because I flirt a lot and hurt other people? . It big time if it’s karma. 

 

“To be honest, I don’t know.” I simply replied. “See you on Friday, I guess.” 

 

He just nods and lets go of me. A part of me wanted him to stop me and talk to me but I big part of me is also glad he didn’t. Jiyong respects my decision. 

As I entered the house, I saw Suho’s mad face while drinking. 

 

“So would you mind telling me everything? About this favor and stuff?” 

 

“Noona. I didn’t mean it to look like I am caging you or—“

 

“Did you really ask Jiyong to look after me? Like I’m sort of a rebellious teenager huh?” 

 

“Noona. I just want you to be safe and be comfortable at school.” 

 

“As if someone will bully me,” I said as I rolled my eyes at him. “I am an adult, Suho. I may be a woman, but I can stand on my own and protect myself. If I am in harm, the bodyguards are there. If someone bullies me, you know I can bully them, if I want to. Don’t forget I was once a .” I reminded him. I saw how his eyes widened, probably remembering what I did to the people he hated before. To that girl…

 

“Sorry.” Suho sighed. “I just asked him the favor but he didn’t do it. . I took it back, noona. I asked for another favor in exchange for the position and it has nothing to do with you.” 

 

“But why did Chanyeol say that—“

 

“That prick is just jealous because your attention is now on someone else!” Suho angrily said. “He’s ing jealous because his beloved noona is now seeing someone for real! Not a fling or a game anymore.” 

 

I bit my lower lip and sighed. Chanyeol’s possessiveness is getting out of hand. But I know his intentions were good. He just wants to protect me because he loves me. I am his older sister. 

 

“But he’s telling the truth, right? That was your first—“

 

“He ing knows that I asked for another favor, noona. Chanyeol is just a ing and wanted to ruin you and Jiyong’s relationship.” 

 

“Just… stop cussing at him, Suho. He’s still my brother. Your brother.” I reminded him. “I should thank him for telling me that. At least I knew about your so-called favor.” 

 

“But noona, Chanyeol is being an . He can tell you the truth anytime but at that very moment? That er deserves my punches.” 

 

“Stop it.” 

 

“You don’t have to talk to him and baby him forever! You can date anyone you like, as your siblings we don’t have a say in that. Yes, we can give our opinions and whatnot but we can’t force you to stop dating or even liking Jiyong. I am at fault for asking a favor to him as if you can’t do things for yourself but noona, I think Jiyong is not stupid. And I can see that he likes you noona. That’s why I am letting him be close to you not because of that ing favor.” 

 

I sighed. I am not stupid not to know that Jiyong really likes my company. He’s been very vocal and I can see and feel it. But I should also consider the thing that both Suho and him had this stupid conversation and they didn’t even bother telling me. 

 

I am troubled. 

 

I want to get mad but I cannot. I want to get mad at them for treating me like a child, like I am not an adult that can stand on my own two feet; for treating me like I am incapable of doing and making decisions to myself just because I am a woman. 

 

“Let’s finish this conversation and rest. It’s getting late.” I told Suho as I patted him on his shoulder. “And say sorry to Chanyeol!” 

 

“Why would I? That er is obsessed with you! He should realize by now that you are old enough and you are not his girlfriend—“

 

“Suho! What the heck are you talking about?! Are you suggesting my own brother… Are you out of your mind?” I angrily looked at him. What the heck is he thinking?! “Just… just say sorry to him.” 

 

“Good night noona.” Suho dryly said, dismissing my remarks. 

 

I got upstairs and went to Chanyeol’s room. I saw him sitting at the edge of his bed, his head bowed down while holding his head firmly. I sighed as I called him. 

 

“Noona.” He got up and my heart broke seeing his lips cut and a bruise on his cheeks because of Suho’s punch. 

 

“You should put first aid on your wound first,” I said as I entered his room and looked for the first aid kit. “Your handsome face will be damaged—“

 

“Did the two of you fight?” Chanyeol asked. “Did the two of you break up? Well, if that’s it, then it’s good.” 

 

I didn’t answer him instead continued to look for the kit. 

 

Jiyong and I didn’t fight because there was nothing to fight about. Yes, Suho asked him a favor and as per Jiyong’s words— he didn’t follow Suho. Of course, I was hurt because I felt like his intention of getting close to me, all of a sudden, was because of that favor. I know Jiyong won’t tell lies just to save face. I remember the ‘truce’ he mentioned and the reason why he became nice to me. Maybe at that time, Jiyong was doing the ‘favor’ but it only lasted to a day. After that, he went back to being cold Jiyong but eventually, we just started to click. 

 

On the other hand, I feel bad for Chanyeol. I know he only wants what's good for me. Nothing more. I am his older sister. He loves me. But at some point, his love is getting out of hand. 

 

“We didn’t fight, Chan,” I said as I sat on his bed and held his chin. “We talked and he explained to me. Everything.” 

 

“And you believed him?” 

 

“I believe in him,” I answered. “I thank you for telling me this but I do believe there is a right time and a right place for that, Chan. And what you did isn’t nice. How could you do that in front of our parents let alone grab his collar!” 

 

“He’s an—“

 

“Oh, please. You are an too.” 

 

“But noona—“

 

“Enough, Chan. I know Jiyong and I just met and I am certainly interested in him but let me remind you, you are my brother. Just my brother. Know your boundaries.” 

 

I put down the medicine kit and stood up when Chanyeol held me in the arm. 

 

“Noona, I-I just want to protect you. I don’t want to see you cry and in pain just like before. No man is ever enough for you. Jiyong s-sunbae isn’t the right one—“

 

“And who’s that man huh?” I shook his hand as I sighed. I looked at him as he tried to speak but didn’t. “Chan, I love you. You are my brother, the very first baby brother that I have. Don’t… don’t forget that, okay?” 

 

I went out of his room and almost jumped when I saw Suho standing outside. 

 

“.” 

 

“I told you don’t talk to him.” 

 

“He is just confused—“

 

“Noona, stop babying him.” 

 

“I am not.” 

 

“He should know what he did is not right and embarrassing. And he should know the consequences of his actions.” 

 

“What do you mean?” 

 

Suho shook his head. “Although it was a private matter, insulting the high alpha is still not applicable in the frat. Congratulations to him. He’s been kicked out.” 

 

Oh God, what have you done Chan.