Chapter 2 | Ate Irene and the deal

Seulgi was still fighting her demons if she was still in the right mind to do this. All she wants to do is divert Joy’s attention to Wendy once and for all so she would feel unbothered by it anymore.

Usually, on Saturdays, she and Joy go on late-night drives. But this time around, she made a lame excuse to her best friend that she would help Wendy unpack and settle in their condo. She felt really bad she had to lie to Joy. But what is this lie compared to the one she has been keeping for so long?

Seulgi loves her best friend whom her cousin asked her to take care of while she’s gone.

Seulgi took the keys to her car. When she was about to tell Wendy she was going out, she saw her cousin knocked out in bed. Must be the jetlag she thought.

It was thirty minutes to eleven in the evening when she arrived at the subdivision gate where Joy lives. It felt weird that it wasn’t Joy she was fetching but Ate Irene.

Seulgi immediately spotted her best friend’s sister. Ate Irene was wearing a casual sweater and a pair of simple jeans. If she didn’t fall in love with Joy, maybe, just maybe, she would be head over heels for her best friend’s sister.

Who would not? Ate Irene is just so pretty. Almost every ad on television, you’ll see Irene Bae. No wonder, she’s every man’s dream girl.

“Hop in,” Seulgi said as she opened the window of the shotgun seat. She immediately saw that Ate Irene was feeling cold. Before she went to drive, she opened the glove compartment to get some instant hot packs before putting them on her best friend’s sister’s lap.

“Thanks.” Irene didn’t know it would be this cold outside. She saw even saw Seulgi made the temperature higher for her. “What is it that you cannot ask over the phone?” She asked. She badly wants to know.

To be honest, Irene was really surprised when Seulgi messaged her asking for a favor. She was intrigued as to why it cannot be discussed over message or via a phone call because Seulgi particularly insisted to say it to her personally. Her first assumption was that Seulgi would ask her to prepare something for Joy.

“You’re much more persistent than Joy, you know.” Seulgi can sometimes see why these two are sisters.

“I don’t have all night, Kang!” Irene’s voice was stern and a bit high. “You better start talking. Is this about Joy? Are you finally asking her out?” She guessed. To think, the two have been a blind item for so long. Everybody thinks they are dating because they’re so chummy and affectionate towards each other. It isn’t actually a secret when they’re all over each other at campus and everyone’s second-guessing about it.

“Fine. I have a favor to ask you.” Seulgi sighed before readying herself to blurt it all out.

“Do you need my help with Joy? Why don’t you just date already? Everyone’s asking if you two are.” Irene impatiently cut in. She just hates being in the dark. Time is money. She learned that the hard way.

“Actually, it’s the other way around,” Seulgi said, still contemplating if this is the right thing to do.

“What do you mean?” Irene hated it even more because this person is deflecting.

“I want Joy to hate me and for that to happen, you have to pretend to be my girlfriend.” Seulgi can finally breathe. There was just not any other way to say it.

There’s a big question mark on Irene’s mind. She has never seen Seulgi this serious. The Seulgi she knows always teasing, funny, and carefree. “Why would you want to do that?”

Seulgi stayed quiet. Maybe this is a ing mistake after all. And dragging Irene would be an utter mess. She was about to take back what she said when –

“Are you sure we need to do this?” Irene asked, her eyes were equally with concern and questions.

“I think this is the only way to resolve the problem. My cousin’s got dibs on Joy.” Seulgi shrugged while waiting for the green light.

“Do you know that my sister is in love with you?” Irene didn’t retract her gaze. “As far as I can see, you feel the same way for her. So why the ruckus?”

“Okay, then. Here’s the thing.” Seulgi also held Irene’s gaze. This time, she knows she needs to explain as her best friend’s sister has so many questions. “My cousin had dibs on Joy since we were kids. And technically she liked her first.”

“So what if she liked her first? From what I supposed, it’s just a kindergarten love affair.” Irene tried to think things logically. She cannot place why Seulgi is being like this. It’s immature.

“She made me promise I won’t turn back with my word when Wendy went abroad. She told me to take care of Joy no matter what.” Seulgi heard the car behind her sound their horn. It had been some seconds since the traffic light went green. She shifted the gear and went on to drive again.

“Why am I in the picture anyway?” Ire