Eun Hae’s POV

“Heh, Changie ah,” I said, trying to butter Changjo up with my aegyo, but unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be working. He growled. “Changie ah,” I pleaded. “Let me go.”

“Not until you answer my questions,” he said fiercely. I reached out my hands to remove his hands from the walls when he grabbed my wrists and pinned them against the wall, making it even more impossible for me to break free. “Do you really want to make this difficult?” he asked.

I hissed in frustration but this fathead as stronger than I give him credit for. I couldn’t move at all. I sighed, knowing there was no way out. So I told him how I met Lu Han, how he had helped me many times with Yongguk, and to living with me. Of course I left out the part where Lu Han is an alien with telekinesis and dream-controls and that he can also be a ert at times.

When I was done, Changjo shook his head disapprovingly at me. “I want to meet this Lu Han guy,” he declared determinedly. “I want to see what sort of guy you had stupidly put yourself up to.”

“Bwoh? A – Anni, you don’t have to, I already know what sort of guy he is that I had stupidly put myself up to,” I said hastily. I do not want Changjo to meet Lu Han. I know my cousin will probably give him a hard time—or Lu Han will embarrass me in front of him. One way or the other, the two of them can never meet. “It’s fine, I trust him not to do any stupid things.” I do.

He glanced warily at me. “Are you sure?” he asked. “I mean, you said that he’s twenty-two. And living alone with a pretty girl is very tempting and he’s stronger than you.” He narrowed his eyes at me as he searched my eyes, scrutinizing me. “Do you have a crush on him?”

A blush crept to my face. “A – Anniyo!” I lied.

“So you like Kai?

What? “What is this, Twenty Questions?” I asked defensively.

He frowned. “You can’t answer a question with a question,” he shot back. He looked at me and gasped, covering his mouth with one hand. “You like the both of them, don’t you?!” he exclaimed, pointing a finger at me. “I don’t believe this! You have a crush on both of them!”

I couldn’t tell whether he was proclaiming this false accusation because he was delighted to hear that I like someone or he was shocked that I even like someone. Or that I like two guys at the same time, which I don’t because I don’t like any of them in that sense.

“I do not!” I said meekly.

He nodded. “Yes, you do. I can tell. You had that special glow in your eyes whenever you mentioned their names.” He threw his head back for a laugh so evil I swear I could see horns coming out from his head. He shook his head. “If you don’t believe this, then I guess you’re lying to yourself.”

“I’m not lying!” I protested weakly.

But Changjo folded his arms across his chest. “You at lying.”

I frowned. I didn’t think that this was very funny. Scowling, I looked away and he patted my head as though I was a puppy or something. I looked at the clock and gasped. “Yah, I really have to go!” I told him and brushed passed him, out of the door. I breathed a sigh of relief once I was out of the house.

I do not like Kai or Lu Han in that way.

I walked into the clinic and the scent of medicine hit me like it was smothering me. The smell was overwhelming. The nurse recognized me as I had come to make a doctor’s appointment earlier. She ushered me into the doctor’s room. I went inside, expecting to see Doctor Byun, but froze when I saw, in her place, in her chair, was Doctor Kim.

She’s Himchan’s mother.

Doctor Kim smiled warmly when she saw me. “Hi, Eun Hae. I haven’t seen you in quite a while. How are you?”

I hesitantly came over to sit at the chair opposite of her. “I thought Doctor Byun was on duty,” I said without bothering to answer her question.

She smiled, unfazed. “Doctor Byun had a family emergency so she had to go back to Kangnam.” Doctor Kim looked at me over her glasses. “If you are uncomfortable with having me, we could always reschedule it to whenever Doctor Byun is free.”

I blushed. Does she know about what her son tries to do to me? That would be really awkward. “Anniyo,” I said, looking down at my fiddling fingers. I looked up again and saw a file on the tale. On the top of the file, I saw my name. I looked at her. “We might as well continue, since you have already seen my file anyway.”

She nodded. “Well, then, shall we start?” she asked.

Lu Han’s POV

I looked at the clock in the living room. It was almost five-thirty. Eun Hae wasn’t back yet. She hasn’t been since lunch, when she went off with Kai. Where could that girl possibly be?

This is driving me insane, not knowing where she was. I nearly tore my hair out with worry. Maybe I should check up on her.

I held my hand out and my coat was in them a few seconds later. Slipping it on, I closed my eyes and imagined her face. When I opened my eyes, I was standing in front of a blue building. I looked at the sign and frowned.

Why is she here?

Just then Eun Hae opened the door and came out, trying to stuff a white plastic bag into her handbag. She looked up and jumped when she saw me, startled. She nearly dropped her plastic bag.

I held my hand out and brought the plastic bag to me. I could see there was some sort of bottles inside. Pills? For what?

Before I could even read the label, it was snatched out of my hands. I blinked, looking at my empty hand. I looked up to see Eun Hae furiously trying to zip her bag up. I’m guessing the plastic bag is in her bag now. “Why were you in the clinic?” I asked. I cupped her face. “Are you unwell? Are you sick?” I pressed my palm to her forehead. “It’s normal.”

She pulled my hand away and took a few steps back. “I’m fine,” she said a little too testily. “Don’t worry about me.” At that moment, she slipped on the ground and began falling backward.

I held my hand out and she came into my arms. I wrapped her tightly, steadying her on her feet. I raised an eyebrow. “One of these days, if I ever get a call saying that you’ve died, I wouldn’t be surprised if your clumsiness had caused it.”

I felt her body stiffening. “Don’t be stupid,” she snapped. I raised an eyebrow and she looked at me, scrunching her nose cutely. “What are you doing here, anyway? Were you looking for me?”

I nodded. “I was wondering where you were. It was late and I — what?” I noticed she was beginning to smile. “What’s so funny?”

She shook her head in disbelief but she looked amused at the same time. “You were worried about me,” she said with a little smile.

Now I was confused. “Huh?” I shot her a look. “Of course I was worried! You didn’t tell me where you were going and you didn’t tell me when you would be back either!”

She blinked. “Gee, Lu Han, you’re not my mother.”

“At least I act better than your own mom,” I snapped. As soon as those words left my mouth, I instantly regretted it.

Eun Hae, however, was frowning thoughtfully. She regarded me. “That’s true,” she admitted. “At least you care, unlike her.” She shrugged and walked away, back to the house, whistling a tune.

“Yah, where are you going?” I called, running after her.

“Home,” she shot back. She walked on and I hurried after her.

Kai’s POV

The next day, I woke up at seven-thirty and prepared everything before teleporting to Eun Hae’s house at eight in the morning. I rang her doorbell. As she went to answer the door, I could hear she was arguing with Lu Han.

“Why must you go to work with him? Why couldn’t you let me walk you there?”

“Because Kai Oppa teleports us there, and it’s so much easier,” she replied. “Lu Han, come on. I need to work.”

“But —”

“Bye!” She opened the door and stepped out, smiling warmly when she saw me. “Hi,” she said. She closed the door. “Let’s go.” She held out her hand. She looked at me. “By the way, how did it go, walking Daeseul home?”

I took her hand and the next thing we know, we were standing outside of the cafe. “It was good. She’s interesting to be with,” I said and she giggled to herself.  We walked inside to start with our work. We walked to the back, greeting people as we met. And soon, even before work had started, we were force to do the dishes.

“Eun Hae,” I called out as I dipped the plate I was washing into the soapy water and began to scrub it clean. She turned to me. “You know, boss said that we could work until five-thirty,” I said. When she nodded, I went on, “Do you want to go on a date with me?” I need to find a way to win her heart.

She frowned. “What about Daeseul?”

It was my turn to frown. “What about Daeseul?”

“I thought you like her?”

I blinked. “She likes that L.Joe guy,” I replied. “And besides, I like her, but I don’t like her in that sense. She feels the same way.”

“Oh.” She pondered about it.

“So?” I asked, hoping she’ll say yes.

She hesitated but then she looked at me. “Sure,” she said, her face relaxing into a smile. “I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

“Great. I’ll come pick you up at eight.”

She hesitated. “Could we meet there instead? I don’t want to argue with Lu Han and come home later to a house that looked as though a tornado has been through.”

I rolled my eyes at Lu Han’s behaviour and she gave me a pitiful look. “Okay,” I said. I told her which restaurant to meet up. The whole day, I was planning on what to do to make her fall for me. It’s time I finally do something about the Game.

Eun Hae’s POV

Later in the night after I came home and prepared for the date, I was looking at my full-length mirror, studying my outfit: black tights, a red-and-white polka off-shoulders dress, a red belt, red flats, and gold chain earrings. I smiled, satisfied.

I looked at the clock. It was seven forty-five. I’m supposed to meet him at eight. I should be heading out now. I walked out of the living room. Lu Han was finishing his dinner. He looked up and his eyes bugged out when he saw me. “I’m going out,” I replied.

He was in front of me within seconds. “Where are you going?” He eyed me up and down with a deep frown. “You’re not going on a date with Kai, are you? You can’t!”

I raised an eyebrow. “And why not?” I tried to move but Lu Han just blocked me. I folded my arms across my chest. “You act like some jealous boyfriend and we’re not even dating.” The next thing I knew, I was pinned down on the couch, with Lu Han on top of me. “What the hell!” I struggled with Lu Han, but he was stronger.

“You’re not going,” he said hoarsely. He leaned down and kissed my neck. “You’re going to stay with me.”

I desperately looked at the time. It was eight. Crap. “Lu Han, I have to go!”

“No,” he murmured, kissing my lips before moving down to my neck already. I could feel a bulge in his pants. He d my and squeezed it gently. “Eun Hae . . . please stay with me.”

“Lu Han, get off!” I looked at him. Why does he not want me to go out with Kai? I wasn’t worried because I know he’s not going to me, but he’s just trying to prevent me from going out. But why?

He can’t really be jealous, can he?

Kai’s POV

It’s eight-fifteen and I still saw no sign of Eun Hae anywhere. I paced around, outside the restaurant, nervously, checking my time occasionally.

“Where are you?” I muttered under my breath.