On a hot day, Chanmi swam in the pool, calming herself from the household noise. There was no moment of peace, as her mother was broadcasting twenty-four hours a day, yelling at the workers when something didn't suit her or was done wrong. She was dissatisfied with everything, nothing could make her happy, so she vented her anger on the maids.
How many times did Chanmi stand up for Jisoo, fed up with her mother's behavior. She was worse than a teenager in rebellion.
The redhead surfaced and leaned against the edge of the pool with her hands. With wide-open eyes, she watched her sister's fiancé crouching over her. The previous evening's events came back to her with redoubled force. His behavior was disturbing, and she felt uncomfortable around him.
- Are you watching me? - She asked, pulling her wet hair back. He followed her every move with his eyes, smiling cockily.
- Watching you is a pleasure in itself, Cha-Cha.
The girl furrowed her brow and looked around the garden. She was worried that this sight might upset Jieun. After all, a sister shouldn't be alone with someone's fiancé from the beginning of their acquaintance. It looked bad according to others.
- How do you know my childhood nickname? Only my best friend called me that.
- Your sister told me her whole life, including you and your friend - the brat. Quite a dramatic story.
Chanmi pressed her lips together, feeling everything boil inside her. She stepped out of the pool and stood in front of him, gracing him with her eyes. He straightened his legs and put his hand in her curly hair, brazenly measuring every inch of her body.
- I feel seduced - he replied in a bold voice.
The twenty-three-year-old girl wrapped her body in a towel, intending to wince at him with a few words.
- First... Chansung is not and never was a brat. He was the only sincere person in my hypocritical life, and no one grows up to match him. A person like you doesn't even have the right to say a bad word about him, especially since you don't know him. Secondly.... I don't want you to bother me. Avoid me by a wide margin and focus solely on my sister, since you are her fiancé. I don't wish for your company, so if you can't respect that, I'll settle it another way.
She wanted to evade him and walk away, but he grabbed her forearm, stopping her by her side. Chanmi raked him with her eyes, thinking that his behavior was coarse.
- After all, I told you that I approached your sister solely because of you, Cha-Cha - he said through clenched teeth, staring at her face. - You won't forbid me from contacting you because the brat you're so defensive about was my buddy, and his last words before he died were to ask me to find you. I couldn't ignore it. - The redhead opened her eyes wider, surprised by his confession. - Maybe I didn't really learn this dramatic story from Jieun, but from the man who was your best friend as a child. I know what your family did to him, and I'm here to avenge him. I'm also here to free you from this hell at his request. - The girl looked shocked. - And calling him a brat was never offensive to him. He called himself that, so that's how I addressed him for a good dozen years.
- Did you know Chansung? - She asked in a whisper. - What happened to him? What do you mean before he died?
Her face went pale. She stared at Jungkook with terrified eyes, looking as if she were about to faint.
- He was murdered, and I'm sure the murderer was hired by your family. - His grip around her hand became stronger. - Chansung wanted to return to you at all costs, but he couldn't because he had been followed all his life. Eventually, they killed him.
Chanmi panicked. Her breathing became heavier.
- What are you talking about? Why would my family want to kill him? Why would they follow him all his life? This is absurd.
- Ask your mommy, Cha-Cha - he whispered in her ear, then let her go and walked away. She watched him as he headed toward the entrance of the house.
Was he telling the truth? Did he really know Chansung? What was this all about? Why would her family want to murder her friend?
Would they really be capable of such a thing?
*
The girl acted under the influence of the moment. She took big steps, heading for her sister's room. She hoped that's where she would find her, but she didn't make it in time because Jungkook forestalled her. He walked with Jieun through the hallway, saying words to her that made her smile.
Anyway... what did she want to do? Tell her everything she heard from Jungkook? The boy understood her sister would not believe her. She would come off as a moron, maybe even her family would be tricked into thinking that it was out of jealousy over her sister's fiancé that Chanmi was trying to break up her relationship with lies?
That's just how her mother and sister were. For the moment, she had to leave everything she had heard from Jieun's fiancé to herself and unravel the matter herself. She had to find out if the words Jungkook revealed to her were really true....
- Oh, Chanmi. Where are you in such a hurry? Has something happened? - Jieun looked at her younger sister with amusement in her eyes.
- Yes, I want to get dressed - she announced rather dryly, not controlling her nerves.
Jieun measured Chanmi, noticing that she was wearing a bathing suit and a towel.
- I see that the pool is still your haven. When you were a child, you used to spend days there.
- Yes, with your best friend - she added bitingly, glancing at Jungkook. The brunet raised the corners of his mouth upward, as if he understood she had specifically started this topic.
- I thought you had long since forgotten about this worthless brat.... For God's sake, Chanmi. - Jieun rolled her eyes. - Leave the past behind. This kid is not worth mentioning him. He's the brat of a maid who let loose with our father.
- This brat was part of my life, so the day will come when I will know the truth and find out why he disappeared.
- I don't think I'm in the thread.... - interjected Jungkook, glancing at Chanmi from the corner of his eye.
- I'll tell you everything, honey, but first let's go from here. Let my sister cool off and go get changed. She's probably been underwater too long and has brain hypoxia.
Sweeping Chanmi away, Jungkook let go of her eyes, which made her even angrier. How could she have said anything to her sister about what she had heard from this asshole when the latter immediately attacked her? She had a fierce character, exactly like her mother.
- I think I would have preferred her to stay in this America. A scoundrel - muttered the redhead under her breath, entering her room. - She'll still be crying because of that lying bastard.
*
Saturday night was the best time for the girls. That's when they could go to a nearby club, drinking and dancing until they dropped. Jisoo was always accompanied by Chanmi, and there were also weekends when she would head out on her own to party, wanting to get rid of her depressed feelings.
Their favorite club was crowded as usual. Music was ringing in their ears, alcohol was pouring in streams, bolder-dressed women were seducing men than usual, and the dance floor was filled with people having a great time.
The girls sat at the bar, ordering a round of clear vodka and juice to sip. Both were of petite stature, but could drink quite a bit of alcohol. They had strong heads, which is why they fit in so well. Their outings to the party were always successful.
And even though they came from different worlds, Chanmi understood her better than her sibling sister.
- That's what I missed! - Jisoo's humor changed dramatically when she felt the sweet but burning taste of vodka. - Now all I lack is a man to have a great time.
- I thought you were sick of guys for the moment because of the situation with my brother.
The brunette nabbed like a child.
- Tonight I need someone to get your brother out of my head, at least for a while.
- Seriously, Jisoo...
The maid, dressed in a white sleeveless top and black high-waisted skirt, jumped off the bar chair and ran onto the dance floor. Chanmi sighed loudly and refilled her glass. She joined her friend, completely losing herself in the dance. She was wearing a short black dress that fit her slim body perfectly and high stilettos, which she also loved to wear every day.
Her eyes lit up when she saw a long-lost handsome man in the crowd, who was her brother's pal. It wasn't difficult to spot him, as he measured over one meter ninety.
- Rowoon! - she shouted excitedly, pushing her way through the people. Jisoo wasn't even interested in this, since, accosted earlier by the stranger, she danced with him to the beat of the music. - Rowoon! - She hung around his neck, initially surprising him with her presence. Only when the boy realized who had rushed at him did a happy smile appear on his face.
- Chanmi? What a surprise!
- When did you return to the city? Jin didn't tell me anything! - She playfully stomped her foot. They were standing among dancing people, so the boy grabbed her hand and led her to a quieter place.
- Jin didn't tell you anything? And he's a bastard. He came to the party with me, celebrating my return home.
The redhead furrowed her brow.
- He is probably jealous that I get along so well with you.
- Well... I'm the only buddy who puts up with his humor, so he's most likely jealous of me - he announced with a laugh in his voice. - But I guess it's not just about me. Just look. - Chanmi followed Rowoon's gaze and opened her eyes wider in surprise when she saw that her brother had attacked Jisoo and the boy she was dancing with.
- That was still missing...
The girl wanted to approach them, but Rowoon didn't let her.
- Come on. Let them solve it among themselves. They are adults, and you'd better tell me what's going on with you.
- What if there is a fight? - She asked in a worried voice, glancing in that direction.
- Then we will react.
Chanmi smiled slightly, then nodded.
- There wasn't much going on at my place.... It seems to me that you will have more to tell me.
- Okay, be that as it may, but when you hear the story of my life, then we go dancing.
- That's right, Mr. Rowoon.
In the crowd of dancing people, at the same time, Jin grabbed Jisoo's hand and pulled her close. She should yell at him, say a few words about his inappropriate behavior, but she couldn't. She was fine with it...
- And what are you staring at, twit? She will no longer dance with you! She's my maiden!
The brunette puffed out her lips, looking at the angry face of her former partner. He looked like a lion ready to fight for his female, even though they were no longer together.
- Apparently, the chick has had enough of you, since she decided to have fun with me.
- Hey! What kind of entertaining are you talking about? We were just dancing! - defended Jisoo, measuring the stranger with angry eyes.
- Pff, clear. Now, don't tell me you're a Virgin Mary who just wanted to dance. Those moves of yours... - He didn't have an opportunity to finish his sentence, and Jin already wanted to punch him. However, the girl managed to stop him. Standing in front of him, she embraced his hand, trying to calm him down.
- I'm not going to dance with him anymore, so let's get out of here.
Surprisingly, he obeyed her, but before he left, he pierced the stranger with his eyes, making him aware to stay away from Jisoo.
When they were against the wall, in a darkened corner of the club, he decided to lash out at her.
- Why are you doing this to me? What am I guilty of that you are so horrible towards me! - he shouted, looking into her eyes.
The brunette pressed her lips together, then lowered her gaze.
- I'm just doing everything to make you get over me.
- But I can't, Jisoo! Holy shit, I love you more than life, and I'm unable to forget you, especially when you're still close to me!
She lifted her face and stared at him with disbelief in her eyes, unable to get a word out.
He surprised her with this confession.
Just looking at his face was enough to see all these emotions. He said it straight from the heart, these were not mere words thrown to the wind.
- Jin, you have to understand something. I also love you to the point of madness, but.... - After these words, he did not let her finish, as he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her as if he were hungry for her.
- It is enough that you love me too. Nothing else matters to me, Jisoo - he announced between kisses. - I'll fight anything just to be with you.
Well, she had a problem... Her plan hit a snag.