- Stay, Chanmi. Spend some time with Rowoon. I can see that you both are looking at each other with buttery eyes. I will go home and rest. Starting in the morning, my duties await me. - Jisoo smiled at her friend as she opened the cab door. - Me and Jin are now stuck in a strange relationship. I can't spend time with him for the moment. Sorry.
The redhead smiled at Jisoo and put her hand on her shoulder.
- I guess how awful it feels, so I don't hold it against you. Go home and rest, I'll stay a while longer with the boys.
- Have fun - she said.
The brunette got into the car and drove away. Chanmi crossed her arms over her chest, watching the cab until it disappeared from her sight. Just then she got the strange impression that she was being watched.
She looked over her shoulder and for a split second saw a moving silhouette that disappeared into the darkness between the streets. Her heart beat harder with fear, and she returned to the bar with all her speed. She sat down next to her brother and sipped her endless drink.
- My arranged marriage hit her too hard - Seokjin spoke up, looking at the liquor bottles in front of her.
- That means she loves you very much - Chanmi stated.
- If she didn't care about you, she wouldn't have suffered so much - Rowoon interjected.
Jin lowered his head and clenched his fists.
- I am stuck with my mother's plan because in the near future I intend to get ready and run away with Jisoo to start a new life. The wedding will not happen for sure. I am able to abandon everything.
Chanmi stuck a puzzled look at her brother.
- Did you tell her about this?
- Yes. She concluded that I should give up and get married to Yeeun to live a prosperous life forever more.
The redhead sighed loudly and put her hand on her brother's back.
- She's in so much pain that it's already pain running through her. These are not words that come straight from her heart.
She looked at Rowoon, who sent her a smile.
- And a look in love can be hidden. Her eyes sparkle every time she looks at you. - He seemingly said this to Jin, but his gaze was aimed at Chanmi. The girl reciprocated the smile, shyly lowering her head.
Seokjin sipped his drink and unexpectedly broke from his seat. They both looked at him in surprise as he left the bar without a word of explanation.
- Did he follow Jisoo home?
- I have no doubt. Your brother knows what he is doing. - There was silence between them until Rowoon spoke again. - Do you think that after we finish our drinks, we should go for a night walk?
- If I had my stilettos on, I would say no to you. In this situation I have to agree - she replied in an amused voice, with her hand pointing to her white sneakers.
- If you were wearing stilettos, I wouldn't dare to propose to you.
They both got up from their chairs and headed for the exit. Rowoon let her pass in the doorway, which brought a smile to her face. From a young age, he had been a gentleman raised well by his parents who respected women. There were fewer and fewer men like that these days, so it was appreciated.
Walking down the sidewalk toward her house, where it was about forty minutes on foot, they immediately found a common topic, chatting with each other like old times. Rowoon was as much a lover of good horror movies as she was, so a conversation about the best movies they had watched in the past few years ate up their time and the half hour passed like ten minutes.
They were already near her house when Chanmi got the impression that someone was following them. She looked over her shoulder, and her gaze found a silhouette hiding behind a tree.
At that moment, the girl felt serious anxiety.
- Rowoon, how are you going to get home when you walk me home?
- On foot. It's not far, and after such a walk I'll sleep like dead - he replied. He looked carefully at Chanmi as she stood still and watched one place for a long moment. - Are you all right?
- Wouldn't you like to stay at my house that night? - She asked openly, perplexing him. - Just like in the good old days. Seokjin's bed is sizable, so he won't be opposed to you accompanying him.
- There is no need for that, Chanmi. I'll go back to my place. After all, it's not far.
- But I'm worried that you'll be walking alone at such a late hour, even if you're a man. Don't make him ask.
He could no longer defy her when she looked at him with stern eyes. His mother had always told him that a woman should not be refused.
- That's fine, but I'm afraid Jin won't be satisfied. Everything will depend on how his conversation with Jisoo turned out.
- You are like a brother to him, so there is no way he will take it out on you.
The young man was surprised when Chanmi grabbed him under the arm and pulled him toward the house. She was always much bolder after alcohol. It also did not escape his attention that as she walked with a hurried step, she looked over her shoulder, looking as if she were looking for something again.
The redhead had a good feeling because they had been watched the whole way. The person who was following them was not happy to see the man who accompanied Chanmi.
*
Jisoo nearly screamed in fear when someone brazenly barged into her room in the middle of the night, sat on top of her with his arm around her and put his hand to his mouth. She only calmed down when Jin turned on the lamp located by the bed and took his hand away from her face.
- Are you crazy, you idiot? What are you doing? Are you drunk?
- I didn't have an opportunity to get drunk because I left the bar to talk to you before you fell asleep.
- I was just about to go to bed. I have to get up early in the morning to attend to my duties.
- It won't be long now - he declared, stroking her cheek with his hand. - I am determined to abandon my family for you, even if you abandon me, I am not going to marry a woman I do not love. I will not sacrifice my happiness for wealth.
The brunette looked at him with disbelief in her eyes.
- Managing the family business is your destiny, Jin. You can't give it all up.
- I can and am able to go far away from here with you, even at this moment.
- You are crazy.
- And that's why I'm not going to be subservient to my parents. I'm not the kind of person who allows myself to be controlled like a puppet. This is my life and my future, which I intend to spend exclusively with you.
- Jin...
- Stop talking about how love burns out and isn't worth sacrificing family wealth for. I have great affection for you, so currently nothing else matters to me. I just want you to be with me. I can handle the money. I'm capable of building my own business from scratch, even if I'm patting poverty at first. I want to be independent and happy at the same time. Being here, my mother will never let me be myself. Living in this house is a real hell, and Jieun will be the perfect candidate to take my place. She is the same as mother.
Jisoo saw the pain in his eyes as he said these words. He lay down next to her on the bed, snuggling his face into her neck.
- I didn't know you were in so much pain, being part of this family. You hid it from me all this time, so I thought that taking over the family business was your priority.
- Until you came into my life, I had no plans for my future. I didn't give a damn if I was controlled by my parents. I was able to entrust my life to them, but your appearance changed my whole outlook. You filled my insides with colors.
The girl laughed, hearing the last sentence.
- Would you really be able to abandon everything and run away with me even now?
- Without a second thought - he replied, snuggling into her even more. - If you are next to me, I do not worry about what tomorrow will bring. The important thing is that I have you.
It made her heart-warmer. She lifted the corners of her mouth, her fingers playing with his hair.
- So Yeeun has no chance with me?
- You are the only woman to whom I have given my heart, so no one can win against you.
*
Chanmi looked into her brother's room when he didn't open it, and when she turned on the light, she noticed that it was empty. With a smile on her face, she turned to Rowoon.
- I think Jin's conversation with Jisoo went well, and he won't go back to his bed. You can sleep at his place. - She patted the tall boy on the shoulder.
- Well... if he does come back, however, he will be strongly surprised to find a big teddy bear to cuddle.
- Ninety percent of the time, he's more likely to cuddle with the little bear, called Jisoo. No worries.
Rowoon nodded and turned to Chanmi before going inside.
- In that case... good night - he said, smiling at her in a charming way.
- Good night. Sleep well.
She walked away toward her room, and the boy only then closed the door. She went inside and turned on the light, almost getting a heart attack when she saw Jungkook sitting on her bed. With his head lowered, he was clenching his hands into a fist, looking nervous.
- What are you doing in my room? And why were you sitting in the dark? - She asked in a raised voice, while trying not to shout.
- Where were you? - His resolute face worried her.
- With friends in the bar.
- You mean your brother's friend?
The first thing that came to her mind was, was it possible that they were being followed by Jungkook? Would he really be capable of that?
- How do you know who I was with?
- I've been waiting here for several hours. I saw through the window that you came home with him. You even let him stay the night. It's a good thing you didn't offer him your room right away.
- What do you mean? It's my business with whom I drink and go home.
He jumped off the bed and grabbed her hands, digging his fingers into her skin. His gaze was frantic as he looked at her.
- You won't do this to me, Chanmi. You won't cheat on me with any guy. You are mine. - She was terrified when he started kissing her. He roamed his lips over her face, neck, and cleavage. She tried to push him away, but she was without a chance. - If you decide to be with this man, I will hurt your sister.
- Don't you dare! - she shouted, finally pushing him away from her. She looked at him with wide-open eyes, horrified by his behavior. - I won't be your puppet, and don't even think about hurting someone from my family!
He put his finger to his lips, silencing her.
- Don't shout, you'll wake up the whole house. Your sister will not be happy to find me in your room in the middle of the night.
- You are a crazy person. There's no way you're Chansug. Who are you really, admit it!
- Someone you will spend the rest of your life with, Cha-Cha - he announced, walking past her. With his fingers, he brushed her cheek, at which she reflexively moved away. - Tonight you made me uncomfortable, so I will make it up to your sister. Sweet dreams, dearest.
Breathing heavily, she watched him as he closed the door behind him. She immediately locked it, fearing that this was not the end of this madman's visits.
This was not Chansung. This is the character of a wholly different person, and she would never believe her friend could change so much. It's impossible.
Who was Jungkook really?