TRACK 01 : HAPPINESS, in yeop.

13

"SEE YOU never!"

I waved good bye to Eun-woo as he dropped me off in front of the gates. My outfit, only being a white shirt that laid loosely until below my knees.

I hastily spent the night at Eun-woo's. Not only this night, really. I've been doing it since moving in. Eun-woo's house became my escape room. With Cashew's fur, I can't stay too long at Hwang Jr. and I's supposed residence.

"With Eun-woo again?"

In yeop's voice greeted me the moment I took a step inside the house. He had his eyes fixated on the TV while caressing his dog's belly.

This was new. I used to sprint inside the house by midnight and come home with him, deadpanned, no greetings, or anything to acknowledge my presence. As if nothing changes whether I was here or not.

Now he even went his way to turn the TV off. The puppy barking when it saw me.

"Cashew, bubskie, hi!", I waved but was interrupted with another question.

"Why did you post that?"

I crossed my arms after letting out a short laugh. "Post what?"

"A photo of your boyfriend."

So he really was buying the Eun-woo and I drama.

"My socials are the only thing I can control in my life and now even that, you want to dictate?"

In yeop pursed his lips, looking at his side for a second. "Have you completely forgotten that the whole point of our engagement is the media? How can we convince the people that you are my fiancé, if things like this slips?"

Oh he was furious.

"And I thought you and I are supposed to find ways to break this engagement, not strengthen it."

I, too was shocked with my answer. What more with In yeop. It was clear as the skies that though he also tried to bury the feeling away just fine.

It was there.

"This is a part of the plan", he saved.

"But In yeop, what exactly is the plan?"

He goes and on and on about his master plan yet he doesn't spare me the littlest detail. For all I know, he could just be making everything up to not look dumb.

"I'm in love with you."

I looked up at him, brows raised. He caught on and continued.

"We'll make them think that, I meant. And then pull a dramatic stunt, tell them you like Eun-woo or something—."

"You expect me to lie?"

"To lie? That you don't like your boyfriend?", he was taken aback, head tilting. "You're a player, Irvine."

How can he be so clueless?

"Connect the dots, you assuming idiot."

He stopped to think. "What? Are you and Eun-woo in a fake relationship too?"

I groaned, my fingers massaging my temples. "You really think my parents would allow me to date Eun-woo when you exist."

"Are you saying you never had a boyfriend?", he stifled a laugh.

My face dropped, not expecting for it to take this turn. "That's not! That's not what I'm saying!"

"Not even a first kiss?"

I froze.

He gasped dramatically. "At that age?"

I stomped my foot and turned the other way. "Shut up!"

"Have you ever even said I love you?"

"I hate you!", I rushed upstairs, covering my face in embarrassment.

"HI! ARE you done? How's everything?", I asked the helper politely after seeing her turn off the stove.

She gave me a thumbs up. "Why, ma'am? Do you want me to wake sir In yeop up?"

"No need. I'll do it. I'm probs going to do it the following weeks to come anyway. Our mothers hired you only until the end of the month, right?"

They nodded with smile on their faces. "Yes, ma'am."

"You're all happy huh? What's up?"

After I said this, the helpers burst into excited squeals. I released a laugh, sending them a confused look. They took this signal and answered.

"Well, we heard you and sir yesterday, ma'am", she tried to hide her overflowing emotions. "We saw how he became in such good mood after you said you weren't taken."

I crossed my arms, convinced. "Is that so?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

The helpers and I shared a few more laughs here and there before I decided to go upstairs to In yeop's room, the story from earlier still replaying on my head.

I knocked on the door thrice and was welcomed by his still sleeping figure when I opened it. I only realized how smiley I looked when I saw my reflection on his mirror.

I became conscious and slapped myself back to reality. Cashew must've heard this as I saw her raise both of her ears. My breath hitched, seeing that she was about to bark. I placed a finger on my lips quick, in hopes to shush her.

I moved as slow as a broken-winded mare until I reached In yeop. I was about to wake him up with a gentle stroke on the face or maybe even ruffle his hair. Until he stretched his arms, his lips opening.

"Lee Ji-Eun...", I heard him mutter a name before falling back to his dream state.

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