Jamais Vu

Chapter 56

"Sunhee-ssi, we need to talk," said Jaesuk as it was the shop's closing time. He looked unhappy. And thoroughly peeved.

"What's it about?" asked Sunhee.

"What's wrong? You looked like you want to punch someone," pointed Haewon who was also there.

"I'm not just angry. I'm furious," admitted Jaesuk.

"What did I do?" asked Sunhee, bewildered.

"If you're angry at Sunhee, I'm staying put," declared Haewon.

"Fine," said Jaesuk, swiping his hair back. "Why didn't you tell me about the pictures?"

"What pictures?" Haewon looked at Sunhee curiously when Sunhee looked accepting. "Did I miss something?" Haewon looked at Jaesuk.

"How do you know about the pictures?" returned Sunhee.

"I happened to wrangle Aera's spy. He was getting on my nerves and he admitted to sending the pictures to Hoseok-ssi," Jaesuk looked at her accusingly.

"You know about the spy?" asked Sunhee.

"I knew about him since day one."

"And you did nothing about it?" fired Sunhee.

"I have my own plan. Thing is, why didn't you tell me about that? I thought we're friends" asked Jaesuk.

"Wait a minute. Aera sent a spy on you and you're angry at Sunhee because that spy sent pictures to Hoseok-ssi. I'm lost," said Haewon.

"He showed me the pictures he sent to Hoseok, on Aera's instruction. The pictures would really make any couple fight. I made a hazard guess that it was that time when you blacked out at Younha's boutique. Did you have a fight with Hoseok-ssi because of that?"

"You fought with Hoseok?" Haewon turned to Sunhee. "Hold on... Damn, and you drove straight to Odaesan after that. I thought you were stressed out because of Choi Yong."

"Fine, yes! I had a fight with him and we sorted that out," exclaimed Sunhee to Haewon. "Are you angry at me because I didn't tell you about the spy or because of the pictures?" turned Sunhee to Jaesuk,

"I'm angry when people get into trouble because of me and I didn't know it," said Jaesuk straight to the point.

"I have my reasons for not telling you," defended Sunhee.

"What would that be?" asked Jaesuk, unconvinced.

"As much as my bad history with Aera, I don't want to be the one to give you more reason to ditch her. You already said a lot of things hinge on your relationship with Aera. I know you don't like her and you don't have much of a choice."

"That's another thing I have to sort out with," he swiped his face. "I'm working on it."

"You have 2 more months until the 'winter wedding'," reminded Haewon.

"I know," said Jaesuk.

"Hey, let's sit down and talk. After hours working on my feet, my legs are killing me," said Sunhee, putting down the chairs from a dining table. She then took three sodas and gave them one each.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is this family stuff that made you get stuck with Aera?" Sunhee asked after taking a long gulp of the drink.

"It's something you can guess. It's something that you might watch at any daytime drama involving heirs and corporate families," supplied Jaesuk.

"A family cum business merge?" asked Haewon.

"Correct. My dad somehow got himself in some series of bad investments and Aera's dad came with an offer to save the business. Aera happens to like me, so there I am, as a sacrificial lamb to make the deal solid."