Trust? - LuWoo ✔︎

Chapter 20

"So, haha, this must be an exciting reunion!"

Everyone remained silent as Jungwoo looked everywhere except in front of him. The floor never seemed more interesting and suddenly, his Chai Latte began making its way up his eosophagus. Swallowing quickly and as hard as he could, Jungwoo let his eyes burn in exchange of keeping the drink down.

"Well aren't you the cheery one?!" Chaemin responded with a fake sweetness, her real intentions of being there completely hidden. "I see you hired, what? Prostitutes? Must be having a grand time!"

"Oh no, they're not for me," the person denied, looking directly into Chaemin's eyes as if to convince her he was telling the truth and really, she could believe that.

"Really? That's interesting to hear."

It was the person who everyone assumed had a crush on her. She knew that and playing the situation in front of him would surely have everything lean to her side. She was sure everything would work because frankly, who denied their crush? Surely Jinwoo wouldn’t and the girl knew that full well.

"So, what’re you here for?" Jinwoo asked smuggly, leaning closer to Chaemin from his seat, quickly glancing at Jungwoo in distaste for a second but his expression disappeared in the blink of an eye. "Oh silly me! Why else would you be here besides for me?"

Jinwoo stood up, clapping his hands at everyone as if they were dogs, a large smile on his face.

"Everyone OUT! I'll call you back once she's finished!"

And as if everyone were seriously dogs, they began filtering out rapidly and even the one person Jungwoo couldn't help but to look at started to leave. The purple flower earrings glistened just barely but he saw it and his insides seemed to lurch.

"Wait, Lucas stays, everyone else is out. Don’t think you're special, I'm here for Lucas," Chaemin stated, standing up as well. "Leave if you wanna but I don't really care."

Jinwoo blinked at her before taking a seat, surprised at the news, whilst still ushering the others out except for the requested male.

Lucas, who had stood up, took a tentative seat back down, now just as puzzled, or even more so, than Jinwoo and even more surprised that Jungwoo was simply sitting there in his presence.

"So, let's get right to the point," Chaemin said brightly, silently clapping her hands.

The two males stared at her intently, Jungwoo preparing for what he assumed she'd say.

He knew it was all just their plan but putting it into action made it infinitely more real and scary.

"Well, don't keep us waiting~" Jinwoo said in a sing-song voice, evidently trying his best to cover his irritation and annoyance.

"Okay, so I know you don't know me that well but I just wanted to ask you out on a date," Chaemin said confidently, her stare unwavering as she paid close attention to the way Jungwoo stiffened beside her and the way Lucas froze for a second before his eyes involuntarily flickered to Jungwo in a blink of the eye before he realized this was his way out.

Whether Jungwoo was part of it or not, this was the ticket out of hell.

"WHAT?!" Jinwoo yelled, seeming as if he were about to panic. "Why him? Why not someone else? Even I can take you on a date like never before!"

Chaemin laughed internally, he would be much easier to deal with than she thought.

"Oh no, no, no," Chaemin coo-ed in fake sympathy. "I don't even know you that well and I've known him for months," she lied, anything to make the game play. "But now I wait for his answer."

Lucas could see his way out. He could sense something was happening but he didn't know what. His chest clenched painfully upon seeing his love but why, even in his exes weakened state, did he look like heaven while he felt like hell?

He'd agree. Even if it killed him, he'd agree.

"Okay. I'll go with you," Lucas agreed, ignoring the glare Jinwoo directed at him.

But then, Chaemin did something everyone couldn't help but to gawk at.

Jungwoo, himself, could feel the air shift the moment Chaemin landed a peck on Lucas' head top, gripping his hand together weakly as he continuously reminded himself that it was part of the plan and it was the only way for them to be together again. The kiss was nothing. It was on the crown of the head, far from any place to make it mean something else.

"Thanks! I'll talk to you later about the details."

Off the two went, Jungwoo Feeling the Chai Latte climb its way up and when he stepped foot outside the house, he didn't waste any time in pouring the contents of his stomach into the nearest delicate rose bush.

A hand rubbing his back, his throat burning deliciously painful, and his stomach groaning out, Jungwoo figured that even if he didn’t get back with Lucas, he might as well succumb to death or live in beart break.

Either one worked.

._._.

._._.

Euntae was tripping balls.

Surely he wasn't being asked out indirectly by Jungwoo? Well, Chaemin was asking and Jungwoo wasn't present but that could hardly matter.

So how could he possibly say no?

See, although Euntae was winning, secretly everything fell into Chaemin's hands and that's how she found herself being scolded one evening by no one else but her Father.

"So, will you tell me? What the hell are you doing?"

Chaemin smiled sweetly, Seomin sitting beside her in frustration. They didn't even know how they got there but here they were.

"I don't have any intentions on saying anything, to be frank," Chaemin stated proudly.

Mr Seo looked at her in disappointment, lightly rubbing his head as he leaned into his seat. This was NOT how he expected his evening to turn.

"Well, will you at least tell me why you called me thinking it was your cousin?"

"Your numbers are similar, so when I tried calling Taeyong-ie, I just spoke thinking it was him," Chaemin explained with a shrug and the more said, the more Seomin wondered what the hell they had to be there for.

"I'm sorry but can I go?" Seomin finally asked, making a move as if to leave.

Mr Seo glanced at them but didn't answer, wanting to question his daughter first before moving on to Seomin.

"Seo Chaemin, you've been acting increasingly suspicious these past few days and it's concerning more than usual especially because one of the workers told me you arrived home during the morning on a school day while you had no shoes on. Care to explain?"

"No. I apologize Father but sometimes when your best friend needs a little care, you do it even if it dirties your hands, right?"

Oh damn, now was not the time to be reminded of words he had told his only daughter years before. Now it was coming back to bite him in the ass and there was no one to help him out, not even his only son⁠— who was most likely out with his partner.

He could see it now, his daughter grown well and nearly independent, sitting before him, determined, and he realized, there was nothing he could do now that she was set to do whatever the hell she was planning.

"Very well, you go along your way and stay out of trouble. Just promise me that."

"No problem."

And without another word, she got up and left the room, Seomin following suit but they didn't even make it to the door before they were asked to stop.

"Seomin, I ask you one favour," Mr Seo called out, Chaemin already gone. "Just please keep an eye on her if it's not too much trouble. That's the only reason I called you in."

And Seomin nodded in agreement, knowing they’d have a handful.