In Between the Lines | Completed

Chapter Fourteen | Rascal Shaped Friends

Du Shin-Il

"Don't you think that's a little stereotypical?" Bu Seok was to my left and Lee Young-min on my right as they discussed the reshoot for the penthouse scene.

Both were frustrated and rather than pull in a trained mediator, they had nominated me to be their stand in as they argued and made choices about the show.

"Isn't that what our viewers like?" Lee Young-min drones.

"Miss Jones wrote it the first way so that's what we should follow."

"She didn't seem to have an issue with what I proposed either. Both versions were valid, why don't we try them both out and see what works best for the lead into the next episode?"

"It's her script to do with what she wants," Bu Seok argues back.

Why exactly am I here?

I huff out my lips as they bicker back and forth until Bu Seok's phone buzzes and he answers the call.

"Eomeoni, how are you?" Bu Seok puts the phone on speaker and shoots us a begging look for help.

Lee Young-min and I share a look, grimacing at the thought of Bu Seok's mother and the inevitable argument that would follow. We wait for the mention of a blind date and the follow-up explosion and denial.

"Did you look through the candidates' resumes I sent over for dates?"

Mrs. Bu's voice is casual, pretending she hadn't been told no the last 100 times she had brought the topic up.

"No, I didn't."

"Bu Seok, you really need to start taking your future seriously!"

Here it comes...

"And I am, Eomeoni. I have a girlfriend."

I freeze as an unexpected calm silence fills the air. Bu Seok smiles as the phone sits with muted silence, and I see Lee Young-min clench his jaw from the corner of my eye. Bu Seok had been uncharacteristically quiet about his newest 'girlfriend,' but as he continues to talk to his mother, I watch him keep an eye on Lee Young-min's tense expression and realize that this charade wasn't just for Miss Jones' benefit, but for Bu Seok's own amusement as well.

Playing cat and mouse with Lee Young-min are we?

"WHAT?!?!?!?"

"Eomeoni, as soon as she is ready to meet the parents, I will bring her home. Right now, she's a bit nervous to date anyone as it's been a long time since she dated as she had other priorities. Just know that she's a lovely young woman and I will be treating her well. Anyways, I have to go. Goodbye!" Bu Seok hurriedly hangs up the phone and as soon as the call ends, he lets out a giant sigh of relief, watching Lee Young-min's reactions in the mirror opposite him.

Almost immediately after the call ends Lee Young-min's phone begins to ring and we all cringe as Bu Seok's mother's name appears.

"Don't answer."

"Eomeoni will kill me if I ignore your mother's call," Lee Young-min winces at the thought. He touches his ears tenderly as though imagining his mother pulling on them in punishment is taunting him.

"You don't have any more information to tell her, so it's not like you'd be of any help. It's my girlfriend after all," Bu Seok shrugs.

Lee Young-min's lips twitch at the word 'girlfriend,' but he remains silent. The phone stops ringing and we all let out a mutual sigh of relief that the 'threat' has ended or at the very least been delayed.