The Elephant Between Us || SKZ

chapter seven

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A LEMON IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH 

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Christ.

She thought and almost choked as she noticed the Patek Philippe on his wrist. A watch worth more than sixty thousand dollars.

When your lemons suck, be careful taking your neighbour's.

Jeongmin put the glass back on the counter the moment she realized she didn't need to stick with those lemons for the rest of her life. They could change if she was smart using them.

"Thank you for sharing." The man said loudly as he noticed the little drink she had left in the glass, grabbing it to take the rest himself. Then, he signalled the bartender to bring him two more drinks using his fingers. 

The music didn't help the communication, yet Jeongmin wouldn't let it ruin her ideas.

"I've always been very generous," Jeongmin said back, resting an elbow on the counter, her cheek on her palm as she approached the boy.

"I see that." He added, looking at her from bottom to top. 

Yes, she was uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable.

That was why her eyes fell to the watch on his wrist every now and then, to feel that she was doing what needed to be done. That it would be, no matter what, worth it.

"My name's Seo Changbin." He said when the drinks came, raising his eyebrows as he put his phone into his pocket with his eyes on hers.

"Jeongmin." She smiled widely and lifted her glass to tap on his as if cheering for something none of them knew about. "May I ask you a question?" She took a sip. "A quiet shameless one."

"You've already asked." The male said, teasing her.

Hmmm.

Jeongmin laughed and adjusted her dress, accentuating her neckline, which he noticed.

"You look too good for this place." She admitted and looked at the people dancing, pouting as she pretended to hesitate. "Who broke that heart of yours?"

Changbin smiled and, for the first time that night, he moved his eyes away from her and hurried to drink a few more sips.

"Why do I look too good for this place?"

"Oh, are you even asking? Look around, and tell me who else came to this middle of nowhere wearing a suit to sit on a corner to drink alone."

The male chuckled and took a deep breath as he too adjusted his position, getting more comfortable.

"May I take it as a compliment?"

"Of course," Jeongmin nodded and smiled as she finished her drink, combing a few strands of her hair with her fingers. "Who broke it?"

At first, Changbin seemed confused, yet he didn't take long to smile widely at her, drinking what was left in his glass.

"My boss did." 

"What did you say?"

The music was undoubtedly loud, yet she heard his answer. She just wanted them to leave. Together.

Changbin looked around and, realizing they had taken their drinks already, he took his wallet and paid for both, getting up. He didn't need to, yet he approached her ear to ask her if she wanted to go somewhere else. Somewhere quieter. 

Since you insist...

Jeongmin had to look at his watch to say yes.

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You don't need a lot. Just a wide smile, a tight dress and a pair of attentive eyes. If you can, also furrow your eyebrows from time to time, but not too much. Be calm and adorable, but also dominant and mysterious. Give one, receive three. That's the technique.

That's just what you need in order to make a man you just met tell you the complete story of his life. Then, all you have to do is nod your head, pout and compliment the way he was courageous and strong going through whatever he went through. Even if he has got all the bright lemons of God's damn garden, compliment the way he was incredible leading with all that happiness. 

Men love compliments. And what else do they love? Women. So when they are complimented, their brains automatically turn on their hunting mode. 

That was what happened.

Jeongmin had given that guy the attention he didn't get from his boss and, with a mix of chuckles and drinks, he had fallen straight into her trap. He kissed her, touched her and took her to his luxurious place. Easy, right? Jeongmin definitely didn't need a lot. 

She felt like laughing. How on earth hadn't she thought about that before?

It was still dark outside when Jeongmin opened her eyes and, making sure Changbin was sleeping like baby sloths, she checked her phone before standing up, leaving the bed she previously shared with him.

Sixteen missed calls from Jeongin.

How am I even surprised?

Then, she grabbed her clothes and, in less than three seconds, she found the watch on the bedside table. Again, she felt like laughing. If she hadn't spent one hour and a half listening to his life history, she wouldn't believe he was born from golden ovaries. He didn't behave like someone who was used to having more money than two countries together, for sure. 

Jeongmin was about to leave when, as she wore back her shirt, she saw his wallet over his coat.

Too good to be true.

Smiling, she grabbed it, yet her smile didn't take long to disappear completely. Empty? The dude didn't even have five dollars.

Probably wasted it all on drinks? 

Jeongmin didn't even look at Changbin before leaving. She just left, with a watch worth more than she could imagine inside her wallet and the memories of a quite funny night inside her head. 

She just hoped a baby was not on the way.

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