You've got me mesmerized

10.

10.

"So to sum up, you rejected her after she kissed you and now you're mad about the fact you guys don't talk ?" Hyein, who the Aussie line just picked up from the airport, said sarcastically.

"If you put it like that, it just sounds so dumb. That's not fair." Danielle whined as she squeezed the cushion she had in her arms while sitting on the couch of her living room.

"It is what it is, sweetheart. You fucked up this time." Hanni said, backing up Hyein's point.

Danielle sighed, she knew her friends were right but she was still annoyed by them ganging up against her. She also knew she had no right to be sad about a situation she created but imagining her life without Haerin in it anymore wasn't pleasing her at all.

"Danielle... What's going on ? Tell us the truth. You told me you kissed her back at first? Why would you do that if you didn't like her ?" Hyein said more softly as she sat at Danielle's right side.

"Hyein just let go. That girl is so stubborn, it's been months since I tried to squeeze it out of her but she just won't admit it." Hanni sighed.

Danielle buried her face into the cushion just trying to push back the tears that were forming in the corner of her eyes. "You guys don't understand. I can't love her and she should not love me."

"But why !?"

Danielle raised her head and took a deep breath before looking into her friend's eye.

"Y'all know better than anyone how my dad is."

Hyein rolled her eyes. "Who cares about him ? Screw him ! Danielle, how much time are you going to restrict yourself because of him? Studying in a degree you don't care about. Giving up on your dream to open a flower shop and now also giving up on the girl you're obviously infatuated with !?"

Hanni nodded, softly caressing Danielle's hand. "She's right. Danielle, since I know you... I never saw you being this genuine and happy with someone. This is important. You can't just waste what you guys have."

"But..." Danielle huffed and cleared her throat not to tear up. "It isn't just about me anymore. He could harm Haerin. I know what he's capable of. Haerin isn't like us, she doesn't come from a wealthy or powerful family. She entered this university just by herself, working her ass off to get a scholarship and enough money to live. He could erase all of this in a blink of an eye. He could make sure she never gets a job and ruin everything she built up by herself until now. I told you, we can't be."

Silence. Hyein and Hanni didn't find anything to say to Danielle's speech. She got a point.

"But you did realize you love her ?" Hanni asked quietly, almost like she knew she shouldn't ask but it was stronger than her.

"I did... I think I always knew."

"Okay. Enough." Hyein said as she stood up and lifted her friends by their arms. "I didn't come back to Korea for this cranky ass mood. We're going out."

"Hyein please..." Danielle sighed.

"Not negotiable. You need to change your mind at least for today."

The next day, Hanni had a rendezvous with Minji. She needed to come up with a plan and Minji's help was necessary.

When Minji arrived at the location, she immediately spotted the little Aussie girl. What was surprising however was the fact that Hanni was sitting on another girl's lap. She wondered who she was and what was the nature of their relationship to be this close and clingy.