Boyfriends-In-Law | Jayhoon [Ongoing]

1.2: Multitasking Girlfriend

Min Ryung giggled as she clung to the arm of her fourth boyfriend, a man who was, by her standards, not particularly handsome but more than made up for it with his deep pockets. They had just finished a shopping spree where he'd showered her with gifts-luxury handbags, shoes, and even a sparkling necklace she had been eyeing for weeks. She was practically glowing with satisfaction.

Her phone buzzed in her purse, but she didn't bother to check it. She knew it was probably her second boyfriend, Jay, texting her again. He'd been blowing up her phone all day, but she wasn't in the mood to deal with his clinginess. Besides, she had more important things to focus on, like making sure her fourth boyfriend was still under her spell.

"Oh, you're so sweet!" she cooed, planting a kiss on his cheek as they stood outside the mall entrance. "Thanks for all the gifts. I'll text you later, okay?"

Mr. Moneybags grinned. "Anytime, beautiful. Have fun with your friends."

With a wink and a wave, she sauntered off, her heels clicking rhythmically against the mall's floor. She started walking toward the spot where Sunghoon, her third boyfriend, was supposed to be waiting.

As she walked, she took a moment to mentally prepare herself. She had a lot on her plate today, juggling all these boyfriends. She didn't want any slip-ups. The last thing she needed was to mix up their names or plans. "Focus," she told herself. "Next up: Sunghoon."

She adjusted her hair, making sure she looked perfect, and strutted confidently in her heels. As she neared the garden area, where Sunghoon was waiting, she felt a surge of anticipation. "Sunghoon's going to fall for this", she thought, her mood brightening even more. She rounded the corner, her heels halting abruptly as her eyes widened in shock.

"Oh my gosh!" she gasped so loudly she almost choked.

There, in the same garden area, stood Sunghoon, looking dashing in his white jacket, and-oh no-Jay, her 2nd boyfriend, holding a bouquet of roses and looking equally dashing. Standing together like they were best friends or something. Both of them. At the same time.

Sunghoon and Jay turned, their faces reflecting equal surprise and confusion. Sunghoon's eyes widened as he saw Min Ryung standing there, frozen in shock. Jay's face went from puzzled to horrified as he realized what was happening.

For a split second, nobody moved. It was as if time had frozen. The only thing Min Ryung could hear was the pounding of her own heart and the echo of the gasp that had escaped her lips.

"Min Ryung?!" Sunghoon exclaimed, stepping forward with an expression that mixed anger and betrayal.

Jay, looking from Sunghoon to Min Ryung, blurted out, "What's going on?

Min Ryung's brain scrambled for an excuse, any excuse, but nothing came out. All she could do was stand there, caught in the most epic of tangled webs she had ever spun.

"Well, isn't this... a surprise!" she blurted out, trying to sound cheerful but failing miserably.

Jay and Sunghoon exchanged a look, both their faces falling as the bitter truth became clear. The only thing missing was a dramatic thunderclap to mark the gravity of the situation.

Min Ryung's mind was in overdrive, her eyes darting between Sunghoon and Jay as she tried to figure out her next move. "How am I going to talk my way out of this one?" she wondered, desperately wishing she could just disappear into thin air. Without thinking, she decided the best option was to bolt. But just as she turned to make her escape, she nearly collided with another familiar figure.

Her fourth boyfriend had returned, looking mildly annoyed but mostly clueless as he walked up to her.

"Hey, I forgot my lighter," he said, approaching her with a confused frown. "I left it in your purse."

Min Ryung's face went pale. "Of course," she thought, "just when I'm about to get out of this mess, he shows up." She cursed under her breath, her heart racing.

Jay and Sunghoon turned their puzzled expressions toward her fourth boyfriend. Jay raised an eyebrow, clearly baffled. "Min Ryung, what's going on?"

"Who's that guy?" Sunghoon asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

Min Ryung plastered on the fakest smile she could muster, desperately hoping her charm would get her out of this mess. "Oh, him? He's just a... a friend!"

Her fourth boyfriend looked at her like she'd grown a second head. "Friend? What are you talking about?" he said, narrowing his eyes. "I'm your boyfriend."

Sunghoon and Jay's jaws dropped simultaneously as they turned to Min Ryung, waiting for her to explain.

Min Ryung opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water, her brain struggling to process the sight before her. "I... I can explain!" She shot a glare at her fourth boyfriend, silently cursing him for not playing along. "Uh... He's just-"

"Boyfriend?" Jay interrupted, his voice rising in sarcasm. "You mean to tell me you're dating him too?"

Sunghoon's eyes widened even further. "Wait, are you serious? You're dating all three of us?"

Min Ryung's fourth boyfriend looked utterly perplexed, still holding out hope that he'd misunderstood. "What's going on, Min Ryung? Why are they calling you their girlfriend?"

She fidgeted nervously, trying to find a way to defuse the situation, but it was too late. The truth was already unraveling in front of her eyes. She could see the anger and betrayal forming on the faces of all three guys.

"Well, this is awkward..." she mumbled under her breath, wishing she could just disappear.

Her fourth boyfriend finally put the pieces together, his face twisting in anger. "Are you kidding me? I'm not just some 'friend,' Min Ryung. I've been spending a fortune on you! And you're dating these guys too?"

Min Ryung winced, realizing how terribly she'd messed up. "Okay, okay, let's just... calm down. I can explain everything. It's just that... I didn't realize you two were..."

"Dating the same girl?" Jay finished for her, his voice dripping with incredulity.

Sunghoon rubbed his temples, trying to keep his cool. "Well, this is one heck of a coincidence."

Min Ryung tried to salvage the situation with a nervous laugh. "Well, it's not like I planned this..."

Jay raised an eyebrow. "You didn't plan it? Because it sure looks like you had a meticulously organized schedule of multiple boyfriends."

Her fourth boyfriend shook his head in disbelief. "I thought we had something special, and now I find out I'm just one of many?"

Jay crossed his arms, clearly fed up. "You've got some nerve, Min Ryung. Here I was planning a birthday surprise, and all this time, you were sneaking around with them."

Sunghoon looked just as betrayed, his voice soft but pained. "I can't believe this... I thought you were the one."

Min Ryung opened her mouth to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come. She was trapped, and there was no way out. All three of her boyfriends stood before her, united in their disbelief and anger, and there was nothing she could do to fix it.

"Well," she finally said with a forced laugh, "at least I'm popular?"

But none of them found it funny. Min Ryung was officially out of luck, out of excuses, and out of boyfriends.

There was no escape. Her perfectly balanced house of cards had just come crashing down in the most spectacular fashion.

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Author's note

Well... Cat's outta the bag..oops!

BTW she is an original character, don't hesitate to hate ig