MAZE : The key to love

~Chapter 18~

After about three minutes, Ji Hu dashed up the stairs, washed his hands, grabbed his phone, and plopped down on the sofa. Meanwhile, Jeon unlocked the door and yanked it open to feign a struggle with the “jammed” door. Jessica threw her arms around Jeon, exclaiming, “Gosh, I thought I’d be stuck the whole night! I was really hungry.” She looked a bit flustered, and Jeon suggested she freshen up while he set the table. He hurried down the stairs, leaving the door open as Jessica changed in the washroom.

Once Jeon was downstairs, Ji Hu opened a bottle of oil and poured it on the last two steps. He returned the bottle to the kitchen and sat back down, pretending to scroll through social media. After about five minutes, Jessica emerged in her usual night attire. As she descended the stairs, Jeon positioned himself to catch her in case she stumbled. Ji Hu's eyes were fixed on Jessica's feet, and as she placed her leg on the second step, she slipped. Jeon rushed to grab her, but he lost his own balance in the process. Just as he was about to fall, Ji Hu caught him from behind.

In a moment of chaos, Ji Hu pulled a string tied to the stairs, and two shawls—one white and one red—tumbled down, showering them with confetti and creating a romantic atmosphere. Jessica and Jeon locked eyes, momentarily lost in the moment, completely oblivious to the confetti shower.

Once they regained their footing, Jessica noticed the confetti scattered on the floor and asked the boys, “What on earth is this?” Ji Hu stepped forward, shielding Jeon. “I set this up as a prank on Jeon. Sorry it backfired,” he confessed, taking the blame. Jeon felt guilty for his friend's sacrifice. Jessica, now annoyed, shot a glare at Ji Hu. “Go away from here!” she snapped, and he quickly exited the house.

After dinner, Jeon texted Ji Hu to check if he was okay. Ji Hu called as soon as he saw the message. “Hello! How did it go with her? Any signs?” he asked. Jeon replied, “Hello, not really. I don’t think we’ll see the results tonight; she’s still mad about what you did. Why did you take the blame?”

“No worries, I’m fine. If you had said anything, she might hate you instead of liking you. I thought it best to step back, but we need to plan more since this attempt didn’t have much impact,” Ji Hu explained.

“Hm, okay, take care. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my balance; I ruined everything,” Jeon said, feeling guilty.

“No, Jeon! Don’t worry. Just get a good night’s sleep. Good night!” Ji Hu reassured him.

“Good night! And thank you.” Jeon hung up the phone, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration.

Jeon was feeling really low, convinced he had made their plans pointless. Before long, he drifted off to sleep, consumed by his thoughts. The next day, Ji Hu was shopping at a mall, picking up various items he realized were running low in his kitchen. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a jar of honey. Remembering the viral frozen honey trend on social media, he grabbed a bottle and tossed it into his cart. As he scanned the shelves for more essentials, his phone rang from his pocket. It was Jeon, saved in his contacts as "Jesi Boyfi." With a wide smile, Ji Hu answered, “Hello! Jeon, are you coming over? I think we could find some peace to discuss your situation.” Jeon’s cheerful voice came through, “Omo, bro! How did you know I wanted to talk about that ‘case’?” Ji Hu replied playfully, “Magic! Hurry up; I'm at the mall shopping, but I’ll be right back. I’m heading to the cashier now.” They ended the call.

Ji Hu flagged down a staff member and asked about a few items he thought were out of stock. The staff quickly helped him, saving him some time. He rushed to the cashier, completed his purchases, and excitedly drove home. Upon arriving, he spotted Jeon sitting on the steps at the entrance, holding a bag. Ji Hu called out as he stepped out of the car, “What’s that?” Jeon revealed a large two-liter ice cream tub. Ji Hu’s face lit up, thinking, “At least he brought it. It’s sweltering outside; let’s chill.” He carried two heavy bags of groceries inside and asked Jeon for help with the other bag.