Irony of Revenge

Chapter 11

It was not working and Hyebin and Jieun knew that it was noot. It had been about a week since they had set their scheme to make their boyfriends jealous and misunderstand each other.

Hyebin could still sense that Mark was just as distant from her as before. He often made up excuses to turn away from her kisses. When he told her that he was busy, she wondered if it was just an excuse of his to go see Jinyoung.

Nothing much was going well with Jieun and Jinyoung, either. Whenever they were together, she had that feeling that Jinyoung's mind was somewhere else. Sometimes, she would bring up the topic of Mark - acting like she was fascinated by Mark's looks somehow - just to make Jinyoung jealous.

But aside from it rendering him quite uncomfortable, he never questioned her nor did he show any more affection for her - she assumed jealous boyfriends would do anything to keep their girls from wandering off to other guys.

In fact, Jinyoung looked as distracted as he had been before. And whenever he thought her attention was shifted from him to something else, he would check his phone, as if expecting something. She figured it must be texts from Mark.

"We can't go on like this," Jieun said, miserably. She was at Hyebin's place as they needed a discussion.

"No, we can't. Everything isn't turning out as we expected. Damn it! Why can't I just let go of him?"

"Because you love him. And I love Jinyoung, too. What do you have in mind, Hyebin? What should we do?"

Hyebin could not give an immediate answer. She had thought the plan they had tried had been perfect, and was disheartened when she had been proven wrong.

"There's one more way," she started.

"What's it?" Jieun asked, with her interest piqued and silently hoping that whatever it was would work out this time.

"Simply to make them fall for us again. When we try, they'll able to resist us? I don't think so. They're just men after all."

Mark was in the living-room of Hyebin's house and had meant this visit to be only a short one because he was going to meet Jinyoung at his place later.

It was evening outside and he was texting Jinyoung, who said he was just about to leave the golf club. Mark put the phone aside when he heard the footsteps of Hyebin, and soon, she appeared with two glasses of red wine in her hands.

She sat down leisurely next to him on the couch and gave him the wine glass.

"How was today?" Hyebin asked.

"Just as usual. Busy."

"I've missed you," she said, almost in a whisper.

Mark nodded and sipped his wine. As she leaned closer, he got the smell of her perfume, which made him a little dizzy.

Hyebin slipped a hand around Mark's waist and only then he noticed she was only in a long shirt with nothing on her lower part, maybe except her panties.

"Will you stay tonight?"

Mark could not help but notice her trying to sound sensually pleasant.

"Why?"

"Because it's been a while since we spent our night together. You were in my mind the whole day. I want to be with you longer."

With that said, Hyebin put down her wine glass on the table, and when she leaned back against him, she was already undoing his shirt buttons.

She had got only to the third button, however, when Mark stopped her hand. She looked at him, about to ask him why.

"We've work tomorrow," Mark said, sitting up straight, causing her to get off him.

"So what? We always have work. Does it give us a good reason to stop? Don't you want to make love to me?"

"I'm not in the mood, Hyebin. I want to rest, to be honest," said Mark, not looking at her.

"So, you prefer rest to lovemaking? I can't believe you. Don't you want me anymore?"

"Can't you understand me? I've been tired the whole day. I want - no, need to take a rest. I'm not saying that I don't want you."

"You don't say but I know, you don't want me."

"Nonsense," Mark got off the couch and turned to look at her, who was clearly pissed off, "Later, okay? When we've more time. I'm going back home now. See you tomorrow."

Hyebin made no reply and thus Mark just buttoned his shirt again and with no more words, left the place.

Jinyoung pulled up just outside Jieun's house and looked at her taking off the seatbelt. The night was falling and all he wanted was to get back home as soon as possible, because Mark had promised to come meet him there.

"Will you get in too?" Jieun asked, nodding towards her house. "I can make some drinks for us."

"Um...I've some paperwork to finish at home. It'll take long and I need to save as much time as possible."

Jieun pouted and said, "Okay then. But text me when you get back home."

"I'll. Good night."

"Good night," Jieun replied and then instead of getting out of the car, she leaned towards Jinyoung. Next moment, her lips were already on his.

Jinyoung felt her desperate lips and no matter how much enthusiasm she showed, he could not bring himself to move his lips along. It had been a long while since he had ever initiated their kiss.

Just not to give her something to be suspicious of, he thought of responding to her kiss but what he really did was grip her shoulders and pull her away.

Jieun looked startled and stared at him with the questioning eyes.

"I was just about to be carried away," Jinyoung said, with a laugh, just to lighten the situation, "I said I needed as much time as possible? You're a good kisser. But later, okay?"

She did not seem to be satisfied with his response but said, "Later rthen. Take care. Don't forget to text me when you get back home."

"I know. Stay warm."

Jieun only gave him a nod and then got out of the car. She waved at him briefly and then was walking to her house. When she was out of sight, Jinyoung relieved a sigh and started back home.