STRAWBERRIES & CIGARETTES

CHAPTER 10

An eventful month passed by, and there's another thirty days to spend recklessly. Except that this month is not like the previous one.

Harae can already guess: One, a message from her grandma will come in anytime. Second, her date with Mark will be finalized. Three, she will plan her escape double time.

Well, it's all of the above.

"It'll be tomorrow," Harae sighs, tossing her phone on her bed.

"Literally in the next month", Kyla commented. "But you know honestly, I have no bad remarks about Mark Lee. He's known to be a green flag, Hana Rae. Actually, all three of them. It's just that Mark is the eldest and typically the most responsible one."

"Exactly", Harae looked up to her, "I'll just ruin his image. Imagine the media talking about the perfect son and heir of the Lee Medical Hospital getting engaged to the illegitimate child of Yoon Holdings."

"Does your title define your character? Come on, Harae, you're pretty, you're smart, a little bit crazy, and whine so often, but you're nice and have a sense of loyalty."

"Don't forget to add frequent in clubs, constantly waking up from a one-night stand, and currently have a fuck buddy."

"Right, you still never told me who that is", Kyla's brow raised. "Honestly, when you told me that you have a week-old fuck buddy, I assumed you'd stop seeing him a little early right after. I'm surprised you lasted for almost two months."

Harae grinned. "Oh, I thought I never got to meet someone who could satisfy me perfectly until I died, but oh well, I can now die peacefully."

Kyla rolled her eyes. "So do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"Way to break the mood."

"I'm serious, Harae. I know I can't change your mind, but at least give this a shot. Yangyang also told you that, and as your very best friend, I'm asking that you can appreciate Mark—maybe not as your potential fiancé, but as a person."

Harae frowned. Even if she'll spend a whole day thinking about it, she just can't see herself going to the date without messing up the family's plan.

But would Mark mind? Does he want this too? Or is he just the same as her?

"I know what you're thinking. You're considering Mark's side too, I assume?"

"Damn, are you from a family of psychics?", Harae grunts and walks to her wardrobe, opening it to check on dresses for tomorrow.

"We've literally been glued to each other since elementary."

"Yeah, unfortunately", Harae responds, making the latter scoff.

She pulled out a plain black fitted cocktail dress and showed it to the other.

Kyla wolf-whistled, "If he rejects you with that fit, I'll definitely date you instead."

"Girl, I'm an ally, but I still prefer dicks."

"Same. But if Mark will..."