Honestly Lying ❌

Chapter 27

"W-what?"

My body felt numb upon hearing what she just said.

She took a step away and looked at me like I am some stranger to her.

My heart ached.

Then she turned at Yeri who's standing behind her. "Who is she Yerim?" She asked.

"Chae..." I mustered her name again.

She returned her gaze at me with her forehead forming a straight line. She looked pissed and confused at the same time.

"Chae? Who's Chae? My name is Kim Hyung Soo. I think you've got the wrong person, lady."

Before I could open my mouth, Yeri butted in. "She's a new customer Hyung Soo-ah, she must have mistook you for someone else."

"N-no-"

"Yes Artist Kim, Ms. Yerim is right. My friend here, just mistook you for someone we knew. You kinda look like that person so she got hyped up and hugged you. I'm sorry if that gesture startled you."

It was Tzuyu who cut me off this time. She grabbed me on my arms and try to drag me outside that room. But I held on my ground and looked at Chae.

"I am not mistaking her for someone else!" I yelled.

I walked towards her. "You're Son Chaeyoung! Not anyone else. What are you talking about Chae? What happened to you all these years? Do you really not know me?"

I know I looked desperate right now but I don't care. She's here! Right in front of me! After waiting and hoping that she's alive all these years, she's finally here! On flesh and blood.

And I just can't...I just can't accept this shit.

Her eyes became gentle as she saw me slowly breaking down in front of her.

She reached for my face and wiped the tears on my cheeks with the back of her hand. She smiled at me.

"I think this "Chae" person really holds a special place in your heart for you to shed tears like this. I can feel your sadness lady, but that person really isn't me. I'm sorry."

After she said that, I felt Tzuyu's hands slowly dragging me away from that place. And I let her. Those words drained the strength from me. And I don't think I have enough energy left, to fight my way out from Tzuyu's grip.

But as I walked my way out, my eyes couldn't remove it's gaze from Chae.

I'm seeing a different person yet felt a familiar warmth from her.

She is Chae.

I know it.

I feel it.

----
"Tell me."

I commanded without looking at Tzuyu.

We're inside her car for awhile now. She let me cry on the first few minutes and just sat there silently. She waited for me to calm down, and when I did, she started to spill the beans on me.

"I already had suspicions since last month." She started. "I saw Yeri on a party held by a common friend of my family and hers. I heard her talking to her friend about an art gallery. At first, I ignored it since I am not really into paintings and it also reminds me of Chae."

I can relate to her. I also avoided anything that reminds me of Chae before. May it be paintings or anything related with basketball. It's just making me miss her more.

"But as I saw her showing some pictures of a painting to some prospect buyers, I had a feeling that the pieces are familiar. The way the paintings are painted are so similar to Chae's style. So I couldn't help but investigate Yeri. I had her followed."

She took an envelope inside the dashboard box and handed it to me.

"And these are what my private investigator gave me after a few days of tailing her."

I took the envelope and saw a bunch of photos inside. Some are taken from this place and some are from a local art store, in which Yeri is seen buying a bulk of painting materials.

"She doesn't paint. That I know of. So why is she buying them?" She asked.

"So for me to get the answer, I decided to come to this place. Because according to my investigator, this is where all those materials are brought all the time. So I went inside that convenience store." She pointed the store in front of us.

"And there I happened to meet the "owner" of that gallery. In which I just discovered earlier, that isn't in actuality. Yeri just hired him to pose as the owner."

My brows raised. "Why does she have to do that?"

She shook her head. "Maybe because if it's launched under her name, the gallery would get noticed right away by other businessmen who's into arts. And Yeri would be forced to introduce the artist."

My brows furrowed. I don't understand.

"You know Park Soo-young right?" She asked.

I slightly nodded.

"She really is, in fact, an artist but not a renowned one. Yeri just asked her to pretend to be the person behind Chae's works, and in return she'll have the half price of every painting sold."

"Why?" I asked.

"What why?"

"Why is Yeri hiding Chae away? Why doesn't she remember anything? What happened to her Tzu?"

Tzuyu's face softened. "That's what I was about to ask Yeri earlier when you suddenly entered the room. I also have the same questions as you Mina."

I clenched my fist. I opened the door beside me and hopped out of the car.

I need answers! And I need it now!

"Mina!"

Tzuyu ran after me. I turned to look at her. She halted her step. With the look I gave her, she knows right there and then that she can't stop me no matter what. She just sighed in defeat and walked beside me.

I held the door but it got opened from the other side.

"We need somewhere private to talk."

Yeri said as she opened the door ahead of us. "Follow me."

And we did. Tzuyu followed Yeri's car, while I followed hers. We all stopped at a small guest house located on the secluded part of the beach.

"This is where Hyu- Chae lives. I'll tell you everything you need to know inside. And you Tzuyu-ssi, more than Mina here, it is you who really needs to hear what I'm about to say. Because this whole thing involves you, and your relationship with Chae."

I looked at Tzuyu. What is happening?