152 Playdate (1/2)

It was the day of the 'date'.

Yeo Ri wore her best dress and combed her hair to perfection. She placed a hairpin in her hair for the final touch. She checked her reflection in the mirror, then smiled.

Yeo Ri picked up a tote bag before heading out. Since it was a secret deal, she didn't tell anyone about it, especially her two brothers. Putting Hyuk aside, even Gun would flip if he knew.

”Where are you going?” A voice suddenly asked, startling her. She knew from the gentleness in his tone that the voice belonged to her second brother, Gun.

”I-I'm going grocery shopping. We're out of soy sauce, right? I heard there was a sale on eggs at the mart, too,” Yeo Ri made up an excuse with a fake smile. Hopefully, he wouldn't notice anything strange.

”Grocery shopping?” Gun muttered suspiciously. ”You look a little overdressed, don't you think?” Gun commented. He scanned her from head to toe. The dress she was wearing was something she didn't wear frequently unless there was a special event. Furthermore, she even had a hairpin on. If they had more money, he was sure she would slap on some makeup as well. Usually, she'd just go out wearing a casual dress or t-shirt.

Yeo Ri flushed at his words. ”C-can't a girl dress up every once in a while?! Oppa, you're so mean!” Yeo Ri said, purposely raising her voice to mask her fluster.

Gun's expression changed. Panic flashed in his eyes as he had thought that he had offended her, ”N-no, that's not what I mean, Yeo Ri-ah—” His eyes shook as if he was really clueless on what to do. He also felt bad since Yeo Ri didn't have as many accessories and clothes as other girls her age. Not wanting to make her angrier, he changed the subject, ”A-anyways! Do you want me to come with you? I—”

Yeo Ri's eyes widened as her heart thumped. She couldn't let Gun follow her or the deal will bust. She hurriedly cut off his words, ”Forget it! I'll go by myself!”

”O-okay. Be safe,” Gun looked at her apologetically.

Yeo Ri felt that his gaze stung so she immediately avoided eye contact. Gun mistook it as rejection but Yeo Ri really didn't want to face him after lying to him, so she ran away.

She rode the bus alone to her destination. Her luck seemed to be good since no one came up to her and bothered her, so when she got off at her stop, she had a small smile on her face.

Searching for In Guk was not that hard. After all, if two good-looking guys were standing together, they were bound to catch some eyes.

Wait, two...?

Yeo Ri stopped her footsteps some ways away from them, wondering if she had the right date. It would be too shameful if she went over and he says something like, 'the date isn't today, it's tomorrow,' or something insidious like, 'it was a prank. Did you think I was serious?'

She shuddered just thinking about the possibilities.

Yeo Ri observed the two for a while longer. It seemed like they were whispering something to each other. The unknown man with Joo In Guk was frowning, looking disgruntled. She was too far from them so she could not hear what they were saying to each other.

”Seriously, In Guk? I can't believe you talked me into this. Way to make things awkward!” The guy hissed.

”What? I panicked, okay?! I'm too scared to go alone, so just this once, please, Jin Goo-ya? I'll owe you one,” In Guk begged, rubbing his hands together with puppy-dog eyes. ”Jin Goo, aren't you my friend?” He added.

”Aish, you b*t—” Jin Goo clicked his tongue, his hair rising from the cringe In Guk gave him. A pun using his name was making things even worse, alright? He had half a mind to leave the idiot there alone. Who told him to let his mouth run wild? In Guk's biggest flaw was his tendency to blurt out his thoughts senselessly and today, the consequences had finally came knocking. Jin Goo had thought him pitiful so he went along with the idiot's pathetic request.

Today, on the date a certain girl had agreed to go with a certain idiot, a third wheel had been added.

Hesitantly, Yeo Ri approached In Guk. She had thought it over for some time, and when the two stopped interacting with each other, she took the chance to come close.