Chapter 74 - Friendzoned (1/2)

”Yes, if a man and a woman like us can be friends, surely I want to be your friend. What do friends do? Let me see: Real friends do each other favors even when it's inconvenient; and expect nothing in return. Friends are sincere when you're being ridiculous, but they support you when you really need it. Friends count on each other, right?”

Ye Rim could no longer control the conversation after that, and could only agree, stunned, that from now on they were friends. Not just 'friends'. But 'good old friends,' as he insisted. They would have carte blanche to call each other, ask for favors, and exchange confidences. Respecting the limits of decency, since they could not deny their genders, they naturally had complete freedom with each other. Only then could the 'Friendzone Experiment', as he called it, prove who was right.

Apparently Kim Jun Hyeon was a stubborn man, unable to recognize that he had been jealous of her, and that he was being offensive with his 'gift offering' — clearly motivated by his inability to accept that a woman could refuse him.

In fact, she didn't want him.

He was jealous and, in the case of a serious relationship, the next step between them would be him asking her to stop singing. And that… No one had succeeded, or could possibly get her to do.

When Ye Rim told him about her criteria for a boyfriend, she wasn't kidding. That was how she had consciously decided it would be her love life.

Being the fruit of her parents failed marriage, and having met and being pursued by various types of men, she created the recipe for finding the perfect man for herself, inspired by Queen Maeve's legendary motto. Unfortunately, the man who had gotten closer to that…

She shook her head, refocusing on Jun Hyeon, the crazy Dr. Kim. He had called her crazy_ out of pure spite, of course_ but crazy was him!

About this ruse with which he intended to turn the table_ c'mon! She really hoped he didn't think so little of her intelligence.

'Is he really going to devote his time to a 'friend'? I very much doubt it. He is the type who has no female friends. He will not make it. Soon he'll be angry and…' Ye Rim sighed, unsure if she was relieved or sorry. 'Dr. Kim will quietly leave my life as soon as he sees something more accessible and interesting.'

She prepared a rice porridge for Eun Ha, who was lying in the dark in her room all afternoon.

Unlike Ye Rim, who usually needed to let off steam, Eun Ha usually needed time to ruminate her thoughts before saying something; and Ye Rim learned the hard way that she had to respect these differences. Therefore, the singer didn't know if it was a serious issue or really a regular migraine, since Eun Ha always complained about migraines as far as she could remember knowing her unnie

Although Ye Rim wanted so much to let off steam and talk about the absurd situation she had just experienced on the phone as she walked into her friend's room and turned on a lamp, she didn't like seeing Eun Ha with swollen red eyes on the bed.

”Unnie, you're better? No? What about the painkillers?” Without waiting for her answer Ye Rim tucked pillows and cushions so Eun Ha could eat, and sat down beside her, after putting the plate on the nightstand,

”So, are you sure it's not something important, Unnie?” She ran her hand gently through her best friend's hair.

Eun Ha looked up, looking exhausted and defeated. However, Ye Rim could not imagine or suspect anything that could be the cause.

”Thank you, Ye Rim. I'm just feeling terrible.”

”Hmmm… So eat some, unnie. Just a little. I don't think you'll get better if you deprive yourself of food, and I also think it's enough of lying in the dark.” She spoke patiently. Ye Rim was the least patient of the two, but worked hard to gather some patience when necessary. Her friend needed some care. ”And be sure to eat it soon because... while it's hot it's still edible ... After all I made it, hehehe.”

”Thank you, Ye Rim.” Eun Ha obeyed, sitting down with a sigh. ”Were you talking to someone on the phone? You sounded angry.”

”It's no big thing... at all. I'm worried, since you didn't spend the weekend well.” Ye Rim as always hinted that there was something wrong, but as always, if she forced her Unnie to talk ahead of time, they would end up fighting. Then cautiously she asked,

”Has something happened? Did you fight with your mother? Or… is it something else?”