FLAME - EPISODE 23

Author POV

Surrounded with trees and serene calmness,Seoyeon can be seen scribbling away in her notepad with an airpod stuck in her ear. Humming to the the song of her favorite K-musician, Lisa,she doesn’t notice the presence of Ji-hoo who is shocked to find her here. This is like Ji-hoo most favorite spot in the whole of Jin college when he is not chasing ladies.

Ji-hoo crouched beside an engrossed Seoyeon,who on instinct turned and slapped Ji-hoo across the cheek.

“Oww!”,he winced and fell to the floor.

“Its you!”,she glared at him once she saw that it wasn’t an intruder.

“Is that how you say hello”,he raised his brow at her,rubbing his hurting cheek.

“I was about to say sorry but on second thought…..you deserve it!”,she eyed him.

“What were you thinking? Sneaking up on a lady?”

“Nice way to apologize”,he rolled his eyes at her word.

“Yunno,I didn’t expect seeing a feisty lady in a place like this”,his question came out a little sarcastic.

“And I didn’t expect a pervert and lady’s guy to be in a quiet place like this”,she Snapped back at him with a sarcastic reply.

“Are you never exhausted for what to say?”,Ji-hoo groaned as he couldn’t find a suitable reply to snap back at Seoyeon.

He never wins against her and he finds it rather intriguing.

* * *

LEE JIM-IN

My grip on the steering wheel made my knuckle turn whiter as I watched Aera hug him. She can’t do that around me! Is that a sign that she really doesn’t want any affiliation with me?

I clenched my jaw and my face hardened as unknown emotions swirled in my thought.

I looked outside again and I caught a glimpse of Aera walking towards my car.

‘Why is she approaching my car?’.

She entered and slumped not even regarding my presence,as she shut her eyes.

“What are you doing in my car?”. My voice jolted her,Causing her to open her eyes,abruptly.

“What are you doing in Min-jun’s car?”,she glares at me.

‘Ohh….that fits the puzzle’.

I glanced at my left hand side and saw another Red car and then I understood what is happening.

“So you wanted to go with him”,I raised my brow.

“How is that your concern?”,she frowned.

I shook my head not wanting to seem impatient and forgetful so that I won’t scare her away.

‘You are really exceeding my expectations,naive rabbit’,I mused.

I ignited my car and it roared to life.

“What are you doing?”,she faced me and equally raised her brow.

I don’t know maybe I should be happy that she is speaking up already or sad that the meek rabbit is gone.

“Do you expect me to let you go after you walked into my car?”,I also frowned,obviously not liking where this conversation is heading to.

“I don’t want to be seen with you”,she pointed out.

“Why would that bother me?”,I shrugged and That word became a mistake as she added meaning to my word.

“Right!”,she snapped and hit me on my arm,”why would you be bothered? Its not like you are the one people will lay ambush for nor will it be you that gets hit with basketball”.

“Its me that will get hurt! Not you!”,she yelled and continued to hit my arm.

“YOU SON OF A BISCUIT!!”,She raved.

Authoress thought* I thought its son of a b***h. Aera sha form her own

I paused and stared at her Aera.

‘Son of a biscuit? Really?’.

I tried to hide my amusement.

“I’m sorry that came out wrong”,I apologized.

She looked up at me and lowered it later.

“Let me go”,she said.

“I’m sorry but I’ll have to decline that offer”,I winked at her and zoomed off.

“I want to take you somewhere that is not Jin college”,I added but through out the ride she decides to ignore me.

I let out a low chuckle,”You know…I want my naive rabbit back”.

“I am not a rabbit”,she growled.

“It won’t change my mind”,I shrugged.

…………………..

We arrived at the Lee ancestral mansion and with only an expression from Aera,I knew that she is awed by what her eyes are feasting on.

“Who owns this mansion?”,she dragged her gaze from the mansion and stared at me.

“It yours. I built it for you”,I grinned.

Her eyes widened and I almost thought that it will pop out.

“You are kidding right?”

“Have you lost it?”

“Do you need to see the Psychiatrist?”

I raised my brow truly amused at her expression. Isn’t she supposed to be squealing all over the place and ogling its magnificent size and beauty.

“What?”,I frowned,”you don’t like it”

“I DON’T WANT IT!!”,She kicked me.

“Oww!”,I winced. “You need to tone down your attacks”

“Who told you to buy me a house?”,she folded her arms across her chest.

“Its not yours. Its the Lee mansion”,I groaned while rubbing my ankle.

She frowned.

“I was kidding”,I groaned the more.

“Yah!!”,she snapped not liking the stunt I pulled on her.

I didn’t let her say word and dragged her towards the pool ignoring the shattering of plates and cups by the servants.

‘Did young master just bring a lady home?’

‘A lowly dressed one at that!’

‘Who is she?’

Those murmurs and the scene they saw today will be a hot topic amongst them till it fades away.

“Why did you bring me here?”,she said not sparing me a glance but staring at the pool and saw her expression changed severally-like she was recalling a bad memory. The one I know of.

“Fresh sight! You know I just want to see you without you walking on thin thread,scared of people seeing you”.

“Why do you want to see me?”,she raised her eyes to look at me.

“Stop the questions”,I scratched the back of my neck,feeling nervous.

“Why?”

“SPIDER!!”,I yelled and pointed to the floor and without even looking she screamed and fell into the pool,dragging me along.

“Did you kill It?”,her eyes moved around in an impatience manner.

“Um…”,I scratched my head.

“No spider”,I confessed.

“No WHAT….!!”,she hollered and flicked my forehead.

“Yah!!”,she shouted.

“Do you want give me a heart attack?”

“Son of a biscuit”.

“I really like your curse word”,I grinned.

“This is not a comedic situation”,she glared at me.

In no time,I realized that she is leaning close to the rail while I am leaning closer to her. Our dress were and stuck to our body like a second skin,obviously showing her cleavage.

I gulped in.

JUNG AERA

Okay! This is bad!,I wailed in my head as my brain began to register the intimate position Jim-in and I are in.

Did he have to scare me with spider?

Its all his fault!!

I kept wailing in my head.

My heart keeps slamming repeatedly against my chest. I want to pull away but every cell in my body keeps saying otherwise. Its like I have been hypnotized.

His honey brown eyes,strong jawline,chiseled face,his lips…oh God….

My eyes stuck to his lips and I swallowed;

How can a guy lips look so soft

Involuntarily,I bit my lower lips as his stare is begin to affect me and damn! If I am not all red and flustered.

He licked his lower lips and I gulped in as my eyes fell on his lips,resisting the urge to lean even more closer.

At that moment,all atom of sanity was lost and I know that if he so as to make an inch close to me..I am done for!!

“Aera”,Jim-in breathed out,letting out a low frustrated groan and leaned on my neck,his breath causing tingles all over my body.

Aera shivered with his closeness.