Chapter 39 - Give my Shirt Back

Eun Ha proudly opened the box: "Ta da!"

"Wow! Unnie, your boss's wife is really generous!"

Ye Rim was in a good mood now, while the two friends used the rest of Tuesday night for the weekly Spa Night ritual. Eun Ha was showing off the little gifts that Mrs. Ahn had brought her from abroad, mostly cosmetics, while Ye Rim was busy exfoliating her face and neck in a circular motion.

"She's so lovely! Just like Dr. Park."

"That's true, he's funny as well. But then that's why he wasn't hanging on at Pearl?"

"Yes, when his wife is abroad, he comes back home early to be with his mother, who lives with the couple and is very old. That's why he doesn't hang out with his friends when Mrs. Ahn is out. Have you decided what color to wear tomorrow?" The oldest showed three new nail polishes that came in the gift box.

She turned, checking the nail polish vials as she went about her beauty routine. Ye Rim was attracted to a flashy color, but was inclined towards the nude tone as well:

"Ah unnie, I'm not sure."

"Which one do you think will look better with your 'audition look'?" The fairy asked. She was still surprised at all that Ye Rim had told her earlier. And about how compelling MP Lee had been when he talked to her donsaeng, while reaching out to help Ye Rim. For Eun Ha, this man's intentions were still not clear, but she could bet on the most likely, feeling she had a good chance of being right.

"Maybe the fuchsia?"

"Aish, are you really calm about this audition? Like it is nothing? There are you, so composed, so blasé… Am I the only one excited, and squee! about it?" Eun Ha was confused about Ye Rim's reactions.

"I'm just thinking my last few days have come down to getting weird apologies from people who misjudged me."

"At least this specific apology is willingly made, well noted." Eun Ha recalled, comparing the two men so that Ye Rim could see what she was seeing.

But she also knew Ye Rim well enough to know that she'd hate to mix romance and career. If she didn't want to turn Ye Rim quarterback mode on, it was a good idea not to highlight her impression that the musician might have some romantic interest on her.

"Ah… Well, at least I thought so. How can I say, unnie…? I just didn't want to have too much expectation on this…"

"This, or him?" The older one teased as she prepared the material for Ye Rim's nails.

Ye Rim threatened to throw the towel at her friend, but it was just an empty threat. "Unnie! What are you talking about? Not every man I met is interested in me, differently of what you might think."

"I don't think so." Eun Ha vehemently denied, taking her friend's hand to begin the manicure. "I just think it would be nice if you met someone other than 'Oppa', someone you could…"

"Oh, Unnie, don't even start."

'Ay unnie don't even start!" En Ha imitated her, in a joking and pitchy tone. "I think I'm already sympathizing with this mysterious oppa who fights with you and seems to really care about your talent being recognized. And who says things you need to hear. Can you introduce me to him? It is clear that we are soul mates. And he's even started sharing my workload!"

The younger woman laughed, amused, but before she could reply, the message alert on her cell phone rang and she gave attention to it.

'I hope it's MP Lee', Eun Ha thought.

At this point, everyday activities and her constant preoccupation_ namedly, Ye Rim_ took her focus off her new magical discoveries.

The unpleasant situation that Ye Rim had experienced today was the result of one of Eun Ha's actions back in the past.

And knowing that her every decision to push her friend away from fame and danger, hurt Ye Rim so much and left consequences, was not the best of feelings. Musician Lee could be just one among so many admirers who sought to win Ye Rim's heart.

As long as it could keep Dr. Flamingo away from Ye Rim, it would be a great distraction. And if Ye Rim ended up liking him after all, at least her dear friend wouldn't have her heart broken ever again. After all, he was an artist too, and could understand Ye Rim better than any other man.

Oblivious to her unnie's thoughts, Ye Rim was surprised to find that the message was not from who she was expecting, Lee Dae Won, but from Kim Jun Hyeon.

'Wow! What now? Does he know anything about today? Why he'd called me?'

KJH: "So what's up?" The message said.

NYR: "Just chilling. And doing girl things." She typed with one hand.

Seconds later, another message popped up on her screen:

KJH: "When do you intend to return my shirt?"

Ye Rim blinked. She had completely forgotten about the piece of clothing.

NYR : "I'll give it back as soon as I fix something. I think after washing it, a button got loose." She replied.

The 'is typing…' message has appeared and disappeared several times, making her anxious. Eun Ha quietly followed with constant glance checks while doing Ye Rim's manicure.

When at last the answer popped up on the screen, it was,

KJH: "Did you blow up my shirt like you blew up your dress?"

KJH: "Will you at least admit it?" An emoji of a BOOM! popped on the screen.

"Oh, he thinks he's so funny ...!" Ye Rim's loud thought got Eun Ha's attention. The friend raised an eyebrow.

She quickly typed,

NYR: "Your shirt has not exploded, after all it is sturdy enough to hold back your ego."

"Who isn't as funny as he thinks?" Eun Ha asked.

"Kim Jun Hyeon oppa, also known as Dr. Kim. He's asking for his shirt back." Ye Rim explained.

"Wow, how petty!" Unnie noticed, turning her attention back to her donsaeng nails, worried. 'Why is this idiot Dr. Flamingo getting in touch, in reality? His shirt? Sure not. Oh sure, he knows Cute MP Lee is in the area.'

Ye Rim, by her side, was staring at the screen in expectancy. Maybe her joke was too aggressive. 'Did it?'

A laughing emoji emerged shortly after his message.

KJH: "Yes, like the Superman's shirt. Super sturdy. But you got a button off it."

NYR: "Maybe that's my power."

'Okay, green light to continue.' She released the air in her lungs.

A pause, and then a new text.

KJH: "Sew my button back and give me the shirt back tomorrow."

"Uh ?!" She was taken aback by the imperious demand.

"What's it? Can't this doctor wait? Is that the only shirt he has, by any chance ?!" Eun grunted out loud, figuring out with one hundred percent hit.

"He's saying here, this is a very special shirt for him." She read the next message. "I wonder why."

"Maybe his ex gave it as a gift," the older one conjectured cynically. She did it on purpose to paint a suspicious scenario for Ye Rim.

"Why do you say that, unnie? Why would it be an ex girlfriend?"

"Because if he has a girlfriend that gave him that shirt, of course he needs it back. Before she discovers he lent it to another girl. How does a man explain that for his girlfriend? By other hand... if he had a current girlfriend _and cares about what she gives to him_ he wouldn't go out on a Friday night with you, even if it was a Divine Decree. So, it's the second case: ex girlfriend."

"Uh, you're right. I should make a joke about that."

"No, you can't. If you take the conversation this way, he'll think you're throwing a bait at him."

"Yeah, you're right again."

"Just give that shirt back to him. Want me to take it to his office?"

KJH: "Are you there? Are you sewing back my shirt's button?" Kim Jun Hyeon was demanding attention on the chat app, so it beeped with his message.

"What's wrong with this man?" Eun Ha huffed.

NYR: "No, I haven't picked up your shirt yet to fix it." Ye Rim responded.

KJH: "You said before your house has sewing stuff everywhere. It shouldn't be so hard to sew it back. Or don't you know how to sew?"

NYR: "At least I know how to sew a button in place."

KJH: "So maybe you don't want to return my shirt, that's it."

"Come on, Ye Rim. Get over with this conversation. I need your other hand." Eun Ha wanted to put an end on all this messaging exchange, but Ye Rim just gestured for her to wait a little longer.

NYR: "Don't rush me. When I have some free time to return your shirt, I'll drop it off at your office."

She laughed mischievously, pleased with her answer.

KJH: "No way. You should deliver it to me by tomorrow."

NYR: "No way it's your only special shirt."

KJH: "Yes. It is. And I want it back soon. Believe me. I'm jealous of that shirt."

An angry face emoji joined the texting.

NYR: "I believe so, since you are sending me so many messages about that. But don't worry, I'm going to return it."

KJH: "I don't know if I believe you. Maybe you have a unique tactic of getting hold of shirts to sell them on the black market for second-hand designer shirts."

The comment made Ye Rim laugh out loud, which again took a hard look from her friend. Eun Ha reached for her, demanding her cooperation to continue the manicure on her right hand.

NYR: "OK. You won. I will no longer sell your shirt to Dr. Kim's fans in the black market. Can I take it to your office tomorrow?" She recorded the audio message, earning an alarmed look from her unnie. Changing the phone carefully to not damage the her now fuchsia nails, she handed her other hand to Eun Ha continue the manicure.

KJH: "How about late afternoon? We can have some coffee later." Was the reply message.

Ye Rim smiled, and Eunha didn't like that smile at all. She didn't even have to follow the text to figure was an invitation to a fancy place.

"He's inviting me for coffee." Ye Rim confided before answering the invitation.

"Did you tell him about tomorrow's audition?"

"Not yet. But I'll make him take me there."

" What do you mean, Ye Rim? Why? "Eun Ha did not understand the logic of the younger woman.

"I feel that there is something between those two friends I need to know."