Chapter 97 - Let's Talk About My Harem

"That's what happened, Eun Ha. I am torn. I have nowhere else to sing and on top of that, I owe a huge debt," the younger girl threw herself on the couch in a defeatist attitude after telling the latest events to her unnie.

But out of the corner of her eye, she followed Eun Ha's reactions carefully. She didn't think it was delirium or coincidence all the things that were happening without explanation in her life. People she'd never seen again, resurfacing as if summoned, filled with joy at seeing her, but not so surprised by it. Some even spoke as if the invitation had come from her!

That, and seeing the power cord of her old cell phone out of the right place, and also the fact that Eun Ha had gone to the Octagon without a good explanation… It was definitely as rotten as the kingdom of Denmark, quoting Shakespeare.

Her unnie's agitated, wordless reaction only added to her distrust. She was almost convinced that Eun Ha was the one behind their visits, and was doing it with the best of intentions. But how could her unnie to guess that her meddling would cause such a mess?

But then her unnie stepped out of the window and came toward her, and crouched in front of her, taking Ye Rim l hands and looking into her eyes,

"Ye Rim! I still don't know how, but I'll help you solve it! OK? Don't worry, and especially don't look for any rich guy, like Dr. Flamingo, to borrow money. Keep your pride, okay?"

"Of course I'm not going to borrow money from Dr. Flam… Jun Hyeon oppa!"

"Good! "Eun Ha said with relief, but Ye Rim still thought her best friend's expressions showed guilt and embarrassment. She was almost convinced that Eun Ha was the one behind their visits, and was doing it with the best of intentions. But how could her unnie to guess that her meddling would cause such a mess? 

However, Ye Rim knew that Eun Ha no longer wanted to ask her mother for money, and the only thing she had now was the apartment. She couldn't let her unnie sell the apartment. There had to be another way.

"Do you know what I find weirdest, Unnie ?! Lately a lot of people I haven't seen in years have started to resurface… Ji Woong, Kwang Sik oppa, and even President Baek!"

'Is Eun ha hyperventilating or is it my impression?' apparently throwing this bait casually was revealing many things. From past experience, Ye Rim knew that directly confronting her unnie would only make her retreat into a shell of silence. Eun Ha was very sensitive. But definitely, she needed to make her unnie stop interfering.

It didn't take any genius to understand that Eun Ha had picked up her old phone and was calling people to distract her from something… And she even sensed that this something was Dr. Kim. 'If Eun Ha knew he had nothing to worry about, hahaha…' But it would be no use just talking. Eun Ha would only believe seeing.

It was better to play Eun Ha's game, so,

"You know, unnie, I was happy to see Ji Woong, and I was even surprised that apparently he's single, you know?"

"Really? And is he handsome as usual?"

"Yes. Wow, he has a divine physique! It's so manly! He always tries to defend me," she clapped.

"Yes! Yes! What do you think you're inviting…" Eun Ha clapped her hands too, excitedly.

"Nah, I decided long ago I can't date him, though. In spite of his big heart and generosity, he is very temperamental and violent, on the other hand. I couldn't live with that."

"Uh…" Eun Ha was discouraged, but then she remembered, becoming agitated again,

"But Kwang Sik oppa is still magnificent, isn't it? I saw a picture of him recently in a magazine, and…"

"Yeah, he's charming and elegant and has that cool CEO vibe, and that's why I'm not comfortable with him, you know? He has that way that everything has to be the way he wants. And I'm spontaneous, so if we dated it would be very uncomfortable and weird. I would have to take care of everything I say and do, dress and eat, to be what he wants. Definitely not!"

"Well, but you still have a lot of ardent admirers if you want to get involved with someone now… If you're lonely…"

"Oh, surely not! Who do you think might still be interested in me, Unnie?" It would be better to throw the bait to predict Eun Ha's next moves and try to deflect the damage.

"Dong Woo?"

"My first boyfriend? No way. He got when I joined a band and his band broke up. Immature and passive-aggressive."

"But it's been so long, Ye Rim! But okay, how about Hui Cheol?"

"He went to Italy to be a chef."

"Sun Woo?"

"Drink a lot."

"And… Baek Woo Geun?"

Ye Rim stifled a laugh. She knew that Woo Geun was Eun Ha's favorite candidate.

"Well, he's perfect… for you!"

"Stop it! We know he likes you, not me!"

Ye Rim remembered the famous influencer, who had everything a modern woman could want, and how much he pursued her during the years when Woo Geun studied at the same university as Eun Ha. He was a film and Eun Ha fashion student. That's how they met.

Gorgeous, rich, charming, with a sense of style and humor, he made Ye Rim feel special. But she shook her head,

"Do you know what's the matter with Woo Geun, unnie? The ego. Sometimes I felt like I was a style accessory. The girl who matched him. Sometimes he would tell me that. That I matched him. He's a great friend, but I felt like the girl with him is just the supporting character who enhances his beauty; not a true companion."

Eun Ha widened her eyes, apparently realizing that Ye Rim's words really did have depth.

"Oh!"

"I always thought he liked you better than me, but I was, like… the Barbie for Ken."

It was interesting to note that Eun Ha didn't run to defend Woo Geun this time, and Ye Rim wondered if it was really true that her best friend was hiding a boyfriend from her. And if it was true, why?