Chapter 22 - Soju Game

"What was that?" Jin Ae asked Jun Ho, who was now leaning on the wall. After leaving Miss Oh's office, Jin Ae hurriedly pulled Jun Ho somewhere far, away from prying eyes.

"How did she know?" She demanded.

Jun Ho picked his lower lip instead of answering. His eyes were out of focus. He would steal a glance at her repeatedly and would act as if he was looking down if she tried to meet his gaze.

"So she thinks it's alright for you to stay at my house because she thought that we really have a relationship," she stared at him again but he was still out of focus.

Sensing that she wouldn't get an answer from him because it looked like his mind wasn't processing yet, Jin Ae snatched a look at his watch by glancing over, and that unexpected action from here made him flinch. Not aware of his reaction, she muttered to herself how her precious time was wasted.

"Come on! Let's go," she said after an exasperated sigh.

Jun Ho stretched up and stopped her.

"I know it's my fault to put you in this situation, so.... let's just tell her that I'm staying in your eyes, I'll just find my way where to stay."

Jin Ae crossed her arms in front of her, raising one eyebrow up.

"Why? Are you planning to stay in one of the rooms here? Or in a sauna while eating boiled eggs?" Jin Ae retorted. In spite of her tone, he could feel her concern. Her eyes softened.

"-stay in my place... If you think about it, it's also my responsibility to take care of the school's guests."

Then she walked ahead.

* * *

Jin Ae opened the door and let Jun Ho come inside before her.

"You've been here once so I know you already have an idea where my bedroom is...."

And she turned around to face him, "-that is, of course, off-limits. Upstairs is off-limits to be precise," and she stared at him as if he'll do something bad. The guest rooms were located on the ground floor so he had no reason to go upstairs.

"Don't worry. I have no intention to do that," he retorted, pushing his hands inside his pockets.

Jin Ae turned around and continued walking while he followed suit. Suddenly, she stopped by the telephone when she saw it blinking. She clicked on the button and the voice of her sister filled the room:

"Eonnie! Have you checked my text message?"

Jin Ae stumbled inside her bag to bring her phone out upon hearing that, then her eyes widened after reading her text.

".... I'm just leaving a call just in case. I'm staying at Jenny's home tonight. Lock the door and do not let someone inside the house, okay. Take care!"

Jin Ae froze from her spot. Okay, so they will be alone tonight. That's not the plan!

"I'll just leave," she heard Jun Ho say.

He did not want to make her uncomfortable, he held the handle of his bag tightly and was about to turn around when the doorbell went off. They looked at each other. She was not expecting someone though. Who was it?

Jin Ae peeked at the gate hole while Jun Ho stood behind her. Doing that was useless for Jin Ae so she decided to just open the gate even without knowing the people behind it.

"Tadaaa!"

Jun Ho was surprised to see Teacher Im Si Wan and Teacher Hyomin. Si Wan was holding a paper bag with soju while Hyomin was holding another paper bag.

"We heard that you'll be staying here at Teacher Son's house so we thought of throwing the long-overdue welcome party for you, Mr. Hyun"

Teacher Han Seo Ah emerged from their back, smiling hideously.

A while back, Seo Ah was furious to find out that Jun Ho was staying at Jin Ae's house. While waiting for a bus, she saw Jin Ae's sister waiting too. She should be in the house now and should be keeping an eye on her sister, she thought. When she asked her, she found out that she'll have a sleepover at her friend's house.

Alarmed with the thought of Jun Ho and Son Jin Ae spending the night with only two of them together, she pulled Si Wan and Hyomin to join her in her plan- Mission Sleep Over!

The three unwanted guests made their way inside Son Jin Ae's house. Jin Ae hadn't spoken one word since the moment they invaded her house. She just stood frozen after closing the door behind her back.

"So..... you just let someone inside your house," Jun Ho said beside her.

"My sister will kill me," she gasped.

"....but that means you're staying, right?" Jin Ae smiled at him. He smiled in return. The unwanted guests were a blessing in disguise, a part of them thought.

* * *

"Wow! The ambiance here is great!"

They were in the backyard. With their chairs symmetrical, facing the beautiful view of lights from downtown. Seo Ah regretted that she could not sit near Jun Ho for he chose to sit on the far right, just beside Jin Ae. Si Wan sat between Jin Ae and Hyomin.

"Okay. Let's play a soju game!" Si Wan said.

"Truth or Dare?" Hyomin asked, feeling excited.

"That's a youngsters' game. Since we are all adults here, let's all play Truth and take one shot after."

"What if you can't tell a truth?" asked Seo Ah.

"You can't take a shot and you can't eat too."

Jin Ae scoffed. 'What a lame game,' she thought.

"Will we just randomly say a truth?"

Jin Ae glanced at the person who just asked the question in disbelief. Is he really going to play that game, seriously? Jun Ho glanced at her and wrinkled his nose. She rolled her eyes in disbelief.

"There'll be a cue word. The one who will start can choose first and anyone can follow suit."

They all seemed up to the game except Jin Ae.

"Teacher Son. You should join too. Okay?"

Si Wan gave her a sweet smile. She did not respond but she lingered her eyes on the grilled meat in front of her eyes.

"Okay, I'll start!" Seo Ah said. Moving slightly so she could catch a glimpse of Jun Ho on the opposite side and of course, be visible in his eyes.

"Ideal type," Seo Ah happily gave the cue word.

Hyomin teasingly remarked, "She definitely wants to know someone's ideal type."

Jin Ae looked sideways in Jun Ho's direction, glancing at him without tilting her head. A woman herself, she knew that Seo Ah had a crush on him.

"Since I have a model-like height, my ideal type is someone tall. A six-footer who looks reliable and can protect me with his buff body. A gentleman and soft-spoken. It would be great if he also has a master's or doctoral degree. Maybe even a writer."

"Wow! You should have given the name instead," Si Wan teased.

Seo Ah just rolled her eyes and shot glass of soju.

Hyomin was second and Siwan third. Jin Ae just stared at the shots of soju they drank and the pieces of grilled meat they ate. Jun Ho looked at Jin Ae who showed no sign of sharing next, although she sitted next to Siwan.

"Oh! I want to hear from Mr. Hyun. He is so good-looking, I wonder what his ideal type is," Hyomin giggled. Seo Ah scooted closer in his direction to be able to see him and hear his answer. It was his cue to talk.

"As for me, I couldn't say it is my ideal type but, I like someone with a strong personality. Who says whatever she wants to say. Someone who is just around my shoulder in height but acts like she's taller than me, you know, in a good way."

"He's a damsel in distress. A damsel in distress," Hyomin remarked, grinning to herself.

"Do you like pretty girls?" Siwan asked.

He paused for a second and answered, "Sh- she's pretty."

"Oh, why do I have the feeling he's describing someone," Siwan giggled. Hyomin chuckled while Seo Ah mused if she fitted his description.

Jun Ho glanced furtively at Jin Ae's direction, in a brief manner so others won't notice. She looked lost in thoughts, staring at the food in front.

"The food won't come to your mouth just by staring, Teacher Son. Your next," Siwan said with a sly grin on his face.

Jin Ae opened her mouth and Jun Ho watched her intently under his pupils.

"Does it count if I answer none? I don't have an ideal type."

"No," Siwan strongly said.

"Even if it's the truth?"

"We will not accept that, right, Mr. Hyun?"

Jin Ae glanced at Jun Ho and he had a look on his face as if he was conned for telling his ideal type while she's not.

"Definitely not," he answered.

Jin Ae shot a dead stare at him.

"You can make one," Hyomin suggested.

"Don't force her if she doesn't like to," Seo Ah mumbled. Then she and Jin Ae shoot dagger eyes at each other.

Ye Ji sighed and stared at the grilled meat once again.

"Alright, hmmm... I like a thoughtful guy...."

Thoughtful.

Jun Ho nods his head.