Chapter 77：Assault

Thanks to her elder sister, Ye-Jin had been partnered with a perfectly qualified guy for their pretend date. And coincidentally his name was also Tae-hee. She was grateful for So-ah's farsightedness. It saved her in the nick of time.

The pretend couple stood in front of the restaurant waiting for Ray's arrival. Ye-Jin had been a ball of nerves ever since she left home for this ruse. She didn't even know how she got into this situation. She had been doing pretty well with her one-sided love/crush- by avoiding everything of course- but her sister had to interfere- to alleviate her boredom and now she was stuck.

Ye-Jin: (fidgeting) I hope everything goes according to plan. (Turning to the guy beside her) Are you ready Tae-hee?

Tae-hee: (smiling softly at her) don't worry Miss Ye-Jin, everything will be fine.

Everything seemed fine to Ye-Jin until Ray joined them both with beautiful and Sexy- with a capital 'S'- model latched to his arm like a leech.

Ye-Jin had been lucky that her face hadn't turned a horrible shade of green out of jealousy and anger.

Ray: (waving merrily at her with his free arm) Ye-Jin! You didn't wait for long, did you?

Ye-Jin: (smiling painfully) n-not at a-all. We came here moments before you. (Linking her arms around her pretend lover) Ray this is Tae-hee, my boyfriend.

Ray looked at the guy in front of him from top to bottom, keeping his face impassive. He finally let out a dry chuckle and gladly shook the guy's hand and greeted him enthusiastically. Well, he could chop off the guy's limbs but sadly he couldn't.

Ray: (sounding apologetic) I hope you won't mind another person joining us. I thought of making this a double date so I invited Tara with me.

Tae-hee: (placing an arm casually around Ye-Jin's shoulder) we don't mind at all, right honey?

Ye-Jin: (looking up in surprise) y-yes.

For a moment Ray's calm facade crumpled. He couldn't handle the sight of some other man putting his hands on the woman he truly loved. He was in time brought out of his stewing by a pinch to his arm. He exchanged quick thanks with the woman in his arms for keeping him in check.

Truth be told he had gotten to know of the sister's plan before coming to this fake double date.

***

After Vic had left him to his devices, Ray went out to meet with Shin Jay of all people. He remembered he had to take care of a few legalities on behalf of his sister. The girl wanted to buy a huge villa and he was left to deal with the procedures. With nothing better to do, he went to meet his lawyer.

His meeting with Shin-Jay which had been quite fruitful. The guy accidentally spilt the beans. After the negotiations, Shin Jay's phone rang, it was So-ah calling him. Ray was preparing to bid goodbye when their conversation caught his ears.

Jay: What are your wishes for the day?

...

Jay: (frowning) I don't think I know anybody named Tae-hee?

...

Jay: Well, I don't know where he currently is-

...

Jay: (sigh) ok fine, I'll track him down for you! Jeez, woman!

After ending the call, Jay was met with Ray's incredulous eyes. He knew it was the end of him. His pregnant wife would kill him in cold blood for ruining her perfect plan. How could he forget that the main character of the story was sitting in front of him? He was dead meat! He was sadly a henpecked husband.

In a state of panic, Shin Jay couldn't think of any proper excuses. He chuckled brokenly once and sighed in defeat. With one look he could tell that Ray had figured out things for himself.

Ray: (blandly) There is no Tae-hee who is dating Ye-Jin?

Shin Jay nodded in reply.

Ray: (confused) but why?

Shin Jay could only shrug and send him off quickly.

Thus, Ray was on cloud nine but he wanted Ye-Jin to drop her act and come clean. His only thought when he had left the lawyer's place was 'two can play the game Ye-Jin-ah.'

As a result, he had begged his long-time friend Tara to help him stage a drama with him that evening.

***

Throughout the painfully long date, Ray noted that the guy holding Ye-Jin's hand was pretty smooth with his job but he couldn't see that Tara had become a complete pain for Ye-Jin- who had been stewing in jealousy.

Half-way through their dinner, Ye-Jin had excused herself to the washroom, not able to handle the extreme PDA happening in front of her. Ray could only stare at her disappearing back before sighing in irritation.

Finding the opportunity Tara moved away from Ray and breathed a sigh of relief. She was tired of clinging to the guy the whole evening.

Tae-hee: (sipping the wine from his glass) why not tell her your feelings?

Ray: (taken aback) did you say something?

Tae-hee: (rolling his eyes) I am Shin-Jay's close friend, Ray, of course, I am aware of several things. Moreover, I do have eyes.

Ray: (running a hand through his hairs in frustration) you knew all along?

Tae-hee: (winking) Miss Tara is an amazing actress.

Tara: (rolling her eyes) don't tell me, I've been asking him to come clean already. This whole thing is a laugh riot.

Ray: (slumping in his chair) she started it.

Tara: (swatting him on the head) what are you? Five?

Ray: (annoyed) Hey! Don't hit me!

Tara: I will do it again if you don't confess soon and in the meantime if she finds someone else.

***

Simultaneously when this exchange was taking place at their table, Ye-Jin was about to open the door to ladies-room when someone grabbed her unceremoniously and pinned her to the wall. She was shocked out of her wits would be an understatement. The guy- a total stranger- was drunk beyond measure and his every breath reeked of alcohol.

Ye-Jin started struggling to set herself free but the man was too heavy and no match for her strength. He roughly put his mouth on her and forced himself on her- it effectively did cut all her air supply and made her go numb with fear. She felt the guy's hands wandering all over her body. She could feel intense pain when he bit her lips harshly demanding an entry. The pain that shot through her was like a wakeup call for her frozen nervous system. Her struggles became more rigorous and vicious.

The sudden rush of adrenaline was still not enough to set herself free. The man might've done this to a lot of women because he had firmly locked her two legs with her own. She started to feel utterly hopeless. But she couldn't give up, no matter what.