Chapter 99：Found her

Kai scoffed at Ray and Mui followed suit.

They were here worrying their pretty little heads for this man, who they believed was equally missing them but everything was in vain. Their hopes were all dashed and all that was left behind were Echoes of broken expectations. (too dramatic?!)

The saying, "hoes before bros" strongly resonated within their minds.

Ray: (indignant) Come on Kai! You would have been worse if you were in my shoes!

Kai: (sneering) yeah but I am not.

Ray: Well how about that time when-

Kai: (raising an eyebrow) when?

Ray: I'll get you for this in the future! (Yawning) Look it's pretty late, I'll go sleep for a while. A little tired.

Ray tried but he couldn't recall a single time when Kai had abandoned them for his wife. Well, there would be a first time for everything. He was after all married only for a few months now. Right at that moment, Ray wanted to escape from their judgemental looks. They were pretty scathing.

Kai glared at Ray's escaping back but he didn't say much. After all, he knew he'd be terrible if it came to Mel. But he wasn't going to accept the fact that easily and give the dogs a bone to chew on. He would try his best to not become an object of their ridicule.

Kai followed Ray to their shared room after bidding good night to Mui.

Mui quietly watched his older brothers make fools out of themselves. He was slightly annoyed by their pointless bickering but he was more amused. Shaking his head he buried himself on the couch vacated minutes before by Kai.

***

Following morning, Ray was the first to be up. There were dark circles beneath his eyes- a sign of overexertion. But he was brimming with energy. Without waiting for other members, he got ready and headed out to find Ye-Jin. This time he was bundled up to fight against the cold.

Mui saw him leave through his hooded eyes (since he was crashing on the couch) but shrugged it off and went back to sleep.

***

From his memories of what Bo told him after her return, Ray first went to Ye-Jin's workplace. But the result was not fruitful. The receptionist at the desk didn't recognise him and also refused to give him any information about Ye-Jin's whereabouts.

With no other way left Ray pulled out his phone and dialled Aera's number.

He didn't feel comfortable enough to call Ye-Jin's family and it might spoil his surprise. But his calculations went a little astray.

Aera was woken up by the phone call and it would suffice to say that she was more annoyed seeing the who the caller was.

Aera: (sharply) you're still alive?

She didn't even bother saying a small 'hello'. Ye-Jin could put up with such absentee boyfriend but she was extremely pissed at him for causing her friend all that pain.

Ray couldn't think of any proper reply after hearing her harsh tone.

Aera: (scoffing) it's me! What do you want?

Ray was confused by her cold attitude. He couldn't figure out what had pissed this woman off early in the morning.

Ray: I am looking for Ye-Jin. Do you happen to know where she is?

Aera: (sneering) So you're back and you do remember that you have a girlfriend?

Ray: It's fine! I'll look for her on my own.

Ray hung up before she pissed him off too.

He had been an idiot in the past to think that this girl was innocent and sweet.

Shaking his head with a dry chuckle he dialled another number to find out Ye-Jin's location.

Ray: (hurried) Mr Shin! Hello, do you know where Ye-Jin is?

Shin Jay was at first a little confused when he received the call.

Being a new father he had stayed up for the majority of night to take care of his daughter. He was returning to the bed beside his wife So-ah after putting their little baby girl to sleep for the nth time.

Thus, Ray's call and a sudden barrage of questions were not comprehended by his slow brain.

Shin Jay: I am sorry, can you please repeat?

Ray: Do you know where Ye-Jin is? I am not able to reach her.

Shin Jay: n-no... wait! She was here last night and telling about some site visits near her old house.

Ray: (grateful) Thank you, Mr Shin.

He once again didn't wait for any reply and directly hung up.

Once again leaving Shin Jay confused.

He ran a hand through his head and shrugged off the man's odd behaviour. He lied down beside So-ah exhausted.

So-ah: (groggily) who was it?

Shin Jay: (surprised) you're up?

So-ah: mmm-hmm...

Shin Jay: (pulling her in his arms) It was Ray. He is looking for Ye-Jin.

So-ah: (sleepily) oh...

Nothing else was said and the couple quietly laid in each other's arms enjoying the silence until a baby's cry broke cut through the silence.

***

On the other side of the city,

Ray arrived near Ye-Jin's old home after being stuck in traffic for nearly three hours. It was already nearing noon. After arriving there he remembered that he was clueless about her exact location.

He felt like a fool acting without thinking but he couldn't help being clumsy when it came to her.

With no other destination in mind, he randomly drove his car around the neighbourhood hoping to find her somewhere on the way.

After some unsuccessful tries and wasting lots of time, he gave up on his plans of surprising her. He parked his car on the other side of the familiar park and got down with his shoulders drooped in defeat.

With his cell phone gripped tightly in his palms, he entered the park internally cursing his luck for being rotten. He looked up to see a familiar figure staring in the distance.

At first, he couldn't believe his own eyes. He was searching for her everywhere like a clown and she appeared in front of his eyes just like that.

Ray's heart leapt in excitement and he practically ran to where she was sitting. His pace slowed when he saw her shivering. His grin was replaced by a frown.

Without hesitating, Ray removed his jacket and placed it on top of her shoulders. Ye-Jin looked up startled but her face changed quickly. She was shocked.

Ray didn't see any of that. He was busy worrying about how he should warm her up.

Ray: (frowning) Were you planning to freeze to death?

His tone was harsher than he intended it to be. It was laced with disapproval but Ye-Jin sat there like a stone statue unable to say or do anything.

Seeing her stupefied state Ray shook his head. How can his woman be this careless about her health?

Without waiting for her permission he bent down and picked her up 'bridal style' in his arms and walked towards his car.