Chapter 106 - Discussion On Future

Next day, Ian kept insisting Song Ji Hwan to have a word with Kiaraa and to find out about what she feels towards him.

Feeling bad for Ian's desperate state, Hwan agreed to talk to her on that same day itself.

Kiaraa and Song Ji Hwan made plans to go to a new café that was opened in the city. 

"It is sometimes so nice to just hang out by ourselves, right?" Song Ji Hwan asked Kiaraa after they settled at a corner table.

"Hmm, but I don't understand why would you not go out on a date with your girlfriend and ask me out instead?" Kiaraa doubtfully asked him while checking the menu.

Hwan awkwardly laughed, "Girlfriends come and go, friends are to stay forever"

"Cut that bullshit and come on point" Kiaraa's attention was still in the menu.

"As you know, next week I am starting my internship at the Kim's entertainment company"

"Hmm, I know"

"I was feeling a bit nervous and just wanted to talk to you about it" Song Ji Hwan immediately made up whatever lie he could come up with.

"What about it?"

"Do you think I am doing the right thing?"

"Hwan, you should do whatever you want to do and not care about other people's opinion. Everyone feels entitled to share their opinion on our lives but if we ever encounter a problem, these people just sit back and enjoy. So, don't give a damn about this world"

Kiaraa decided her order and signalled the waiter to come.

The two people placed their orders and Hwan admiringly looked at Kiaraa, "Thank you for your words, I am feeling better already"

"You wasted a lot of your money; I could have said these words on phone too." Kiaraa implied he unnecessarily brought her to this café.

"Come on Kiaraa, isn't it nice to hang out by ourselves without Ian?" Song Ji Hwan planned to slowly bring Ian in their conversation and find out what she feels towards him.

"Why without Ian? You have a problem with him?" Kiaraa looked suspicious.

"No, not exactly but sometimes he is annoying"

"How so?"

"Don't you think he is a bit clingy sometimes?" Song Ji Hwan tried to read her expressions.

Kiaraa got annoyed with his question, "I think it is you who is annoyingly clingy sometimes"

"Woah, I spend most of my time with my girlfriend, when was I clingy?" Song Ji Hwan was clearly offended by her accusation.

"Exactly, in the similar way my Ian is also just friendly not clingy. Don't talk ill about him behind his back" Kiaraa warned him surprising Hwan as he didn't expect this.

"Hmm, seems like someone has a crush on Ian" Song Ji Hwan teased her to again see her reaction.

Kiaraa rolled her eyes at him, "You need to seriously grow up"

"Hey, there is nothing wrong on having a crush on someone, it is common at our age." Song Ji Hwan was trying his best to get more information from this girl.

"I know there is nothing wrong, my current crush is Taylor Lautner" Kiaraa informed him.

"Oh, but you must like Ian too, after all you two are so close" Song Ji Hwan tried to pursue her.

Kiaraa glared at him and deeply sighed, "Hwan, why are you acting like Aera and Kim Do-Yun? If I like Ian, why would I deny or hide it? I would have proposed him myself"

Song Ji Hwan could see she was being honest and was not shyly trying to hide her feelings.

"Oh"

"You look disappointed" Kiaraa commented.

Song Ji Hwan shook his head, "Why would I be disappointed?"

'Rather this was a win-win situation for me, if you like Ian, then Ian will be happy. If not, my Hyung will be happy.' Hwan thought to himself.

"Anyway, forget I asked you such weird questions" Song Ji Hwan said not wishing to prolong this topic as Kiaraa is smart enough to figure out things if he is on the same topic for a long time.

"Already forgotten" Kiaraa flashed a friendly smile and the two friends spent some time together before heading back to their homes.

…

That day Hwan narrated the whole conversation that took place between him and Kiaraa to Ian, who got a bit upset after finding out his feelings are not yet mutually involved.

"Sorry dude" Song Ji Hwan felt bad for his friend.

"Not your fault man."

"So, what's next? Are you going to give up on her?" Hwan was curious to know what would be Ian's next step.

"She is my future Hwan. How can I give up on her?"

"So…"

"I'll just wait for two years. Once she is done with her twelfth grade, I'll confess my feelings to her and will ask her to date me" Ian shared his future plans.

"Hmm okay" Hwan didn't bother much as Ian shared something he wishes to do after two years.

Soon, Ian would be starting his college and Hwan thought he or Song Ji Hun might just meet some other girl in college and move on from Kiaraa.

He knew the chances of this happening in Song Ji Hun's case is almost zero but he still hoped for either of Ji Hun or Ian to move on from Kiaraa to avoid future complications.

…

Song Mansion

The family of five were sitting around the dinner table having their dinner.

After they were done Ji Seo Yun started one discussion she had been meaning to bring up for quite some time.

"Ji Hun, let's go for shopping tomorrow and let's buy you some more winter clothes as I heard winters in USA is unbearable"

Song Ji Hun's heart started beating faster but he calmly looked at his mother.

"Mom, I decided to stay back in Seoul. I wish to study business management from Seoul National University and not go anywhere else." Song Ji Hun announced his decision.

"Hmm, that would be great. I would love to have my grandson right in front of my eyes" Grandpa Song immediately said as he was in favour of Ji Hun's decision but same was not the case with Ji Seo Yun.

"Ji Hun, you have been accepted into Harvard. Do you realize no one rejects an admission in Harvard?" 

Only Seo Yun knew how difficult it was for her to control herself from beating up her son right now.

"Hmm, I do. I made this decision after weighing all the pros and cons. Our SNU is no less than Harvard. If I stay here then I can even work with dad and learn about our business from him which can't be done from there." Song Ji Hun calmly put his point forward.

"You can visit Seoul during your holidays and train under Jae Ho. Just for this reason you don't need to stay back" Ji Seo Yun countered her son's logic.

Song Jae Ho calmly poured water in a glass and handed it over to his agitated wife.

"Ji Hun, did you think through your decision?" Song Jae Ho asked his son.

"Yes dad" Song Ji Hun confidently responded.

"Cool, since he made a decision…"

"What decision? He is just eighteen Jae Ho. He is still not old enough to make decisions for himself. He is committing a mistake and as his parents it is our responsibility to stop him" Ji Seo Yun couldn't believe her husband was so calm about it and is even supporting their son over her.

"Seo Yun, we can't force him to do something he doesn't wish to. Also, graduating from SNU is a big deal."

"But not as big a deal as graduating from Harvard" His wife countered.

"Our child will be in front of us, dear. Think about this" Grandpa Song too tried to convince his daughter-in-law.

"I understand your point father, but when he has all the best options, why go for second or third best?" Ji Seo Yun quietly explained herself as it was her father-in-law she is talking to.

Grandpa Song didn't say anything else and decided to let them solve this problem amongst themselves.

Song Ji Hwan expected this drama, so he sat through everything quietly wondering if Song Ji Hun is indeed making the right decision. 

He was aware Song Ji Hun wishes to stay back for Kiaraa but he was not sure how beneficial is that going to be anyway.

"Because he should do what he wishes to do as he has that luxury" Song Jae Ho answered his wife.

"Jae Ho, what is wrong with you?" Ji Seo Yun helplessly questioned her husband as she expected him to be on her side in this discussion.

"He worked hard for two years and did extremely well in his academics. Shouldn't he have the right to make a decision about his own life?"

"What if he regrets it in future?"

"Then he will learn from it and would know what not to do" Song Jae Ho said as a matter-of-fact.