Chapter 74 - Friendzoned

"Yes, if a man and a woman like us can be friends, surely I want to be your friend. What do friends do? Let me see: Real friends do each other favors even when it's inconvenient; and expect nothing in return. Friends are sincere when you're being ridiculous, but they support you when you really need it. Friends count on each other, right?"

Ye Rim could no longer control the conversation after that, and could only agree, stunned, that from now on they were friends. Not just 'friends'. But 'good old friends,' as he insisted. They would have carte blanche to call each other, ask for favors, and exchange confidences. Respecting the limits of decency, since they could not deny their genders, they naturally had complete freedom with each other. Only then could the 'Friendzone Experiment', as he called it, prove who was right.

Apparently Kim Jun Hyeon was a stubborn man, unable to recognize that he had been jealous of her, and that he was being offensive with his 'gift offering' — clearly motivated by his inability to accept that a woman could refuse him.

In fact, she didn't want him.

He was jealous and, in the case of a serious relationship, the next step between them would be him asking her to stop singing. And that… No one had succeeded, or could possibly get her to do.

When Ye Rim told him about her criteria for a boyfriend, she wasn't kidding. That was how she had consciously decided it would be her love life.

Being the fruit of her parents failed marriage, and having met and being pursued by various types of men, she created the recipe for finding the perfect man for herself, inspired by Queen Maeve's legendary motto. Unfortunately, the man who had gotten closer to that…

She shook her head, refocusing on Jun Hyeon, the crazy Dr. Kim. He had called her crazy_ out of pure spite, of course_ but crazy was him!

About this ruse with which he intended to turn the table_ c'mon! She really hoped he didn't think so little of her intelligence.

'Is he really going to devote his time to a 'friend'? I very much doubt it. He is the type who has no female friends. He will not make it. Soon he'll be angry and…' Ye Rim sighed, unsure if she was relieved or sorry. 'Dr. Kim will quietly leave my life as soon as he sees something more accessible and interesting.'

She prepared a rice porridge for Eun Ha, who was lying in the dark in her room all afternoon.

Unlike Ye Rim, who usually needed to let off steam, Eun Ha usually needed time to ruminate her thoughts before saying something; and Ye Rim learned the hard way that she had to respect these differences. Therefore, the singer didn't know if it was a serious issue or really a regular migraine, since Eun Ha always complained about migraines as far as she could remember knowing her unnie

Although Ye Rim wanted so much to let off steam and talk about the absurd situation she had just experienced on the phone as she walked into her friend's room and turned on a lamp, she didn't like seeing Eun Ha with swollen red eyes on the bed.

"Unnie, you're better? No? What about the painkillers?" Without waiting for her answer Ye Rim tucked pillows and cushions so Eun Ha could eat, and sat down beside her, after putting the plate on the nightstand,

"So, are you sure it's not something important, Unnie?" She ran her hand gently through her best friend's hair.

Eun Ha looked up, looking exhausted and defeated. However, Ye Rim could not imagine or suspect anything that could be the cause.

"Thank you, Ye Rim. I'm just feeling terrible."

"Hmmm… So eat some, unnie. Just a little. I don't think you'll get better if you deprive yourself of food, and I also think it's enough of lying in the dark." She spoke patiently. Ye Rim was the least patient of the two, but worked hard to gather some patience when necessary. Her friend needed some care. "And be sure to eat it soon because... while it's hot it's still edible ... After all I made it, hehehe."

"Thank you, Ye Rim." Eun Ha obeyed, sitting down with a sigh. "Were you talking to someone on the phone? You sounded angry."

"It's no big thing... at all. I'm worried, since you didn't spend the weekend well." Ye Rim as always hinted that there was something wrong, but as always, if she forced her Unnie to talk ahead of time, they would end up fighting. Then cautiously she asked,

"Has something happened? Did you fight with your mother? Or… is it something else?"

Eun Ha stopped with her spoon in the air, and looked at her as if struggling with a big dilemma.

'Why, it must be a problem. Money? Probably. She is always reluctant to let me know about money problems, because she knows I don't have any money. Did her mother say anything about money? Is she owing money ?! Oh! What to do?!'

"Something's going on, but…"

"What?" Ye Rim asked, realizing that Eun Ha really had something to say.

Then her cell phone rang loudly. Ye Rim took the phone from her pocket to turn it off, but her gaze darted to the display, checking who was calling.

DR KIM JUN HYEON

She hung up the requested video call, and typed hurriedly.

NYR: "Sorry, I can't talk now. I'm with my unnie."

She put the phone on her lap and folded her arms, paying attention to Eun Ha.

"Ready. Now tell me, what is afflicting you, Unnie?"

The phone vibrated and rang again; a new video call. As if that were possible, it seemed that there was even more urgency to the touch. Ye Rim was exasperated:

"Oh, I won't answer it, Unnie. I want you to tell me what's going on."

But Eun Ha seemed to have changed her mind, and just nodded to her to continue the call.

"Not important, unnie. What's going on?"

"Later we talk. I'm going to eat now, then take a shower. Answer it. The noise is bothering me." Eun Ha shooed her away, and Ye Rim capitulated, knowing her unnie's mysterious moods very well.

"Jun Hyeon oppa!" She said his name with gritted teeth, answering the call. 'What you might want if we talked a few minutes ago, huh?' she huffed mentally., but said instead, "I sent a message saying I couldn't answer, did you see it… oppa?"

"Yes, I did." His voice came from an off-screen spot_ the camera right now aimed at the luxurious ceiling of the hotel room. When he picked up the camera again, and positioned it to focus on him, Ye Rim felt her traitorous heart pound hard. He had messy hair; that is, no gel or whatever he wore to make it styled, and his bangs fell boyishly over his forehead, softening his normally piercing gaze. To top it off, he wore a white knit shirt_ perhaps could be pajamas_ which casually caressed his broad shoulders and torso.

Dr. Kim grinned,

"Yes, I get it. That's why I decided to insist. After all, I'm your friend too. Your friend…" He c.o.c.ked his head to the side with an angelic smile. "I believe there is no preference among friends, right? Your oppa or your unnie, we're all the same to you, no?"

That damn smile of him...

"Or is there any precedence for sorority?"