Chapter 174 - Not the best Dinner Ever

Jun Hyeon arrived at his building as a guest to his own apartment, and that was unusual. That day they didn't have a dance class, and he was a little upset that he couldn't see her at night, but Ye Rim surprised him.

Ye Rim said she would invite him to dinner, and Dr. Kim tried to joke around, asking if it was some kind of date. But the evasive answer made him realize that she was still in a bad mood because of her friend. 

Still, there he was, bringing a sophisticated ice cream cake for dessert. Their secretaries made sure it was a great dessert, but Jun Hyeon didn't appreciate sweets very much.

She opened the door apologizing for the mess. He handed over the box of ice cream, instructing it to be placed in the freezer, while ostensibly looking around.

Jun Hyeon scanned his living room, noting all the changes that only a few days of Ye Rim had caused in his headquarters. There were flowers. 'Of course there are flowers, she didn't stop receiving flowers just because she was sad, did she?' There was a colorful blanket on the sofa, and a good, feminine scent in the air. He also noticed that she had been listening to his jazz vinyls and also spotted a box of tissues next to the sofa. Near the covered with scrawled papers coffee table, was a guitar. Even though Ye Rim was sad, his home seemed infinitely more alive.

'Was my house really that cold?' Or was it simply that he saw Ye Rim's arrival had changed his old lifestyle? She was so chaotic and full of energy that it made him question his lifestyle. Although Jun Hyeon had left recommendations, she had imprinted her personality onto every corner he could see.

But, he needed to know.

"These flowers ... Did you buy or win?" he asked casually, reaching the kitchen door. 

Pans bubbled on the stove, and everything looked very chaotic. At that moment Dr. Kim was sure that it might be better to order a pizza, or try to book a restaurant. But he thought it best to wait for herself to suggest that. She replied, closing the refrigerator door,

"I got it from your neighbor downstairs! I just arrived yesterday, and these flowers were on the apartment door. How cute, isn't it? The note said that he thanked me for the song he heard on the balcony… Well, that's better than receiving a complaint, isn't it?"

Jun Hyeon didn't know the neighbor downstairs, to be honest, but he always imagined that he was an elderly man. Ye Rim continued to be successful with his loyal audience, apparently.

"And all those papers ...?"

"It's a mess, isn't it? Well, I was writing stuff ... It's one of my ways to vent ..."

"Are they songs?" he asked, returning to the room to check. Ye Rim ran after Jun Hyeon and intercepted him,

"Ah, well, it's silly… don't look yet. I'll show you when they're ready ..."

"Nonsense ... Only someone else can judge."

"But you are not an expert!"

"It's not a problem. Many non-specialists judge plastic surgeons' work daily, and we have to live with that," he feinted Ye Rim to reach the table with his compositions, but she was quick to defend her work. He, who was just doing this to tease her, looked into her eyes for a moment, feeling the love for her filling his heart. His lioness was fragile like a kitten right now, he couldn't judge her today, that was all he knew. But that woman was hard to resist.

He smiled, and pulled out the hairpin she used to tie her hair up in a bun,

"No! I'm cooking!" she protested, and he laughed. She followed him, taking the hairpin back and remaking the bun, but the doctor could see that she was still sensitive.

"Still upset about Eun Ha?" he asked.

"Oppa, this subject still bothers me. But I didn't want to talk about it now. Can we talk after dinner? The Yoo sent me some vegetables and fruits. It's a grocery store next to my… I mean, Eun Ha's condo. That's why I asked you to dinner. It would be sad to waste so much fresh food."

"Hm, so there's nothing special about dinner tonight except the fact that you need to share the food so you don't throw it away ..." he pretended some resentfulness, and she bit her lip in distress. He added, jokingly,

"My mom and you think a lot like that."

Jun Hyeon accompanied her to the kitchen and offered to help, but Ye Rim said she was okay. So he just sat down, watching her as the worst cook in the world.

The meal, as the doctor expected, was inedible, but he tasted each dish, saying nothing about it. When Ye Rim tasted what she cooked herself, it mortified her,

"Why did you taste everything and say nothing?" she asked. He barely hid his chuckle,

"Well, let's say I wanted to calculate the risk of death if you were really my Wifey!"

Ye Rim replied with an understanding smile, but there was no joy in her eyes. She started to collect the dishes, embarrassed, but Jun Hyeon took her hands, 

"Leave it, let's sit on the couch. Tell me what's on your shoulders."

They did this, and Ye Rim told an unusual story. She had visited her mother, after several years without seeing her. He found it very courageous, since he had witnessed how difficult it was to deal with the matter, for her. But the details of the story that her mother had told Ye Rim, years later ... That story shocked him.

Ye Rim looked up at him, asking,

"What do you think about this, Oppa? This story about fairies, and monsters, and a prophecy about me? "

"Well, Ye Rim," he scratched his eyebrow, and stretched to remove the discomfort that this question brought. Lately he had come to believe more and more in the supernatural. She and her friends had acted strange, and they looked at the sky constantly, at critical moments, as if they saw something he did not see ... He remembered that woman, Yuna, who seemed possessed. The people in the park, who also looked possessed. The event right there in his apartment. Maybe Jun Hyeon should ask her what she really saw. But to say he believed in fairies, magic wands, and that kind of thing? Jun Hyeon wasn't so sure. He just asked,

"Well, let me ask you a question. If that were true, then would your friend Eun Ha be a fairy too?"

Ye Rim scratched her head, suddenly shaking, "Well, Oppa, what can I say…"

"It's not that I doubt what you're saying to me. See, in my memory I see a psychic who said strange things about my future and that of my sister. But to be honest I'm not sure it really happened. But ... I don't doubt that this kind of thing can happen ... I just understand little and I find it a little strange that your best friend is a fairy. Like, you would know, wouldn't you?"

"And you are right. I would have noticed," she said thoughtfully, but turned to him. "I canceled the birthday party that Eun Ha and I hold every year. There is reason or mood for it."

"Hm, it could be an opportunity for you to make peace ..."

"But it's settled," she cut the subject off, making it clear that she was only communicating him of her decision.

"Well, and how do you plan to spend your birthday?" Jun Hyeon started having a lot of ideas. But it was better to see Ye Rim's availability first.

"Well… I could do a lot of things. But after I spoke to my mother ... I feel like I should spend that day with her, if she is willing. She is a little sad, because of the depression that comes and goes, but she is adorable too. It moved me seeing her. I thought we wasted a lot of time away from each other," in saying this, Dr. Kim saw that Ye Rim's eyes filled with tears. He reached for her wrist and started massaging it gently,

"I think it will be an excellent idea, actually, Ye Rim," he had become emotional about this outburst from Ye Rim and her plans to spend the day with his mother. "I think it will be very important for you two to resume ties and it's a good start. I hope it works out. I imagine it will be a long way, but it is worth the journey."

She was thoughtful, and he again pulled the stick out of Ye Rim's hair. But this time she didn't protest. He leaned back more comfortably on the couch, to sound casual and not frighten her,

"But if you could take a little time later, we could have dinner or something. Reserve a moment of your day for me, will you?"

She smiled slightly, looking at him,

"Are you going to cook me a dinner, Dr. Kim?"

"No, I don't have that ability or the courage. But don't be mean. I had already booked the evening for your birthday party."

"Okay, I'll spend the day with my mom and see you in the evening."

Jun Hyeon wouldn't miss the opportunity to date Ye Rim on her birthday. He had two days to plan something romantic and special.

He nodded, reaching for his cell phone on the table.

"What are you doing?" Ye Rim asked, curious. He finished the purchase and said,

"What do you think? Ordering a pizza!"