Pay With Your Heart

Chapter 440: Weak And Foolish

Feigning ignorance to seeing In-Ha seemed like something a five-year-old child who had her promise for candy broken would do. Even though Ni-Na hated to admit that she had something of hers broken too, she knew she wasn’t a five-year-old, and for that, she wasn’t going to act like she hadn’t seen him, as that would only prove to In-Ha that she was hurt, and to her, that she was still weak and foolish.

But weak and foolish weren’t words Ni-Na wanted to be associated with.

Maybe weak and foolish was her 11-year-old self, who fell for her brother’s friend because he said the nicest words to her that made her feel prettier and smarter than all the other girls her age.

And foolish was her two nights ago when she had let down all the walls and defenses she had erected against the man who had made her restless for the last ten years but had no damn clue about it.

But no more was she going to feel stupid because of a man who had no value and would never have value for the first of many things he had taken from her – her first kiss, first love, and her first sex.

She wasn’t going to take the heartbroken and scathed route any other girl would take, but she refused to act as if nothing had happened and beam like the idiot she has always been because, Indeed, something happened, and it was terrible.

Managing a recognizing nod, Ni-Na returned her attention to her friends, who thankfully hadn’t noticed her staring at In-Ha, but they also hadn’t given up on badgering for details about her short trip to City A.

.....

“It was nothing extraordinary. Just had some bonding time with my sister-in-law, nothing more.” She tersely said with a shrug before sipping from her glass.

The downward rush of alcohol in her system somehow gave her some tinge of relief and distraction, so she gulped the whole glass before turning her head to spot the bar.

“Let’s get more drinks, girls,” Ni-Na said and turned on her heels without waiting for the others to approve, and as she expected, they joined on the beeline to the bar where a dark blonde male with blue eyes darted a boyish grin at them as he took their orders.

Not wanting to be on the receiving end of her father’s scolding, Ni-Na ordered a Pina colada. It wasn’t that alcoholic to get her drunk, even though she was beginning to think she might have a very high alcohol tolerance and was capable of drinking anyone under the table. Okay, that was too much of an exaggeration.

“So it’s true president Lee is dating someone?” Bo-Na asked as she slid onto a bar stool beside Ni-Na, who seemed to be listening, but her mind had taken a short drift from them.

Ni-Na wondered what sort of luck she had to run into In-Ha here. And why was he even in a party she knew he’d never attend? She mused as she took a furtive glance in his direction, but her eyes quickly darted away when he observed he was still staring at her.

Here she was attempting to avoid wallowing in any thoughts that reminded her of him and what had happened between them, and there he was, looking at her with so much devotion.

Devotion wasn’t a word that could be used to address In-Ha, because he has countlessly shown he could not understand the full extent of that word, and neither did he possess what it took to express it. But again, her eyes glanced back to where he was seated. Her brow furrowed when she could no longer find him there.

Her eyes darted around, but she couldn’t spot him. Was he gone? It seemed so. Maybe it would be better if he left.

Ni-Na jolted back to reality at the sound of her name. She stared at Bo-Na, who seemed like she had asked something, and the others wore curious gazes like they were too eager to hear her answer.

She sighed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

“You didn’t-” Bo-Na shot her a mock glare. “Have you been listening to all we’ve been saying?”

“Clearly, she hasn’t.” Rachel said with a shake of her head before circling her lips around the straw in her glass.

Bo-Na hissed, and just when Ni-Na thought the conversation or interrogation – whichever they were having that she had gratefully escaped was over, Bo-Na spoke up. “Since you didn’t hear the others, just answer this. What family is President’s Lee girlfriend from? Is she some business mogul like him or an actress?” She inquired. “Although I doubt president Lee is the type to take an interest in an actress or a model, he is still a man, and men are attracted to very pretty ladies.” She thoughtfully added.

“And how would you know what my brother’s type is?” Ni-Na arched a brow as she curtly asked back.

The girls didn’t miss the scathing texture of her voice, but Bo-Na ignored it and replied as they were used to Ni-Na’s gruff way of speaking sometimes. “Well, he hasn’t been in a relationship since forever, and no one has seen him with a lady until now. So, I figured he had a peculiar taste. Else he’d had been in one or two relationships before now, especially with the girls throwing themselves at him and the likes of master Kang who is his closest friend.”

‘The likes of Master Kang.’ Ni-Na repeated in her head.

It was obvious what that statement meant. Kang In-Ha wore the title of a legendary libertine and heart breaker – hers included. And this was a knowledge she had grown familiar with since In-Ha didn’t have the decency to keep his private matters private and had made her and everyone else a spectator of his reckless and pesky lifestyle.

Feeling a swell of anger in her chest, her eyes hardened at Bo-Na, “I didn’t know you had so much interest in my family matters, Bo-Na. If I had known, I’d have granted you an interview.”

“Ni-Na, that’s rude.” Rachel chided, and Ni-Na knew it too. She wasn’t a bitch or someone with no control over her emotions, but the reminder of how stupid she had been made her lose control of what small hold she had been trying to get over her emotions.

She wasn’t used to not being smart and on her wit, and this change was making her hate herself all the more.

She looked at Bo-Na apologetically. “I’m sorry, Bo-Na. I had a long day. I shouldn’t have... I’m sorry.” She sincerely apologized.

Bo-Na nodded with a faint yet understanding smile. “It’s fine. But are you okay?” She asked with concern, and the others shared the same look of worry.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “Getting ready for the final lap of school has me all frazzled up.” Again she lied. There was no way she’ll tell anyone what had happened.

Rachel dejectedly sighed as she briefly slouched but quickly straightened herself. “The thought of it makes me nervous too. It’s the final semester, and I can’t help but worry, as one mistake means an extra year.”

“I have no elective courses, and the thought of those core courses... Jesus!”

Ni-Na listened to them as they spoke. Hearing their concerns, Ni-Na wondered what was wrong with her. Her mates were worried over school, but here she was-

Ni-Na paused in her thought when she heard someone call her name, and even without looking; she knew it was him.

“Ni-Na.” In-Ha softly called, and she turned to her side to see him standing a foot away.

“Mr.Kang,” Bo-Na and Rachel bowed simultaneously, and In-Ha nodded back responsively before glancing back at Ni-Na.

The girls exchanged a look and quietly excused themselves before In-Ha could ask them.

Ni-Na watched them leave like that was the most natural thing to do. She sighed.

“Thanks for sending my friends away,” Ni-Na said on a sarcastic note before rolling her eyes. She turned around to face the bar and placed her drink on the island.

In-Ha silently stared at her before taking the seat by her side. He kept observing her, not sure of what to say.

“Are you going to say something? I’m sure you didn’t come here to ogle?” She calmly inquired, intentionally removing every bit of iciness that tried to taint her voice.

In-Ha didn’t know what to say as he kept his gaze on her for a while longer. “You look beautiful.” He said, making Ni-Na raise a brow at him.

“Thank you, but I’m sure that’s not what you’ve come to say?” She raised a brow at him.

“No, but it was a crucial part of it.” He replied, his voice sounding bland and direct. Ni-Na threw a furtive glance at him and returned to her drink, which she slowly swished.

Ni-Na waited for him to speak up, but he kept silent, making her peer at him. “If this is about what happened, then please forget it. I believe we’ve said all there is to be said about it.”

“You said what you wanted to say, and all I did was listen. Now it’s my turn to say what I want to listen.” He said with a serious note.

“Really?” Ni-Na raised a brow at him. She sighed and shrugged, “Alright, fine, let’s hear it.”