Chapter 3: Reunion
1736 Words
A few months later
Nariya and Narin continued their studies at the same university. Both chose to study accounting and finance, with a minor in English. Since the university was quite far from their homes, Nariya chose to live near the university. Narin, on the other hand, had someone to drive her, so it wasn't a problem for her. However, on days when Narin was too lazy to go home, she would stay over at Nariya's place, which suited Phakin perfectly.
Nariya's condo wasn't very big, with a bedroom separate from the kitchen and living area, so it wasn't too cramped. Narin often came over to relax while waiting for Phakin or the driver to pick her up.
"I'm going to take a shower first, it's so hot," Nariya told Narin as soon as she opened the door to the room. She left the bedroom door open while undressing, without caring that Narin followed her in to lounge on the bed.
"Why don't you stay at my place? We're studying together anyway."
"I don't want to."
"Are you afraid of Phakin?"
"Something like that."
"Do you have Phakin's number?" Narin asked Nariya as she suddenly remembered something.
"Yes, Phakin asked for my number and called me. Why?"
"How many numbers do you have?"
"Two."
"Congrats, you've basically got the 'sister-in-law' tag around your neck now."
"What do you mean?"
Nariya paused after undressing until she was only in her underwear. She asked Narin in confusion. The young woman opened the wardrobe to grab a towel after realizing she had already put the one she used in the laundry basket.
"Well, Phakin has three numbers. One for family, one for work or outsiders, and one I guess you don't have, which is for his flings."
"....."
"The family number is only known to those at home. Not even relatives know it. But Phakin gave you this number too. You can't escape him."
"You're being dramatic. Maybe he just sees me as your close friend."
"No one ever borrows or wears Phakin's clothes. If someone wears them, he throws them away. Especially the one you're wearing, it's his favorite."
"....." Nariya didn't say anything. She wrapped a towel around herself and prepared to go take a shower.
"Hey, is P'Kin's shirt still here?"
"It's in the closet."
"Then let's test if he'll wear the shirt you've already worn."
"Whatever."
Narin looked after Nariya as she left the bedroom, then reached for her designer handbag, opened it, and took out her sleek phone to text her brother.
Meanwhile, Phakin came to pick up Narin himself today because he had a meeting with a client nearby. He planned to pick her up a bit later in the evening, allowing the two girls to relax first. However, as he was about to get out of the car, he had to pick up his phone to read a message when it chimed from his personal device.
'Today, I want to eat Korean BBQ. Take us out, and then drop off Nam on the way back.'
'Alright, let me finish work first. I'll pick you up around 4 PM.'
After replying to his sister's message, he stepped out of the car to meet the client as scheduled.
Usually, Phakin uses a personal assistant to drive him around, but when he plans to pick up Narin, he goes alone.
"Hello."
"Hello, please come in."
When he entered the restaurant and met the client he had arranged to see, he sat down as invited before officially starting the work meeting.
After the discussion ended, the young man excused himself to pick up his sister and meet his little lady, whom he hadn't seen in months.
"Won't you stay for a meal?"
"I have another appointment, sorry."
"Then when you're free, can we meet again?"
A faint smile appeared on his face. He just smiled at her without saying anything before walking out.
"Hey, P'Kin will pick us up for Korean BBQ later."
"Weren't you worried about gaining weight?"
"I don't care anymore. Eating is more important."
Nariya didn't say anything. She went to the closet, took out her undergarments, and then looked for a loose dark t-shirt and white shorts to wear.
"I wish I had a figure like yours. Look at mine, it's like a little kid," Narin said, looking enviously at Nariya, who was getting dressed in front of her.
"I'm just as skinny as you, though," Nariya replied.
"In what way? You've got curves. Your figure is exactly what guys like—slim but with curves."
"....."
"And you're so light-skinned too."
"You're fair too," Nariya countered as she tied her hair.
"I'm fair with a yellow undertone, but you're just plain fair."
"That's silly," Nariya muttered, not taking it seriously, because she knew Narin liked to joke around. But it was strange today that Narin suddenly mentioned her brother, even though they hadn't talked about Phakin since she stayed over at Narin's house that day.
"I should take a shower too. Lucky I left some clothes here," Narin quickly changed the subject, grabbing her towel and striding into the bathroom, intending for Nariya to be the one to greet her brother when he arrived.
Minutes passed, and Narin still hadn't come out. Nariya didn't think much of it until her phone rang.
".....Yes."
"Why isn't Rin answering my call?"
"She's in the shower."
"Then come down and get me. I'm here."
".....Okay."
Nariya sighed as the person she had been trying to forget for months was the one reaching out to her first.
She slowly stepped out of the room, taking the elevator down to reluctantly meet her friend's brother at the entrance.
"Hello."
When she reached the entrance, her large eyes spotted the tall, well-built figure in a business suit, and she greeted him with a respectful bow, as someone several years younger.
"Why are you wearing shorts down here?"
"Phakin, this is a condo. There are lots of students here. Wearing shorts or even clubbing clothes wouldn't attract any attention."
".....Lead the way."
"Okay."
Nariya quietly led Phakin into the elevator. She could feel his gaze fixed on her, but she pretended not to notice until they reached the front of the room and opened the door to find Narin waiting on the sofa.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Are you really going to wear a suit? It's just a barbecue," Narin retorted to her brother with a calm expression.
Phakin paused. As much as he indulged his sister, he couldn't bear the thought of smoke clinging to his suit.
"Nariya, did you bring my shirt here?"
"Yes, it's in the closet."
"Can you bring it here for me to change into?"
Nariya remained silent. She walked into the bedroom with Phakin following behind. She opened the wardrobe and gracefully handed him his t-shirt.
"Give me the suit. I'll hang it up for you."
The expensive suit was handed over to the room's owner after the young man took it off. Nariya hung it on a suit hanger and placed it in front of the wardrobe before leaving the bedroom to let him change.
"Was this your plan?"
"Yes, you've basically got the sister-in-law title now."
"No way. Your brother just doesn't want his suit to smell like smoke, that's all."
"Just wait and see."
After the subject of their conversation came out, the two girls changed the topic before leaving the room together.
After they finished the barbecue, Phakin drove Nariya back to her condo. He initially planned to go up and get his suit, but since it gave him an excuse to see her again, why waste the opportunity?
"I'm heading out now."
"Okay, see you on Monday."
The two girls waved at each other before Phakin drove away. Nariya watched until he was out of sight, then turned to walk into the building to return to her room.
"I know what you've been up to."
"What do you mean?"
"A few months ago, you claimed my friend, didn't you?"
"Yeah."
"And then what?"
"So, do you want her as your sister-in-law or not?"
"Is this for real? You're not just messing around like with others, right?"
"You already know, so why ask?"
Phakin knew his sister was aware because the fact that he used three phones was something the family had always known, including his parents. They just didn't interfere in his personal matters, as long as he didn't accidentally get anyone pregnant other than his real partner.
Narin sighed and took the condo key card and Nariya's spare room key out of her bag and handed them to her brother.
"The code's our high school graduation date. Make a copy of the key and return it. The key card is just for borrowing, and don't do anything to Nam."
"Yeah, I know. What kind of person do you think I am?"
"You're not a person, you're a tiger, always ready to pounce on a little kitten."
"Stop complaining. Do you want a sister-in-law or not?"
"Hmph, if you upset Nam, I'll make sure you're dead."
"No way."
The siblings argued all the way home before going to their separate rooms. Narin put her things down on the sofa before picking up her phone to text Nariya that she had arrived home. Once Nariya replied, she disappeared into the bathroom and then went to bed.
The next morning
After Nariya had been reading until almost dawn, she had only just fallen asleep. But the instinct of someone who has always lived alone told her that there was someone in the room.
She got up from the bed groggily. She opened the bedroom door without caution, thinking it was just Narin visiting early in the morning, as only Narin had the condo key card and her room code.
"!!!!" A sweet voice shrieked in surprise when the person sitting on the sofa in her room was not Narin, but Phakin.
"Why are you screaming?"
"How did you get in here?"
"Rin gave me the code and the key card."
"....." Nariya was dumbfounded after hearing Phakin's answer.
"Are you seriously going to stand there in that outfit?" Phakin asked teasingly, glancing at the light pink satin nightgown that was so sheer it revealed her figure.
"Oh my god!!!"
After Nariya cursed in surprise and quickly turned back into her bedroom, she heard a pleased laugh following her.
- Writer
