Chapter 22
Laurel's POV
I was still standing by the window when Seo Hee called my phone.
I didn't even think too much before picking it.
"You missed me so much?" Seo Hee said immediately.
I sighed. "You talk too much."
"And you disappear too much."
"That's not new."
"Still annoying."
A small silence followed, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It never was with her.
"I need your opinion," Seo Hee said.
"Hmm… no, I already know why you called," I replied.
"Kang Dae."
I shifted a little, adjusting my weight against the wall. "What about him?"
"I don't know if I should accept him or not," Seo Hee said.
That made me pause.
"That's new," I said slowly.
"Don't start."
"I'm not. Just surprised. I thought you said you just wanted to be friends for now."
Seo Hee exhaled deeply. "I know… but he's just… there. Always around. Calling, texting, showing up like he has nothing better to do."
"And you don't hate it."
"I didn't say that."
"But you didn't deny it either."
Silence.
"I don't feel uncomfortable," Seo Hee admitted.
"Then what's the problem?"
"I don't know what I feel."
I leaned my head against the wall, closing my eyes for a second.
"Then stop trying to understand it."
Seo Hee scoffed. "That's stupid."
"It works," I said. "That's what I did when I found out there was a possibility Eric could still be alive. Instead of sitting there asking how it was even possible, I went to search. You never know until you try."
"That works for you… but what if it doesn't work for me?"
Another pause.
"If you don't want to accept him," I said, opening my eyes again, "then don't play around. The fact that he's still here after more than a year… it means he knows what he wants. He's not confused. People don't stay that long for nothing."
"I don't play."
"You do."
Seo Hee laughed. "Okay… sometimes."
"So when are you coming?" she asked.
"I don't know," I answered.
"You always say that."
"And I'll keep saying it."
"Annoying."
"Deal with it."
Then I added, "If I were you, I wouldn't be thinking about when a friend is coming. Have you thought about how you're going to tell Lee Joon… if things actually happen?"
There was a pause.
"No… and I think he's getting suspicious."
"What do you mean?"
"He was asking about the car. Kept asking if he knows the person who gave it to me."
I frowned slightly. "What did you say?"
"What do you expect me to say? I told him he doesn't know the person. I don't want to ruin their friendship."
She hesitated before continuing.
"He even said it's rare… that I don't really have friends like that."
I sighed softly.
"He told me to be careful," she added. "That guys here… once they get what they want, they leave."
"That's true," I said honestly. "But I think you're in good hands. Still… think about it properly. Don't rush because you're confused."
Another pause.
"Okay," Seo Hee said. "I knew I could count on you. I have to go now."
The call ended.
I stared at my phone for a moment.
"You want a sane mind?" I muttered quietly. "Run from relationships. That's the only way to stay at peace."
I pushed myself off the wall and stood up properly.
There were clothes waiting to be washed, and for some reason, doing something simple felt better than standing still and thinking too much.
I packed the clothes into a basket and headed downstairs to the laundry room.
Just as I dropped them, my phone lit up again.
Before I could even pick it—
"Big sis! Are you home?" Eric's voice echoed as he rushed in. "I'm back from the gym!"
"Laundry room," I replied.
He came in almost immediately and tried to hug me, but I stopped him before he could.
"As much as I want to hug you right now, I can't. You stink. Go shower, come back, help me… then you'll get your hug."
"Okay!" he said quickly and rushed upstairs again without arguing.
I shook my head slightly.
My phone rang again.
This time, I picked it up.
Eun Woo
"Miss Laurel," he said immediately.
"Eun Woo."
"I called you a few minutes ago…"
"I've been busy."
"So have I."
I ignored that.
"How's everything?"
"Moving," he said. "But not smoothly."
"Hmm."
"The board is asking questions."
"They always do."
"They want answers, ma."
"They'll get it when I'm back."
Pause.
"When are you coming back, ma?" he asked.
"I don't know."
He sighed. "Okay, ma."
"What about the twins?" I asked.
"They're fine. They've been asking about you, but I didn't want to disturb you until everything was settled."
"…What about the school?" I asked. I asked Eun about the school, and he hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I'm still figuring things out," he said quietly.
A pause followed.
Then she spoke again, calm but certain. "Send them to Dulwich."
Eun Woo blinked slightly. "Ma, that's too expensive and I can't afford that now."
A brief silence settled between us.
"Are you the one paying?, i told you settle in fit a year that because i want you to be financial stable enough to afford whatever you want next Year their college tuition" I said, her voice steady.
He didn't answer immediately.
The silence answered for him.
"I want them to have better exposure," i continued. "Better understanding. I want them to meet people from all over the world."
Eun Woo lowered his gaze, absorbing her words.
After a moment, he nodded. "thank you and have heard you ma," he agreed softly.
Then, after a pause, his voice lowered slightly. "But you should come back soon."
A small breath of gratitude passed through the line.
"Thank you ma," he added.
"I will," she replied.
After the call ended, she stood by the window, staring out at the world below, trying to figure out to work things out faster.