Chapter 37: he's a liar?

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God what's wrong with me? Why did I suddenly feel so fuzzy? It clearly had to come from the all the alcohol I head before.

"Can we maybe go back to the party? I'm not feeling that well," I tried to somehow save myself from the situation in embarrassment.

„Yes, of course. I can head you home as well.", he offered, but I declined.

„I think I just need a sip of water.".

We walked back to the party, where hardly anything had changed. Even from a distance, I could see Kathy and Rebecca, who were obviously looking for me.

"And how did it go?" my friend called to me from afar.

Although I understood her well, I didn't answer until I was standing right in front of her. "I broke up.",

Kathy widened her eyes and almost choked on her drink. "Seriously? I didn't think you'd really go through with it.".

"I told him, I need a break.".

„And your today's pick-up is Conrad Miller?", Rebecca glared at the tanned boy behind me.

„Today's what?", he repeated, confused.

I shook my head. „He just happened to pass by.". I explained. „And helped me find a towel.".

„For sure." Becca smirked and I rolled my eyes in annoyance. „Kathy, just so you know. I'm not feeling so well so I'm heading home now.".

„Should we come along?". She asked.

„No, I'm gonna go on my own.". I said and both girls nodded. I turned around to face Conrad. „And thank you for the towel.". I reached around my neck and handed it back.

„By any chance, would you give me your number?", he suddenly asked, which blew my mind. „Like maybe we can arrange some surfing lessons?".

A little off track, I took his cell phone, which he held out to me, and I absent-minded tipped in the different numbers. „Here you are.".

„Thanks! And see you.", they waved after me, when I left the beach party, still a little confused about what happened the last 30 minutes.

***

2 months later:

By now the hot, nerve-wracking and also fun summer months were over, December was upon us with its snow, freezing cold and of course Christmas at the doorstep of North America.

Not much had changed in my life. I was still sleeping in Kathy's guest room, jobbing at the movies on weekends, and spending most of my free time alone.

The only difference was that I had recently graduated and Jungwon had made it his business to squeeze me on a daily basis when I would come back.

The problem was, I didn't know.

Currently, my life was going like clockwork. A secure job, many friends, and for a few weeks I had been meeting Conrad regularly - on friendship base of course.

If I went back now, I would have no idea what to do with my life.

In two weeks it was my brother's 21st birthday , and I was toying with the idea of going home for a few weeks to visit. After all, it would fit perfectly with the semester break in Korea, which had started about a week ago.

„Hyeona, did the mailman drop off my package this morning?" called Kathy to me from her room.

"I put it next to the sofa. This fucking thing was heavy as fuck.", I replied, stressed as I placed my shoe on the chair and tied it. Just for your information, she ordered a new television, because her old one broke down during a game of bier pong in her living room, because one of the guests had fallen backwards on it.

"I'm going to go for a quick run before Conrad picks me up, okay?". Wrapped up thickly in my winter leggings and jacket, I left the apartment and jogged a few laps around our block and then along the beach. At this time of year, the beach was deserted. No ice cream stands, sun loungers and annoying strangverläufer who want to sell you something.

Almost like it was deserted.

But for my introverted self, almost nothing better could happen.

After about 40 minutes I arrived back home and slowed down when I saw the red pickup in front of the house.

Kathy and Conrad were standing on the porch steps talking as I entered the property. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I completely lost track of time.". About 15 minutes ago we had been arranged and he had probably been here waiting for me the whole time.

"Don't worry! I had good company after all.",

After a brief, fleeting hug, I hurried past the two of them and tried to get ready as best I could at lightning speed.

Conrad had invited me to the cinema to watch a new movie together. Since I had taken the day off and Jacob was running the place, it was a perfect fit.

Of course, I knew the movie program inside and out, but there were three interesting new movies playing tonight, and I was curious to see which one he had chosen.

After a few minutes, I returned. I had merely briefly wiped the sweat from my body and thrown on a new pair of jeans and a hoodie. I continued to wear my hair tied in a straight ponytail.

I'm sure you're wondering how Conrad and I have become that close in the last few weeks. It all started with him giving me a few surfing lessons as promised at this beach party two months ago. But since it had become pretty cold in the fast few weeks and I quickly realized that I was a real loser in this sport, I quickly quit it again and started concentrating on endurance sports again, like I did a few years ago.

He had combed his curly hair back a bit today and fixed it with some gel. If you didn't know him, you would think he had broken out of a Swedish royal house or something. The only thing that didn't quite match was his tanned skin.

„Can I drive us home?", I asked him with puppy eyes.

Ah right, I completely forgot to mention that I passed my driver's license last week. Well, I'm not gonna lie, it was the second attempt. But still, I got it in the end.

As we entered the movie theater together and stood in line for tickets at the box office, I was already getting a strange sideways glance from Jacob, which I tried to ignore as best I could.

"Two tickets for True Passion please." ordered Conrad, which made my head spin around in a flash.

True Passion wasn't one of the brand-new movies that start running tonight. It was basically one of the older ones. A schmaltzy 2 hour romance novel about a girl who can't decide between her stepbrothers. Pretty basic and classy if you ask me, but absolutely not my movie genre.

„I thought we were going for one of the three new ones.", I asked innocently and followed him slowly.

Conrad chuckled quietly as we arrived at the counter, my eyes immediately met Jacob's, who didn't look thrilled at all. „I thought this one would be a little more romantic, you know. As a surprise.",

„You definitely succeeded in this surprise.", I thoughtfully chewed on lower lip. This is about to go in the completely opposite direction. I liked Conrad, but only as a friend. I can't get into another relationship without thinking about it, only to find out that it's not good for me.

„One jumbo popcorn, please. Sweet! And the couple drink. With two straws.", he smiled down at me, and I tried to cover my ashamed face with a faked grin.

I am noticed how Jacob signaled me with his eyes that he wanted to talk to me for a moment.

„I need to use the restroom for a second. Will you wait here? I will be right back.", I excused myself to get myself out of this uncomfortable situation and hurried down the stairs. It took a few minutes until Jacob finally followed and met me downstairs in front of the entrance to the storage room.

„What the heck are you doing here with Conrad.", he hissed. Making sure no other guests were able to hear us.

„Actually, we were just going to see a movie together, but I think he's interpreting that as more of a real date right now," I voiced my concerns. "I mean, he's cute. But I'm definitely not in love with him or anything. I thought we were both seeing each other on a buddy level.

„This dude is almost 30 years old!", Jacob suddenly burst out.

I gasped in shock. „WHAT?". My eyes went big as I shook my head in disbelief. „He told me he's 21. What are you talking about?".

Jacob rolled my eyes and grabbed my shoulder. „Condrad Smith is actually 29 years old. He's 10 years older than you are. How didn't you know.".

My brain was still blocked. Why did he lie to me? Kathy had no idea as well.

„Please quit this date, or meeting...whatever. This isn't going to turn out well, Hyeona. I can feel it.".

A sudden buzz of my phone interrupted our conversation and Jacob nodded down to my pocket „Did he text you something?".

Tensely, I pulled out my phone and checked the messages I just received.

„What is it?", Jacob tried to take a glance when I fell completely silent and didn't take my eyes off the screen for even a short second.

My body felt like a wreck. Breathing was so difficult, as if a stone had gotten stuck in my windpipe. "Never mind...it's not him.". I quickly blinked a few times to distract my arching heart.

„What I'm trying to say is, end this shit. He lied to you. And I'm sure he doesn't have good intentions.".

"Okay come down! It's not that bad. We have been friends for one and a half months now.", I said. "If he really thinks that this meeting has other intentions, then I will end it. I'm going back upstairs now, I'm sure he's waiting.".

Jacob sighed and followed me. "Stubborn as always.".

Upstairs, I was already expected by Conrad. "There you are. I was worried about you," he said and immediately he enclosed my waist with his hand.

I flinched and took a step back, not knowing what to say. Jacob's warning glance streaked past me again as he walked past me and back behind the counter.

Was it really better to end this here and now?

"Sorry, you scared me," I quickly made up an excuse and hesitantly followed him.

Since it was an ordinary Friday evening, the cinema hall was fortunately well occupied. However, my hope disappeared when he unerringly ran straight to the top and took a seat in the last row.

I hesitantly sat beside him, adjusting my position, to sit a bit more comfortable.

Once again, I slipped my phone out of my pocked to recheck the messages I received a few minutes ago. It won't leave me heard for the next 2 hours anyway.

I quickly lowered the brightness of the screen to make it less noticeable in the dark room

„Can we talk?"

„It's important"

I gulped heavily. Flipping my phone over.

Why did he suddenly want to talk to me after two months of complete silence?

Conrad glanced over at me? „Are you okay? You seem a little...tense.", he grabbed my knee and wiggled it slightly. I laughed it off in silence.

Can someone please safe me? I wanted nothing more than to leave this hell right now.

***

Relieved, I followed Conrad out of the movie Theater as the credits played on the screen.

I had simply pretended to be asleep for the last two hours to spare myself as many unpleasant moments as possible.

"The movie was nice, wasn't it?", he asked, and threw the empty popcorn bucket into the trash. Since I hadn't reached into the bag once, he must have eaten it all by himself.

Just thinking about it made me sick.

I tossed the empty recyclable cup into a designated box as well and noticed Jacob giving me a stern look. Almost as if he wanted to say, no matter what Conrad offers you, say no.

Outside it had become pitched black and also icy cold the last hours ago. The strong wind made me hold my jacket together tighter.

"What do you say we go back to my place?" he suggested all of a sudden and stopped on the spot, causing me to bump into him. "Sorry, Are you okay?".

I nodded slightly, adjusting my scarf.

"We can make a pizza, or stop by McDonald's first.". I noticed how he still hadn't let go of my arm.

I still felt Jacob's piercing gaze at my back and I suddenly felt the urge to clear this up very quickly.

"Why did you tell me you are 21?". The words bubbled out of me without me being able to do anything about it.

Conrad laughed confused. „Because I am? What do you mean?".

„Jacob told me you are ten years older than me. Why did you lie?".

He hissed and gritted his teeth together, making his jaw clench. „Jacob. Jacob Davis... This little brat is spreading lies whenever he can.", Conrad laughed off and his grip around my arm tightened, just as he was afraid I would run away at any second.

„You know, the only problem is, I trust him a lot more than I trust you.", I yanked my arm away, making him frown in confusion. „I don't know what you think about me, but I don't see anything more in you than just a normal friend. I thought about clarifying this, just in case there are some misunderstandings.".

He seemed a little down, but not shocked or confused.

„You know. If I kinda have you flash hopes or made you misinterpret my signals, I'm very sorry. But I don't think this thing between us would work out the way you think it would, Heeseung. So I hope you understand that I only wanna be friends with you.".

He suddenly lifted one eyebrow. „Heeseung?".

In shock, I covered my mouth. „CONRAD! Conrad of course.", I corrected myself and noticed the heat rising in my cheeks because of embarrassment.

All at once he laughed softly. "So that's how it is. Never mind. I don't care. So, what do you think about us having dinner together now? At my house as normal friends!?" he drew out the word friends oddly, making it sound like he was making fun of it.

I hugged myself tighter. His behavior seemed stranger to me with each passing second.

„I don't think this is a good idea.". I chewed my lower lip. „Anytime, but I'm very tired now. So I'm gonna go home and get some sleep.". My explanation sounded pretty clear and simple to me, however, you doubt that when Conrad suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me along with him.

„Let me drive you home.".

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