WHAT A TWIST!

Chapter 101

** Sarah pov**

As we stood in front of the counter, racy turned to the Korean cashier and greeted her with a friendly "Annyeonghaseyo" (hello). The woman smiled and responded in kind, and racy launched into a conversation in Korean. I listened in awe, but didn't understand anything, feeling a pang of jealousy. Her pronunciation was perfect like she was really korean, and she seemed to be chatting effortlessly with the woman.

I followed her lead, nodding and smiling when appropriate, She was clearly comfortable speaking Korean, and it was adorable to see her interact with the woman.

As we chatted, racy picked up a few items and placed them on the counter. The woman rang up the purchases.

As the cashier concluded her tally, she announced with a courteous smile, "Chil man o cheon won imnida!" The sound of the Korean numbers was melodic. Racy's eyes met mine, and she translated with a gentle tone, "She said it's 75,000 won for everything!"

I rummaged through my bag, my fingers closing around the wad of cash I knew was nestled among my belongings. I pulled it out, the bills fluttering slightly in the dim light of the store, 50,000 won two of them..making it 100 won,With a gentle smile, I handed the cash to Racy, who accepted it with a nod and passed it to the cashier.

I watched as the cashier's hands moved swiftly, processing the payment with an efficiency that belied the warmth of her smile. "Gamsahamnida," she said, her voice soft, as she handed me the change - 25,000 won, a small fortune in my hands.

I closed my fingers around the bills, the crisp paper crackling slightly as I tucked them back into my bag.

As we exited the supermarket, the cool breeze carried the whispers of passersby, and Racy's voice cut through the din. "You really should open a Korean account, you know." Her words were laced with a gentle admonishment, but her eyes sparkled with amusement.

I chuckled, the sound mingling with the urban cacophony. "I will do it by the weekend, I swear!" I promised, my voice laced with determination.

Racy's gaze lingered on mine for a moment before she turned to hail a taxi. The vehicle screeched to a halt beside us, and Racy provided the driver with our destination in fluent Korean. As we settled into the backseat, the taxi merged into the bustling traffic, weaving through the crowded streets with practiced ease.

The cityscape blurred outside the window, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me, grateful for Racy's help and companionship.

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As the evening sun's fiery edge dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the city, Hyun Min slid into the back seat of the car, his gaze met na yeon's.

The dinner between their parents, a gathering fraught with expectation and obligation, was scheduled for tonight, and their presence was required. Hyun Min's mother had sent a driver to fetch them, and without delay, the car zoomed off into the evening traffic, its tires humming smoothly against the asphalt.

The silence between them was a palpable thing, a living, breathing entity that pulsed with tension.

Hyun Min's fingers moved deftly as he pulled out his phone and earbuds, the familiar ritual a comforting distraction from the tension that lingered between him and Na Yeon. He plugged in the earbuds and selected a song, the music filling his ears and transporting him to a different world. As the car drove through the city, he leaned his head back against the seat, letting the rhythm wash over him.

But as the music played on, Hyun Min felt a gentle pressure on his leg. At first, he thought it was just the car adjusting its speed, but then he realized it was Na Yeon's hand. She had reached out and placed it on his leg, a subtle gesture that seemed to hold a world of meaning. Hyun Min's initial reaction was to ignore it, to let the music continue to block out the world around him.

But as the seconds ticked by, he couldn't shake off the feeling of her hand on his leg. He slowly reached down and gently dusted her hand off his leg, his movements quiet and deliberate.

Na Yeon pulled her hand back, her fingers curling into her palm.

The car ride was a study in awkwardness, the driver occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror at the two teenagers. Na Yeon's hand drifted out once more, coming to rest on Hyun Min's leg. This time, he didn't brush it away. Instead, he spoke, his voice low and measured."Do I need to wear a leg sign that says 'HANDS OFF?" he asked, his words breaking the silence that had settled between them. His tone was neutral, but his eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze flicking to her hand on his leg.

The music still played in his ears,but it was low,he seemed to sense the shift in tension between them. Na Yeon's fingers moved immediately.

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As the car pulled up to the mansion, Hyun Min's anger seemed to simmer just below the surface.

He was the first to emerge from the vehicle, not even waiting for the driver to open the door fully. His strides were long and purposeful, his face set in a stern expression. Na Yeon followed more slowly, her eyes fixed on Hyun Min's retreating back before she turned to smile at Madam Ji Hyeon, who was waiting outside. Madam Ji Hyeon's face lit up with a warm smile as Na Yeon approached, and she opened her arms for a hug.

Na Yeon didn't hesitate, wrapping her arms around Madam Ji Hyeon and receiving a tight squeeze in return. Hyun Min, meanwhile, approached his mother with a slight bow, his eyes avoiding hers.

Madam Ji Hyeon barely acknowledged her son, her attention focused on Na Yeon. She couldn't stop smiling at the her, her eyes shining with warmth and affection. "Na Yeon, dear, it's so good to see you doing fine," she cooed, still hugging the girl tightly. Hyun Min's presence seemed almost incidental, his mother's attention lavished entirely on Na Yeon as they walked towards the mansion.

______ _______

The dinner table was a stage for polite facades, where smiles and laughter masked the underlying tensions. Hyun Min's parents and Na Yeon's parents sat poised, their faces etched with expectation.

Hyun Min's father, a man known for his directness, shattered the silence. "Na Yeon, tell me, how much do you care for my son?" His voice held a subtle edge, a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny that made Na Yeon's response all the more crucial.

Na Yeon's face illuminated with a warm smile, her eyes shining with genuine affection. "A lot," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hyun Min's father nodded, his expression inscrutable, leaving everyone wondering what lay beneath his mask of calmness. Na Yeon's father, eager to contribute, turned to Hyun Min. "And don't you feel the same way about Na Yeon, son?"

Hyun Min's gaze drifted upward, meeting his mother's expectant smile. She grasped his hand, her touch suffocating. "Of course, he adores her," she cooed, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness.

The room was filled with a shared laugh, a momentary distraction from the underlying tensions. But Hyun Min's instincts recoiled against his mother's manipulation. With a subtle movement, he extracted his hand from his mother's grasp, his fingers curling into a tight fist beneath the tablecloth. He knew her game all too well – using him to further her own interests – and the knowledge fueled his resentment.