"I'm Done With Her"

"Don't tell me your brother left already. Is he avoiding me or something?" Nana said as she got down from the cab to join Mi Cha in front of the building.

"Of course not. He isn't avoiding you. Why will he? But unfortunately, he just left. He went to check out the neighborhood, and then he had to hang out with his friend afterward," Mi Cha said without looking at Nana.

She had a lot on her mind. She wanted space and time to think and to figure out the best way to go about everything.

"I was just kidding. So what did he say about the building?" Nana asked, turning to look around.

"He likes it. He just wants to be sure the area is safe before I make any financial commitment. Since you're done with work, why don't we hang out together? I'd hate to return to an empty house unless, of course, you have other plans," Mi Cha said with a smile.

Nana paused to consider it; she was supposed to see Min-Jung, "I was supposed to see my best friend, Min-Jung. Let me call her to see if she is available; if she isn't, we will hang out together," Nana said, returning the smile.

At the mention of Min-jung's name Mi Cha's nose involuntarily twitched in disgust. Chill, girl, you're not even sure it's the same person yet. She said to herself.

Nana dialed Min-Jung's number again, but there was no response which made her brows to furrow with worry.

"Is everything okay? Why the frown?" Mi Cha asked with concern.

"I guess everything is fine. It's just that Min-Jung has been acting kind of weird lately, and she hasn't been taking my calls. Maybe she's really busy," Nana said with a shrug.

Of course. Why will that lying bitch take your calls? I guess she's still with Ji-Tae's mother, which is why she is avoiding your calls. Mi Cha said to herself... She wished she could utter these words to Nana right away, but she couldn't risk exposing everything based on mere suspicions.

"Yea, maybe. So why don't we hang out? Bills on me," Mi Cha said cheerfully.

"Let's do that then," Nana said with a chuckle as they got into the cab.

Mi Cha's mind was occupied. She needed to come up with a plan that would expose everything without betraying anyone's confidence. All she wanted was to see her brother and Nana happy together.

**********

"It's been a pleasure meeting you, my darling. I hope we do this again soon," Ji-Tae's mother said to Min-Jung as she got into the car.

"Thanks a lot, ma. I hope so too," Min-Jung said, hoping she hadn't made a fool of herself as the driver drove off. Even if it started smoothly, the end of the visit left a sour taste in her mouth.

"Any news?" She asked him halfway down the road.

"None, ma," He said without paying her any attention. His loyalty was to money, not individuals. People changed, but money never did, and right now, the money was with Jin-A, and so was his loyalty.

**********

Ji-Tae's mother took out her phone and called her private investigator, "I have a job for you," She said immediately after they were done with other small talks.

"I'm listening," He said quietly.

"She's my son's girlfriend, or so they claim. Start from there... Find out all you can about their relationship, then dig deeper into her life. I want to know everything about her, both past and present. I would have texted you her name, but I'm not so trusting enough to believe that's even her real name. You know what that means, right?" She asked.

"Yes, I'll have to start with your son. He will lead me to her," He said efficiently.

"Good. I trust you. I'll send you a little package to take care of yourself," She said and hung up the call.

She wasn't going to allow Ji-Tae to take her for a ride. She would teach him no one was better than her when it came to playing games.

**********

Tan sat at the bar, backing the entrance door as he sipped from a glass of soju martini. He still remembered himself and Ji-Tae celebrating their birthdays at this very place every year since they turned eighteen, excluding the time he had traveled abroad for his studies.

He loved Nana, but he and Ji-Tae had come a long way, and he couldn't throw all that away. He needed to be very sure Ji-Tae was done dating Nana first before making any move because there was no way he would snatch his best friend's girl, no matter how much he loved her.

"Sorry, I'm late. I had so much to do at the office," Ji-Tae said from behind him as he took off his coat.

"It's fine. I haven't been here for long anyway," Tan replied with a shrug.

He yawned slightly.

"So tell me about the wedding and your hired girlfriend... What was that crap about you being in love with her?" Ji-Tae asked excitedly as he signaled the bartender to give him what Tan was drinking.

Tan was about to speak when the old bar owner came in. "Look who we have here! You boys are now grown men!" He exclaimed with a broad smile as he approached them.

After much pleasantries and friendly banters, he left, and Ji-Tae turned to Tan, "So?"

"Yes, I'm in love with her. But she left before the party was over. I don't know why. Maybe it had to do with her fight with Jin-A. What's the whole issue with you and Jin-A anyway?" Tan asked, wanting to divert the conversation away from Nana to Jin-A.

"She fought with Jin-A? Wow! I like her already," Ji-Tae said, laughing heartily, "I can't believe someone stood up to Jin-A. What transpired between them? I'll give anything to see Jin-A's reaction when she finds out it was just a mere hired girlfriend that fought with her," Ji-Tae said, chuckling.

"It was all over the tabloids, don't you read? Besides, Jin-A started the fight. She merely retaliated," Tan said, smiling as he recalled the incident.

"Of course, it has to be Jin-A who started it. I despise that lady. Tan, get her off my hands, please. Name any price, and I'll give you, just take her away from me. We both know you're the reason she is interested in me," Ji-Tae said seriously.

"Unfortunately, you'll have to handle her yourself, bro. I'm not getting involved with her, ever. By the way, did you mean what you said last night? You are no longer interested in Lee Nana?" Tan asked and waited for the answer patiently.

This was the last time he would ask Ji-Tae this question. If Ji-Tae said he was done with Nana, he would put in all he had to get Nana for himself, which would be Ji-Tae's loss. But if Ji-Tae said he was still interested, he would try his best to back off.

Ji-Tae looked at Tan. No, he couldn't tell Tan the truth, not just yet. Tan would want to convince him otherwise. "Yes, I'm done with her. She's a very nice girl, but just not for me," He said with a shrug to make it believable.

"You're sure you won't regret that decision? What if someone else was to date her now? You won't feel bad?" Tan asked again, watching him closely.

"What's your obsession with my relationship with Nana? Let it go. I'm done with her. Please drop this topic," Ji-Tae growled, upset that Tan was talking about the possibility of Nana being with another guy.

Tan smiled happily to himself. Judging by Ji-Tae's anger, it was clear he was really done with Nana. Now he could make his moves without betraying Ji-tae. He would tell Ji-Tae all about it after winning Nana's heart.