Chapter 17
The Gossip Session & The "Main Character" Energy
Susan looked up at Mia, looking absolutely pitiful.
She was giving major "sad indie movie" vibes like a puppy licking its wounds, just waiting for its master to offer a head pat.
Mia knew Susan was 100% acting a total thespian moment but she still chose to fold.
The guilt was just too much.
Inside, Susan was doing a victory lap. "Just wait and see what I make you do," she thought, letting out a low, creepy "Hehehehe" in her head.
She had that "villain origin story" look on her face.
If Mia had seen that expression or heard that inner cackle, she would have gotten instant goosebumps, but she was looking away at that exact moment.
Mia sighed, defeated. "Fine, but the conditions shouldn't be more than three."
Susan shook her head vigorously. "Aniya, aniya!(No, no!) My conditions, my rules!"
"Okay, fine, but it shouldn't be above five. Final offer. Don't push it," Mia said, drawing a line in the sand.
"Fine then, I'll humor you on this one," Susan finally agreed, acting like she was doing Mia a favor.
Mia let out a massive breath of relief. "Okay, so what's the first wish?"
"Chill, will you? No need to rush. But my first condition... I want the tea. What actually happened this morning to make you so irritated after your run?"
Mia hesitated. "Are you sure that's your first wish?"
"Yes! Why? Is there a problem?" Susan questioned, her eyes narrowing.
"No, but you know I probably would've told you eventually anyway, right?" Mia pointed out.
"Are you sure about that, Mia? Are you really sure you would've spilled if I just asked normally?"
Mia suddenly developed a very intense interest in the floor tiles, coughing awkwardly.
Seeing her look so caught, Susan laughed. "Exactly like I thought. Now, spill the beans!"
Mia looked reluctant but prepared to speak.
"Wait!" Susan interrupted. "Is this house actually soundproof?"
"Yeah, it is. If you're in the room, you can hear what's happening in the parlor, but anyone outside the room won't hear a peep from the inside," Mia explained.
"Daebak! (Amazing!) Does that mean if I bring a guy or guys over for some... naughty business, you won't hear a thing?" Susan asked with a mischievous wink.
Mia looked at her like she was a total pervert. "You do you, we're adults. Just don't tell me the details. Seriously, you're such a byeontae (pervert)," Mia said with a look of pure disdain.
"Hahaha!" Susan cackled.
Mia rolled her eyes. "Can I actually continue now?"
"Yes, go ahead. I'm all ears," Susan said, leaning in with a huge grin.
"Okay, so it went like this: I finished my run and saw a bookstore on the way home. I popped in to see if anything caught my eye. I found six books that were actually fire, but when I went to pay, do you know how much he tried to charge me? $20 per book! Can you imagine the audacity?" Mia said, her anger bubbling back up.
"Heol! Seriously? And then what?" Susan urged her on.
"I argued with the man, but he was being totally unreasonable, so I called the cops on him."
"Yasss, queen! That's what he deserves. Justice served," Susan said, feeling satisfied. "Then what happened?"
"The police arrested him, and just when I was feeling good about the situation, this obnoxious, handsome, sexy guy showed up and ruined my entire mood. What a total waste of good looks," Mia huffed.
"Ooooh, a handsome guy huh? Now this is getting main character energy," Susan said, her face going all silly.
"What's with that look?" Mia asked suspiciously.
"Nothing! Just saying! Continue, please!" Susan urged, still wearing that irritating, knowing smile.
"I'm ignoring you. Anyway, this annoying guy called me 'scheming.' Can you believe it? I literally saved everyone in that store from being extorted, but they were all ungrateful, and he had the nerve to call me scheming! Ahhh, so vexing!" Mia shouted in frustration.
"Aish," Susan sighed. "No wonder you locked yourself in. That sounds like a total clown situation. But hey, it's sorted now, thank God."
"Yeah, thank God," Mia agreed, feeling a bit lighter. "I hope I never meet such an annoying person again in my life."
"Hmm, by 'annoying guy,' do you mean the bookseller or the hot cutie?" Susan asked, winking playfully.
Mia stared at her. "Sometimes I wonder what goes on in your head. I'm talking about one thing, and you're off in another dimension. What are you even saying?"
"Look, we've finished the bookstore plot-line. Now we need to talk about the interesting part.
It's not every day a top-tier hottie walks up to you and calls you scheming," Susan laughed.
Mia rolled her eyes but didn't walk away this time.
"Oh, come on, be a sport! Even if he called you names, the fact remains that he's hot. That's all that matters! I'm sure he was just teasing you anyway," Susan said.
Mia actually thought about it for a second and cracked a small smile. "Well... he is annoying, but his visuals? Different case entirely."
"Now that's the spirit!" Both girls shared a slightly creepy, excited look and started theorizing about Richard how firm his body felt when she accidentally fell into his arms.
When Mia mentioned that detail, they both screamed like total fangirls.
"Did you feel it?" Susan asked breathlessly.
"Feel what?"
"His abs, pabo (idiot)! Duh!" Susan squealed.
Mia blushed a deep crimson, looking shy.
"Yes... when I almost fell and he caught me, I couldn't help but feel his chest. Ahhhh, now that I'm thinking about it... do you think he noticed?"
Mia asked, gripping Susan's hand tightly, suddenly gripped by anxiety.
"I don't think he noticed. Unless he would have called you out or teased you right then, you're probably safe," Susan reassured her.
"Thank God. If he noticed, I would literally die of humiliation. He'd probably say I was 'harassing' him or something. Gosh, I'm getting the ick just thinking about the embarrassment," Mia sighed.
If Richard could hear their "girl talk" right now, his reaction would probably be a mix of pure shock and a very smug smirk.