Aera realized another problem.
How?
How was she going to prevent her parents from exposing her existence as their child?
How would she meet Lee Dohyun? She knew him but he probably didn't remember her. She couldn't continue liking him from afar.
What in the world could she do? Aera let out a fustrated groan leaning back against the sofa. Her body sinking into the chair's softness.
The Chairman noticed the abrupt change in her behavior. "Is there something wrong? You don't want to settle?" He asked shutting his laptop.
He and Aera shared a bond that was hard to describe. She was placed first among his priorities regardless of the fact that she'd lived overseas for years and had only been visited twice each year.
Being the only child born to a top conglomerate family, Aera displayed signs of an exceptional IQ and strong memory. She was enrolled into a prestigious international kindergarten where she'd learnt English and mandarin fluently by age five. A private tutor was assigned and she was introduced to advanced maths and science by age nine and she outperformed children years older. Thus, allowing her to skip grades.
By fifteen, Aera was granted a special entry into Ivy University. One of the world's renowned institute. She majored in business administration with a double minor International relations and finance and graduated by age nineteen.
Having achieved what was almost impossible, Wooram had far great admiration and expectations for his daughter and for such reason, he was ready to go extra to grant her whatever she desired.
"No, not that, I just don't want to take over the family business yet," she replied solemnly.
"We asked you to settle down not inherit the family business," her mother pointed out.
"Mn. Till you're ready, we're not going to force you to inherit the family business. We owe you that much." Her father added his eyes carried traces of remorse.
Aera eyes brightened up like stars. "Then, father, what am I going to do till then? I don't want to remain idle.." she asked oblivious to her father's expression.
"What do you want to do?" Sehyun asked her emerald eyes meeting Aera's.
"I…"
Her mother folded her arms giving Aera a 'what' look. This routine suddenly seemed too familiar for her.
"Well, I want to return to highschool." Aera blurted. She squeezed her eyes shut mentally preparing herself for the crushing reprimand from her mother.
Her father on the other hand seemed unable to comprehend what he just heard.
Return to highschool?
"Aera, are you sick? Did you hurt your head? Why would you suddenly say that?" He questioned incredulous.
Aera but her lower lip. "Well, everyone my age is still in highschool but I'm done with university. I feel left out."
Sehyun snorted. "It's another guy right." She raised her coffee to her lips taking a sip.
Aera's heart rammed into her chest.
How did she know?!
"A.. absolutely not! Why would I return to highschool because of a guy? Isn't that absurd?" Aera eyes darted nervously in their sockets. Her hands subconsciously touched her ear.
"Ha!" Sehyun scoffed. "it's not a matter of why but I. You would definitely return to highschool because of a guy. Otherwise, why did you attend three different highschools? Did you really love education that much?" Her mother asked her brows quirked up.
Aera was rendered speechless. What could she say, she really did attend three different highschools for three different guys.
Sehyun turned to Wooram a sneer playing on her face. "You see, you don't always come first. Apparently, your mistress has others that come first."
"Father…" Aera was too embarrassed to say anything else.
Wooram glanced at Aera then back at Sehyun. They wanted him to pick a side. It was hard to determine who was more scheming."Well, what can I say, you dated quite a lot before I came in." He countered.
Sehyun's face scrunched up. "You—" her face turned red once more. "Why do you always pick on me? You're supposed to reprimand her. It's not fair at all!" She huffed and puffed in a fit of petty anger.
"Now you're being petty." Aera and the Chairman said.
"Just grant her what she wants. Going to school for a boy, it's not a loss on our end. We get a son-in-law if things go well and if not, Aera gets more knowledge."
Sehyun rolled her eyes. "You're the reason she turned out like this." She shot Aera a fierce glare. "A total gangster." She said.
"I'm not, I just leart a few bad habits. Is that a crime?" She shot back and made a silly face sticking out her tongue.
"A few?" Sehyun couldn't believe her ears. "Have you taken a good look at yourself? Did you forget I'm aware of everything you did overseas?" She asked. "A few bad habits you say," she scoffed.
"stop being petty wifey, Aera still has her limbs intact." Wooram said reopening his laptop.
Aera and Sehyun turned to look at him stunned.
"Father!"
"Honey!"
Wooram chuckled. "What? You both can take a joke?"
"Not funny!" They both replied.
Sehyun took out her phone. "let's just get this over with. I'm curuous to see who it is that's making you return to highschool. Which highschool is it?" She asked.
"Seoli…" Aera muttered her eyes fixated on the ground. Sehyun glanced at Aera her jaw dropping. "I just mentioned him and you're acting all coy? Has the earth become flat?"
Aera reddened further. "Stop teasing!"
"Seoli…. You have pretty good taste." She commented. Having being teased endlessly by the both of them, Sehyun wasn't letting a chance at having revenge slip.
"Tell me, how does he look? Does he have a lot of 'bad habits' like you?"
"Well—" Aera fiddled with her fingers. She didn't know anything about him. Not a single thing.
Seeing her go mute, Sehyun burst into laughter. "Don't tell me, you fell for a guy who you know nothing about?"
"Well, it was love at first sight, you don't expect me to know anything about him…" Aera retorted in a small voice.
Sehyun's shoulders trembled, she restrained herself from laughing. "Naturally, you'd stalk them for weeks before finally chasing them."
"I didn't even catch sight of his shadow talk more of stalking him." Aera mumbled.
"Or did you avoid stalking him because the other found out?" Sehyun asked smirking. Aera looked confused.
The other?
"What are you talking about?" She asked. "Eh? You didn't know?" Sehyun asked confused.
"What?"
"The guy you were chasing found out you you'd stalked him for weeks. He felt uncomfortable and transferred to another school. Yosub was it?" Sehyun said.
"He transferred.." Aera silently repeated. She let out a dry laugh. She recollected his words that day.
"My grandmother's illness has gotten worse, I'm dropping out to care for her. Don't look for me."
Aera's hands clenched into fists. Dark clouds hovered over her head.
That bastard, did he think I was so depraved that I'd continue stalking him if he told me straight up?
Realizing she'd poked Aera's sore spot, Sehyun cleared her throat. "I'd be making the call now, do you want me to get him on the call?" She generously offered hoping it would brighten her up somewhat.
Aera's hardened face slowly relaxed as her thoughts drifted to Dohyun. Get him on the call?
She hurriedly stopped her mother. "No, wouldn't that be worse than stalking?" She said.
Sehyun let out a relived sigh. "You like him that much huh,"
Aera's heart fluttered at the statement. She did—She liked him alot. Even though she knew nothing about him, even though he didn't feel the same way, she still liked him.
"I.. I'll go prepare." Aera stood up frantically running out of the study. She rubbed her chest trying to calm down.
Tomorrow's our first proper meeting, I need to appear virtuous and elegant.