The misconnection

65

Meanwhile:

Alesha and Meera were awkwardly seated on the couch as they nodded to something the elder lady was speaking about. "I'm sorry. I was really excited. We haven't had guests in so long. I got carried away" the lady said with an entrancing smile.

"It's alright. It's better because we run out of topics easily then it gets awkward" Meera refuted with a smile. "You're really sweet. But, how come you don't look your age at all?" The lady continued. "Thank you but, who told you my age?"

"Alesha, who else?" The lady answered. "When?" Meera asked still confused. "When we met last time." The lady answered with a smile. "Why?" Meera asked again. "Because she asked me who I'm living with. And I told her you're elder to me so well that's how your age leaked out" Alesha interrupted.

"I'll re-heat the food. This brat took his own sweet time to get there" the lady continued glaring at her son who came downstairs, now changed into a pair of sweatpants and a plain black t-shirt which was as elusive as the man himself, clung onto his sculpted biceps and shimmered out loosely over the rest of his torso.

"Take this one along. She's excellent in the kitchen. Oh that reminds me. She made idlis for you again." Alesha said pointing at the container hidden on the other side of Meera.

"Why thank you! That's so sweet of you." The elder lady gushed. "It was nothing. And I'd love to be of help" Meera said with a smile as she nervously fiddled with the side of her kurti.

"Alesha are you alright?" The lady asked. " Yeah, why?" Alesha asked in turn secretly hoping she wasn't blushing at the hot mess in front of her. "She means, are you okay if we're in the kitchen" Meera explained mentally face palming at the fact that her friend was very obviously drooling over Jeong gyu in front of his mother. "Yeah, I'm fine" Alesha reassured.

"My daughter is in her dorms. Or else you two could keep each other company instead of this brat" The elder sighed. "You have a daughter too? Why don't you look like it?" Meera exclaimed. "You two really are the same, aren't you? Yes. I do. She's a bit elder to you though " the elder answered with a wide smile.

"I really want to know your skincare routine now. " Alesha interrupted cheekily earning a few laughs in response before the lady left with Meera and the container.

Jeong gyu on the other hand sat beside her with an exhale. "Why are you constantly being called useless. I wonder why?" Alesha asked digging her nails into the base of her palm.

"You'd be in the same situation if you were the middle child" he said leaning in as Alesha froze on spot, again. He gently reached out and caressed her clenched fist and unfolded her fingers. His eyebrows visibly frowned at the marks her nails had made. He rubbed the marks before looking up to catch her staring eyes with his own and before either of them could say or do anything, a bell interrupted them.

"I'll get it" Meera said coming out of the kitchen and the both of them distanced immediately. "Get what? You don't even know Korean" Alesha reminded but, it was too late. Meera had already opened the door.

"Tae?" Meera exclaimed in astonishment. "Wha-" she was about to say before Taehyung clammed her mouth shut with his hand and put an index finger over his lips. She nodded.

It was going to be a long evening ~