Just Friends

Six

"You lie to us, Ye Jin."

One of my best friends, Hyo Jin, say as she gives me a death stare.

"Omo! Why? Me? What would I lie about?"

She sat at the chair in my kitchen as I cooked our dinner. "I know you've said it many times but this behavior between you and Bin is not 'just friends'."

I rolled my eyes as I stirred.

Hyo Jin was already at my house waiting for our other friends when Bin's call came in.

"Hi! I've been waiting for you call!" I greeted cheerfully.

"Sorry it took long. We had an early start but we're on the road now so I had some time to call," he explained. When I said it was not trouble, he continued, "By the way, my secretary needs to come see you to drop off the new key."

"What? What new key?"

He explained that he had the door locks changed to one with better security features. "They'll arrange a time with you so you can scan your fingerprint for the lock, but you need a physical key just in case. Oh and can I ask you a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Could you reset the passcode to the one we use? No one else knows it and I would need it when I get back since my biometrics haven't been scanned yet."

Hyo Jin overheard everything. "Keys to his flat? Really? And you're the only one who knows the passcode?"

"What? He has access here as well!" I said, defensively.

"Exactly."

I recalled to the first time my friends discovered this. The 7 of us were having a potluck dinner at my place. As I was preparing my share, Bin called. "Can I have some food? I'll pass by before I head home."

"Surely, Bin-ssi! I'll set aside some for you."

He ran late though and soon my friends arrived, so I thought he was no longer coming.

As everyone was laughing and teasing each other about current projects and cute male leads, we were shocked to hear the passcode to the door being activated. I wasn't surprised to see who it was though. "Binnie, hi!"

Jumping up from my seat, I gave him a quick buss on the cheek. "You're late."

"I know, I'm sorry. Some things had to be rushed at work. Can I still have my food though?"

I smiled brightly. "Of course!" As I turned, we became aware of 6 other sets of eyes upon us. Letting go of his hand, I said to the girls, "Hey! Why stare? Have you forgotten Binnie?"

He gave a bow to my friends. "I'm sorry to crash your party."

"Oh no problem. Do you want to join?" One asked.

Catching what was about to happen, I looked at Bin. "They're going to grill you," I whispered. To the group, I said, "Oh, he's busy! Let me just get him his food."

When I returned from the kitchen, he was already seated and swamped by my friends.

Yoon Ah called, "Come here, Jin! We left you a seat beside Bin."

When I got there, I gave him an apologetic look.

"Why? Don't you want me to be here?" He asked in a low voice.

"It's not that but I'm sure this wasn't your plan," I said.

"No but I'd like to get to know your friends. Is that so bad?"

No, it wasn't bad at all.

He gave me a quick side hug to assure me.

I was jolted back to the present by a poke at my side. "Earth to Jinnie! Earth to Jinnie! You're spacing out again."

"I was just thinking."

"Of Bin," Hyo Jin stated. "He IS quite handsome."

"Quite?! You must be blind. Bin is very handsome," I said, loyally.

"An attractive man who is your emergency contact and has keys and passcode to your home. And who you're clingy to when you're not exactly a clingy person... And you are just friends? You're either lying to me or are in denial about what exactly you have."

I nodded. "He and I discussed this. We both agree that it's very difficult for two actors to date."

"He's dated people in our field before."

I was quiet because I knew what she would ask next.

"So? Did you guys really agree or you stated your point and he just went with it?"

This was true, there was no point in denying it. "He's very important to me, Hyo Jin. I don't want a romantic relationship that won't work to ruin that."

"Not everyone leaves, Jinnie," she assured.

I was silent. It was the same thing he told me when we had "The talk."

To be continued