Lee Mansion - Ground Floor
Jimmy smirked at his best friend. "I told you, she's not going to respond to you."
Leo didn't look away from the door Aara had just left through. "I don't care."
And then Leo followed her.
Jimmy stared, speechless. "...He's definitely going to get tired."
Outside - The Restaurant
Aara walked to a small restaurant by the river to meet her friend. She didn't know Leo was following her at a distance, not showing himself, just watching her secretly.
Inside, Aara waited.
Her friend arrived — Leo's little sister, So Min. So Min was working part-time at that hotel restaurant. When she saw Aara, she froze.
"Hi," Aara smiled. "How are you?"
So Min's eyes widened. "Is that you? Is that really you...?"
"I'm Aara, ya," Aara laughed. "Why are you looking like this..."
Tears filled So Min's eyes. She cried and hugged her tightly, happily.
"I thought I was never gonna meet you again..."
"How can I..." Aara hugged her back. "You're my only best friend..."
So Min pulled back, half angry, half crying. "Then why didn't you inform me before going to England? Why didn't you even message me?!"
Aara's voice softened. "I'm sorry. Now I've come back. Let's go out."
"Wait for me, 2 minutes," So Min said, wiping her tears.
So Min went to change her dress, took her things, and went to ask her manager for leave. But the manager shouted at her — right in front of Aara.
"What do you think of yourself?" the manager barked. "Are you the owner of this restaurant? You come whenever you want and go whenever you want... what are you thinking?"
"I'm sorry, but I have to go now," So Min said quietly. "My friend is here."
"If you want to go, then don't come back!"
Aara's blood boiled. "How dare you..."
So Min grabbed her hand. "No, don't. I'll handle this."
The manager turned to Aara. "Who are you? Why do you care about her?"
Aara stepped forward, her voice low and fearless. "Oh, you want to know me? Then listen. If you shout at her again, I'll destroy your restaurant into pieces. If you dare to do it again even after my warning... then you'll disappear forever. Got it?"
The manager's face went pale. "Calm down, calm down! You can go, So Min... take your friend too." He was panicking.
So Min quickly dragged Aara out.
From a distance, Leo watched everything and talked to himself with a smile.
"She's more impressive than before."
Outside the Restaurant
So Min looked at her best friend. "You changed totally."
Aara's eyes were distant. "People have to change in this cruel world."
So Min hesitated. "I got the information after you left... that your father married Soo Young, and Jay is now your stepbrother. Are you okay with this?"
Aara forced a smile. "I'm okay. I have to be... I came here again because of Jimmy oppa."
Just then —
"Aara???"
Leo stepped out in the middle of the conversation.
Aara blinked. "Leo oppa?"
So Min was surprised. "Oppa, why are you here?"
Leo tried to play it cool. "I'm just hanging out and saw you two. How are you, Aara?"
"I'm good," Aara said simply.
So Min sensed the tension and grabbed Aara's hand. "Okay oppa, we have to go. Bye."
They walked away from Leo.
Leo just stood there, watching Aara go.
And Aara... she was confused too.
Because eyes can't lie.