[Kasey Aikens and Ashley Piazza]

"Ashley, you must be joking. You can't be telling me right now that they cancelled last minute! You know it's impossible to reschedule!" I'm furious. The reunion dinner might never happen. They perfectly know the COVID-19 pandemic is a major hinder to plans. Everything has to be sorted out perfectly, or else something might go badly wrong.

"This is how it works. It's not my fault," she insists, much to my chagrin. She should've seen this coming. "Sarah and I tried hard to reschedule, but those assholes didn't want to-"

I cut her off. "That's bullshit, Ashley. You should know better that trusting Kyla McGee and her goons is not an option." My voice is now raised to headache level. I know I shouldn't vent all my frustration exclusively on Ashley, that I shouldn't held Sarah Ferris accountable as well for not being able to come up with a consensus and that they just tried to do their job. I can't help it.

"Kasey, can you stop shouting like that, please? It won't sort out anything!" The point is, she is shouting. So, I don't understand why she's coming at me as if I committed a crime.

On the other hand, I can't say that my attitude towards her was completely correct. I shouldn't have yelled at her like that. I should really stop venting my frustration with other people. Since losing my grandmother, as well as my job, due to fucking COVID, I've been in a dangerous mood swing.

"Okay, let's just go in and call Sarah," she suggests. "She can explain this absurd situation better than me. And, Kasey?"

I nod. "What?"

"Sorry for yelling at you before. Last year has been really hard for us, and I don't think things are getting any better." She could cry at any moment, I can feel it. It's like all the rage she kept in for a long time could pour down her cheeks and I'd be only able to say sorry.

Yet, this is what I say exactly. "No, it's me who should apologize. I lashed out at you all while you don't deserve this treatment. By the way, let's go, shall we?"

"Okay." As Ashley heads inside, however, I hear someone whistling. No, it's not some random girl waving at me.

It's him. The long-haired sleazebag who, since coming here, has caused nothing other than trouble.

Honestly, the last thing I need right now is Sim Daejung at my door, whistling with such nonchalance. Why does he always have to pop by when I don't need him around? He has this habit of showing up without even asking himself if it's the right moment to do so. But, hey, let's not tell him or he'll run down his egotism even further...

I cross my arms, marking my territory and making it clear that I have no time for conversation, let even with him. "Listen, it's not a good time. I really need to-" but he cuts me off as he throws me what seems to be a glare and raises a hand.

"Stop making excuses, Aikens. You need to talk to someone. You need to vent your frustration. I'm here to listen." He doesn't seem to understand that I don't want him around. He just needs to go.

"Seriously, dude, don't piss me off. Just go," I insist, much to his chagrin. I mean, why should he be upset when he didn't even have to endure half of what I went through today? Who is he to lure into other people's lives, acting friendly when it's clear that he has second motives?

But, most importantly, what the fuck does he want from me?

"Kasey, I've known you for a while already. You think I'm a stranger to you, but, trust me, the world is smaller than you think," he explains, leaving me even more confused. "It's a matter of fact that, when things don't go as planned, you panic. There's an easy way to sort it out. Just let it all out, okay?"

I shake my head. "That's easier said than done. There's just too much on the plate."

"Are you sure?" His persistence is getting on my nerves. Every time he tries to push me into talking, I suspect it's another of his mind games. "You think you're okay, but you're just lying to yourself. Same goes with Ashley. If you don't talk, if you don't try to fix things, you'll part ways sooner or later."

"Don't bring up Ashley in this mess!" I scowl. Even then, though, he still maintains his composure. The way he doesn't go insane even after I yell at him, instead of reassuring me on his good faith, infuriates me.

"Sorry, but I have to," he replies. "You can't keep running away, and I'm talking about both of you." Now he's raising his voice, which downright scares me. "If you're hearing me, Ashley, I have an offer for Kasey and you."

As soon as he mentions a hypothetical offer, Ashley pokes out of the door and reaches us. She crosses her arms out of instinct. Her dislike of Daejung is no secret; knowing her, I'm sure she'll come at him with harsh criticism and insults to his habits or his hair. I really hope she won't cross the line with her comments.

"Ashley. Here you are." Daejung's voice is now a hiss. His face is stone cold. I'm more than sure that he's planning to make amends with Ashley; yet, his expression is unreadable as usual.

"You're exactly the last person I want to see, Damon!" She scowls, a deadly glare plastered on her face. She could throw her hands around his neck at any time.

"Hahaha. It's Daejung. But, hey, Damon has a nice ring on it." How can he literally keep his cool right now? This is so not going to end well.

"Always being a clown, huh?" She retorts, much to Daejung's disdain and my increasing frustration. Ashley has definitely crossed the line. She didn't need to call him names, honestly.

"Listen, Ashley, I know that we're not in good terms, but we can fix things. I was telling Kasey about an offer you can't reject-"

She interrupts me. "What kind of offer?"

"Why don't we play a game together?" he asks without revealing too much. Now I'm interested. I know it's just another of his tricks, but this one is very well played.

"I'm in," I say without hesitations. "And you, Ashley?"

I'm afraid she'll say no. She's so biased against Daejung (even though I understand her reasons for not trusting him) that the opposite reaction would surprise me.

Against all odds, she decides that keeping holding a grudge against him isn't the best choice. "I accept. I want to try your game. But I warn you, Sim, if it's one of your mind games, I-"

"Do you really think you can threaten me like that, Ashley?" He taunts her, grinning and faking a yawn. "I have broad shoulders. More than you think."

She doesn't budge and retorts again. "Don't bite more than you can chew. Just a warning."

Daejung ignores her and just shrugs. I try to defuse the situation. "Let's go, Ashley," I say before taking my friend back home. I turn back for a second, only to notice that Daejung has disappeared indoors. I sigh out of relief, thinking that things might have gone even worse.