Lie Again! Chapter 42

<Chapter 42. On the fence (2)>

 

Tak. At the same time as blocking Amanda’s attack with her dark-toned phone, Jin completed three lines.

 

As Amanda and Jin’s game dragged on longer and longer, even two chess sets weren’t enough. In the end, Ruth had to secretly bring out his mother’s prized ornamental chess set.

 

Dustin and Joey were drawing extra grids on paper, just in case even the third set wasn’t enough.

 

Amanda carefully blocked Jin’s attack route by moving her golden queen, adorned with a staff and orb. The line of black knights that was about to form a chain of four was broken.

 

‘Then what should I do?’

 

Jin’s hand grew a bit rougher, her mind still partly occupied with thoughts of Evan. As she set down Ruth’s mother’s prized chess piece with a bit too much emotion, Ruth watched nervously, eyes wide with worry.

 

Even after his date with Jin, Evan continued to spend time with Gwen. Though there was no visible display of affection between them, the constant sight of the two together—both already the subject of many rumors—led the Crawford kids to openly treat them as a couple.

 

Jin and Evan’s Halloween incident was quickly buried under rumors about Emily, before it even had a chance to spread. While this spared them from unwanted attention, Jin strangely didn’t feel very happy about it.

 

Whenever Jin saw Evan laughing with Gwen in front of everyone while secretly sending her flirty texts behind their backs, her thoughts tangled into a complete mess.

 

What are we, exactly? Are we just casually dating? Or am I in a place where I have the right to interfere in your life?

 

Jin had always been a patient kid, but when it came to Evan Butterfield, even her patience was starting to wear thin. Why did everything with him have to be so maddeningly unclear?

 

“I can treat you the same way,” Jin murmured inwardly as she placed the sleek, jet-black queen on the board.

 

Checkmate. No matter where the opponent tried to block, Jin’s move guaranteed victory. Amanda let out a sigh and raised both hands in defeat as she stared at the spot Jin had played.

 

The children sighed at Jin, who had defeated four people in a row.

 

“Wow, Jin. How did you not lose a game?”

 

Jin smiled and shrugged at Ruth’s exclamation.

 

“I was the one who suggested this. Besides, this is what we used to play every break when I was in middle school.”

 

With Minchae. 

 

She swallowed the unnecessary words.

 

“Ah, I give up. I really can’t beat her.”

 

Dustin, frustrated, tossed aside the Go board he had been carefully drawing and flopped down on the sofa. Amanda scoffed, saying, “You’ve never beaten anyone so far.”

 

“Right, what are you guys doing for Thanksgiving?”

 

Ruth said this while picking up the paper Dustin had tossed aside and folding it into an airplane.

 

“I’m going to Cuba. It’s been a while—going to see Mia and Grandma.”

 

“I’m with my family!”

 

“Me too.”

 

Dustin, Joey, and Amanda answered in order.

 

“Ah, what am I doing this holiday.”

 

As he launched the crookedly folded paper airplane, Ruth muttered under his breath. Born to a British mother and a Korean father, Ruth said he had never really celebrated Thanksgiving properly, even while living in the U.S. He said he observed Chuseok, but not Thanksgiving.

 

“Come to my house again this year!”

 

At Ruth’s sigh, Joey raised her hand brightly as if to say, “What’s there to worry about?” But unlike cheerful Joey, Ruth quickly turned pale and waved his hand in refusal.

 

“Don’t you remember last Thanksgiving? Peter glared at me the entire meal. I had indigestion for two whole days—two days!”

 

“Peter looks at every boy who comes to our house like that. If you don’t like it, go to Mandy’s place instead.”

 

“Wanna come to my place? Just so you know, all my aunts said they’re coming.”

 

“…Then I’m not going.”

 

With a face that looked a little paler than before, Ruth shook his head. As Jin looked at him in confusion, Joey chimed in with an explanation from the side.

 

“Mandy’s aunts are kinda fond of Ruth. Like, a lot. When he goes over to that house, his butt basically becomes public property—gets smacked so much it’s a miracle he can still sit.”

 

At Joey’s words, Ruth gave a full-body shudder. “What’s wrong, little cutie Evan-na, Evangelina?” Laughter burst out toward Ruth, who looked utterly horrified.

 

“Then do you want to come to our homestay?”

 

Jin, who was thinking for a moment among the noisy children, asked Ruth.

 

“Oh, Riley and Ivy are great. But is it okay if I come too?”

 

“Mhm. Riley said to invite any friends you want.”

 

“Ugh, I wanted to go to Jin’s homestay too.”

 

“Please come visit next time, Joey.”

 

When Joey grumbled in a disappointed tone, Jin smiled and comforted her.

 

“Great! I should become friends with Ivy too.”

 

After thinking about something for a moment, Joey spoke up again.

 

“Let’s all spend Christmas Eve together. We can stay at Ruthy’s house or just wander around outside.”

 

“Okay, let’s do that.”

 

“What should we do? I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Each of the kids took turns sharing what they wanted to do on Christmas Eve. Joey excitedly listed her wish list. Although Christmas was still far away, her bubbling excitement was contagious, and Jin smiled along with her.

 

After that, the kids continued their deep discussion for quite some time about which pie was the unofficial signature pie for Thanksgiving and what games would be the most fun to play to pass the time.

 

* * *

 

After finishing the dinner prepared by Ruth’s father, Nathan, they left the house when the sun was already dipping low on the horizon. After parting ways with the others, Ruth was taking Jin home since Jin didn’t have a car.

 

Ding.

 

Jin’s cell phone vibrated briefly on his thigh.

 

[Still at that house?]

 

It was a text from Evan.

 

[No, I’m on my way. Ruth is taking me there.]

 

Jin hesitated but deliberately added Ruth’s name. It was a bit of mischief, hoping that Evan would experience the feelings Jin went through at school too.

 

As if he had been waiting for Jin’s reply, the read receipt appeared almost immediately beneath the message.

 

Jin hurriedly exited the chat before a reply could arrive. She didn’t want it to seem like she’d been waiting for his answer.

 

But even though the recipient had clearly seen the message, no reply came—1 minute passed, then 5, then 15. Meanwhile, Ruth’s car was already approaching the area near Jin’s homestay.

 

Jin narrowed her eyes as she stared at the message window that still showed no reply.

 

[Oh, right. Evan’s coming over to our place this Thanksgiving. Ah, I mean Evan Ruth. Just to have some fun. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving too. Enjoy your break!]

 

Jin quickly typed the message, turned the phone to silent, and stuffed it deep into her pants pocket.

 

She already felt a flicker of regret creeping in from her impulsive action, but she forced herself to ignore it. Let’s see how you like it, being the one left wondering for once.

 

The car turned in smoothly from the end of the street and came to a gentle stop in front of Jin’s house.

 

“Thank you for taking me here.”

 

Jin unbuckled her seatbelt and said goodbye to Ruth. But when Ruth turned the engine off completely and opened the car door, Jin looked at him in confusion.

 

“Since I’m here anyway, I thought I might as well say hi to Riley and Ivy. And, well… if you want, Jin, I could even lend you my Spanish notes.”

 

“Wow, you’re not even trying to hide your intentions, huh?”

 

Ruth laughed at Jin’s joke and shrugged.

 

The two got out of the car and pressed the doorbell at the entrance. Although they had the key in their pocket, they deliberately rang the bell because they didn’t want to spoil Ivy’s excitement.

 

Ivy liked opening the door for someone—especially for Jin—and she liked it even more when there was a welcome guest nearby. Today, she thought Ivy would be happy because Ruth was by her side.

 

Suddenly.

 

“….”

 

A moment of silence flowed between the three people standing in front of the front door at the unexpected face.

 

“…Why are you here?”

 

There stood the very person who had just ignored Jin’s message. Evan, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed as if it were his own home, looked back at Jin, who was dumbfounded.

 

“Am I seeing things right now?”

 

Ruth muttered foolishly and rubbed his eyes. But no matter how much he rubbed, Butterfield didn’t disappear right in front of him. Ruth’s eyes widened as he looked back and forth between Jin and Evan.

 

Unlike Jin, who quickly averted her gaze from Ruth in a moment of panic, Evan stared directly at Ruth with a smile. Then, ignoring him entirely, he turned to Jin and spoke.

 

“I didn’t come to see you today. I came to play with Ivy.”

 

At Evan’s bold remark, made without the slightest hint of an excuse, Jin shut her eyes, and Ruth’s suspicion grew a little more certain.

 

“Uh… so, you two are…?”

 

Still looking bewildered, Ruth pointed back and forth between Jin and Evan with his finger. Even as he spoke, his expression said he couldn’t quite believe it himself.

 

“No.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

The answer came from both of them at the same time. Jin, who gave a firm denial, looked off into the distance, while Evan, who answered with an easy yes, turned to Ruth and flashed him a bright smile.

 

“So get out of here.”