Falling for My Billionaire Best Friend

TRINITY

I open the door wider after checking in the peephole. I think he’s Bash’s Korean friend Alex. A man of twenty-year-old something, around six-footer fair complexion with a black shiny straight hair just above his shoulder. He looks attractive with a dark color set of eyes. He’s also fashionable like he just came from a runway fashion show.

He smirks when he notices me checking him out.

I clear my throat. “Can I help you?”

The smirk was still on his face. “You must be the redhead Trinity?” He asks with a slight British accent, but his Asian root is still there.

My eyes widen. “How did you know my name?” I ask inquisitively while we are still in the door.

“So, it’s you then. I’m Alexander Shin. A friend of Bash,” he says, holding out his hand.

I shake it immediately. “Oh, please, come inside. Bash is still in his room.” I step back.

“Is he still giving you a hard time?”

I narrow my eyes at him when he seems to know a lot about me. “Did he always gossipped around about my life, Alexander?”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “He’s not wrong, after all.”

“What does it suppose to mean?”

“You even look beautiful, Trinity. Your picture did not do justice.” He walks toward the couch as if he used to be here.

“Wait here. I’ll call Bash.” I leave him even if Alex is still calling my name.

“I called Bash on my way here, but he didn’t answer. Why don’t you wear your coat and we have a place to go to?” He’s also bossy like Bash.

I cross my arms over my chest. “What makes you think that I’ll go with you? I don’t even know you.” I raise my brows while inspecting him from head to toe. He looks like a trustworthy guy, and besides, he’s a friend of Bash.

“Bash will know that you’re with me, and trust me, I’m way dead before I can even touch you.”

***

We enter a pub bungalow style with a beach-themed bar with deck chairs, and the floor covered with sand. There’s a lot of local people here. I also see some foreigners enjoying the out-of-tune man singing a Korean song on a videoke machine.

Alex managed to convince me to take me here instead of a nightclub. He said that this is the best place for foreigners rather than going to the same nightclub back in New York.

We sit at an empty table for four, and I’m facing the man singing karaoke. Everyone yells when he hits the high notes. Alex stands up to applaud the man. I can’t help but smile.

“What would you like to drink, Trinity?”

“I don’t know. Surprise me.”

I’m already on my second bottle of Soju–a clear alcoholic drink of Korean. I feel the alcohol kicks in faster than I expect.

Alex is a funny guy compared to Bash. He even sings some Korean songs on the videoke that I don’t even understand a word.

“God! Alex, you can actually sing. You have a great voice over there.” I give him a high five when he comes back to our seat.

He bows at me, and I can’t help but laugh at him.

“You’re drunk, Trinity. I think it’s our cue to leave,” he says, looking amused.

“Nah! I’m not drunk. I still want another judo,”

He barks out into a laugh while shaking his head. “It’s Soju and not judo. We don’t do judo here. It’s Taek won do for Korean,” he says word by word.

“Whatever. It still sounds the same.” I wave my hand to drop it.

He moves closer to me to grabbing hand.

“I’m not ready to go, Alex. I still wanna go up and sing as you did,” I protest even I can feel my body heat, and my eyes are burning hot. I know I’m already drunk.

“Bash will kick my shin, Trinity.” He drags me toward the door after paying our table.

“You are Shin, and he won’t kick you,” I insist, but I have no choice not to follow his pace.

“Can you walk? Our car is a bit far from here,” he asks with concern in his eyes.

I nod lazily.

The weather is a little bit chilly. I shove my free hand in my jacket pocket. I inhale deeply as the icy wind blows my face. I notice couples walking hand in hand in the busy streets of Seoul. They’re shorter than Americans, but they’re pretty, and they have a great fashion statement.

South Korea is one of the fastest developing countries in the world. Ranking 7th the world’s largest economy and has high-speed internet. They have famous cellphone brands, electronics, and car manufacturers, and of course, their music and movie industries are well-known throughout Asia. And they start to influence Europe and America as well.

“Are you alright, Trinity?”

I jerk my head to look at Alex. I smile timidly after licking my dry lips. “I’m okay. Thanks for asking. So, tell me about yourself. Who is Alex Shin?”

“I’m the only son of Shin Dung Woo. I’m just like Bash, soon take over my dad’s company, but right now, I’m based in the Philippines. I manage our hotels there. I was broken-hearted once, but now I’m engaged. Bash still doesn’t have an idea about it. I study abroad with him. We’re classmates from freshman until senior year. I know him very well.”

By means, he knows Bash very well, which includes his secrets. I listen to him intently.

We stop at his car. Alex is a very good man. He even holds the door for me.

“He always mentioned you to me, Trinity. That’s how I know who you are.”

My mouth hangs open as I get inside without a word. His phone rings while I’m latching my seatbelt.

“Man, she’s fine, and we’re coming back now. We just had a few drinks.”

My head jerks to his side. That must be Bash he’s talking to.

“Yeah, yeah. Calm down, will you?” Alex says with the phone press into his ear.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

“Fine, and what the hell are you doing in your room leaving Trinity alone like a lost puppy? You wanker! You are better than that.” I can see the amusement on his face.

“We’re on our way. Don’t! Bash, just stay here, and I’m taking her to the hotel right now.”

I can feel Bash is pissed right now. Crap!

The way Alex talks to him over the phone, I know he’s yelling from the other line. Alex breaths deeply, and his jaw clenches.

I feel guilty for coming with Alex. They’re fighting because of me. I should remind myself of the reason why I am here.

“Fifteen minutes top. I’m driving and put down that bloody phone, Bash. It’s not that I’m not gonna shag her for bloody sake!” Alex shouts/

I almost startle in my seat. My stomach twisted sickly.

“Jeez, mate! Calm the bloody down, and it’s just a bloody name!” Alex groan. What exactly are they fighting?

“Fine!”

I sit in my seat and touch Alex’s arm that’s holding the phone. “Let me talk to him, Alex.”

“No.” He huffed a breath. “He’s furious because you came with me. I mean, I invited you without telling him first.”

My brow raises. “It’s not that I need his permission when I want to go out with someone, Alex, and besides, he walked out on me while we’re having dinner.”

“As if he will listen to that. I know him, and he’ll never accept his own mistakes,” Alex replies.

“I know, arsehole!” He’s still berating over the phone. “We’re on our way. Bye!” Alex tosses his phone to the backseat. Then he laughs.

I give him a disapproving glare.

“He’s gonna break or worse burn the entire hotel if he won’t see you in like ten minutes.” He’s still laughing even he has foreseen the worse scenario.

“What’s wrong with him? He walked out from me, and I went out without you, and now, he’s pissed off?”

“He’s Bash and will always be Bash.”

“So, you know Dana, right?” I ask cautiously.

“Yeah. They dated for a year, and I really don’t approve of their relationship. It’s not that Bash needed my approval, but I found that woman difficult. She wanted Bash alone to herself. Thank God, he never listened, and I knew they wouldn’t last. I can’t see why Bash dated her in the first place if his heart belongs to someone else,” he explains, then he looks at me.

The way Alex looks at me makes my heart thunder in my chest.

Does his heart belong to someone else? To whom?

Alex presses his lips into a thin line. He doesn’t say anything anymore. The effect of alcohol on my system suddenly vanish. I wonder to whom his heart belongs. I swallow the acid that burning in my throat. I doubt it was me, and I will never hope for that.

Lizzy’s words are like a slap on my face. I don’t think Bash’s heart belongs to me because if it’s true, he should have made a move years ago. Bash just stopped visiting every year. He didn’t call, sent me a message, or even email me. He cut anything.

I guess he really belongs to someone else. I breathe deeply to hold the tears from falling.

“Kiara, you’ve been silent. What’s wrong?” Alex’s hand and voice jar me out from my thoughts. Now he’s calling me Kiara.

“I’m good. Thanks for taking me out tonight, Alex.” I smile at him tightly.

He nods then parks his car in front of the King Hotel. The concierge catches the car key that Alex tosses. I walk with him to the lift silently.

“Don’t mind him even he’s pissed. I know you can handle him, and you know him well, Kiara. He’s still the same Bash you used to know,” he reminds me while we are riding the lift.

“Why are you calling me Kiara now and not Trinity?” I ask, and he grins sheepishly.

“What?” I ask, demanding an answer.

“He warned me not to call you Trinity.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s my name, and he has no right to warn everyone not to call me by many names.”

The elevator door slides open. My eyes widen, and I freeze in my place. The pissed Bash is narrowing his eyes on us in front of the elevator door. He is clenching his jaw hard, and his hands shoved into his pocket jeans.

“Get inside our penthouse, Trinity!” He

commands.

Our? I blink and raise my brow. “You’re a jerk! You can’t just ask me what to do, and I’m not your slave! I can do whatever I want during my free time.”

His face turns red with anger. I can feel the tension in the air, but I don’t care. He’s so rude in front of his friend.

“Kiara, just go. It’s okay, and we’ll just talk. Thanks for coming with me tonight. I had a great time,” Alex says with a small smile on his lips.

I can feel the tension between him and Bash. I am afraid that they will exchange blows. I move closer to Alex to hug him. Alex stiffens, but he hugs me back immediately. I hear a groan beside me, and I know it’s Bash, but I don’t give a damn right now, and I can hug whoever I want.

“I had a great time, Alex. We can do it again, yeah? Before I’ll fly back.” I smile sincerely.

“Stop copying my accent,” he chuckles, making my smile widen.

“Are you two done flirting in front of me?” Bash’s angrier voice startles me a bit. I shoot him a glare and walk away, waving at Alex.

I stand in front of the door watching the two bicker. Thank God, they look calm. I walk inside when I notice them seem far from punching one other’s face.

I change into a simple Pj after taking a shower. Bash still doesn’t show up in our room. Maybe he’s busy calling his family. I already left messages to Lizzy and Saph and sent voice messages to Mom and Dad.

I look at the empty king-size bed covered with a white cotton blanket. How will I sleep when he’s with me by my side with all these tensions between us? This is going to be the longest week of my life.

I shrug helplessly as I shut my eyes close. Hands wrap around my waist from my back makes me stiffen. I smell Bash’s cologne and aftershave. I guess he takes a shower down. He plants his chin on my shoulder, pressing his face on my exposed neck, then inhaling my scent. I shiver with the slight touch of his nose against my skin.

I squeeze my eyes to control my erratic heartbeat, but I fail miserably when he starts kissing the side of my jaw to the length of my neck and nibbling my earlobe. I moan helplessly. My legs wobble, and I can’t help but grip his arm that wraps around my waist for support. I bite my lips stronger that can draw blood.

“Bash,” I hear my voice pleads.

For a split second, I’m now facing him. How does it happen? I don’t know. The last thing I know, his lips are already pressed against mine.