The Fall of Gods (A Welcome to the Underworld Novel, Book 2) by Con Template

enough, after returning to the apartment, both announced that they were  too tired from the car ride to talk. This led to a whole day of “catching up on work” and completely ignoring one another. The trend of pretending to not notice each other was also carried out in the days that followed. Tae Hyun immersed himself with his Underworld duties and Yoori occupied herself with her assistant activities. Both parties threw out forced conversations concerning official Underworld business to alleviate some of the anxiety, but both Yoori and Tae Hyun adhered to total avoidance of other matters as the days went on. 
    Despite the evasion of a certain topic, Yoori knew that although they didn’t speak of it, both were consumed with the one issue that started all of this awkwardness.  
    Yoori had no doubt that Tae Hyun was still trying to wrap his mind around what occurred under the gazebo. She, too, hadn’t been able to think of anything else but the kiss they shared. It was one of those kisses that was too mind-blowing and monumental. You couldn’t forget it – no matter how hard you tried. 
    In any case, it certainly came as no surprise to her that Jae Won and Kang Min must’ve felt the unbearable tension when they came to pick her up for grocery shopping. Normally, Tae Hyun would insist on going with her. On this day, however, he stated that he was  too busy with “Underworld duties” and immediately called for the brothers to come and accompany her instead. 
    Though Yoori admitted to herself that such actions hurt her feelings, she knew it was best if they kept their distance for the time being. Hurt feelings aside, she couldn’t imagine having a conversation with Tae Hyun that wouldn’t tempt them into talking about “the kiss.” It was a topic that Yoori wanted to avoid talking about for as long as possible.  
    She blew out a dejected sigh.  
    Still , it bummed her out that it had been more than a little while since she and Tae Hyun had a proper conversation. Though he drove her crazy half the time, Yoori couldn’t deny that she missed him a lot. Not that she liked him or anything! She just missed him…as a friend. 
    Yoori pursed her lips at the predicament she found herself in.  
    All because of a stupid kiss, she thought bitterly.
    She returned to reality and quickly thought up an answer to give the brothers (one of which wouldn’t go into the specifics as to what happened).  
    She clumsily fiddled with the teal crocheted beret that sat on her hair. Pushing her non-prescribed, stylish black-rimmed glasses higher up the bridge of her nose, Yoori feigned distraction and kept her inattentive gaze on the vast aisle of junk food that lined the shelves. 
    “We had a little misunderstanding,” she provided vaguely, thinking the white lie was appropriate.  
    Indeed the kiss was a big misunderstanding between both of them . 
    She tucked her hands in the pockets of her black jacket and cleared her throat u neasily. Her black Uggs, which she had tucked the hems of her dark blue jeans into, thumped while she walked down the store aisle. It was as though her own shoes were scolding her for being such a terrible liar. 
    Jae Won narrowed his eyes at Yoori. A frown of disapproval shadowed his countenance. It was clear that he  knew there was more going on than what she shared. When it looked like he was about to say what was on his doubtful mind, another voice swam through the aisle. 
    “I’m sure whatever it is, Yoori and Tae Hyun can work it out themselves,”  Kang Min provided understandably, walking in between Jae Won and Yoori.
    The back of his black leather jacket straightened when he hunched himself forward. He rested his arms on the metal railing of the shopping cart and continued to push the half full cart.  He smiled reassuringly at Yoori, who gave him a small smile in return. She appreciated his non-probing ways. 
    She hated that she was being secretive around the brothers.