"Where the fuck have you been?"
" come to the penthouse" Jihoo commanded,
" Why?" Junpyo only needed Jihoo's voice to recognize something was wrong.
" Just come to your penthouse," Jihoo responded before hanging up. After the dinner and movie, which the three friends enjoyed, Yjeong and Junpyo left the hospital to head in opposite directions. Yijeong was heading to the club while Junpyo drove to his penthouse Jihoo had asked him to come to. The penthouse, only 15 minutes away from school, Junpyo didn't enjoy going back to that part of town, but the cold breeze of the evening was too nice as he left his windows open and headed to his place only Jihoo knows about.
"Welcome, sir," the security guard had given Junpyo a full bow as the latter headed to the elevator. The penthouse he had gotten as part of his grandma's inheritance, there was a reason why it was his favorite place to hide. The fact that it was on the 24th floor and had a great view of the city was one. The best feature was that nobody knew of its existence. Jihoo was the only person that was given access to this space. Not even Junpyo's parents or sister knew of the place he uses to hide away from even them.
24th floor- he pressed the elevator buttons followed by the security pin code he had to enter to even head to that floor. The slow ride up was followed by another pin code he had to enter to walk past the lobby into the penthouse.
" Woobin is not happy about this, you know," Junpyo, kicking his shoes to the side, shouted before he entered the living room.
" You have been missing so many things. '' His jacket he took off and threw on the couch, he focused his scanning eyes on the open kitchen across the welcoming living room.
There was no sign of Jihoo. His slow steps headed to the main living room and dining room. Then the library, but there was no sign of Jihoo.
" Why are you here?" The only rooms left were the study room next to the bedroom, and Junpyo headed that way.
" I could have gone to the club with Yi Jeong"
" Why are you here?'' As he walked into the open study space, he saw Jihoo sitting on the sofa. Jihoo's uniform,he last saw him in, was switched to Junpyo's cloth he had changed into. His wet hair and the towel over his shoulders, Junpyo knew something was up.
" What?" he asked the moment he got a good look at Jihoo's face that turned his way. Jihoo's eye pointed to the half-open bedroom and Junpyo took quick steps to the door. His legs halting before he opened the door, he used his right hand to slowly push the door open. Not noticing anything around the room, he leaned in to see the body on the bed. The fact that he could recognize the body even when her face was turned away from him should have been what he should have questioned first.
" What the fuck is going on" the thought that crossed his mind leading to instant anger, Junpyo asked. The girl Jihoo had been giggling with was now laying on his bed while a showered Jihoo was sitting in front of him. There were only a few conclusions one could make about the situation. Not even that, the fact that Jihoo had brought her here would have been enough reason for Junpyo to be angry. The place he has kept secret even from his sister, the girl that has been occupying his mind has now even breached his physical safe space. Just that was enough for Junpyo to be instantly angered by what Jihoo has done.
"What the fuck is she doing here Jihoo" Junpyo wasn't hiding his anger.
" Why the Fuck is she here " Jihoo didn't respond as he stood up and walked junpyo's way. Pulling the door open, he walked into the bedroom.
" What is she doing on my bed?" his angry eyes following Jihoo, Junpyo asked. The rage building up was reaching a new high as he witnesses Jihoo slowly sit by the bed and send his hand to the body hidden under his blanket. She really was in his house, on his bed. Quietly sleeping in his cozy resting place nobody has ever been on. Under his blanket that has never warmed anybody other than him. Most of her body hidden under the blanket, her face covered with her hair was the only thing visible as Jihoo's gentle hands slowly turned her around. Jihoo's right hand gently brushing her hair away from her face, Junpyo decided not to waste a single thought on why that was irritating him. Everything he was witnessing since the moment he saw Jihoo sit, increasing his anger Junpyo decided he would get to the part where Jihoo was allowed to touch her later, and focused his attention on her face.
" They have had it out for her even when he was around" Ignoring what his friend was talking about Junpyo took a step in, he needs a better view of her face.
" Woobin isn't around, and now they think they could just do anything"
" She was completely unconscious and they ripped her cloth off" Jihoo's voice was slowly fading away into the abyss as Junpyo took steps towards the motionless body laying on his bed. Hidden under the off-white blanket, her face finally became fully visible. The bruises on her face, he couldn't look away even from that. Just the marks on her cheeks and the bruises on her lips were enough to silence everything he was irritated about. Every ridiculous thought he was building as a possible scenario between the two was wiped away in seconds. The realization that something has happened to the her had stopped everything, even time.
" I couldn't take her home, you know my mom"
" If I took her to a hotel, they will ask questions about a unconscious body"
" This place was all I could think about. '' Jihoo went on explaining why the girl was lying on Junpyo's bed. The brain cells he didn't have to think everything through, Jihoo knew this wasn't a good choice but was the only choice.
" I need to go buy some painkillers. The nurse said she had to take them when she woke up. can you" Jihoos words weren't being processed. Jihoo's whole attention on making sure the girl was fine, he hadn't even caught what was going on with his frozen friend who had just realized this all might be his fault.
" I am hoping we can call her guardian when she wakes up "
" I don't think it will be right if her family sees her unconscious' ' he went on adding as he left the bed and started walking to Junpyo standing in the middle of the room. Junpyo's eyes, finally brave enough to leave her face, noticed the handprint on her neck. The gray shirt she had on with the school log on it, he didn't need Jihoo's words he had missed earlier to know the nurse at school had bandaged her wounds.
" I will be back" Jihoo passed by Junpyo and left the room.
What has he done?
With his slow steps towards the bed, Junpyo in total disbelief of what he was seeing, didn't need any more clues to figure out who was responsible for the body lying on his bed or why. Her body shifted to get more into the warm blanket; he assumed it was a reaction to the cold temperature of the room that had been empty for days. Walking past the bed, he headed to the wall and adjusted the temperature. He used the buttons next to the temp monitor to command the curtains to be lifted away from the wall-to-wall window in front of the bed. The slightly opened window welcomed the nice breeze of the night. The house he hasn't been to in weeks, the fresh air was a must. The bright light of the room dimmed; he was trying to busy himself with doing anything but think about the body in his bed. The moment he noticed a slight move, his hands that were extended to turn on the humidifier, paused. Her arm pushing the blanket away, she adjusted herself on the pillow he would never use. Jihoo had used one of the decorative pillows to rest her two other pillows by the end of the bed designed for perfect sleeping; Junpyo didn't waste a second as he decided to switch her pillow. Why all the shock he was dealing with was placed in the back seat, and her comfort became priority number one was interesting. The second he didn't waste considering if it was a good choice, the hesitation happened when he got to the bed, and his eyes rested on her face. The peaceful body wrapped in his blanket, Junpyo needed a second just to take this in. She really was laying on his bed, her face resting on the same bed he sleeps on. How could something so simple as seeing her serene-looking body resting in his bed, silence all the noise? The dreamland her soul was probably floating in, how could she have him wishing to be part of just like that?
" huh" he sighed as he grabbed the comfortable pillow from the other side. He wasn't aware of what he was getting into as he placed his knee on the bed and leaned closer to the sleeping body. His right hand sent to grab her neck, he made the first contact as his cold hand grabbed her neck. Trying to be as tender as possible, he lifted her neck up from the pillow. The girl knocked out with medication, her head swung back, surprising Junpyo that she wasn't awakened by this. Bringing his body closer to hers, he used his left hand to pull the pillow and threw it across the room. His right hand holding her neck, brought her head closer to him as he started placing the pillow he slept with behind her. The soft pillow placed at a right angle, Junpyo started lowering her body. Her face held close to his chest, he was granted access to examine her face without her scrutinizing eyes scaring him off for doing so. His left hand coming to aid his right, he placed his left hand against her head.
How gentle and mindful he was with every move was beyond endearing. Her head slowly rested against the pillow; he pulled his right hand away from her neck. Unlike his right hand, his left was imprisoned between the pillow and her head. His hand he was gently trying to pull away, he got the first tremble of the night as her head shifted and the dark hair that was a buffer between their skins moved away from her warm cheeks. Just the touch of her soft skin would have done it, but the small movement of her head as she adjusted herself to rest on his hand, Junpyo didn't have enough words in his vocabulary to explain what the twitch that went through his body felt like. He hadn't even experienced enough emotions to figure out how to categorize what took over his body that was commanded to stay still. Her soft cheeks rubbing against his palm, it was alarming how the warmth from her body was being transferred to his cold fingers and passing through his veins. Paralyzed by it all, he knew he didn't have a choice but to stay still. He can't disturb her sleep. His right-hand inches away from her face, the temptation was beyond his control as his fingers were brave enough to touch and started brushing her hair away from her face.
The bandage on her forehead, his fingers traced as they pushed the last strands of hair away from her face. Her thin hair that needs a serious visit to the salon, didn't fail to feel nice in his hands. Her sleeping face resting on his hand, it was endearing how small it was compared to his hand. Her brown eyes that used to gun for him, finally closed, he started his examination at her long lashes. The dark circles under her eyes he could guess were from the pure exhaustion of all she had to do just to survive. School, working at a cafe, being an escort and a gang member he could only imagine what else she had on her plate. He had to be this close to notice the freckles on her nose and across her cheeks. The tiny dots he knew he wouldn't get another chance to look at, he took his time to store them in his memory. Her red nose marking the amount of blood she had lost, he shifted his eyes to her lips. His eyes lingered on the bruise at the corner of her lips longer than they should. Lost in what has become his latest obsession, Junpyo wasn't ready for the small movement of her that sent him jumping away from the bed. With the quick steps he took away from the bed, he got a good view of her body as she adjusted it to the comfortable pillow and blanket.
The ignited sensation starting at his left hand that needed to be handled, he quickened his steps to the freezer at the corner. The water bottle he pulled from the freezer was sent to his left hand and held tightly. His right hand brushing his hair away, the first sign of his nerves was being activated. The confusing mix of emotions he was processing was starting to irritate his mind that doesn't like not being in control. In total control at all times, was the only way his mind fully functions. His emotions he can't afford to lose control of, he knew he probably had to rely on the medication he hated so much tonight. Forget everything else, even his thoughts weren't under his command. They were focused on making him feel all types of shame for what he just did to her sleeping body. The girl who doesn't even let him into her personal space, the fact that he had thought about her in that way, when she lay there motionless and defenseless was cold water bottle he took big sips of was placed by his leg as he sat on the sofa set by the corner of the bedroom. Eyes glued to the sleeping body, it didn't take much for him to be reminded of the guilt and shame building up wasn't just for touching and looking at her. The most important one was the fact that this was his doing.
This was all his fault. This was all because he had to continue their weird fight and use those assholes to scare her off. The water he finished, and his hair he kept brushing back and forth, neither were able to calm his nerves down. How much of an idiot he had been to think they would not use him as an excuse to do this to her. Was he that angry to not even think about what the outcome would be? ...Her nurse's office outfit he had gotten a good look at, he finally recalled what Jihoo had said about her ripped cloth. Her slender legs that march across the hallway, Junpyo had to stop there. Shame and guilt stored away, an unfiltered rage was taking over as he couldn't even imagine anybody daring to unclothe her. His right hand tapping at the arm of the sofa, a new type of anger was leading his eyes to take in her small frame which, hours earlier had been laying on the cold floor of the gym. How dare they? The boiling question that will lead to the fire he was going to set on that campus, Junpyo wasn't fully conscious of what was happening to him to understand why he was getting so enraged at the mere thought of those filths touching her. His fist tightening its grip, his veins became even more visible, the longer his eyes stayed on the girl.
" they are going to pick her up from school'' Ji hoo walking into the room finally brought Junpyo's attention away from the sleeping body.
" Her family kept calling her phone, so I picked up. her brother said he will come to pick her up "
" I told him she was at school," Jihoo went on explaining.
" I will take her to school"
" Do you want to come?" Jihoo, heading to the sleeping girl, asked. No matter how much he didn't want to say it, he wasn't ready to meet her brother even if she was okay, let alone while holding her unconscious body that was visibly beaten.
" I might need a witness to prove I didn't do this" Jihoo's smile wasn't what Junpyo focused on, but the girl Jihoo easily lifted off the bed. How casually Jihoo was touching this girl was an annoying fact he will address some other time. Junpyo followed her head softly resting against Jihoo's chest as he was made aware of how perfectly she fit into his best friend's embrace.
" lets go" Jihoo leading the way wasn't remotely concerned about the new irritation added to all the unfamiliar emotions his friend was dealing with. The drive back to school was filled with varying emotions for both boys. In the silent car he was sitting in, Junpyo didn't even know why he was doing this. His eyes on the car in front, holding her body, Junpyo followed behind quietly. The 15 minute drive to campus, Jihoo had stopped at the gate to inform the security guard that there would be a car coming in to pick something up. The armed security bowing at Junpyo's car was ignored as Junpyo stepped on the gas pedal and followed Jihoo behind, heading to the driveway of the main building. Their cars parked in the driveway; they stood there wishing for whoever had claimed to be her brother to get there as soon as possible. Jihoo adjusting his uniform coat, followed that with brushing his hair and making himself look presentable. Junpyo, standing against his car, on the other hand, had the black hoodie covering his head. His messy hair he let loose was covering most of his face as his hands were buried in his pocket. With the gloomy look and the darkness around him, even a blind person could pick the dark vibe coming from the boy who was getting even more anxious by the minute. The cigarette he pulled from his pocket was quickly lit up and sent to his lips, he needs the nicotine to calm him down.
" I've been telling you to get them to stop, but you don't listen to me" Jihoo who masked the anger and rage burning in him, he couldn't hold it in any longer. The moment they drove into the campus, it had finally reached the surface as he kept his eyes on the building he had saved her from.
" what would have happened if I did not go back" Just the thought silenced him. He sent his eyes away from the junpyo breathing out the white smoke. The tight fist of his right hand landing against his car; the loud noise echoed through the silence. Junpyo contemplating whether he should tell Jihoo what he had asked the boys to do, chose to keep it to himself for now. His own anger he was trying to control was his main issue. He can't even imagine how angry Jihoo was.
" I don't know what it will take for you to start realizing they are people" Jihoo glanced at Junpyo, and for a split second he questioned why his friend was hiding. It wasn't even metamorphic. The white smoke, the hair, the hoodie, Junpyo was physically hiding himself away.
" All the childish game you play with people's lives"
" and don't say you never did anything" Jihoo's fingers were pointed at his friend that finally turned his way.
" Woobin uses your silence to do all this"
'You are always complicit"
" If you had said anything, He would have stopped years ago"
"But I guess you need some entertainment to liven up your numb life" Jihoo knew he was crossing a line but he didn't care.
" are you happy now?" he asked, crossing his arms, and focusing his eyes on the face he got a good look at when the white smoke floated away. Junpyo's dark eyes looked hollowed out thanks to the darkness around them. The white smoke that was gushing from his lips he was biting into, Jihoo didn't need any other sign to know something was up with Junpyo.
" Do I look happy?" Junpyo's raspy voice pierced through the cold air and reached his friend. The words he wanted to say, Jihoo sent them back to his confused mind, unable to understand why Junpyo looked out of sorts. He was very aware of the lines he can't cross with his friend.
" I told them to talk to her"
" I didn't ask them
" Wait what?" Jihoo taking a step asked leaning Junpyo's way.
" YOU DID THIS?"
" I asked them to talk to her" the cigarette placed in between his lips, Junpyo inhaled as he sent his eyes away from Jihoo he couldn't even look at.
" WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST THIS GIRL?"
" WASN' T BURNING HER STUFF and HAVING THE WHOLE CAMPUS BULLY HER ENOUGH"
" EVEN HAVING HER LABELED AS AN ESCORT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR YOU"
" I didn't ask them to do this, '' Junpyo pointed at the back seat of Jihoo's car.
" WHAT DID YOU THINK THEY WERE GOING TO DO?"
" DO YOU KNWO WHAT THEY DO?"
" DO YOU EVER CARE ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE TO NOTICE WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS SCHOOL" Jihoo's furious words were less scary than the disturbed eyes he kept on his friend.
" i just wanted
"WHAT?"
" WHAT COULD YOU EVER WANT FROM HER?"
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU LAETLY?" Jihoo's screams were silenced as both noticed the car coming their way.
" God help us," Jihoo whispered as he adjusted his coat and kept his eyes on the car getting close. The black car slowed its speed and stopped behind Junpyo's car. The black overall covered man, the moment he stepped out of the passenger seat had gotten a reaction from both boys. The overall zipped all the way up hadn't failed to expose some of his neck tattoos, as both started at that and scanned him down. The well-built body of the man, Junpyo made out the gloved hands and the military shoes the man walking his way had on. The bold man didn't have to do much for his threatening presence to be felt. His hypothesis that she was in a gang, Junpyo was assured as he recognized this man was different from the one on the bike. The dark cloth they wore and their threatening looks, they had to be part of the same gang. The man's scary eyes landed on Jun Pyo first, he scanned the boy he had heard so much about up and down. The man didn't need much to figure out these were the spoiled kids of the families that ran this country.
"where is she ?" was the only thing he asked as he started getting close to Junpyo, who surprisingly didn't even move an inch or looked frightened by his presence. Jihoo on the other hand was scared of the people that claimed to be her family. How she had cursed him out, Jihoo quickly remembered how it made sense that her personality comes from this being her family.
" She is here, '' Jihoo pointed at the back seat of his car. Not even sure if he should explain or say anything else, Jihoo stayed quiet. The man that walked past him, Jihoo, could feel the threatening energy coming from the man that looked like he could crush him in half if he even said anything. Her sleeping body was swiftly lifted away from his car as the man holding her headed towards the black car. Jihoo couldn't believe the man wasn't asking any questions. Not even a single one. Holding all her stuff, Jihoo followed behind. His eyes from the one holding her body landed on the one in the driver's seat. With the black hoodie Bom had on, and his gloved hands on the steering wheel, Jihoo made out how his eyes were on his best friend. Junpyo, breathing the white smoke, had been the one to see Bom first. The man on the bike he clearly remembers, Junpyo couldn't explain why he was more scared of the one behind the steering wheel glaring at him than the big one that was carrying her body. Maybe it was the menacingly terrifying way Bom's eyes were staring at him. Or the fact that Junpyo remembers how he had aided her when she beat Woobin up. The man resting her body in the back seat covered Junpyo's view, finally giving him a break from the unnerving way Bom was looking at him. Her stuff was snatched away from Jihoo.
" the nurse said to give her this" His words were swallowed back as Bom's terrifying eyes finally landed on Jihoo. The one behind the steering wheels didn't have to say much to get Jihoo to be quiet. The pure rage burning in Bom's eyes, both boys knew these men were going to come for whoever was responsible for what happened to the girl Jihoo had assumed had nobody but had so many people filled with rage to avenge whoever had dared to touch her.
" Go," the big man ordered as he got into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut. The engine still on, Bom was quick as he stepped on the gas pedal and started speeding away from the driveway.
" they are going to kill them when they find out who did this" Jihoo's terrified eyes followed the car to the gate. He can't help it, he was a bit happy to see the scary men being her family. He knew, no matter what happens, those guys will not let those minions off easily.
" Where are you going?" Jihoo, catching a glimpse at the moving figure, turned his attention to Junpyo. Hidden behind the hoodie and his flying hair, Junpyo didn't lift his eyes from the ground as he headed to his car. The cigarette thrown to the ground, Junpyo ignored his friend's question.
" Junpyo" Jihoo called out, but there was the response. Jumping into his car, Junpyo focused his attention on the road he was directing the car to.
"YAAA" Jihoo could only scream at the car speeding away.
His anxiety starting to pinch at his skim, Junpyo needed his medication or something to stop him from feeling any of the weird emotions that had been playing with his mind. As he stepped on the gas and broke the speed limit,all he had in mind was getting to his pills and silencing it all. The windows left open, the cold wind that started attacking his body left and right was perfect. Lucky for him, no traffic police monitored the shortcut he took through the park. He wasn't even sure how his car was parked correctly as he entered the back elevator of the building. Pressing 24 and his pin, his right hand went to the zipper of his hoodie. Suddenly, it all feels suffocating and hot.
The hoodie thrown on the floor, he quickened his steps to the bathroom and medicine cabinet. The two blue pills he was rushing towards were followed by the bathroom water.
Huh,
Huh
Huh - the unregulated breaths he was taking, he lifted his eyes to the mirror in front. His eyes stared right back at him as he played all the things his friends were screaming at him. Unable to look at himself, he averted his eyes back to the sink. Both hands placed under the running water, he splashed the cold water against his face. That always helps calm things down. Some cold water on his face always helped. His wet fingers were used as a brush to push his hair away before he forced it all into a bun with the hair tie he always has on his wrist.
Huh
Huh - the deep breaths were slowing down as he lowered his body and sat down against the sink. The cold ceramic floor felt amazing and he slowly slid his whole body down, lay on the floor. His eyes, ordered to slowly close, lost their focus on the chandelier. The moment the room went dark, his mind went to the most important memory of the day. Right at the second her body shifted towards him, resting her head on his left hand. The fact that he could still feel the electric tingle that started at his fingertips and went through his body was more nerve-racking than anything else he experienced today. Her warm soft skin rested against his cold left palm, which he just placed on his chest, Junpyo's already weakened heart was fighting the medication that was being diluted into his blood streams.
What would have happened if Jihoo wasn't there?
Half an hour. It took half an hour for him to fully grasp what had happened and by the time he did, the pills had taken over. His emotionless body lying on the cold floor, it took that long for it all to be accepted as reality. She really was attacked. Drugged and cornered into the changing room. Ripped away from her cloth and slapped around. That's when he had to stop. Even when medicated, the scenario he couldn't handle thinking about what shut down. It was all his fault. His body shifting around the cold ceramic floor, he needs something stronger than his pills to silence the trembling that came from being aware of what could have happened to her. It was all his fault. What he asked was for them just to scare her off, but his request was used as permission to do this. He should have known better.
The half-hour leading to an hour then two, Junpyo stayed on the floor of his penthouse until the cold floor started poking at his skin. Thankfully the medication had turned him numb from feeling any of it. The pain from his skin didn't even make it to the top 100 list of things his drugged mind was thinking about. Her face resting on his pillow, for some reason, her peaceful face resting on his pillow was the image that replied again and again. Followed by how she had adjusted her head to rest on his hand. The images demanded a reaction, he shifted his body to the right, then the left. No position was comfortable enough to let him stop thinking about that.
Right when the clock passed midnight, a quick warm shower and he headed to his bed. The towel he was brushing his hair with resting on his shoulders, he focused his eyes on the disheveled blanket. Unable to ignore the fact there was a girl that was lying on his side of the bed hours ago, Junpyo slowly got in under the blanket. It's fine. Everything is fine. The voice trying to convince him was working overtime as he adjusted his pillow. The images of her, he couldn't shake off, even the fabric of the bedsheet felt different. The blanket felt odd, his pillow wasn't that comfortable, and even the smell was different. Switching his body from one direction to the other, Junpyo tried but couldn't shake off either the image or the unfamiliar presence that was all over his bed. Every turn, every direction he adjusted himself to, it only took seconds before it felt odd. His body moving left and right, finally gave up.
"Fuck" he cursed pulling himself out of bed. If he was lucky the couch in the main living room would be where he could get some sleep. The blanket he didn't grab, he laid his body across the couch, facing the grand view of the sleeping city. Forget getting any sleep, he couldn't even find a comfortable position to lay on as he kept switching sides while his eyes, that were fighting to get some rest, thanked all the light he had turned off. When the clock passed 1 am, he was finally able to escape into the dreamland to quickly be woken up by the sunrise beaming in from the window he didn't close.
Unlike him, the girl waking up on the other side of town had 12 hours of sleep. A warm shower and some stretches were followed by the big breakfast Bom had made the whole team eat without her before they left for what they had to do. The private rooftop they had to themselves, the long table the breakfast was laid on was where they all sat. Bom reading the documents in his hand while Jandi wrapped in the blanket kept her attention on the soup Ctrl had warmed for her.
" You seriously are not going to tell us ?" Ctrl, pouring himself some tea, asked.
" I told you they are just regular bullies" placing her spoon down, she repeated.
" I will deal with them"
" why did the F4 boys had your body then"
" Again I work for the student president and that's his friend" Her annoyed eyes at Ctrl she warned him from saying anything about what he had seen through the camera when she had to get him those files. The two boys that had left his shocked that day being the ones that helped her, He knew something wasn't adding up.
" It's nothing and I will deal with it," she added, turning her eyes to Bom. Reading the newspaper and enjoying his tea, he hadn't said much. He was the one she had to make sure accepted her excuse.
" If I need your help I will ask" she returned to her soup. She knew the best way to handle the situation was by herself. If Bom gets involved somebody is going to die. Nobody that does anything to her has survived his hands. His silence, even she feared, was what was bothering her more than what happened to her yesterday. After the breakfast they enjoyed in silence, Bom left for his workshop while she was asked to rest for the day. The painkillers she took along with the medication she put on her bruises she was enjoying her easy Saturday morning before the most shocking thing of the week happened.
" you have a call" Ctrl walking to her room handed her his phone.
"There is a rich boy here looking for you," the lady, giving Jihoo a big smile, whispered on the phone.
"He says he knows you from school, student council," the lady added the only information Jandi needed to figure out who was waiting for her.
" I'll be there in 10" Jandi hung up as the lady placed the phone and started heading to the boy still standing by the restaurant door. Giving the signal to the man in the kitchen, the lady focused her eyes on the boy she was scanning. The cloth he had on, that was enough to let her know he was one of the spoiled kids swimming in wealth. If not that, the confused look all over his face as he looked through her restaurant would have told her that this boy has never ever stepped in anything that looked like the tiny restaurant. It was easy to tell he didn't fit in with the rest of the people in the restaurant enjoying their lunch before heading back to work.
" She is on her way" the lady's voice brought Jihoo's eyes to her.
" Thank you." His smile was beautiful, she noted. So this is the type of students Jandi attends school with.
" Do you want to come in and sit?" The lady offered the table by the corner which Jihoo accepted with a smile and a small bow. The waiter that walked out of the kitchen, the way he had looked at him, Jihoo had no idea what was going on and only assumed that they were just shocked by his presence. The young boy walking his way seemed angry. Does he think I attacked her? Jihoo questioned as he sat down.
"Welcome" the boy slammed the menu in front of Jihoo.
" Stop it" the lady walking to the boy whispered.
" He is not here to eat, just get him some tea" Tapping on the boy's sholders the lady turned her smiling eyes to Jihoo.
" Thank you" no matter how much he wanted to decline the offer, Jihoo just said thank you and gave the lady a smile. The dynamic between the lady and the boy feels odd. Every person he meets related to Jandi just seems like such an odd ball, Jihoo concluded as he caught the look he got from the chef in the kitchen.
" How do you know Jandi?" the lady asked.
" She works in the student council with me"
" Ask him why he is here?" the boy walking away shouted before placing the menu on the counter and heading to the kitchen. The lady that turned around warned the boy with her eyes; Jihoo found her warning eyes and fingers cute. That has to be her son. Is she Jandi's mother? She doesn't look like her at all. His questioning mind was pulled back to the main issue.
" Why are you here?"
" Just wanted to check on her to see if she was doing okay" the lady pulling the chair in front of Jihoo sat down. Her crossed arms , she sat leaning back as her eyes started examining Jihoo who she could tell was nervous. The amount of time he was fixing his coat collar was evidence of that.
" I found her address on her school document"
" This was placed under home"
'"Upstairs is living space,' the lady pointed out. Jihoo, who had spent a minute just looking at the old buildings lined in a row, had assumed they lived upstairs because everything below was a commercial space.
With all the stores, street markets, the tiny shops, the whole neighborhood was filled with old buildings and stores surrounding the tiny roads.
" I see" he was more curious about the upstairs living space he knew he would never get an opportunity to see. If they were all family, how do all these people fit the upstairs rooms? The tiny buildings he could imagine were beyond compact to fit the two men from last night, Jandi, this lady, the boy and whoever else is also part of her family.
" Thank you for being her friend"
" I don't think i'm her friend" his shy smile the lady found adorable. All the things she had heard about the students of that school, she doubted. This boy didn't seem as bad as everybody else made the students seem out to be.
" Maybe" As she noticed the boy walking their way with the tea set, she started pushing the items in the middle of the table to the side.
"Are you part of the F4?" the boy placing the tea set down asked.
" Stop bothering him," the lady tapping at the boy commanded.
" huh" Jihoo took a deep breath as he caught how both were waiting for him to answer. The group he was part of, this might be the first time he was ever this ashamed, and felt bad to even say he was part of.
' I am,' he answered. He can't lie. That was his best quality.
" So you are one of those spoiled jerks that kill"
" HUSHH" the boy's rant was cut short by the tap that hit his arm. His angry eyes directed at the lady, Jihoo couldn't make out what she said to silence the boy from finishing his sentence.
" You're bold to show your face here" the boy whispered as he turned around and started walking away.
" Now they are coming here. Do you know who that is?" The boy's loud voice was for the man in the kitchen. Jihoo, completely confused about what was going on, chose to stay quite.
" You must be a very important person if you are part of F4" the lady brought his attention to the tea she started pouring. His family legacy he can't escape from, Jihoo was starting to hate how people continue to use that to define who he is.
" You people live in a different world, don't you?" she asked, pushing one of the cups his way. The disdain all of them had for him, without even knowing his name, Jihoo could imagine how much they hated him after hearing about what had been happening to Jandi at that school. That was all he had knowledge of, unfortunately. Who these people were and what they were hiding, was a world apart from what he was thinking about.
" I am sorry. I tried to stop it whenever I could '' Jihoo tried explaining all the bullying she had been receiving from Woobin and his minions.
" I see" The lady's scary eyes focused on him as she took her first sip. Thinking he felt like she could read his mind,Jihoo decided to focus on his tea. Much like Jandi's examining eyes, the lady's eyes made him uncomfortable for no reason. He had always seen himself as a good person, a nice guy, but the more time he spent with her; the more he was questioning himself and the group he was part of.
" You're very handsome" the compliment that came out of nowhere forced the first shy laugh out of Jihoo.
" What' Jihoo, hiding his laugh with his hand, protested.
" My friends are way better, " he suggested, hiding his smile with the teacup.
" I don't know your friends, you're here" the lady was enjoying her tea.
" and you're very handsome and seem very smart" Jihoo's smile were too honest to a point he wasn't even worried about answering any question she might throw his way.
" What major are you going to study in college?' she chose to fish that way rather than asking what he wants to be.
"Double major, Law and International Politics, very boring" The tea he was enjoying, Jihoo hadn't thought about how his answer had let the lady know exactly which one he was out of the F4. The look in her eyes that changed came at the result of knowing his family that had hands in all branches of government, all the way into the Blue House and the Supreme court. She had thought he was just a student but he really was part of the F4. A member of the F4 was sitting in front of her, in her restaurant.
" So am I talking to a future politician" her small smile, she knew he probably was being raised to be a future president. The people that rule the country came from 3 or 4 universities. The only highschool that competed with those universities was Shinwa.
" My parents want me to be"
" You don't?"
" I am not sure" her small smiles welcoming him to feel comfortable, Jihoo was opening up about the primary thing that has made his senior year such an excruciating experience.
" You have everything and can be anything so"
" I don't want to disappoint my family so technically i can't do anything" the sadness in his voice, the lady was having a hard time accepting if this boy really was part of F4.
" Am sure you have high expectations for your daughter?"
" She is no" the lady hushed herself and just gave him a smile. It was funny how much he doesn't know about the girl he claims to work with. Ignorance really was such a privilege.
" Jandi is going to do what she wants"
" That's true" he added with a smile.
" She doesn't seem like she cares about anybody's expectation and perception" the tea he was enjoying, the lady found endearing how he didn't decline or not drink the drink. The fancy drinks and cups he probably was used to, it says a lot about him that he had accepted their offering.
" Depends"
" If you're not part of her circle, she doesn't care"
" If you are, then she cares too much" Jihoo can't even hide how excited he was to learn something new about her.
" Have to be very lucky to be part of her circle then" the tea he went on sipping he assumed Jandi's circle was just family. It had to be. The girl that doesn't even do small talk, you had to be blood related for her to care about you.
From Jandi, who she can't talk much about, the lady shifted the conversation back to Jihoo and what was waiting for him after graduation. Their interesting chat the lady wasn't even worried about the restaurant having become empty as the afternoon was fully underway. The dinner they have to start getting ready for, everybody else was busy leaving her to enjoy the conversation with Jihoo she was laughing with. The boy annoyed by it all was sent for delivery. Lucky for him , he hadn't seen the smiles and giggles of the two.
" She's here, " the lady pointing at the window cut Jihoo's statement short. Past the posters and tapes across the window of the restaurant, Jihoo made out the girl walking to the door. Her Adidas hoodie zipped all the way up, he caught her face when she lowered the hoodie and entered the restaurant.
" You're late. He has been waiting,' the lady drew Jandi's attention to their table.
" look at your face?" The lady's question was ignored as Jandi focused her eyes on Jihoo.
" What are you doing here?' Jandi, placing her hands in her hoodie pocket, asked. That was the first thing on her mind, finding out why on earth he was here.
" I wanted to check on you" Jihoo stood up, and responde. Her hair tied back, he got a good look at her face, which looks better than last night.
" You didn't pick you phone when i called and this wa"
" I am fine" she interrupted him which bothered both Jihoo and the lady still sitting down, focusing her eyes on the two as she finally got an understanding of the situation.
" Did you take the pain killer?" the worry in his eyes, the lady leaned back against her chair and focused on Jihoo. There is something going on.
" The nurse said you need to
" I said I am fine" Jandi interrupted and shut him down, again.
" Well the boys were
"let's talk outside" she interrupted again before he started going on about the scenario she had kept hidden from all. Nobody else needs to know about what happened. She was going to deal with it in her own way. The last thing she wants is more questions. Which was going to come her way anyway. Just the fact that he had shown up here, was going to be something she would have to answer for but the questions the lady would have for her were going to be the most shocking ones. The lady, saving all her questions for a private chat, kept her eyes on the boy who she could easily read. His tender eyes that hadn't left Jandi, one had to be an idiot not to notice there was something going on between these two. Technically just him. The robot girl she knew well, there was no way Jandi would reciprocate those feelings. The lady would bet good money that Jandi didn't even have those emotions within her. The girl who could kill that easily, she paid the greatest price of losing some aspect of her humanity and depriving herself from such feelings to become who she is.
" Thank you so much for the tea and the conversation" Jihoo extended a smile the lady's way, pushed the chair in and turned to follow Jandi leading the way.
" See you soon" the lady had made sure to poke at Jandi and she got the reaction she was hoping for as the girl turned around , looking at her. There was no way this boy was going to return here. There was no seeing him any time soon.
Buttoning his cardigan, Jihoo followed Jandi out the store. The loud street, the smell of all the street food, Jihoo couldn't even focus as he caught the glances he was getting from the people looking at them. During the silent walk they were having, Jihoo chose to focus on assessing her neighborhood. The palace she calls home.
" Does everybody know each other here?" minutes later he asked after noticing some of the nodes she was getting.
" What do you really want? Turning only her eyes his way, she asked.
" I wanted to check on you, that is all"
"What else would I want?" he asked back, now starting to get confused about why she is so worried about him getting to know her. He already knows all the things she might want to hide about herself or so he thought. Maybe her family doesn't know she works as an escort and she was worried he might tell, Jihoo assumed
" It is the minions"
" I know" the anger he could feel in her voice, Jihoo was beyond happy to know she was angry. She was beyond angry about what happened and he knew the girl that cursed him won't take it quietly. He wasn't sure how much she could do but she seems ready to cause some damage to those three. His best friend being the cause, he hesitated from sharing. That might be the only thing that could stop her from fighting back but she had to know. The last thing he wants to do is hide something from her and pay for it later.
"What are you going to do?" he asked, needing some time to think about whether he should mention Junpyos name. Her eyes that turned his way, Jihoo wasn't ready to accept the cold sensation that took over when he made out the look in her eyes. The smile that escaped his lips was a result of knowing exactly what her eyes were telling him. She didn't have to say. Her galring eyes and curse he still rememerbs, Jihoo knew the girl that had the guts to tell him to fuck off wasn't going to accept what happned to her quietly. What he didn't know was the true ability of the girl who could kill those three and have them disappear with no trace. The fact that she could beat them to death, breaking every bone in their body, that Jihoo wasn't aware of. Forgetting what the people behind her could do, just her, What Jandi by herself could do if she wanted to, Jihoo really had no idea what he was dealing with.
" Why?"
" Do you want to help?" filled with the revenge she can't wait to execute, Jandi asked. Jihoo didn't have it in him to say No if she asked him to join, and this moment was when he realized it.
" You might need my help to get away with it" He noticed the way the two men standing by the corner smoking had glanced their way. Is he really such an odd ball that people are shocked to see him here? He questioned. This part of town he had only heard about on the news when they reported the crime rate, the poverty and living standards. He knew he would get some eyes but this was a bit frightening. The slums of the city that was literally a river and hours away from where he lived, Jihoo knew not to say anything about all the weird things he was seeing.
" or you have to be as bold as whoever beat them weeks ago"
" I thought it was your friend?" she asked to see if he had heard the rumor the school had accepted as truth. The boys she had beaten, the credit was given to the only person who could do it and get away with it, Junpyo.
" Who? Junpyo?"
" Junpyo doesn't touch people" the smile accompanying his response, Jihoo couldn't even remember the last time he saw Junpyo raise his hands to fight anybody, let alone beat people.
" He doesn't even raise his voice"
" Those are the dangerous ones" She whispered, focusing her eyes on the road they were walking on.
" He just doesn't care" Jihoo couldn't help it. It was second nature to defend his best friend. He wasn't even defending his friend but sharing his honest observation.
" He doesn't give a shit about anything," he added.
" I am sure everything and everyone is beneath his highness" her snarky remake, Jihoo questioned for a second. Why does she sound so irritated by his friend she hasn't even met?
" Have you ever talked to him?" Jihoo asked, knowing the answer.
" I know he burned you stuff and "
" Can we not talk about him" she cut him again .
" maybe it's not the right time to mention that he asked the boys to" the words floated away the moment her eyes landed on him.
" he said he only asked them to talk to you"
" He didn't think they would do this. I don't think he would ask anybody to do this" Jihoo went on trying not to accept the fact that Junpyo being evolved was causing a reaction. Not fear. He had thought she would be scared to do anything to them knowing Junpyo might have their back but no. She didn't look scared, she looked more enraged.
" He asked to scare you off but they took it " he stopped himself as he was reminded of what the boys could have done if he hadn't been there. Both thinking about different things, they went on walking in silence.
" what are you going to do?" Jihoo was now concerned. He didn't get his answer as she raised her hoodie to cover her hair and focused her eyes on the turn they made and the street market that was a shortcut to get him to his car. Jihoo, contemplating what on earth was going to happen on Monday, didn't disturb the silence they were enjoying walking through the loud market.
" Where are we going?" he finally asked, unable to take her silence.
"You car"
" My car is parked on the other side, we took the"
" I know where your car is" She interrupted him and gave him something else he should have been more concerned about. The neighborhood they had eyes on every corner, of course, they were warned the second a foreign car that cost half a million entered their turf. The squeaky clean car parked on the main road had eyes on it thanks to Bom's order which Jihoo should have been thankful for. If not for the two kids playing soccer next to it who were asked to keep an eye on the car, it would have taken less than 5 minutes for a car like this to be robbed, if not the whole car stolen.
" You shouldn't come back here," she whispered as they made the right turn and headed to the main street, which Jihoo recognized. The tiny roads he didn't feel comfortable in, he had chosen to park the car in the parking space on the main road. The police cars he saw pacing by, he had assumed the main road was safer but he had no clue of where he really was.
" Why not?" he asked
" You are more than welcome to stop by my house" he added knowing well she will never do that.
" My mom makes great tea too," he added, noticing how she was trying not to smile. He had assumed it was because of his joke but for her, it was because of all the assumptions he keeps making about her.
" Does she? She doesn't look like she does?"
" What does that mean?" his smiling lips, Jihoo was startled that she was going along with the joke he was using to light up the mood.
" Also how do you know what my mom looks like?" he asked, turning his body her way.
" Your family is very famous if you don't know"
" But my mom is not very public"
" Did you see her at the alumni thing" he asked
" No. I saw her on tv or in a magazine " Jandi lied. The amount of hours she spent searching for every detail of his family, the photos from all the stake out they did, she had seen all kinds of photo's of his mom.
" Very beautiful " she tried deflecting. She doesn't want him asking more question about what she knows about his mom.
" She is," she added, clarifying.
" Yes, she is," Jihoo, with a confused smile all over his face, agreed. He was embarrassed how he spent a second deducting that if she found his mom beautiful that there might be a chance she finds him a bit handsome. He had inherited some of what his mom had anyway.
" What do you mean Alumi talk?" finally getting to that, she asked.
" There was an alumni event Last Friday or was it the Friday before that" Jihoo wasn't sure what had caused her eyes to return to him and not the road they were crossing.
" She was invited as a speaker but she couldn't so she sent a video"
"It was for the notorious batch of 2015 and some scholarship kids were working with the kitchen staff so I assumed "
" I am sorry I shouldn't have assumed" Jihoo was apologizing.
" I heard something happened ?" she didn't care that he had assumed she would be working. Finally getting the clue she needed, everything else was erased as she found her answer to the video that was deleted and the main reason she joined his council. Ctrl was right, there was something that night and now she had found out what. Which means the people she had been looking for all this time were on that campus . That was the only thing that would explain all videos being erased from even theharddrivr. They really were there.
" there was a fight between some of them about something that happened when they were students"
" So many things happened their senior year so I could imagine reunions wouldn't be peaceful" focused on the main road Jihoo had missed the only clue he should need to figure out why this girl was so interested in what he was talking about or the only reason she was at that school.
" What happened?" her fingers squeezed into the tight fist, she asked. She needs to see what everybody else remembers.
" I am not sure but some dark stuff happened"
" The school was shut for months that year" Jihoo scanned the boys playing soccer by his car, went on answering her questions. He had missed the smirk that escaped her lips. The fact that nobody even knows about what happened was a great result of the school and all the families that have done everything to silence everyone and bury it all down. Nomatter how much it costed ,they have done everything to erase it from memory. They have accomplished their goal as even a member of F4 doesn't know anything about the seniors he had accepted the title from.
" They are the ones who gave F4 the reputation it has now" he had thought best to divert back to the main topic at hand.
" Is that your excuse to feel better about what you do?" she asked
" that you're not as bad as them," she added, zooming in on his eyes.
" I am sorry" she didn't expect his apology. How startled she was by it was all over her face. His sincerity that always gets her was his best weapon against her thick walls.
" I am really sorry about it all"
" I've been trying"
" You don't need to apologize for their sins. '' Taking her last step toward the car, she changed her gaze to the beautiful car. She needs to stop looking at Jihoo's puppy eyes which will force her to accept his apology and wipe away everything.
" I am sorry" Jihoo, sending his eyes to his pocket, pulled out his key.
" I know you don't care, but I am really sorry about everything "His fingers playing with the key, Jihoo looked just as ashamed as he sounded.
" You're a very powerful person "
" Why don't you use that for good? Rather than apologizing for things you didn't do" the honest question she threw his way, Jandi welcomed his eyes that returned her way.
" You are the president and have such an important last name," she added as she took a step closer to Jihoo, who leaned his back against his car. He needed something to stand against as he took her words that would be imprinted in his mind. The expectation she had for him, he was just made aware of, Jihoo couldn't help but feel like such a disappointment.
" Apology without action is just" Her body was swung around as Jihoo, grabbing her arm, turned her around to land her against the car while he stood in front of her, letting the ball coming their way hit his back. Jandi, locked between the car and Jihoo's body, raised her shocked eyes to his. Her body didn't react fast enough as she stood frozen by what he had just done.
" lip service" She finished her sentence in a whisper as his body holding her against his car forced everything else to leave her mind.
"Sorry"
"Sorry," the boys apologizing for the ball they kicked, thier apology didn't make it to either of the people standing by the car. Jandi, being reminded that this boy has been saving her every chance he gets from anything that might harm her, needed a minute to make sure that was what was causing her confusion and not the body she was held against. The sweet smell of his perfume she was instantly made aware of, along with his enchanting face inches away from her, Jandi didn't need a red flag to warn her why this was problematic. Her body heightening all her senses, she had caught how even how tantalizing the wind that brushed against her skin felt.
" Are you okay?" his low and reassuring voice hitting her ears, she was sent the first big red flag as her eyes were commanded to look away. Don't even look at him, was the message. Her right hand slipping out from her pocket, headed to his chest and gently pushed. She needed to separate their bodies. His body she didn't even touch, Jihoo had moved away the moment her hand landed against his cardigan.
"ohu" she responded, moving away from the car and taking two steps away from him. Jihoo kept his eyes on her while taking note of everything she was doing. Her eyes avoiding him, her fidgeting fingers, and the distance she created away from him, would it be crazy to assume she was nervous? She seemed nervous. Her slow heartbeat he felt while he held her against the car, Jihoo deemed it crazy to assume she really was nervous because of what just happened. The notion that she could be processing the same startling feelings was dismissed as impossible. She probably was shocked because he touched her.
" you should go" second later, she brought her eyes up. She had regulated herself instantly as Jihoo noticed the difference in her gaze.
" Please don't come back" her words felt like a command.
" I wouldn't have if you picked up your phone"
" I will, so don't" He got what he wanted for now as he started walking to the driver's side.
" I will see you Monday" Not turning back to make sure he got in and left, she turned around and started walking back in the direction the market.. She doesn't need to make sure he leaves; the eyes Bom had around the town would let them know if Jihoo decided to do anything else but leave the neighborhood he shouldn't even be in.
" See you Monday" his eyes were left on the girl walking away for a few seconds before getting in the car.
He can't wait for Monday, which seems an eternity away from today.