Hello everyone, Thank you for the wonderful comments. To all the new readers welcome and thank you so much for reading & commenting. I really enjoy reading who you like and where you think the story is going.
Hola, muchas gracias por leer y por tus comentarios. Es interesante ver a quién le gusta Junpyo ya quién le gusta Ji Hoo. Espero que disfruten la historia y sigan comentando.
Drink warm liquid.
Stay hydrated.
Get enough rest.
The message she had gotten to deal with her sneezing that hasn't stopped but got worse when she woke up, Jandi had ignored the posted note as she left the house and headed for the school all had advised her to take a day off from. The crazy night she had, there were things she needed to confirm before she started worrying about what was waiting for her tonight. Why she needed to confirm that the asshole hadn't told his friend should have been investigated but for now all she cared about was if Jihoo was told or not. Why she care if he knows he left some other day?
Arriving early, she had chosen a new corner in the library, one with the wall-to-wall window that aimed right at the drive way the students will be dropped off by. For those that drove their own car, it had a great view of the parking lot they would have to drive into. Her eyes glancing from the book to the cars coming in scattered, she wasted a whole hour catching everybody else but the one she was looking for. The jacket she had added to her uniform plus the legging she had on, the goal was to keep her warm but it had made it easier for people to recognize her as she decided to ditch hiding it was better to look for his car. The rumor that was still fresh, she didn't even care for a moment about what the people gawking at her were thinking. She has better things to do. Her quick steps to the Vip parking space, she scanned all the cars parked to find three vacant spaces. 3 of the F4 boys weren't there. Jihoo's car she saw in the regular parking lot, it was the other three that weren't there.
He wasn't here. But that doesn't mean he could not have told his friend. All her attention on Jihoo, she quickened her steps to his office. The door was left open, there was nobody in his office. The coffee cup by the edge and his coat behind his chair, she knew he was somewhere on campus. The question was where on campus? And she got her answer shortly.
" Good morning?" Jihoo walked in
" Good morning" turning around, she responded. Her eyes focused on him and started looking for any sign. Did that jerk tell him anything about last night? She questioned as she scanned for any signs. Behind his small smile, he didn't look any different.
" Happy Friday" passing her to walk to his desk, he extended a smile. Not responding to his smile, she extended her arm to grab the tea. In silence, Jihoo scanned her jacket, zipped all the way up and her tired looking face. She looks a bit off today but it was Friday. Everybody looks tired on Fridays. Both his friends weren't even awake enough to make it to school because they were tired, or so they claimed.
" Did you finish the documents last night?" She started fishing for any hint of what he did last night that way. All she wants to know is if his best friend had told him anything. Why she was even remotely worried about Jihoo finding out what she does outside of this campus was a question for another time. One she will have an answer for once she acknowledges the weird relationship they were building.
" Yes, I was up until like 1 am. I have it all done'
"I will email you all the copies. We need everything on the list by tomorrow midday to make sure Sunday goes smoothly" Jihoo went on talking about all the work the team needs to complete to make sure Sunday's fundraising goes well. Jandi carefully looked for any hint, didn't find anything and was quickly reminded of one repeating fact. Apart from seeing her in that hotel the first time, Junpyo has never told anybody about any of the other things he had witnessed. "Why would I tell him?" she recalled his response to her question of why he doesn't tell Jihoo. Annoyed by his voice that repeated in her head, she focused more on trying to get any memory of his voice removed from her mind.
The minute long silence she needed to do that was followed by the warm tea she kept enjoying. It has become such a norm by no what it would feel odd if she didn't stand by the corner of his office sipping her tea while he does what he does. Sometimes he couldn't even help but glance at the corner of his office and notice how empty it felt when she wasn't outstanding there. Silently standing by the window, sipping her tea while she barely shares anything about her life he tries to question with every opportunity, Jihoo has become so used to their morning routine that it feels off to be here when she wasn't. What she stares at, he had tried to stand at the exact location and look out into the garden to find only trees and the endless does she think about it? What is occupying her mind? Were questions he can't seem to get an answer to no matter how close he seems to have gotten to the girl that was now okay with most of the things they did together
" Oh by the way we have to go off campus for something today" Jihoo trying to seem busy so he doesn't have to give her a chance to decline started flipping some of the documents in his hand.
" we will grab lunch on our way"
" Why?" startled, she asked, trying to get a glimpse of his eyes he was focusing on the pages he was flipping.
" We have to make sure all the art pieces for the auction have arrived at the hotel and I think we need to have one signed off" He wasn't lying. These were things that needed to be done but usually the day before the event. Jandi he didn't have access to on saturdays, he was using this as an excuse to do the work with his favorite council member. This would be something new. Their weird friendship he has been testing to see where she will draw the line, this was a new area as they will be in his car driving around town in the middle of the day. That plus getting lunch somewhere else. Lunch + nice drive, some might even call that acute day date.
" or we can do it tomorrow?" his questioning eyes were raised as she analyzed them to check if he was lying. He wasn't lying. She knew all the things he listed were things that needed to be done.
" Lunch break is better for me" . Taking a sip of her tea, she chose for the both of them. Her eyes retiring to the garden had missed his smile. For someone so closed off, Jihoo couldn't help but wonder why she always agrees to doing things when he asks. He knew he was using his position as an excuse but at times he can't help but wonder if she might not reject these things even if he asked them as Jihoo and not the student president, her boss. It was too risky to take that chance now and he chose to stick with using his position as much as possible.
While Jihoo busily tries to come up with a list of cute restaurants they could stop by for lunch, Jandi was busy questioning how long it will all take.
What else can it be but checking with the hotel contracted to host the event and picking one art piece from the gallery, she had thought. The 2 hour lunch break they had, she had thought it was enough time to do everything and return back to school. She knew even being at school was something he was advised against , let alone adding more things to do on such a day. She had a busy and very serious Friday evening and the last thing she needed was anything that would get in the way of that. If anything happens, it was her own fault. Bom had suggested missing school to rest but she had chosen to be here. It was going to be her own fault, if anything happens to ehr that could ruin her night plans. The reason why she had even decided to come in, she was reminded of as she met Jihoo by the driveway and headed to the car they will take for their lunch time adventures.
" Why don't you park your car there?" she pointed at the VIP parking space the F4 boys use, which was empty today. The vacant designated space was the only clue needed to know the boy she was looking for wasn't in school, neither were Woobin and Yijeong. She could have chosen to go home once she figured out he wasn't here, nor had he told Jihoo. She should have gone home then, if her only reason to be here were those too. But she was still there. Still on campus and about to do something new with the person that has reached a new level as his phone number was even saved on her phone by his own name.
" I don't know, '' was his response as he changed his gaze from the empty parking spaces to his phone he pulled out. He knew exactly why but sharing it with the girl that will question him non stop until she gets to the bottom wasn't a good idea. At least not today. Today he just wants to have lunch and a chill afternoon with the girl he will not have many opportunities to do anything with outside of school. His excitement for Sunday he was trying to hard to manage, it came from knowing he will have to see this girl in something else than her uniform for once.
" Your friends are not here today?" not sure if she should ask or not , she whispered.
" It's Friday and almost the end of the year" , his hands typing on his phone, Jihoo didn't even raise his eyes as he responded.
" It's surprising they are even showing up as much as they do," he added, forcing her to realize it really was almost the end of the school year. The reign of this F4 was almost over and will be passed on to whoever the next group of boys will be. Nomatter who takes over, the reputation of the infamous group led by the inheritor of the Shinwa corporations, was unlikely to be topped by any other. Not until Jupnpyo's kids attend the school and they reign over. He might have kids evil enough to outshine him, she thought for a second before she questioned why she even is thinking about his possible kids. Her wish is that he dies before he gets to have that.
" somebody is beating them up too so" sending his phone to his pocket, he sent her a smile. The little movement of her lips, he knew she was trying to hold in her smile. Biting her lips to hide her smile, Jandi turned her eyes his way. Jihoo seems happy about what she has done and if she was reading him right, even a little proud of what she has done. Would he be like this if he knew she was the one that had landed Woobin in the hospital? Slapping Junpyo was one thing, Wobbin with fractured bones was another.
" They are probably scared of you" he added, his smile getting bigger and sending his right hand to lower his tie. Her eyes running to the empty parking space, Jandi focused on the empty F4 parking spots. She needs to avoid his genuine smiles and his shirt he was unbuttoning. Jihoo utilizing the opportunity provided for him focused his eyes on her side profile. Her hair tightly placed in a low bun, her undistracted face was in full as Jihoo stared at her eyes, seriously focused on whatever she was looking at. As always, her adorable nose he wants to pinch for no apparent reason, leads his curious eyes to her lips. Her cherry colored lips he had witnessed talking, eating, and sipping the tea he provides daily, Jihoo was able to rail his thoughts back to appropriate topics before they start wondering what else those soft looking lips can do.
" Yijeong thinks you're possessed" trying to silence his own thoughts, he broke the silence. He needs to find a way to maintain his crazy thoughts that always find a way to run wild when she is next to him, an arm reaching away.
" huh" her small smirk, it was interesting to realize how she found what he said amusing.
" Maybe I am" she whispered, turning his way and leaning to his side. By now he was used to how comfortable she felt to be the one to bring her body closer to his, sometimes even entering his personal space.
" You should be scared too," she added, this one being a serious warning but Jihoo was more focused on her leaning body that was in his space.
" I have seen what you can do with a laptop so i don't want to be near you when you get angry" Jihoo didn't think much about what he was saying but his response was the only thing Jandi needed to know he probably won't be the same person if he really sees what she can do. If he was claiming to be scared of her based on what happened in the swimming pool, he really would end whatever they have and might even never talk to her if he finds out what she does or what she has done to his friend lying in the hospital. That was a hard realization that wiped her smiles away and returned her eyes to the parking lot they entered.
" You sound scared" trying to hide the sting her new realization made, she asked with a fake smile. The fact that she could her emotions away had been the reason people never realized what everybody around her being scared of her does to her. She would never admit it anyway. What she felt about anything never mattered. The ticking bomb she was treated like, people who know what she can do being scared of her was a causal occurrence. Jihoo would be added to the list once he learns about who she was.
" I am a very peaceful person you see" his smile she ignored, she was taking everything he was saying seriously.
" I don't do well with violence" she knew this one. It wasn't just his position as the student president or his political future, she had to be around him for a week or so to figure out he really was not into violence in any form. The world he lived in was all suns and roses to a point discussion and dialogue was what slaves all issues not fists. Maybe, just maybe, she was wasting her time with the ridiculous job that was not benefiting her to get just a glimpse into his world. She might never admit it , but she was a tiny bit jealous of the rose colored glasses he looked at the world with.
" I am the lets hold hands and dancing in the meadow type of person" he added this one forcing a smile out of both.
" dancing in the meadow ?" Jandi asked, having a hard time picturing him doing it.
" It's a saying" Jihoo leading the way to his car parked in the corner pulled his key out and unlocked the car.
" something you wouldn't know anything about?" he was testing the water as he sent his words her way. His car he unlocked, he sent his eyes her way. The parking space filled with cars, only had the two whose voices were echoing through the empty building. Their isolation Jihoo always uses to his advantage, he knew the next 2 hours were going to be interesting. He will be left alone with the girl that acts differently when it was just the two of them.
" why not?" she asked, not even remotely prepared for Jihoo to take the step separating them and enter her personal space. His quick step, she wasn't even prepared to step back but just stood there as he lowered his head to hers. His fancy perfume was the first thing to disturb her clam state, followed by his smiling eyes that had a hint of mischief hidden behind them. The fact that her body wasn't triggered, the fact that she wasn't ordered to be ready to attack, Jandi didn't even question as she focused on his confidence that has been growing to keep breaking her personal space this casually.
" You don't seem like you know the word fun" he whispered, leaning down to her ears. His eyes that stayed on her as he continued his walk and headed to the car steps away, Jihoo was enjoying the paused Jandi that needed a second to react to what just happened. Her startled eyes following the boy opening the passenger door, Jandi stored what just happened with all the new things Jihoo has been doing and how casual he was becoming at disturbing her personal space. Leaning her way to ask questions in meetings was where it all started. Choosing to sit next to her, which has become its own thing in meetings, she had dismissed it the first time he had leaned to her shoulder to ask a question. That has led to Jihoo taking every opportunity to enter her personal space, most of the time even leaning down to talk to her face to face. His eyes she sometimes questions when they stay longer than they were welcomed, carefully looking at her to the point she gets anxious what to do to get him to stop, Jandi was aware of the new patterns of behaviors.
" Am I wrong?" he asked, full of smiles. The passenger door he held open for her, Jandi started her slow steps. That was another of his behaviors she had become used to. He never stopped at opening doors, it was pulling chairs and making sure she sat before he did. Jandi, trained to watch people's behavior, had caught everything he did. Waiting until she starts eating before he took his first bite, even making sure she had settled and ready before he started council meetings, which she had to take notes of. Unfortunately for the girl that has never had this type of treatment, the pattern was recognized as odd and suspicious. The girl that lacks any kind of lived experience or context to understand what he was doing, she just stored it as odd.
" Your most fun hobby is reading," he added as she got to the door he was holding open.
" and you don't even laugh" he knew he was pushing it without her sharp eyes glancing his way. He found it to be beyond adorable, whenever she was this irritated. Although he enjoyed them, he can't wait to figure out what he needs to do to wipe away her irritation in seconds.
" Do I need to be drinking and partying to be considered a fun person?" she asked, moving his hand away from the door and slipping into the passenger seat. That was another thing that had become too common for her to be startled by. Lightly touching him to move him away from her view, away from her desk, away from her snacks, Jandi's hands have become used to softly touching him. It was only him that wasn't used to it. Jihoo glanced at his left hand she just touched, letting what happened sink in. By no definition of the term was Jihoo ``touch starved" but her hands she always kept to herself , whenever they touched him, he was made aware of the instance her skin touched his. No matter how faint and soft, the touch of her soft skin was always registered as a startling instance his body was ordered to be aware of. The girl that doesn't even like people in her personal space let alone being touched, of course it would make sense for him to be baffled by how easily she touches him. Maybe it is only being touched that she doesn't like, he had concluded as he made sure not to follow her example and touch her. She was very clear and had explicitly shared how she doesn't like being touched. It wasn't challenging for jIho who had learned and was a master of keeping his hands to himself.
" No but I would love to see that" slamming the door shut Jihoo headed to his side. Jandi buckling her seat belt, placed the only thing she was carrying, her phone, on her lap.
" You in the middle of a party" as he quickly got in he continued the conversation.
" a dance party at some club" he added as he started the car and set the destination which she glanced at, to the hotel they had booked for sunday. Thai was actually great for her, since she would be able to see where the hotel was so she would know how to plan her commute for sunday.
" wearing some skimpy dress and grinding against somebody" Jandi had whispered adding to the hypothetical scenario only she was smiling about. Jihoo was the one who needed a few seconds to eliminate the picture she painted for him. It wasn't even his things. Neither parties nor dancing had been his thing. They were things his friends dragged him to. But one fake scenario and he was willing to indulge if he gets to see the picture she painted for them. Jandi in a dress and dancing would be something he would even pay good money just to see. Even if it was a photo, he would do anything to see that scenario in real life. Her grinding with somebody was now a sight he wasn't interested in.
"Who would you be grinding against?' he asked, trying to seem nonchalant about the question. The car that slowly started leaving the parking space, Jandi was focused on that to even question why he was curious. She never did. The best thing Jihoo does for her is never make her question what she has to say or do. Being allowed to just say what she wants with such ease was the best thing to come out of knowing him. The fake scenario she had assumed to be a joke she wasn't worried to continue on. Mainly because it was an impossible scenario and she had assumed he knew that.
Whoever I find attractive"
" Who do you find attractive ?" he asked as the car rolled out of the parking lot and headed to the driveway. This was an interesting question. Although never considered the most handsome of the group, Jihoo has always been confident with his looks to be this nervous about what she might say. Although all four boys were handsome, Yijoeng was the pretty boy of the group and considering he was an artist, it was no wonder he was easily awarded that title. But who was the most attractive of the group depends on whom you ask. The four boys with their own looks, styles and personalities, were very different. The clean cut, smart, elegant, good boy of the group, this was the first time Jihoo was questioning where his looks landed him. If he had to pick, Junpyo would actually be the number one on his list. Not only because he was handsome but because Jihoo had seen what just his smile does to girls. He had spent enough time around his best friend to know Junpyo was actually a silent killer that didn't have to do much. His bad boy attribute, silent and mysterious persona, added to the unfiltered confidence and power even his walks exudes, Jihoo had seen enough girls fall head over heels for his best friend that doesn't even have to know their names to not put him as number one. Lucky for him Junpyo was out of question for the girl that seems to hate his best friend's guts to the point even hearing his name turns her face red. It would be hilarious if she found Junpyo attractive considering she hates everything about him. Once in a while when they talked about people she had listed the characteristics of people she hated and Junpyo had almost all. He knew Junpyo was probably the last man on earth Jandi would find attractive or so he thought as he assumed maybe she might like the soft spoken artsy type like Yijeong who knows how to melt the hearts of strong girls like her. That was his type and he had the looks and knew exactly what to say and do to have them lower their guards and let him in. he was a master at that.
" Nobody" she responded, turning her eyes his way. It was the truth. She never spent a second thinking about what was attractive in anything, let alone boys. She never had time for that.
" That's not humanly possible" Jihoo, not even surprised by her response, focused on trying to just enjoy arguing with her. The girl that never even told him what she likes to eat, he knew there was no way she would tell him who she finds attractive. She was secretive about everything.
" everybody has some things they find attractive"
" You're not a robot," he added, not ready for the question to be turned his way.
" Maybe I am" her light joke was taken seriously by the one driving out the gate of the school and joining the main road.
" What do you find attractive?" she asked hoping that will put an end to where the conversation was heading to.
" Somebody elegant, well spoken and articulate," Jandi started listing, breaking the silence.
" One last time, she is just a friend" Jihoo, knowing exactly who she was talking about, responded. The picture framed in his office, she had asked about that was when Jnadi was made aware of the girl Jihoo claims to be only friends with and amdires so much.
" Seo-hyun noona is a childhood friend" Jihoo knew it was useless to defend himself but continued to do so.
" who doesn't have their childhood friend photo everywhere and wears their name as a necklace" Jandi enjoying how much he gets annoyed by the subject kept poking. The security guard gave them a bow they both ignored. Jihoo was the only one focused on the road they joined while Jandi was enjoying the visible anger on his face.
"People do"
" No they don't"
" Don't you have pictures of your friends?' he asked , his eyes on the right lane he was trying to join. The reality check she needed but was provided Jandi was reminded that maybe he was right. Maybe people love their friends and do all the things he does. She didn't even have a single friend to question what one does with friends. Are friends loved as much as siblings and family members? The sting the question brought was silenced as she turned all her focus to the road.
" Also why do you seem a bit bothered by her photo in my office?" he asked, changing the topic back to something light.
" What?"
" I am not bothered. Why would I be bothered?" her quick response she knew had made it even more suspicious.
" more importantly, how do you know about the necklace?" Jihoo, who needed a minute to realize that she really was bothered by it, asked a more serious question. The question he had thrown as a joke, he was too startled to get a response like he did. He had seen her once or twice standing by the photo of him and Soo hyun, carefully examining their smiles and hugs. What he didn't expect was the reaction he just got.
" I heard them talking about it"
" The council members were talking about why you don't have a girlfriend and her name came up. '' She was honest in her response as she kept the reason why she stayed behind and almost missed her class to listen in on the conversation about their boss, hidden.
" That's what they talk about behind my back?'Jihoo asked a question that got a long response as Jnaid started talking about all the amazing things people say behind his back . It was as though she was doing damage control as she started with all the admiration people had for him. As the car pulled into his favorite sandwich spot and he made the order for both, they were still talking about what people say about him. In minutes the conversation turns into why she doesn't care at all about the bad things people say about her behind her back and to her face.
" But words have power and impact us all" Jihoo asked, taking a bite of the sandwich and making sure to steer the car in the right path.
" I told you I am a robot" her small smile was hidden by the water she kept sipping in between the delicious sandwich he had made sure they made extra spicy for her. He knew she liked spicy stuff based on just observation.
" You care because your job depends on what others think of you"
" You have to be dependable, liked, admired and be inspiring" she added as Jihoo was reminded of how much what she sees him as comes from the position he holds at school and his last name.
" That's what makes a great leader, right?"
" What if I don't want to be a leader" Jihoo masking the deepest fears and anxiety the question he can't seem to answer to himself, asked hoping he will get an honest answer from the one that never seem to lie to him or cuddle his emotions.
" You're born to be one. It's in your bloodline" her response she didn't think much about, Jihoo was disappointed in it but made sure to register it in his memory. She was just another in the line of people that claim he was born to be one because his family was filled with people that were.
" what are you born to be?" He knew it was a weird question but the odd and uncomfortable palace her response placed him in was where his mind was operating from as it tried to make her aware of how hurtful it can be if he repeats what she said and says it about her. But yet again, he was going to be left bewildered as she doesn't seem to be hurt by any words she had heard since she was a child and accepted as the truth.
" I was born to be a nobody"
" Most people are."
" Live ordinary lives that have little meaning and die" her dark look of the world was scary as Jihoo stopping the car at the red light turned her way.
" You were born to be somebody" the change in her tone was easily recognized as her serious eyes turned from her food to him.
" Somebody who could have a serious impact on the lives of so many"
" The choice is, what kind of impact do you want to have? '' Her careful eyes were underlining the seriousness of her words as they stayed on the boy she had left paused. It was alarming how much her words make him feel things he never gets from the long pep talks he gets from the people that were sent to inspire him. Three lines . It took her three lines to paralyze every other thought and focus on the one that matters the most.
" What makes you think I would make the right choice?" his fears string to poke though he is always composed and in control, Jihoo asked. There were only two people he ever felt comfortable around sharing the scared and anxious boy that hides behind the confident and always smiling one everyone knows. She wasn't one of the two, but if she was observant enough she could pick on the tiny signs and hints.
"I don't know if you will"
"Why ?" his sandwich placed down, he asked as he focused on the green light and high way they were going to join. The hotel that was 25 minutes away was their first destination.
" You were part of F4"
" You have some time to change and grow out of it but to me" she stopped herself from getting personal. She didn't need to explain .
" You seem to be a nice person and I hope that will translate to your work and the spaces you're in '' she tried to correct herself in that way. How much hope she has for his future should have been where he focused on rather than her pessimism of what he will turn out to be based on what he is now. Never, even in the short time they have known each other, she never fails to make him question everything he did and stood for including himself. The group she never fails to remind him of he was part of , this was the first time he was getting questioned about it with every opportunity she got. The fact she could never even give him an opportunity to be seen past being a member of F4, Jihoo used to understand why she had such hate for Junpyo. It all made sense considering she had been the most drawing women that had cursed out and even slapped the leader of the group. Of course the girl who did that would never stop reminding him and tell him what she thinks honestly. It was her best quality and why Jihoo needs to keep her by his side for the long run. With every power he gets, he needs somebody to check him and who better than the girl that wasn't afraid to curse at him and was not scared of him at all. All the yes people that bowed at his feet, Jihoo knew how special having somebody that will call him out was. Somebody that will hold him accountable, remind him of what he should be doing and why, somebody to challenge him, he doesn't know yet but the girl sitting next to him was a rare find for somebody like him. Jihoo, who needed some minutes to take in what she said and all that she had forced him to think about, focused on his food and the silent drive to the who enjoyed quiet drives, didn't question the silence as she went on enjoying her lunch.
Starting with the hotel, they had three tasks to complete before heading back to school.
Grab lunch
Stop by the hotel and make sure all artifact arrived
Pick up one art piece ( which Yijeong had promised to donate)
Having accomplished all three, Jandi was glancing at her time to be surprised that they had completed everything in an hour and half and heading back to school. The smooth drive she expected back to school, she was enjoying the new neighborhood they were driving through. The wonderful breeze of the day brushed against her face, her eyes were located on the wide open road and the beautiful trees and flowers around it. The main road they slowly joined, Jandi was shocked to find yet another rich neighborhood she had never even heard of.
" Do you mind if we make a quick stop?" Jihoo asked as he turned left and avoided the main road she was excited to explore.
"Its close by , literally like minutes away," he added.
" No" she responded a bit excited to get more view of this side of town she will never be back in. To be honest it felt a bit wrong or even illegal for her to be on this side of town. The main road they left behind, all the turns Jihoo kept making, Jandi took in silence as the roads became even more empty and trees getting taller, the buildings and stores they left behind,jandi was questioning where they were even headed as she can only make some signs at the edge entrance of the small roads that extended from the one they were on. Two more turns and she started recognizing it as a residential area. The big gates of the houses you can't even see , she only needed to see one or two gates to know this was a gated community
" Are we going to your house?" she questioned sending her eyes his way. There is no way he would take her to her home, she concluded by herself. Before she asked him about it , Jihoo asked a question that silenced her worry about where they were heading.
" So what are you doing tonight?" he asked, turning her way. Jandi, who has been quietly observing the road he was driving on Jihoo, knew to distract her before she asked any question about where they were headed. The girl who had complained that they even stopped by Yijeong's family galleries to ask about the art piece for sunday, he knew not to tell her where they were going and just go. He wasn't planning on staying for more than 5 minutes anyway.
" Family stuff" her response was short. Her eyes focused on the tall trees and beautiful road they were driving on, Jandi was hoping he would not ask any more questions about her Friday night she was supposed to be focused on. Their small drive being an escape for her was kept to herself.
" I keep forgetting you will not tell me things" Jihoo went on complaining about not being told her plans while Jandi focused all her attention on the right turn he took and the long road ahead. The tall trees surrounding the road, this was a suspicious road that didn't look like it was leading anywhere. Jihoo, who she trusted to an extent, her instincts to be worried about it all were shut down as she just leaned to the window by her side. The wonderful breaz of the day felt amazing against her skin. Her eyes sent to help her hand pick her water bottle, Jandi had missed the tall gates that became visible. Jihoo who glanced at her, she ignored as she focused her eyes on the gates they were driving too.
The tall metal gates, her observant eyes were too quick to pick the three cameras around it. As they drove closer, she was able to notice the security system and screen by the right edge of the road, a few meters from the gate. As the car came to a soft haut Jihoo lowered his window and pressed on the screen.
" Hello" she heard a female voice
" It's Jihoo" was the only thing Jihoo had to say before Jandi's eyes shifted from the screen to the gate that started moving. Her eyes glued to the gate, Jihoo knew to drive slow to give her time to take it all in as the car started again. The tall trees that surrounded the road continued as they drove past the gate and followed the same path. That lasted a minute before the tall trees start becoming scarce and the road leads to the magnificent garden that has a whole staff that maintains it. Her fascinated eyes, unable to leave the garden, Jandi made out the water fountain in the middle of it as her eyes couldn't even make out the end. What type of house is this? This wasn't even a house? There was no house. They have been driving for 3 minutes and she couldn't even see a hint of a house yet. The massive garden on the right didn't come to an end when her eyes made out the swimming pool and the amazing set up around it. Her eyes focused on the pathways across the garden, Jandi missed the house that was becoming visible as Jihoo slowly shifted the car left , following the path. The outdoor dining area she made out at the far end of the garden, she could only imagine what it looked like when it wasn't covered. Her fascinated eyes making out all the small branches and chairs across the garden finally turned to the front.
What on earth? She wished she could hide her shock but her face had failed as they got a good of view of the house Jihoow as driving to. The water fountain in front of the grand house, she ignored to focus her attention on the house. It wasn't even a house , it was a mansion. A very specifically designed house. She didn't know much about architecture but the modern design of the house was easy to note based on even the little she knows. The two parked cars at the corner, Jihoo was heading to, she ignored as she leaned to the front to keep her eyes on the wall to wall windows that were broadcasting the magnificent house. Her eyes waiting for Jihoo to continue so she could see the inside were turned to the movement she noticed. A girl dressed in a maid uniform had bowed their way as she walked past the opened doors and headed down the stairs.
Jihoo, choosing to leave the car by the driveway, halted the car in the middle.
" I will be back"
" Just a few minutes' ' he gave her a soft smile as he unbuckled his seat and jumped out. The car still on, Jandi followed his steps around the car and up the stairs the maid was coming down on. The full bow the maid gave Jihoo , he returned with a small one as he continued his steps up the stairs and into the tall opened door. Jandi sitting in the passenger seat immediately bowed down to the maid who gave her a bow that was accompanied with a big smile. Her curious eyes, Janid couldn't help but follow the girl that walked past the car and started heading to the water fountain in the middle of the driveway. The girl with the all black maid uniform, Jandi followed until she walked out of view. Her eyes returning to the house, Jandi leaned her head out of the open window by her side to get a better view of the overwhelming house that stood grand.
Her mind that cannot even fathom what it must feel like to live in a place like this let alone own it, she returned her eyes to the rearview mirror and the garden that had stolen her attention. The far view she had of the magnificent field, her love of nature and innate curiosity about how one even gets to own such a garden, Jandi waited a minute in the car before she slowly opened the door and stepped out. Hre eyes focused on the garden , she took some steps away from the car and the water fountain that had blocked her view. Her feet halting by the edge of the driveway, she got a better view of the garden. Hundreds of meters away, she wasn't able to make out every detail of the garden but her eyes had made sure to notice everything in the garden. The swimming pool, the dining area, the flower garden, the small nooks buried here and there, she was able to pick the major things: the massive garden housed.
Some people are really living in heaven on earth- her fingers that started paying with her bracelet Jandi reminded herself that some people were favored by the heavens.
The fact that her whole neighborhood including the school and market can fit in just in the garden of this property, she smiled it off. She really can't understand this type of wealth. Her brain might malfunction if she even tries to. It is out of her wildest imaginations. Her biggest dream is to own a house with a small garden to plant some flowers and here were some people that own a whole section of the city. The ridiculousness of it all was poking at her as her finger started playing with her bracelet she puts on before her missions. The little beads of the bracelets she plays with always ease her anxiety. Her eyes lost on the white fabric covered dining area in the garden,Jandi hadn't caught the person walking from the other end of the driveway.
"Hello" she heard a voice and quickly turned around. Her startled eyes tried to hide her embarrassment at being caught gawking at the garden.
" Helo" the middle aged man gave her a small smile as he scanned her up and down.
"Hello" she responded with a small bow as she also scanned herself up and down. Does she look odd? He was looking at her as though she was. Why do these people always look at her like this.
" Beautiful isn't it?" the man sent another smile as he started walking her way. Jandi couldn't figure out where she knew the face that looked familiar.
" It is" she responded as she sent her hands to her back. Her fingers playing with the beads, she was busy trying to put a name to the face she was sure she had seen before.
" It's even more magnificat from up close and when you walk in it" Junpyo's driver gave her another smile as the girl who looked a bit anxious sent her hands to her back. Her uniform being the first thing he noticed, he knew she was a student. Jihoo's car in the middle of the driveway being the second clue, he knew she probably came with Jihoo. Her black leggings and boots were the first thing that caught his attention before he noticed her makeup-less face that was beyond striking when she returned around and faced him, landing her mesmerizing eyes on him. There was something off about this girl; he trusted his intuition as he decided to talk to her and started with the garden. She doesn't look like the typical student, maybe a scholarship student, the driver assumed.
" I could imagine" as the man came close and stood steps away from her, Jandi was given a clear view of the face she was trying to connect to a memory.
" Are you here with Jihoo?" past her jacket she had zipped up, the driver focused on her face. He has never seen this girl before. He would definitely remember such a striking face if he had seen it before. She didn't look like any of the girls the boys dealt with.
" Yes, I work in the student council with him" she thought that would be the perfect explanation for her presence and it was. It had answered a lot of the questions the driver had about her presence. Not a lot of people that wore that uniform ever stopped by this house. Not a lot of girls ever even stopped by this house either. Junpyo keeps those types of things in his condo. His home was a hide out from the world and whenever he needed to stay away from even people in his home he had his penthouse only one person knows about.
" I see" the driver couldn't help but accompany his words with smiles. There was something interesting about this girl, maybe the look she was giving him.
" would you like something to drink or"
" Oh no we are only here for minutes" she interrupted to deny the offer before it was even fully made for her. Her hands that returned to the front to reject his offer, the driver made out the bruises and the lack of well manicured fingers. As quickly as she noticed his eyes scanning her hands, she sent them to her back.
" We have to go back to school," she added, giving him a fake smile which the driver was able to look past as he focused on reading her body language. She looked a bit uncomfortable.
" I will wait in the car. " Giving him a bow, she started her quick steps away. His eyes following her steps, he scanned her up and down again. She definitely is a scholarship student, he concluded. It was always surprising to see the genius level smart kids that make it to that school, but there was something about this one he couldn't quite put his finger on. The passenger door she softly closed behind her, he left his intuition there as he headed to the stairs. He made sure to give her one last bow before he headed into the house.
" Huh" Jandi sighed as she returned her eyes to her lap and her fingers playing with her bracelet. She should have stayed in the car. She could have avoided his set of eyes that were scanning her. Before she wasted any minute about the interaction she just had, she saw Jihoo coming out the door and running down the stairs.
" Sorry for the wait" he apologized as he opened the door and got in. In seconds the car was out the driveway and heading to the road around the garden that was her highlight of the day. While the view of the garden got all her attention away from the interaction she had a minute ago, the driver hasn't moved away from the uncomfortable girl he found slow steps up the stairs, he walked past the open door of the library. His eyes looking for Junpyo, he started scanning the long isles of the book shelves. The corner with the grand view of the back garden, he wasn't surprised to find Junpyo sitting on the couch and burying himself in the book he was reading since morning. That was usually what the boy did when he was home.
" Do you need me to be on stand by tonight" the driver asked as he continued his walk to get a better view of the boy. Junpyo lying on the couch, the driver was only able to make his long legs covered with the soft white fabric of his wide pants and his bare feet resting on the armrest of the couch.
" Yes" Junpyo, flipping the page, didn't even glance at the man that came from the corner.
" I filled the gas and got the car ready for you" the driver as he slowly started scanning the boy reported back on his main task of the day. Why Junpyo missed school today was never questioned and the driver liked it better when the boy was home anyway to question why. It was great to see him at home and resting. The white shirt he had on top of the pants, the driver scanned carefully for any body language that would give him a clue on if there was something wrong. The boy that rarely came home, it was sad to assume that there was something wrong with him being home. He looked relaxed. Maybe it was the all white outfit he had on and his luscious hair that was let free accompanying his well moisturized face, the boy looked well rested,
" Is Jihoo going to be at the party tonight?' the driver, not sure if she even asked, chose to do so. The parties he hated beyond anything the driver was trying to find what type of event was planned for today so he can guess if Junpyo was going to disappear the whole weekend or come home even if he was passed out. If there were going to be any girls involved, the driver knew the boy will not be coming home not tonight or tomorrow.
" Probably not," Junpyo, still focused on his book, responded.
" Maybe you shouldn't go as well" the diver wanted to suggest but saved his opinion to himself. It wasn't his palace to say anything. It will not be worth it to get fired from a job that pays so much for him to sit home and do nothing most days. The boy he was supposed to safeguard, nothing drastic ever happened for the driver to be worried about not accompanying Junpyo 24/7. Picking his drunk body has been the most he has ever done. There was nothing else to worry about when it came to security issues.
" You don't seem to hang out together a lot these days" the driver decided to fish for information this way. The boy he had helped raise, he was able to read for any signs that could tell him what had been going on at that school.
" He's busy," Junpyo responded, his eyes glued to the words he was reading.
" Student council stuff?" the driver asked. The lack of response was the answer as he decided to leave the boy that doesn't seem interested in continuing the conversation. His lunch waiting for him, the diver had a nice afternoon planned that was more interesting than the non responsive boy he was talking to who didn't seem like he was interested in anything, as usual.
" He is the student president so it makes sense" the driver turned around and started walking.
" Probably why he had the girl in the car with him " he was about 5 steps away from where he was standing before he stopped.
" What girl?" Junpyo asked, the driver only turning his head to the boy, started explaining.
" There was a girl standing in the driveway" the driver pointed at the opened window. His legs that turned around to face Junpyo were a result of Junpyo's eyes that finally left his book and landed on his driver. Junpyo's full attention he finally got, the driver was a bit baffled as he saw Junpyo lower the book and turn his way.
" she said she works with him in the council" the drive went on as he focused on Jun Pyo that slowly started sitting up.
" she looked a bit odd, i assumed she was a scholarsh .." his words disappeared as he witnessed the quickness Junpyo dropped his book and jumped up from the couch.
" Which driveway" that boy that quickened his steps asked as he started almost running.
" front" the driver leaning back to let the boy that ran past him, responded. His startled eyes he couldn't lift from the boy who started running down the stairs, the driver followed behind. What is going on? Was all the driver could ask as he was startled to accept that he really was witnessing Junpyo react like this to something so frivolous. The boy running down the stairs, went through the hallway, dining area, living room and the entrance waiting room before he walked out the tall doors and down the stairs.
No shoes on his feet, Junpyo hadn't even registered the cold stone he was walking on as he took the stairs down and walked onto the driveway. His eyes from the empty driveway quickly landed on the car driving across the garden and almost at the gate. His lungs that demanded some oxygen he started taking deep breaths as he focused his eyes on Jihoo's car. The white fabric of his shirt and pants that started flying , along with his hair , the driver that walked past the door and stood by stairs was getting a good view of the boy whose whole attention was on the car driving away. What is going on? The driver standing away started scanning the boy. He looks surprised. There really was a clear emotion on his face, surprise. That was what the driver couldn't move away from. The fact that he was able to see an emotion on Junpyo's face. Why and who caused it wasn't a question for now. All he could focus on for now was the boy he witnessed run across the house to just look at the car driving away. Does he know the girl? Why would he? The driver dismissed his own question. Maybe she is one of the student F4 bullies? Maybe he is shocked that Jihoo brought her here? The driver added context to his own question as he started walking down the stairs. The car that drove past the gates and was out of view wasn't his focus, it was Junpyo.
" She was standing over there and looking at the garden for a while," the driver, finishing the stairs and standing next to Junpyo, whispered. Leaning forward he tried to sneak a look at the boy whose flying hair was covering. Junpyo's eyes landed right at where the driver pointed, he took a few steps ahead to land where she was standing. The driver scanning every inch of Junpyo's face changed his gaze to the boy's feet that was walking across the tiny rocks that decorated the driveway. His bare feet, the fact that he had run out with his bare feet, throwing down the book that had consumed all his morning, the driver shouldn't have needed any other clue to know whoever that girl was, was significant enough for him to be aware of. The fact that she was able to get such a reaction out of Jun Pyo, who doesn't even walk out to welcome anybody whenever they stop by.
Not his girlfriend, not his best friend, not even his mother gets this kind of reaction for being in his house. He rarely even stops what he was doing when notified they were here let alone drop what he was doing and run down at the mere mention of their presence. He had to be shocked because it was daring for Jihoo to bring somebody the F4 bully, the driver kept repeating to make sense of this as he took a step or two and leaned forward to get a good look at the boy. The boy standing right where she was, his eyes were focused on the garden as he was trying to figure out what she could have been looking at. His right hand sent to brush his flying air behind his ear, landed against his lips as his puzzled mind wasn't even hiding how he was trying to figure out what she was looking at.
" She was admiring the garden. I thin" the driver didn't finish his sentence as Junpyo started his quick steps back across the driveway and up the stairs. The driver quietly following behind, knew exactly where Junpyo was headed as he caught the right turns he was making to head towards the security room with all the camera recordings.
" This' ' the driver pointed at the dirty marks Junpyo's feet were leaving. The maid that gave Junpyo a small bow nodded knowing what she was being asked to do. The spotless marble floor of the first floor hallway, she will have to mop to get rid of the small dust marks Junpyo was leaving.
"Can you get him some slippers? '' the driver whispered. The maid giving him a node didn't fail to ask what was going on as they both focused their eyes on his quick steps.
" I don't know" the driver responded
" Is it about the girl in the driveway?" she asked about the new person everybody in the house has heard about. The house that never got anybody new, the news of somebody new being here had traveled fast. Especially when it is a girl that was in the passenger seat of Jihoo's car. Jihoo all the maids loved and adored beyond possible, of course they would know about a girl being in his car. That girl being somebody who looked like Jandi was the startling fact that had left all puzzled but not after they were reminded of how kind Jihoo treated the scholarship kids their young master bullied. That was wha all assumed about her.
" Maybe"
" Can you get a nice bath running for him, he probably will scrub his leg off once he notices it" the driver requested. The boy that didn't like getting dirty at all to the point all had questioned if he had OCD as they had witnessed how he freaks out when things are not as clean or organized as he wants them to be.
" of course"
" By the way, lunch is ready and we are all watching the game after so come quick" she whispered before leaving. The driver who had money on the game wasn't even thinking about that as he quickened his steps to the security room Junpyo was headed to. Walking into the room, he found Junpyo sitting on the chair and pressing the button to rewind the recording from the two cameras in front of the driveway. His right hand tapping the buttons were left as the driver landed his focus on Junpyo's right leg that was twitching. His dark eyes focused on all the screen, Junpyo hadn't even noticed the driver who was in the same room as him. His left hand playing with his lower lip, Junpyo was showing some signs of some kind of nervousness. The driver was right in his assessment but couldn't find a cause as he finnlay looked up at the screen when he noticed Junpyo's right hand stopped moving and the boy sat back against the chair with his eyes on the middle screen and the video started playing.
The video started at the exact moment she slowly walked out the car. Every step she took to walk to the edge of the driveway, the driver stood there watching Junpyo take every movement of hers until she stood by the edge and stood staring at the view. His right ring finger pressing zoom in, the video started zooming in until her whole body was what filled the middle screen. Her black boots, the leggings tucked into them, her uniform that was covered by the jacket she had zipped all the way up, every item covering her body was scanned before his eyes landed on her fingers that were playing with the bracelet she had in her right hand. It was two minutes of no movement before she turned around to the sound of the driver behind her. Junpyo turned his eyes to the driver by the door of the security room and the look in his eyes, the driver didn't know why he felt like he needed to explain himself.
" I was just saying the garden looks beautiful" he responded as Junpyo turned his eyes back to the screen. The driver shaking off why he had to even say that sent his eyes to the middle screen and her face that was being zoomed on. As much as it can, the camera zoomed to the most possible frame which landed at showcasing from her waist up. Her hair pulled into a bun, both men's eyes were focused on the startled look on her face that immediately disappeared before they saw her lips open to respond. Unfortunately there was no voice recording that would bless them with her voice. Her striking eyes he found interesting, the driver couldn't help but admit they were a bit bewitching as he stared at them.
" She didn't seem comfortable to be here" the driver didn't know why he said that as it was evident in the video they were watching. Her hands that were sent to her back, every reaction of hers was easy to read that she wasn't okay with having a conversation with the driver or somebody knowing she was staring at the garden.
" Did F4 do something to her?" the driver asked instantly, getting his answer as Junpyo's dark and menacing eyes returned his way. That was his answer. F4 did really bully this girl and that might be why she got such a reaction from the leader of the group. It is very daring fro Jihoo to bring somebody bullied by F4 to this house.
" She had bruises" the driver knew he was pushing his luck as he decided to not back down and take a chance. The students F4 bullied non stop, he wouldn't put it past them to attack a girl but to a point she would have bruises. That was beyond even what he could stomach. How could they do that to such a tiny girl that didn't even look like she would ever dare to look up at them, he questioned.
" Don't you have something to do?" Junpyo's warning eyes had a message of their own as he turned them towards his driver.
"Huh" the smirk the driver let out was missed by Junpyo replying to the video. So she really was just a bullied student, the driver accepted. No wonder she was so uncomfortable and looked a bit odd. She probably is scared to death of this boy, the driver had wrongly assumed as he left the room.
" There is a bath for your feet," he added before leaving the room. It would take Junpyo another five minutes before he looked down at his legs, finally realized what he had done.
While the driver and all his staff were enjoying their wonderful lunch followed by the game room they took over to watch the soccer game they all had bets on, Junpyo was busy pausing and scanning every inch of the video, locked in the security room. About half an hour of his time wasted, he finally headed up the stairs to the bath they had ready for him in his bathroom. His cloth thrown across the floor, his whole body was submerged in the bath she supposedly made for his legs. The nice breeze of the afternoon coming in from the open window went really well with the fruit infused bath and the candle she had lit up to set the mood. Slowly sliding his head into the warm water, Junpyo hoped that would get his directionless thoughts to stop.
Two houses. This makes two spaces of his she has been to. His penthouse only Jihoo was aware of, her sleeping body had intruded and now she had stepped a foot at his home. Missing school to avoid her was nothing when the universe could just easily bring her to him. His thoughts he couldn't run away from, now she was physically appearing in his spaces. If he was smart enough this would have been a lesson on how there was no place on earth he could run to, to avoid what the universe has coming for him. His curiosity he should have killed from the moment it started, Junpyo had no one to blame but himself for all the ways his life was about to be ruined.