Chapter 18
It's been three days since I argued with Haru. I texted him to apologize, but I didn't receive any reply. That day Juno accompanied me until sunset. We spend our day talking about trivial things, and Juno is unexpectedly humorous.
Classes resume, and next week is the second semester's first periodical exam. Many students, especially seniors, are cramping because of graduation. I feel content watching their tension. However, I'm still in a rush. In three days, Nothing major happened, and I became more anxious that way. I, unfortunately, got close to Juno, and I can now sometimes ask him for an errand. He is surprisingly good with everything except for his personality. Juno will be perfect. I also offered to work for me officially. I plan to sign him a contract one of these days.
"Jia! Help me with this music sheet." Juno brags in our class, and my head literally goes to him.
"What?" I got startled because he suddenly went to my desk and put a piece of paper in front of me. I read it and found out the answers right away.
"I have something to do. It's an emergency! I'll treat lunch. Bye!" He hurriedly ran away, and I left with the gazes of my classmates. Yejun, Yumi, and Penelope are not exceptions.
I'm already used to his personality, but if he did this so suddenly, acting all mighty close to me, I'm sure the people would be surprised! Ughh, I wanna strangle him.
"You guys seem close." Penelope mumbled. I just nodded to her and hurriedly answered the paper.
"Ah, Yes. I will recruit him to work for me." I said absentmindedly.
"Work?" Penelope seems interested. I smiled at her but didn't say anything.
I feel Yumi and Yejun stare, but I ignore them. Yumi doesn't know my plan yet, and I forgot to tell her while Yejun knows it, but I remember rejecting his help. I hope I get a chance to ask him again.
The first period is done, and my hand is itching to kill Yang Juno. I linked my arm to Yumi, and when I saw Juno with Na Hyuk, I glared at him.
"Jia! Jia!" Juno called my name so loud that even Na Hyuk frowned at him.
Yumi laughs because of the hilariousness, but I sigh. Yejun and Penelope are next to us and go to Na Hyuk and Juno's table.
"Jia, did you already do me a favor? hehe." Juno is diligently preparing for my food. I wonder how he found out what I like to eat. I glare at him, but I patiently breathe. I need him for my shop... Relax Jia.
"Next time, text me. You cause a commotion in class." I said and started to eat.
"What was Juno?" Na Hyuk seemed clueless about Juno's mischief, so I explained it to him.
"He overslept, and our adviser gave him an errand. We have to pass that activity later. Here I am wondering why he is still in his usual self. I guess he asked for your help Jia." Na Hyuk is explaining it, and I just nodded at him.
"Yeah, they became close." Penelope teases, and I laugh it off.
"Ohh that, because Jia is recruiting me. She said that the pay is good. She knows talented people well. hehe." Juno and his mouth. I glance at him to shut up because I haven't told Yumi yet.
"What do you mean?" When Yumi finally spoke, I got goosebumps in her tone.
"Ah, I haven't talked to you about it yet. I guess I forgot." I smile at her, but Yumi is glaring at me, waiting for my explanation. I almost stabbed Juno because of his big mouth.
"You can tell it now since Juno is the first one to know it?" Yumi sounds so hurt that my eyes widened. Oh my god! I knew this was going to happen. I secretly glare at Juno, and I see him avert his eyes. Na Hyuk seems to be having fun. Penelope is confused, while Yejun is usually quiet.
"No, I already told this to Yejun... I mean... I thought I did tell you because it's not really a secret?" I panicked and spilled what I already said to Yejun. I saw him smirk while Yumi glared at me. I feel like I'm in a hot seat.
I told them my plan and that I already purchased a building in Samcheong-dong. Yumi looks shocked. There was silence at our table until Yejun asked me.
"Are you sure you'll do it alone?" He stares at me while I think of the cleaning I plan to do this weekend. I feel lost. I totally forgot about it.
"Oh, Jia, you said that we need to go there this weekend to clean stuff, right?" Juno is asking me, and I swear I'm about to strangle him. He's pulling the evil Jia inside of me.
I glare at him. I didn't secretly warn him because of his dense remarks. I feel like he knows that I'm sensitive with this plan, but he chooses to say it still here. I close my mouth and continue to eat. My habit when I'm annoyed is silence. I'm not too fond of it because I'm being pressured. I have my own pace, and I want to tell them and ask for their help once I have complete control of the situation.
"I think about it." I mumbled. Na Hyuk sharply gets my point and changes the topic. I'm not mad, but I like to do things perfectly. I hate to be caught off guard in the situation and harm someone in the process. I always overthink. Little did I know that these people are more than willing to help me and were worried about me pushing myself so hard.
**
I'm at the library, and there are books for crafting in both modern and traditional. I'm alone today because I have nothing to do after that awkward lunch. I keep my mouth shut and talk to Yumi alone. I explained to her my plans, and I'm glad that she understood. I also asked for her help because that's the right thing to do, and I honestly need help.
Now that I remember about the recordings. I need to tell Na Hyuk or Yejun since he was the target. Na Hyuk also needs to know because he is the president. There's nothing special to them. They're just recordings of Yejun's... I stop midway through thinking when I realize something! Doesn't it know his habit? I freeze, but Yejun has so many stalkers. It must be it. I sigh and continue to stare at the blank paper in front of me.
"A penny of your thoughts." Yejun made his way and sat across from me. His left hand put an apple drink near my notebook.
"You scared me." I mumble and thank him with the drink he gives.
"I'm sorry about what happened in the cafeteria. I think it's wrong to force you that way." Yejun said while looking me straight in the eyes.
"It's fine. I'm just not used to people offering their help." I mumble and smile at him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked and looked at the book he was carrying.
"An errand." He answered that and opened the pages of the thick book. I watch him calmly reading.
"Yejun... There's-." I stopped midway when someone went to Yejun and greeted him.
"Yejun! Help me with my math." He looks desperate and hurriedly sits beside Yejun. I don't recognize him, but he seems like his friend.
He didn't notice my presence, and all of his attention was on Yejun. I glance at him and sigh. I started to put my things inside my bag. I will tell him later about it. Yejun's attention went to me and held my hand, trying to stop me. I halt and glances at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't notice you." The guy said, and I shifted my gaze to him. I met his eyes, and for a moment, I suddenly felt the chills.
"It's fine. I'm done doing my homework." I answered him in an equally severe face he just gave me. What a joke. What's with this person? He is rude.
"Yejun, my arm." I said. He frowned and let go of me. I saw some students look at us, and I got nervous because we're slowly gathering attention.
**
I'm walking to the hallway when I decided to go to the club room. Na Hyuk must be there, and I forgot to tell him about the freshman student who applied to the club. I fix my bag and walk to the third floor.
I opened the door and saw them seriously watching a person. I smiled when I saw the girl I met last time playing the piano. I'm familiar with the piece she's playing, but it's not suitable for the ears. It's like somebody pressed her to play that piece. She has many mistakes and lots of careless habits. I sit beside Yumi, who looks angry at the girl. Na Hyuk is silent while Juno at Penelope is worried about her.
"Stop. That's enough." Na Hyuk said. The girl in glasses stopped playing and stood up. She lowered her head and didn't meet our eyes.
"Are you taking this as a joke?" Na Hyuk's voice is cold, and I got scared because his face is furious.
"N-No... I-I." The girl stammer and looks about to cry.
"You play so badly. Are you mocking the club?" Na Hyuk burrows furrowed while talking to the scary cat girl.
"I'm sorry!" She apologizes, but Na Hyuk dismisses her. She hurriedly ran to the door with tears in her eyes. I met her stare and was surprised when I saw her glare at me. What's wrong with her?
"That girl is purposely playing it badly. I don't understand why she's doing that." Na Hyuk is whining. I look at Yumi, and her mood goes down.
"Yeah. It was obvious that she knows how to play, but she's playing it badly." Yumi commented, her brows furrowed.
"I can't figure out her purpose. " Na Hyuk looks at me, and he sighs.
"I was the one who gave her a form. I saw her here last Saturday. I thought she's waiting for a member." I said and looked at them. They all stared at me in bewilderment.
"What do you mean, Jia? It's impossible. Na Hyuk always locks the door of the club." I flushed and shifted my gaze to Na Hyuk.
"Didn't you forget? That girl is sitting there, and we also had a conversation." I said, pointing out the chair I saw the girl last time.
"That's weird." Juno said out of the blue.
"I saw that freshman before, and she's just looking at our club. She didn't even go near here." Na Hyuk glared at Juno for informing them just now.
The bell rang, and I saw the students going home from the window. I saw Yumi, Penelope, and Juno bid their goodbye. Na Hyuk, as a president, has something to do. In contrast, I stay because I'm arranging music sheets. They said it's the job of a new newcomer. I facepalm while stretching out. I look at Na Hyuk, who is busy on his computer.
End of chapter 18.