Chapter 20
Yejun sat beside Na Hyuk with his stern face. I know that he's confused, but I'm not sure if he knows that Seohyun was using him. I remember him as a close acquaintance of Yejun. He was also part of the art club, which was also a member of Yejun. I met him in the past after he offered me a deal for Penelope's information. Even if I was trash before, that guy was the worst. He was pleased that Penelope was getting bullied. He said that Penelope is a work of art that every time she was suffering, the more beautiful she became. I don't even understand myself, but I agree to work with him. Now, the feeling of disgust is making my throat dry.
"Tell me everything, Kim Jia." I heard Yejun's warning. My heart started to beat faster, and the familiar pain was growing inside my chest. His eyes are like daggers to me. I try to show a fake smirk and sip my coffee, persuading myself to withstand the unbearable heat. I tightly hold my drink and daringly look at Yejun.
"Why do you think you're here, Yejun?" I asked him. He looked stern at me, but I still met his gaze.
"That's not your business Kim Jia. Tell me, why are you lying and using Na Hyuk?!" His voice is stiff, adding to the scorching distress in my chest. Indignant Yejun will be the death of me one of these days.
"I'm asking you because isn't it weird that you're here at a perfect time?" I asked. Not a piece of my genuine emotions showing. I’m trying my best to act tough in front of them.
"I'm here because Seohyun said that we need to meet-." Yejun's face is apprehensive.
"Oh? Then he must tell you why he likes to meet you here of all places. Today is a holiday, but still, the art club is meeting in school. He should've asked you to meet him there rather than here. " I said while looking at him. I hate the chase, but I can't just tell him everything without being biased. Na Hyuk is silent and just listening to our modifications of words.
"Don't tell me..." Na Hyuk's eyes widened, looking at me. Yejun brows creased, but he sealed his mouth.
"That creep was the one who installed a spying device in our club room," I said and took a piece of paper in my bag. There is a list of recordings, the date, and the time. I also put the names of the members who were present on the said date. I asked Na Hyuk to send the records to me so I can investigate.
"What do you mean?" Yejun's complexion is mortifying. He jerked his gaze to Na Hyuk and asked about it. Na Hyuk explained everything to Yejun from the beginning until now, the same thing I told him.
"I thought at first that Yejun was the target because Yejun and Penelope have the same schedule, but it's strange that the recording will stop after like it was programmed from a particular time when Penelope was staying. He even recorded the conversation between them talking about Daniel. He is a stalker, and Penelope was his target." I said and seriously looked at them. I made up the programming thing because I don’t have enough time to explain everything to them since I was only specific because of the past.
"How do you know it was Han Seohyun?" Yejun asked me. His eyes are full of trouble.
"Why do you think I chose this cafe?" I took an envelope from my bag and showed it to them. Those are photos of Na Hyuk at the school, hospital, and lastly, this coffee shop. There is also a picture of him taking a taxi and following Penelope and Yejun after they left our meeting from this coffee shop.
"That bastard." Na Hyuk cursed, and I expected Yejun to show emotions, but he remained composed. It was like he expected this to happen. I asked Mr. Choi to collect this evidence from convincing them, but Yejun's expression tells me that he already knows what's going on. I got chills when I met his gaze.
"Should we chase him now?" Na Hyuk's flustered face asked Yejun because he was concerned.
"He should be in school," I said. I told Juno to film him if he was going to sneak out to the club room. He will surely go to Penelope since I destroyed his toy, but Juno hasn't texted me yet.
"Let's go," Yejun said and stood up. I looked at both of them and didn't move from my seat.
"Jia?" Na Hyuk asked, but I just grinned at him.
"Sorry, guys. I will meet my cousin here. You go ahead. I will follow later." I told them and flashed a perfect smile. Yejun frowns his eyebrows at me while Na Hyuk just nodded his head.
I wave them goodbye and watch them half run to the exit while I'm sipping my drink. When they vanished from my sight, I put my drink on the table. My body started to tremble from the burning sensation in my heart. The excruciating pain is unbearable. My whole body is stiff. I stood up and slowly went to the lady's room. I enter a cubicle and sit at the toilet bowl while breathing heavily. I continue to gasp for air while in tears. It's more painful than I experienced on the rooftop of the hospital. My vision is getting blurry, and my throat is starting to sore dry.
"hhmmmff," I growled. I didn't know that I was biting my lips to the point that I could taste my blood. But it couldn't stop wounding my lips. I grip my palm and continue to endure the intensity. I feel my bones are cracking like I'm hallucinating. The radiating ache in my chest is killing me. I can feel my body shiver, and my muscles get stiff. The pale skin on my arms has goosebumps looking like the blood stops functioning. I gritted my teeth and silently cried. It's so painful that I wanted to die.
My phone rings, and I see Mr. Choi on the screen. I quickly picked up his call even though I was having a hard time.
"Help..." That's the only thing I could say before letting go of the phone, and it fell to the ground. I don't want to pass out, but I'm getting weak. I close my eyes, and the tears keep falling. I don't care anymore. If I die now, at least I found out Penelope's stalker. Pursue Yumi to follow her dreams... but I haven't done anything to Yejun yet. No, I can't die... I haven't apologized to them yet. No… Please. I have so many regrets... I don't want it to end yet...
"Miss Jia!" The cubicle suddenly opened, and I saw a man wearing a black suit calling my name. My visions are blurry, and I know it when he lifts me. I passed out afterward.
***
I woke up in a bright room and noticed the IV in my left hand. I sigh after realizing that I live. I thought that I would die from that moment. My body is not aching anymore, but I also noticed an adhesive bandage in my right hand. My lips are also sore. I roam my sight to the room. I could guess that I was staying in a private room. After a while, The door opened, and Mr. Choi and Haru showed up. They both looked at me. Haru's face is in grief, but I smile when I see him.
"You're here," I mumbled in a low voice.
"How are you, Miss Jia?" I heard Mr. Choi's worried voice.
"I'm fine now." I gaze at Mr. Choi to reassure him.
"The doctor said that it was just fatigue, but Miss Jia, your heart almost stopped-." I froze after I heard what Mr. Choi said. I couldn't listen to what he was saying. It's like time stops, and all I could feel is the coldness of what happened to me. I shudder.
"Mr. Choi. I will talk to her." Haru said and nodded. Seeing me frozen made them worry again. I heard the door closing and felt Haru's gaze.
"Jia. I'm sorry." Haru lowers his head, and I can see his sad face. His eyes were not able to meet my gaze.
"For the last time? It's fine; I'm at fault. I blamed you and didn't accept my reality." I smile and try to meet his eyes.
"That too, but I apologize because you almost died today." Haru is acting weird. It's not his fault that I become like this, though.
"What... Why? It wasn't your fault." I smiled at him. I'm fine now.
"I didn't explain it to you well. Jia." Haru gripped his hand and averted his eyes.
"Then explain it to me now," I said in a calm voice. I saw him meeting my gaze. I nodded to him.
"It's my fault that you almost died today, Jia. I didn't tell you the crucial part of having painful attacks. Yejun, Penelope, and Yumi... They can trigger the heat in your heart Jia. The stronger negative emotions they felt about you, the more painful it was for you. For worse, you could die because of it. Today is the maximum level. Why didn't you stay away from Yejun?!" Haru asked me. His expression is like he was in distress.
"I know Haru," I said in a calm voice.
"I already noticed it. If they hate me or are angry at me... I can feel the scorching pain. It doesn't matter what day it is. I could die just from them hating me." Haru's face was surprised. His eyes are staring at me, but I can't find out his true feelings.
"I got a hint when I got an attack in the antique shop, but I just confirmed it today. Thank you for telling me, Haru." I said that, but my voice choked, and I could feel my body tremble from the fear.
"I know that this is never easy. I understand that I painted them pain, that they died because of me. I know it was my fault... I know it very well, that's why... I don't have any choice but to accept everything. Even if I'm scared and it was so painful... Because it was nothing from the sins, I did to them." I said while my tears were flowing. I don't want to feel depressed, but I'm feeling so tired. I cry my eyes out while Haru is watching me.
My tears are flowing when the door opens. My vision is blurry, but I could still see Mr. Choi with the doctor. I wiped my tears out and looked at them. The doctor goes near my bed and checks up on me.
The doctor said that I'm normal and doesn't have any problem aside from my minor wounds. I thanked him before he left the room. I called for Mr. Choi after the doctor left and confirmed that I’m fine and nothing is wrong with me.
"Mister. I did not stay here today." I told him. I can see how surprised he was, but Mr. Choi agreed to my request. He bows and goes outside. I know that I’m selfish in hiding this incident, but I don’t want to cause unnecessary concerns from people. I trusted Mr. Choi kept it a secret.
They don't have to know that I passed out and went to the hospital. It will only bring me a disadvantage, and I don’t want to tell them to gain sympathy because I know that I don’t deserve it.
I also couldn't explain why I am here in the first place, aside from I don’t have an illness. Luckily, the doctor didn’t find anything strange, but the hospital records are everything. I need to get rid of the evidence and go home for today like nothing major happened.
"Where's my phone btw?" I asked. Haru gets it into his pocket and gives it to me.
I see lots of miscalls from Na Hyuk, Juno, and Yejun. Yumi had messages, too, while Penelope called and texted me. The news of Han Seohyuk installing a recording device spreads to the school's online community. Students also assumed that it is because Yejun will appear in the competition. The school was triggered because of it. They made a statement of giving severe punishment to the student. I sighed when I read the comments calling him creepy and crazy. Seohyun's personality won't be easy. He will take his revenge. I'm sure of it because I saw him fall before, but he did not give up until he was behind bars because Yejun got rid of him for good.
My day is about to end. I want to go home now to rest. I looked at Haru and Mr. Choi, who were getting back to my room. They are waiting for me to speak.
"I want to go home," I said that my Mr. Choi's expression was against it. He was still worried about me. Haru nodded as if he understood me.
"Okay."
End of chapter 20.