Chapter 21
I made it home after that. Except for Haru and Mr. Choi, no one knew that I almost died and slept half a day in a hospital. Today, I have school, and I plan to come since people have been looking for me since yesterday. I'm glad that Yumi didn't find out what I have been through to that day.
Everything was set when I left my room and went down to eat breakfast. The cook did not speak, but she made me a portion of healthy, nutritious food. It is awkward for me, but I don't mind this kind of act. Mr. Choi must be worried; I could tell the cook's eyes that she is curious yet worried for my being.
After eating, I thanked her for the delicious food. I saw her smile. I went to the door to walk to the gate and found Mr. Choi waiting for me. I get in the car and put on a blue scarf because I feel the sudden chills. I will take it out later after I reach school.
The campus is weirdly quiet when I walk in the hallway. Students were loitering, but everything seemed normal. I went to the classroom and only found out the flustered look from Penelope and Yumi. I go to my seat and wait for Yumi to welcome me.
"Jia! Big news!" I tilted my head to her and heard her high-pitched voice. Penelope, who is sitting beside me, also gives her attention to us.
"What is it?" I asked, even though I already have an idea what it was.
"Have you heard about our club? There's a recording device! It was so creepy!" Yumi has an exaggerated look on her face. I acted surprised, but it didn't work because Yumi memorized my awkward expression.
"You knew!" She exclaimed. I facepalm her.
"Na Hyuk told me yesterday," I said, feeling guilty because I didn't tell her ahead of time.
"Oh, I guess I won't be telling you the whole story. But the thing is, Seohyun denied the allegations saying that it was a misunderstanding. It's a secret, but Yejun did something to expel him from our school. Hyuk told me that." Yumi said. She furrowed her eyebrows prettily and crossed her arms. She's telling me a secret, but I guess Penelope knows it well since She also nodded her head.
"All is well," I said in a bored voice but deep inside. I was screaming. It's happening again! In the past, Yejun also did that to Seohyun. I got goosebumps after.
The first period started after that. We focused on classes until it was lunchtime. I'm busy doing an English essay, and I can't even add another verb to my writing since the news preoccupies me. To my peripheral vision, I saw a human form come near me.
"What a sight. Jia is having a hard time doing an essay." Yejun smirks as he invades my personal space casually.
"Go away. I'm busy." In a stern voice, I gaze at him. He looks outgoing, but Yejun's puppy appearance won't deceive me. He is the reason for my anxiety, and Yejun in front of me is giving me stress. I tremble after recalling what happened to me yesterday. He is a bomb! I looked down and continued writing, but I didn't add any word to it.
"You want me to help you?" Yejun offered. I stopped from writing and met his gaze again.
Oh? He looks normal to me now. He seems to relax too. What did I miss?
"Sure." I let go of my paper and gave it to him. Yejun moved the chair in front of me and arranged it so he can sit while writing before me. It was a cozy sight. I let him do whatever he wanted, but I still have a grudge since I almost died because of him.
"What's going on here?" I heard Yumi ask and stand beside me.
"You guys are close," Penelope mumbled. I jerked my head to her and saw Penelope's furrowing brows. The scorching pain started to sprout inside of my chest. I was bewildered. That moment, I am sure. I will die if I stay here with Yejun.
I stood up, and the three of them were staring at me in surprise. I quickly hold Yumi's hand in the nervous state I speak to them.
"I need to go to the toilet. Yumi, come with me. Hehe." I awkwardly pulled Penelope to sit on my chair. I saw her surprised face while I didn't look at Yejun. I put my shoulder to Yumi, and we quickly left the classroom.
We walk at reach near the toilet. I saw Yumi looking at me with a suspicious face. I gulp while washing my hands. I tried to avert my eyes, but she followed my gaze like a hawk crossing her arms.
"Spilled it, my Jia." Yumi looks scary in her suppressed emotion.
"Have you felt it?" I asked, trying to avoid the hot seat.
"I feel like Yejun is shy about his feelings for Penelope. I'm trying to help them!" I said in a frantic voice.
"Really?" Yumi narrowed her eyes. I smiled at her.
"Yup. I just felt that Penelope is kind of… Uhm, jealous?" I said in a shaky voice. I'm trying my best to humor here. I can't read Yejun, and I don't know their relationships even in the past.
"You're right. I also felt that earlier." Yumi stopped narrowing her eyes on me and fixed her hair in the broadside mirror of the lady's room.
I sigh afterward. I can't tell that I almost had an attack while Penelope looked like a lost cat a while ago. I know how they value each other, and Penelope is oblivious to being dependent on Yejun. In this life, I need to be more vigilant to be successful, but the more I did, the more it was dangerous for me.
"I'm hungry," I said in a weak voice. I need to eat to be stronger. Well, that's a bit comforting to me.
"Let's go. Hyuk texted me that they were already in the cafeteria." Yumi said and put her phone in her pocket.
**
We walk together and reach the cafeteria. I saw the club members just started eating. I sit beside Juno while Yumi is seated next to Penelope. The arrangement is Yejun, Penelope, and Yumi. While Na Hyuk, Juno, and me. To my surprise, I already had my meal. I look at them, but they're busy eating.
"Jia, why didn't you follow us yesterday?" Na Hyuk said with a curious face. I look at him but change my gaze to my food.
"My sister called me. I went home after meeting my cousin." I said to Na Hyuk casually. Act normal, Jia! I silently whispered to myself.
"Oh, you met Haru? How is he?" Yumi asked, joining our conversation. Na Hyuk's face changed to grim.
"Yup. He is alright. He just asked me for an errand." I lied, but I indeed met him yesterday. In the hospital, it is.
"Did you tell him that I already got him a ticket for our trip to Japan?" Yumi asked casually, but the members were shocked after her revelations.
"What?" Juno reacted in surprise. They didn't inform him, I guess.
"I already said it to Na Hyuk." Yumi pouted. She looks adorable on that.
"Oh. You don't have to. Haru is… busy?" I mumbled, but Yumi shook her head.
"Nope. I texted him. He said he would go." Yumi showed her phone, and I recognized Haru's number and his flirty chat. She showed it to everyone, and mostly Yejun and Na Hyuk didn't like the idea while Juno and Penelope were curious.
"Jeez. You don't have to do that." I said, but I'm thankful that Haru will come with us. He could help me if something trivial happened, or I could use him as an excuse.
"Seohyun's suspended temporarily, but I plan to expel him for what he did," Yejun said for a moment.
"I agree. He is a freak!" Yumi said in a disgusting tone.
"Yesterday was haywire. I caught him sneaking inside our club room, and he even installed two recordings!" Juno stated. I did know this because of Juno's text on me.
"I'm worried," I said while looking at Penelope. He won't stop, I am sure of that.
"Oh. Don't worry, Jia." Penelope said and looked at Yejun. I gaze at Yejun, who is calm while eating his food.
"What is it? Why didn't I know that?" Juno is dramatic again.
"Seohyun is Penelope's stalker, you dumb," Hyuk said in a whisper.
"What?" I swear to God. I want to kill Juno because he screams near my ear. I was startled because of it. I close my eyes and touch my sore ear.
"Juno! Could you stop being exaggerated?" Yumi told him. Juno comes back to his seat, looking embarrassed.
"It's okay. I was also shocked when Na Hyuk and Yejun told me, but it's okay now." Penelope's voice is so sure that I furrowed my brow while staring at her. For a moment, I could feel a fog of warning in the air.
Seohyuk is not the type of person who would stop because he told him so. Something happened. I didn't give them attention in the past because I focused on how I would make Penelope suffer. I only know that Yejun did something to him. That's why he ended up in jail.
After realizing it, I felt a sudden shudder. If Yejun is this ingenious, how on earth would I quickly ruin their lives? My head started to throb, and there's unknown anxiety spreading in my entire body. What is this? Why do I feel fear? Something… forced a memory to appear in my mind. I shake my head and touch my throbbing head. I heard Yumi ask me if I was fine, and I nodded to her. We finished lunch discussing Seohyun. Moreover, something is scratching my mind about the last conversation with Seohyun. What did he tell me?
At that moment, I met Yejun's unemotional face. I don't want to admit it. Without a doubt, I fear what's behind those deep dark eyes.
End of chapter 21.