Chapter 30
Jia waited for Haru to contact her but he remained out of coverage. Haru never ditched her like this. She's also worried because he seems in pain. Jia wishes that she knew his house or a colleague so that she could ask them about him.
That night the event videos spread to the online community. Yejun is popular with Yumi and Penelope. Jia's hands twitched while handling the tablet and sees her HD video spreading like wildfire on the internet. Jia gasps because of the shared post 'who is she?' tab 'sweet voice angel' tab. Jia called Yumi quickly.
"Yumi! I'm going viral! Help me to take down the video." Jia is panicking because she wants to live as modestly as possible.
"Jia? Are you okay? Omg! I asked mom. Hang in there.." Yumi disconnected the call.
Jia types a crying emoji at their group chat asking for help. Yejun, Penelope, Juno, and Hyuk replied immediately.
From Hyuk:
I didn't know that it would spread like crazy.
From Juno:
Jia is a sensation. I don't like that.
From Penelope:
Huhu
From Yejun:
Don't worry.
Jia reads more of their messages. Yumi informed her that it will take days to stop it from spreading. Jia is worried beyond exaggeration. She wants to live normally and being popular will only hindrance her purposes.
After a minute Jia sees how the videos were deleted at the entire online community. People are asking what happened but every time they upload the video, it gets denied and says legal action will come to them if they spread it further.
Jia is shocked by the quick response. Yumi told her that it will take a few more days but... Impossible. The viral video started to change by the performance of the idols in the event, not long enough Jia's video was forgotten.
Jia informed her club members in the group chat. The video is quickly taken down and Jia thanks them for helping her.
Juno called her after a while and Jia answered it.
"Hello?" Jia put her phone down after clicking the speaker at the side table while surfing the internet. She wanted to make sure that it's all taken down.
"The video is already deleted," Juno announced seriously.
"Yes. I just checked now. I am so glad. I don't want to be famous." Jia leaned her back in a relaxed posture.
"Yejun took care of it." Jia rolled to her bed because she was surprised.
"Ohh, I guess he has resources..." Jia isn't sure how she sounded but Juno's silence is apprehensive.
"After hearing your story about the past... Yejun isn't that kind of person. Aren't you mistaking everything for Jia?" Juno's voice is full of doubt, not sure how he will deliver his words without bringing distress to Jia.
"What do you mean Juno?" Jia's voice is sharp and she's breathing heavily.
"Calm down Jia. I'm sorry, let's talk next time." Jia dropped the call and regretted it promptly. Juno doesn't mean harm. He's just curious but Jia is not convinced. She got irritated because she decided to reconsider his opinion.
Yejun died after Penelope but she did not attend the funeral because she died the next day. No one confirms it to her other than the rumors. Jia's face runs out of blood. She pushes out the doubt forming on her brain but like a leech, it disturbs her that she exits to her room not minding her thin clothes, and goes outside.
--
Jia went to the hospital wishing to meet Haru on the way. She took a taxi and went to the rooftop. The breeze is frigid because of the elevated wide space. Jia breathes the air. She forgot her jacket, only wearing the scarf, thin long sleeves, and her navy pants.
"Haru!" Jia screamed at the top of her lungs praying that Haru showed up. She embraces the cold wind touching her bare face. She shivers because of the freezing sensation.
Jia sits back at the empty bench and looks to the unknown. It's already 11:00 pm but Jia wanted answers. She likes to make sure about the past after the realizations. But the things she stubbornly pressed are all her speculations. It could be false and she would be disappointed but Jia needs it badly, whether she will take it badly. But Jia will feel happy if Yejun or Penelope didn't die in her past life.
Minutes pass and turn to hours. It's already midnight and Jia stayed at the cold, empty rooftop of the hospital. Her phone rings and Jia answers it without checking the caller.
"Where are you?" A deep voice radiates to Jia's ears. She flexibly stood up and looked at her surroundings.
"What? I'm home, preparing to sleep." Jia lied but the person in the other line kept silent.
"Don't lie to me, Jia Kim." Jia closed her eyes and was forced to tell her location. The call ended afterward.
--
Jia decided to go home as fast as she could but because of the slow elevator, she only reached the ground floor and walked in the hallway to find out the exit. Only to see a tall man waiting for her.
Yejun is standing close to the exit door. He meets Jia's gaze who looks sick and paler. He frowns when he confirms that she's wearing thin clothes. Yejun gets close to her and takes off his jacket and forces it on Jia to put it on.
"How do you know I'm here?" Jia disputed, her eyes were full of accusations but Yejun ignored her sarcasm.
"I saw you running recklessly. I'm here to check for Daniel because Penelope went to her grandmother. I thought something had happened. Your expression is not good." Jia was surprised and that drowns her to think that she acted crazy just because her mind is in chaos.
"Come with me," Yejun mutters.
"Where?" Jia relaxed at the sight of Yejun who looked annoyed. His eyes are judging her and Jia has the feeling that Yejun thought of her as a child acting like a brat.
"Achoo!" Jia sneezed and dizziness followed her quickly. Yejun held her arm and she got dragged to the empty room.
The doctor comes afterward doing a quick check-up at Jia. Yejun watched her quietly. His eyes are blank as usual but the irritation is potent. Jia felt guilty but did not dare to speak while the doctor took care of her.
"Thank you," Jia whispered while looking at Daniel's sleeping form. Yejun nodded but did not meet her gaze. He continued to read a book that Jia failed to catch the title.
"Just sleep, I will take you home when the caretaker comes," Yejun said in a low voice with hints of concern.
Jia followed him because she was beginning to feel sleepy because of the medicine effects. She already drank medicine to cut out the cold. She looks at Yejun's amicable form. She had never been with him as close as this. The things she did in the past, the possibility of them being alive were buried in Jia's memories. She fell asleep quickly after her body found the heat comfortable, strange enough, Jia feels safe or it is because she drinks medication.
End of chapter 30.