Chapter 37
Jia spends her day in a daze. Yumi looks worried while Juno tries his best to lessen the tension. Yejun is busy because of the competition. Jia sees him playing piano in a music room. After what happened before, Yejun mildly plays an instrument but Jia is lucky when he does just like now.
"The sound is good." She mumbled, distracted with the good melody playing in her ears.
"Hmm, do you like this piece?" Yejun looks at her and Jia shifts her gaze because of the intense stare. She was still awkward with Yejun and the scene in the hospital in Japan flushed her from time to time. Getting close to him is like a forbidden fruit. She's not permitted to even stare at.
"Yes. It's calming." She whispered. Jia sits on the couch while Yejun is still on the piano slowly moving his delicate fingers to continue the melody.
The members of the music club are surprisingly busy. Hyuk is on duty while Penelope is also helping the student council. Juno is nowhere and Yumi is in the library. Jia went to the music room to sleep or maybe play the instrument but she found Yejun here.
"You confused me," Yejun muttered after finishing the piece. His eyes are profound and vague, sending fluttering feelings to Jia. She recognized it as fear.
"You confused me too." Jia retorted, shifting her body to the couch so she can sit in a comfortable position. Hugging her both legs.
"I always found myself watching you..." He paused, now his attention is on Jia. "You look as if someone is chasing you. You're tense when meeting me and drift your eyes when I look at you." Yejun said carefully. His eyes were blazing with emotions that remain unknown to Jia.
"It's as if... You're scared of me, but I don't remember doing things to you or you to me. It's confusing." Yejun furrowed his brow but his tone was calm. Jia is flabbergasted by the sudden reasoning. Yejun figured her out easily. She bit her cheek inside, forcing her expression to stay as neutral as possible.
"I'm always like this though." Jia meets his gaze gaining her fake confidence but failing causes her nervousness to double. She mentally cursed.
"You also acted that way to Penelope. I first thought it's just your personality but you're not like that with Hyuk and Juno." Yejun's voice is thick. She could feel his breathing as the silence envelopes them further.
"It's just... I... I don't know." Jia finally exclaimed. She bowed her head feeling disregarded. She repeated it. It's her chance to confess to Yejun but Jia is a coward and selfish. She had to kneel and asked for Yejun's forgiveness but she just froze there. Thinking of an excuse to withhold her sins.
"I won't force you to say it to me... but I hope you feel more comfortable with me." Yejun's lips rose to a half-smile. Jia blinks and cannot believe her eyes that the cold Yejun gives her his boyish smile.
"Okay."
That night Jia feels light. After a long day of feeling crap, a good and light conversation with Yejun helps her to calm down. Maybe because he was the center of it and Jia is thirsty for his acknowledgment. She hopes someday that Yejun will forgive her and for him to live happily. She desperately prays for it.
The next day, Jia found herself enjoying Yejun's company. She helps him pick pieces for the competition and Jia is glad that she finally could do something for Yejun.
"You guys seem closed," Juno commented, they were together at the corner of the cafeteria. It was rare for them to be eating lunch since Juno is from the other section. Yumi is busy now and so are the others. Jia is glad that Juno is available for the company.
"We're not!" Jia denied frowning at her friend but Juno's smirked mockingly.
"Oh yeah? I did not say a name dear." Jia rolled her eyes because of his teasing tone. Juno knows about her regression already but she is still shy talking about it. He doesn't know the level of her wrongdoings. Jia wonders what will Juno think of her if she told him everything from the very beginning.
"I'm not dumb besides I'm supposed to be close to them." She said not particularly limiting the audiences.
"Yejun is acting differently too. I thought before that he dislikes you. No offense." Juno mumbled the last words shortly.
"None taken. I know too but we talked." Jia bites the tuna sandwich and chews it slowly. Her mood was elevated because of the yummy taste.
"I'm glad. People are whispering though, they said that Yejun is dating Penelope but after you two got close together. The majority were surprised. Now they are dividing with teams." Juno informed her, while Jia's disposition shifted, she couldn't help to feel more bizarre than before. It feels like she cannot change those rumors too. It happened before, Jia knows that it was bad knowing her reputation.
"I hate this." Jia drops her tuna sandwich, messing her hair, the stress is building up. Juno looks at her with skepticisms.
"We're all friends! Why is it to become Yejun? We only started hanging out together for like two days? I'm closer to you!" Jia whined stating the fact because she was agitated.
"Oh? You prepared it to be me?" Jia wanted to strangle Juno because of his lame gags. He always behaved like a fool. Jia is furious.
"Shut up. Your dad's jokes aren't funny anymore." Jia glared at her friend.
Juno feels the shuddering coldness of Jia's fierce stare. "Can you please not look at me as if you're going to assassinate me? I am having goosebumps you know? This is harassment!" Juno bit a big bunch on his burger and chewed it disgustingly to Jia's horror.
"Why are you always dramatic?" Jia asked. Provoke.
"Excuse me, dear. Your eyes are vicious! You just don't realize it!" Juno drinks his coke in frivolity. Ignoring Jia's offended reaction.
Jia scoffed but did not speak. She breathes heavily suppressing her annoyance to Juno. This guy is a jerk. She rolled her eyes again and changed the topic.
Jia went to the music club to get a file. She ran an errand for Yumi and texted Hyuk so she could search for it with the president's permission. Jia is scared that Hyuk will be mad if she starts to brag to the music club files. Looking for anything or more like disarraying the papers.
Jia found Yumi's notebook in the corner of folders. There's also a bunch of white coupon bonds with the lyrics or is it a letter? Jia's curiosity picked up as she read it.
"My feelings are flowing without me noticing it," Jia murmured in a whisper.
"I like you Yumi."
Jia parted her lips in surprise. The letter or lyrics is Hyuk handwriting. She never thought that Hyuk liked Yumi. She never notices it! Is this why Yumi and Juno told her she was dense? She never admitted it but now, she wanted to believe them. This is... Jia can't believe how romantic Hyuk can be. He is like a nerd, like a serious person Jia met in her life. She sometimes thought about why Juno is Hyuk's friend but when she remembered herself and her naive and lovely Yumi. Jia has no more comments. Yumi also likes her and Jia was an evil reincarnate before. She shudders remembering her dumb self.
She quickly took it back to the folders and texted Hyuk in private. She needs to talk to him. Yumi also texted Jia and she answered by saying that she found the notebook. She meets Yumi in a minute.
"Yumi, are you going home early today?" Jia asked. They are in the club room. Juno is playing guitar while Yejun and Penelope are talking. Hyuk is on his phone, peeking at them discreetly. Well, Jia sees him in the corner of her eyes. She grinned.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. Do you want me to stay?" Yumi looks apologetic and worried but Jia shook her head. She smiled widely and said...
"I have a date with Hyuk." Jia could hear the gasping sound from her friends. Yumi's eyes widened, hence she blushed. Jia looks at her with adoration. She pinches her cheeks.
"W-What?" Yumi was too surprised to finish her sentence. So Jia cracked in a small laugh.
"Just kidding! I just need his help with something. I'll tell you some other time." Jia sneered when Yumi looked confused and glared at Hyuk. Jia almost burst into another set of laughter when Hyuk's eyes broadened from shock.
"Date huh? Na Hyuk-ssi. Make sure to behave." Yumi threatens but Hyuk is too tense for his own good.
"I'm kidding guys. You need to fix your face, Juno." Jia says when she catches him looking in disgust.
"Don't stain my best friend Jia Kim. I will never approve of your relationship!" Juno dramatically complained. His voice is loud and Jia is close to punching him.
"What do you mean by that? Jia is lovely!" Yumi also retorted and they went with it for a minute. Jia sighed, now apologetic to Hyuk who remained frozen by the sudden atmosphere. Penelope is laughing while her cheeks are pink. Yejun is frowning.
"Jia. Be careful, okay? I will call Hyuk tonight. I will always be on your side." Yumi kissed her cheek and bid goodbye.
Juno is also telling Hyuk nonsense like how much he needs to be 'careful' with Jia. She rolled her eyes waiting for them to finish. Penelope is blushing when she bids goodbye. Yejun has blank expressions when he also leaves.
Now, Hyuk looks stern when he meets Jia's gaze. It's like he's about to scold her but control himself because he needs Jia to explain everything. Her weird message and the sudden announcement. It's crazy.
"I'm sorry for my bad joke. I just want to tease you." Jia started. She sits across from Hyuk. The tension subsidies when Jia smiles at him then she opens her mouth to speak.
End of chapter 37