Chapter 39
Jia becomes busy because of the preparations. Luckily her fever helps her to slack off most of the work. Juno is whining while Hyuk and Yumi scold him to leave Jia alone. Even in her class only gives her a mild role. It made Jia pleased but at the same time bored.
Penelope is the protagonist in Romeo and Juliet stage play. Jia watches the acting and Penelope is perfect for the role. Thanks to their director Chwe Lia that most of the actors were good at their jobs. Juno and Hyuk class decided to make a horror house. Jia made fun of Juno for a whole day while he was busy and looked stressed with his portion of work. Yumi also plays as a noble in the story but only as a minor character since she was busy.
Yejun of course is Romeo. Majority of the class, especially girls, were going crazy to Yejun and Jia was having fun watching them in their rehearsals. Jia is fortunately part of the production. The play will be scheduled another week after Yejun's competition. The whole music club members are so busy that sometimes Jia was left alone in the club room. She plays piano or guitar to consume her time. They have regular lectures at the moment, that's why Jia bases herself alone most of the time.
"Hello." Jia's eyes heightened when Haru - looking handsome and fresh, showed up at the door. Jia smiles widely. She misses him.
"I'm flattered that you missed me Jia dear," Haru smirks but Jia doesn't mind his playful tone. Not surprised that Haru could hear her thoughts.
"Hm, whatever. It's the truth. I miss you Haru." Jia confessed, her cheeks blushed in pink that made Haru laugh comfortably.
"Let's go out?" Jia hum and nodded in enthusiasm.
Jia found herself in the same hotel they went to before. The ambience is still elegant. Jia sits in the chair comfortably while Haru calls for the waiter. Jia told him to order for her.
"Where have you been?" Jia asked curiously.
"I went to work to save your silly ass." Jia hum, not understanding him. She pouted but changed when their food was delivered to them. It's fast since there were only a few guests at the time. Jia has pasta while Haru orders a steak. They eat in silence.
"Haru..." Jia paused, not sure if she could say it to him.
"It's fine." Haru muttered confidently.
"What?" Jia asked, taken aback. Her heart started to beat hastily, giving Jia an unexpected tension.
"You're fine. It's fine. Even if you change fate, nothing will happen to you or to them. I made sure of it." Jia parted her lips from surprise as she silently whimpered. Omg!
"I got in trouble but I made sure that they won't interfere with my business ever again." Haru's eyes turned sharp but it vanished quickly like it was not even in there for a second.
"Jia?" Jia was busy listening to Haru and maybe asked him about the details when someone called her name.
"Jia dear, it's nice to see you and-." Yejun's mom greeted Jia with delight. She smiles widely at her and looks at Haru with curiosity.
"Oh, Hello Aunt... Uh, this is Haru... my friend." Jia smiles as she introduces Haru to her.
"Hi Mam." Haru greeted politely. His smile is charming that the elder woman smiles at them, blushing.
"I will meet my friends here. It's to meet you dear, and to your friend." Jia smiled awkwardly and nodded her head. Moveover, the elder woman bid her goodbye to them. Jia doesn't know how to react when Yejun's mom keeps looking at them with an uncomprehended expression. Jia silently asks Haru to go back.
"I never thought that we would meet her." Jia muttered after teleporting to the school rooftop. No one was there and Haru simply walked carelessly in the middle.
"I guess it's destiny." Haru commented not bothered by it.
"What happened, Haru?" Jia interrogated, now looking at him standing before her, towering her.
"The accident is propelled. I don't know why they wanted to get you to cancel the contract but... I got a visitor while in Japan. I casted her away but they kept sending messengers and I got pissed. I took care of it." Haru smiles at her but Jia sees how much Haru looks stressed out because of it.
"Is it bad?" Jia asked after a minute of silence.
"Yeah. They said that you're a valuable soul. They were willing to save your friends in misery in exchange for going with them." Haru said in a neutral tone. Jia is shocked by the statement, she blinked several times processing the information.
"Oh."
"Do you want to leave now?" Haru's question made Jia's heart beat loudly. She could sense the tasty notion of invitation. But Jia knows best why she came back. Her reasons why she decided to agree to Haru to sign the contract.
"It's my atonement. Why would I choose the easy road? Thank you Haru for not giving me up." Jia legs became weak. She sighed and sat on the pavement. Feeling glad that Haru understands her wishes.
"Did I do well?" Haru asked, showing his boyish grin. Haru's face is overwhelmingly handsome. His features only highlighted since his grinning mischievously. Ang Jia likes this side of Haru, his playful personality.
"Yes." she retorted.
Jia came back to the classroom feeling light. Yejun finds her rather quickly and walks to her seat looking at her with awe.
"Mom told me that you left school?" Yejun asked, now sitting on the chair beside her. It's Penelope's seat but she was out of sight.
"Oh, yeah. I met her just a while ago." Jia's mood is happy and she can't help but to show her smile to Yejun.
"Who are you with?" His eyes narrowed, darker than usual as he spoke.
"Haru. He went to school and treated me to lunch." Jia grinned, crossing her arms showing her smug face.
"Hmm." Haru looks at Jia more intensely but did not speak. His stares deterred Jia and started to sweat out.
"Uh, Is it bad?" Jia asked, her smug fall out. She looks nervous on how Haru looks at her. She's scared that she made a mistake and Yejun gets upset. She will have an attack!
"Not really but next time tell me about it." Yejun mumbled and Jia agreed to him. She was confused but maybe Yejun's mom told something to misunderstand them? Jia shivered at the idea.
"Words Jia..." Yejun says.
"Okay. I will tell you beforehand." Jia muttered, still confused. Yejun patted her head before he stood up and went to their classmates who's busy talking about the role. Jia frowned but brushed it off.
"Jia! Are you painting the tree?" Liam asked, his lips purse a little watching her.
"Yup." She said pressing the p in her word then looked at Liam. "Is there anything else?" Jia asked, too happy with her work.
"I'm sorry, I'm supposed to do that. Lia told me that we need more palace walls. Is it okay to do more? I took care of them if it's heavy for you." Liam smiled at Jia looking guilty by the tons of work he threw at her.
"Nothing I cannot handle." Jia hum, smirking. Liam nodded his head pleased and gave her the materials. He left afterwards.
Jia looks at Yejun wanting to ask him about the girl he sent to the hospital. She was careful not to ask him in public but maybe she could do it now. Yejun is only two meters away from her. He is reading his script. That girl is strangely giving her bad omen but Jia is inquisitive to know her well being.
"Yejun." Jia says, Yejun brow rase and lazily walks to her.
"Hm?" He asked, sit beside her and Jia felt like being caged by Yejun's large build, insanely closest to her. Approximately an intimate gesture but Jia brushed it off.
"Do you remember the girl before?" Jia whispered, her face close to Yejun as she kept explaining to him through his ears.
"The injured girl?" Yejun asked, he furrowed his brows but Jia only nodded to him.
"I sent her home after the check up. She's fine." Jia sighed, forgetting the awkward atmosphere between them. She pouted. Yejun is just looking at her waiting for Jia to speak.
"Don't tell this to anyone but I think she was bullied." Jia mumbled, blinking because she never really thought that she could speak to Yejun comfortably like this. They were close and whispering. It's strange even from Jia's point of view.
Yejun hum, waiting for Jia to continue. "I've seen her before and she lashes out on me. I want to help her but I think she loathes me for minding her business. When she agreed to you, I got the impression that you're not a bad choice to look out for her." Jia is mumbling non stop that she missed Yejun's hard expression. She looks at him with her puppy eyes. She uses it on Yumi and Juno all the time and it never fails her. Yejun is not an exception right? Right?
"I think about it. But I can only report it to the student council for now." Yejun muttered coldly. Jia tsk then pouted. It didn't work! Her pitiful face! She grimaced when Yejun looked at her with amusement. Jia was reminded again that Yejun is not an easy man and immune to her charms. It still leaves a sour taste the second time around.
"Thank you." Jia thanks him half heartedly and only to receive a lazy grin from Yejun.
"No prob."
Jia rolled her eyes.
End of chapter 39.