Chapter 42
"Are you okay?" Yumi asked with great concern on her face. Jia frowned at her. Penelope also touches Jia not saying anything but the concerns in their eyes are obvious.
"What? What happened?" Jia heard Juno ask and remove the machine covering his eyes.
"Wait, why is everyone freaking out?" Jia asked, confused.
"Jia, there's a bloodstain in your jacket," Penelope muttered after looking at her mint hoodie.
"What?" Jia's eyes widen and remove herself from Yumi's hug and check her hoodie. Jia's face becomes disastrous after glimpsing bloodstains on the lower side of her garments. She sighed and bit her lip because of stress. It's her favorite hoodie! Jia counted 1-10 to control herself not to act like a brat and cry. Her eyes tingle and smile awkwardly, so awkward that even her friend isn't convinced that she was fine.
"What happened to you, Kim?" Juno asked, frowning at her weird expression.
"Can I sit first?" Jia asked moderately, she no longer likes to have fun. She lost her enthusiasm.
They gather at the sofa, both girls are at Jia's side while Juno sits across from them, the couch looks comfortable Jia should have sat there.
"You know that I got an errand with the adviser. We sorted some papers and before going back, we went to the gym. I heard weird noises from the storeroom and saw this girl being viciously tied up. I help her with Miss Gwen and since we're the only people available, we drag her soulless body so she can get treatment. It was the most exhausting moment of my life." Jia commented on her friends.
"Oh, Yejun knows her too. He brought her to the hospital once. I had a suspicion that she was being bullied. Now that the school and her guardian know, I hope she will get the justice she deserves." Jia's words are ordinary but it was lethal and forceful directed at her soul. She almost chokes with the intense gravity from her lungs.
"That's cruel," Penelope commented. She pouted and patted Jia's back saying she had done well when the door opened. Yejun, Hyuck, and the old man earlier appear and walk to them.
"What's happening?" Hyuck asked, sensing the tension with them.
"Jia got in trouble again," Juno said and grin mischievously. Jia glared at him though.
Jia spoke again and told them what happened in school before she got to Yejun's house. The two men were listening carefully, not once interrupting her. Hyuck's frowns deepened. Jia cannot read what's on his mind while Yejun remains his expressionless face. What a nerd, Jia rolled her eyes after she ended the story. She yawns and lays her head on the sofa. She feels relaxed while her friends allow her to feel at ease.
"You should eat first," Yejun said after a while. Jia nodded while her eyes still closed. She feels Yumi massage her and Jia opens her eyes grinning at her best friend.
"I'm hungry! Can I have pizza?" Jia asked and Yejun nodded and told the old man. He bows again before going out.
"Congratulations on winning the 1st Yejun-ah," Jia said sincerely. It's a rare moment that she spoke with affection. Jia is beyond happy that in this life, her second chance. Yejun got what was supposed to belong to him.
Yejun smiles and Jia feels mesmerized if only Juno did not shriek while playing back his horror game.
"I can let you borrow spare clothes. You can bathe here. Penelope occasionally does when she's staying overnight." Yejun offered. Penelope nodded at her while Yumi almost pushed her to agree. Her bloody hoodie is way more distracting than she thought.
"Thank you for your generosity." Jia gets up and follows Yejun silently.
They walk out of the room and Jia is distracted by her blooded hoodie. She is careful while following Yejun. The house is much bigger than her parent's. The Lee family is fifty rich. If Jia is not a silver spoon, she would find it extravagant. She snorted when they reached the door. Yejun opens it and comes inside, Jia follows him in silence.
"The bathroom is in the left corner. You can use anything you fancy though I'm not sure if it will suit your taste. I let them wash your clothes and lend you a new one." Jia nodded, ignoring the hint of a blush forming on her cheeks.
She walks into the enormous bathroom. There are lots of body washes with different flavors. Towels are neatly folded in one of the sideboards. The mirror shape is oval with different toiletries below it. The bathtub is bigger than she had in her house. Jia feels like she's in a VIP 5-star hotel. Lee Yejun, that rascal. He is indeed loaded!
Jia opens the faucet and checks the water. She likes it warm. Jia feels happy when she dips her body in the tub. She likes the large tub and warm water. She lay her head comfortably and closed her eyes. Warm feeling. She likes to stay there forever if possible. The aches on her muscles were healing and all Jia could feel was that she was sleepy. The water smells like vanilla. She's done showering and letting her body enjoy the warm water.
'thud thud'
Jia's eyes opened when she heard a knock.
"I knock to check if you're fine? Don't fall asleep now Jia." Jia's eyes widened, stunned that she indeed considered sleeping. She quickly answered him.
"I'm about to go out!" Jia shouted back. Not in the mood to bicker since she was guilty of enjoying the tub. She is rosy pink while covering herself with a towel. Jia drains the tub while drying her hair. She could not find any new clothes so Jia decided to open the door. She first checks the room, Jia is glad that no one is inside. She found a trace of clothes in the bed.
The pajama has a rabbit design while there is a white hoodie with a cute penguin on the upper right of the chest. Jia smiled while checking herself in the vanity mirror. Her cheeks are still red under the oversize hoodie. Jia brushes her hair and goes back to the bathroom to pick up her uniform and mint green hoodie. Jia opens the door from the bathroom and finds Yejun standing near the door crossed arms. He looks at Jia from head to toe and there's a hint of a smile forming on his lips.
"Put your clothes in the bed. I will order someone to wash it for you before you go home." Yejun told her. Jia pouted and marched to the bottom bed and put on the well-folded clothes and turned to Yejun.
"Let's go back now." He said then opened the door to go out.
Jia hasn't checked the room yet. She assumes that it was the guest room because Penelope is occasionally staying overnight at Yejun's home. Now that Jia confirms their relationship she feels back then. It's getting real that Yejun and Penelope like each other. They were cute. Jia thought to herself.
"How are you feeling?" Yejun asked her after a while.
"I feel good after taking a bath." Jia retorted, still following him.
"You did not come to see me," Yejun said, his eyes were straight and Jia paused to hear him.
"Uh, yeah. I got occupied. I wish I could watch your performance though. I bet you cool performing." Jia smiles with obvious disappointment on her face. She wanted to watch him and see with her own eyes Yejun's performance. She likes to tell him that it was personal for her to witness it but Jia will keep her feelings to herself.
"I thought you were not interested," Yejun mumbled. Jia gathered her confidence to look back at Yejun and only to regret it afterward. His raven eyes were too deep, still, the ray of light glinting in his eyes shows that Yejun is currently teasing her.
"I like to watch it. I wish I could see you play live and see you accepting the award. You deserve it Yejun-ah," Jia's mind was in a daze, and her voice was lower compared to her used tunes. She did not meet his eyes but Jia knows that Yejun is watching her.
"I sincerely congratulate you." Jia smiles. The tiny glint in Yejun eyes glimmer in the discovery. His cheeks become rosy, Jia found it cute. Yejun was never embarrassed or flustered before. Maybe the competition is big deal for him. Jia is glad it went well this time.
They reach the drawing-room. Hyuck is busy playing the VR game while Hyuck is on his phone like normal. Penelope is laughing at card games with Yumi. I went to them sitting next to Yumi looking interested in joining.
"Oh? Yejun used those clothes when he was a kid." Penelope laughs remembering the memories of their childhood.
"What? Kid? As a toddler?!" Jia's mouth hangs open after realizing something.
"Yeah. Since he is tall now, you used it when he was in middle school." Jia covers Penelope's mouth. She pouted after realizing her action and stunt expression of Penelope. They laugh after.
"I'm taller than Yumi!" Jia insisted. She's 163cm while Yumi is 160cm. Penelope is a lot taller at 167cm. Yumi looks at her as if she was offended.
"Are you serious Kim Jia?" Yumi muttered in a loud voice.
"I am!" Jia laughed out loud after Yumi pouted too. She's cute and likes her so much. Penelope is also teasing Yumi, they high five afterward. Jia hugged Yumi and they became busy playing cards.
End of chapter 42.