Chapter 43
"Cheongsam mountain," Hyuck muttered while grinning. Juno has the lazy look on his face, but he gets interested after hearing Hyuck.
They played cards a while ago and Hyuck suddenly said that he organized a retreat for their club. They will spend 2 days and one night cleansing their minds but Jia knows that Hyuck wanted his members to relax even for a bit. They suggest places and even recommend places abroad but Penelope rejected them. She prepared to do it nearby and Hyuck came up to Cheongsam mountain.
"We can schedule it 2 months later, after finals." Jia froze and glanced at Juno, the latter also coughed unnaturally not receiving Jia's intense gaze of panic. She blinks stupidly and grins awkwardly. Her mind is accessing different reasons to convince her friends and makeup excuses.
"How about next week? I have loads of work. It's embarrassing but I just received big orders. They need my attention and the school festival just finished. We can use this opportunity." Jia's voice did crack but the desperation was visible. She looks at them with a pitiful face.
"Err, our Jia is busy. I can help you." Yumi offered, gone with the excited reactions earlier.
"No, thank you. I'll tell you if I need help in the future." Jia mumbled and Yumi smiled sweetly at her.
The night ended and Jia went home. She closes her eyes as she lazily lays down on her bed, feeling a bit giddy because of the break they will spend next week.
She sighs, her heart is heavy as she recalls the scenario in Yejun's home. Jia is unnaturally feeling embarrassed. She wears Yejun clothes! How could she do that? So embarrassing! Jia covered her face and tried so hard not to whimper but weird noises still escaped from her lips. She wanted to beat her face but realized her ridiculousness. Why is she acting as if she has a crush on Yejun?
'Get your grip, Kim Jia.' She murmurs to herself.
Jia doesn't remember how she fell asleep that night but she feels groggy the next morning. The restlessness took his vision to a blur and Jia was close to falling asleep when she reached the school. Her driver looked at her worriedly but Jia just smiled at him and thanked him for a great job.
Jia entered the school with people staring at her. It was weird being stared at but Jia is used to the attention. She merely noticed the whispering and obvious glares and disappointments on their faces before Jia snapped out that something was wrong.
Jia never was so nervous coming to school until today. The people looked at her as if she was an animal, rude and cold. Even in her previous life, Jia never saw people judging her decisions. Jia is a regal and she has never been the direct victim of shame bullying. It almost feels surreal when Jia recalls the days she laughs seeing Penelope in the mud. Now, she recognizes the apathy of those students who have a bigger prejudice against people they were strangers to. Jia is beyond pissed, so eager to know the truth.
Jia saw Juno and Yumi running in her way before she could enter the classroom. They drag her to the club room without saying anything, with grim expressions on their faces. Jia is confused while seeing her friend's angry expression. Juno looked so pissed that he rolled his eyes, as a sign of him being in distress. Jia is ready to solace him but halted when he saw Yejun with Hyuck also enter the club room.
"Someone is spreading the news that Jia bullied someone." Hyuck started, eyes were dark and serious while looking at her.
"They said she beat the victim and she was in the hospital with severe injuries and trauma." Hyuck supplied, expression was grim.
Jia blinks her eyes as she reads his friend's expressions. Penelope looks like she is about to cry while Juno is pissed like Yumi. Her best friend is deadly when she's into something that makes her angry and Jia never wanted to bring up this side of Yumi because of the false rumor about her. Yumi is a sweetheart and she feels guilty afterward. Her rage is breaking her and Jia quickly goes to her best friend and comforts her.
"Shhh, I'll be fine. Don't be mad pretty." Jia smiled as she pressed both of her hands to Yumi's small face. Her eyes change swiftly and water vehemently. She feels guilty that Yumi is upset. Jia dislikes seeing her like this. She wanted to apologize but she needs to hear the whole story first.
"Okay. Let's get it clear." Jia started, heart-throbbing against her chest.
"Someone is spreading false rumors about me being a bully and beating someone to oblivion to the point that they were sent to the hospitals because of the severe injuries?" Jia asked, too amused that her past is following her like she was made for it. Jia greeted her teeth, lips quivering. She clenched her knuckle and breathed slowly.
"Yes, the parents are filing the case. I manage to contact them briefly because the victim is too traumatized to talk. She only said your name while being asked in the hospital." Hyuck explained, still looking calm.
"Wait... Hospital? You mean the girl I saved yesterday?" Jia asked, eyes widening with shock and confusion.
"Yeah. Probably. The school is still protecting her identity but I heard she was a freshman." Hyuck supply again. Yumi snorts, gripping Jia's hand tightly.
"I cannot believe this! Jia is innocent! How dare they twist the story!" Yumi shouted, still upset that her best friend was falsely accused.
"I don't understand it either. The parents hired a lawyer and he was the one who was talking with the principal. They wanted Jia to leave the school." Juno said rage is evident in his voice.
"What? Jia didn't do it!" Penelope looks annoyed and Jia is amused that she witnesses her siding with Jia. Ridiculous if someone asked her.
"I will never forgive those bastards. That girl, I feel bad for her being the victim but I won't forgive her if she misled people and accused my best friend. I will destroy her family." Yumi mumbled eyes fog of deep darkness. Jia got goosebumps looking at her sweet Yumi. She sighs and hugs her best friend and kisses her temple. Yumi liked skinship when she was upset. Jia needs to comfort her best friend before she twists everything and the problem will get out of hand.
Yumi's family is powerful and if she likes it, she could destroy innocent people or rather many people will get involved and Jia doesn't want any distractions. She likes to finish things quietly like usual.
Yejun is awfully quiet. Jia trembled, meeting Yejun's eyes. She frowns in her seat and she inhales oxygen. Yejun is mad and Jia could feel the aura he's releasing. Suddenly, Jia feels the tightness of her chest. She breathed out harshly and panic spread across her face. She touches her heart and the beating is too uneven. The oxygen is leaving her making her stumble at the chair. Yumi screams while Penelope looks shaken, also calling Jia's name.
"Shit! Ambulance! We need an ambulance!" Juno shouted and went to Jia. Juno knows Jia's condition and he knows that Jia is in excruciating pain. Jia's face was so red that tears started to stream down her face. Jia is breathing unnaturally.
"Jia. Kim Jia, Please, look at me. Breathe... Yeah. Don't think of anything. Keep breathing." Juno said while Hyuck is on the phone calling for an ambulance.
"I... I-I can't... I'm sorry." Jia bit her lips so hard that she tasted blood. Yumi is crying on her side while Yejun looks shocked frozen in his seat.
"Don't think of it. It's not real. Yeah, like that. Fuck! Lee Yejun! You asshole!" Jia's eyes widened hearing Juno call Yejun. The little consciousness made Jia stop Juno from going to Yejun. She held his uniform tightly and shook her head. Jia closes her eyes again and another raw tear falls. She feels dizzy and her chest is tight inside. She couldn't breathe!
"Shhss, It's okay. I'm here. It's fine... Everything is fine. I'll protect you." Jia doesn't know what's happening in her surroundings anymore but those words are like a lullaby in her ears.
She could smell the familiar smell of lavender, Jia felt confused, how those smells made her comfortable in a blink of an eye. The sweetness of comfort and safety is given by someone holding Jia. She knew it wasn't Juno. Maybe Yumi? But Yumi smells like strawberry.
The blurred vision made Jia's brain refuse to function. She recognized him. She knew who those were from. Jia falls asleep in Yejun's arms, still confused about everything around her. Yumi and Penelope's cries echo in her ears while Juno's deep breathing distracts her from the tight feeling on her chest. She has her friends beside her, he will be fine.
Jia feels someone lifted her. She could see those eyes, brows were frowning, and despite the tension. Yejun's handsome face is conveying something Jia never thought she could witness. In her half awareness. Jia sees Lee Yejun's worried gaze. Her heart started another blow but this time, it was different.
Jia closes her eyes, feeling safety and comfort from the man who carries her as if she was made of glass. Jia fell asleep.
completely.
End of chapter 43.