Chapter 11
98 days
23:43:02
I startle after seeing the clock reminder. My 99 days are already done. I haven't even started my plans yet! I mess up my hair because I haven't done anything that's nearly my goal!
"Hey, are you okay?" Yejun called for me and a scorching heat started in my chest after I met his eyes.
Ohh, Is this time? I forgot about it till now! I gritted my teeth and tears started to form in my eyes. It's not even an hour since the day started! What is this?!
"Uhm, Yejun, I think I need to go back now. I'm already sleepy." I said and endured the pain while talking to him.
"I understand. Let's go." He said and stood up and walked after me.
I followed him and we met guards in the yard. They bow at Yejun and me. I think it's Lee's household guards. My hand trembles after but the pain is bearable. I think I shouldn't look for Penelope and Yejun's for me to survive this.
Haru said that this pain is a reminder of my sins. Maybe even God can't overlook it even though I already traded my soul. I sigh and bite my lower lip. We reached the entrance door and I quickly went inside and went to the stairs.
"Goodnight." I said to him, glancing on his side.
"Goodnight." Yejun retorted but I didn't pay much attention to it because the heat in my chest is starting to hurt.
I ran upstairs straight to my room. I feel like a vulnerable person who has a sickness. I went to my bed and set up the alarm. Tomorrow is Friday and I'm glad that weekends will start. I have time to do my task. I fall asleep thinking of what I should do for later...
***
It's morning and I am already set to go to school. My parents are eating breakfast and I joined them.
"Jia, how're your studies?" Father asked me out of the blue.
"It's fine. I joined the club." I told him about my recent activity.
"What kind of club is that?" He asked me and looked at my way.
"Music club." I said in a monotone. I saw him frown but just nodded at me.
I sigh after we finish eating. Mother is quiet and I don't know how to approach her. Maybe one day I will request a date from her.
Mr. Choi is usually early and waiting for me in the car. I went inside and we departed. The sun is already set and I open the window of the car so I can enjoy the sunlight. It's been so long since I appreciated the nature of the city. We arrived and I thanked Mr. Choi for driving me off to school.
I walk to the hallway to reach the classroom. I'm not that early today so there are students on campus roaming around. I walked slowly when I received a text from Mr. Choi saying that my parents are leaving home because of an emergency from their work. I sigh after reading it. I supposed the date with mom will be postponed for the time being.
I'm replying to Mr. Choi's message when someone bumps into me. I fell to the ground and my phone flew away. It's so fast that I just feel the pain from my butt. My hip is hurting as I saw a girl wearing thick glasses was also on the ground. Her glasses are cracked and she looks pitiful trying to look for it. I sigh and even my hip is sore. I stand up and get her glasses so that I can give them to her.
"Here." I handed it to her.
"I-I'm sorry... I'm really sorry." She keeps on apologizing to me.
I touch my sore hip and I think it bruises. I'm so unfortunate today. I look at her still on the ground. She keeps begging for forgiveness and to the point of exaggerating. Some students are slowly gathering on us and I felt uncomfortable.
"It's okay, just be careful next time" I said to her while still clasping my hip silently shouting in pain.
Where did my phone fly away? I thought about looking for it on the ground.
"Jia?" I heard someone call my name and I saw Penelope together with Yejun look at me and the girl who was still on the ground crying with her broken glasses.
"Hi." I said awkwardly
They glanced at me and the girl. Penelope frowns after hearing the girl apologizing again. What's with her? I got irritated because she keeps repeating it and my hip is sore enough while I'm looking at my phone which flew on the ground.
"Oh my god! What happened to you?" Penelope asked the girl and waited for answers.
"Jia sunbae... I'm really sorry." She said and cried while looking at the ground. She trembles after and Penelope looks at me with her confused face.
"Eh? I said it's fine." I told her I was feeling annoyed because she looks like I'm bullying her.
"What happened to the both of you?" Penelope asked again, trying her best to calm the freshman girl.
"We bump into each other." I said in a monotone. I can't think of anything because I'm still looking for my phone. I need to reply to Mr. Choi.
"Why are you acting cold Jia? She already apologized to you." Penelope stares at me and I look at them in confusion.
"Okay? I already accepted her apology." I frown while looking at both of them. What's the problem now? She bumps into me and I get hurt. I helped her find her glasses, she apologized to me and I forgive her so what's wrong now? I can't understand.
"Why aren't you apologizing to her Jia?" Penelope asked me. Dislike is evident in her eyes.
"Eh? Why should I?" I asked her, confused. The chilling atmosphere circled us. I raised my brow and looked irritated while staring at both of them.
"What are you guys doing?" Yejun is now looking at us three.
"I don't even know what's happening!" I told him looking mad.
At that moment, scorching heat envelops my chest. I tremble, there's a massive palpitation of my heart. I almost collapse on the ground but I manage to hold on to the wall. My temperature is getting cold and the pain is excruciating. I ran away without looking back. I don't care anymore.
I went to the clinic and collapsed in bed. I grip my chest while feeling the burning pain just like blades in my heart. I can't even breathe.
"Jia... Your attack again." Said the voice beside the bed but I don't pay attention to whoever it is.
"Hmmph... It hurts....." I said in between my breaths.
Tears started to flow in my eyes and my whole body was shaking. I gasp for air but my chest is so painful that I'm losing my mind. I cried and after a while, I lost consciousness.
***
I woke up in the bed of the infirmary. I looked around and found Yumi holding my hand. I rose from bed feeling fine because the attack was already gone.
"Jia are you okay?" Yumi asked me and looked worried.
"Yes I'm fine but why are you here?" I asked her, confused. The first period has already passed and I plan to go back to class.
"Yejun and Penelope told me that you got sick and are staying at the infirmary." She said
"I'm okay now." I assure her.
"Here's your phone. Yejun said that you lost it because someone bumps into you." Yumi said and handed my phone.
"Thank you." I said and got out of bed. Yumi arranged my messy hair and I saw my uniform was crumpled.
"Let's go." I said and we left the infirmary.
We went to the classroom and went to my seat. I saw Penelope's worried eyes and looked like she had something to say to me.
"Jia, I'm sorry. I've been rude to you." She said while bowing at me.
"Uhm, it's fine." I replied and shrugged my shoulders.
"You're my brother's benefactor but I almost accuse you of something you didn't do. Yejun found your phone that flew to the ground. That girl also explained that she bumps at you accidentally and hurts you." Penelope stated. She looks about to cry while explaining to me.
"I'm fine so it's okay." I said and got shocked when Penelope hugged me.
"Ouchhh... Penelope.. my hip is still hurting so refrain from hugging me." I said to her and she apologized again.
The teacher comes and we focus on the lesson. It was a math subject and we're answering an activity. Penelope is still answering while I'm done. I saw Yumi frowning while answering in the book. Yejun on the other hand is looking outside the window and his book is closed.
Yejun is smart and I'm not surprised if he already finished answering the activity. I sigh after shifting my gaze outside and find Haru waving at me. My eyes widened and I accidentally stood up.
My teacher and some of my classmates look at me my way. I closed my book and quickly handed it to the teacher. I asked permission if I could go outside and she said yes since I'm done. I quickly arranged my things and put them all in my bag. I went outside and saw Haru crossing his arms while waiting for me.
He patted my head, greeting me and I frowned at him. Some of the students are looking at us including Yumi, Yejun, Penelope, and the other classmates admiring Haru.
"Why are you here?" I was kinda excited because I needed to tell him what happened today.
"To treat you to lunch?" He suggested and I happily followed him.
"Okay. Let's go."
End of chapter 11...