Chapter 14
"Pardon for intrusion." Penelope said when she entered my room.
"You can sit wherever you like." I smile and put my bag and coat in the corner. I also turn on the heater because my room is freezing.
Penelope looks awkward and just sits in the corner of my room in a daze. The maid knocks on the door and I open it.
"Thank you." I said when she entered my room and put the tray of food on the small table. I waited for her to go out before I called for Penelope
I saw Bibimbap, Bulgogi, Chapchae, Chicken soup, Kimchi and rice. I got hungry after smelling the food.
"Let's eat." I told Penelope and we sat across from each other.
"You don't have to worry and just eat." I said and gave her chopsticks.
Penelope is still awkward but when she smells the food, she quickly eats it. I smile and start to taste the chicken soup.
"Thank you, Jia." Penelope said in between her sobs.
"I... I haven't eaten a tasty and hot meal like this for a long time..." She said while wiping her tears.
"You don't have to eat it quickly. You'll get indigestion." I told her and bit my chopstick.
--
We finished eating and I went to the bathroom to shower. Penelope followed in the bath after I'm done. I let her borrow my pajamas. She's tall but my Pajamas are oversized and I'm not that short either. I'm blowing my hair when she gets out of the bath. Her cheeks are red and her brown eyes are sparkling because of the light. Her long hair is wrapped in a white towel.
"I will help you dry your hair." I told her and let her sit in front of the mirror.
"I always do this with Yumi when she stays here overnight." I said unconsciously. I brush her hair gently and I smile seeing that Penelope's hair is shiny and beautiful.
"I envy you... I never had a best friend before." She said and met my gaze in the mirror.
"I'm lucky with Yumi but it's the opposite if it's me. I'm not a good person." I told her and let my finger brush her hair. I finish drying it and Penelope looks satisfied.
--
I'm sitting on the couch and Penelope was on the carpet sitting like a lotus. I told her about how Yumi and I met when we were kids.
"Yumi is my best friend and I am grateful that she stays with me even though I'm not a great friend." I mumble to her.
"Yejun is also my best friend and my savior. I don't think I can live without him." Penelope said while looking at the carpeted floor.
"Yeah. He is indeed a great friend." I agree with her.
"He told me to take care of you." I said remembering the conversation we had earlier.
"Yejun is always worrying. I met him in a park in Tennessee. I was practicing playing the piano because my mom joined me for a school contest. I'm having a hard time and I feel pressured because I can't remember the piece... But Yejun is there. He called me stupid and he played the piano in my stead... I remember feeling relieved when I heard him play so well. Did you know what I did after he arrogantly told me that it is so easy but I'm so dumb for not remembering the song?." Penelope laughs and in her sparkling eyes, she continues her story.
"Yejun is arrogant but I convinced him to teach me and he likes to be praised so I always praise him and we play the piano every day. Until my family moved to Korea. I'm in middle school at that time. I spend every summer with Yejun and when we moved... I cried in the river because I thought we won't be meeting again. I'm glad he found me." Penelope is smiling and I just listen to her stories.
"Father is not that kind of person." Penelope started the sensitive topic. I don't know if it's okay to just listen to her but I can't help myself because I think she needs a listener. And I'm also curious about how much in the past that I know changed.
"He teaches me how to play instruments and I'm so thankful for him. When we moved in here, my parents decided to open a family restaurant. My middle school is fine and I was happy because I met Yejun again in school. I called it fate." My heart skipped a beat after hearing her story.
"One day Dad went home drunk and he started to tell the story of his so-called friends. Those are bad people. They scam my father into investing half of our assets. He got devastated and he started gambling. He keeps dreaming that if he wins in gambling, he can finally have the money he lost but...." Penelope stopped and tears started to flow in her eyes.
"He lost everything… We lost our good lives because of his wrong decisions..." Penelope told me as if she's telling me that she's so desperate to undo the past.
"I used to envy you, Jia... I'm sorry but I'm jealous that you're from a rich family. You never get worried about the money and even if you're not making an effort... You will still be successful in life.
Penelope's words are like daggers in my past. Indeed, I never worry about money. I can have everything that money can buy... I also can just order people to do something for me... But even before, I tried my best in everything... I have had tons of lessons since I was a child, my parents aren't with me and I can only play with Yumi who became my friend when we're both taking lessons in music. I got hurt after hearing those words... I put my effort into everything I did and I believe in saying 'Hard work will pay" and I also had the hardest time growing up without the guidance of my mother. I miss her every day. I even had a nosebleed for studying to receive a perfect score but I have no one to show it. They are all busy giving me a comfortable life and they neglect that I also need their affection... Someone who will teach me to be a better child, a mother who would scold me if I made a mistake and console me after... so I can learn.
"It's not easy either." I whisper to her and softly smile at Penelope who widens her eyes after realizing that she said crossing the line.
"I-I'm sorry." I heard her apologize.
"Humans have different fates and we can't control it. We made decisions but still it's doing things in our choice not knowing if it will bring good things to our life." I mumbled. I yawn and stand up.
I prepare the bed and I let Penelope use my bed while I sleep with extra foam and comforter I asked for from the servants.
"Do you think everything will be okay?" Penelope asked me.
We are already lying down in the bed. I'm using my pillows and blanket while I let Penelope use the extra for guests.
"I don't know... But I won't give up."
That's the last time I told her before I saw her close her eyes and sleep. I close my eyes but I can't sleep because of the dim darkness. I don't sleep in the darkroom but Penelope likes it dark. That's why I set the light to dim because she is still my guest.
I checked my phone and replied to our group message. Juno and Yumi kept asking me how Penelope was. Yumi also asked me if I'm fine because I can't sleep in the dark.
Group in Music
Jia: No, I'm fine. Penelope is sleeping. I set it up to dim light. Thanks for worrying Yumi.
--
Juno kept asking me non-stop while Yumi heart my chat and I received a like from Na Hyuk.
I was startled when Yejun suddenly messaged me in private.
From Yejun Lee
Are you okay?
-End-
His chat is formal and straightforward. I replied to him.
From Kim Jia
Penelope is fine and I'm about to sleep too.
-End-
I went to our group chat and I read a long message from Juno. I rolled my eyes at him. I didn't read it and just 'seen' his messages.
I fell asleep without receiving a reply from Yejun. Yumi also sent me a goodnight message.
--
97 days...
18:58:02
When I opened my eyes, That's the first thing I saw. I stare at it in a daze. I feel nothing while looking at the ceiling. After a minute it vanished in the air.
I look at Penelope and she's already awake. I greeted her good morning and she did the same. I let Penelope bathe first and the servant knocked on the door. I opened it and she handed me Penelope's uniform. I asked to do the laundry last night.
I checked my phone and saw some notifications. I unlocked it and saw some messages from the group chat. Mostly greeting from them.
We get down the stairs and eat breakfast. Yejun messaged me telling me that he will come to fetch Penelope. I told him okay and when I heard someone announce a visitor, I quickly went to the entrance door with Penelope.
I welcome Yejun who looks fresh in his white t-shirt, black pants, and navy coat. I move aside and let them reunite together. I'm wearing a mint green hoodie jacket and cat pajamas. This is a gift from Yumi. I let Yejun in but he refused because he still has things to do.
"Thank you, Jia." I heard Penelope giving her gratitude.
Yejun is in the corner watching my moves. I glanced at him and we stared at each other. I can see the cold barrier again in his eyes. I have no ticket to know his true feelings but when our eyes met. I just nodded at him. He remained silent. I closed the door when they had already left the house. I sigh and quickly go back to my room and change my clothes. Today is the weekend and I have a place I need to visit.
End of chapter 14...