Karma ━━ Jake Sim

𝟬𝟵 ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏⠀Give It a Chance

"Alright, that's it - what's your deal?!" Jay blurts, chopsticks clattering down to his plate with the sudden outburst. The noise attracts the gazes of multiple other restaurant-goers near them, which makes his tone dip to a hushed whisper, "Do you have a problem with me or something?"

Sujin blinks, immediately halting her scrolling movements. She meets his eyes over the silhouette of her phone, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Look -" Jay sighs exasperatedly, "- I get it. You're a little pissed about your situation-"

"A little pissed about my situation?!" She repeats in a hiss, mobile device now long forgotten and face-down on the table, "You don't know my situation, thank you very much. You don't know what it's like to have your entire life taken away from you!"

"Actually, I do." His lips purse, and something in him softens, "I think I'd know more than anyone else here..." He looks away, "You're forgetting the exact same thing happened to me, y'know? Just a few years earlier."

Sujin pauses. It had almost slipped her mind that Jay's also here because his parents had sent him off back in ninth grade.

"I'm not saying it's the greatest place in the world," He continues, "I'm just saying, I don't know... give it a chance."

Huh. Interesting.

Before Sujin is able to conjure a reply, the door of the restaurant swings open with a dramatic Whoosh!, and an equally dramatic holler.

"Yooo!"

Jay's face falls into the palm of his hand, a hushed murmur to himself - "Sunghoon..."

Sujin feels her posture straighten, limbs surprisingly jelly-like after hearing Jay's prior suggestion. Give it a chance. She's not quite sure how to feel about it, and is somewhat thankful for the intruders for saving her from having to decide.

Though any hint of gratitude immediately leaves her body upon lifting her eyes to see who they actually are.

Two boys. A new face; bright, cheery and undeniably handsome. The source of the interrupting greeting - Sunghoon, she's guessing, if Jay's murmur is anything to go by. And just a step behind him, a familiar one; the main reason for the utter dread that washes over her body.

Jake.

She wills the ground to swallow her whole.

"Sorry for the wait!" Sunghoon chirps, completely unbeknownst to the situation. His dark eyes scan the array of food already on the table, "Aw, you got started without us?"

"Hey, Hoon." Jay greets with a tight lipped smile, "Han Sujin -" He gestures between the two, "- Park Sunghoon. One of my... friends, for lack of a better term."

Sunghoon holds a hand to his heart, feigning hurt. "He doesn't mean that!" The boy gasps, willing Sujin to take his side with a frown, "He loves me, I swear."

"Nice to meet you." Sujin manages, as quiet as it is hesitant.

"And-"

"Sim Jaeyun." The familiar stranger cuts in. Unlike Sunghoon, he seems to be against the idea of somebody else introducing him - even though he's too preoccupied with rolling the oversized denim jacket off his shoulders to have an opportunity to properly look at the girl before him. Yet. "But everyone around here just calls me Ja-"