Karma ━━ Jake Sim

𝟭𝟲 ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏⠀Zing!

Jake merely hums in confirmation. A wordless exchange, but Sujin hears it all the same: I told you so.

She huffs, "Seriously?! It was an innocent mistake!"

"I never said it wasn't." Jake shrugs, "But rules are rules... and that's Strike Three."

Sujin gawks at the boy, mouth flapping open and shut stupidly as she tries to formulate words that aren't either insults or expletives.

The firm expression coating his features and the sureness of his tone, however, tell her that there's no use in even trying to reason with him.

So she clenches her jaw shut.

"Fine."

Something akin to shock passes over Jake's eyes, and he almost has to double-take to make sure he didn't just hear her wrong.

Is Han Sujin really giving up a fight?

"I'm not 'giving up' anything. I can pick my own battles, thank you very much."

Shit. Did I just say that out loud?

Jake clears his throat, shaking off the annoying little voice in his head that just never quite seems to know when to shut up.

All that he can bring himself to say is, "Expect a call to the Headmistress' office soon."

"Uh huh." Sujin replies, voice devoid of any readable emotion.

A pause hangs in the air, as uncertain as it is brief.

"You can let go of my hand now, by the way."

Jake looks down to see that his grip is, indeed, still locked around the girl's wrist.

It's as if he feels a jolt of electricity shooting up his arm - Zing! - and he immediately drops it to his side, cheeks glowing a bright shade of pink.

"I- Uh... Sorry." He mumbles, eyes darting everywhere but Sujin's own, "Have a good class."

Real smooth.

Sujin holds back a laugh at the boy's flustered state, committing his gobsmacked expression and raging blush to memory as she enters the classroom.

"See ya."

★

͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏⠀⠀ Ding! Ding! Ding!

Fourth period is well underway, and still no word from Jake nor the Headmistress.

The lesson had drawn to an early close when Sujin's Japanese teacher excused herself to the office to pick up some paperwork. Naturally, their class has taken it upon themselves to fill the room with lively chatter to pass the time. Sujin, Sora and Sunoo have long since ditched their notebooks to discuss the events of the day in a hushed whisper.

"Do you think he's really going through with it?"

Sunoo only pauses his current task of absentmindedly braiding Sora's hair to shoot Sujin a pointed, curious look.

"I don't know." Sujin murmurs, rhythmically tapping her pen against the wood of her desk, "He seemed pretty serious about it this morning... But then again, it's been three whole periods and I haven't heard anything since!"

Sunoo hums, "Maybe he was bluffing."

"Please." Sujin scoffs, "That guy couldn't bluff me if he tried."

"And it's Jake we're talking about here, Sunoo." Sora is quick to add, "No way he's taking this lightly!"

"True."