There's got to be some ulterior motive, she thinks. Either that, or he's Mother Teresa.
"You don't have to do this, you know." She mumbles, watching as Jay finishes up yet another pile.
He pauses for a second.
"I know."
Sujin bends down to pick up a few stray leaves and tosses them to the side.
"Why are you, then?"
Jay sighs.
"Is it so hard for you to believe I just want to help?"
"... A little, yeah."
He laughs softly under his breath, head shaking in disbelief.
"I told you, Sujin." He answers, "I get it. I went through the same thing you are, and I don't think I would've ever made it to where I am now if I didn't have people help me out back then too. A little generosity goes a long way, you know what I mean?" He offers the girl a gentle smile, "'M just paying it forward."
Damn.
So he really is Mother Teresa.
Sujin hesitates, entirely unfamiliar with this degree of selflessness. Unsure of what else to say, she voices the only thing on her mind - "Thank you."
"It's fine, really." Jay insists, "And again, I'm sorry for talking about you behind your back like that at the restaurant. You didn't deserve that."
"I forgive you." Sujin smiles, finally feeling the weight on her shoulders begin to lighten. She pauses for a bit before adding, "'M sorry for being a raging bitch."
Jay bursts out laughing, the sound echoing off the stone walls of the quadrangle. His sharp eyes glitter even behind his glasses, crinkling ever so lightly at the corners. In this moment, Sujin starts to really see the resemblance between the boy in front of her and the troublesome kid she used to know him as.
Some things never change.
"I forgive you too." He replies.
Sujin exaggeratedly gasps, "You're supposed to say, 'No, Sujin. You weren't being a raging bitch at all!'"
"Well, yeah..." Jay teases, "But then I'd be lying."
And for that, he earns yet another berating smack to the arm.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" He squeezes out between laughs.
"You're the worst." Sujin humphs, though not without the faintest ghost of a smile tugging at her lips to assure him that she doesn't really mean that. Not in the slightest.
Once recollected to his usual calm state, Jay decides to extend his final peace offering.
"Before I forget," He starts, "There is something I wanted to ask you."
"I'm listening..." Sujin perks up curiously.
"I don't know if you've got plans already, but Chuseok's coming up this weekend. The school gives us the Friday off too, so we usually like to do a little 'Friendsgiving' dinner type of thing every year," Jay explains, smile unconsciously widening in memory of the tradition, "You're more than welcome to join! Sora and Sunoo will be there too, y'know, if that makes any difference."
Sujin feels herself soften at the invitation. It's been years since she's last celebrated a Friendsgiving - and even then, it merely consisted of store bought pumpkin spice donuts and packets of instant ramen on Heeseung's living room couch. A total lack of fanciness and table etiquette, she's sure, but the love was there all the same.
She can hardly imagine what such a dinner would be like here, of all places. The very place she'd just referred to as Hell less than 12 hours ago. A small part of her can't help but want to find out.
"I'll also be cooking," Jay adds, "And not to brag or anything," - He most definitely is - "But that should be enough reason for you to come."
"Real humble, Park." Sujin rolls her eyes, pulling another chuckle from the boy.
"Hmmm... Yeah. Sure." She eventually decides with a smile, "That sounds like fun."
Jay beams, inwardly congratulating himself for finally succeeding in making amends with the once-thought-to-be-impossible Han Sujin. In all honesty, he thinks he deserves a medal for the feat.
"Sooo," He runs a hand through his hair, "We're all good now, right? Friends?"
Friends.
The answer is already crystal-clear in Sujin's mind, and she figures he knows it too, but she doesn't see the harm in poking a little more fun.
"Let's see how good your cooking is first," She holds out a teasing hand, "Then we'll talk."
Jay shakes it firmly with a laugh.
"Deal."
SAGE'S SPACE! 🗯️
sujay besties agenda everybody cheered !!! honestly, i love this duo so. damn. much. i just knew i had to take a short break from all the tension to deliver some fluff for my favourite pair of american troublemakers <3
(don't worry though... best believe we're jumping right back into the drama in the next few chapters 🤞🏽)
also, in case any of you would be interested: i recently published a new heeseung fic titled godspeed. it's quite different from this book, i must admit, but if you love a good ol' angsty right person wrong time trope with a dash of fantasy sprinkled over top - or if you just love hee, which is also very valid - i think it'd be worth checking out!
til next time, sage ♡
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