Unseen Strings

Chapter 4

"Well?" He vocalized. "What are you doing on the ground?" He repeated his question, I could sense a dash of annoyance. He never seemed the repeating type.

"I-I missed my bus." I turned my head back down, avoiding his deep eyes.

"The bus?" He scoffed. "Why the hell do you take a bus?"

Suddenly, strong arms lifted me to my feet. I turned to face him, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Come on." He cocked his head to the side. "You can ride with me." He smirked a little.

"Ride...with you?" I questioned.

"Yeah," he shrugged. "Why not?"

"I don't know..." I hesitated, torn between the convenience of a ride and Laci's potential disapproval. On the one hand, a Mustang ride to school sounded appealing. On the other hand, I knew Laci wouldn't be thrilled with the arrangement.

JJ had offered to drive us to college since he passed by on his way to work. Laci, however, declined, insisting we could manage on our own. Neither of us could drive, so I was stuck with the bus. While Laci often had friends offer rides, I was too shy to ask, leaving me reliant on public transportation.

"If you don't, you're gonna be late." He added nonchalantly as he gently pushed me toward his car.

"Well..." I sighed, "I suppose I don't have much of a choice..." I slowly walked toward the passenger side. "I have a test."

He laughed under his breath as he strode over and opened the door. "Get in."

I slid inside and couldn't help but catch my breath. The leather seats were black with red lining. It seemed nearly brand new, if not brand new. There was a digital display in front and a sunroof above my head. I didn't notice my head moving all sorts of directions until he got into the car.

"What?" He laughed under his breath again, "never been in a car like this?"

I shook my head in disbelief as he revved the engine and sped off. The sleek Mustang, a stark contrast to his modest apartment, sparked my curiosity. What did he do for a living? The thought lingered as I idly ran my fingers over the leather seats.

I turned my attention to the passing scenery, lost in thought. The memory of our first encounter with JJ resurfaced.

"Come inside!" Laci beamed as she unlocked her front door and led me inside.

I couldn't stop smiling.

She shut the door behind us. "Shoes off." She quickly slipped free of her flats while I yanked off my boots. I followed behind her as she rushed forward into the house.

"Dad! Eomma! My friend is here!" She shouted.

A small woman came out of the kitchen, smiling and gesturing for me to sit down. She had a warm, inviting smile that crinkled the corners of her dark eyes, and her dark hair, streaked with silver, was pulled back into a neat bun. Her skin, though weathered by years, held a youthful glow. "Husband come." She pointed up the stairs as a slightly older man than she descended the stairs. He was a man of average height, his frame sturdy and slightly weathered from years of labor. His face, etched with lines of experience, held a permanent five o'clock shadow that seemed to blend seamlessly with his salt-and-pepper hair. His eyes, a deep shade of blue. "My husband." She kissed his cheek and patted his chest.

"So!" Laci reappeared. "That's my mom, and that's my dad." She pointed at them.

"It's lovely to meet you." I bowed a little.

"What's your name?" Her father asked.

"Angelina." I smiled a little.

"That's surely a long name." He laughed a bit. "My name is Eric," he beamed.

I smiled, "Mr. Walker."

"This is my wife, Ha-Eun," he put his arm around her, "but I call her Holly." He kissed the side of her head.

"Mrs. Walker." I bowed a bit at her again.

"Say, does everyone call you Angelina?" he asked abruptly.

"No," I shook my head, "I have nicknames. That's why Laci calls me Rosie." I gestured to her a bit.

"I didn't think Rosie was a nickname for Angelina," a deep voice sounded out as it passed through the living room.

"Ugh!" Laci groaned. "JJ!" She shouted at him, starting to follow him.

"Leave him be." Her mother chided her, stopping her in her tracks as JJ sauntered into the kitchen. At first, all I saw was the mess of black hair on his head and the broadness of his back. He scoffed out loud, maybe he had chuckled.

"Well it's great to meet you Angelina!" Her father beamed, "I'm so glad Laci has a friend!"

"Dadddd." Laci's voice drew out.

"Alright alright!" He laughed and moved a bit out of the way. "Go have fun girls!"

"See you soon!" Her mother bowed a bit.

"Come on!" Laci rolled her eyes as she raced up the stairs.

I paused, captivated by the grand staircase winding upward. The rich walnut wood gleamed in the soft light, a testament to the family's wealth. The house itself was a masterpiece of subtle luxury, with delicate wallpaper, tasteful paintings, and elegant Asian-inspired decor. It was at that moment, when I met her mother, that I realized Laci's mixed heritage. As Laci hopped onto the landing, I slowly followed behind her. I looked down from the banister and my eyes met with JJ's. He stood at the bottom, a smirk playing on his lips. His dark, intense gaze held a silent challenge as he turned and walked away.

"We're here," JJ's deep voice brought me back to the present as we pulled in front of my school.

"Oh...thank you." I turned to him.

His head was cocked to the side a bit, as if he was waiting for something.

"Is there anything else?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Do I need to pick you up?" He mused, almost concerned.

"Uhm...no?" I felt my eyes cut a bit. He didn't need to pick me up anymore than he needed to drive me to school. "I'll just take the bus."

"What time do you get out?" He asked suddenly.

"Like...1?" I guessed, it was more like 12:30, but 1 was safe in case class ran over.

"I'll be here waiting when you get back," he deadpanned.

"Oh, no you don't-," I began.

"I will be here." He repeated, more firmly.

I felt myself shake a bit at the commanding tone of his voice, as if he was demanding I ride with him. "Al-Alright." I shook my head. "Thank you." I smiled a little.

He shook his head as I opened the door and barreled out of the car. I raced to my class and made it in just before the Professor. The only open space was right down front.

"You were nearly late!" The girl behind me whispered as the Professor set down his briefcase.

"I know." I heaved a breath as the Professor began to pass out the exam papers.