- Sunni PoV -
I catch my breath as me and Jungwon sit down at the bus stop. We ran for what seems like several blocks. Having to catch up with Jungwon and his legs seemed almost impossible for me.
I wince in pain. Tonight was the first night I've ever worn heels, so my feet are killing me.
I look over at Jungwon as he's also catching his breath. I notice his left cheek looking really red. His dad hit him hard.
I don't know what to say to him. I didn't know the night would go as it did. I didn't expect an arrange marriage to be brought upon him, and I don't think he did either.
What surprised me the most was Jayun. She must have known for a while considering how she was acting towards me and Jungwon.
A breeze goes over us making me shiver. I should've brought a sweater with me. I sure underestimated Seoul's fall weather.
Just then, Jungwon stands up and takes off his suit. He moves towards me and wraps his jacket around my shoulders.
How sweet...
He then squats down in front of me and lifts up my foot.
"Jungwon, what are you doing?..." my voice fades as I see him take off my heel to reveal blisters around the side of my foot and heel.
It's like he just knows what's going on in my mind...
"I-I've never worn heels before, "I confess stuttering.
He takes off my other heel also, "I saw your face when we sat down," he looks up at me. "Not the same as wearing sneakers huh."
I let out a small laugh, "Definitely not."
"Lets air them out, the bus is going to take a while," he says.
I lean towards him and touch his cheek, "Are you okay?" I ask caressing his cheek.
He flinches from my touch and gently takes my hand away from his cheek. Maybe I should not have done that...
"I'm fine. This is nothing compared to other times," he informs making my eyes go wide.
"This isn't the first time he hit you?" I question.
He sighs, "It doesn't happen often, but the last time was maybe over a year ago?"
I furrow my eyebrows. He's telling me this so nonchalant as if this is normal. He can't be in this toxic household.
He lets out an airy laugh, "I'm fine... really..." I don't believe it.
I look down at my hand and notice that Jungwon is holding it. This touch makes me think he's secretly looking for help, and I'm that person who needs to come save him.
*******
After a nice shower, I put my hair in my usual sprout and change into cat printed pajamas. Yes, I practically have the whole animal kingdom in pajama form.
I can't stop thinking about Jungwon and his cheek. It was so red that during the bus ride home I couldn't help but keep staring at it. Even when we came home, it was still bright as ever.
I quickly go downstairs, grab an ice pack, and headed back up to knock on Jungwon's door.
"It's Sunni," I say outside the door.
"Come in," I hear him say. I walk in smiling so I can lift up the mood.
He looks at me as he dries his hair with a towel. I look at him up and down seeing that he's wearing a white short sleeve and black wide pants.
He looks good in white...
"Sit," I tell him as I make my way towards him.
He hesitantly sits on the edge of his bed, "What are you up to now Kim Sunni?"
I roll my eyes, "You know, I'm not only scheming things."
He scoffs, "Yeah, right."
I shake my head and get closer to him. Maybe too close for comfort.
I look at his still red cheek. His dad must have a heavy hand. I mean he did almost have me flying across the room with that push.
I gently place the ice pack against his cheek.
"Sunni, I'm fine," Jungwon keeps insisting.
"Your red cheek says otherwise," I say.
"And you?" He asks me.
"What about me?" I then question him.
He then stands up making my nose hit his chest.
"Ya," I say holding my nose. He sits me down at the edge of his bed and heads into his bathroom.
"Yang Jungwon you need to ice your cheek!" I shout so he can hear me.
He walks back out with a first aid kit and squats in front of me. Deja vu from the bus stop for sure.
He picks up my foot, "Worried about me yet you have all these blisters on your foot."
"Jungwon, I'm fine," I say.
"Your blistered foot says otherwise," he says mimicking me as he looks up at me.
I pout. Alright, he wins.
He gently applies medicine on my blisters.
"Jungwon," I call out to him softly.
"Mm?" He lets out still focused on applying the medicine.
I want to ask him about what happened the other time his dad hit him. I want to know why his dad would do such a thing. Jungwon acting like this is normal isn't normal.
"Ah, nothing," I change my mind.
"Does it hurt?" He asks.
I shake my head, "No, I'm fine." He finishes applying the medicine and put on bandages around my foot.
He throws himself on his bed and lays there looking at the ceiling. I do the same and scoot closer to him.
"My dad..." Jungwon starts to say. "He beat me up because I wanted to become an idol..."
I turn to my side to look at him.
"I told my grandma about it and she helped me with dance and vocal classes, until my parents found out," He takes a deep breath in and out. "They had someone tail me for like weeks," he then looks at me. "Weeks Sunni..."
"That's absurd," I comment.
He looks back to the ceiling, "Very..." he sighs. "They kicked halmeoni out and I was left alone, bruised up here in this very room."
That's when it clicks for me. When he suddenly stopped wanting to practice with me...
"Are they still tailing you?" I ask.
He nods slowly, "My mom found out I was practicing with you."
Bingo.
"I'm sorry, I really wanted to-"
"Don't be sorry," I cut him off. "It wasn't your fault."
"Then now," Jungwon continues. "They already have someone for me to marry? I'm literally losing my mind."
He says he's losing his mind, but he remains so calm. Even when his dad hit him, he didn't yell back or anything.
He lets out a heavy sigh and turns to his side to look at me. He starts messing with my little sprout.
"You look stupid," he suddenly changes the subject as tugs my sprout.
"Ya!" I yell at him. I aim for his neck to tickle him but he doesn't even flinch.
His eyebrow twitches, "You thought I was ticklish huh.." He then starts attacking me with his fingers and I couldn't help but burst out into laughter.
"Jungwon! Stop!" I yell out laughing. "I'm. warning. you!"
He then stops tickling as he's on top of me, "What are you going to do huh?" We stare at each other. Him smiling and me completely flustered.
I'm caught off guard. I feel my cheeks starting to flush.
"Y-Ya!" I yell at him.
We suddenly flinch from hearing his door open.
We turn towards the door to see his mom at his doorway with her arms crossed. The queen has arrived...
"Get out of my sons room this instant!" She shouts at me as she points out the door.
I look at Jungwon one more time before quickly getting off his bed. This didn't look good.
I do as she says and leave his room. I turn around to see Jungwon, but she slams the door in my face.
- Jungwon PoV -
My mom pulls out photos and slams them in front of me.
I sit up from my bed and examine them. They're pictures of me and Sunni literally everywhere. Pictures from us at school, walking home, the Halloween party, from this night, and a picture I never thought would be taken...
I look closely at the picture of me and Sunni on the bus, the night of when she saw Yuni kiss Jongseong. Her head on my shoulder and me looking down at her.
"I'm forbidding you from seeing her," says my mom with her hands on her hips.
I glare at her, "What?"
"You're getting quite bold with that face of yours Yang Jungwon!" She shouts at me. "I had Ms. Kim and her daughter come move in with us just for Ms. Kim's convenience, not for you to be her daughters boyfriend!"
I scoff. Though I hated what Yuni said, my parents do treat me like a puppet.
"You can not be with a housekeepers daughter!" My mom yells at me. "She has no class, no good upbringing, and did you see that ponytail she had on top of her head?!"
I stand up from my bed, "Just because she's not rich doesn't mean she's not a fantastic person."
"Jungwon, personality won't keep your image in a good place," she says.
I cross my arms, "And dad slapping me in front of merely a hundred people is?"
My mom goes silent.
"Why are you still tailing me for crying out loud? I can't have any privacy?" I let out. "We're not dating... but there's nothing wrong with Sunni. Even if she's the housekeepers daughter."
Just then, my dad barges in. He walks over to me and slaps me in the face...again.
"You will start seeing Sim Jayun and that's final!" Yells my dad.
"And if I don't?" I glare.
He scoffs, "Ms. Kim will be fired..."
*******
- Sunni PoV -
I look at the sign-up sheet for the talent show. Several people have already signed up, one of them being Sim Jayun.
What could her talent be? Being two-faced? I've had enough of two-faced people already...
I pick up the pen and start writing me and Jungwon's name. Even though he never fully agreed to do this until he heard my voice, I still put his name next to mines. He wouldn't be that mad, right?
"And what talent do you have?"
I slowly turn my head and my oh my what a surprise it's Kim Daehyun.
I roll my eyes. Of course he's here to make fun of me. He has nothing better to do.
"Looking stupid?" He laughs as he points at me.
"I'm sure you don't have any talents seeing your brain is only filled with air," I say back.
"Don't go there Kim Sunni, I'll have you clean the gym for months if I have to," he looks at me up and down.
He then looks at the sign-up sheet, "You and Jungwon? Pretty sure Jayun wouldn't like that."
I sigh, "Jayun doesn't even like me breathing the same air as Jungwon."
"You becoming friends with Jungwon is literally the stupidest mistake he's ever made," Says Daehyun.
I roll my eyes, "Annoyed that you can't get your way anymore?"
I pick up my backpack from the floor, "Move," I tell Daehyun who's in my way.
He gets in my way and pushing me against the wall.
"Dude!" I yell at him.
He pins me against the wall, "I don't care if you're buddies with Jungwon or not, but as long as you're here," he pauses. "Your life is going to be a living hell."
I push him away from me, "As long as I'm here, I won't let you walk all over me or anybody else!" I walk away not looking back at all.
Who does he think he is to talk to me like that? He literally has no interest in anything else but me. Sounds like fan behavior.
Today, Jungwon didn't wait for me to walk together to school. I found it strange considering for the past few weeks we've made it a daily routine to walk to and from school together. Felt pretty lonely...
As I approach my classroom, through the windows I see Jayun in my seat.
I raise an eyebrow, "Why is she seating there?" I question myself out loud.
I walk in and make my way to my usual seat.
I knock on my desk catching Jayun's attention.
"Yo..." I say awkwardly. "What's going on, I sit here."
She looks around as if a ghost was talking to her, "Mm, last time I checked we don't have assigned seating."
I roll my eyes, "Listen, me and you both know that Jungwon doesn't even want to sit next to you, so do us both a favor and go back to your seat."
She then raises her eyebrows at me giving me a "oh honey" expression.
I look over at Jungwon who's not even looking at me. He's just on his phone as if I'm invisible.
"Yo JW!" I shout but he still doesn't budge.
I sigh, "Yang Jungwon tell this girl-"
"Babe, can you tell sucky Sunni to leave me alone and go sit somewhere else?" She tells Jungwon as she links arms with him.
I think I missed a few chapters. No, a whole book.
Did she just call me sucky? And most importantly did she call Jungwon babe? Jungwon was just despising the idea of being engaged to Jayun last night.
That's when he finally looks up at me, "Go sit somewhere else Sunni."
I flinch. I didn't expect him to actually listen to Jayun.
I look at Jayun who's smiling ear-to-ear as she lays her head on his shoulder. The fact he's not resisting her or pushing her away is what getting me. He always pushes me away...
"Yang Jungwon.." I let out still staring.
"Leave me and my girlfriend alone," he says to me coldly.
Did he just say...
Girlfriend?