JEONG GARAM WAS TRAUMATIZED AFTER EVERY SINGLE THING THAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER IN THAT VERY DAY. Running her fingers to her slightly messy drenched hair to fix it, the heir heaved out a heavy sigh.
❝Everything has been traumatic for me today...❞ The pianist stared ahead in the sunset, her soul seemingly had left her body. Ko Yurim could only pat her back softly, grinning in pure amusement.
❝Hey, we've both taken a shower with each other before! When we were children!❞
❝That doesn't change the fact that I'm traumatized!❞
Garam angrily sipped on her banana milk, a pout settled on her pink lips— not even bothering with listening to their conversation. ❝Hey, I heard that! Garam likes pretty things too!❞ The Jeong smirked nonchalantly, running her fingers through her hair as she glanced at Jiwoong from her shoulder.
❝Not just pretty things.❞
The pianist stood up and stretched her body, licking her lips as she looks up in the sky. ❝Gosh, I feel hungry all of a sudden.❞ The noble born glanced at the trio and smiled indifferently, noting the way Yurim stares at her lips. The girl almost let out a chuckle, but stopped herself.
❝You guys can wash the lettuce and perilla leaf, and get ready to cook the rice. Do you know—❞ The Jeong stopped listening after that as she busied herself with looking at her phone, eyebrows furrowed when she saw multiple messages from her sister.
From : Jeong Jiwoo
To : Jeong Garam
Where are you, Aria?
Father has requested for your presence in the Seoul branch. Something about a dinner with the Lee family.
You don't have to, though. I can try and convince them to give you a break.
From : Jeong Garam
To : Jeong Jiwoo
I'm currently at a school trip, I apologize for suddenly disappearing without permission. And please do inform them that I refuse to have yet another dinner with mentioned family.
Worry not about my safety, Baek Yijin has come with us. I am quite sure that I am safe with him around. Do not call me Aria as well.
Garam pocketed her phone before joining her friends in preparing their foods, checking on them to see whether they were doing something stupid or not— partly to also amuse herself and be conflicted whether to stop them or not.
Though when she arrived, she had to blink and process the sight of Heedo pouring over rice with a bowl and into the rice cooker. ❝What the fuc—❞
The Jeong prevented herself from cursing out loud, puffing out a breath before laughing in disbelief; her hand coming up to cover the half of her face. ❝I can't believe this...❞
The heir was almost sure that her very own lifespan has decreased greatly just from this trip.
❝Why? Did we do something wrong?❞ The Na was already cooking the rice when Yurim questioned the conflicted noble born.
❝...No.❞
Garam just let them be, she wasn't the adult in this group of theirs anyway.
The Jeong was peacefully watching as the Moon grilled the meat with a pan despite going through the troubles of making a fire— not even bothering to correct him.
❝Wow, what a peaceful world I live in.❞ Garam didn't spare a glance at the desperate stare Yijin threw at her way.
❝Hey, Jeong Garam. Why didn't you help them? Aren't you in the economics club—?❞
❝Ah, was I supposed to? You didn't really ordered me to help them or anything so I didn't.❞
The Baek groaned at her innocent smile, his stress level going through the roof. The Jeong chuckled in amusement and finally stood up from her spot, adjusting her glasses and walking to the man to give him a hand before he explodes because of stress.
❝Alright, I'll give you a hand even though I find your stress kind of funny.❞
Putting her hair on a neat ponytail, the rich girl stole the equipment from her partner in crime and took care of the grill, elegantly sitting on the chair after pushing Jiwoong out of the way.
❝Just go and settle yourselves in the table like the good kids you are.❞ Garam mockingly smirked as she glanced at the still stressed Baek, expertly grilling the meat.
Baek Yijin karate-chopped the top of her head.
❝Here you go!❞ The Jeong beamed as she placed a plate filled with perfectly grilled meat in the table, tugging at her hair tie and let her hair free— breathing out a sigh of relief once it was freely flowing.
❝It's been a while since I've last cooked something.❞ Garam lied down on the table and closed her eyes, finding peace despite the constant chatters from the others.
The air was refreshing, not like in her mansion that is mostly filled with branded aroma or perfumes.
The Jeong would not say it out loud, but she had fun in this short trip.
The girl opened her eyes when she felt a small tug on her pointer finger, being met by the sight of Yurim holding up a piece of meat in front of her. ❝I know you're tired, but you have to eat.❞
❝You know that girl only eats when she's forced to—❞
Garam gently wrapped her fingers around the Ko's wrist when she tried to retreat her hand and ate the meat, lying back down as she chewed the food she cooked with her eyes closed again.
❝Stop staring at me like I did something unbelievable, Na Heedo.❞
Heedo had her jaw dropped as she couldn't believed the thing she had just witnessed. Even Yijin, the man who used to struggle with inviting the Jeong to eat with her family, had his jaw dropped.
❝The two of you are being creepy, I'm out of here.❞
The pianist was already standing up and walking away from the group, entering the place without another word.
Garam only went out of the house when Yijin had threatened to burn her collection of rings, grumbling as she begrudgingly ate the watermelon— she just wanted some sleep, was it that bad?
❝My dad passed away.❞ The Jeong stilled at her spot, taking a deep breath at the sudden mention of the Na's deceased father.
❝You didn't know? Then again, I've never told anyone about this before. Well, except for Garam.❞
The mentioned girl lowered her gaze to stare at the watermelon in her hand, now truly losing her appetite as she continue to listen on Heedo's story. Once she was done sharing, the pianist immediately excused herself.
❝I apologize, but I've lost my appetite.❞ The heir placed her slice of watermelon back on the plate and pushed herself up, walking away for second time.
❝What's up with her?❞ She heard Jiwoong question everyone, probably out of concern but Garam couldn't careless— time. She needed time to collect herself again.
❝Ah, it's about something only Garam could explain so my lips are sealed.❞
The Jeong smiled lightly at her words.
The heir watched as her friends played around the beach, her cheek resting on her fist. Falling into deep thoughts, the girl treasured the silence around her— that was what she needed the most at this very moment.
She smiled lightheartedly after snapping out of it and pushed herself away from the window of the rented house, muttering as she walked towards her room.
❝How I wish I could be that careless.❞
Garam's wish was never fulfilled.