Chapter 38
The sight of Jo and the girl,locked in a kiss, sent a sharp pang of jealousy, a physical ache that resonated through my chest. A longing I had carefully concealed, the unexpressed feelings for him,now had suddenly disappeared. Witnessing his kissing with another, my heart felt heavy.
I turned away, unable to bear the scene any longer.
As I stumbled out of the hall, a tangle of wires snaked across the floor, a treacherous trap for my misery. My foot caught, and the speaker, a hulking beast of sound, disconnected with a resounding thud. The music, which had been the lifeblood of the evening, choked to a halt, leaving a vacuum of silence in its wake. Every eye in the room, it felt like, snapped in my direction, and the heat of a thousand disapproving stares flooded my cheeks.
"What now?" I muttered under my breath, the words a bitter cocktail of frustration and humiliation. "Why me? Is this some kind of cosmic joke??" I stood there, a statue of embarrassment, the weight of their collective gaze pressing down on me.
In a moment of defiance, a surge of anger bubbling to the surface, I raised my voice, letting it echo through the sudden stillness. "What, haven't you ever seen someone trip over their own feet and unplug a speaker before?" The words hung in the air, a mixture of bravado and raw, unadulterated mortification.
Just as I was about to retreat into the shadows, I saw Jo's face. He'd been across the room, but his expression was one of immediate concern. He was already moving, his long legs devouring the space between us. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice a blend of worry and something else I couldn't quite decipher. He reached out, a hand extended in a gesture of support, a lifeline in the sea of my shame.
His fingers brushed against mine, and for a fleeting moment, I considered taking it. But the memory of his earlier actions, the way he had disappointed me, ignited a fresh wave of anger. I recoiled, my voice sharp, laced with a bitterness I hadn't known I possessed. "Don't touch me."
I didn't wait for his response, didn't give him a chance to speak. Instead, I turned and fled, the weight of their gazes still pressing down on me, a constant reminder of my clumsy blunder.
*
*
*
As I stepped out of the party, the cool night air enveloped me like a shroud, but I felt nothing. Tears streamed down my face, hot and bitter, as I struggled to understand why I was so hurt. But as I replayed the events of the past days, a realization dawned on me - I had dodged a bullet. Telling me I would think about it had been a blessing in disguise. Seeing him with another girl was a harsh wake-up call, a brutal reminder of the unfaithful relationship I had narrowly escaped.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I muttered to myself, "Are all like this" The question felt like poison, but I couldn't help but believe them in that moment. "Black or white, it doesn't matter. They're all the same." The words echoed in my mind, fueling my anger and disappointment.
I walked out of the school gates and onto the busy road of south korea,I didn't know where I was headed, but I kept walking, trying to outrun the emotions swirling inside me. How could I have fallen for him so quickly?...and why did he do that to me? Was it because I'm an outsider, a foreigner in his world? Or did he just want to use me to pass the time, a fleeting distraction from his mundane life?
The questions swirled in my mind like a vortex, refusing to let me go. I walked, lost in my thoughts and emotions, the city around me a blur. The cool night air hit me, but I felt numb, disconnected from the world. I was adrift, unsure of what lay ahead, but certain of one thing - I would never let myself be fooled again.
*
*
*
*
The restaurant's dim lighting cast a warm glow over a group of guys huddled in the corner, their laughter and conversation mingling with the soft hum of the music. The air was thick with the scent of soju and coffee, the drinks menu a staple of late-night gatherings. As the door swung open, a sudden silence fell over the group, their heads swiveling in unison to greet the newcomer.
The figure who strode in exuded an air of quiet confidence, his smile warm and disarming. The guys leapt to their feet, their respect and familiarity evident in their gestures. "Boss," they hailed.
He gestured for them to sit which they did.
"Boss! aren't you going to attend your school party?"
The boss's response was immediate, his head shaking in a slow, deliberate motion. "No, I don't think so," he said, his voice low and smooth, like silk gliding over stone. "It's a bit too... childish for me..not my style" He sipped from the bottle of soju, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.
The group erupted into laughter, the tension dissipating like mist in the morning sun.
As the guys continued to banter, laughing and joking with each other, it was clear that their respect for the boss,despite appearing older than him, they spoke to him with a deference that bordered on reverence. It was as if Hyun Min had been a guiding force in their lives, offering a helping hand whenever they needed it.
The atmosphere was lively, with the guys teasing each other and the boss with good-natured humor. But beneath the surface, it was clear that they held him in high esteem, valuing his opinion and appreciating his support.
Just as the conversation was reaching a crescendo, a female figure entered the restaurant, drawing the group's attention. The newcomer made her way to the counter, ordering a drink.