Pinocchio
Der Märchenclub
Chapter 8
[Pinocchio]
“You’re lying,” was all that Jessica could mutter after she heard Kibum’s story.
“Go ask the others if you don’t believe it,” suggested Kibum. “Ah, I’ll get you my cousin, Ryeowook,” the childish-looking Kibum then pointed out to Ryeowook. It was only then that Jessica realized how…dazzled Ryeowook looked. She knew that he somehow always let out the vibe of a lost puppy, but now, he looked not only like a lost puppy, but a desperate, lost puppy.
“No,” Jessica said as her hand was stretched out to prevent Kibum from standing up and calling his cousin. “So he…” she paused to control herself back. There was always fear upon pronouncing that word --even when it was concerning a person that she disliked a lot. “...died?”
“Fortunately Ryeowook came just in time and Heechul was carried immediately to the hospital. He is saved, although he hasn’t regained consciousness now. But Heechul Hyung is a strong man, so I guess he’ll be fine.”
“…How did it happen?”
“Well, no one knows for sure, right? Heechul Hyung often wanders alone at night to meet his friends. He was probably on his way meeting them again last night. Someone stabbed his stomach from his behind. He was left on the empty street, but Hyung managed to call Ryeowook before he lost consciousness… or died from the lost of blood.”
“It’s…a dreadful accident,” Jessica reluctantly commented.
“Accident?” Kibum chuckled. “You really try your best not to believe in the reality, don’t you?”
Jessica maintained her glare to be as unfazed as she could. “I am talking about the reality. And the reality is… is that it was a horrible accident. Your delusional mind and your horrendous scenario… those are not real.”
“What takes it to make you believe all of these, Jessica-sshi?”
Wait.
“Why is it so important for you to make me believe all of these, hm, Kibum-sshi?”
Even when Jessica’s tone was a challenging one, Kibum’s childish smile never faltered. “Nothing. But if you are already convinced, then we can discuss this game more. I have a hunch that I’d need your point of view in analyzing all of these.”
“Kibum-sshi,” Jessica bitterly laughed. “Say, if your delusional theories and schemes turn out to be true, aren’t you the most possible main culprit responsible for all these…accidents?”
“Why is that?”
“You know too much. The detail you put in each of your analysis are too precise.”
“Ah,” Kibum laid his chin on his palm. “That could be a reasonable possibility. Will that be your guess?”
“Yes and no. I trust no one in that club. So anyone other than me could have a reasonable possibility to be the…master mind, if we follow your train of logic.”
“That could probably be wise… that self defense mechanism of yours,” commented Kibum. “Anyway, would you like to accompany me and Ryeowook to visit Heechul Hyung after this?”
The offer sounded crazy in her ear. Again, it was not that Jessica did not sympathize over Heechul’s accident. But Heechul had never been her best friend. Frankly, she disliked him a lot. She was glad that he was alive, but she felt like she did not need to do anything else other than to express her sympathy. “Why would I even –“
“Of course, she would like to accompany you, young man,” a woman with an elegant voice spoke on Jessica’s behalf. Jessica turned her head around to see that her grandmother already returned. And worse, it was not the first or second time that Jung Hyori determined the course of her life. It was an official theory then: Jessica would forever be her grandmother’s puppet.
Kibum stood from his chair and gave a polite bow towards Mrs. Jung. It startled Jessica slightly since Kibum looked like a free kid with a slightly rebellious tendency. Besides, Jessica heard that Kibum was the one who dared to reject the inheritance the Kim offered him. She supposed courtesy and high class society never appalled him. To see him actually capable of showing respect towards someone from that particular society he loathed was something Jessica had not expected.
“I heard about what happened to your cousin, Heechul. Poor boy. Seoul’s street at night is not safe, I’m concerned with the rising criminal rate,” commented Jung Hyori. “I hope he gets well soon.”
“Heechul Hyung is a strong man. He will get well soon,” assured Kibum.
Jung Hyori let out a smile that she had trained for years. Sometimes Jessica absurdly thought that the smile was painted on her face. “That’s a relief. I’ll leave Jessica in your care, is that alright Kibum-sshi?”
Kibum nodded. “I will take her back to you tonight at eight PM.”
Jessica’s grandmother nodded and flashed her trademark smile once more before the older lady walked away to greet someone important from whatever family. Jessica had a feeling that her grandmother was having a thought to betroth her to one of the sons of these prestigious families. It was with Lee Donghae the day before. Now, it was with Kim Kibum. Perhaps the day after Jung Hyori would try to match make her with a different boy again.
“Come. You know you have to,” stipulated Kibum as he shoved his hands inside his pants’ pockets.
Jessica sighed but decided to follow him anyway (she had no choice to begin with, right?). Ryeowook soon joined them and the three youths got into the car that took them towards Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital.
The sight that greeted Jessica once she stepped into Kim Heechul’s first class hospital room made her widened her eyes. Even Ryeowook immediately shouted ‘Hyung!’. Only
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