*~*Chapter 14*~*

 

I paused in front of RM’s bedroom door with the breakfast tray in hand. “RM, breakfast is ready!” I called. There was no response, but I knew that he was up. I had heard him moving about while I was making breakfast. I pushed the door open. As I walked in, I spotted a huge heap of blankets and pillows on his bed. He’s probably buried somewhere underneath that mound.

“I’m going to leave it here, okay?” I asked as I made my way to his nightstand. Still no response. With a sigh, I set the tray on the nightstand and went back down the stairs.

It has been a month now that I’ve lived with him, and every day was the same old thing. I wake up and make breakfast then go to school. After school, I come back, make a late lunch for him, then hide in my room to do my homework or watch a little TV in the living room. Once night comes, I make dinner then retreat to my room once more. Honestly, I couldn’t help but feel like I was RM, always hiding in my room. I’m pretty sure he comes out when I’m not around, but I really don’t know how he lives like this. It’s so sad and depressing. 

Jung Kook calls me sometimes and we message every once in a while, but since the drama was picking up popularity, he’d gotten busier with work. In fact, he’d started to film for CFs (commercials) now too. He’d gotten so busy, I only saw him once last week, and boy, I was happy just to see outside life. 

I could now I understand why RM was able to fall apart even with Jung Kook as his friend. In fact, Jung Kook was so busy filming these days, it felt like RM and I were the last things on his mind. If Jung Kook was busy like this when RM’s fiancée broke up with him, I could understand why it was so easy for RM to become a recluse and let everything fall to ashes.

With a sigh, I entered my room and took a seat at my desk. I grabbed a highlighter, opened my psychology textbook, and started on my reading assignment. As I finished the first page, I heard movement from RM’s bedroom. I paused and listened to him. There was a shuffle of feet soon followed by the rattling of dishes.

I smiled to myself. I don’t know; ever since I started living here, RM seemed more human to me. After the day that I learned he liked Yubi, I began seeing him as a person. He doesn’t scare me as much as he used to. I even think it hurts his pride having me cook for him, but he doesn’t complain. He still needs to eat to survive.

I sighed and turned back to my assignment. I really wish I can see Jung Kook. I miss seeing his pretty face and his bright smile, the way that he looks at me as if I am the only one he sees. I actually really want to see him filming again for the drama, but I know that I will only get in the way if I am there. 

“Yoohoo~ Anyone home?” a cheerful, soothing voice called out.

Jung Kook?!

I dashed out of my chair and ran into the hallway. My heart leapt into my throat as I spotted him standing by the front door. My eyes drank in every bit of him, from his platinum blonde hair to his chocolate brown eyes and the dazzling smile that melts my heart each and every time.

“Surprise!” he exclaimed when he saw me.

I ran towards him. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Miss me?”

I nodded before I could even stop myself.

He laughed and hugged me. “I’ve missed you too,” he said.

I melted under his touch, my heart turning into a puddle.

“I thought maybe you'd like to have a picnic today; the weather is so nice out!” he said as he pulled back from the hug.

“A picnic!?”

“Yeah, but just for a little bit; I gotta get back to work.”

“Oh…”

He grinned when he saw my face fall. “I had to beg Mr. Park to let me get away for just an hour,” he explained. “The director is going to have my head if he knows I took off.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, thank you then.”

He ruffled my hair and said, “Go get the picnic basket. It’s in the trunk of my car. I’ll go say hi to RM.”

“Where do you want me to set it up?”

“Just in the backyard.”

I smiled and nodded as I made my way outside. As I stepped foot outside, I took a deep breath. The air was fresh and cool. It felt nice against my skin. The sky was a bright blue without a single cloud in sight. There was a slight breeze blowing, and the birds chirped merrily everywhere. Jung Kook was right; today IS a pretty day.

I stepped off the porch and made my way towards his car. The pavement felt cool against my bare feet. I was so excited about seeing him that I totally forgot to put on my shoes. I shook the thought from my mind as I approached the car. Oh, well. It’s not like we’re going anywhere anyways. We’re only having a picnic in the backyard.

As I pulled out the picnic basket and blanket from the trunk of the car, I felt a pair of eyes watching me. I looked up at RM’s bedroom window. To my surprise, Jung Kook was there. His face looked solemn as he spoke to RM. I couldn’t see RM, but I assumed he was sitting on his bed. When Jung Kook noticed I was looking at him, he smiled, his face immediately lighting up, and waved.

My face grew hot. I waved back before scurrying away with the picnic basket and blanket. My heart thudded in my chest as I rounded the corner to the backyard.

Why does he always make me feel this way? I know I shouldn’t get my hopes up that such a good-looking guy like him would ever be interested in a plain girl like me. But every time he looks at me, his whole face just lights up. It’s nothing like the way he acts towards RM…or Yubi... 

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. Now’s not the time to think of them. 

I finally decided on a spot near a tree and set up the blanket underneath, spreading the blanket out, half in the shade and half in the sunlight. Then I set the picnic basket in the middle.

It was a couple of minutes later when Jung Kook arrived.

“Why don’t you go get changed?” he asked as he approached.

“Into what?” I asked.

His eyes sparkled mischievously. “I want to see you in that dress.”

“What dre—” But before the words could escape me, I remembered the French maid dress. “No,” I said firmly.

“But I bought that dress just for special occasions, and today is a special occasion!” he exclaimed with a playful pout.

I looked at him, trying to decipher if he really meant it or not. He continued looking at me with that sad pout and big, pleading puppy eyes. At last, I said, “Fine,” and stood up, half hating how easily I could be swayed by him.

“I’ll be waiting!” he called after me.

I trudged back to my room. I can’t believe I’m really going to wear that for him, I thought as I changed into the French maid outfit. Once changed, I studied my reflection in the mirror. The front of the dress was cut so low, I felt like half of my barely-there s were popping out. The skirt almost didn’t cover my , and my legs looked even shorter in the knee-high socks.

He definitely bought this for the wrong girl. I look like a clown.

With a sigh, I tied the apron on, slipped into the kitten heels, and made my way back outside.

Jung Kook gasped, something that sounded halfway between laughter and shock, as I walked towards him. “Wow,” he muttered when I reached the picnic blanket.

“Shut up,” I muttered and immediately tried to sit down.

“No, no,” he said, catching my hand and making me stand again. “Turn around. I want to see everything.”

My face flushed as I spun around for him. He looked highly amused as he watched with a big grin.

He’s really going to laugh me right out of this dress, isn’t he?

“Breathtaking,” he muttered.

“Don’t lie.”

“I’m not!” he exclaimed. “Wait; hold on, something’s missing.” He reached out and pulled my hair into two pigtails. He secured them with rubber bands. I had no idea where he got them from. “Now you’re perfect!”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

“No, really! You’re so cute right now; I could just eat you up!” he exclaimed. “Look, even RM is watching!” With that, he pointed towards the floor-to-ceiling windows in the piano room.

I looked over my shoulder. Sure enough, RM was watching from one of the windows. The moment he noticed us looking at him, he dashed behind the curtains.

Jung Kook chuckled and gestured for me to sit down. “If you look like this every day, I swear I’m going to fall in love with you!”

My ears grew hot. I sat down, being careful to keep my thighs covered with the skirt. I wish really he wouldn’t say things like that.

“I mean, I’m not going to lie,” he exclaimed, eyeing me up and down. “You sure are a beautiful treat for the eyes in that dress!”

“Please don’t say that.”

He grinned. “Say what?”

“That I’m beautiful.”

“How can I not? You’re gorgeous!”

“You’re just flattering me right now.”

His grin widened. “And why can’t I? I like you just the way you are.”

My heart fluttered, and I cast my eyes down. Jung Kook dug around in the picnic basket and handed me a sub wrapped in wax paper. I noticed a thin, sharp crease in the middle of the wrapper, and suddenly realized where he had gotten the rubber bands from. 

I chuckled.  

“What?” he asked, looking at me quizzically. 

“Nothing,” I said, my smile widening into a grin as I looked up at him.

He returned my smile. Suddenly, his eyes shifted behind me. “Don’t look now,” he muttered, “but RM is watching again.”

“What?”

“Shh… Lay down and pretend you’re sunbathing, then sneak a glance at the piano room.”

I did as I was instructed, pulling down the end of my dress to make sure the skirt didn’t go up too high as I laid down. I tilted my face towards the sun, feeling the warmth against my skin. A sigh escaped my breath as I felt all stress escaping from my body. Then I tilted my head back a little further and opened my eyes. Everything was upside-down, but I could still make out RM’s silhouette in the window.

“He’s like a little ert,” I said before I even realized the words had left my mouth.

Jung Kook burst into a fit of laughter. “You’re killing me, Kyungi!” he exclaimed. I grinned and tried to sit up, but he stopped me. “Stay down,” he said. “If he wants a show, we’ll give him a show.”

“A—A show?” I stammered.

Before I could even react, Jung Kook was on top of me, his body pressing down against me, his legs between mine, his chest warm against my chest. I felt his breath hot against my skin. His face was just mere inches away from mine.

My breath caught in my chest. Blood rushed to my head. 

Jung Kook smiled down at me, his eyes tantalizing me as he gazed deeply into my eyes. “Let’s put your acting skills to the test, shall we?” he asked.

“But I—I can’t act,” I croaked. My heart was pounding so loudly and fiercely, I thought for sure it was going to pound its way out of my chest.

He smiled, his lips pulling to one side. “We’ll see about that,” he whispered and pressed his lips against mine.

My heart exploded. Stars burst in front of my eyes. He kissed me feverishly, his hand caressing my hair, his body pushing deeper to mine as if he couldn’t wait to have all of me. His scent enveloped me, and I indulged in savoring the taste of his mouth in mine. I lost myself in the moment; my mind drifted away with the breeze. Then everything went black. 

 

“Kyungi!” Jung Kook was calling my name. His voice sounded far away. “Kyungi!” His voice was getting louder, closer now. “Wake up! Look at me!”

A hand patted my face.

“Kyungi! Can you hear me? Open your eyes!”

I grunted. My eyes fluttered open. I was immediately blinded by the sunlight. I squeezed my eyes shut again and mumbled something incoherent.

“Here, drink some water,” Jung Kook directed, wrapping one arm tightly around my shoulders as he pulled me into a sitting position. Something cool touched my lips. I immediately gulped the water down. “There, are you feeling better now?” he asked.

I nodded and slowly opened my eyes. I found myself leaning against his chest. I immediately pulled away and stared at him in horror. “Wh—what happened?”

“You passed out when I kissed you,” he explained nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal.

“What?!” 

He chuckled. “I guess I put on too much charm,” he said, his grin growing wider.

“I…” I was in disbelief. I shook my head.

“What? It wasn’t good enough for you?” 

I looked at him, horrified, and shook my head again. “No, no! It’s not that…”

“Well, if you want another one, there’s plenty more where that came from!”

My eyes grew wide. My hand instantly went to my lips, causing him to laugh again.

“Come on; let’s get you inside,” he directed with a smile.

I nodded and let him help me to my feet. We made our way to the house in silence. Once inside, he sat me down on the couch and got me a cup of water. I eagerly drank it down, glad to feel the cool liquid against my parched throat.

Jung Kook sat beside me. Just his mere presence was making my heart raced. He glanced at his watch. “Oh, shoot. I have to go back to work now,” he muttered and stood up. “I’m sorry; our picnic is going to be cut short.”

I shook my head and attempted to stand up.

“Stay there; I’ll show myself out.”

I sat back down, holding the glass of water between my hands.

“See you later, Kyungi,” he said, ruffling my hair with another smile.

I met his eyes and blushed. 

“I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay,” I croaked.

He grinned and ruffled my hair once more before making his way out of the house. As the door closed behind him, I looked down at the glass of water in my hands. I can’t believe it. Jung Kook actually kissed me! Even better, it was even more passionate than how he had kissed Yubi in the drama! 

My mind drifted back to his kiss. I touched my lips. I could practically feel his soft lips against mine again, the way his body pressed into mine, the way his mouth tasted in mine. I blushed. But I can’t believe I passed out on him! How embarrassing! What am I going to do now?

“You really like him that much?” RM’s bitter voice suddenly cut through the air.

I jumped to my feet and whirled around. He was standing at the bottom of the stairs, glaring at me through the doorway. His eyes burned into me.

“I—I—” I stammered.

RM glanced towards the kitchen. Jung Kook’s shadow passed by the kitchen window. He probably went to retrieve the picnic basket and blanket from the backyard.

“You better be careful,” he muttered and looked back at me. His eyes pierced right through me. “Don’t ever trust a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

“What?”

“Love’s a ,” he muttered. With that, he trudged back up the stairs and slammed his bedroom door shut.

Does he really hate love that much? And who is he telling me not to trust? But what right does he have to even tell me that? So what if he had his heart broken? People eventually learn how to move on. Unlike him, who needs professional help…

I shook the thought from my head and exited the living room.

‘She left him just two days before their wedding…” Jung Kook’s words drifted to mind. ‘…It broke him…’

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at RM’s room. But then again, what right do I have to be angry? RM is just trying to warn me about love.

I sighed and continued on my way to my room. I guess I would feel the same way too if my fiancé did the same thing to me. I’ll probably hold a grudge against that person forever too. But still, there’s a lot about RM’s past that I don’t know about. So many questions left unanswered. When will I ever really get to know him?