I walked out of the bathroom to see Chaerin sitting on my bed. I hated it when someone enters my bedroom, let alone sit on my bed, without my permission but I was already used to Chaerin doing it all the time so I said nothing about it. She was watching something on TV but turned it off as soon she saw me as if she didn’t want me to see whatever it was she was watching.

“Good morning, oppa!” She greeted a little too happily. “You don’t have soccer training today, right?”

“No,” I grunted.

She clasped her hands in joy. “That’s great! Grandpa won’t arrive until later late in the evening." She informed me last night that her father called her and said that the grandfather would pay her a visit. "Why don’t we go out and watch a movie before he arrives?" she suggested.

As if I had a choice. “Whatever.”

My reply made her jump to her feet excitedly. I could almost swear I saw her eyes twinkling. She said she was going to get ready and made her way to the door when stopped. I saw her staring at the paperbag on the table next to my bed.  It was Park’s. I accompanied her yesterday to get it from the jewelry shop. I carried it as we made our way to our apartment but as we were about to enter the building, Chaerin popped out of nowhere and pulled me into the car and sped off. I remember seeing Dara wave in our direction. I didn’t notice I was still holding it until we arrived at the mansion.

“Don’t touch that,” I said before Chaerin could reach out for it.

But it was as if she didn’t hear me. She lifted the paperbag and took out one of the boxes inside it. She examined it before opening it. She stifled a gasp at the sight of the jewelry inside it. Judging from the size of the box, it was the necklace with a pendant D.

Her expression tells me that she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Is this Sandara Park’s?”

“Yeah, what of it?” I asked, trying to sound like I didn’t care.

“It’s exactly the same as—“

She shook her head as if telling herself that it was impossible. Whatever the it was. She quickly closed the box and putting it back inside the paperbag then on the table. She said that it was nothing and announced again that she will go and get dressed.

What was that about?

---

I couldn’t help but keep wondering what happened earlier today. What did Park’s necklace remind Chaerin of? I wanted to ask her but then I would always end up arguing with myself like, why should I care? Somehow, I always end up with the reason, because Park’s involve in it. It was her necklace, after all. But of course that wasn’t true. At least, that was what I kept telling myself.

When we were out, Chaerin acted as if nothing happened. She was being herself which was a good thing for me because instead of thinking of other things, I was busy trying to stop myself from prying her off of me.

We watched a movie called “You Are My Sunshine” despite my desperate protests. I told her to watch it on her own but she threatened that she would make a scene if I don’t watch it with her. Believe me, you wouldn’t want that.  I remember when we were young, something similar happened. She wanted to watch some romantic movie with me but I didn’t want to and so she threatened me but I said, “Go ahead, I don’t give a damn” then walked away. Little did I know that I would regret it almost immediately.

She began crying and screaming, “You said you loved me! After asking me out, you leave me?! How could you?”

She was a good actress. Of course, that didn’t faze me, even if there were people staring at and whispering about me. Some were even pointing at me. She must’ve been pointing at me too, I thought to myself. Why else would they know who she was referring to? But I didn’t care what they say. I just thought of getting out of the place. But what she said next made me freeze.

“KWON JIYONG!”

Yes, she screamed my name.My name! Even I have pride to protect, you know. She didn’t scream my name just once, not twice, but thrice. It would be a miracle if my name didn't appear in an article with the title in bold letters:

Kwon Jiyong – the heartbreaker – leaving a poor girl behind after asking her out

God knows I didn’t ask her out, but the people don’t know that. And so, I ended up going back to her but not before buying flowers. Hey, I had to have an excuse why I was walking away. Thanks to that quick thinking – no rumors spread about me. I can regrettably say that I learned the lesson the hard way.

I would strangle her to death if she wasn’t my—

“Jiyong!”

I turned around to see Seungri. “Hey,” he grinned at me. I know that grin of his. It means that he has something exciting –to him at least- to tell me. His grin grew bigger when he saw Chaerin. “Date, eh?”

 I glared at him. “Shut up.”

“Oh, oppa’s just shy,” Chaerin blushed. “Yes, we’re on a date!”

“What are you doing here?” I asked Seungri, trying to change the subject.

“I’m with my cousins. They arrived last night from Canada.”

I looked around for his ‘cousins’ but saw no one. He noticed this and said, “I left them at the park. I wanted to buy juice for them.”

I nodded. But for some reason, I felt like that wasn’t what he wanted to tell me. Again, I glared at him, “What is it? Something to tell me?” As soon as he opened his mouth, I wished I hadn’t asked. I could tell Chaerin wanted  to punch him to stop him from talking.

He was being the crazy fanboy that he is. He informed me that he saw Park working at one of the snack bars outside, and how it was fated that they saw each other. I wanted to tell him that the park isn’t that small to not meet each other. He continued telling me about the concert two days from now. He said that he was moved by the fact that she didn’t forget about it.

I couldn’t help but ask, “When did you last remind her?”

Seungri thought about it then answered proudly, “Last night! I texted her last night!”

I restrained myself from rolling my eyes at him. How would Park forget if he reminded her just last night? I had a feeling that he reminds her every night. Chaerin must’ve been thinking the same thing because I heard her mutter ‘idiot’ beside me.

Before Seungri could say more, Chaerin pulled my arm and said in an annoyed voice, “Let’s go, oppa. The movie’s about to start!”

For a moment there, I was thinking which would be more torturous –listening to Seungri and his fate with Park, or watching the movie “You Are My Sunshine” with Chaerin. I say, neither. Nothing would be more torturous than the humiliation Chaerin can give me.

The movie lasted for about an hour and a half. The first part of the movie, I was thinking about the concert that Seungri and Park were about to attend to. Just the two of them! Something about it irked me. I tried to stop thinking about it by watching the movie. But I fell right asleep, which was better. After the movie, I saw Chaerin was wiping her tears. I didn't bother asking what made her cry. Of course it was the movie. As soon she dried them, I told her I wanted to go home but she didn’t budge.

Before she knew it, it was already late. I almost thought that she would never notice.

“Oh, look at the time!” Chaerin exclaimed. We walked out of the mall to see that it was already very dark.  “It’s really true what they say. Time flies when you’re having time with the person you love!” She giggled.

I stared at her as if she’d grown two heads.

Chaerin took her phone out and dialed the driver’s number. Her eyebrows narrowed a bit before dialing the number again. I watched her do it for another two times.

“He’s not answering!” she yelled in frustration. “Grandpa will arrive any minute now!”

I figured the driver must’ve gone to buy a drink or something. After all, he’s waited for us for a very long time. “Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“To the parking lot.”

She followed obediently. I noticed that there were very few people around. Was it already that late? I looked at my watch and saw that it was quarter to 10. When we got to the mall’s outside parking lot, there were only about less than 10 cars left. There was no one around. It was when I was looking for the car that I noticed a familiar figure nearby in a very weird stance. She seemed to be talking to two men. I saw move.

Was she saying, go away? My eyes widened when I realized that it was her, and that the weird stance was actually a fighting stance. What was she doing? Was she trying to defend herself? Knowing her, she wouldn’t stand a chance. She doesn’t even know how to run. Well, I’m sure she does but she isn’t fast. One of them grabbed her. I saw her wince.

Déjà vu?

I heard Chaerin gasp. She saw it too. “Is that—“

Before I could stop myself, I ran to her. I ran to her as fast as I could. Rage was boiling inside of me. Her eyes widened when she saw me. Without uttering a word, I grabbed the man who grabbed her to face me. He let go of her.  I punched him in the face. Before he could recover, I kicked him in the gut. I could hear the other man closing in and kicked him so hard that he wouldn’t be able to get up for at least about 10 minutes.

I turned to face Park. A mix of horror and shock was plastered across her face. I grabbed her wrist harshly and pulled her to the parking lot, behind a car.

 “Just what do you think you are doing?” I heard myself ask icily. I couldn’t stop myself.  I was just so angry.

“What?” she said almost in a whisper, obviously surprised at the tone of my voice.

“Jiyong, please. Don’t,” Chaerin pleaded. She said my name without calling me ‘oppa’. I knew that she could tell how serious the situation was. I bet it was the first after a long time that Chaerin witnessed me acting this way.

I ignored her and narrowed my eyes harder at Park. She flinched as soon as her eyes met mine. I don’t know if she could see but there was nothing in my eyes but pain and anger -at least those were the emotions stirring inside me.

“DON’T YOU KNOW YOU’RE A GIRL? WHY DIDN’T YOU YELL FOR HELP? THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO YOU! DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO FIGHT THE TWO OF THEM OFF? IF I DIDN’T ARRIVE, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU?!” The vein in my neck was popping out as I yelled loudly at the girl. I could feel it. I could feel my own rage. This girl… how many times would she get herself into trouble? What if she got hurt? What if they did something to her? I don’t even want to think about what they could’ve done.

She looked hurt. Tears started forming in her eyes. “ I just didn’t want to-“

I knew what she wanted to say. The thought of it made me angrier.

“Don’t talk. I don’t want to hear it,” I spat in gritted teeth, cutting her off. “You’re so-called principles are always getting you into trouble. You don’t even think about those who are around you. I really don’t want to bother with you anymore. Heck, I don’t even know why I’m putting up with you and your stupidity. You’re such a burden.” The words just came out of my mouth. They were very cold. I didn’t breakaway from our eye contact. It was so she will get the message that I meant it. I meant every single word. Maybe except the last part but, hey, I was mad.

I could see she was trying so hard to fight back her tears. Chaerin shielded her from me which surprised me because I knew Chaerin wasn’t fond of Park much.

“Stop it, Jiyong. You’re hurting her.”

I merely looked at her and said, “Truth hurts.”

Park nodded at Chaerin. “It’s okay,” she said to her.

She then turned to look at me. I waited for her to defend herself, to slap me, to yell at me, but she did none of those. Instead, she just looked at the ground.

“Chaerin, go to the airport,” I told her. “I’ll… bring her home.” My voice was still cold but calmer now. She looked at me then at Park and then back at me. She just nodded in understanding. I watched the driver, who was apologizing for leaving his phone in the car to get a drink, open the door for her and in a few seconds, they left me and Park.

I started to walk, not even waiting for her but I heard her following behind me. The walk was very quiet. Of course, what would you except after that scene? Even her optimism and cheerfulness have limits. That was good, because I was in no mood to talk to her at all. I was still angry. But a part of me wanted her to speak. To tell me know if she was okay, at least. I pushed the thought away. Why should I care? Didn’t I decide not to bother with her anymore?

I unlocked my door and was about to enter when I heard her say, “Thank you saving me, Jiyong. And for the walk.”

I froze. I said a lot of things to her and yet, she still thanked me? Not just a lot of things but mean things. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Well, I could believe since it was her. But she still had it in her to thank me after all that? A voice in my head told me that it was the kind of girl she was.

Ugh. I hated her for it. It reminded me how much I hated her. Absolutely. Definitely.

But something was telling me that wasn’t so. It was actually myself that I hate.