Chapter 11

I hadn't seen Jaewook for another two weeks since he came over. I knew it was probably because of his mother, which made me furious. And while I don't want to intrude or push my boundaries, at the same time I really want Jaewook to succeed in school. The last three months of getting to know him have made me realize that he has potential, he's just never been encouraged to follow a goal. But unfortunately, I have no idea how to help the boy since I don't see him often. Despite being neighbours, we always seem to miss each other. Today I'm climbing up the stairs after a hard workout at the gym, each step making me wail in agony. Note to self, no more leg days for at least a week. When I'm on the third floor, which is where we are, I overhear an echo of muffled sounds. The sounds are of the human kind, a voice I mean, but they aren't talking. It's coming from the staircase to the next floor. Because I'm nosy as hell, I move to be next flight of stairs and listen more. While high pitched and muffled, the sound is undoubtedly one that I recognize. Dammit, this better be worth it. I push my contracted thigh muscles further up the stairs despite their clear disagreement, and sure enough, I'm met with the huddled figure of the boy I predicted. I groan as I push my legs up further, a sigh leaving my lungs once I reach the top. I wait for a bit to see if he'll acknowledge me, but he doesn't. Instead, he cowers his head into his knees even further, and he is most definitely holding in his breath since I can't hear anything anymore. This boy's gonna pass out if he doesn't take a breath soon. I walk over to him and sit down beside him. Despite being a tall and built boy, when huddled in an upright fetal position he looks as small as can be. "Jaewook," I say as I tap his back cautiously. His shoulder shakes me off, the first disrespectful gesture I've ever seen this kid do to me. My mouth is open in shock. "What's wrong? Did you get a bad grade? Did a girl refuse your confession?" Silence. "Did you forget to buy groceries and now have to live off of chips for the night? Are you broke because rent just came out of your bank account today? Are you depressed because your part-time job sucks and your professors suck? Are you scared because you have no idea if you'll find a steady job after you graduate because of your race? Oh wait—those are my problems." I sarcastically laugh in an attempt to lighten the mood. "If you're trying to tell me that your problems are greater than mine than you can go fuck yourself." The fiery look in the boy's eyes as he finally looks at me causes me to actually grow fearful for a second. Now I'm the one that cowers back a bit. Oh my god, what did he just say? Is this even Jaewook? "Wh-what?" I grow speechless at his venomous words, taken so aback that I immediately regret what I said. "Sorry," he sighs and looks away. "I shouldn't take this out on you." "What out?" I speak much more softly now, still trembling from the anger I just saw. "Nothing." He stares at the wall. His eyes are bloodshot red and there are lines of shining water on his cheeks. His pink and sniffling nose makes him look vulnerable. I then notice a pinkish red spot on his jaw, a new bruise. Without thinking my fingers come up to touch the mark. He flinches, eyes piercing into me again. "Don't," he fumes. "What happened?" He continues to stare at me while his jaw trembles. The anger leaves his eyes slowly as his eyebrows unknot, now turning upwards in the middle as he begins to sob. He covers his face again. "Hey, Jaewook?" I lay my hand on his back as I try to look at his face. Oh my god, what have I gotten myself into? I should have bitten my curiosity in the nub and just entered my apartment. Why did I climb these stairs? It's not like I can just leave now. He's probably even more upset now that the Noona he's crushing on is witnessing him cry. Dammit Destiny, you've ruined this boy's life. In an attempt to make it up to him, I take both my hands and hold onto his face, forcing him to look at me. His dark round eyes are full of shock before I move his head to rest on my shoulder. "Don't cry alone so pathetically," I say. He's stiff for a moment before letting his head rest comfortably on my shoulder. I'm taken aback when an arm comes around me, bringing me even closer to him. I bring my own arms around him and awkwardly pat his back as he softly cries. While holding him, it becomes all too easy to notice the muscles beneath his clothes as they contract against me. I even have to force myself to take a deep breath. You weak idiot, just because he probably has a nice body, that doesn't mean you should think of him differently. He's a kid. Kinda. I mean he actually is an adult now... I softly hit my head against the wall as I try to shut myself up. It grows unbearable when I remember that moment he kissed me. I'm a girl that doesn't typically fall for younger guys—mostly because they have fickle and shallow intentions. So, I just always go for guys older than me. What Jaewook is doing to me is not appreciated. "Shoot, shoot, shoot," I mutter to myself. "What?" He looks up to ask me with a sniffle. Goddamnit he looks adorable, I just want to protect him and make him feel better. WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?! "I was just saying shh," I reply as I get even more nervous. His face is way too close to mine. I catch a sparkle in his gaze, or at least I think I do before he sniffles like a little kid again. It seems he's stopped crying now. "Thank you Noona. I'm sorry you saw me like this." "It's okay. Remember, I told you it's okay to open up to me." I simply say as my eyes disobey my commands and move to look at his lips; lips that are now pink and swollen from his crying. Actually, his eyes are swollen too and even bigger than usual. How can someone look so good after crying? I don't see the expression change in his eyes since I'm looking at his lips like an idiot, but I do feel his hands move up to hold onto my face. Even then, my eyes do not leave his lips. Only when they change shape, forming into an uncharismatic smirk do my eyes look up at him in shock. But it's too late, his lips have already met mine. But before my eyes closed I did catch the look in his eyes. That look that I thought I hallucinated that other time, the confident and sexy gaze so unlike the gaze of the boy I thought I knew. ...