Chapter 5

I cancelled the next tutoring session because of my heavy period. I had to meet my doctor and get back on birth control because of how painful those cramps were. I had stopped using it after breaking up with my ex almost a year ago, but those damn pills were keeping my period regular and pain free. The only good thing about those killer cramps I had was that Zen ended up leaving the apartment for the night, since he was tired of my elephant-like wailing. Today I'm feeling much better. So much so that I've decided to test the boy next door in a very different way than the academic kind. I don't know what it is, and why I feel the desire to do so, but I put on a skirt today. Maybe it's because I'm a loner college student who hasn't gotten any game or even a look from a decent guy in almost a year, or maybe it's because I'm a sick freak who deserves to be locked up. Either way, I put on a cute skirt and top and make myself look extra nice today. I can't deny that the boy is cute and that his flustered nature when around me makes me feel good. I'm going to hell. "You look nice today Daisy!" It takes all the power within me to not roll my eyes. This woman has been saying my name wrong every time I come over. "It's Destiny, and oh really? Thanks." I make my way to the room I've grown accustomed to. I knock quickly before opening the door. "I'm here—" I freeze in place when I see the younger boy stare at me like a deer in headlights. Half a pant leg is up his long leg while the other remains down, and his torso is completely bare. I've walked in on a minor changing. Have I mentioned that I'm probably going to hell? "Oh, I'm sorry," I turn around and wait for the sounds of him pulling up his jeans to stop. Why do I feel embarrassed? Why is my face hot? A finger taps on my shoulder. "You can turn around now." Hesitantly I do and see the clothed boy right in front of me. For some reason he looks even taller, bigger than I remember. Not the little boy that can be squashed by one disdainful look from me, but a confident boy who is most definitely much taller than me despite me being proud of my long legs. "Um, what should we do—work on, today?" I mentally wince for stuttering like an idiot. "Chemistry?" "Sure." "Noona," he continues to look at me with a sweet smile. "You look pretty today." "Oh, thank you." This was what I wanted to hear, something to boost my fallen ego, but instead of feeling triumphant I just feel nervous. I manoeuvre around his body and head to the desk. He sits down and starts talking about what they're working on in class. Then all of a sudden he pauses and looks at me with wide eyes and a grin. "Oh! Noona! I almost forgot. I have a surprise." He bends down to dig through his book bag while I try to hold back any look of interest. I can't help but peek around him to get a look. Did he get me a gift for helping him? Chocolate? No that might suggest more than just a tutor-student relationship. A novel to read? Maybe a coupon to a good restaurant? Makeup? Okay now you're being ridiculous. He faces me with a dorky smile, one where his upper lip disappears and his front teeth pop out. He's holding a piece of paper. My eyes move down to scan over it unenthusiastically. It's a quiz. A quiz that he got 13/20 on. "What is this." I monotonously say. His eyebrows twitch in confusion, "what do you mean? It's a quiz we had today in English. I passed it!" His smile widens again. My eyelids cover half my eyes in boredom as I look up at him. "You passed." His funny little smile begins to fall. "Yeah." "Passing isn't good enough Jaewook." His mouth turns down into a pout and he looks away from me. I squeeze my eyes shut and sigh. I can't make this kid cry or else his mom will fire me and we'll have to move. I force a sickly sweet smile on my face and I stand up excitedly. Any mature human being would see right through my bullshit, but this child lights up with joy and stands up as well. "I was just playing with you! You passed! That's a great start kid." "It's all thanks to you!" He beams and in his moment of adrenaline jumps forward to hug me. I freeze in surprise at the boy's sudden movement and awkwardly pat his back. I then start to become all too aware of this situation. How I'm standing, how he's standing with my legs between his. How my head reaches his neck as it lays against it. How his arms feel wrapped around my body, which feels so much smaller when he's so close to me. How it feels to have his breath hit the top of my head as it lays on top of mine. How I don't notice his heart beating against me, but I can most definitely feel mine thumping aggressively against him. Then all of a sudden my congratulatory pats stop and his thank you's seize. Now he just holds me in his embrace, silently, his arms slowly snaking down my body and holding me tighter as they move. My breath gets louder and harder to manage, my mind equally as confused by this situation, a situation where I feel like I'm not in control anymore. Once his hands reach my hips I push him away frantically. I can't look at him, and instead move back to the desk, swallowing my nerves down and adjusting my skirt by pulling it down lower. He doesn't move for a bit, and I can't bring myself to see his expression, but there's a small part of me that thinks he's smirking at me, as if it was all his doing. "Um, lets—lets see your homework." I shakily move a piece of hair behind my ear as I stare at the desk. He sits down and takes out his books as if nothing happened. "Here." He says calmly, with innocent eyes looking at me as if he really had no intention of making my heart flutter just now. I stare into his eyes a bit longer, trying to search for a break, a fault in the one-dimensional and naive gaze his brown eyes possess. But I find nothing. We continue on with the study session as if nothing happened. An hour into the studying, a loud noise sounds from the kitchen followed by his mother's muffled voice. Jaewook's head snaps in the direction of the noise, clear discomfort covering his once relaxed posture. He looks at me with rounded eyes and lightly touches my back. "I—I think we should call it a day. You should go back now," he stutters as he stands up and pulls me up by the arm. Flustered, I follow him as he continues to pull me out of the room and to the door. I notice a man standing in the kitchen in a suit. He's talking to his mother in a brash tone, clearly upset about something. The man is about to turn to look at me when Jaewook pushes me out the door and closes it. I stare at the now closed door in complete and utter shock. While I can't pick up words, I can hear the muffled voices of Jaewook and that man. Crossing my arms and holding myself, I walk back to my door in a daze. What just happened? ...