Catch 22 - JJK (21+)

Chapter 24 - Key

ARIA

I hadn't spoken to Jungkook since I'd hung up the phone on him on Monday. I hadn't seen him since Thursday morning in class, and I hadn't heard from him since I'd received the fragrant bouquet of white roses he'd had delivered to my home the following day.

They'd arrived at the perfect time, too. I was a little disappointed when he didn't to show up for our tutoring sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, thinking maybe he'd gotten over us already. But his sweet, thoughtful gift told me that he, at least, still cared for me in some way and that he may have even missed me as much as I missed him, not that I deserved any type of reassurance.

He didn't deserve the way I'd treated him, and it wasn't fair for me to take all of my guilt and disappointment with myself out on him. I knew I owed him an apology, but I also knew that keeping my distance was smarter. Maybe after graduation, we could try rekindling what we'd started, but for now, as much as it pained me to admit it, things were better this way.

I'd spent my Saturday morning doing some laundry and grading papers in between loads. Now that I was done, I wanted to take a shower, relax, and catch up on some reading with a glass of the red wine Jungkook had brought for me.

It'd been far too long since I'd taken some time to delve into one of the steamy romance novels on my never ending TBR list. Not only that, but I planned to spend my entire winter vacation reading and finding plenty of hot, new fictional boyfriends to fall in love with. At least with them, I'd always get my happily ever after in the end. Besides, reading about other people's tumultuous love lives was much easier and a lot more fun than trying to navigate my own.

As I put the last of my folded clothes away, my cell phone began to ring. I grabbed it quickly, wondering if it was Jungkook like I had every time my phone made the slightest sound since Monday.

Damnit! It was my sister Alana, and I knew I couldn't get away with not answering again. I hadn't talked to her in over a week. Shit, come to think of it, I'm pretty sure it'd now been two weeks since I'd last spoken to her. Oh well, I guess my shower and my next book boyfriend would have to wait.

"Hello?"

"Ari?! Oh my god... is it really you?!" The line went quiet as she paused dramatically. "Sorry, I had to check the screen of my phone cus I thought I'd clearly dialed the wrong number when someone actually answered. It's about damn time. You are one hard chick to get in touch with," she shouted playfully in her sassy tone.

"I know, I'm sorry, Lana. I've just been a little preoccupied over the past week or two."

"So I've heard. You know mom is pissed about you and Siwon?"

"Yeah, I figured as much. I'm surprised that I haven't heard from her yet."

"Oh don't worry, you will. Hurricane Seohyun will be wreaking havoc on your peaceful little world soon, so you'd better prepare yourself."

"Whatever. It is what it is. I'll have to deal with her when the time comes."

"Dang, why do you sound so... I don't know? You just don't sound like yourself, Ari. Have you been doing okay?"

"Things are okay, I guess. It's just been a rough week. That's all."

"A rough week? Why? Did something happen at work?"