Nirvana | j.hs

Chapter 10 : Player

It's been a week since Hope felt alive. Her father really made an effort to put his words into action. They basically locked her inside her room— sending her food during meal times. At most times, Hope wondered when will her parents let things go back to normal. She assumed that it will happen once her parents see fit. Honestly, Hope knew that it would take a long time. She's not really trying her best to prove to her parents that she regretted her past behaviors. Because in the first place, she believes she has nothing to apologize for.

It felt like all the colors in her room turned dull and sad. She has nothing else to do except to stare at her ceiling, the oblivion, or outside her window. The old laptop she's using for her special classes is rusty. It would sometimes be the cause of her frustration as it always lags and takes a long time to load stuff. If only she has her computer and phone with her, she could at least defeat boredom with something she actually likes to do.

In the end, she has no choice but to stick with the vexing laptop.

When patience strikes her, she sometimes visits her website to check any activities. Everyone is looking for her, asking for commissions, and she can only stare at it for a second. It's not like she can do it. She's not allowed to go out nor use her phone. Her computer is down, and she doubts her parents will ever decide to fix it.

After consuming the dinner her mother sent to her room, she sat on a corner and tried to scan her room for anything that will help her forget about time. But then, someone knocked on her door and she immediately fixed herself.

I just got my dinner, what do they want now? She asked herself.

The door creaked opened and she saw her mother's empty expression she has been using on her for a week. "You have a visitor," she simply stated.

The idea of Yoongi visiting her placed a little smile on her face. She knew that at some point, her cousin would eventually wonder why she's not responding to any of his messages. "Keep the door opened," her mother instructed and Hope didn't say anything in return.

In a split second, an unwanted figure came into her view and all her hopes suddenly crashed. "Thank you, Mrs. Villan," Hoseok weakly smiled.

Hope sat down on the edge of her bed and maintained a stoic face. "Why are you here?" she asked.

"It felt like something was wrong and I was right," he said as he considered the tension in the Villans' house. "What did you do?"

"Me?" Hope scoffed. "What did you do? You were the one who threw the Red Knight's identity like a confetti!"

"I didn't know your parents would act this way. I mean it's not like the Red Knight is actually illegal," he lowered his voice and Hope caught on what he's doing. Realizing how the door is opened, her parents might be eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Of course, you didn't," she breathed. Of course, he wouldn't know how her parents are like. Yes, they can be really good parents, but on some occasion, Hope thinks of them as the worst. And she's not happy about having mixed feelings about the people who raised her. She believed that she should understand and love them despite whatever they do and not hate them for it. "If that's it, you may leave."

"I actually have to talk about something else with you," he said. She remained silent and he continued. "Why didn't you tell me you're Yoongi's cousin?"

"Hmph, why should I?" she rolled her eyes. "As if that would make a difference," she added.

"It will if you did. You see, I don't play with any of my friends' family."

The terms he used disgusted Hope. Play? What does he actually mean by play? Was she supposed to be a toy?

"Whatever, I don't need your explanation. Just get out of my room," she coldly remarked. She told herself that he deserves this kind of treatment.

"I'm sorry," he hung his head low and for the first time, Hope looked towards his direction. She has been avoiding eye contact with Hoseok ever since she got inside her room. His words suddenly felt sincere and judging his gestures, he really could be.

Hope may not know who directly told her parents about her hidden hobbies and it may be Hoseok. However sincere he is, she might not forgive him that easy. It infuriates her how a single person she barely met created a big impact in her disorderly life.

Hope looked away and there Hoseok knew that he had to go. Later on, she just heard the doorknob clicked and she took a deep breath. He really came all the way here to apologize— as he should. She looked on the spot where Hoseok was standing earlier and then she saw a paper bag standing on her console. Without any idea what is might be, she approached it and her heart melted when she saw a tub of mint chocolate ice cream.

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Hope woke up to the sound of her door being knocked upon. Peeking with one eye, it's her mother again. "Yoongi's here," she announced and then left. At this point, it's not entirely impossible if she forgot how her father looked like. He really is ashamed of her.

Her cousin suddenly came into her view and sat on the chair he carried next to her bed. Looking at the time, she's slightly pissed that Yoongi had to come by at this hour. He perfectly knew her sleeping pattern. "Aunt Martha told me. So," he paused. "You really are the Red Knight?"

"And what about it? Should I be put in jail for that?" she huffed and he laughed at her.

"Seriously, Hope. No one gives a damn about what kind of business you're getting into as long as you're fine."

"Geez, my parents can't relate," she mocked.

"Yeah, besides them," he sighed. "I just came here to see if you're doing alright. Are you still handling the Red Knight?"

"As if I could. Dad literally crushed my PC and I'm banned from using my phone." After saying that, Yoongi went silent, probably thinking of a topic to liven her up. "Hoseok went here yesterday," but Hope beat him to it.

"He did?" he was surprised. "I told you not to get involved with him anymore, didn't I?"

"It's not like I invited him over," Hope glared. "He apologized for his behaviors towards me because you told him we're related."

"Pardon?"

"He said sorry to me," she shrugged.

"Wait, did you say I told him that you are my cousin?"

"Well, that was what he said to me."

"I didn't," he said in shock. "All along I was actually avoiding a conversation about you with him. Surprisingly, he hasn't mentioned you to us for days, and now you're telling me that?"

Hope thought that for once, Hoseok has a good bone left in his body. But knowing the truth behind his drama yesterday, it boiled her blood even more. He's still toying her. But that is where he's wrong.

Hope is not someone who easily lets people fool her, because once she had enough, it'll be the other way around.