𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧ˡᵉᵉ ʲᵉⁿᵒ

08

Jinhee wasn't feeling well when she woke up in her empty Mansion. Her stomach growled, her back ached and her headache almost forced her back into sleep. She stood up slowly, knocking a few items off her bed and then made her way towards her bathroom.

As expected the maids had prepared everything for her. Her uniform hung by the door, washed and ironed, a pair of new white shoes right underneath it. She was still early, an hour to be exact. But she didn't go back to sleep knowing that she wouldn't wake up in time.

Rubbing the remaining sleepiness off her tired eyes, Jinhee got ready to go to school. While doing her make-up, she noticed the photos she had used to threaten Lee Jeno into dating her, sitting on the table. Her decision and her actions bothered her, heart bothered with guilt. She couldn't undo what she had done, for now all she had to do was to keep up with the act for another two months.

A knock woke her up from her thoughts and then walked in her mother, dressed in a tight red dress, black hair tied into a tight bun. She wore a smirk but her eyes remained dull. Jinhee knew what she was going to say, her words were all the same.

"You haven't beat Lee Donghyuck yet? Are you letting him take your place in school? How long are you planning to be the second?" She spoke, her voice serene and calm as if she meant no harm. "You're smarter than him, Jinhee. Make sure you come first this semester or I will hire more tutors for you. You don't want to lose your remaining free time, do you?"

Her mother had no right, yet Jinhee let her do whatever she wished. She worked hard everyday to become the perfect daughter. She took care of her body, her studies and her social life, but never did she had the time to actually take a break to give her mind a rest. She was on her her way to becoming mentally unstable.

She had to admit, Donghyuck aced every test, won almost every girl's heart and was even brave enough to rebel. He spent most of his time with his friends, staying up until two in the morning, doing whatever he wishes yet still having the time to study. Although he squeezes his revisions in his brain in the day before the test, at the end of the semester he never fails to become first.

Jinhee on the other hand, used most of her free time studying, spoiling her girl friends with gifts and baking in her kitchen. Sometimes she would lose sleep to finish her homework, assignments and revisions. It was normal to a girl her age, but she was always tired in the mornings, managing to conceal her dark circles with a few drops of make-up.

And of course, her mother had no clue of her life, constantly checking on her to see if she was keeping up with her school grades. Her father barely spoke to her unless he wanted to discuss something very important.

"I will try harder, mom." Jinhee faked a smile, a way to show her mother that she was okay with anything and that she didn't have any human feelings to get hurt from her harsh words.

"Very well." Satisfied with her daughter's reaction, she sat on Jinhee's bed. "I expect you to date—"

"Lee Jeno, isn't it, mom?" Jinhee chuckled, sitting next to her mother with  the sweetest smile she could muster. "We're dating. He's very kind to me and loves me dearly. He buys me things I don't even ask for and even brings me flowers every week—"

"Don't bore me with your love story, child. I'm glad you two are getting along. Once me and your father are done with our overseas business, we will focus on your marriage."

Even Jinhee's lies seemed real at that moment. She did wish all those things she said happened in her real life, receive love from another human-being after she had lost two people who were very precious to her.

"Mom, isn't it too soon?" She asked with a small voice.

"I suppose it is, but we will let hold the Wedding after you've finished University. Isn't that what you were going to ask me?"

Jinhee clutched the silk bedsheets behind her, gritting her teeth to stop herself from insulting her mother.

"Speak."

"Yes." Jinhee smiled innocently. "I'm concerned that if I get married right away now, I won't be able to focus on my studies in college."

"Don't worry. Focus on upgrading yourself and your grades." The woman stood up and left the girl in her room.

"I'm not a robot, mom." She whispered, tears flowing out of her eyes. Nevertheless, she started to chuckle softly, the bitterness of her heart scorching with fire and pain. She wished to break her cocoon and run away from her current life, but she knew she had no where to go, no one to tell.

○○○

"My parents want to have dinner with you." Jinhee openly dropped her bomb in front of Jeno, not caring if any of her classmates heard her. As if it was planned all along, the students gathered around, more interested than they were before.

Jeno rolled his eyes mentally, despising all the attention he got for the wrong reason. He caught a glimpse of Yuhwa walking out of the classroom, opening a pack of smarties aggressively before the kicking the door close.

"You guys are dating?" Yeji, Jinhee's current best friend asked. "You never told me, girl!!!"

"Well, now you guys know." Jinhee giggled in a high pitched voice, making Jeno gag internally. "So, baby are you up for it?"

Jinhee cringed hard and she was sure Jeno did as well, but the reaction from her classmates were enough to confirm that they were fooled.

"I'll be there. Just text me the time later." Jeno offered her a smile.

A fake one, matching hers.

●●●
I'M FREE FOR ANOTHER 4 DAYS I CAN JUST CHILL SJDJSBDJSBXJS

ALSO JENO WENT BLOND AGAIN NSSJSJ I PRAY FOR HIS SCALP BUT HE LOOKS HOT ASF AND HE KNOWS HE LOOKS HOT ASF WHICH MAKES HIM EVEN MORE HOT ASF I CAN'T WITH HIM DJDJDJD MAN'S RLLY ATTRACTIVE WHEN HE'S CONFIDENT IN HIMSELF