Contract Boyfriend || n.yuta

24

Yuta's eyes were basically glued to his phone as he waited for a message from Iseul. It's been thirty minutes, yet she hasn't sent him an update on what was going on. Besides his worry for her, he didn't know how long he could hold himself back from punching Jungwoo.

"Any news from Iseul?" Sohye asked.

"Nothing." Yuta sighed. He decided to try to call her knowing she might not be able to pick up. He could only sigh once more when his call wasn't answered.

"It's times like this where you wish she didn't always have her phone on silent." Jungwoo added.

As much as Yuta hated him, he had a point. Iseul really had a bad habit of leaving her phone on silent, making it rare for her phone to actually ring in her presence.

"I have a question for you, Yuta. If you could choose between soccer and Iseul, what would your decision be?"

"Bambi." He answered almost immediately. "Why are you asking?"

"Nothing. Just well... curious."

There was a faint lightning strike, followed by the low rumbling of thunder. Yuta couldn't bring himself to wait anymore and got up. The bad feeling only grew more as his thoughts narrowed down to Iseul.

"I'm sorry but you guys can finish this and go. I need to get Iseul home." He apologized.

"No problem. I definitely enjoyed my day." Jungwoo assured, watching his senior rush to leave. Once Yuta was out of sight, Jungwoo grabbed a slice of pizza. "You look like you feel guilty."

"I don't know. Iseul is really kind and it just feels wrong." Sohye mumbled. Her eyes land on the two rings hanging on the chain of his necklace. It was something that made her insecure but he always dismissed. "You... don't love her anymore, right?"

"You should eat up. It's going to rain soon." Jungwoo ignored her question and looked up to the sky. This was the last card he had up his sleeve before taking her back. He was determined to make her miserable for as long as she lived.

Love? Maybe he did love her at first. Maybe he did up until now, only in a twisted way. Although his initial plan did not work, his alternate plan was far more devastating than the first. Nothing would be more satisfying than breaking her completely.

"This wouldn't have happened if she didn't run away." Jungwoo sighed. "Shall we get going, Sohye?"

☁

Iseul had always imagined what she would say to her father if she ever met him. In those little scenarios she would ask him why he left her or why he disappeared. She even thought about thanking him for the jewelry he had given over the years.

But why did it seem like her father didn't recognize her? Why didn't he recognize her if he supposedly kept in touch with her mother to give gifts? Did he not tell Sungchan of her existence?

"I-I'll take the picture now." Iseul's voice softened with each word as she tried to take the picture. She counted down as she took several pictures of their happy family.

She tried her best to not blatantly stare at the man as she returned Sungchan's phone. Her body felt as though it were on fire the moment her father placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Sungchan likes to talk about how great of a coach you are. I've seen their games and I'm impressed as a former soccer coach myself. I've always wanted a daughter like you." Her father's complements were endless, but they did the opposite of making her happy.

Dad.

The word was stuck in her throat. The name she had called out to for almost two decades in both her sleep and in longing. She wanted to hug him and ask him everything and anything, but she was frozen in place.

"Noona, I'm sorry if we took up too much of your time. We'll get going first." Sungchan apologized. "Don't try to recruit her, dad. Noona wants to be an accountant. Soccer coach is her side hustle."

"Your father would be so proud to have a daughter like you. I'll trust my son with your great training!" Her father praised one last time before leaving with Sungchan and his mother.

The burning sensation in her body soon turned into that dull staticky feeling. Her head spun as her chest constricted around her fragile heart. She found it difficult to breathe as she put her free hand over her chest. The air coming into her lungs seemed to reduce despite her deep breaths. The sanrio snapped, allowing her hair to fall back into place.

There was a faint flash of lightning and the soft rumbling of thunder. Her vision blurred as droplets of rained drizzled down onto the earth. The cotton candy in her hand slowly melted down into nothing, leaving only a sticky syrup flowing down her hand.

"Bambi!" Yuta called, snapping her out of her trance. He removed his cardigan and put it over her head "Let's get you out of here, okay?"

"Yu... I can't... Dad." Iseul whimpered. "He.."

"Deep breaths, bambi. I can't understand you if you don't calm down. I'm not going anywhere so take time to gather your words." Yuta comforted. He took her hand and guided her towards a cover. "The one day I decide not to take my car."

He took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the little droplets of rain out of her face, only to be confused at how little droplets still dripped from her cheeks. His eyes finally meet her tearful ones.

"Please take me away from here. I don't want to be here. Yuta please." Iseul sobbed. Her knees finally gave in as she crouched down on the wet ground. "He forgot everything he did while I suffered all those years wondering what I did wrong. How could he sleep at night after what he did?"

Yuta would never understand the immense pain she felt which is why he didn't know what to say. Pretending to understand or telling her everything would be okay would be insensitive. Instead, he wiped her tears with his thumb and cupped her cold damp cheek.

He carried her on his back, letting her bury her face in his shoulder as she wept. "Let's get you home."

☁

Iseul stirred slightly in her sleep as she finally regained consciousness. She rubbed her tired eyes before forcing them open. Although nauseous from crying, she felt somewhat lighter. She didn't recognize the room she was in. She squinted her eyes at the sight of a blob.

"Yu?" She called out, her voice coming out in a croak.

"How are you feeling, bambi?" Yuta put his book down and moved closer to Iseul. He handed her a glass of water along with her glasses. She downed the drink in one go, allowing the cold water to soothe her dry throat. "My apartment was closer. I hope you don't mind."

"Like shit." She deadpanned. Yuta brushed the damp hair away from her face. "Can we cuddle?"

"As much as I would, I think you should bathe first. I tried to wake you the moment we arrived but you refused to. With Daeun's guidance and a towel, I changed you into one of my shirts."

Yuta cringed at the memory of his pure panic. He refused to let her stay drenched but didn't want to overstep his boundaries. He was glad Daeun picked up the video call to be his eyes to change Iseul into dry clothes.

"Crying is tiring. How do you people do this?" Iseul joked, collapsing back into the comfort of Yuta's bed. The static feeling returned in her chest as it slowly spread throughout her body.

"We can cuddle as soon as you finish bathing. I asked my sister if you can use one of her bath bombs so you could relax." Yuta stood to go prepare her a bath but was stopped when Iseul's hand shot out grab his. "It'll be quick, bambi. I'm sure you need time to gather your thoughts."

"I don't want to be alone." Iseul grumbled.

"How are you supposed to-"

"Join me."

A/N

RISKY RISKY WIGGY 위기 THIS IS AN EMERGENCY