Seventeen Imagines III

#88 "Cheating is not a big deal"

I grew up in a country where men are allowed to have multiple spouse. And so when my family moved to different country, that culture and idea is still on my head.

"You're cute. Let's date," asked Jeonghan, the popular playboy in our campus.

He's pretty. It is also the first time someone asked me out so I answered, "Okay."

I really believe that women aren't allowed to say no to men's confession so I said yes. With that, Jeonghan and I started to date.

We went to mall, eat together, watched movie and before we parted ways...

"(Y/n)," he pulled me closer and kissed my lips.

I closed my eyes and kissed him back.

At the end of the day, I lied down on my bed and thought about our date. Just what I thought, dating is pretty... boring.

No excitement.

No deep emotions.

It feels like moving in a puppet show as a marionette.

Our relationship continued for a month. Until one morning, while walking on the way to the school, I caught him kissing another girl. I stood from a great distance while watching them in apathetic stare. As Jeonghan pulled back, he saw me.

"(Y/n)?" He was stuttering when he called my name.

And I calmly answered, "Yes?"

He walked towards me, with rounded eyes and pale expression. "L-Let me explain. Well, the thing is..."

I halted his words by raising my hand. And I said, "It's not a big deal. See you later." Then I walked away.

When I first come here during teenage days, I heard that women don't like it when men cheat. Basically, I have no slightest idea why. My father married 15 women including my mom but I've never seen any jealousy between his wives.

I've been here for years but still couldn't get the idea of monogamy.

"Hey! Is it true? Jeonghan is cheating again?!" Micah, a friend of mine asked while professor is still not here yet.

"Cheating?" I repeated.

My other friend, Joeli, spoke, "That's why I told you that's he's a bad shot. Why date a person who's known as the ultimate cheater of the century? Break up with him!"

"True!" Micah agreed. "Once a cheater, always a cheater."

I, who remained quiet for a while, opened my mouth, "What's wrong if he dates someone behind my back? It's okay for me."

"Huh?!" The two gasped in unison.

If I say that it is because of my culture, then they'll ask more. So it's better to leave it with one answer.

"What are you?! A masochist?!" Micah exploded. Veins popped up and she looks like an angry red chick.

"I know you're innocent but this too much," Joeli sighed, shaking her head. "Don't you feel jealous when he's with another girl?"

"I don't," I answered.

The two looked at each other. Seconds after, they both nodded their heads.

"I see. So that's why," Micah murmured.

"What?" I inquired.

Jolieh answered, "you don't like him at all."

"I like his face," I defended.

"I mean..." Joeli continued with a sigh. "In romantic way. You don't even see him as a man."

"In short, you're just playing a dating game." Micah clicked his tongue.

I'm not. I dated Jeonghan because... Because...he asked me out. And I shouldn't say no.

"Is love that important?" I flung a question.

Micah and Joeli stared at me.

"A man and woman's duty is to birth children," I added. "They can marry without love."

Another sighs escaped from their lips. As they are about to explain, professor Boo came in.

"Good morning class! It's a bright sunny day for your surprise test!" As soon as he said this, a loud bang of thunder cracked in the sky.

-----

Micah and Joeli went to their other class during my lunch break, that makes me all alone. Jeonghan might be busy too so I didn't bother ask him to join me for lunch. After eating, I went to the library and searched for a literature book. However, I couldn't find it no matter how I circled around. So I went to ask the librarian.

"Excuse me?"

The librarian looked at me. "Yes?" He answered. Just like what I felt when I first saw Jeonghan, I had the same feelings with this new librarian in our school.

His eyes are round yet it have a sharp aura under his round vintage reading glasses. His face is small and even if he's sitting, I can tell he's tall. Though he's pretty skinny, his sophisticated red jacket and white v-shape shirt suits him well like a model.

This guy is a mixed of cute, handsome, cool and elegant.

"I need 'Yi Beom life by Jack Lee'. But I couldn't find it."

"Yi Beom Life by Jack Lee," he repeated. "Wait a minute." He faced in front of the computer. After some typing, he suddenly stood up and went out of the counter. "I know where is it. Follow me."

Afraid that I'm making his work hard, I said, "no need. Just tell me where the book's specific section is."

"It's alright. I'm kinda bored too." He smiled and started to walk away.

This man is so kind.

When we arrived at the book section, he pointed the book from way up high. "There it is. We need a ladder to get it."

There's a ladder near me so I moved it to us.

"Wait a minute." He knelt down and tied his shoelaces.

While he does, I already climbed up onto the ladder. I'm not wearing skirt so this task is a piece of cake. I successfully got the book I need and went down. As soon as I'm down, the librarian just finished tying his shoelaces.

"I'm ready," he said before he climbed up.

"It's already on my hand," I reported.

He stopped climbing then slowly looked back at me and at the book in my palms. "You climbed before?"

I nodded.

"Geez. Why didn't you say?" He went down while chuckling. However, he missed a step and about to fall so I grabbed his hand.

"Careful!" I gasped.

He leaned on me a little, and somehow, we ended up hugging at each other.

A ticklish feeling swarmed into my chest. Weirdly, I couldn't push him away.

"Are you...okay? Did you get hurt?" He asked while kept on hugging me.

"I am okay. How about you? Mister?"

"I'm not that old for you to call me mister," he chuckled. "My name is Minghao. And you?"

Slowly, I moved away from him. While looking at his eyes, there is a thrilling feeling inside of me that I didn't experience even when I got my first kiss before.

"My name is..." I uttered. When I was about to introduce myself, someone called my name from behind.

"(Y/n)," said Jeonghan.

------