Rebels At Their Finest (Block B)

03: Does It Only Happen To Me?

Kyu Ree opened the door to the apartment and spotted River’s shoes. Directly beside them were another pair that, unsurprisingly, belonged to a man. Kyu Ree groaned and walked out of the apartment, closing the door. She dialed River’s uncle’s number.

“Did you find her?” He asked immediately.

“Yeah. But she’s a little busy, and I’d rather not go in there.” Her uncle cleared his throat. “So I’m not going to be in the apartment for a few hours. Do you need anything while I’m out?”

Her uncle sighed. “No. I’m alright, but I’m just closing the bar. Are you hungry?” Kyu Ree shrugged, even though he couldn’t see it. “We can go get some Tteokbokki.”

Kyu Ree smiled. “I’m in.”

Kyu Ree sat at the small street table, waiting while River’s uncle, Hee-Bong, who was getting the Tteokbokki from the vendor. She liked the open air, but she far preferred to cook her own food. She didn’t necessarily trust the handling of the food.

Hee-Bong sat down in front of Kyu Ree and placed a plate of Tteokbokki in front of her. She smiled and began to eat. “Has she been a handful lately?” Kyu Ree shrugged her shoulders. “I’ll talk to her, get her back in line.”

Kyu Ree swallowed. “Well, it doesn’t really matter, I just don’t want her getting hurt.”

“This is only the second time this has happened, right?” Kyu Ree nodded. “There doesn’t need to be a third time.” Kyu Ree nodded in agreement, and the two in silence for a few moments. “So,” Hee-Bong started.

“Yes?” Kyu Ree asked, taking another bite.

Hee-Bong was silent for a moment, as if wondering how to go about what he wanted to ask her. “Have you spoken to your family lately?”

Kyu Ree stopped, just about to take another bite, and stared at Hee-Bong. Kyu Ree and her family weren’t exactly close. In fact, they were anything but close the moment Kyu Ree found out the real reason they’d moved from New Zealand back to Korea in the middle of her sophomore year of college.

She swallowed hard, just as the piece she’d lifted with her fork plopped back down onto her plate. “I don’t want to talk about them. Or to them.” She said sharply, and Hee-Bong nodded in understanding.

The moment River woke up and tasted the dry, alcohol flavor in her mouth, she regretted the night before. At least this time she could say she remembered, explicitly, what had happened. She’d taken that kid from the club home. And she didn’t necessarily care as much as she had the night before.

It wasn’t her virginity anymore. So nothing mattered.

His arms were around her waist, and he had her cradled against his chest. Both lay on their right sides. He was surprisingly warm. But she needed him out before Kyu Ree realized he was there, and hated her for the day.

Slowly, River sat up. The blanket slid off her, and she didn’t bother pulling it back up to cover herself. He’d already seen everything, hadn’t he? She reached out and pushed his shoulder, which was surprisingly muscular. “Hey,” She whispered harshly. “Hey, wake up dude.”

He groaned and rolled onto his other side, pulling the blanket up to his chest and sighing. River frowned. “Hey, guy, get out of my bed.”

“That is definitely not what you were saying last night.” He declared groggily, moving onto his chest and curling, so his back arched and his muscles tense.

River bit her lip. He was gorgeous, but she needed to get him out of the apartment. “Yeah, well, I’m saying it now, so get up.”

He sat up, the blanket sliding off him, and River stared at his toned chest in awe. She remembered the night before, but it was dark, and now… he’d a nice chest. A really nice chest. And he caught her staring, which would explain the smirk on his face. “You look like you haven’t seen my chest before.”