It Shouldn't Be You (KSJ FF) 18+ Book 1

Prologue: Bully

"I HATE YOU, KIM SEOKJIN!"

I shouted angrily across the cafeteria, my voice echoing off the walls, as I glared at the boy who was staring at me as sticky soda dripped all down my soaking wet top. To say I was humiliated was an understatement. The whole cafeteria was either staring in disbelief, laughing at my misfortune, or chanting obnoxious, disgusting things about my body now that the fabric of my shirt was clinging to my frame.

As I stood before him with my damp shirt stuck to me, I felt my embarrassment start to lessen and it was replaced with anger like I'd never felt before. My parents raised me to never have hate in my heart for anyone but at this point, despite how much I'd tried and failed to stay out of his crosshairs, I'd reached my limit.

I was completely done.

My entire scholastic life up until that point had been spent working hard and studying even harder. Getting good grades and maintaining a better-than-perfect GPA were the most important things in the world to me. That was all that mattered to me if I wanted to get into a good college and an even better medical school.

All I wanted to do to get there was study my ass off and keep my head down so I wouldn't be noticed by Kim Seokjin, the richest (and meanest) kid in our school.

Seokjin was a spoiled, horrible brat from the first day of kindergarten and as we grew up his attitude had only gotten worse. The Kim family was the wealthiest in our city, and they made sure to remind everyone of it every chance they got.

Their name was mentioned as major benefactors of the schools and were the main sponsors of almost every sport and academic club. It was like they'd bought the school district completely.

When we were five Seokjin was whiny and would throw tantrums when he was told to follow the rules. In middle school, he began to bully others and even beat up a few kids. However, now that we were eighteen he had become even worse; he was entitled, bitter, and cold.

I often wondered what was going on in his life outside of school for him to be such a jerk to almost everyone he came in contact with. Maybe his parents were strict. Maybe he was bullied at home by his older brother (who was just as awful as Seokjin if not worse). I always thought that there had to be something to make him act out like he did because there was no way someone could be that cruel by nature.

Now, as he stared wide-eyed at me holding an empty soda can in his hands while everyone pointed and laughed at me, I couldn't see any emotion on his face at all. His expression was completely blank; no laughter, no second-hand embarrassment, no humor, no sadness. Nothing.

He had absolutely no soul.

"Why did you do this to me? Seriously why?" I screamed, angry tears forming in my eyes.

His eyebrows raised in surprise and he dropped the can on the table with a loud clank before putting his hands up and saying, "You think I did this?"

I scoffed at him and snapped, "I know you did this! You were the one holding the can, you moron! What is your problem, Seokjin? Seriously! What did I ever do to you to make you be so damn mean to me?"

"What are you talking about, Emmie? Jesus, calm the fuck down," he grunted, annoyed. His friends snickered and egged him on, nudging his arm and laughing at me.

"Don't tell me to calm down. I've had it with you!" I yelled, my voice carrying loud enough that more students began to trickle into the cafeteria. "You've been a horrible prick to me and everyone else at this school for years! Plus, you idiot, you had the empty can in your hands!"

"Don't call me an idiot, I didn't spray your stupid shirt. You're acting like a crazy bitch and you need to calm the hell down."

"Or what? You'll run to your daddy and make him sue me? Sue my parents? You don't scare me, Kim Seokjin. You're nothing more than a spoiled brat and I'm not letting you mess with me anymore."

For a moment I thought I saw something flash in his emotionless eyes...it almost seemed like he was hurt. I blinked a few times, hot tears spilling down my cheeks, and this time when I looked at him again his expression was clear...he was angry.

"Of course because I was holding an empty can it had to be me, didn't it Emmie? You know, for someone with the last name of Bright you certainly are the most clueless girl I've ever known," Seokjin snarled. "There are three other people at this table and any one of them could've done it but no," he said dramatically. "You're always quick to blame it on the rich boy." I could hear his asshole friends snickering through their noses at me.

"Well, if the crown fits, your Highness," I spat through gritted teeth. Seokjin's face was alive with fury and he took a menacing step toward me. He looked as if he wanted to say something and was about to open his mouth to no doubt insult me in a way that would further embarrass me but I cut him off.

"I may be clueless like you said, but I'd rather be that than a spoiled, soulless, uncaring monster like you. I know everyone in this goddamn town is afraid of you and your joke of a family but I'm not. You are nothing but a bad person with an ice-cold heart. If I didn't find you so pathetic I'd almost feel sorry for you."

Seokjin's eyes were burning with untold rage as he snarled his upper lip and growled, "You take that back. NOW!"

"Never," I spat out, feeling myself start to shake with rage.

Just then I felt something warm wrap around my back and arms. I barely registered what was happening when my best friend Jung Hoseok stood next to me, covering me with his jacket and rubbing my arms comfortingly.

Seokjin's eyes were deadlocked with mine, anger and rage burning in our collective gazes. I was trembling with hatred as I refused to look away and seethed through gritted teeth, "I hate you."

"Leave her alone, Seokjin, I mean it. C'mon, Emmie, let's get out of here," he said as gently as he could. I sensed his anger but he didn't say a word as we walked out of the cafeteria and to our lockers.

Hoseok hated Seokjin as much as I did...hell most of the school didn't like him. Hoseok was just one of the few people that wasn't afraid to stand up to him. His parents were just as well off as The Kim family so their money didn't intimidate him. I could always tell it bothered Seokjin that Hoseok wasn't bothered or threatened by his parents' influence but I was grateful for him. He'd always been there for me and I was lucky to have Jung Hoseok on my side.

Hoseok led me down the hallway away from the cafeteria and I kept my head down to avoid all the other kids that were undoubtedly staring at me. All I could think of as I walked down the hallway, wet and sticky, was how quickly I could get out of the school.

I begged Hoseok to take me home and thankfully he agreed. I went to my locker and gathered my things as fast as I could, ready to get the hell out of this place and go home. I met Hoseok at his locker and once he'd gotten his books ready, we walked toward the back exit as quickly as we could.

Just as we were walking out the door, I heard shouting and saw someone running out of the student lounge. I looked inside as I passed and I saw something I never expected to see.

Seokjin was sitting on the floor with his hands fisted in his hair in frustration. I gasped and when his head snapped up and he looked at me, I was stunned. His eyes were red and tears were falling down his cheeks...he was crying.

For a split second, our eyes were locked and it almost felt like we felt each other's pain. It was unsettling and comforting and strange all at the same time.
Hoseok opened the door and I looked away quickly before walking out of the school without a backward glance. As we walked to Hoseok's car I had a sudden and unwelcome realization.

That monster actually had feelings.