Veiled | JHS | ✓

Brave Facade

“Hot girl summer with the popular guy from college!”

Sia Winters announced to the recipient of her video call showing a very displeased Hoseok who stood at the balcony sipping from his coffee cup. Jinnie rolled his eyes, “It’s not summer yet, Si.”

“Hot girl Winters with the popular guy from college! Hey, that fits!”
Jinnie chuckled, shaking his head as he waved at Hoseok though the video call. “Hello, Hoseok.”

Hoseok gave him a nod of acknowledgement, “Hello, Jin…Kim?”
Jin gave a dramatic gasp, “You know my name? I feel so honored right now.” Sia giggled at Jin’s tease. Hoseok ignored them as a more pressing thought occurred to him. How did Sia explain their strange get together to him? Did Jin know anything about their mission? Had the girl already spilled everything to others? He gave Sia the eye as he mouthed from behind the camera ‘Does he know?’

“Of course, he knows that I am taking you out on a small trip as an apology for humiliating you in front of the students that day.” Sia sent him a quick wink and he relaxed.

“Which I should be a fool to believe,” Jinnied added, promptly making him straighten up and Sia groaned. “Just know Jung Hoseok, I’m only letting her be because she says she’s fine but if I get wind that you’re blackmailing her or harassing her in any way, I’ll come for you.” He deadpanned. Hoseok’s jaw hung open at the blatant threat as Sia aawed from the sidelines.

Indignation bubbled inside him and he snatched the smartphone from her hand, “I’m the one who needs protection from her harassment, trust me!”

“Can’t really argue with that,” Jinnie sniffed, earning a protest from Sia. “Hey!”

“You seriously don’t know what I’m going through right now. At this rate I’m not even sure if I’d survive!” Hoseok complained against her affronted cries. Jin snickered, being able to relate to his whines, “Oh I have an inkling about that, mate.”

“Then you should know her mood swings are no joke! She flips like a freaking light switch, it’s confusing as hell!”

Jin laughed out loudly at his disgruntled expression. Hoseok’s explanation summed up Sia well and from the looks of it, he was experiencing her chaotic nature in full force. It was hard to doubt that the guy would be able to threaten Sia when he was complaining about her personality like that.

Convinced about Hoseok’s innocence, Jin aked. “Why? Did you walk in on her crying or something?”

“I can’t eve— Wait, crying?” Hoseok froze at Jinnie’s words as the realization of the reason for Sia’s abrupt personality changes hit him like a truck. He did kind of walk in on her crying the other day…

Jinnie seemed to read his expression and his eyes went wide as saucers, “Dude, no! If you value your life, do not ever go near her when she’s crying! She turns into an aggressive beast when she’s sulky.”

Well, that was one way to put it, wasn’t it? Hoseok mused as Sia lunged for the phone when she figured things were taking a turn but he easily slid out of her way, urging Jin to go on. “Stay away from her at all costs when she’s crying! Once in highschool, I found her crying inside the girls’ bathroom and I sported a black eye for a week—”

Jin’s tale cut off when Sia finally got hold of her phone from Hoseok’s clutches and ended the call. She sneered, “Now, was that necessary?”

“Absolutely!” Hoseok replied.

“It wasn’t! You didn’t have to ask him about that. Now he’s not going to leave me alone until he gets an explanation, you idiot!”

“Not my problem. I’ll do anything for—”