This is the fourth story in the Undone series.
This is Jung Hoseok's time to shine.
He is taking control of a new project at Stellar Design, and he has decided it's time to take control of his love life as well. He is weary of being alone, and he...
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In the following days, it was almost as if nothing ever happened.
They continued to eat take out and work on the project. Hobi had been invited skiing with several of his dance buddies and that made Izzy feel better about going ahead with her plans to go home for Christmas break.
Olivia and Hobi spent the last two nights before break together. They all had breakfast before seeing each other off.
Izzy left, unable to watch the long, lingering kiss goodbye between her two best friends.
Olivia was different when she returned from break.
The other two had dug right into the project as soon as they returned.
She was more than a week late getting back to campus and when she did show up she was rolling huge expensive luggage stuffed with designer clothes and driving a brand new Mercedes convertible.
They did not even know she was back until Izzy came home after a late work session and found the apartment cluttered with her things and discovered Olivia sound asleep in her room.
Hobi would be devastated if Olivia had not at least called him. Turned out she had not bothered.
Izzy found that out the next morning when she opened the door to Hobi offering to take her to class.
The look on his face when Olivia wondered out of her bedroom said it all. Happiness, then confusion, then anger as she asked him if he had brought breakfast.
He simply asked if that was all she had to say to him and without waiting for an answer turned and walked away.
Isabelle did not stick around to answer Olivia when she asked “ what did I do?”
Things went worse from there.
Olivia began to spend more time with a group of friends she met over break. She and Hobi were not even fighting anymore. She barely made time for either of them. She was slacking on the project, the few times she did show up she always said “ whatever you think.”
Izzy grew tired of her attitude, and sick of the way she treated Hoseok. One of the rare nights Olivia was home before midnight she confronted her.
“ Liv, what are you doing? Why are you treating him this way?” she asked.
“Come on Izzy, this is not a fairy tale! We are going to graduate in 3 months. We can’t live in each other's pocket We need to look toward the future!” Olivia answered.
“I don’t like it. He is hurt,” Izzy replied, “ and you are exactly right! We need to be concentrating on finishing Izzy and Fitz. Those internships will be decided in the next several weeks. We need your input and you are not giving us any effort.”
“ Izzy……you and Hobi finish it out. I know it will get you the spot you want. But, don’t tell anyone, my mom told me over the break she could get me into any design house I wanted. I don’t need the project like you two do,” Olivia confessed.
Izzy was stunned. Even for Livi this was mean and clueless.
“ What do you mean? What about our plans to all go together? That’s all we have worked for these past 2 years….what about Hobi?” she asked.
“It will all work out, “ Olivia said, paying more attention to her hair than the conversation.” My parents had a long conversation with me about my future and what was expected and what was acceptable. We came to an…..agreement.”
Izzy had a sick feeling that the “ agreement" excluded Hobi, but she did not ask that question.
She left and went to her room, anticipating what she and Hoseok needed to do to finish the project.
Their futures had not already been secured by family name and influence. Hard work and talent would do for them what a phone call would do for Olivia.
In the following weeks she was too busy to worry about Olivia.
The project was finished early, thanks to Hobi’s meticulous planning. She could tell he was stressed. They seldom talked abut Olivia.
Olivia was gone most nights, but Izzy knew some of them were still spent with Hoseok. She assumed they had reached an understanding.
Hoseok found Izabelle the day he received a letter from their first choice of internships. He handed her the envelope with shaking hands and asked her to read it for him.
After the first sentence they were screaming and jumping. He had been chosen for early selection. He was offered a position in production and management which came with a stipend and a tiny apartment in the company complex.
He hugged her tight and they both cried. They went out to celebrate after spending an hour trying to find Olivia. They ended up back at the girls’ apartment and drank and talked all night.
They shared dreams and plans and hopes for the future, a future where they worked and created together. Olivia never came home that night.
A week later Olivia found them both in the library and insisted they all have dinner together that night.
She insisted Izzy be there too. Izzy sighed at the look on Hobi's face. He was clearly hoping things could get back to normal with Olivia. She asked them to be at the apartment by 5.
Hoseok was early and happily helped set out the huge array of take out dishes Livi had ordered. Izzy poured the wine and the three of them fell into comfortable habits and rhythms.
They had finished eating and moved to the couches, drinking the wine and talking when Olivia brought up the Governor’s Banquet scheduled for the following week.
Olivia and Hobi had been planning and talking about the upcoming Governor’s Banquet for weeks.
Hoseok only knew that his internship was formally being awarded that night. He did not know he was also receiving two awards. Izzy was beside herself with pride. She could not wait to see his face when his name was called.
Livi had been fussing around trying to find the perfect dress.
Hobi's family had sent him a bespoke suit tailored in one of the finest shops in his hometown. He would be stunning.
“ Hobi….” Olivia said, “straightening and moving away from him, “ I have changed my mind about the Banquet,” she said.
“ Oh? You want to wear the blue dress? It is perfect for you,” he said, smiling at her, meaning every word.
“No, not that,” she said, “ I changed my mind about going with you. I don’t want…I mean I can’t….I can’t go with you.”
Izzy felt sick as she watched the blood drain from Hobi's face.
What the hell was Olivia doing and why had she insisted Izzy be here to see it?
“ You can’t or you won’t?” he asked, his face set and his tone ice.
“Well, either or both….I don’t know what to say,” Olivia admitted.
“Actually, I do know. I should tell you this. I am going with Theo Kinnen. You know him. He was at the lake that time, ” she carefully explained.
Hobi's head was spinning. How the hell was that supposed to help right now?
“ My parents have met him and they….” For the first time in her life Olivia realized she should shut up.
“ Anyway, why don’t you just take Izzy? She has always…”
“ Shut the fuck up Olivia. Now,” Izzy threatened.
She long suspected Olivia knew about her feelings for Hobi. Now it was clear why she insisted she be here tonight.
Hobi stood, no longer processing what was going on.
“I'm sorry. I have to leave. I forgot I have a chemistry test tomorrow,” he said, blindly making his way to the door.
She watched him go, allowing him the dignity he deserved.
She turned on Olivia as soon as he was out of ear shot.
“ How dare you….” She started.
” Save it Isabelle. I was trying to do all of us a favor. Hoseok is the best. He is an incredible boyfriend, the best lover I have ever had by far, but we all know I have no future with him. My parents made it very clear at Christmas. The list of candidates that are acceptable for me to date and marry is very small and Jung Hoseok is definitely not among them. This is how it works for families like mine. I thought you would be grateful for your chance.” Olivia recited all of this like it was simple logic.
“ Don’t do either of us any favors Livi. This is about you- always is. I hope you are happy. There is no excuse to treat him this way.” Isabelle was shaking. She was using all of her control not to slap Olivia.
“ I know. I just didn’t know what else to do,” she said, sounding genuinely sad, like she really believed she had no other choice.
Izzy stomped out and by the time she cooled down and returned Olivia had gone.
Of course she left the ruins of supper for Izzy to deal with.
As she threw it all away Izzy worried how she could deal with the ruin Livi had made of Hobi's heart.
