Damn Those Boys (SuJu Fanfiction)

Chapter 3: In Which Forgiveness Doesn't Mean Friendship

It's me again guys! Hey! New chapter for y'all. Happy now, Autumn?

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Cold...

JungSoo's eyes shoot open as the ice cold water splashes onto her body.

"Get up, loser," JaeHwa demands harshly. JungSoo groggily sits up. She thinks about making a snarky comments, but JaeHwa's angry about something, and JungSoo doesn't want to piss the older off any more than she already is.

"What's going on?" JungSoo asks, tiredly.

"I thought I'd ask you the same. What makes you think you can come here without a scratch after you were supposed to have gotten the shit beat out of you yesterday? I bet you skipped out like the little bitch you are. When they find you, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. In fact, I think I'll save them the trouble."

JaeHwa grabs the younger's hair and drags JungSoo from her bed to main living space. Kicks land everywhere; stomach, chest, back, legs. But JungSoo doesn't shout. Not until the door nearly flies off the hinges and JungSoo lets out a startled shriek.

Before she can process what's happening, she is cradled in someone's arms as JaeHwa is slammed into the wall. It takes her a moment to realize JaeHwa's being yelled at by KangIn and KyuHyun's holding her and asking if she's alright.

She pushes him off gently with a murmur of "I'm fine, KyuHyun." But she's not fine. Her ribs hurt like hell, she's feeling a migraine coming on, and she's pretty sure her left leg is broken. But she's not gonna tell him that.

"Hey, be quiet. My head hurts." It's a barely-there whisper, but KyuHyun hears it and in seconds the room is coated in silence. JaeHwa quickly slips out of the room while she has the chance.

"Why?" she asks quietly, curling into KyuHyun's warmth. One of the others hands him a blanket and he wraps her in it, temporarily stopping her shivers from her cold shower.

"Because, believe it or not, I want to make up for what we did. Like you said, sorry can't fix what is broken. But I want to help you mend, as cheesy as it may sound. I want to protect you." There's a slight pause as he looks at the other boys. "We want to protect you. Will you let us?"

JungSoo shifts, pulling herself out of KyuHyun's embrace. "I thought I told you yesterday that I don't - can't - trust you." KyuHyun opens his mouth to protest, but JungSoo holds up a hand. "Let me speak. I believe you truly meant your apology yesterday and that's enough. That's all I need. Forgiveness doesn't mean friendship. I don't want your protection and I don't want your pity. You've apologized, but what makes you think Krystal will relent? She still hates me. You might've scared off JaeHwa for the time being, but she'll be back. And when she is, I'll handle it."

"You mean like how you were handling it before we showed up?" asks YeSung sarcastically. "Sitting there and letting her kick the shit outta you? Great plan."

"Look, I don't need your opinion and I don't need your criticism, okay? I'm over wanting to kill myself because I know you all are genuinely sorry for what you've done to me. So if someone wants to beat me up, let 'em." JungSoo stands slowly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get ready for class." She limps over to her room.