Seven Brothers (JENSOO)

Chapter - 16

I was on edge 24/7, I didn't know what to do with myself. All I could think about was Jisoo's lips on mine and the way her hands gripped my hips, her intoxicating scent. It was like a scene from a movie that I couldn't stop replaying. I found myself thinking about it at the worst of times, like in Mrs. Streep's English class when I sat alone in the corner. I hadn't seen her since we kissed and I was so nervous, but undeniably excited, to see her again. For some reason she hadn't been over my house since New Year, which was strange considering it was pretty much her second home. I nearly began to hyperventilate when she walked in, my stomach doing flips at the sight of her. I bit down on my lip to hide a sly smile that was creeping into my face. I expected her to come and sit next to me at the back, but instead she chose a seat at the front, completely dodging the look I sent her way.

My stomach dropped instantly and I felt like I was going to cry. It was my worst fear come true, she regretted kissing me. How could I have been so stupid to think that for even a second he would return my feelings?! She was fire, passionate and powerful, and I was the wind, invisible and irrelevant.

People worshipped her like a deity, she was charismatic and charming. On the other hand, I was underestimated, unappreciated and unsatisfactory. Seventeen, clumsy and shy.

***

She continued to ignore me, couldn't even look at me. She went the other way when she saw me in the hallway and she didn't sit with us at lunch, she was off somewhere with Hanbin. I didn't bother telling Rosè and Lisa about the kiss, it seemed so irrelevant now, like it was just a big mistake. One good thing came out of it though, at least I knew where I stood with Jisoo.

That evening, at home, I spotted Hanbin alone in his bedroom, technically it was Jin's bedroom but Hanbin moved in there after Jin moved out. I couldn't blame him, I'd rather live in a dungeon in an abandoned castle than share a room with Kai. Slowly, cautiously, I walked in there, he was busy tuning his guitar. Call it twin telepathy, but he knew I was in there without even looking up.

"What's up, Chuck?" He asked as he tightened the strings. "Nothing" I sighed, sitting in his computer chair, facing him.
"What's wrong?" He asked. Damn twin connection, he knew what I was thinking!
"It's not me, I was just curious about Jisoo. She's was a little distant today" I spoke, trying to not make it sound like I cared too much, even though I was internally screaming at him to give me answers.

"Isn't she always distant?" He chuckled, putting the guitar down and facing me.
"You know what I mean" I giggled, reaching out to tap him with my foot. "She seemed fine to me, did she say something you?" He asked, raising a curious eyebrow at me.
"Well that's the problem. She completely blanked me today" I sighed, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.
"Listen nini I wouldn't worry about it, she was probably just having an off day. I mean, think of how far you've come, you couldn't even say two words to each other when you first met and now you're good friends" he comforted me, probably understanding more than I realised.

His words were true though, we had come a long way, I valued her friendship immensely. Even if I couldn't have all of her, I still didn't want to lose our friendship. I realised I hadn't even tried to talk to her, had just accepted that she hated me and probably completely overreacted. We could go back to the way things used to be, I just had to talk to her.

***

The day after my heart to heart with Hanbin I felt renewed, like the world was an okay place again. I was determined to talk to Jisoo and find out what was going on, surely she wasn't actually ignoring me. But, once again I didn't seem her all day, in fact I wasn't even sure she was in school, or in the state, or in the country. She could have moved to Tokyo or Tahiti for all I knew. Perhaps my mind was running away with me a little bit. I think by now it's clear that I have a tendency to overreact.