Broken Deal | Choi Jiung

5

ba ram was quiet for the whole time. she wasn't even able to focus in her classes. she was listening to everything that came out from the teacher's mouth but she could not comprehend every single thing. with ji ung next to her, sleeping during the whole 2 subjects, didn't help either.

it was when the bell rang for lunch that ji ung finally woke up and followed ba ram to the school's cafeteria, like a little lost puppy.

they both sit together, ji ung at the opposite side of hers. ji ung was about to take his first bite when ba ram finally spoke.

"what are you doing?"

"I'm eating?" ji ung was super confused at her question but answer anyway. he was about to take a bite again when ba ram spoke again.

"you know what I'm talking about, ji ung. why you did what you did in the classroom earlier?"

sighing, ji ung realized he won't be be able to eat today. he pushed the food tray away and folded his arms on the table, and looked at her confused face.

"you told me to protect you. i did."

"i know. but why?"

"not gonna lie, my heart fluttered a bit."

"what?"

"do you know how cool you sounded yesterday?" ji ung chuckled as he reminisced her words of yesterday. "then protect me from them." he mimicked her voice then clutched his heart. "that was cute."

ba ram felt her cheeks warmed out of embarrassment. suddenly, she regretted everything and mostly the fact that ji ung was the one who saw and saved her.

"i didn't sound like that... why did you agree to help me though? you can just, you know, ignore me like everyone else."

"i told you, it was cute of you to ask me for help. and just like you, everyone ignores me-", ji ung shook his head, "no, more like avoiding me? yet here you are, asking for help from ME. i actually feel useful for the first time."

ba ram looked down, playing with her food with the chopsticks. deep down, she was thankful but the words she wanted to say was stuck in her throat.

hearing nothing from ba ram, ji ung started to talk again.

"i really want to help you, ba ram. if that can help you feel better." ji ung smiled as he crossed his arms, feeling proud at himself. "let's eat now, shall we?"

ji ung pulled the food tray in front of him again, smacking his lips at how tasty the food looked like.

"why did you act like you are my boyfriend though?"

ji ung felt like crying when he heard her voice again. putting down his chopsticks, he had to ignore the grumbling sound of his stomach and pay full attention to the girl in front of him.

"how else am i supposed to act, then?"

"i don't know. anything except that, i guess..."

"at least, it worked. look around, ba ram. everyone is looking at us." ba ram then finally managed to look around her surroundings and immediately looked at ji ung again, overwhelmed at the stares they were getting. she felt something on her head. it was ji ung, patting on her head softly.

"what are you doing?" ba ram wanted to push his hands away but ji ung told her not to do it.

"gotta make them believe that i am really your boyfriend." ji ung pulled his hand away from her head. "i will protect you if that's what you want. i might seem violent to you and everyone else but i always use my fist for a reason. you can trust me. can i eat now, ba ram?"

ba ram who was still taking in his words, looked at him who was waiting for her answer. she nodded and immediately ji ung's face light up and he let out a small 'yes' and filled his mouth with the food.

maybe ba ram could trust ji ung after all. it's only recent that they talked to each other but ji ung has been helping her since then. even when they were together, ji ung was no harm. he was strangely kind. ba ram chuckled lightly at her own thought which ji ung caught her off guard and ask her what's she thinking about.

ba ram shook her head and pushed her food tray to ji ung, asking him to finish hers as well where ji ung gladly did without saying anything.