Broken Deal | Choi Jiung

17

it's been a week since the hug and since then, ba ram had been acting weird and awkward around ji ung. she would talk less or somehow always stuttered whenever they have to talk.

ji ung and gu nil were surprisingly getting closer as well and ba ram was forced to get along by ji ung. that's the reason why the three of them were having lunch together at the cafeteria.

it was not as awkward as ba ram thought, gu nil was kind. and it felt great to have another friend in her life where it was genuine. ba ram smiled at the thought of three of them graduating together. ji ung noticed and tapped on her hand. he was sitting beside her while gu nil was in front of them.

"what are you thinking about smiling like that?"

ji ung asked. gu nil got curious and looked at her as well. ba ram cleared her throat and waved her hand to the two of them.

"nothing." ba ram put down her chopsticks, feeling full and ji ung casually took her food tray to finish what was unfinished.

"by the way, have you guys seen yoo ra and na mi? i haven't seen them for a week now, not that I'm not glad that they haven't been bothering me though."

gu nil looked at ji ung who was already staring at him. gu nil raised his eyebrows and immediately nod, knowing the answer to ba ram's curiosity already.

"ask your loverboy here." gu nil said carelessly, making ji ung flustered. ji ung was giving signals for gu nil to shut up but it was unnoticed as gu nil continued eating.

"what do you mean?" ba ram turned to face ji ung.

"i thought ji ung was disappointing enough for not knowing your number. but you don't even know how powerful he is?" gu nil sighed, touching the side of his glasses.

"it's not something important for you to know, ba ram." ji ung said as he smiled at ba ram who was still confused. ba ram was still looking at him, hoping he would eventually tell her and, he did.

"i just asked help from my father, okay? that's it."

ba ram nodded, thinking it would be rude if she asked further. she realized she didn't really know anything about ji ung except for the fact that he's rich. it's only two reasons if you are able to be in the school, 1. you are under a scholarship just like her and 2. you are super rich. ba ram was sure it was the second one because well, ji ung didn't really do anything other than fight, though it changed now.

-

ba ram quitted her part time job after a week as her mom was finally discharged and be able to work again. ji ung never really left her side, for a week, he would wait for her until her shift ended and walked her home, getting more protective during the night walk. 

it was so sudden as ba ram swiftly changed her direction away from her house and ji ung was confused but still followed her.

"where are you going?"

"let's eat tteokbokki. it's on me."

ji ung smiled and nodded at her, happily following her steps. when they got to the tteokbokki stall, they sit at the provided place with their tteokbokki.

"i know this might sound disrespectful but my head has been hurting from thinking. what is it that gu nil meant you are powerful? i mean i know you are rich but are you richer than yoo ra? and what do you mean you asked for your father's help? where is yoo ra? don't tell me you are a serial killer or anything. are you going to kill-"

ji ung chuckled as he held a tteokbokki in front of her, signalling for her to eat it and she did, chewing slowly.

"eat and listen, cutie. to be really honest, it amazed me that you never really know who am i, especially my family. gu nil ruined it, really." he chuckled and shook his head before continuing, "my father is the minister of education. so i just asked him to transfer yoo ra to another school. told him everything about what yoo ra did since you approached me. it took a long time but last week was the day yoo ra was transfered, that's why you don't see her anymore. she's transfered all the way to busan. meaning, you won't even meet her on the streets here."

"so, you're rich rich then. ah! that must be the reason you looked so clueless at the subway station. you never ride it before?"

ji ung nodded. he folded his hands on the table, his attention fully on ba ram who was amazed with the new information she got.

"you should have told me back then! why didn't you?"

"you were so enthusiastic to teach me! how can i? plus, i am a pro with the subway station now! i know all the lanes' name even with my eyes closed now." ji ung said happily, proud of himself.

"you should have told me earlier... but okay. now that i know. thank you, ji ung. i felt like I'm such a burden to you. you helped me a lot and here i am, treating you to tteokbokki."

"tteokbokki is a luxury, you know. it has been a long time since i last ate this. this will sound cringe but I'm a man of words. i promised to keep you safe, i did. i only do what i can. you are not a burden, ba ram. stop thinking that way. i did all of this because of you and it's because i want to."

ba ram smiled shyly. she was shocked herself to found herself overthinking of many things when it comes to ji ung. or maybe because it's ji ung.

after eating, they continued their walk to ba ram's house. it was silent as usual but ba ram could see from the side of her eyes that ji ung looked uncomfortable. as if he was looking for something but never found. after what felt like years, ji ung cleared his throat.

"ba ram."

"what?"

"nothing. i like your name."

"did they put something in the tteokbokki? are you okay?" ba ram placed her hand on ji ung's forehead to feel the temperature. "it's hot!."

ba ram was about to retract her hand but ji ung was quick enough to grab her hand and clasped it with his.

"jiung. what are you doing?" ba ram looked at their hands. she was nervous for no reason, her hands suddenly started to sweat. she tried to pull away, scared if ji ung found it disgusting. but ji ung didn't move an inch. "ji ung?"

"i need to poop."