The Love Scandal ♪ Nishimura Riki

24 ♪ on a deeper level

Chapter twenty-four

As the month was already coming to a close, it was no surprise that spring break would finally arrive through the door. March took its time getting to the finish line, but it got there, and next thing they knew it was time for April to come in. The ad infinitum passing of days, months, and years.

"Do you have everything packed; toothbrush, toothpaste, body wash?" Her mom interrogated. She gives Jihyun's bag a one-over with her hawk-like narrowed eyes to take in what was there and what wasn't. A crumb of frustration makes Jihyun exhale loudly but she smiles over it.

Jihyun pressed the suitcase together to cover her belongings–though she's pretty sure her mom knows what was inside the way she scrutinized it. "Yes, everything is packed, mom."

"You're really leaving?" Jeeyu peaks inside her room, hair clean and neat, a result of their mom's washing. His eyes are curious but a sparkle of upset in his irises as well.

"It'll only be for a little while," reassured Jihyun as she zipped her bag closed, adding pressure to the top to make sure that it did. If she had a tendency to overpack sometimes, that wasn't important. "Time feels truncated more often than not, I'll be back before you know it Jeeyu."

"Truncated?" He repeats, perplexed.

"Short. Time feels short," Jihyun simplified with a fond grin. In that it does, for just like that everything flew right by her. Endless debate meetings, being announced to team with Riki after the concert situation, then the competition, all in what felt like just a few moments of time rather than the days–weeks–it took. Jihyun stands, holding the handle of the suitcase and propping it up the moment she's on her feet.

"Ah, Jihyun," He voices aloud, stating like he had just recalled something. In the background, he's admonished once more for his lack of honorifics. Jeeyu steps into the room, slimming the distance, and looks up at her with resolute eyes. "Can you introduce us to your debate teammate?"

A drop sensation hits her stomach, and her face freezes with an awkward grin. Tension is formed in her eyebrows and she briefly glances at her amused mother. Despite the hesitation, she glances back at Jeeyu and questions, "Why do you ask that, Jeeyu?"

"People in my class say that that is the person you're dating. They say that they've seen you everywhere," He adds, innocent to the situation at hand and the slight inner turmoil Jihyun was going through. Regardless, Jihyun only lets out a stilted chuckle and pats his shoulder.

"You're barely in second grade, Jeeyu. You still have to get familiar with adjectives so why don't you leave that be, okay?"

Her mother slightly hits her shoulder, reprimanding her, too. Jihyun scrunches her face in a small reply to her mother's actions before giving her attention back to her pouting brother. "Maybe if you graduate with good grades, I will."

"I already get good grades though," Jeeyu retorts.

"Not for long," She teases, to which her mom lightly smacks her shoulder again. "Okay, but I should get going. Dad's been in the car for who knows how long now," She concludes, shifting the air to something more bittersweet. Jihyun's mom hugs her and wishes her a safe and fun trip while Jeeyu tells her the same, but with an addition of 'bring your teammate back!' did he even know that Riki was going to be there?

Jihyun trails down the stairs with her luggage and gives one last look at their comely abode, making sure to tuck an image of it away in her mind, before she leaves out the front door with only excitement left in her beating heart.

"You ready for this?" Her dad asks, straightening his posture as it seemed that he was slouching–or just relatively relaxed–before she had entered the car.