The Love Scandal ♪ Nishimura Riki

28 ♪ hope to the hopeless

Chapter twenty-eight

"Are you missing it already?"

Jihyun cants her head back to rest against the wearing cushion of the bus seat. Outside of the advancing vehicle is a shrouded mass of land, overlaid with the pale blue of the sky overhead. They pass by run buildings of varying heights and graying aesthetics, it feels strangely nostalgic, the hazy cerulean filter mixed with light or dark shades of grey.

It's not something she misses instantly per se, but rather a scenery Jihyun keeps next to her beating heart, acquainted with the sweeter memories she handpicks to remember forever. She shakes her head. "I'm kind of relieved to finally say goodbye. You know, in a good way."

His careful hand isn't slick when it comes to rest on her covered shoulder, Riki's warm arm against her shoulder blades. She lets him believe that it is though, as she doesn't choose the confronting words to comment on it. He tilts his head forward, staring obviously, his clear vision a mix of the world beyond the murky glass pane and the girl beside him.

She minutely turns her head and Riki fixes his bending posture as if he were looking forward the entire time. "Yeah. It's back to school after this."

"You aren't worried about anyone seeing?" Jihyun asks, slightly raising the shoulder Riki's hand rests against, a small gesture to show what she was pertaining to. The boy looks around, a short glance.

"It's just club members. I doubt they'd care."

"And if they did?"

"Don't be paranoid. Not everyone cares about everything you do, even if you're known fairly."

Jihyun presses her lips together, clearly unsure, but she never shakes Riki's arm before glancing back out of the window so he keeps it there, a little irresolute in doing so.

"So we're going to the company, right? After taking everything home?"

"We can make it there at 4, if you're fine with it, I'll drive you."

"You can drive?"

"Legally? No, but as long as I'm safe and not breaking any rules, I'm not getting pulled over for an ID check."

A short chuckle heaves out of Jihyun's mouth. "I'd rather be in a car with someone who is a legal driver, Riki."

"Trust me this once, at least."

Jihyun scrunches her face at his lifted pinky finger, playfully pushing his hand away. "No way."

Riki wilts, acting like a childish kid, he pushes further but Jihyun keeps denying him, gesturing a silencing zipper over her lips. His petulance only lasts up until they arrive back in their province, and Jihyun really (not really) wished they took the train back so that she wouldn't see him moping like a child because he'd be in front of everyone.

They get off at the same unsaturated train station, however, where parked cars of their parents gather in the semi-crowded parking lot. Jihyun sees her dad standing just out of his dark car, leaning against the driver's side door, and a cordial smile forms on her face.

"Riki," she calls out.

Easily, she catches his attention.

"I'll text you my address, just be sure to make it there at least by 3:45."

Determination etches on his features like paint on a canvas and he raises his thumb. Mood flipped.

He's such a kid.

•••

Her dad had pestered her about the trip the entire ride home, asking what had occurred and seeing if any of it tied up with their last trip there when she was young. She spares him of the minuscule details, not having a reason to mention them in their entirety. He wears a fatherly smile throughout, nodding along to whatever Jihyun ended up confessing before adding that they should all go there as a family soon.