I Can Make It Right

Stay Away

In agitation, I kissed Jimin. From my vantage point, I could see Paul's shocked expression.

What I did not expect was the sensation of Jimin's lips on mine, as well as butterflies in my stomach. He cupped my face and intensified our kiss.

"F**k you!" Paul yelled, and Jimin was yanked sharply away from me. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I saw Paul throw a punch at Jimin, but Jimin easily dodged it, causing Paul to fall to the floor face first.

Paul quickly stood up and attempted to punch Jimin again, but the latter grabbed his fist and twisted his entire arm behind his back. I was impressed by Jimin's agility.

"Let me go, you jerk!" Paul's face flushed with embarrassment as he attempted to free himself from Jimin's grip.

Jimin effortlessly dragged him to the door and threw him out. He slammed it shut before Paul could even stand up.

Paul kicked my door and yelled from outside.

"Call the cops," Jimin ordered, which I did without hesitation.

After asking us a lot of questions, the cops left, dragging Paul along with them. My neighbors peeked out of their doors. Some even approached me to inquire what was going on. Jimin politely explained that it was just a misunderstanding and that everything was already under control. They all stared at him with wide eyes and nodded in agreement with everything he said.

Jimin was not that bad. Based on our interactions, he seems like a nice guy. However, I saw him with several different girls. What makes him different from Paul?

My employees used to tease me about Jimin. They claimed he likes me because he looks at me in the same way he does at his food. I just shrugged my shoulders and told them they watched too many Korean dramas.

Jimin returned after talking with the last of my "curious" neighbors.

Our eyes met, and I blushed as my mind conjured up an image of our kiss.

He smiled at me as he scratched the back of his neck. He could be thinking about it too. I prayed that the ground would simply split open and swallow me whole.

"Water?" I picked up a glass of water from the table and offered it to him.

He reached for it. When his fingers brushed against mine, I felt electrified. I abruptly let go of the glass, which dropped to the floor.

Jimin rushed to my side, asking, "Aera, are you okay?" He examined me and asked if I was hurt in any way. He then shifted his focus to the broken glass on the floor.

"Jimin, just leave," I whispered. Tears streamed down my face.

He slowly looked at me, puzzled. "Are you hurt?" Please tell me where. He inquired, his voice full of concern.

I shoved him away from me. "Just leave! Please," I yelled at him as I pointed to the door.

Jimin is someone I cannot be around. He will only cause me more trouble.

I was hurt by someone I never thought would do so. What more for a man like Jimin, who treated women like he changed his clothes.

He said nothing as he turned away and walked out the door. I saw the hurt in his eyes, but I do not care. Men like him and Paul treated us as if we were toys. They will toss us when they are tired of playing and want to try something new.

I concentrated solely on my business. The news of Paul's arrest spread among our family and friends. They kept calling me and bothering me about it. I stopped taking their calls.

My parents promised to come home soon and talk to me when they get back. They did not ask anything other than what I wanted them to buy for me. I said I did not need anything.

When I took my designated seat, everyone's attention shifted to me. Every year, my former classmates organize a gathering like this. I am just lucky that it was scheduled after the unfortunate event in my life.

I saw Kim Taehyung, whom I knew to be friends with Jimin. He gives me a nod of acknowledgement. I gave him a brief smile. Paul was also present and was giving me a deathly glare. We used to sit next to each other, but this year I requested to be seated farther away from him. I sit between my two friends, Jae and Nari.

I ignored Paul all night, no matter what he did or said to get my attention. My patience is wearing thin.

One of our classmates had the audacity to speak up and address me. "Aera,"I coldly turned my gaze at him,"don't you think my friend Paul here deserves a second chance?"

Everyone agreed except for Taehyung, Nari, and Jae, who scoffed.

Someone on my right side said, "Do not be so stubborn; forgive the poor guy." I turned to find out who it was. Yun-hae, without a doubt. My biggest critic.

I clenched and uncoiled my fist. Nari put her hand on top of mine.

"Paul cheated on Aera." She told everybody.

"Well, if she was not so stuck up, Paul would not cheat on her," Yun-hae said.

I completely lost my cool. I stood up and looked around the table.

"If you all want to forgive him and give him another chance, go ahead. Just leave me out of this," I gritted my teeth. "I was the victim in this situation, but you all believe I was at fault?"My voice keeps getting louder. "You all have a problem with your brains. Go get it checked! I snapped. I looked at Paul with dagger eyes.

I left the table and exited the establishment.
Every step aggravates me. How could they possibly disregard my feelings? I got hurt. I should have punched them in the face to make them realize how painful it was.