Mr. Bitter's Sweetness | So Junghwan ✓

Chapter ten

CINDY

I was exhausted from everything that happened yesterday. My wrist throbbed from the cut I made. I didn’t know what possessed me to do it.

I decided to leave the room and saw Jeongwoo sleeping on Junghwan’s shoulder. They were so adorable to watch. I forced myself not to laugh. I’d never seen them like this before. They looked like they had no fight left in them.

I took my phone out of my pocket and snapped pictures of them while they slept.  They looked like a couple.

Junghwan woke up and immediately pushed Jeongwoo away, making me laugh out loud.

“Hey, what’s your problem?” Jeongwoo said angrily to Junghwan.
“You’re too close,” Junghwan said.
“Junghwan oppa, you’re so handsome.” Jeongwoo settled back onto Junghwan’s shoulder and teased him. It made me laugh even harder.
“Hey, move away,” Junghwan said.
“Hey, what’s that?” Junghwan turned to me. Had he noticed me taking pictures?
“It’s nothing,” I said hesitantly.
“Hey, give me your phone,” Junghwan said, looking angry but also funny.
“Yah, Cindy, delete that,” Jeongwoo said.
“No, I wanna show this to them,” I said, and they knew who I meant. They both tried to catch me. Jeongwoo succeeded, and Junghwan snatched my phone.
“What’s the passcode?” Junghwan asked desperately.
“Why would I tell you?”

I tried to grab my phone back, but they were teasing me, passing the phone back and forth like a basketball.
Ugh! How did they get so tall? It was more infuriating than fun now.
Okay, you want to play games? Fine. I'll play too.

I pretended I was struggling to breathe.

“Cindy, are you okay?” Jeongwoo asked, looking worried.
I took my chance. I grabbed my phone back and pulled it away from Junghwan.
“I fooled you,” I said, pointing at them with my index finger.  I laughed at them while kneeling on the floor, but then I remembered Mom, and my laughter faded. Tears started streaming down my face, but I just pretended I was still laughing.

Jeongwoo hugged me and drew circles on my back.
“It’s okay,” he said.
Junghwan handed me his handkerchief but didn’t say anything.  Sometimes he was so mysterious, sometimes scary, easygoing, and sometimes quiet. But he was always sarcastic and bitter.

A few hours passed, and we were ready to go to where we would bury my Mom.  I decided she should be buried beside my father. Years ago, Mom had bought a plot next to my father, so in case something happened, it wouldn't be a burden.

We walked to the graveyard, which was nearby, and Mom’s coffin arrived first, thanks to the workers. I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I felt so empty, and I didn't want to lose anyone else, especially Jeongwoo.

We arrived at the graveyard, just me, Jeongwoo, Junghwan, Jihoon, Doyoung, and Jihye.
After the prayer, we started to place flowers on top of the coffin before it was lowered into the ground.
I started to cry hard as they lowered my mom into her final resting place.
Jihye hugged me.  Even though she didn't know my Mom, she was still there with me.
And Jihoon, he always said he thought my Mom was nice and a good person.
They both always say they got my back.
I was so grateful to have these people around me.
All I had to do now was to move on and accept the fact that my Mom wasn't with me anymore.
After the workers finished burying Mom, we sat on the ground. I was just dumbfounded there while they talked. They kept trying to distract me, but I couldn't think clearly.
I heard Junghwan talking, and a snap in my mind brought me back to reality.

"Cindy's mom made gimbap for us at the hospital, and it was really good," Junghwan said.
"Yeah, I ate that too when Cindy brought it for us. It was so much better than other gimbap," Jihye added.

"Cindy, your mom cooks well. Maybe you do too," Doyoung said, and I gave an awkward smile. He probably was expecting too much. I don't know how to cook.
"No, I think you're expecting too much," I laughed awkwardly. "I only know how to cook rice. Mom never taught me how to cook," I said awkwardly.
"Ohhh, now we know that Miss Smart has something she doesn't know," Junghwan said, his usual sarcastic tone.
"Everyone, I have something to show you," I smirked, and I showed them the picture of him and Jeongwoo. Everyone burst into laughter.

It was getting dark, and we were starting to leave.
"Eomma, Appa, I hope you're both happy in heaven. Don't worry about me. I'm going to take care of myself. I'll be strong," I said to them.
"I'll accompany you to your house," Jeongwoo said, and I nodded.

A few minutes later, we arrived at my house.
I turned on the lights.
Everything felt so new to me.
No one would cook for me when I got home from school.
No one would tell me to go to sleep and take a rest.

I was shocked when Jeongwoo pulled me close and kissed me.
It wasn't like our kisses before; this one was completely different.  I closed my eyes as he leaned in, and his tongue met mine.
He pushed me onto the sofa and continued kissing me. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
Then he started kissing my jaw, down to my neck.
I have to admit, I liked what he was doing.
His lips came back to mine again.
I moved with him, in sync with his lips.
After a while, we both stopped, breathless.
He then kissed my forehead.
"I love you, Cindy."
"I love you too, Jeongwoo."
"But I think you should go back home," I said to him.
"No, I'm staying here with you," he said.
I yawned because I was tired and a bit sleepy.

"You wanna sleep?" Jeongwoo asked me.
"Yeah," I said.
"Then let's sleep. I'll sleep with you now," he said, smiling.
"I'll just take a bath first," I said, and he nodded.
"You have clothes with you, Jeongwoo?" I asked him.
"Yeah, I brought clothes with me," he said.

I went to my bedroom to get a towel and my clothes.
After that, I immediately headed to the bathroom to take a bath.
I was done and I started putting on my clothes, wrapping my hair with a towel.
After that, I brushed my teeth and got out.
"Jeongwoo, take a bath now so we can sleep," I said, handing him a towel.
"Yes, my love," he said. I started blushing because of what he called me.
I headed back to my bedroom and took the blower to dry my hair quickly.
We went upstairs and got into my room.
We laid down, and as I closed my eyes, Jeongwoo held me, burying my face in his chest.
Right now, I could hear my own heartbeat.
He then kissed me on my forehead.
"Good night, my love," he said. I could feel my face heating up.