It's not easy to pick sides. Everyone has secrets, secrets they want hidden and buried. What extent would you go to hide your secrets? How far would you go for self preservation?
Like father, like daughter.
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T...
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Duke invited you for a day out with Jiho. It's been a while since you've been able to hangout with them.
You agreed not only because they were your friends but also because you felt like you owed it to him for the cold shoulder you've been giving him.
Now that you've had time to unwind you started to reflect. You felt guilty and almost like you were taking advantage of his kindness by calling him a friend but ignoring him at the same time.
It was the coffee shop that Jace worked at, you remembered it very well. You and Mira came here a couple times, it had a good selection and people. At least most of the time.
But before you can go inside Jiho and Duke were already walking out.
"Oh, hey [y/n]!" Jiho smiled and straightened up.
He was wearing off-brand clothes and was walking with confidence.
Duke waved and smiled at you while beside him.
"What's wrong? Thought we were staying here." You asked them.
Duke was about to tell you something until Jiho jumped in.
"Nothing! We just got sick of it. There's a better place down the road anyway.." he played it off like nothing.
"Alright then.. lead the way." You decided to ignore it.
But suddenly someone called out to him, making you all look back to see who it was.
"John!" He smiled, like seeing an old friend.
"Woah— long time no see!"
"Yeah man! Is your dad still doing well? Still in the same place?"
"Yep! Of course! How have you been?"
"Same old, same old. So your dad is well? Give me your number!"
You and Duke watched with unamused faces. John was wearing the same uniform Jace wore, meaning he worked there.
You've never really had a conversation with the guy except when you wanted to order some coffee, so you couldn't say much on his character. But he was always kind of off-putting.
"Oh! And Jiho.. could you loan me some money? Cause I'm betting.." John still smiled, but brought his hand to rub the nape of his neck awkwardly.
"Huh? Money?" Jiho stepped back and panicked a bit. "I don't have any right now."
"Oh, so things are tough for you? Sorry, I didn't know you were broke too." He sounded so condescending that you were surprised even Jiho didn't pick up on it.
"Hey, no! Who said that? I can use my card! I'll be right back—"
"We should get going." You interrupted. Jiho looked worried for a second.
"Wait! I won't be long." He smiled nervously.
"Suns going down. You can resolve whatever it is later." You reiterated.
"But.." he looked back at John's disappointed face.
"It's alright Jiho, I didn't mean to get in the way of you and your friends." He put on a sad face.
You didn't like him.
"Yeah well it's best to not overdue your stay." You said politely, shutting up any bad decisions Jiho might've made if you let him speak. But that didn't even stop him.
"[Y/n]! Don't be so mean to my friend." He glared, which shocked you since he normally wasn't this quick to turn on you.
"Jiho, you—" you tried, but failed.
"C'mon John, let's go." Jiho ignored you and walked to John's side. "Coming Duke?"
You and Jiho both looked at him expectedly, waiting to see who he'd go with.
"Actually.. I think I'll stay with [Y/n]." He said awkwardly.
It was obvious he didn't want to step on anyone's toes, but he noticed the same things you did almost immediately.
You smiled in triumph as Jiho scowled and walked away, John following.
"That guy's bad news.." you said and Duke nodded in agreement.
"But as his friends, shouldn't we help him..?" Duke watched them.
You thought for a moment. There isn't a way to force someone to change their behavior unless they're willing to do it.
"I just tried." You gestured to your surroundings, emphasizing the fact that Jiho had left the two of you to hang out with the guy who wants his money.
"This always happens anyways. He'll make some mistakes, cry to some people, and they'll fix it for him."
That didn't bring much comfort to Duke.
"But gambling is more complicated than that, isn't it?"
"Duke." You said as you started to walk away, completely ignoring this ridiculous line of questioning.
He was quick to catch up with you.
......
"...Betting? What's that?"
Daniel was leaning behind the register with his arms crossed.
"It's illegal gambling. Do something to stop Jiho." Duke repeated.
"There's nothing he, or any of us can do Duke." You said again, a bit more annoyed.
"Oh! I know about that! If you guess the game score, you win right?" Zoe used Daniel as an armrest and smiled as she explained it.
"No. That is legal sports betting." You corrected her and she frowned.
"But there is a range of illegal betting games." Duke stated.
"Oh, that was on the news because celebs are into it too, right?" Zoe thought out loud.
"Yeah, it's super 'trendy' among teens too." You told her.
"So that's what he's gotten himself into.." Daniel seemed as, if not, more worried than Duke. "And he just straightened things out with Doo too."
"Listen guys... I know he's your friend and all," you were still ticked off about earlier. "But there's no helping him unless he realizes what he's gotten into is bad for him."
"Speak of the devil.." Zoe said while looking past you.
"Welcome!" Daniel greeted the new customers.
"Jiho, are these your friends?" John said while looking around.
"Huh? Yeah!" He answered while offering John a smoke.
"Well, that's my sign to leave." You said while moving past them.
You couldn't afford to get wrapped up in anyone else's drama. So you needed to remove yourself before you heard anything you shouldn't.
"I'll see you guys at school."
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Started: April 20th, 2024 Finished: April 21st, 2024
Entrepreneurship has to be one of the stupidest classes to take.
Also, did you know that your immune system doesn't go into your brain unless it has to because it can kill neurons and cause brain swelling? That means if you get a brain injury, you cannot only die from the injury but also from your body trying to fix it.
