REALLY LIKE YOU [Sim Jake]

11

Jiyeon widened her eyes upon seeing the name on her phone screen. She quickly wiped her eyes and nose before picking up the call.

"Hi Jiyeon."
"Hi."
"I just want to ask if you want to walk together to your academy tomorrow morning. "
"Sounds good."
"I wanted to ask you at school but we didn't cross path today."
"I see."
"Jiyeon?"
"Hm?"
"Are you alright?"

"O-of course." Jiyeon couldn't help but to burst into tears upon hearing his question. She kept her phone further away, hoping that the guy couldn't hear her sobs.

Jake bit his lip when he heard her breaking voice.

"Jiyeon."
"..."
"Jiyeon?"

"Sorry, I'm here." Jiyeon spoke on the line again after composing herself.

"I'm coming to you. I'll be waiting at the junction to your house." Jake spoke before ending the call, not giving a chance for Jiyeon to give her answer.

Jake had his hands inside his pocket, looking down at his shoes while waiting for the girl.

He raised his head when he heard footsteps coming towards his direction.

There she was, the girl he had been longing to see after not seeing her at all at school today since this morning.

She still had her school uniform on. She was not in her braids anymore like she was usually at school. Her hair was kinda messy but still pretty in his eyes.

She had wiped her eyes so much that they were red and swollen. She had her head low, not wanting the guy to look at her depressing state.

Jake ran his fingers through his hair before walking closer to Jiyeon.

"Hey." He greeted but only to receive no response from the girl.

After contemplating, Jake finally wrapped his arms around the girl's torso. He was hesitated as first but when the girl seemed comfortable in his embrace as he felt a grip on his sweater, he slowly moved one of his hands towards the girl's hair.

He tightened the hug when he felt his t-shirt getting wet because of the girl's tears.

The hug lasted for a while before Jiyeon slightly stepped back, causing Jake to loosen his arms around her.

"I'm sorry." She softly spoke.

"It's okay, don't be sorry. Do you want to go somewhere else? Or do you want me to call Seoyeon for you?" Jake asked, slightly tilting his head to look at the girl's eyes as she was looking down.

Jiyeon just shook her head in return. She raised her head up, forcing a smile, trying to tell the latter that she was fine.

"Oh dear, look at you." Jake remarked when he saw her swollen eyes.

"Are you really okay? I can accompany you until you're feeling better." He kept on reassuring the girl.

Jiyeon just chuckled in return.

"I'm really fine, Jake. You've done enough and I'm thankful for that." She stated.

"You sure?" He asked one more time, earning a nod from the girl.

"Alright. See you tomorrow? I'll text you when I reached here." Jake spoke.

"See you tomorrow. Thank you again." Jiyeon replied, bidding her goodbye to the guy before turning around.

********************

"Wah, this place is huge." Jake remarked before entering the building. It took them about 30-minutes bus ride to reach the place.

"Yeah, this is one of the largest ballet school in Seoul." Jiyeon responded. She gave him a small tour before actually going to the practice room.

She couldn't help but to let out a smile upon seeing his excited face every time she stole a glance at him. He kind of reminded her of a golden retriever.

They entered an empty room upon arriving at the 4th floor. Jiyeon switched on the lights and air conditioner before moving towards the speaker area.

"You can sit wherever you want." She said to the guy who kept on following her since they got into the building.

She was rummaging through her bag to take her stuff out when a white paper suddenly fell out of the bag along with her other stuff.

She picked up the paper to look at the content inside.

"Invitation to Seocho Middle School's 28th Talent Show."

Jiyeon just stared at the paper, lost in her thoughts. She then recalled the conversation her step-sister shared with her mother yesterday.

"What if I was the only person she invited?" Jiyeon thought to herself, biting her lips.

"Jake?" Jiyeon spoke, back facing the guy who was currently sitting on the floor, not too far from her.

"Hm?"

"Do you mind if I cancel our plan today?" She questioned, still not looking at the guy.

Jake raised his eyebrows, getting up from his seat while brushing the dust on his pants.

"Are you oka-" He tried to speak when the girl interrupted her.

"Do you mind accompanying me to another place?" She asked another question.

"I... don't mind." He replied in hesitant, wasn't able to comprehend on what was currently happening.

Jiyeon quickly packed her stuff before walking closer to the confused guy.

"Let's go. We might need to run a little to catch the next bus." She suggested.

Upon getting out of the building, Jiyeon instantly wrapped her hand around Jake's wrist and began to run towards the direction of the bus stop.

Jake just chuckled before freeing his hand from her grip, taking her small hand into his instead, causing the girl to gave him a confused look.

"You and your short legs." He remarked before taking the lead.

The two of them panted upon arriving at the bus stop. They arrived just in time as they didn't need to wait at all since the bus was already there.

They settled down as they took their seats on the bus side by side. The bus was almost empty since it was still early and it was weekend.

"How about your tutor?" Jake enquired.

"Ohh right, I need to text her now. It's fine since she still has other students to teach." She reassured while taking her phone out of her pocket.

While the girl was focusing on her phone, Jake took the opportunity to look at her side profile, causing him to smile at himself.

She reminded him of the pretty girl he met on the bus two years ago.

"Never thought I would see her again. I guess I am fated to meet her after all."

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Love, Nia♡