Enigma

chapter 4

                        ________________

Soojin rested on her couch, her eyes closed as she tried to relax. The events of the day had been overwhelming, and she needed a moment to unwind. AJ lay beside her, occasionally glancing at her with concern.

As Soojin sank deeper into the cushions, her mind drifted back to her high school days, the memories coming unbidden and vivid. The first flashback hit her like a wave.

---
Flashback: 

It was a sunny morning, and Soojin was getting ready for school. Her father was out of town, which meant she had to take the bus. She didn't mind the bus ride; it gave her time to think and listen to her favorite music. She grabbed her backpack and headed out, the cool morning air a welcome contrast to the stuffiness of her room.

The bus ride was uneventful, but as she approached the entrance of the school, she saw them—Jungkook and his gang. The younger version of Jungkook was just as intimidating as the older one, his presence commanding attention. Soojin took a deep breath, determined to ignore them as she walked past.

When she entered the school, the usual hum of the corridor went silent. She noticed people staring at her, whispering amongst themselves. Confused, she turned around and saw Jungkook approaching. His expression was unreadable, his gaze intense.

“Soojin,” he called out, his voice echoing in the silent corridor.

Soojin stopped, her heart pounding. She was scared, but she refused to let it show. “What do you want, Jungkook?” she asked coldly.

Jungkook stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “I like you,” he blurted out.

Soojin stared at him in disbelief, on the verge of laughing. “Are you serious? You must be joking.”

“I’m not joking,” Jungkook replied, his tone serious.

She shook her head, a sarcastic smile on her lips. “You must have forgotten how you’ve made my life hell, Jungkook. I’m not interested in your games.”

As she turned to leave, Jungkook grabbed her wrist. “I mean it, Soojin.”

She yanked her hand away, glaring at him. “I don’t care,” she said coldly, walking away as the students around them began cheering and shouting. She ignored them, her mind racing.

Back in her classroom, Soojin sat at her usual seat, still trying to process what had just happened. *How could he just say that after everything he’s done to me?* she thought, anger and confusion swirling within her.

Her mind wandered to the countless times Jungkook had bullied her. She remembered the time he poured two buckets of water over her while she was cleaning the classroom. Her uniform had been soaked, and her classmates had laughed as she stood there, humiliated.

Then there was the time he tripped her in the corridor when she was running late for class. She had fallen flat on her face, her nose bleeding from the impact. The pain had been excruciating, but the embarrassment had been worse.

The most horrific memory, though, was the time he had locked her in the school’s storeroom. The room was dark and filled with dust and lizards, and Soojin had a phobia of both darkness and closed spaces. She had banged on the door, screaming for help, but no one had dared to defy Jungkook.

Hours had passed, and Soojin had grown more and more terrified. She had cried until she could cry no more, her voice hoarse from screaming. Finally, Jungkook had opened the door, his smug expression fading when he saw her unconscious on the floor. He had been scared, wanting to help her to the hospital, but his ego had stopped him.