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JUNGWON
The Sims had thrown me a party for my return and I was overjoyed. It was nice seeing everyone I grew up with after only having contact through messages and video calls. I was looking forward to meeting someone in particular. Jaeah.
She had grown when I was away. Nothing was different in particular. She grew out her hair and she didn't have bangs anymore. She seemed to have flourished more maturely and it just made me think how old she's gonna be this year so close to graduating.
When I met her in an uncanny situation, I was sure that she hadn't changed personality wise one bit. But for the part when she nonchalantly brushed me off a few seconds after meeting her. I was confused. Jaeah barely talked to me when I was away. She was so distant. She was probably busy so now that we'd met, I was expecting her to strike a conversation or be a bit excited. But she just walked away after exchanging a few words? Not her style.
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I saw Jaeah standing alone in a corner with a plate of cake. I walked over to her confidently with a smile on my face. "Jae." She looked up to me with widened eyes. "Jaeah you've been avoiding me all night, not to mention this morning you completely walked out on our conversation." I admitted my feelings and Jaeah didn't seem to be bothered. "What do you mean?" "I've been here the whole time, and you weren't even saying anything this morning so." She dismissed the question with no mind and I was mildly hurt.
"You didn't even approach me Jae." I voiced out my concerns. I held the paper plate firmly as I looked at her bored eyes that were empty. She looked silently while taking bites of the cake. Her braid that went down her shoulder was slightly touching the icing. My fingers instinctively went to place her braid to the other side, rubbing the cream of off in the process.
Jaeah immediately stepped back with conflict. "Sorry your hair was in the way." I explained but she kept her cold glare and her distance. She wasn't being like her usual self. This was a side of Jaeah I've never seen before. This was a side of Jaeah that I didn't want to see.
"Do I mean nothing to you Jae?"
I uttered out. She was treating me like a ghost, a nobody. I found that insulting as someone who spent almost their entire life with her. I wasn't planning on saying this at an ongoing party but this would be the only time she'd listen with the way she'd been acting. "I've been gone and I'm so happy to finally see you." "You never replied to my messages and I've just been brushing it off as that you were busy with school but I can't now that we're face to face." "Did you not want me to come back?" "Jae did I do something?"
There was a momentary silence. I waited in despair for her answer. Did I cross the line? I was just worried and confused. It was a justified reason. So why was she just staring at her plate with concealed feelings?
She finally met eyes with me but spiked me with poison.
"So what?" "We aren't that close jungwon."
I open my mouth to retort but nothing leaves me. The vicious comments consumed me and left me paralyzed on the spot. I was appalled, non apprehensive. I stuttered. "W-why do you think th-," My sentence was cut off as an old friend swung me by the arm greeted me with excitement. I smile back and laugh, but my eyes linger on Jaeah who quietly left my side. I watched her walk away, holding her skirt tightly with her head down. Was she upset over something?
The desire to run after her to get an explanation was eating me alive, but I didn't want to make a scene. Jaeah would hate that, and it seems that I've upset her enough. I just wanted her to turn around smile like she used to and tell me how gullible I am for falling into her prank. But she was out of sight.
I couldn't focus on anything my old friends had been continuously saying, Jaeah's words echoed in my head like a mantra. Her statement caught me off guard. The vile tone she used was sharp like blade held at my neck. The answer she failed to give left me with disbelief. Me not knowing Jaeah? It must be some joke.
I've known her since kindergarten. I know what she lacks and what she's passionate about. I used to buy her lunch and help her with her homework. Talk for hours at our park. Stand up for her when Jake is being an ass. I've known her through every stage of her life. So how dare she say we're not close. I've cared for her, I've looked after her even more than her own brother but to her to consider me as a stranger? It ached a part of me and I was unable to shrug it off.
