Tattooed Boy. || ENG

|04|

I quickly put on my shoes and wait patiently until Jisung locks the apartment door. I don't have anything else with me except of the clothes I wear and it feels oddly weird. He didn't even ask me if I wanted to take a shower. I don't know whether it was because of understanding that I wanted to leave as soon as possible or if he was just being rude.

Awkwardly I walk next to him, not daring to break the silence and not knowing which way to go. It's strange to follow around someone I barely know but there's no other option left.

I've never seen this suburb before; I don't have a car with me or enough money for a taxi. I don't even have my phone. Luckily Jisung seem some kind of helpful and kind when it comes to almost raped and knocked out 18-year-old girls without a place to go. I mean, he looks like he'd just sit and smoke while watching a robbery going on and not giving a fuck...

I mentally slap myself. He rescued you, you dumbass. Without him you would've been raped and left alone in some unknown corner – or even dead.

Yes. Right. I should show some respect and gratitude.

Why did Kelsey drag me to that god damn party, anyway? I swear as soon as I'll see her, she's going to regret her action.

"The car didn't do anything bad" Jisung interrupts my thoughts.

"Hm?" I turn my head into his direction.

"You closed the door of my poor car way too violently" he explains with a slight grin while starting the engine.

My first thought is: Men and their damn cars.

My second is: Oups.

"Sorry" I quickly apologize as I put on my seat belt.

"What are you mad about?" he asks and focuses on the road.

"I-it's just ..." I stutter and blush. Shit. He can literally read me like a book. I sigh out loud before I tell him. "I originally never wanted to attend that party. Kelsey convinced me to go even though she knows how much I hate it."

"You hate parties?"

I role my eyes. "Yes, there are a few people existing who do. The music is too loud, the people are too drunk or too high and there's no toilet when you need one. At least no clean one. And all you gain in the end is a fucking headache." Or you get raped, I add in my thoughts.

I see an amused smirk spreading on his face. "You've got that point. But don't you think it's a nice way to meet new people? I met your sister through a party."

Ah. Nice. Is that supposed to be a good thing? Especially since you can also meet people there who have raping as a hobby. "I can also meet new people through other ways."

"Which ways?" he asks in an ironical tone. "Through book clubs?"

I stay silent for a few seconds since I actually met a good friend in a library. Not the same thing, but quite similar. But is it a bad thing? Ann and I share lots of interest, not just the same taste in books.

"There's still the good old way to meet people in your everyday life. Randomly, you know?"

Jisung laughs. "Oh yeah, right. I forgot." Why does it sound like he's making fun of me? Is that too old-fashioned for him? He probably only meets with people in tattoo studios or on drug parties and stays in his 95% dark apartment the rest of the day.

I don't answer and look out of the window instead. I've lived in this town for all my life but I honestly have never seen this scenery until now.

"Are you upset?"

"What?" I look at him again.

"I didn't mean to offend you" he apologizes with a guilty expression. "I just haven't met anyone yet who doesn't like parties."

"There's a first time for everything" I shrug it off and avoid his gaze. It's not like I want him to think of me as a total nerd – or whatever Kelsey told him – when I'm not, but neither I want him to feel bad about something like that. We don't know each other, so there's no way for us to already know what to say and what not. Interesting to know, though, that he cares about it.

"You're my first in quite a lot of things" he replies then and I turn my head in confusion back to him.

"What do you mean?" That didn't just sound weird in my ears, did it?

"Well" he starts while tapping the steering-wheel with the fingers of his left hand. "I've never brought a girl into my apartment before."

"Not even Kelsey?" I ask in surprise.

"Nope, not even her."

"Oh."

"And I can't remember helping a girl out in such a situation either, to be honest."

"Why did you do it then?" I asked out of curiosity.

He shrugs and the traffic lights turn green. "I guess you looked kinda ... pitiful."

"Pitiful?" I repeat, not fond of that explanation.

"You look innocent which is probably the reason that fucker paid attention to you. I couldn't just watch while he intoxicated you. Especially since I knew you and Kelsey would've killed me with bare hands otherwise."

I think about his words for a while. Maybe I should be also thankful towards Kelsey since her various friendships seem to be some kind of help in the end. But on the other hand, it was her fault that I even attended the party. I let go of that thought process. I can face that problem later when arriving at home. Right now my curiosity shifts to something else.

"Do you know the guy who put me on drugs?" I question.

I see him clenching his teeth. "I only know his name and reputation."

The way I interpret his reaction he must not like him.

"Jackson is some kind of cliché womanizer. No one to kid with" Jisung adds. "His favor for hard drugs and alcohol is well known. I didn't know he'd supply it to someone like you, though. Well until yesterday night."

"Someone like me?" I huff.

"Yes, innocent and all that, you know?" he tries to explain but I don't get the point.

"I wouldn't use the word innocent."

"But you did look like that" he points out.

I furrow my brows. "Possible" I reply and avoid to look at him. I'd rather say I looked lost, but I stay quiet instead of correcting him. As far as I remember I didn't know anyone there and was just looking for my disappeared sister.

"Do you wanna tell me right now, that you're in fact a little bad girl?"

I shrug and hide a smile. "In the household I grew up, no one can stay actually innocent."

"Ah" he mumbles. "Kelsey mentioned something like that."

She did? "What did she say?" Now my curiosity wins and I glance at him.

"Never mind" he shrugs it off after some seconds of silence.

Never mind? Is he being serious right now? "Tell me!" I demand sulkily.

He smirks. "We're here." The car stops. I take a look out of the window. He's right. We parked in front of our house. I didn't even notice entering our neighborhood.

The curtains in the kitchen are moving. Damn it. "We're not done talking" I warn Jisung. He just laughs.

The front door opens as I step out of the car. "Zoe! Oh my god, Zoe! Are you okay?!"