park jinwoo ; ethereal [ ✔ ]

chapter 17 ; a minor delay

The whole car ride to the secret clearing was silent. He didn't want to say anything till we got there, and I had nothing to say. It wasn't that bad though because I was able to think of other things.

My mind was so preoccupied that I didn't realize we were here until Jinjin tapped my arm. We looked at each other for a few heartbeats before getting out and locking hands once next to one another. He leads the way again since I don't remember, seeing as I've only been here once.

We stop as we start getting near to the place. It's a secluded area and you weren't able to hear cars or people— yet we were hearing voices. He glances at me but we keep going. Once we get there, Mira is sitting on the broken car with a baseball bat in one of her hands. There are other people around too, also holding makeshift weapons— baseball bats, large pieces of wood, etc. I step closer to Jinjin, glaring as Mira stares at us with a disgusting smirk while chewing loud on her gum.

"Took you two long enough!" she does her witch laugh and I groan internally at how annoying it is. She focuses on Jinjin and rolls her eyes, "Oh please! Don't act so surprised. You should know I can get my people anywhere and get any information." Jinjin's sighing quietly while moving in front of me protectively.

"Are you seriously that jealous? We broke up—"

He was speaking but Mira screeches at him with surging anger, cutting him off, "This isn't about us! I just said it was as a cover-up!" Then she stops and she's acting over dramatic as she collects herself. "I'm here to avenge Taejin. I know you're the one that—"

"Shut up!" This time he's yelling and cutting her off. I glance around us as the other people start to get closer to us, moving slow. I tug on the back of Jinjin's shirt, trying to get his attention to show him but he's too focused on Mira.

"Why? Don't want your new girlfriend to know your nasty past?" Mira's snickering as she gets off the car to swing her bat around. "I cared for Taejin too, you know." She hums as she starts getting closer to us.

"You lying bitch. I knew him better than anyone else and I loved him more than I did my own family. He was better than my family," Jinjin's getting super mad again and is spilling his feelings. I put together that Jinjin was very close to Taejin, but I still don't know why he doesn't want to talk about him.

Mira scoffs, yelling as she laughs, "If you loved him like a brother so bad—"

"That's it."

Jinjin says that then starts going towards her. She shrieks with laughter again, "You won't hurt me! You're too scared after—"

"Shut up!" he moves fast, almost as if he's done this before, and almost breaks her wrist as he smacks it. He must've hit a nerve because she instantly let's go of the bat, grabbing her wrist in pain as she screams.

"Get that ugly girl!" Mira screams to her lackeys and they suddenly start lunging for me. Too obedient! I scream internally at how fast they listened. My body tenses and I simply go to shield myself. I can't defend myself because I've never been in a fight before.

Jinjin glances back at me just before I shut my eyes. I think solely of him, just in case I happen to get beat to death by these assholes. I want him to be the only person on my mind before I die.

Then strong arms wrap around me, catching me off guard. Jinjin's cologne is strong in my face as he covers me, gasping as he gets hit in the back with the bats and pieces of wood. "Jinjin!" I yelp with shock, wrapping my arms around him in return. He falls— but on purpose.

"Act like you're unconscious," he whispers in my ear, just loud enough for me to hear over the yells of the lackeys. I trust him, so I do as he says. Then his body is off of mine and I hear grunting and yelling. I can't tell who's winning and who's losing, my heart racing in panic for Jinjin.

I hear him yell in pain and I can't stay like this anymore, so I crack open an eye. He managed to take out most of the guys but he's still fighting one. That's when I see Mira, bat in one hand while the other is limp. She's moving up behind on Jinjin. He's too focused, he can't hear her.

Then I feel my body move on its own. I don't say anything; my body moves closer to Mira. She must hear my footsteps when I break into a sprint to stop her because she turns in surprise. It's too late for her to react as my fist collides with her face.

I gasp and grip my fist after the impact. Oh my Jesus, that hurt! How do people fight all the time? Jinjin gets the last hit on the guy he was fighting at the same time and turns to me in surprise. "Did you just knock her out?" he looks at her then back to me, eyes wide.

"Maybe...?" I answer hesitantly before he breaks out into laughter. I think he might be crying a little too. He reaches forward and pulls me into his warm arms, resting his chin on my head. His bloody hand strokes the back of my head and I cling to him. We stand there for a while, the only sounds are his quiet sobs and the groans of pain from the lackeys.

"We're going to my house... We can patch each other up and I swear I'll tell you about everything, no matter the interruption. They can wait," he speaks softly as he pulls away from me. I'm able to look at his face and he's bleeding— tears were mixed in too. I give a tense and bittersweet smile, feeling like crying from the blood and tears covering his face. This time I wipe his tears away, but I keep my hands cupped on his cheeks.

"Jinjin..." his names leaves my mouth as a soft breath. It's as if it's taboo to utter his name too loud. We're staring in one another's eyes as I keep my hold on his face. I see fear or anxiety flicker in his eyes for a moment and he's moving away.

He talks low as if he doesn't want to say them but he has to, "Don't say anything. I want you to wait until you hear what I have to say before you make up your mind."

I'm confused. Did you do something so bad? I feel like he's changed if he has though, so I don't think my feelings can change. He lets me go but holds onto my hand as we leave, running from the clearing to get to the car.