The Vanity Code [Jinsoo]

11

Jisoo's POV

"Jisoo, let's go."

His expression was unreadable.

I emerged from my daze to find myself in a dingy police cell. Jin found me a few moments later. He said he had already paid my bail and paid the police to keep it hushed that a model beat up two hooligans. He didn't say anything but I suspect those men even ended up in hospital.

The sheriff shook his head at us on our way out.

We were silent until the cold night air greeted us as we stepped out on the pavement.

"I'll take you to Jennie" He said, "I'll call a cab."

I just buried my stinging fists deep into my jacket pockets and stayed mum.

"Jisoo..." he called. He turned me to face him.

"You'll be okay as soon as we get you back--"

"Can I stay with you?" I blurted out.

He paused, turning over my words. I could practically see him coming to a decision.

"Fine." he said, turning away from me. His expression hadn't changed but his voice seemed softer.

A brooding silence cloaked our journey to his mansion overlooking the Hudson river. He led me in, taking up an ornate marble staircase and through corridors until finally, he opened a door.

One thing I noticed as we walked through the mansion was the presence of an inordinate number of mirrors. They were everywhere you turned your head, hanging next to each other on the walls, all shapes and sizes. It was kind of intimidating. 

I wondered when Jin started collecting mirrors.

Another thing I noticed was the absence of persons. The place was deathly quiet, almost suffocating. Weren't there any staff here?

The room Jin entered was simple--just a king bed, wardrobe, drawers, and a huge mirror taking up one side of the wall. There was also a desk with a bowl of red apples on it.

Heavy curtains draped across the wide arched windows completed the room.

"Wait here" Jin muttered and disappeared into an ensuite bathroom. Moments later he re-emerged with a rag and a basin of water.

Silently, he knelt down before me and took my hand, wiping away the crusty blood on my knuckles.

"So...everyone here gone to sleep? It's so quiet" I chuckled in an effort to break the silence. His breathing was sounding like someone panting to me and it wasn't helping with my nerves.

"There's nobody" he said softly," it's only me here. There's a housekeeper that comes to clean every week or so but otherwise... I don't trust people to be in my house when I'm away."

I bit my lip as my knuckles stung. I could also feel my eye swelling up. My jaw smarted as well, and a dull pain throbbed around my ribs.

"I forgot to tell you...you should phone Jennie to tell her you're staying here."

"I'll just send her a text" I muttered.

He helped me take out my phone, our hands brushing giving me chills.

What was wrong with me tonight?

"Chu...is everything alright between you and Jennie?" Jin questioned standing up.

I nodded. "Peachy! Isn't that what kids say these days? Keeping up with the times you know."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I know you Chu. So you fought huh? Girls...first it's all sunshine and rainbows next second you're at each other's throats."