Park and Kim

9

Jae could feel shame paint her cheeks red as she began to bolt for the forest outside the line of tents. She could feel a sob stuck somewhere between her chest and her throat, threatening to release itself. She was pathetic, weak. All she really wanted was to be strong. As soon as she made it to the tree line she took a deep breath and let loose the tears that she had been holding at bay for over a month.

She let herself fall to the ground. I'm fine. Breathe. I'm fine. I'm fine. But each time she told herself she was fine, each time she tried to reassure herself of her strength, she would feel another sob rack her body.

She had become some pathetic version of herself, so pathetic that a group of strangers had taken her in as a charity project. Protecting her as though she were some porcelain doll. She felt anger, anger at Sujung for making her this way. Anger at herself for letting him. Fear, because she wasn't sure what he would do to her now that she had removed herself from their protection.

She had lost all dignity. She sat there alone, crying quietly, trying to force her body to comply with her demands. Calm down, you'll figure something out.

Jae heard rustling close to her, she immediately went quiet when she heard the snap of a twig close by. She looked around, searching for the source of the sound.

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Jimin had followed her into the tree-line. In fact, he was so close that he could have reached out and grabbed her, and that was his intention until he heard a sob escape her body as soon as she was out of sight of the camp. He stopped immediately, allowing her to continue into the forest alone. He could see her shaking from his viewpoint. Her back heaving up and down as she crumpled to the ground. He watched her from behind a tree, watched her tears run down her cheeks, watched her hands grab onto the hem of her jacket and squeeze it with all her might.

Throughout the past two years he had argued with this girl, sometimes to the point where they were both red in the face. He had watched her stand up for the things that she thought were right, even when she was dead wrong. He had watched her fight to beat him every day. But somehow, watching her breakdown made his heart wrench. He almost felt sick to his stomach watching someone he thought was strong, look so positively helpless.

The way she sat there, trying to calm herself down, she looked like a wounded animal. She needed someone, that was obvious. He should insist on her staying with them. He took a step toward her, snapping a branch in the process.

She went quiet, the tears immediately stopping. She looked up at him, face tear-streaked with bright red splotches. He crouched down so that he was eye level with her. "Hey, come back..."

"Get away from me." She choked it out, with one last sob before she rose to her feet. Jimin actually felt the reaction hit his face. He was totally taken aback by the coldness in her voice.

He reached toward her shoulder, but she immediately shoved his hand away from her. "Yah! I want to help you." She only glared back at him, her eyes dark pools that threatened to drown him.

"I don't want your help." She snapped. Her words felt like a punch to the gut. He was trying to help her; how could she treat him this way? It was absolutely humiliating. He retracted his hand that was still outstretched toward her.

"Whatever." Jimin turned and left her there. Screw it. That's what I get for caring.

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Jae watched Jimin's back slowly disappear out of her sight. She hated herself for the way she just treated him. She hated herself for being the person that put that look on his face. She hated herself because she hurt him.

Why did he have to be such a good person?

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Hey, guys. Sorry for the sappy and slow chapter. Totally necessary for the upcoming chapters though. 😊