"Stop acting like a hero. I let you help me before but that was all a mistake. I know that "helping" a rich girl from this neighborhood would probably make you feel better about your sorry situation, but I'm not interested in helping you feel better about being a poor, pathetic loser."
Jimin couldn't believe his ears or his eyes. The way her face had taken on a completely different expression, the way she had just looked at him and delivered that crap almost cut him to the bone. And she didn't look back at him when she slammed the door in his face.
He stood there for a brief moment before backing off the porch and down to the sidewalk. "What a show! Beautiful, isn't she?" Jimin glanced over at Sujung, who was leaning against the car in the driveway. Jimin had no idea when he had shown up, but he had to assume by the amusement in his voice that he had witnessed the whole thing.
Sujung cast a knowing smirk in his direction, "She's a cold one, isn't she?" Jimin didn't answer but continued to walk toward the street, with Sujung hot on his tail. "Did you think after you "saved" her back at the camp that she was going to be anything but the snobby, rich bitch she is?" He laughed under his breath, "Don't be fooled. That girl plays the victim constantly, she's nothing but a liar." Sujung slung his arm around Jimin's shoulder and laughed again. "Don't take it too hard, man. You aren't the first guy to fall for it, and you won't be the last."
Jimin pulled away from Sujung and ignored him when he called after him. As soon as he was certain that he was out of Sujung's sight he began to sprint. He just needed to get out of this stifling neighborhood.
He walked all the way home, deciding not to take the bus. Jae's words rang in his ears all the way home. But it wasn't her words that bothered him, it was the way she had said them. If he hadn't witnessed how scared and shaken she was, he would have believed her every word. Her voice hadn't shaken, and her eyes hadn't betrayed her. She was well practiced.
Jimin sighed as he reached his front door. Sujung was right about one thing, Jae was a liar, a good one even. She had attacked his pride on purpose, she didn't want him to find out the truth, she wanted him to leave because he was right about what was going on in that house.
Fortunately, Jae's mother wasn't as good a liar. He could see everything written on her face, he knew because he had a memory burned inside of him in which his mother had looked the same.
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Jae walked into school wearily. She hadn't slept well the past few nights and had even considered not coming to school today. Jimin was here. Hopefully he would avoid her, or at least be cold toward her. She was fairly certain that she had targeted his weakness well enough and knew that it would wound him enough to keep him from wanting to 'protect' her anymore. Men were simple enough to predict.
She slid into her desk and rested her head on her arms, allowing her face to be warmed by the sun shining in through the window. She hoped to get a few minutes of sleep before class started in twenty minutes. She could hear students slowly trickling in and talking amongst themselves. Exhaustion overtook her and she allowed herself to fall asleep.
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Jimin took a seat at the desk across the aisle from Jae's and allowed himself to observe her in her sleeping state. Her hair was pulled back today and he couldn't help but to stare at the curve of her neck... and her eyes... and her parted lips. Maybe it was a little creepy, him watching her like this, but he had worried about her the whole weekend. He had decided this morning that if she didn't come to school today he would knock down her door, if need be, to check on her.
The professor strolled into the classroom and began speaking to some of the students in the front, Jimin tore his gaze from Jae and focused his attention toward the front of the room. The girl sitting behind Jae tapped her shoulder and he could see her stir out of the corner of his eye.
"Mr. Park and Ms. Kim, I would like to see you after class today." The professor announced loudly as he began the class.
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"You two will be starting your internship when break starts in three months. Until then, I want you two to pair up for the upcoming group project. It would be best if you turned it in early so that it can be reviewed early for the review board at the company."
"Oh, professor, that's not nec..." Jae began but Jimin immediately answered the professor loudly.
"Thanks professor, we will work hard on the project together." Jae looked over at Jimin nervously. He was sure to blow up on her about yesterday as soon as the professor was gone.
"It would be best if you began right now, I checked your schedules and saw that you don't have class the next hour, so I brought this list for you to look over for ideas, "He handed Jae the list and continued, "I know you will both do well." He smiled before making a quick exit and leaving them alone in the class room.
"Jae..." Jae closed her eyes, trying to prepare herself mentally for the verbal thrashing she was sure to get. "I'm sorry." She opened her eyes in shock and met his gaze head on.
"What?"
Jimin chuckled. "You want me to say that twice? God, you're difficult." His tone was light as his face took on a serious expression. "I'm sorry, we don't have to talk about yesterday if you don't want to. I'm okay with pretending none of it happened. I won't ever think about it again. But if you think that one simple shot at my pride is enough to drive me away from wanting to be your friend. Well, you've got another thing coming."
She looked down at her hands. Why is he so wonderful? "Deal."God, forgive me, he's bound to get hurt if we are friends. But I can't help myself.
God, forgive me for lying to her. But I'm going to save her if it's the last thing I do.
Sorry for the long delay between this update and the last. I had horrible writer's block about these last two chapters, and kind of feel like they were crappy in the end, but I just wanted to get past them so I could move onto something a little more dynamic. I apologize profusely for how boring they are.
YOU ARE READING
Park and Kim
Fanfiction"Make me... Jae." He let her name slip out of his mouth in a mocking tone, as though it were a curse word. His hand traveled from her shoulder, up her neck, and he held her jaw, tilting her face to look up at him. "But let's be real for a minute, yo...
