Tables Turned | JH

Chapter 24: Scolding

Around an hour after Mr. Kim's left, everything's handled. Jimin's helped Cho get cleaned up and I've gotten the phone call finished with the dinner rescheduled.

"Hey, how're the two of you doing?" Jin asks as he walks into the room, looking over to me. Just then, Jimin and Cho slowly begin to exit the bathroom with Cho dressed a pair of short loose shorts and an oversized long sleeved sweater. Jimin gives me a small smile, before glancing over to Jin.

"We're managing. We have work to do soon though. Choyeon, I managed to reschedule the dinner for nine o'clock. We've got three hours before we'll need to leave." I answer, informing Cho whilst I'm speaking. She sighs, nodding her head as her and Jimin make their way over to me, reaching the bed just seconds later before she collapses onto it beside me.

"What the hell do you mean, 'you have work to do soon'? Neither one of you are in any shape to be doing anything except laying around and recovering! Hell, I can't imagine either of you are even feeling up to really moving around much to begin with, considering I told Jimin not to give either of you anymore OxyContin! And there's no way in hell either of you have gotten remotely enough rest to be working either!" Jin scolds frustratedly, frowning at both of us as Jimin goes over to him and wraps his arms around his waist.

"Jinnie, they don't have a choice. Your father came in and nearly shot them both on the spot for having missed the lunch signing they were supposed to attend earlier." Jimin explains softly. However, I'm not sure if Cho was crumbling on the way over or if Jin's scolding was the last straw, but whatever exactly it is, she just breaks. Looking down to where she's laying beside where I'm sat, she curls into a loose ball as she begins crying. My heart shatters at the sight, laying myself back on my back carefully before pulling her into me. She latches onto me instantly, curling into my side and burying her face into my chest as she starts sobbing. Frowning worriedly, I carefully wrap my arms around her, being as gentle as possible to the both of us as I rub her back and side gently with one hand, the other gently running through her hair in attempt to comfort her.

Glancing over at Jin and Jimin, they both wear worried expressions at the broken girl currently curled up in my arms. Looking back down to her, I hush her and whisper comforting nothings into her ear, wanting desperately to console the beautiful girl in my arms. I quickly lose focus of the other two guys in the apartment room as my sole focus becomes Cho, trying to calm her down and get her to stop crying. Though, honestly I can't blame her. After everything she's been through in the last twenty four hours, she has a fucking right to cry. Having people trying to kill you and finding out that, to top it all off, it's your own brother who ordered the shooting. And to make matters worse, having your father come in and rip your head off, not caring about the fact that you were shot twice? Yeah, I'd be sobbing my heart out too.

"Shhhhhh. Hush, Cho. It's okay. It's gonna be okay. Shhhh. Come on, calm down. It's alright. I'm right here, Choyeon." I murmur softly in her ear, rubbing her back gently. I don't know how long it takes, but eventually her cries begin to calm down and subside to mostly sniffling and a few tears slowly rolling down her cheeks. Tiredly, she lifts her head up, resting her chin on her hand that's now sandwiched between her and my chest as she looks up at me. Her eyes red, puffy and swollen from the crying whilst her cheeks and nose are tinted a light pink. I give her a small smile though, reaching up and gently wiping away her remaining tears. Her eyes flutter shut at my touch, warming my heart and making my smile grow as I finish wiping away the stray tears.

As she reopens her eyes, she glances up at me for a moment before lowering her gaze. I merely watch her silently, not wanting to upset her again by asking her what she's thinking about as I continue rubbing her back gently. Glancing away from her for just a moment, I look around the room to realize that Jimin and Jin have left us alone for a little while. Probably figured it'd be best to give some space while she's upset like this. Though, when I glance back over to her, I realize she's looking back up at me. With a slightly puzzled look on her face, a small sweet pout on her lips, I give her a smile.

"I was just wondering where Jin and Jimin were. Though, it'd appear they've left. Probably figured you needed a little space right now." I explain softly, reaching up and tucking a strand of hair back behind her ear. She nods her head ever so slight in response, acknowledging what I've just told her.

"Hope?" She asks quietly, her voice nearly inaudible as it cracks.

"Yes?" I answer, watching her lower her gaze away from me once more. She stays silent for a moment before looking back up at me.

"Why did you kiss me? Back at the hotel during the shooting?"