Summer ✓ p.jm

Chapter 26 : My Secret

My six-thirty alarm woke me up and I groan in frustration as I realized that I only had three hours of sleep because of overthinking last night.

I don't know what Jimin's up to, but after what happened last night, I knew it was a sign that it's not going to be good.

Today's Friday and supposedly it's our presentation day in Mrs. Feinberg's class. I don't know how it will go, but I bet that it is going to be an awkward ride while presenting in front of the class when there's tension going on between the both of us.

I jumped out of my bed and made my way to the bathroom to take a bath.

As I look at the mirror, the bruises on my neck are already fading and are somehow unrecognizable.

After I take a bath, I ignored the gray turtle neck shirt hanging inside my wardrobe which is supposedly my outfit for today. Instead, I pick on a simple black shirt, my hair is long enough to cover the traces of my bruises.

When I go to the kitchen everyone was busy circling around, especially my mom. "Elise, have a seat, I made pancakes." She informs. "With strawberry syrup." She adds to persuade me.

I really want to take breakfast because I feel like today's going to be a long one and I need something to fill my body with energy.

I take a seat on my usual spot at the table after grabbing a plate from the dish rack. I get myself four pancakes and started digging in.

Dad is looking at his phone for something with a fork on his other hand, while mom is busy making more pancakes.

I look in front of me and Sean is making a mess with his strawberry syrup, as always.

Serene is on my right and I can see dark bags under her eyes. It's a rare sight for me to see her like this, it seems like she's not taking care of herself anymore.

"Are you riding along with me?" I ask her.

"Yeah." She fakes a smile as she nodded. I look back at my food to continue.

"By the way, Elise. How's Mrs. Anderson?"

"Oh." I started. "Ryan told me that her mom is somehow getting better. I guess the medicines and therapies are working."

"That's good news." She smiles at me and I smiled back. "How about Jimin?"

I almost gagged on my food when I heard his name, I quickly grab a glass and poured water in it before chugging it in. "I thought today is your presentation?" She continues.

"Yeah. He's okay." I say in a weird tone.

I immediately finish my food just in case my mom asks more questions. "I'll be at the living room if you're ready," I tell Serene and she nodded.

After placing the dirty dishes in the sink I sat inside the living room, waiting for Serene to get ready.

A few minutes later, Serene stands in front of me with her bag on her back, a clue that she's ready to go.

I stand up on my feet, "Mom! We're going!" before playing with my keys on my finger while walking out on the garage.

Once we hit the road, Ed Sheeran plays on the radio and I turn the volume up.

I sang along with it and I expect Serene to do the same because we always do when this song plays.

But she kept quiet while her eyes are darted on the window.

After the song finishes, I lowered down the radio and finally speak up. "I talked to Jungkook last night." As expected his name caught her attention.