English Education

CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH

"What did he do?" His voice was barely a whisper.

"We were young and stupid and I thought we loved each other. We were engaged. And then he thought inviting my cousin over to my apartment while I was out of town was a great idea. I got sick and came home early. I never wanted to see that much of my cousin, and I never want to again."

"Wow."

"Yeah." I swallowed back the memories that came crashing in. 

"People really suck, don't they."

"No. Just some of them. I happen to be a sucky person magnet, though."

A hand came up to play with my hair, and I closed my eyes at the feeling. "I don't know how you stay so positive. I don't even know the half of it, but you're still so optimistic."

"Well, it's better than being angry all the time." I toyed with the ribbed collar of his t-shirt, suddenly flustered at his attention.

"Either way, it's amazing." his fingers brushed along my hairline, and I felt a shiver wave over my body. "Cold?"

"No."

"Still nervous?"

"Am I ever not?" I sassed, getting a little laugh in return.

"Very true."

It was quiet. Calm and comfortable. I wanted nothing more than to forget about what we were talking about and just stay bundled in his arms forever. I knew that was a dangerous want, but it was a want I had nonetheless. 

"Jane." Yoongi's voice was a little more firm than before. "I know it kind of sucks, but it's important to get it out. Keep talking."

I couldn't help the wordless whine and wiggle that just burst out of me. 

"I am trying so hard no to laugh. Get talking, Janie."

"Oh fine." I relented, kicking my legs to get the blanket better tucked around my feet. He just laughed at me.

"Anyway, Samuel broke my heart, I moved a little closer to my parents, and I was a big ol' disappointment. I made almost no money as a teacher, so I got a second job at a tutoring center. My parents hated my friends. They hated my apartment. They pretty much hated me. I wasn't smart enough, paid enough, pretty enough. I just wasn't enough. And then my dad lost his job. They needed money and asked me for help, but I couldn't give them anything. Then I made a big mistake."

Even just talking about it made me feel stupid and Yoongi could tell.

"Hey, we all make mistakes. It's called being human."

"I know, I just can't believe that given everything, I still trusted them." I grumbled. 

"What did they do?" he was so genuinely curious and concerned, it almost hurt.

"I had them over for dinner a few months before I left. It was a last ditch effort to fix everything. My mom took the opportunity to steal my credit card while I was cleaning up. She used it to pay almost three thousand dollars in bills. When I called the bank and reported it stolen and the charges fraudulent, she was pissed. More angry than I had ever seen her in my entire life. But so was I. I couldn't even stand the sight of her. She came over one day, but I wouldn't let her in. She picked the lock on my door and broke in. I had to call the cops." I let out a bitter laugh at the memory. Talk about bad day.

"Y'know, I don't think I've ever met anyone with more of a tolerance for despicable people than you." Yoongi's eyes were wide as looked at me, shaking his head sadly.

"I know. It sucks."

"What happened after that?"

"Well," I sighed. "I knew I needed to really get out of their reach, so I started looking for teaching positions in other states, then a friend of mine jokingly sent me a link to the BigHit posting. I thought it was a joke. She was the only person who knew I liked you guys, and I thought she was just being funny. It was real though, so I applied. I really didn't think I'd get the job. I mean, I don't even speak Korean! But they took me anyway. So here I am. I told my family the day before I left. My mom lost it. She slapped me, my brother cried, and my dad just left. My Aunt Cam gave me a high five and I'm pretty sure my mother disowned her too."

His lips were thin, and his eyes stared past me. Suddenly, I felt worried about just unloading everything on him. I mean. It was a lot. And I knew it was a lot. And I knew I should have left sooner, but he made me feel so comfortable that it all just came out anyway.

"Yoongi?" I called his name softly, worried.

Nothing. 

"Yoongi? What's wrong?"

This time, his arms tightened around me and he buried his head in my shoulder. "I just can't believe that happened to you. Who does that to their own daughter?"

"I know." It was my turn to comb my fingers through his hair. "But I was so used it, the only thing that really hurt was being fired before I could quit."

His chuckled vibrated on my shoulder. "Only you, Janie."

"Well, I mean. I was going to say 'See you never' when I finally called her back, but my mom beat me to the punch."

"How in the hell do you still have a sense of humor?" He asked, pulling me away to stare at me.

"Years of stupid emotional decisions." I teased.

"You really are one of kind." He smiled.

"So are you, Yoongi."

"Min Yoongi."

"Oh, come on! I've been calling you Yoongi this whole time and now you decide to correct me?" I half shrieked.

"Well, that was during emotional talk. Emotional talk is over."

"Oh my God, fine. You are one of a kind Min Yoongi." I scooted away from him, and he whined.

"No, come back. You're warm."

"Let me call you Yoongi."

"No."

"Yes."

"Not going to happen."

"You know I'm really good at winning." I smirked.

"I said no, Ms. Valadez."

"C'mon, Yoongi."

"No."

I puffed out my lower lip, pulling myself back to him and burying my face in his neck. "Please let me call you Yoongi. Please."

He sighed in defeat, and I smiled against his shirt. "Fine, but only when we're alone."

"Victory!" I sang, snuggling closer.

"You suck." He pouted, but still held me tightly.

"You just said I was amazing two seconds ago." I brought a hand up to poke his cheek.

"Just shut up and tell me if you're feeling better."

"I can't tell you that if I'm shutting up." I teased, decidedly feeling better.

Yoongi just glared at me.

"Okay, okay." I laughed. "I'm feeling a lot better. Thank you for coming over, Yoongi. Honestly, I was just going to make a sandwich, go to bed, and just not deal with this until the weekend. But I'm really glad you came over. Talking about everything really did make me feel better."

"Good." His hand was back in my hair. "Next time something happens, please call me. I was worried sick."

"I will. I promise."

"Good. Now let's get something to eat." He was already starting to get up but I stopped him.

"I am so warm and comfortable. Thirty minute nap first?"

He smiled such a big and bright smile, it could heal just about anything. "You are seriously my favorite person right now."