innocent | HHJ + SRJ

28

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S H I N  R Y U J I N

hera, gaeun and i were talking to one another as if we were best of friends. it was the normal girl best friends talk. some teasing here, compliments there and a quite lot of rants. so it was very comfortable to be with them. but like any other conversation, once it became comfortable, the serious topics starts.

" i'm really sorry " i stopped laughing, my smile falling and my lips forming a straight line. gaeun was fidgeting with her fingers, a bitter and sad smile on her lips.

" hyunjin's my classmate, i know he's a nice guy so seeing you dating him just made me really upset and jealous " she explained, biting on the side of her lower lip. i nod my head as i listen to her.

" if i didn't let my emotions take over me i wouldn't tell jungseo about this and no one would get hurt " she said, a long sigh leaving her lips after.

hera put a comforting hand on her back, smiling at her as she speak. i chuckle and shake my head. it's true that i'm upset about being kidnapped and all that but, i kind of understand how they feel. just like her, we both admire hyunjin even though we both know we can't have him.

the two looked at me weirdly because I suddenly laughed. " nah, i already forgive you the moment i saw your scared face " i said while nodding my head. " that moment i knew you didn't mean it and that you wanted to stop it "

i saw a tear escape from her left eye. she immediately wiped it away, pursing her lower lip while nodding her head. " thanks ryujin " she said, her voice shaky and fragile.

" uhm, me too " i then turn to hera who's still comforting gaeun. i furrowed my eyebrows as i wait for her to speak out.

" i'm... " she sighed, trying to contain herself. " i'm actually the one who took those pictures "

at first i didn't get her. what pictures? but when she looked me in the eye, with those apologetic eyes, it struck me. the article. i inhaled a long breath, avoiding her eyes and focussing on the floor.

the article. it was her. just by thinking about the article made all the ugly emotions come back. all the guilt and pressure. my hand grip the sheets of the bed i am sitting at, trying to calm myself down.

" i- i'm very sorry. i just happen to be there with my date and when i saw you with hyunjin, i wasn't able to stop myself. i know how much jungseo despises you, so i took the picture and gave it to her " she sighed.

when i look up to her, i saw her watching jungseo with sad eyes. " i didn't know she'll write something like that " she said, sighing and looking back at me with those defeated eyes.

" you don't know how much that cost me " i said, low and firm. her sad eyes started to get watery. she pressed her lips together, trying to stop herself from crying.

" the way people looked at me, the sharp daggers they shoot at my back, and heck " i let out a breath. " it even made yeji and hyunjin disown each other "

i avoid her defeated eyes and stared at the ceiling. i can't believe this. now that i found the root of all it, i can't even hurt her. i can't slap her. why am i like this? why did i change a lot? if i was the old ryujin, i probably caused chaos here already after knowing that it was her. but i can't, instead of hatred and anger towards her, all i feel now is pity and empathy.