TRUST || STRAY KIDS

PART XXIII - TRUST?

Three months passed since then. Everything went to normal and she hasn't gone into any game after that. Promised herself that it would be the last game she joined although that's not her who's playing. Days passed and people changed. The one who she thought would be the jerk of them all turned out to be the sweetest of them all. Felix often came up to her, helping her with anything. Be it college work or anything. And she thankful for that.

Her studies were left behind the others and she needed extra effort to catch up with the others. Her campus life? Bad, but not as bad as she thought. Sometimes people would talk about her right in front of her about what Ryu Jin posted. It didn't bother her though, already went through everything alone from the start helped her.

"Hey," the boy tapped her shoulder before seating beside her. He took off his bag and put it on the table. As always, the library was their favorite place to meet up. She smiled slightly before collecting her focus once more to the laptop in front of her. "I thought you're still in class."

"Yeah, it ended early and I have these essays to be done today," she shrugged. To be honest, she still felt a bit uncomfortable with him since last month, Chan confessed to her. She rejected him though, as she already on a relationship with Seung Min. Chan requested her not to be stranger and asked her to remain as good friends despite the awkward situation they might in. She tried though for months. It helped but not instantly.

Chan also tried, acting as if nothing happened between them. But who can control their own feelings right? He sometimes felt hurt whenever he saw her with Seung Min. It's not her fault for rejecting him and he knew that very well. Deep down, he blamed himself for not meeting her sooner or not even trying to put up a fight whenever they're together.

For Hyun Jin, he realized his attraction for her was just an admiration rather than romantic feelings. Rather, after he became the head of the family, he didn't have time to think about it at all. Yes, he finally became the head of the family after the match. He spent many times on his place, renewing the contract and every rule that his grandfather has made. Thanks to Ye Ji's courage that she finally able to tell Ryu Jin's bad action towards her.

.

"That's bullshit!" she slammed the table angrily. "No one will believe you!" The game automatically stopped when Ye Ji told all her painful past story. The old man listened to her story well. Whether he believed it or not, depends on himself.

"Let's see who will believe more, Ryu Jin. You or me and the kids? They know more than you do," Ye Ji said calmly. Ryu Jin gulped. How much did the other already know? "First, you disturbed me every day just because I lost a game with you. Everyone knew it but I told them not to tell anyone. Second, even if I did win from you, you always came up with a reason and told the grown up that I cheated. I don't know how you can convince them until they never see me has any potential in poker." Mr. Hwang already took a glance at Ryu Jin, asking for a confirmation. But her expression said it all. All of her words were true. "Lastly, I'm not the one who should be sent to Las Vegas. You are." This one, no one knew about this. Even Hyun Jin also surprised about the news.

"What's the meaning of this?" Mr. Hwang stood up and growled at the girl beside him. She stuttered, trying to say something to defend herself but nothing came up.

"Before the game night, the score which decided whether one of us will play on the main event, Ryu Jin was supposed to be the one who play and not me. But she faked her score and made her own lower than me and instantly made me on that podium just because you're scared playing in front of many people," Ye Ji explained calmly while her words came out with venom. In their family, bothering someone was not a big problem as the grown ups only saw it as a kid joke. But if they ever faked or played with their score or sacrificed someone for their own stead, that's a big crime.

"Shin Ryu Jin, do you have anything to say against what Ye Ji just said?" the old man asked sternly. Ryu Jin's eyes wavered, looking everywhere trying to search for a ray of hope before her gaze landed on her. The girl who bring Ye Ji back here and destroying her temporary heaven. Her sister was right. She's a nightmare. Her mind was blank, nothing came up. The only thing she felt was regret. Regret that she decided to mess around with her. "I see you can't defend yourself. As the head of the family, I banished you and your family from this mansion from breaking the law."

The crowds started to talk again. Looking at Ryu Jin with the gaze she hated the most. Judgmental gazes. She clenched her hands and started dashing towards Y/N with so much anger on her. But, before she could lay a hand, Hyun Jin and Seung Min stopped her. Y/N didn't flinch though when she was about to hit her. She struggled to get out of their grip, but their strength was above beyond her. It only took seconds until the security guard came and picked her up.

"Let's continue the game," Hyun Jin's grandfather cleared his throat.

"I don't think we should," Ye Ji sighed. "In the end, I'll win." He frowned, didn't understand what the young girl was saying. "I'm going all in." She pushed all her coins into the middle of the table leaving the old man with no choice but to bet all in too. Feeling confident with his cards, he agreed and placed all of his coins. Once they revealed their cards, Mr. Hwang didn't expect this. He's confident he has the upper hand on this game, like any other game. But he lost now for the first time, with his own granddaughter. "Like the promise, you give your title to my brother and never bother out lives again."

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"What are you guys doing?" Seung Min and Felix joined the table and took the chair across her and Chan. She smiled at him which he also smiled in returned. Chan mouthed a 'don't worry' to him and continued on reading the book on his hand. "Should we go now? There're thirty minutes left until the café packed with hungry people."

"Yeah, we should," she hummed and closed her laptop. She did say to Chan that they're having a lunch date and she was waiting for him for his class to finish. Not going to miss on writing down her essay homework though while waiting. They bid goodbye to them and went towards the exit. Seung Min found this new café near the campus and decided to try as their usual date. But the review said they always packed, and people needed to come thirty minutes prior if they don't want to wait outside.

"Already feeling okay with Chan?" Seung Min asked, intertwining their fingers. She sighed and shook her head in denial. It was hard but she believed they'll go back to normal eventually. They just need time. Seung Min and Chan's friendship didn't fell apart even if he knew Chan also bore a feeling for her. The two understood each other and respect each other feelings made them still friends, though it did make them awkward the first week after Seung Min found out that Chan confessed to her. But he knew Chan was one of the friends he needed, and he didn't want their friendship to fall apart just because of a girl. That's why he reached out to him first. "You want me to talk to him?"

"No, it's okay. It's my problem with him, I should be the one who clear things up," Y/N looked at him and smiled softly. Seung Min smiled and caressed her head with his freehand. "Do you trust me?"

"I do, and I always will," he said certainly. They finally arrived at the café and just like the review said, the café was not that crowded if they come before lunch time. Seung Min went to order foods for them while Y/N went to search for a seat. After Seung Min done ordering, he joined her and waited. Talking about their boring professors and annoying classmates.

"Have you heard about this game night? They offered huge prizes to those who win at the main event. You should come! You're good at poker, aren't you?" said the man beside their table. The two of them stopped their conversation and focused on the conversation beside them. Ever since they finished that intense night, the news of that game night never placed first on the article again for months. "If we win this game, we're going to be rich!" Seung Min and Y/N looked at each other before sighed in unison.

"Here we go again."

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Thank you for reading, everyone! A new mystery story coming up!
Sorry for the crappy story plot btw. 

Hope you have a nice day!

Sincerely,
Ssaerii