The best of me

5

It had been a week, a week since the last time he saw her. He heard her voice when she spoke to the girls through the phone and even asked Jimin to put on speakerphone every time he called her. Taehyung knew, he was wrong, he hurt her purposely, because her words also hurt and affected him but now he could not find an excuse for his deed. He sent her messages, they remained unseen, called her thousand times but was always met by the same beeping signal, not a single word or message in return. He felt he deserved it, but every time called again hoping for her forgiveness.
She avoided talking about him even when talking to friends. He seemed to be erased from her mind, her life.
This is exactly how he felt right now, erased from his life also, because he couldn't find peace thinking about anything but her.
He threw his lazy body into the couch and scrolled through his photo gallery, it was evening. He remembers how every evening he found silly reasons to call her even if they were parting just couple of hours ago. And now... only there he could see her smile, and hear her life-giving laughter, tirelessly watching her as she sang some songs that stuck in her head, with her soothing honey voice, and her shy smile when she spotted him filming her. She was cute.... "beautiful.." Yes, she was beautiful, and it was so natural for his mouth to say that. His phone was only thing that helped him to feel her presence. These feelings were not unknown to him, he understood them long ago and knew what he was feeling, but now, when he missed her it seemed to him that he fell in love even deeper, his heart was aching for her. He run his hand though his face and sighed trying to not to succumb this melancholy, ghost like smile never leave lips when his mind was occupied with thoughts of her.

The day after her departure, he was ready to fly after her, but his friends stopped him, the girls were against it too.  He didn't know why, but he stayed, their only explanation was that she needed time and if he will show up now, he will make it even worse. They promised to help him, and he very much counted on their help.

Days were gone and he was still here, it was the bad timing, he had to finish his architecture project before the end of the semester. Architecture was his main class and Professor Kan was especially picky about students from a special circle, and for this reason, when, unfortunately, his partner turned out to be Jisoo, he could not ask the professor to change his partner, he decided that it was easier to do everything on his own than annoy an already embittered professor. "You must learn to deal with the situation and the people around you, Mr. Kim.  Although who am I saying this to? it doesn't look like you're going to work for someone, rather you don't have to deal with people" That's what he sarcastically said the first time Tae asked him to swap the theme with another group.

Jisoo was his new partner. She was happy to be with him ... he was  tired of her. For two weeks she was following him to the library and then to the joint classes.
He tried to avoid her but the whole campus was buzzing about their relationship, that didn't exist in reality. He was sure she did it. Jusoo was the one who
spread rumors he so much hated and he said her to stop it. To stop following him and talking to him when it wasn't about the project.

His dad also never was fan of  the girl, and today when he finally came back from his work trip he looked angry. They didn't have time to talk about failed engagement and his new girlfriend that was the reason
to it, but he knew why he was indignant.
He didn't explain anything to his parents but it seems like his naughty younger sister complained that she lost her close friend through his fault and now his mother also was scolding him, she lectured about how wrong he was and that momentary weakness could be the mistake of a lifetime. He knew it and damn listening to them praising Joy and blaming him didn't help but make everything more pessimistic.

"Son, you are already grow up man." His father began, when he sat down in a chair in his office, where he called him right after dinner. With anxiety, he raised his eyes to his father, who was sitting in a leather armchair, gazing intently at some folder with documents. He hoped that his threats did not come into effect right now, because his mother's gaze was alarming. As much as he loved his father he feared him. He was always stoic and self-possessed, never once he shouted at him, but one word or glance was enough to understand that he was irritated. His personality traits were passed on to Taehyung, and therefore many considered him unapproachable and even arrogant. He knew, he took it from his father.
"I know you won't like it, but there is no way for your childishness." Finally, Mr. Kim said breaking the trilling silence, meeting his sons eyes. "You will have to break up with her." His voice stern and dominant would have made him flinch if he hadn't been at a loss by his demand.
Taehyung frowned, trying to understand. "With whom?"
"With your new passion."
"But..." he began but his dad cut him
"No but." He took the folder and slammed it on the desk in front of him , what made him flinch "I couldn't imagine what you would do when we made an agreement with the Park's. This happened long before the engagement was announced, before you two knew about it." He gestured to the page where he should look at "We were sure it wouldn't be a problem looking at how close the two of you are, but who would have thought that you were dating someone and Sooyoung had no feelings for you. Expect friendly ones. Seems your Mom was very wrong in her thoughts and feelings this time, maybe because she wanted too much to see you two together." Taehyung was taken aback for a second but looking at the papers in front of him secretly smiled.
"We are not dating, with Jisoo, she is not my girlfriend, dad." He said looking into his eyes. "This is all a misunderstanding, I am to blame, but it all happened by accident. Jisoo and I ... we ... are just project partners. Everything else is rumor" he wasn't lying, no matter how she wanted it, for him it was just a rumor, he had never felt anything for Jisoo before, and now he only felt irritated and angry at himself for kissing her. His father was clearly satisfied with his words, he relaxed back in his chair and invisible smile touches his lips. "I'm glad. What about Sooyoung?"
Taehyung smiled silently and looked down at the papers in his hands again trying to hide his betraying lips, seeing the document as a guarantee that they will be together. This paper warmed his hope and his dad was smart enough to notice it.
"I see.."Mr. Kim nodded. "Everything is in your hands, son, I hope you know what to do."
"Not really." He put the documents on the table and rubbed his hands like a little child who was scolded by his parents. "I tried calling and messaged endlessly... but..."
"But she doesn't want to talk to you? She is offended"
"Yes...She is" he sighed
"I'm afraid ChenJong can't help you. He won't be able to force her this time, he made it clear to me. And knowing what happened last time ..." Mr. Kim thought for a second and looked again at his son.
"What happened? I want to know." His eyes full of curiosity "Jimin always talks as if something terrible happened, but I don't understand." He asked in perplexity.
"Park's did not want rumors about their only daughter, so ChenJong decided to hide everything, if the press found out about it, it would greatly affect their reputation and Sooyoung herself."said his dad massaging his nose bridge, probably remembering what a hard time it was to his friend "Although I'm still not happy that because of the fear of leaking information, he was forced to leave Yook's without the proper punishment they deserve. For good, they had to answer in court for all illegal cases, black bookkeeping and threats to Sooyong's life." Mr.Kim pursed his lips as if regretting something
"But you do know what happened..." said Tae deeply frowning, it start to bothering him more and more. He was sure that his father knew everything in the smallest detail, because their families had been friends for a very long time, and their fathers had known each other from height school, there was no doubt that they trusted each other. He only wondered why he wasn't interested in the events that happened to Joy in the past. He knew that Yook Sungjae's father wanted to get them engaged and Mr. Park agreed, he sent his daughter to study in Japan so that they could get to know each other and might develop some feelings. Despite the fact that their engagement was only a profitable business agreement, Joy's father did not want his daughter to marry a man completely unknown to her.