Love Bites and Letters Chapter 5 Part 3
Part 3
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(Two months after, September)
It’s after the summer break. Students grudgingly ditches their summer wear for their uniforms. The second semester in Jeonju Arts Hig School is about to start. With dread, they enter the school and try to switch their minds into school mode.
Two boys simultaneously open their lockers and both release a disappointed sigh.
No more cookies for one. Not a single letter for the other.
Both boys didn’t bother to talk to each other and went into their separate ways, their respective classrooms.
Choi Sooyoung started playing hide and seek since that disastrous acquaintance party last June. At first, Jonghyun thought that she will instantly go back to being cheerful and pestering him mercilessly after their sort of argument. She was always like that, pretending like he was not annoyed with her the other day and eagerly bounces back at him.
But this time was different. That Monday of the week after the party, Jonghyun act like it was just another day. He was even prepared to roll his eyes if ever he opens his locker and he finds his usual treat.
So imagine his surprise when he sees his locker without his daily cookies. He immediately glances at Yonghwa. His cousin was also staring at his locker. Jonghyun approached him and peeks inside his locker, no letter too. He still remembers bumping to Joohyun at the party, crying while holding what seem to be broken pieces of his cousin’s guitar. He immediately knew her planned confession didn’t go as planned.
He came home and was ready to punch Yonghwa on the face for making Joohyun cry but it didn’t happen. He finds Yonghwa smashing his things inside his room, tearing the letters angrily. He looks at Jonghyun with unshed tears on his eyes.
“It’s not her.”
“So?”
“I’m heartbroken.”
“Don’t you think Jo-“
“I want it to be her.”
He didn’t get to answer Yonghwa because his cousin reminds him of himself. Wasn’t he also wishing that it was Joohyun was his date for the acquaintance part? That it was him whom Seo Joohyun likes instead of this upset and broken hearted cousin of his?
“What are you going to do now Yonghwa?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, to the person who really wrote the letters?”
“I don’t care about her.”
“What?! You don’t know it’s-“
“I don’t care! Unless that person is Park Shinhye……”
And the cold Jung Yonghwa finally cries. But he didn’t make any noise, he buries his head under the pillows while his shoulders shaking. Jonghyun left his cousin wallow up in his heart problems. When he enters inside his room, he looks out of his window. Choi Sooyoung’s room is dark. Where could she be?
Thus began Sooyoung’s hide and seek from him. She would avoid him at all cost, running from him, avoiding hi stares and walks at the opposite direction whenever they meet in the hallways. And when the summer break began, he didn’t see her too. Her family went to Thailand and then Bali for a vacation. He never felt so…..quiet. Not really peaceful but just quiet. There’s no one screaming Hubby at him or grabbing his arm and drag him forcefully to God knows where.
Plus, he feels guilty.
He halts on his steps when he sees the girl he’s been thinking recently. Sooyoung and her sister are talking when Joohyun stops as she notices him standing in front of them. Sooyoung gives her sister a confused look then looks forward. She didn’t speak and only stares blankly at him. Jonghyun is too tongue tied to talk and finds himself staring at her. Joohyun decides to break the silence.
“Unnie, I’ll just drop this letter and then I’ll meet you in the car okay?”
“Car?”
“Okay.” Sooyoung says softly. Joohyun gives Jonghyun a tiny smile before leaving the two standing silently in the middle of the hall. Jonghyun opts to speak first.
“Ahn…Ahnyeong.”
“Hi.”
Silence again. Jonghyun fidgets as Sooyoung continues on looking at him blankly. Not brave to talk first about the conflict that they had Jonghyun looks for a distraction. He finally notices the small white box Sooyoung is holding.
“What’s that?”
“It’s for you.”
Sooyoung steps forward and hands him the box. He opens it and finds his old portable cassette tape and a small container of scar remover. Curious, he looks back at her quizzically. Sooyoung lets out a faint smile.
“I’m returning your cassette player. I don’t need it anymore.”
“Huh?”
Instead of answering him, she takes out the scar remover. Jonghyun tucks the box under his arm when Sooyoung grabs his wrist and swabs the sticky cream on his scar, the part where Sooyoung often bites him. It’s the proof that he’s been marked by her, that he belongs to her. He stares at her bowed head, a sinking feeling in the pits of his stomach. Why the sudden dread feeling?
“My Appa is being transferred to London by the company he’s working.”
“Deh? But the second semester-“
“Me and Joohyunnie will continue our studies there.”
That shuts him up again. He wants to speak or say something. That he’s sorry and he was a jerk, he really wants to say it to her. But the miserable feeling of Choi Sooyoung, his ultimate stalker, is leaving bothers him. Sooyoung raises her head and looks at him gently.
“Jigeumeun…..You’re not mine anymore.”
“…What?”
“Once that bite mark fades……………..Lee Jonghyun, I am setting you free.”
She suddenly kisses him on the cheeks and hugs him tight. The hug is still bone crushing as usual but this time, he can sense the hint of good bye in her hug. He is about to put his arms around her but she immediately steps back from his arms, too far for his liking. This time, her smile was wide and bright.
“When I go to London, I will exercise and be really pretty. As for you, be nicer to the next girl who will confess her feelings for you, ahrasso? And forget my sister; she is still head over heels in love with Jung Yonghwa.”
Sooyoung giggles watching his dumbfounded expression. She tilts her head slightly to the left as she waits for him to talk but he didn’t. He just stood there, his eyes blinking slowly, his mouth hanging open and uncomprehending. A beep on her phone made her look away to read the message. It’s from Joohyun, telling her that she’s waiting in the car.
“Well, that’s my signal to go. Take care Lee Jonghyun-sshi.” She hurriedly turns and walks away from him.
Jonghyun finds himself running after her. He caught her by the arm but she didn’t turn around. They stood there, quiet and somber. She can’t leave. He still has a lot of things to say to her! Desperate to make her stay, he spews out an outrageous question.
“You said before-Well, I….I thought you’re going to marry me?”
A heartbeat before Sooyoung speaks again.
“Lee Jonghyun……..The groom should marry the bride and not the maid of honor.”
And then she left, leaving him watching her walk farther away. He didn’t even hear the bell ringing.
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Joohyun moves on her seat when she hears the car door open. She smiles at her unnie once Sooyoung finally settles on her seat. Sooyoung smiles back then pats her lap. Joohyun moves and puts her head on it. Sooyoung caresses her hair softly.
“Ahjussi, to the airport please.” She tells the cab driver. The taxi moves immediately.
“Unnie…..”
“Hmm?”
“Did you give the box to Jonghyun Oppa?”
“I did. How about you?”
“I already put the letter inside Yonghwa-sshi’s locker.”
“Aigoo…I thought you’re going to give it to him personally?”
“I chickened out I got too scared.”
“Eh?! So you just drop the bomb then leave?” Sooyoung asks incredulously.
“……..It’s okay. I doubt he will be happy once he knows it’s me. He’s head over heels on Park Shinhye, remember?”
“Sorry, invalid information is not allowed.”
“Unnie!”
Joohyun sits up and pouts at her sister. She knows her sister is actually very sad. In fact, she wants her unnie to get mad at her. She still feels guilty of what happened between her and Jonghyun Oppa at the party. But her unnie never blamed her and only cried inside her room.
“Unnie….Mianheyo.” She apologizes earnestly. Sooyoung gives her a confused look.
“What for?”
“Unnie, should be angry with me! It’s bec...because Jonghyun Oppa li-liked me that’s why he got angry at you at the party. I shouldn’t have asked him to take you to the party. You must really hate me. You just won’t admit it. I’m real-“
“I can’t. I will never hate you. It’s okay if I can’t get married to my prince charming. As long as my little sister is beside me, I’m already happy.”
“But unnie-“
“Aigoo!” Sooyoung bends down and picks a white poodle puppy from a pink portable dog bag lying near her feet,.
“Sandy, you’re Joohyun Imo is being stubborn again. Go bite her to make her realize that I’m not angry and is doing okay.”
Joohyun giggles when Sooyoung playfully shoves the dog on her face, licking her cheeks. A cute bark from her feet forces her to look down. Her own Yorkshire terrier puppy wants her attention too. She picks it up and places it on her lap.
“Omona, Ruthie is jealous.” She coos. “Don’t worry, Joohyun Umma loves you the most.”
The dog barks in agreement. Sooyoung and Joohyun laughs when the two dogs start biting each other’s ears. The taxi driver informs them that they are nearing the airport. Sooyoung looks out of her window, looking at the sky pensively.
“What are you thinking unnie?” She looks at Joohyun and shakes her head.
“Nothing.”
As they ride the airplane flying to London, Joohyun and Sooyoung sits quietly and having a mind on their own. They don’t know when they will comeback. They are going to a new and entirely different place. Joohyun stops writing on her journal and reads it.
“I know I can only live once but even in love, I will be smart.” She quotes softly.
“I maybe shy and coward now but I promise, in the future, I will be braver.”
On the other side, Sooyoung is in deep thought.
“When I come back, I will be fabulous. No, Choi Sooyoung will become more fabulous.”
And upon their return, the memories of the bites and letters of their first love welcome them back with a bang.
To be continued.
Author’s Note:
Hi my loves! Kekeke. Miss me? ^^
Anyways, please read my latest update for LBL. So much angst right, don’t worry. Next chapters will be funny and you will be tickled pink. :D But I understand if you don’t like the angst here. So if it’s not your cup of tea then don’t read it. *shows you the door*
Oh, it’s my birthday today! *throws confetti* So this is my gift to you my lovely readers. Actually, I was feeling ambitious. I want to do a triple update, LBL, TGBTW and Hunger 3.0. I’m sorry if it didn’t materialize. There are too many ideas but there’s only one Merki doing it. LOL. Mianheyo.
And since it’s my birthday, can you be sweet and leave a comment? ^^ It will be your gift to me. :D Really? You will? THANK YOU!
To Hiko, I miss you! >.< Stop that Twitter diet and bombard us with your tweets again. And no, not the Tumblr tweets, OK?
To Lia unnie and Trish, girls….well? You know what birthday gift that I want from you two.
To Ruthie, I forgot what type of dog you were, Kekekke. Mianhe!
To Sandy, HOI! ASA MAN KA?! NGANO NAWALA MAN KA UG KALIT SA TWITTER HA?! YOU BETTER COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW YOU ARE STILL BREATHING THERE! GIMINGAW JUD KO SA IMO MGA KABUANG SA TWITTER. D;
To those who tweeted to greet me on my birthday, THANK YOU. Today is like any other day for me but you’re sweet and thoughtful messaged made me realized that lots of people actually cared for me. THANK YOU.
Love,
Merki <3
P.S. LJ IS BEING A FREAKING FEMALE DOG TO ME!! >.<