Chapter 11~Kim Hyuna (2/2)

The anger is hot inside of you now, hearing about how Hara and JunHyung were together in a way that you tried to deny from the beginning. You take a deep breath and try to press on, away from her.“I never would have figured you to be such a slut though.” Hara continues to aggravate you.You spin around. “What?” you exclaim. “A slut? Me? I’ve done nothing wrong! You’re the one that goes around with every guy.”

“Jealous?” her eyes are still wide and her smile hasn’t changed.“Not in the least.” You mumble.“I guess you’re right. I was feeling a little strange about you and JunHyung together. But now I feel better. He wouldn’t be with someone like you. Someone so… awkwardly shaped. From a family like yours.”

“A family like mine? What’s wrong with my family?”

“Oh nothing. My daddy once was involved in dirty work when he was young too. But then he grew up and actually made a name for himself on his own.”

“Dirty work? What do you mean by that?” you thunder.Her smile sticks and her eyes are unmoving.

“Take it back, you damn clown!” You rage. “There’s nothing wrong with my father! He’s a noble man!”

“Ha! Noble. What a bunch of bullshit. Why don’t you go home and ask daddy what I’m talking about…but wait. He’s not there is he? He never is. Neither is your mother. They’re both ashamed of you. Working out of home. Running a business you know nothing about.”

Your eyes tear up in frustration. She was just trying to hurt your feelings. She’d danced around JunHyung, your father’s business, and now your loneliness. You turn to make a run for it when your face hits something firm and soft. A hand comes up and traps the back of your head, keeping your face in his chest. Your hands are in fists at your side. You want to run and hide, but for now, the feeling of being in someone’s arms feels good too.“Go home you slut.” You hear a deep voice rumble.

“What did you call me?” you hear Hara’s voice raise another octave.“Go find yourself some cheap wine, whore. No one wants you around here. I won’t buy you a drink. Go sell yourself to some bum for a few extra cents towards a beer.”

“Ah!” Hara screams in aggravation.The hand wraps around your back and pulls you down the street, leaving Hara fuming behind. You sniff back your tears.You stop in front of your car. You go to open the side door but Guk squeezes past you and shuts it. He leans up against the car and looks at you. Your face is down. Angry. Sad. Hurt. Embarrassed. You don’t want to look up at him. How did he find you anyways?

“You’re not.” He says quieter.You look up at him now. His eyes already bearing into yours.“You’re not a slut.” He says.Your eyes water and a tear forces its way out the corner of your eye and trickles down your burning cheek. He sighs and pushes off the car. He steps right up against you. His hand cups your face and his thumb wipes away the tear. Then his other hand takes your other side. Both his hands have your face and he forces you to look at him. His eyes are…gentle. This big bully of a man has gentle eyes. Your face suddenly feels incredibly warm, even in the chillness of the night.He sighs. “Don’t you ever listen to that girl.” He says almost in a whisper. “She’s nothing. Has no one. I don’t want you to ever listen to her again.”“Okay.” You whisper back in an almost inaudible voice.He drops your face and his arms go around your neck and pulls you into him. He holds you in an embrace. Your face is in his shoulder, you feel his nose in your hair. He holds you for a moment and you feel…good. You feel like stress is leaving your body. You forget what Hara had said to you. All you know now is that Bang Yong Guk is holding you. Protecting you. Your heart suddenly picks up pace and you worry he may be able to feel it pounding inside of you.A sigh escapes your lips and he pulls back. He has your shoulders and looks down into your eyes.“Let’s go.” He says.You nod and he opens the door for you. He gets in the other side and you two drive home in silence, with you looking out the window the whole way. Once you get to your house you go in and head for the stairs. Guk grabs your hand and you turn back.“You need to eat.” He says and tugs you towards the kitchen.He places a bowl of ramen in front of you and puts chopsticks in your hands. Then he sits by you and watches with intensity.“What?” you ask, melancholy.“Eat.” He says.

“You’re going to watch me?” you ask.“I’m going to make sure you eat. All of it. Hurry!” he says in a friendly, playful voice.

You roll your eyes but listen to him. You eat all the ramen and push the bowl back. He takes it from you and cleans it. You get up and head for the stairs and he’s behind you.You stop and spin to find him closer than you thought. Your nose almost touches his chest and you look up at him. Your heart pounds again! What is this?!“Thank you.” You whisper.He looks around and then back at you. He nods. “Go sleep.” He says. “Come find me if you can’t fall asleep.”

You nod and go upstairs. Strange man. Maybe he’s not so bad after all. Kind of nice. Caring in a way. You wonder if maybe it will be a better thing to have him as a friend.