✓ | cool for the summer, sim jaeyun

𝟎𝟖. ( making a mess. )

IF ISABEL'S HEAD wasn't already banging before, then it definitely was now, now that Niki barged into her bedroom, throwing questions at her, demanding to know what went down last night.

"Did you guys kiss?" Niki grinned, excitedly laying himself down at the end of Issy's bed. The girls brows furrowed in confusion and annoyance, and her head pulsed with pain as she slowly sat up on her bed — her hair matted and dark, prominent eye bags beneath her eyes.

"Did you get drunk?! Did he walk you home?" The younger boy continued to ask, causing even more discomfort to her head.

"Niki, please." Isabel huffed, squinting her eyes shut. Why was everything suddenly so loud? "Be quiet for a minute." She groaned, throwing the warm blanket from her body, about to get out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Niki raised a brow and Isabel stopped her movements and turned to look at him.

"I'm going to get Aspirin." She told him as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, though a glimps of confusion flashed across Niki's features and he pointed to her bedside table.

Issy mirrored the boys feelings and turned to look at the table, only for her eyes to widen slightly. On it was two Aspirin tablets, a bottle of water and a pack of crackers. Shock consumed the girls body and she sheepishly glanced over at her best friend.

Had she put them there last night and forgotten about doing it? Though, considering she was quite drunk, her thoughts before jumping into bed would most definitely not be getting medication for the morning — and crackers. The only person she knew to have crackers after being drunk was Jake, and that because she once let both her brother and Jake ramble about a party they went to that night and how they were 'totally not' drunk whilst slurring on their words, meanwhile Issy revised for an exam the next morning.

Jake?

Was he the one to put them there?

"Did you forget that you put it there last night?" Niki chuckled, breaking Issy out of her thoughts as she slowly nodded her head. "Did you drink that much?"

A breathy chuckle fell from her lips and she let out a sigh. "Yeah, I guess I did."

"How was the party last night?" He wondered once the girl had taken the Aspirin and begun to eat the crackers.

"I can't really remember to be honest." Isabel shrugged, and it was true. She couldn't remember pretty much anything from the actual party. All she could remember was her heart breaking when Jake sister-zoned her.

A long and exaggerated huff fell from Niki's mouth as he threw his head back in annoyance and rolled his eyes. He'd been waiting all morning (it was now the afternoon) for his best friend to wake up and tell him about her night, and now she couldn't even remember.

"Whatever," Niki stood from her bed. "You look like shit." He deadpanned and Isabel's mouth parted ever so slightly in shock. That was unexpected. "You should wash up because your dads doing lunch on the BBQ outside." Niki informed before leaving her alone to get ready.

✿

Once Isabel had showered and gotten ready for the day — her bikini beneath her denim shorts and loose t-shirt — she made her way down the stairs.

Instantly, her nose was filled with the scent of smoke and the delicious smell of ribs and burgers. It was nice and even made her stomach growl as she walked into the kitchen to go out the double doors to head outside.

However, before she could get far her eyes landed on him — Jake Sim. He was pouring himself a glass of Coke whilst wearing a pair of wet swim trunks and no top. His hair was damp with water droplets dripping from it and rolling down his body.

Isabel knew it was wrong to stare and feel the way she did about him. She didn't want to like him. She couldn't help but feel guilty because not only was she betraying her brother, but she felt as if she was also betraying Niah.

Too lost in her thoughts, Jake slowly looked up from his glass and over to Issy, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as soon as his eyes landed on her, instantly making the Park girl to break away from her thoughts.

Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment. She'd just been caught staring and now all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and roll away. He looked hotter than ever with the water gliding down his toned body, and Issy felt her stomach swirl as a wave of fluster hit her.

He has a girlfriend, she'd tell herself, attempting to compose herself. She needed to move on. Jake Sim didn't like her — he never would. She was Jay Park's baby sister, she didn't stand a chance...

And so, the girl cleared her throat and stood up straight. "You're making a mess." She stated, catching him off guard. "Make sure you clean up the puddle on the floor." She nodded down the the pool of water by his feet from the water falling from his body, before she looked back up at him.

The two held eye contact for a short moment, Jake not knowing what to say. The younger girl had never spoke to him like that before. Usually, she would get flustered and stutter on her words, but this time she didn't and that bothered Jake — but he didn't know why.

Isabel silently picked up her art book that was on the kitchen island and turned around the walk through the open, double doors. She couldn't help but feel proud of herself.

"There she is!" Her father beamed once he saw his daughter was now awake and outside. "Do you want a burger, Issy?" He asked, flipping over the circular food and a wide smile appeared on the girls lips.

She parted her lips, about to agree even though her stomach was really calling out for the ribs. She knew they were a mess to eat and she didn't want to look a slob in front of Jake — a scoff quickly escaped Isabel's lips as she realized what she was thinking.

She wasn't going to let Jake Sim unknowingly dictate her life anymore.

✿