✓ | cool for the summer, sim jaeyun

𝟏𝟐. ( chaos. )

THE WARM BREEZE blew softly through Isabel's hair, skimming her face as she and Niki sat side by side on the beach, looking out at the ocean. The sun had now set and the only source of light surrounding the beach was the fiery beam from the bonfire that everyone continued to dance around. 

An alcoholic drink was past between the Park girl and Nishimura boy as they cracked jokes every now and then; Issy's legs brought up close to her chest as a way to find warmth in the midst of the chilly night. The two had been sat away from the rave for twenty minutes and neither of them had any plans on heading back just yet. They liked being in one another's company and gossiping about the party.

"Issy," Niki began, a sly smirk on the boys lips as he turned his head to look down at her, his eyebrow cocked. "Be honest. Are you really over Jake?" He wondered and instantly, Isabel felt her eyes enlarge slightly in shock at the unexpected question. "You can tell me." He reassured his friend, who let out a sigh.

"It's weird." She began, looking at him as he listened to her. "I hadn't seen him in so long... and now that I've seen him again, I guess I just feel overwhelmed." Isabel shrugged, not quite sure if what she was saying was making any sense.

"And do you really like Jungwon?"

Nodding her head quickly, a smile appeared on Issy's lips as she turned away from looking at Niki and focused her eyes on the sea before her, biting down on her finger nail. "Originally, I was only going to focus on him as a distraction from Jake, but now I'm really starting to like him."

"So," Niki started, a mischievous grin on his lips that made Isabel groan and rolls her eyes. She knew that look all too well. "If they were both to ask you to be their girlfriend, who would you say yes to?"

Issy felt her breathing hitch as the boys words travelled to her ears. Of course Niki would ask something like this... Isabel Park didn't know.

Jake was her first love, her childhood crush and she would forever hold a special place for him in her heart — no matter the mean things he'd say to her.

And Jungwon was someone new. He made her feel special, like he only had eyes for her. He was a gentleman and that was something Issy cherished... however, no matter how hard she thought about the Yang boy, her brothers best friend would always find a way to appear in her head,

Just as Isabel's lips parted to answer the boys question, the sound of yells coming from the bonfire caught both of their attentions and instantly made them snap their heads over to see what was going on. Multiple people were crowed around in one place, cheering and holding their phones out to capture what was unraveling.

Without another thought, the two best friends stood from the beach (Niki leaving the once full cup of alcohol buried in the sand) and hurried over to the chaos with confusion and intrigue written across their faces.

Issy managed to push her way through the crowed of people, muttering apologies beneath her breath as she heard people's scoffs of annoyance.

Immediately, as soon as the girl got to the front of the circle, her eyes widened in shock as they landed on Jake, who was on top of another boy, punching him. He looked furious and irritated and Issy couldn't help but feel taken aback by the scene before her.

Jay and Sunghoon were trying to pull their friend off of the random boy — who was trying to fight back, though, due to Jake being above him and having more power over him, it was quite impossible.

Eventually, the Sim boy was yanked off of the stranger, his long sleeved, white t-shirt tearing at the collar as he ran a hand through his dark hair in pique.

Instinctively, Issy wrapped her hand around Jake's wrist and pulled him away from the circle to prevent him from doing anything else regretful, whilst her brother and Sunghoon spoke to the bloodied boy to find out what had happened.

"What the fuck, Jake?" Isabel spat out once they came to a halt at the end of the beach; Issy dropping the boys wrist harshly. "Why would you do that?" She asked like an angry mother and all Jake could do was stay silent, looking down at her as his eyes softened.

Squinting her eyes and taking a closer look at his face, the Park girl began noticing the wounds displayed across his face. The other guy had managed to get a punch or two because Jake's bottom lip was burst, and dripping with blood, and his right cheek bone had a slit across it, now oozing with a dark, crimson liquid.

"Answer then," Issy urged, folding her arms across her chest. She was becoming frustrated with the mute boy. "What are you playing at?"

"You're not my mum, Isabel," Jake finally spoke up with a slightly raised voice. He too, was also frustrated. "So quit speaking to me like you are."

All Isabel could do for a moment was scoff and roll her eyes. She was fed up of him. She didn't know what had happened to him since college, but all she knew was that she didn't like it at all. She didn't like him speaking to her the way he did, and she didn't like his violent actions. The old Jake would never of done that...

"You need to stop being a Dickhead," She stated, looking him up and down before letting out a quiet sigh and dropping her arms to the side of her body. "Go home and clean yourself up. I'm going back to the party." Issy explained and began to make her way past him.

However, before she could get very far, the boy caught hold of her wrist (Just like she once had hold of his moments ago) and caused her to halt her movements.

"He was talking about you, Issy." Jake confessed. His voice was as soft and sincere as ever and it immediately made the girls heart warm at his tone. "He was calling you all kind of names."

A long huff fell past Isabel's plump lips as she turned around to face the boy. "Like you're any better, Jake, you were calling me a Nerd." She informed whilst her brows scrunched in confusion.

Jake sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair, slightly tugging at his roots in frustration. "That's different." He stated, instantly making Isabel's eyes widen slightly.

"How is it different?"

It was silent for a moment as Issy looked up at the boy, waiting for an answer to leave his lips. His eyes landed on everything but her and he bit down on his bottom lip (the side that wasn't injured.)

"Because it is."

As his eyes eventually met hers, Issy couldn't help but feel her heart clench at his words.

Why? Why did Jake Sim have to do this to her?

Why did he have to speak in that soft voice and quickly make her go crazy for him?

Why? Whenever he spoke in that tone it always reminded her of the old Jake...

Glancing back at the party with thousands of thoughts swarming her head, she felt her shoulders slump and a quiet huff come from her parted lips as she turned to look back up at the older boy.

"Never call me a Nerd again." She spoke firmly, in a tone that was demanding before taking hold of Jake's wrist again and leading him away from the party, and taking him home.

✿