lost and found | park jihoon

08: Unfriendly Neighborhood Jihoon

Chapter 08: Unfriendly Neighborhood Jihoon

The silence between Jihoon and Ella was almost ear piercing. Jihoon sat quietly on the sofa, pretending to be on his phone but the presence of Ella makes it impossible for him to focus on any apps he tries to open. Ella on the other hand, chose to sit on the floor while setting up her camera-- her back facing Jihoon. 

Ella thought of what to do. She wanted to explain herself more as she was pissed over Jihoon's accusations but she knew there was no point anyway since he didn't seem to believe in any word that she said. It's only been a minute since she arrived at Junkyu's apartment and yet she feels like it's been forever. The awkwardness was definitely drowning her but it's only 5:45 pm. Junkyu said he'll arrive around six. That's still 15 minutes left and Ella doesn't know if she could wait that long.

Jihoon, on the other hand, considered stepping out for a while until Ella left the apartment. But where would he go? It's not like he has a go-to spot in Seoul yet. And besides, this was his apartment too, so why should he be the one that adjusts for her?

"You said I'd never hear from you again," Jihoon broke the silence.

Ella sighed deeply. Yes, the silence was awkward, but she would've much preferred that over holding a confrontation with Jihoon about the whole fiasco. And everything that came out of Jihoon's mouth ever since she arrived were nothing but both blatant and subtle accusations and she was getting tired of it.

"I meant that, you know." Ella's voice was firm this time. "Why would I even track you down? Why would I waste my time on that?"

"You tracked down one of my professors. You tell me" Jihoon shrugged.

Ella scoffed audibly, as Jihoon's sarcasm wasn't of any help to her increasing temper. 

"It was hardly tracking him down when you say almost all of your life details in your videos" Ella reciprocated his sarcastic tone.

"Yeah, private videos that you had no business in watching," This time, Jihoon was getting annoyed as well and the atmosphere intensified even more.

"I only watched them so I could return your camera back to you" Ella's voice softened, getting embarrassed as she was reminded of her fault that she acknowledged. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"And I also told you I understood that, didn't I? I returned your camera back to you and my camera was back too. That should've been the end of it, no?" Jihoon countered, and Ella could do nothing but stay silent. "But why did you have to send your camera to me? So I could sell it? I don't need your pity, Ella."

"Pity?" Ella said, in disbelief. So that's why he's acting this way? Because he feels like he's being pitied on? "What I did was called genuinely wanting to help out. If your pride identified that as pity, then that's your problem"

"Nah, it mostly felt like prying too. Isn't it? Or is it just my pride again?" Jihoon smirked in annoyance.

"Are you serious-- What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Hey! What's going on?"

Both of their heads turn to the direction of the door where they see Junkyu who had jus arrived. They were so immersed with their back and forth with each other that they didn't even hear him coming on.

"I'm sorry Junkyu, I don't think I can help you." Ella said in a flat tone, gathering her things and carrying her bags as she proceeds to walk towards the door.

"Ella, what's wrong?" Junkyu grabbed her arm gently, preventing her from walking out.

"Let her go" Jihoon ordered. 

"You know what," Ella turned to Jihoon, unable to contain her anger anymore. "If I didn't pity you before, I sure do now. Because for someone who seems like they have so much pride in their heart, you sure do act like a one big sensitive baby." And with that, Ella left the apartment.

"Jihoon, for once, can you not be yourself?" Junkyu glared at Jihoon before following Ella outside. 

Junkyu stepped outside, hoping to catch Ella. She was already inside the elevator when he saw her and despite running to try and catch her, the elevator closed before he could even get in. Junkyu cussed under his breath, as he runs down the stairs hoping to catch Ella. Reaching the last floor, Junkyu's energy was almost drained out causing him to pause for a bit but when he saw Ella outside the building, already hailing for a cab, he ran out despite being absolutely tired out of his wits.

"Ella, wait-- hey!" He called for her panting, a cab arriving as soon as he reached her. He turned to the cab driver. "Hey, it's fine. I'm sorry. I'll take it from here,"

"Junkyu, please let me go home" Ella pleaded, her voice almost cracking; her eyes glued to the cab who now drove away. "Don't make me go back there"

"Are you crying?" Junkyu's voice was full of concern as he leans down a bit to get a better sight of Ella's face. "What did he do to you? Come here"

Ella couldn't even answer before Junkyu pulled her in for a hug. His comfort made her sob even more. Ella was not used to confrontations so the situation earlier made her feel a sense of overwhelm. She was also taken a back by Jihoon's hostility towards her. Yes, she had a feeling that he wasn't happy about the things she did, but she didn't know that he viewed her as someone who was trying to pry and that she pitied on him.

"Please at least tell me what happened" Junkyu softly said to Ella, still wrapping her up in a hug as he pats her head. "Do you wanna go somewhere else where we could talk about it, hmm?"

Ella pulled away from the hug and nodded, wiping her tears with her sweatshirt. "Sorry"

"It's okay. Where do you wanna go?"

"I don't know.." Ella replied, her voice almost inaudible as she was still trying to stop herself from sobbing.

"I know a coffee shop near here. Do you wanna sit down for a bit?"

"Yeah, that's okay."