why? ❥ im jaebum

xvi

"...jaebum?" i say to chaerin.

"yes? you didn't recognize the way he shouts?"

"it felt like it's been weeks since i've last heard. he doesn't really talk--wait. so that means he's been protecting somebody? he was saying, you know, "don't talk to her that way.""

chaerin smiled at me as she softens her voice. "what did i say. he's probably different than we thought. last year, i felt like he's the complete opposite."

"should we head back inside the school to see what happened?" i questioned her, and she looked disappointed.

"absolutely not, [name]. are you out of your mind?" she says as she grabs her keys and start the engine of her car. she pulls on reverse to drive out of school property.

but before we start to head out, i see someone coming out of the school, of course him being jaebum.

"hey, head over to jaebum real quick." i tell her.

"what--why?!"

"just do it! i'm going to ask him what happened."

"no!!" she yells at me as she shows a scared expression when she's looking to where she's driving.

"..i'll give you ₩10,000."

"deal. but you're gonna be the one asking him questions."

"whatever, just go!" i say and she turns around to the entrance of the school, him facing towards the passenger's side of the car. i start to roll down the window, and i shouted his name.

he looks around and chaerin starts to drive towards him. he sees me, and raised his eyebrows.

"what happened back there? are you are okay?"

his face softens, and started to cover his face with his right hand. "it's nothing, it's just something serious happened. and i'm fine."

i couldn't read his expression because it was a little too dark outside. he uncovered his face and i started to grab my phone to turn on my flashlight.

as soon as i turn it on towards his face, he looked looked kind of red. and i know for a fact that he did not looked bruised or had marks.

"hey! don't directly point the light at me!" she says as he once again covers his face.

"hah..but are you okay though? i heard everything back there." i question him once more.

he uncovers his face slowly and responds, "yeah i'm fine. it's just that..somebody was talking about a girl..sexually? he was pointing out certain things about her that triggered me."

i thought about what he said and suddenly, i hear chaerin say, "you care for that girl?"

i thought she wanted me to ask him questions.

"a lot." he immediately says as he looks down at the ground, looking slightly embarrassed. "but i don't think i have the chance. she probably thinks i'm a big douchebag."

"may i ask who she is?" i asked him.

"ah, i can't really tell you that. i'm sorry. but..i'll see you guys next week, because i'm suspended--"

"but you were defending someone?"

"but i punched him back."

"whenever you're ready to tell us who she is. just tell us, and we'll definitely help you.." chaerin interrupted once more.

"thank you. i guess..i'll see you later." he says as he smiles and waves his hand at us

"bye!" chaerin and i say simultaneaously, and i start to roll up the window and chaerin leaves school property to head home.

maybe jaebum isn't that bad after all.