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jeongguk was puzzled when his hotel room didn't open to his key card. he swiped again and again, in denial. his head was spinning, his brain pounded against his skull angrily. ah, he wanted to lie down. he wanted to sink his body onto the comforting white bedsheets and forget about the strange girl.
instead, he dragged his heavy limbs to the hotel reception. "excuse me, i'm from the executive suite—"
"mr jeon, we have a message from your father. he wants you to call him."
jeongguk rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth in annoyance. the old man was persistent. he reluctantly pulled out his handphone.
"what."
"son, i have denied all your cards and cancelled your reservation with this hotel. honestly, this would all be easier if you just return home."
"nah."
he clicked his phone off and shoved it into his pocket. a hotel staff shook her head solemnly and passed him a duffel bag of his belongings. swinging it over his shoulder, he sent a wink to the receptionist and strolled out of the hotel.
home was where there was warmth. warmth and good food. the jeon residence may have been a three-story penthouse, but its walls and floors were cold and icy, just like its owners. his throat tightened at the thought of his family and their sick, twisted, plastic smiles.
he took his credit cards out of his wallet, snapped them, and tossed them into the bin. he could sleep at the park. for food, he would have to live on the measly portions the school canteens served. maybe he would have to ration his lollipops.
he cursed and ruffled his overgrown locks. he'd steal if he needed to, so it was going to be fine. his father would never break him. jeongguk wouldn't let it happen.
he found a bench at the entrance of the park and sat down, leaden eyelids drooping with weariness. he whipped out a cigarette and lit it. a cat was meowing on his left, demanding attention.
"shut up," he glared at it, but couldn't help but reach out a hand to caress it's lovely, tabby coat. "oh... are you homeless too?"
——————————
by the time the school nurse allowed hyerim to go home, the sunny day had been overtaken by the starry night. her father was working overseas for two months, so she had to walk home alone. eunwoo had offered to return her home, but she turned him down. it was not often she got to admire the sleeping city alone. the peace and serenity of the cityscape silhouettes was enough to make her heart full.
she pouted her lips as she glanced at her hands, bandaged by jeongguk. eunwoo did not take kindly when she brought jeongguk's name up.
why did the whole school shun jeon jeongguk even though he was so kind?
he was known for being the lone delinquent, often skipping classes and smoking under the large oak tree in the school courtyard. she was always curious about his cold demeanour— who had hurt him? why was he alone?
and his eyes... the unspeakable misery behind those black lenses. after eavesdropping on the conversation with his father, hyerim worried that things weren't well at home.
her lungs began to tingle, heat blossoming under her chest. she reached into her pocket and pulled out an teal-coloured inhaler.
one puff. pff.
two puffs. pff.
three puffs. pff.
she exhaled, the cooling medicine escaping her breath. hah... to breathe was a wonderful thing. she wished jeongguk wouldn't continue to harm his lungs. hyerim couldn't help but think of jeongguk. he smelt strongly of cigarettes.
"oh! jeongguk!"
just when she had thought of him, he had appeared before her, his pretty dark hair and eyes glinting under the moonlight. a lit cigarette hung at his lips as he stroked a tabby cat.
"kitty..." she purred as she joined him, running her fingers through its silky fur. jeongguk slid his eyes towards her. "oh? you still dare to come near me?"
hyerim was confused. "we're friends, right?"
"nope. not at all." he huffed, a cloud of smoke enveloping her face. she sniffled, and jeongguk remembered she had asthma. immediately standing up, he quickly threw the cigarette onto the ground and rubbed it with his shoe.
"if you continue to bug me i'll steal your first kiss."
that sealed the deal. she jumped two metres away from him, bandaged hands covering her mouth. "stay away you creep! pervert! pedophile!"
he was only a year older. he couldn't help but smile cheekily at her frenzy. "jeongguk... you... you have bunny teeth!" hyerim noticed, amazement displayed on her face. she seemed to have forgotten about his threats as she approached him. "show me! do it again!"
"what."
"smile!" she was closer now, tipping her toes to peer at him. jeongguk could smell her shampoo. he stumbled backwards. "come on, lemme see!"
way too close.
jeongguk head butted her, picked up his duffel bag, and walked away. though... her fragrance lingered in his mind. it smelt a mix of soap and medicine.
