Jinah was uncomfortable. She barely interacts with people outside of school so when she met a schoolmate, more so the person she has barely conversed with in the past, Jinah wished their conversation could come to a quick end since she really had to study a lot and didn't want to get distracted at all. Sure, she invited Haru but he's rather intelligent and easygoing enough to keep her engaged in between the breaks.
But this guy... She didn't even recognize him the first time he called out for her just some minutes after Jinah settled at a perfect location in the library to study in peace. She thought he would go away after greetings and all, but the blond guy didn't take the hint and even settled just beside Jinah.
The first factor which irked her was his dyed dirty yellow hair and the second thing...how much a person could talk?! It seemed like he has been going on and on for hours even though only ten minutes have passed.
But those weren't the reasons that were making Jinah uncomfortable and reflexively straightened up her back. Maybe it was just she but the guy—Dae-Hyun—seems to be intentionally trying to get closer to her and occasionally tapping his shoulder on hers as well.
It has already been two times and Jinah was not alright with this closeness at all. She was not a problem creator but some things should be kept in limitation. Even Haru pulls himself back even Jinah once shows her reluctance to any of his actions but this guy...
Feeling his shoulder once again interacting with hers, Jinah was about to stand up and put the guy in his place when something...crunched. Something like...bones?
"Aarrghhhhh!!!"
Suddenly the blondie cried, grabbing all the attention from the surroundings but Jinah had no focus on the wailing kid as her eyes were solely focused on a particular person standing just behind them, with his hand over Dae-Hyun's shoulder.
Jinah faintly smiled seeing him, for some reason before she saw Dae-Hyun rolling off his chair, making Jinah get out of her stupor as well. Wait...did Haru just...
"What happened buddy? Is everything alright?"
An innocent Haru asked as he tried to get closer to the blondie only for the latter to back off as he nearly shouted out his words while glaring with his teary eyes at Haru.
"Y-You...how dare you attack someone from the back?! You fucking broke my shoulder!"
Everyone around gasped including Jinah but remembering his strength from back then, it became less surprising. Still, the element of shock remained why Haru retorted on such a method. Did he see Jinah's trouble and decided to intervene?
The commotion was growing passing each second as everyone stared at the shoulder, the blondie was holding. Some even began to take a video of it, as they heard the raven-haired guy speaking in an utterly innocent tone.
"What are you even talking about? What did I do?"
"You...! You broke my-eh?!"
There was nothing wrong with his shoulder which the blondie now realized. No pain or the initial severe shock he received hearing his bones breaking down, has ceased. He was even able to move his arm like nothing worth mentioning had taken place.
It in itself was horrifying since he clearly heard his bones cracking and that mind-numbing pain that spread from his shoulder was anything but his imagination. Dae-Hyun's face paled at the thought as he was barely holding himself from wetting his pants from the trauma.
"Are you okay, bud?"
"Hiii!!"
The blondie shrieked as he suddenly found the same blindfolded bastard kneeling in front and asking in a tone that made Dae-Hyun horrified more than irritated.
"Let me see what's the problem with these special eyes of mine."
"D-D-Don't come near me, you monster!"
Dae-Hyun wasn't able to handle it anymore, more so when his gaze fell on those glittering eyes of Haru which seemed like a prop for a perfect horror film.
The blond somehow staggered on his feet before dashing away from the place while leaving a small trail of some kind of liquid in the way.
"Did he just pee himself?"
"Pfft!"
"Seriously dude, what a strange guy he was."
The people around began chuckling and sneering at the scene as the librarian finally got out of her daze and began reprimanding everyone to maintain silence as she also told the cleaner to take care of the floor and this reeking smell of piss.
"Come with me."
Just as Haru also stood back on his feet, someone familiar grabbed his wrist and stormed out of the library in a rush. The hold on his wrist was rather strong for someone so thin but when it was from someone he loves, Haru was elated to feel this slight sting as well.
Jinah walked some steps out of the library, on the pedestrian path before she came to a halt. Sighing she turned to look at Haru, only to see a grinning face awaiting her.
"Why did you do that?"
Jinah crossed her arm under her chest as she asked in a suspicious and borderline amazed tone since the thing Haru did just now seemed nothing to get concerned about for Haru. Jinah did hear as well, that Haru broke Dae-Hyun's shoulder. Truth be told, she was relieved that he came to interrupt what the blondie was doing, but breaking his shoulder and then repairing it instantly was kind of overkill in Jinah's dictionary.
In response, Haru tilted his head innocently with his eyes sparkling with nothing but pure childlike amusement as he replied in an uncertain tone.
"I did what? What are you talking about Sung Jinah?"
"Don't pretend you don't know anything and....cover your eyes already."
The last part came with a hush as Jinah sensed many people glancing at Haru, mostly because of his peculiar eyes. For some reason, Jinah was kind of getting possessive of that gaze and didn't want everyone to see them. Though she has yet to admit it.
Haru did as he was told but there was something that bothered him. Without holding back, the raven-haired teenager spoke out his concern.
"Are you bothered that I punished your friend?"
Jinah was genuinely taken aback and somehow she sensed that Haru was not joking this time and was damn serious with his question.
Jinah was about to reply but she held it back and first glanced around. Finding the right place, Jinah faintly said, "Let's go.." like previously she grabbed Haru's wrist before she began walking to the other side of the lane where she spotted a nice cozy cafe.
Haru was not sure why he was getting pulled there but he chose to remain silent and followed the girl obediently.
Thankfully the place was not crowded and the duo got a table at the corner of the cafe which was nice and quiet for a peaceful chat. Jinah ordered two cappuccinos even without asking Haru, even though she didn't know his preference. She was too occupied by his previous query to mind such minor details.
Haru didn't object and waited patiently for the girl to collect herself first. It didn't take much time before Jinah parted her lips and asked Haru in a stern tone.
"Tell me something. How many people do you see me talking to, in the class?"
Haru was unsure why she was asking this all of a sudden, however, he answered nevertheless.
"Well, most of the students come to you since you are intelligent and all."
"Right, but do I refer to all of them as my friends?"
Haru again was at a loss where she was going but with Jinah's current mood, he didn't ponder much and answered after a quick recall.
"Ummm, no. Just, Song-Yi and....me?"
Jinah was surprised that Haru even seemed unsure of himself being a friend of hers but she left it for another time as she continued, following his response.
"Right? Then you should already know that those whom I care about are the people whom I actually call my friend. And that blondie was not someone I put my concern on even for a single cent."
Haru now understood where this was going and he was genuinely surprised that Jinah had to work this hard to answer him when she could have said it straightforwardly as well. Maybe, it was because Jinah valued relationships more than what Haru thought.
But in actuality, Jinah was bothered by the fact that Haru's tone when he asked whether she was stressed about the blondie, seemed a little off and she wanted to clear the misunderstanding for some reason. Again, she didn't know why she was so concerned about it but Jinah just felt like it.
As the coffee arrived, Haru leaned slightly forward before picking up his coffee and delivering a teasing question along with it.
"You care about me?"
"Of course I do. Otherwise wouldn't I have accepted that wannabe delinquent's movie proposal rather than sitting here with you?"
Haru's brows raised as he didn't know that blondie had the gall to even ask Jinah about a date as well. As he thought, Haru indeed have to go for a check-up visit and ensure that the little Dae-Hyun was alright or not~
But for now, he brushed away those thoughts and asked the girl in an uncertain tone.
"You don't like movies?"
"Actually I do and I have been interested in one of the current shows. But just I don't like watching movies alone..."
Jinah was failing to utter those shameless words which were screaming for Haru to invite her. She tried to mask her face with the coffee cup but the tips of her ears were not helping the girl at all.
Haru was on cloud nine and slightly in denial about this sweet reality as well. This...wasn't she asking for a date? Then what was there to contemplate?
"So how about we go together after this?"
*******
A/N: - Drop a comment~