"No." He answered back in the same blunt tone.
"Why not?" She asked curiously, and he chuckled.
"I don't want to." He crossed his arms, staring at her with his emotionless face.
"Why not?" She smiled, turning her head to the side as if she didn't know.
"You have a boyfriend. Let's not play games." He spoke, fixing his stance against the car. She laughed a little, covering her mouth at the thought.
"No, I don't." She told him, showing her phone screen. "I broke up with him, and he was a creep." She sighed deeply, waiting for an answer.
"My answer is still 'No'. I have a girlfriend." Krystal let out a heavy laugh, reaching out and hitting his chest.
"Do your parents know?" She noticed his quiet tone and smiled. "Right, so you'll marry me." She let out another laugh, and Kai grew increasingly frustrated.
"No. I don't want you. I don't want anything to do with you." He stated simply, looking into her eyes.
She stayed put, her smile still stretched across her face. Krystal reached out to pull him closer, but his body didn't move. He noticed the smile on her lips, and she was suspicious. He watched her eyes follow something, turning in time to see two girls pass by him. He noticed one; her long black hair and walk were all things he was familiar with. He turned and started to take off, being pulled by the sleeve of his shirt.
"You'll be sorry if you leave." She warned him. Frustrated, Kai pulled his arm aggressively, walking after the girls.
"Jennie!" He called out after them, trying not to run but walk. He understood how things must have looked, but he would not be guilty. "Minji." He just wanted the opportunity to explain what happened.
There was no chance to explain. He followed behind them, hoping that maybe they'll turn around. At least Jennie might yell at him, or Minji would scold him for hurting her friend. Anything was better than them not turning around. He watched as both girls ignored him, walking into Minji's home. The gate was shut before he could reach it. He pulled the handle to find it had been locked. He backed away, looking at the home, searching for some sign that they'd at least come out. Kai took out his phone, attempting to call but getting no answer.
'Please come outside.'
'Let's talk.'
'I'm sorry.'
All of those things sounded like he had something to hide, but he didn't. This wasn't part of his plan, but now he was destined to fix it. He was going to show her; it was nothing like she thought. He wanted to take her to his home and show his parents there was no chance he would be with Krystal. He wanted to prove that he wanted to be with Jennie. She had found a way to infect his brain, and she was all he thought of. There was nothing fake or insignificant about his feelings; that was true.
Kai sat. He sat because this was where he planned to stay until she came out. He was willing to wait, and if that were until morning, he would do just that. He sat there because it was better than returning to a party and being forced to be alone with Krystal. He sat because he wanted to be with Jennie. He sat because his heart told him it was the right thing to do. He watched the street lights fill with bugs, sitting silently on the ground. Each time his phone lit up, he would look in hopes, she replied.
After the first hour, he found himself leaning against the wall, his eyes getting heavy. Kai let his head droop back on the wall, his eyes scanning the sky that was littered with stars. He thought back to the first time he saw her, how when she would speak, it was venomous. He wanted to know what caused her to act that way, and it was similar to him. He thought back to his own behavior. He always avoided showing people the soft side of him, but she could easily bring it out. He remembered how he smiled at Monggu; he knew it, too. That day, he learned there was someone out there who was just as withdrawn and hurting as him.
Kai started searching through his memories, remembering how they bumped into each other in class. He had actually sat in the back, but now there was a reason to sit in the front. She was there, and she was growing on him. He felt his heart burst at that moment, almost like someone had just shot his heart. He wanted to know everything about her. He had fallen for her after only the second encounter. He remembered trying to scan the halls to find her, moving from building to building in search of her before class.
Finally, he got the chance. He saw the phone at the front of the classroom, and his thoughts were everywhere when he noticed it. He knew it was hers, opening it to give himself a call before putting it back down. Now was his chance to talk to her, but it changed when she opened the door minutes later. He felt electricity when he reached out for her; her abrasive tone only made his heart grow. He wanted the chance, again and again, to meet her and talk.