37 Chapter 37: It Can’t be You
After the photographer called it an early day, Jesse and Rich directly went to the dressing room to have their makeup removed, leaving Miyeon and Liz to their own devices. Noticing that the previously chatty girl was looking visibly despondent, Miyeon wondered what could've happened in the past few hours to change her mood. However, the two did not have a close relationship and Miyeon was not the type to pry into other people's problems. Instead, as they watched the crew straighten up the studio, Miyeon proposed to wait somewhere more private.
"Hey, Liz...Liz? There's a lounge area by the corridor past the dressing rooms. It'll probably take the guys half an hour to get ready," Miyeon tapped Liz's shoulder in an effort to get her attention. The girl was still staring blankly at the direction where the shoot took place.
"Huh? Oh? Oh yeah, okay," Liz snapped out of her reverie and turned to face Miyeon, forcing a bland smile on her face.
"I'm gonna head up to chat with a friend. Let's go, I'll walk you," Miyeon said, returning an amiable smile of her own.
"You're not having dinner with us?" (Liz)
"Nah, I'll take a raincheck. I'll let the boys know as well." (Miyeon)
"Alright. Uhm, Irene?" (Liz)
"Mhmm? (Miyeon)
"Are you...and Jesse close?" she asked tentatively.
"Mmm, yes I would say so," Miyeon responded after a beat.
"Then do you know that he likes someone?" Liz asked, giving the woman beside her a searching look.
"..." Miyeon's brows furrowed slightly at the question but eventually nodded her head.
"Did he tell you who he likes?" Liz prodded further. Aware she was acting impetuously, Liz tried to compose herself as she waited for Miyeon's response. Since earlier something had been gnawing in her heart, the way Jesse acted earlier was too peculiar.
After a short bout of silence, Miyeon began to speak, "I'm sorry, Liz. I'm not privy to that information. If it's something you'd like to know, you'd have to ask Jesse directly." 'Why does she keep asking about Jesse? Aren't they supposed to be bosom buddies? She would know better than me.' Miyeon pondered. She braced herself for a confrontational retort from the other party. This sequence was what habitually occurred with Jesse's admirers during uni whenever they came to Miyeon to badger her for Jesse's contact.
- You think you can act like this just because you're pretty?!
- You think too much of yourself!
- Just because Jesse's a bit nice to you don't think he'll date you.
- You're not his type at all!
- Do you even know that he's the 2nd son of THE Evans Family? You guys are completely different social classes.
Miyeon almost laughed as she recalled those snide remarks and how she ended up responding to them. The funny thing was, she wasn't even trying to be smart with her comebacks. She simply didn't know how else to respond back then and her quiet and indifferent replies were taken as sarcasm.
- Act like what? I didn't tell you what you wanted since it's not my phone number to give.
- How so?
- That thought never crossed my mind but alright.
- I see. Okay.
- Mm, I didn't know that. Thank you for the information.
However, contrary to her expectations, Liz did not snap back at her, instead she did something far worse.
Liz began to sniffle as large droplets of tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Oh my goodness," Miyeon gasped and she scrambled to grab some tissues from her handbag.
"Uwuwuwu" Liz began to wail loudly.
"Why are you crying?!" Miyeon was startled at the sight of the sobbing 21 year old.
"Why do you have to be so mean?!" Liz said audibly.
"Huh? How was I mean?" Miyeon was perplexed. 'What is going on here? I don't recall saying anything bad.'
"Earlier! I was just asking something about Jesse because I haven't seen him in so long. But you..you..YOU SNAPPED AT ME!!" Liz continued to wail seemingly unaware that her voice is currently resounding through the dressing rooms along the corridors.
......
Meanwhile in the dressing room, Jesse was in a chipper mood and had been humming the song "Two Doors Down" by Mystery Jets.
"Mate, give it a rest! Are you planning to sing until we leave this place?" Rich asked exasperatedly. However, Jesse just looked at him, shook his head and resumed humming as he got dressed.
I think I'm in love,
With the girl next door
It's driving me crazy
I can't take it anymore
I hear her playing the drums late at night
The neighbors complain but that's the kind of girl I like
"Christ! No more! Are you that happy to be working with her?!" Rich interjected loudly. Yet, Jesse simply grinned and proceeded to sing the rest of the song. In the end, Rich eventually said, "Screw it" and let his friend continue with his shenanigans, even occasionally singing along.
And maybe I should call her up
Invite her around
Or maybe I should move to another town
But when I hear those drums late at night
I know I'm in love
With a girl who lives
Two Doors Down
However, Jesse's high spirits didn't last too long for soon there was a loud crying that could be heard from the hallway. Jesse and Rich immediately looked at each other with a look of anxious realization on their faces. When they went out to the corridor, they saw a bewildered Miyeon trying to console a loudly sobbing Liz. The latter then slapped away Miyeon's hand which was holding a pack of tissues.
Seeing such a familiar scene for the nth time, something in Jesse snapped. He walked purposely towards the pair and gently shielded Miyeon with his body. Consequently, Miyeon looked up at Jesse in confusion and opened and shut her mouth. But Jesse merely shook his head and smiled at her.
"Rich, can you take Irene home first?" he said to his friend.
"Yeah, mate. I got you," Rich answered as he placed his arm around Miyeon in an attempt to guide her out before the impending confrontation between the two.
"Is that alright?" Miyeon worriedly asked. Jesse looked angry and Liz was still crying; it didn't seem right to just leave like this.
"Trust me. Jesse will call you later to explain everything," Rich said in a consoling tone.
"No, just..[sigh] he doesn't have to call me. I'm just worried about those two," Miyeon attempted to explain as they walked towards the elevator.
"I'm honestly unsure of how I offended her," Miyeon wondered out loud.
"Baby girl you're too nice," Rich said with a short chuckle.
"Huh?" Miyeon started.
"That's why you fall into these traps," Rich turned to look at Miyeon as he spoke in a serious tone.
...
Jesse did not speak the entire time he drove Liz to check-in at her hotel. He was noticeably enraged as evidenced by his strengthening grip on the steering wheel and clenching jaw. To be quite honest, Liz was becoming more frightened as the seconds ticked by in silence. This is too unlike Jesse. In the past, whenever she would pull these sorts of tricks, she only needed to apologize and act cute before Jesse forgave her.
Oftentimes his then girlfriends would ask him to choose between them and her and though he would reiterate that Liz was his childhood friend, they would eventually break up because they couldn't get the answer they wanted. Liz didn't dislike Miyeon at all but she also didn't want the girl to end up with Jesse. 'I've loved him for so long. I can't lose him to anyone else. No matter who it is.' she had thought. Liz knew that Miyeon was different from those girls. From what she had seen, Miyeon is smart, gentle and kind. Miyeon didn't even lash out after she had begun accusing her of being mean. Liz had purposefully spoken out loud to get an audience. Won't people normally react defensively when put in that situation? Yet Liz had not anticipated what occurred after.
Even after they had turned into the hotel parking lot and Jesse had helped Liz with her luggage, he still hasn't uttered a word. Liz was nearly overcome with worry and she had begun to chew on her nails, a nervous habit. She would occasionally take glances at the handsome man walking her to her room but he kept his gaze ahead.
It was not until they reached her room, that Jesse finally spoke. His expression was indifferent and his voice was even.
"Elizabeth Montgomery, if you're going to be pulling shit like this, I'll have your brother take you back to Italy,"Jesse said to her and turned to leave.
"Jesse Evans! Are you just going to leave me?! Why are you getting mad at me now!? You never used to mind when I do this!" Liz cried out, her eyes welling with tears.
"Back then...it was my bad that I always let you have your way. But this stops now," Jesse spoke, his voice tinged with exasperation.
"No! I won't stop! I don't want to stop!" Liz continued to loudly shout near the doorway of the room.
"Stop it Liz. Stop acting like a child." Jesse said through gritted teeth as he shook her lightly. He was worried about disturbing the occupants in the other rooms.
"Acting like a child!? Are you pretending not to know why I did what I did?" she wailed and hit Jesse's chest with her fists.
"..." Yet, Jesse simply pulled her away from him and took a few steps back, unwilling to touch her much longer. "Enough! I told you over the phone not to come here. I've already told you there's someone I love."
Realizing Jesse was about to leave through that door merely a few feet away, Liz quickly grabbed onto his arm. "I love you! I have loved you since I was 11 years old. So don't leave me okay," she pleaded with him.
"Liz, even if I can't be with Irene, it can't be you." Jesse finally said. He kept an unwavering gaze on her as he loosened her grip on his arm.
