13 I Can't Let You Hurt Me Again
"What?! Are you going to lock me up here in our house!? What is wrong with you, Jungmin?!" I exclaim to Jungmin. Our parents are here too, but no one dares to speak against Jungmin.
"Mom, d... did you agree with this?" I plead and sit down in front of them, crossing my arms. I snort out and glare at him.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. We need to do this. It's for your own sake." Our father says with his gloomy tone. He holds my hands, but I push that away.
"Why would I oblige to attend an online class? I don't even know why! I don't want to be locked up here. I need a life, Jungmin." He sighs and switches his seat beside me.
"I can't explain now, but maybe next time after I settled... the conflict outside." He replies as his lips form into a smile. I glance at my parents and they glance back at me, begging me to acknowledge their request.
"No, I'm sorry, I can't agree this time. I agreed when we moved out here but this. I can't... I'm old enough to decide what's best for me. Please understand my choice." I respond.
"Have you heard yourself, Minsoo? You just put yourself in danger." Jungmin asserts. I scoff, realizing our parents say nothing.
"What trouble were you talking about, Jungmin?" I ask.
"About yesterday, Taehyung told me what happened between you and Youngjae. He just wants you to be safe. Why can't you just absorb that in your head?!"
"Taehyung this, Taehyung that! That man hurts me for no reason and you tell me Taehyung cared about me?! Stop that crap! You can't buy me for that reason of yours." I exclaim. My tears fall down my cheeks. I back away when he's walking towards me.
"Mom! Do you want to say anything or are you just sitting down there?" I beg her to say something. she remains silent, even my father. Why can't they convey the situation?
"Don't place our parents to this, Minsoo." He declares. My eyes wide, shocked.
"I didn't bring them to our argument, but they have the right to express their thoughts!?"
"Taehyung wants you to be safe, so do as I say." He changes the topic all of a sudden.
"I don't care about what he said! He can't order me what I desire to do or what he doesn't need to do! And don't say that name in front of me. I'm tired of hoping for him... that he cares for me." I argue.
Turning back to walk away from them since they won't agree with my decision. I scoff when I hear Jungmin speak.
"Why can't you just accept that he's not yours, Minsoo?" He whispers.
"Why can't you mind your own business and leave me alone?" I mock and roll my eyes at him. He stares at me—like he wants something to say. I stay on my line.
"Jungmin, my story is not about Taehyung or anyone. I stopped seeking answers about my dreams to have a normal activity like we're in Korea. I'm exhausted from asking myself about my dream and my feelings about Taehyung. You just said that he's not mine, so I'm trying to push aside all my feelings. I hate myself for wanting someone from a brief period of time and now what I need is freedom, elsewhere from stress. Why can't you just give that to me?" They look at each other, asking if they will agree or not. Their eyes travel to my direction and say.
"Okay, we'll let you decide for now but if something happens, you need to transfer to an online class. Understand?" Father suggests and I concede to their offer.
After the next day, things went smoothly and nothing happens. Amia doesn't show up, whilst Taehyung keeps ignoring me even after he 'protected' me to Youngjae. Changing my schedule to avoid him would be easy, I'm wrong. I'm convincing myself that he's not mine and leave him alone. However, it keeps stabbing me and slowly dying inside.
"Minsoo!" I snap into reality when our professor hails me. My brows furrow when Youngjae whispers an answer.
I look up the professor, who's waiting for my answer. I look back at Youngjae before answering his question.
"That was correct. Next time, Miss Jeon. I won't tolerate your behavior. Always daydreaming." He mutters.
"That's what she gets! Assuming that she's Taehyung's girlfriend. Such a delusion girl." A girl with heavy makeup and green hair utters to her friend as they glance at me and smirk.
I bite my inner cheeks whilst looking at the desk, ignoring their gaze.
The class was done, the bullies aren't. They keep on smirking and murmuring about me for being delusional. They keep telling me that I put myself to him and it is getting on my nerves.
"Hey!" A girl in our history class with her minions call but I choose to ignore it.
She scoffs and turns me to face her. She smirks as she attempts to frighten me, but it doesn't affect me. I shove her left hand away from my shoulder and acknowledge their presence with a condescending sneer.
"What do you want?" I speak in a serious tone. I notice a flinch into his spine, yet she retains her ego and grins back.
"Making your life miserable." She retorts. I roll my eyes and touch her.
Her minions shove me but I hold myself in balance. I bite my lips as I calm myself. But deep inside, I'm pissed off.
"What? You can't fight, young lady?"
"Don't make me ruin your face, so I advise you to shut up," I warn her, restraining myself to attack them.
They just laugh and push me again. Before I could punch one of her minions, I heard an applaud from the background, unexpectedly.
"Go Minsoo! She is just trash." The jock guy shouts. I lift my one eyebrow and give a smile that could piss her off.
"You can't make my life miserable if the crowd cheers up for me," I spoke in a hasty manner.
She snorts out and shoves me hard until my butt touches the floor. She stuck her tongue on me, deciding to walk away but my hand clasp her hair and forcibly push her on the ground. She screams as she's trying to attack me but an instructor catches the scene and stops the riot.
"MISS JEON AND MISS SWIFT, COME WITH ME TO MY ROOM. AND ALL OF YOU GET BACK IN CLASS!" We haven't a choice and follow him. The professor lectures us that fighting could ruin the reputation of the university.
From outside, there's a man leaning underneath the tree with his black jacket and jeans, staring at me. I try to focus my vision to see clearly yet he's disappeared like thin air. My eyes blink multiple times, believing that I'm hallucinating.
"Do you understand, Miss Jeon and Miss Swift?" He asks, striving to process all his words. I just nod.
"Okay, you may leave." I step outside the office to ignore this annoying Fiona.
My feet lead the grounds where I see the man but no one is around. I walk back the hallway and there, I see Youngjae, walking towards my direction.
"Minsoo, what happened in the hallway? I was using the bathroom, and you got in trouble." Youngjae asks. I give him a smile and shake my head.
"I'll go home now," I said in an annoying voice.
He continues calling my name but ignoring him is the best choice than explaining what happened, I'm too drained to explain. As I walked to the house, there's Taehyung sitting on the swing. Like he's waiting on someone. I release a sigh and continue walking.
"Minsoo wait!" He calls out with an exhaust pant. I just ignore him.
When hearing footsteps behind me. I turn around to see him breathless. I remember the bottle of water inside my bag and offer it to him. He shakes his head and smiles.
"What?" I ask in an annoying voice, trying not to stutter. In reality, my heart jumps when he reaches me out.
"I'm sorry... for hurting you." My eyes wide, revealing a shock on my face. It isn't my expectation that he apologize since he ignored me.
"Why now Taehyung?" I ask. I see him walk closer to me.
"Don't get closer to me or I'll give myself up. I can't let you hurt me again."
"Minsoo, I... I..." He stutters but a word doesn't come into his mouth. I decide to walk away and try to stop my tears.
Suddenly, muscular arms wrap around my waist and feel tears from my shoulder. 'Is he crying?' I asked myself.
I attempt to loosen his embrace, I can't when he tightens his arms around me. This hug makes me cry and his presence wants my heart to feel again. On second thought, he hurts me, neglecting my feelings. I constantly push him away before breaking down my tears.
"Don't," I utter and rush inside my room.
