ISLA
I slowly opened my eyes and suddenly felt my head ache. Then, I immediately looked at Eun-woo who was lying next to me on the same bed.
Well, he was facing the other way. I quickly got up from the bed as soon as I recalled what happened between us yesterday night.
Eun-woo kissed me twice. The first one was more like a peck like he was looking at me and waiting for my reaction. And when he saw that I remained still, he proceeded to kiss me again as he laid me down on the bed.
I felt the time slow down when his lips met mine and as the flutter intensified. My heart pounded in my chest as I felt my knees get weaker. I could only focus on how soft-aggressive he felt against my mouth, how Eun-woo invaded all my senses.
It felt magical.
There was raw emotion in the way his fingers curled around mine, so I decided to keep my eyes half open, sneaking a peek at him every time we came back for air. I can't believe I'm experiencing this for the first time.
Eun-woo suddenly draped both of his arms around my small frame and met my lips again halfway. Heat rose from my stomach to my chest making my heart skip a beat, the smell of him hypnotic beyond reason. I haven't smelled him like this before even when he's giving me an embrace.
Without hesitation, I parted my lips and felt him washing over like a wave of warmth, curling my toes, unfurling all my senses as the taste of him nearly silenced all thoughts.
"Good morning..."
I was startled from reminiscing everything as I looked at him, wide-eyed.
"You're awake?" That's the only thing I could say to him. "Are you sure you are awake?"
"Yes, I am. By the way, what time is it already?" He asked me.
"Oh?" I was dumbfounded as I tried to look for a wall clock. Then, I noticed the alarm clock beside the bed. "It's 6 in the morning."
He nodded before coming closer to me, pulling me to lay down in front and next to him on the bed.
"H-Hey! What are you doing?" I panicked as I tried to stop him and then pushed him away from me.
Our argument was cut short when he also pushed me away gently, making me turn my back on him before pulling me close to his body and embracing me from behind.
"Stop hugging me!" I almost scolded him.
"I might need to get used to this," he said.
"What?" I was a little enraged.
"I'm still sleepy," he said in a whisper.
"But, we have school–"
"Don't talk to me."
His hug tightened and I don't know what else to do. How can I get out of here? I was worried either my mom or Soo-jin would see us sleeping together.
After trying all the ways to get out of the bed, in the end I gave up and just lay down next to Eun-woo again.
His warm breath behind my ear is one of the things I felt. I couldn't help but overthink about anyone suddenly knocking at the door.
Let's say my mom would do it. If ever she sees us like this, what would she be thinking? Given that I'm the only child of hers and for example, I was thinking if this scenario was more between me and my brother, would this closeness look normal for her?
"You're so... soft." Eun-woo groaned as I felt his lips on my head.
It's literally getting hot because of how embarrassed I am. Will something else happen between us? I've thought of that until I fall asleep again.
I opened up my eyes and saw that time. It was 7 in the morning. Eun-woo was still embracing me which I became comfortable with already.
I suddenly heard a knock outside the door of our room. "Eun-woo. Aren't you going to have breakfast yet?"
Is that my mom?
"I'm going inside..."
Wait! She can't see us together!
I immediately got off from Eun-woo's embrace and decided to run inside the bathroom, but he pulled me and pushed me under his bed which is easier to access and hide. The door opened just in time after I successfully hid under the bed, my feet almost got caught.
"Good morning, dear stepson…" My mom greeted him. Seriously? Why would she call him that when she could just call him by his first name?
"Good morning," Eun-woo greeted back.
"Breakfast is ready. You should take some before going to the university."
"I will. Thanks."
"By the way, Eun-woo…"
"Yes?"
"I know we've approved of Su-bin to be Isla's boyfriend. But, I'm still worried about her spending more time with him than with the family."
What the hell is my mom talking about? Was it because she didn't find me inside my bedroom?
"May I ask what exactly you mean by that?" Eun-woo asked her with a kind tone.
"I think she went to spend her time yesterday night at his place," my mom replied.
Why would it be Su-bin's place all of a sudden? Why can't it be Lav?
"I understand. Don't worry, I'll talk to her about it," Eun-woo said.
"Thank you. I'll be going now and I have to leave early."
A few seconds later, I heard the door finally close. Then, I was shocked when Eun-woo dropped down to his knees, peeking at me under the bed.
"What the–"
"She's gone," he said. "You can go out of there now."
I just stared at him, pouting.
He frowned. "What's wrong?"
"I feel like my mom doesn't trust me with my decisions," I said. "Or maybe she doesn't trust Su-bin."
“I don’t think so,” he said.
“I mean, she could just assume that I might be in Lav’s place instead of Su-bin.”
Eun-woo parted a few strands of my hair away from my face as he smiled. “Is Lav your boyfriend?”
“No.”
“Then, you know the answer to your doubts.”
I didn’t respond to him anymore, then he reached out for my hands and helped me get out under the bed.
I was shocked when the way he pulled me exerted force, the reason I suddenly fell on top of him while he was laid on his back on the carpeted floor.
“I’m sorry, Eun-woo…” I exclaimed.
He grunted but also looked at me. “After all those times since the day we met, you’re still heavy.”
I madly hit him on the chest which made him laugh. Then, his face went serious and so am I. His hand suddenly caressed my right cheek before pulling me in for a kiss.
A week passed after Thanksgiving day, and Su-bin and I still haven't had the chance to talk. I don’t know if he’s trying to avoid it or if Na-bi didn’t tell him.
I don’t know anymore.
Since today is Saturday, there were only a few students who attended the class. Then, there was this announcement wherein during the summer break, the university will be holding a field trip for the senior students in every course.
“I can’t believe they would require us to attend a field trip during the summer break! It was supposed to be our vacation,” Lav exclaimed in the middle of mixing her bibimbap.
“Don’t you like that? I heard the trip is free,” Min-hyuk said.
“Really?!” Lav faced him. “You know how broke I am right now.”
“I thought you had a part-time job,” I told her.
“But the amount I’m earning isn’t enough to pay my daily expenses plus the leisure expenses,” Lav explained. “Sometimes I’m wondering if I should just go back to Russia.”
“Yah!” We were surprised after Min-hyuk raised his voice.
“What?” Lav questioned him.
I noticed how Min-hyuk secretly blushes, trying to avoid eye contact with Lav and focusing on his lunch.
“Y-You can’t just abandon us,” he stammered.
“And why not?” Lav kept intimidating him. “Oh was it because you don’t have anyone to make projects for you? Psh.”
Min-hyuk sulked. “That’s not what I mean!”
In the middle of our conversation, Su-bin suddenly texted me. He asked me if I’m going on the field trip. I didn’t know how to reply to him until Lav caught me just staring at my phone.
“Aren’t you going to reply to his message?”
I glanced at Lav and together with Min-hyuk, they were just looking at me.
“I’ll just do it later. We’re still having our lunch,” I said before continuing to eat my lunch.
After lunch, I texted Su-bin to meet up with me at the bakery since Min-hyuk wanted to treat us to some bread.
And as soon as we almost reached the bakery, we were stopped because of the shocking scene we encountered.
Su-bin was standing in front, afar from us and there was a woman in front of him. At first, we thought they were just simply talking not until he pulled her by the arm and kissed her on the lips.
"What the fu–"
"Yah, Moon Su-bin!!!" My attention went to Min-hyuk who angrily walked toward him.
Lav and I quickly followed him to stop him from hitting Su-bin. I held Min-hyuk to his arm and the way he looked at him was like he was ready to throw his fist onto his face. Then, just in time, the woman was Na-bi.
"What the hell is happening?" Min-hyuk asked him in a calm tone even though he was in steam.
"I second the motion," Lav interfered. "Why the fuck are you kissing another woman, Su-bin?"
"Why not?" Na-bi responded immediately.
Lav pointed at her. "You better shut that fucking mouth of yours, шлюха. I'm not talking to you."
"What is this?" Na-bi smirked as she laughed shortly. "Don’t tell me Su-bin lied to you."
“L-Lied… to me?” I stammered while asking.
“That’s right. Su-bin lied–”
“Stop,” Su-bin calmly told her.
Na-bi glanced at him. “I don’t think Isla deserves to be clueless, Su-bin. You got to tell her.”
“Tell me. What did he lie to me about?” I asked her.
Su-bin looked me in the eyes and his lips were shaking. I don’t know… maybe because of fear?
“Tell me,” I repeated.
“I–”
“He used you to make me jealous and get my attention back to him,” Na-bi said. “Pathetic, isn’t it?”
Everything that I'm hearing for the first time, whether true or not, is making me deaf. I don't understand what's going on but this is much worse than what I experienced after that certain call the last time.
Everyone was shocked when Lav suddenly rushed towards Na-bi and attacked her.
"Oh no, not a catfight!" Min-hyuk exclaimed at the same time.
I remained standing still, watching how Min-hyuk and Su-bin tried to stop both the girls from fighting. They're like cats who wouldn't let go of each other's skins.
"Stop it…" I could hear myself speaking but not loud enough for them to hear.
Then, I got back to my senses when Ji-hoon interfered and helped Min-hyuk by carrying Lav away.
"I won’t forgive you for hurting Isla! Both of you!!!” Lav screamed at them and that was the reason I finally broke down into tears.
Their attention went to me as Lav went to my rescue. She tried to comfort me, but I couldn’t help but feel deeply hurt after being fooled.
“Isla, I’m so sorry for not protecting you,” Lav said and almost began to cry alongside. “I should’ve known.”
“What happened here?” Ji-hoon started to question us. “You people are all college students and yet you don’t know how to properly behave.”
Na-bi pointed at Lav. “She was the one who attacked first. I just defended myself.”
“I don’t care who started the fight. All of you need to go to the president’s office to receive sanctions for your irresponsible actions.” Ji-hoon looked so mad at us before walking away.
We all ended up gathered inside the president’s office with Na-bi getting impatient.
“Yah, Lee Ji-hoon. I don’t have time for this shit. I need to go back to my class,” she complained.
“I don’t have time to deal with your shit as well but here I am still doing my job,” Ji-hoon replied coldly.
“What job exactly?” Na-bi scoffed. “Let me remind you that you're nobody. There’s no doubt Lee Eun-woo is above you in everything–”
“Were you really born with a filthy mouth and awful personality?” I questioned her and she glared at me. “Because you are a total asshole.”
“What did you just call me, you bitch?” Na-bi exclaimed at me.
“Stop it.” Ji-hoon walked towards the desk which caught the other’s attention.
“Where is the president anyway? We’re just wasting our time babbling nonsense,” Lav asked him.
Ji-hoon’s expression suddenly changed as he looked at all of us, both his hands placed above the desk.
“You guys are looking at the university president,” he said.
They were all speechless while I remained with no expression at all because I already knew about it.