Chapter 35
Jia gawked at her friends after making sure that they believed her. Juno was so quiet that even Penelope found it amusing. Jia still feels scared after her consecutive attacks. Haru is also quiet and frowning, never leaving his handsome face.
"I'm hungry," Juno commented after they hopped in the car. Hyuk raised his brow but did not speak.
"I have a bar here." Yumi smiled after giving her chocolate to Juno. While the latter's eyes sparkled, Hyuk only sighed.
"We just ate breakfast Juno-ssi." Jia snickers, receiving a glare from Juno.
The atmosphere changes to silence. Jia shifted her gaze outside the window, appreciating the beautiful scenery. After twenty minutes, luckily their hotel is near the area though Hyuk said that it was far.
The said restaurant has a very unique and cozy ambiance. The interior is pretty mixed with woods and bamboo. There is a small lawn near the gate entrance which gives an innate vibe to the area. Jia's lips open appreciating the place. It is indeed beautiful.
"I will order for us," Juno called for the waiter and they spoke Japanese. The menu was given to Yejun and Hyuk while Yumi and Penelope were taking pictures of the cute statuette hanging on the wall.
"Tomorrow is the concert. This will be our last day touring the city before going back." Hyuk notified them after giving his order. His eyes are still gazing at his friend that seems stiff and is busy ordering the food.
"It's fine. We can still have a vacation next time. I love to come back here, right Jia? How about next year?! We can celebrate your birthday here." Jia's eyes widened and if she was drinking anything, she's positive that she would spray it on them. She fake coughs and peeks at Yumi's expectant eyes.
"I love that too but you forgot that you will be leaving next school year. You will do college abroad right?" Yumi pouted then blink after realizing her goals. Jia smirked at her friend then patted Yumi.
"But we can do it after graduation! It will be amazing before our group will be separated from college." Yumi's excitement misses Jia's reaction. Her eyes sparkled with unknown emotion but managed to wear a fake warm smile to her best friend.
"I think about it. I don't even know if I'm still here though." Jia's words were low after the last sentence but Juno twitched after hearing it. His eyes are now bloodshot, earning a desperate gasp from Jia. She bit her lower lip after realizing what she just said.
"Did your sister call you?" Yumi didn't notice Juno's reaction because she was focused on Jia while her best friend is thankful that Yumi remembered the offer from her sister last year. She wanted Jia to live abroad.
"Yeah. I was thinking of it. How about you Penelope? What's your plan?" Jia refused to take the conversation about her. She has no future to think of now and if this conversation could help her pry about her friends she will gladly ask them now.
"I think I will go to Central University. I plan to apply next month, I'm still not sure if I will get accepted though." Penelope demurely announced. Her cheeks turn pink in embarrassment but there's a thick determination in her eyes.
"It's good! You can do it though. You are smart and hardworking Penelope, don't ever doubt that." Jia commented with glee. Her reaction is not certainly weird but Penelope still flushes. Jia was pleased to know Penelope's plans. She felt bad that in the past Penelope was withheld a chance to study in the national university. Jia feels guilty that her heartbeat quickly messed up the pace making it a little bit painful in her chest. Jia decided to be satisfied with the information without hearing about Yejun. The food is served after and Jia just stares at Yejun curiously with her expectant gaze.
"The food is amazing!" Yumi praised, "I like to go back here with Jia!" Yumi links her arms to Jia while pouting. They giggle after.
"Of course, maybe next month? I would love to be with you." Jia calculated in her head. If she was sure that nothing will happen to Yumi and her friends, it was safe to be with her in her remaining time. "Asa! sounds like a plan then!" Yumi chuckled happily.
Jia was in a daze after enjoying the brunch. Jia rolled her arm to Yumi when they walked at the exit with their friends before them. Yumi was so energetic with the plans they made that they were getting ahead of the group. She didn't realize that they were at the side of the road. Yumi asked her for a photograph near the restaurant signage before going to the open parking lot. They are both beside each other at the side of the road, Yumi telling her stories and her future plans when a scratch sound from a speeding car reaches their ears. Everything happened so fast that a wiggling car drove fast to them. Jia was shoved to the ground making her whole body tumble by the impact. A pain in her arms spread like wildfire as she faced the ground, pain in her knees but Jia didn't care about that when Yumi was at the other side of the road, lifeless with her pale complexion. Jia's breath ceased, hot tears started to flow down her cheeks, in a panic, she tried to stand up and with bleeding knees and arms she ran to her friend.
Jia was trembling when she reached Yumi's body. Blood started to ascend to the dingy pavement. Jia's scream quelled the area. Frantic breathing followed. "No... No... Yumi! Oh my god! Yumi!" Jia's surroundings are muted, she's frozen, quivering while hugging Yumi's body. It felt like time had stopped. Jia was shaken by overwhelming fear. It was hard to breathe and her body shuddered drastically. She cannot hear noises, people calling their names as her chest inaugurates to drop tightly. "Please... "Jia's eyes were falling as her consciousness was fading. Jia hardly prays to god even in her sleeping form.
"Save Yumi," Jia muttered in a desperate tone.
--
Jia opens her eyes only to see a white ceiling. There's an IV connected to her arm. The smell of medicine covered her nose as she studied her surroundings. The door opened and Jia saw Yejun's warm gaze at her.
Jia met his gaze, confusion illustrated on her face then she remembered what happened. Accident, car, pavement, and Yumi. Her lips tremble vigorously with tears outlined to the corner of her eyes. She rose from bed in a panic that made her almost fall from the bed. Yejun half ran to catch Jia's body. He grabbed her waist and hugged her massively.
"Yumi... Where is Yumi?" Jia asked, not minding that she was so close with Yejun's body. She wants to plead with Yejun to take her to Yumi but Yejun only lifted her like it was nothing, not twitching with her weight and closely holding Jia's small body.
Jia's heart skipped a beat with the sudden action. She could feel Yejun's breath on her cheek. Her panic subsided because of the unexpected warmth but the nervousness stayed at Jia's heart pulling her messed emotions, motioning her a warning but it did not stop, did not listen to her desperate plea, her heart was frantically dominating her, painfully racing against her ribs and in a defeated state, Jia met the darkest eyes she refused to acknowledge - sending her whole being to unknown intense elements that Jia cannot comprehend. She was long lost until she heard him whisper.
"Ssshhh, Yumi is fine. She just had a concussion. The doctor already checked her. You're in the most dangerous state because your heart literally stops-." Yejun explained shortly. Jia didn't notice that she was still in Yejun's arms hugging him in response to his hold. She gasped by the contact while her brain slowly processed the information, being attentive by their closeness. Yejun's eyes are all in her, carefully studying Jia's response. She grimaces and is uncomfortable with the sudden attention. She pushed Yejun softly, but the latter tightly clasped her waist more closely, not giving her space to even breathe. Jia's eyes widened due to the friction by their closeness. She never wanted to assert that it was comfortable in Yejun's arms. But Jia needs to stop it. She ignores the voices in her head whining by the denied contact instead, she speaks.
"Can you put me down now?" Jia asked, her cheeks were red while the beating of her heart was still hurting her chest. She scowled, eyes on the ground as Yejun carefully put her to the hospital bed. She shivered in the cold after being freed by Yejun's hold.
"Thank you." Jia's low voice covered the awkwardness. She refused to meet his gaze.
"Jia!" The door opens exposing a nervous Juno while Haru has a momentous expression he always wears whenever they speak about their agreement.
"Are you okay? How are you feeling? Oh my god, Jia! I almost fainted when that car almost crashed into both you and Yumi! Why did you even..." Juno stopped his hysteria when he noticed Yejun's narrow eyes on him. He quickly closed his lips but his eyes were on Jia worriedly waiting for her to speak out.
"I am okay Juno. My concern is more of Yumi. Yejun said she was okay but I wanted to see her. I need to see Yumi. Please..." Juno sighed but shook his head. Jia bit her lips instead and looked hopeless at Haru. She really wanted to see Yumi but they were not helping her!
"Yumi is fine Jia. You are the one who almost did not make it." Haru mumbled with his voice stern and apathetic. It almost sounded as if Haru was annoyed with Jia but Juno did not comment about it. Jia also knew that she was already dead. It was a nonsense topic to all of them.
"I can help you go to her but we need the doctor's permission first," Haru said after a while and careless Jia's hair. He looks so concerned and Jia is not used to his emotions from him. It gives her different feelings because it was almost impossible from the past Yejun to give her a kind look. Jia silently nodded her head feeling thankful for the help.
Juno looked at them with awe. Not sure how to react while Haru's eyes were like daggers to Jia. She never really understands Haru's reaction. Why does he look mad? He even confirmed that Yumi is fine. After a moment, the door opens again with the doctor and nurses ready to check up for Jia. She received minor wounds while later she was informed that Yumi got minor concussion and wounds by the sharp glass from the headlight which shattered in the impact when it hit the street pole. Yumi is not hit by the car, miraculously she was spared by millimeters. Jia is astonished but thankful for the outcome. They need to stay in the hospital overnight before the doctor allows them to be released tomorrow. Jia meets Yumi and she is extremely panicked. Sobbing harder that even her friends had a hard time calming her. Yumi had never seen Jia act like that before but she totally understood her. But still, she was confused, relieved, and alert with Jia's reaction. She also lets her sleep in her bed when the doctor agrees to Jia sleeping with her. It was a mess because Jia is close to dehydration and she was hinted of panic attacks. The doctor almost sedates her but thanks to Yumi's continued comfort, Jia finally relaxes.
She never leaves Yumi's side and lets her act like a koala cuddling her friend until she falls asleep. It was a small commotion to the hospital rules that Yejun pulled something so Jia could have Yumi stay with her.
Juno looks stressed and understanding with the whole ride while Haru is awfully quiet and serious about the whole situation. He also left for almost a day and just came back after midnight, checking for Jia before coming back to his hotel room.
--
"Haru." A voice from a girl appears in Haru's room. Her long lashes are noticeably pretty with her pouty lips and fair complexion. She sat at Haru's couch crossing her long legs.
"Leave now." Haru's eyes flickered to the girl with a smirk on her face. His expression was blank, totally dangerously shivering to the eyes of anyone. The girl twitches.
"She did it again, Haru..." She fake laughed, an annoying chuckle that made Haru infuriated. He scoffed at the girl wanting to roll his eyes but stay still on his angle. His jaw clenched because of the annoyance. Haru glared again.
"Jia is my business. Leave now." Haru's voice is freezing. He looks sharp and aloof making the girl stop her coy demure. Her eyes changed to crescent while her pupils turned yellow gold. She is sensing a warning.
"I'm not here to piss you off Haru. I was sent above. They wanted the girl now." She announced, lips aroused because of the tension of Haru's aura surrounding the place.
"Jia is my business. Leave now before I throw you out." The frigid voice continues and Haru is not kidding when his eyes change. His magnificent wings showed up and the white light swiveled the room in blinding.
The girl is forced to kneel seeing the higher guardian's pissed image. She grimaced by the rare sight of the most respected guardian, trembling by the aura and negative emotions throwing at her side. She bowed her head forcefully then apologized.
"I order you not to show your face ever again. Jia Kim is my business. No one is allowed to touch her."
The room is illuminated by the blinding light until Haru is the only person in the room. He was still on his wings with his eyes turning purple. He quickly changes his appearance while drinking the tea that he prepared before the visitor came in. His expression is not visible, eyes cold dazing to the surface. He greeted his teeth and with sharp breathing, Haru called a name and conveyed an order.
"Watched for Jia."
End of chapter 35.