won’t tell me.”
He shrugs one shoulder, obnoxiously calm. And that’s his answer. Or lack thereof.
I step closer to him, further into the shadows. The bustle of students behind me dims, probably a result of everyone rushing to the dining hall. I suck in a slow breath, mustering as much courage as I have in my five-foot-six self.
Ignoring the way my face heats at being close enough to touch him, I point an accusing finger at his chest. “I get that you’re going for the arrogant tool thing, and that’s fine. But you’re not intimidating me with all your sarcasm and aloofness. Because that’s all you are—a jerk—and you don’t scare me.”
A smirk twists his lips. “Maybe I should try harder.”
“I’m serious. Whatever happened, it freaked Sophie out. And she’s probably the nicest person I’ve ever met, so I’m not going to let you hurt her, even if she is your sister.”
His confident smile fades, and the coldness in his eyes melts to reveal a normal guy underneath, not the conceited prick of a few seconds ago. His gaze drops to his shoes, his bangs shrouding his eyes from my view.
“You don’t have to worry about anything,” he says, voice flat. “She’s fine. We’re both fine.”
“You sure about that?” I ask skeptically. “She practically hyperventilated at the club when we couldn’t find you. Doesn’t sound fine to me. Maybe you should check into just how fine she is.”
Frustration souring my stomach, I turn, ready to head to lunch. I’ll probably make it just before the bell if I leave now. But before I can take a single step, a hand clamps around my wrist and whirls me around.
“I’m serious,” he says.
And I pause, because his tone is dangerously close to honest. He glances down at his fingers curled around my arm, then meets my gaze. A silent plea flashes in his eyes, and I falter. But before either of us can speak, the bell shrills overhead, and classroom doors slam shut as the last students leave them.
Jason’s hand releases its grip, and I take a step back. I consider throwing him another warning, but the words die in my throat. I think back to sitting in the limo, his head resting against my shoulder and the pain that hid in his eyes. And all the fight inside me dissipates.
I escape to the dining hall, my thoughts spinning. Even when I hop in the lunch line and search the cafeteria for Yoon Jae, I’m still thinking about Jason.
And what could have created the grief I see inside him.
* * *
At dinner, Sophie’s quiet. She absently pushes the rice around in her bowl, and I realize this is the longest I’ve seen her go without talking. When she drizzles fish sauce onto her apple, I can’t stay silent any longer.
“Sophie, is something wrong?”
She looks up. “Huh?”
I point to her fruit, and she blinks the glazed look out of her eyes. She laughs, laying her chopsticks across the top of her bowl.
“Guess I’m done,” she says.
“Are you still thinking about what happened on Saturday?” I venture. Maybe I’ll finally get to the bottom of whatever’s going on.
She shifts uncomfortably on the bench. “No.”
I wait for her to continue.
“I talked to Jason earlier. He told me about the conversation you two had. After Korean class. I let it go the first time, when you guys argued after the concert. So I guess it just sorta bothered me that you did it again.” She picks at her napkin, ripping off pieces. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of him. He’s not a bad guy. Really.”
I fight the urge to snort. Could have fooled me.
“He just … has some problems, you know? He’s been really stressed since Eden debuted, and their label puts a lot of pressure on them. I mean, he’s always been a perfectionist, but he’s gotten more so since the album released.” She chews on her bottom lip. “He’s my brother, so sometimes I get upset with him. But I don’t want you to think that he’s … you know … a bad
He shrugs one shoulder, obnoxiously calm. And that’s his answer. Or lack thereof.
I step closer to him, further into the shadows. The bustle of students behind me dims, probably a result of everyone rushing to the dining hall. I suck in a slow breath, mustering as much courage as I have in my five-foot-six self.
Ignoring the way my face heats at being close enough to touch him, I point an accusing finger at his chest. “I get that you’re going for the arrogant tool thing, and that’s fine. But you’re not intimidating me with all your sarcasm and aloofness. Because that’s all you are—a jerk—and you don’t scare me.”
A smirk twists his lips. “Maybe I should try harder.”
“I’m serious. Whatever happened, it freaked Sophie out. And she’s probably the nicest person I’ve ever met, so I’m not going to let you hurt her, even if she is your sister.”
His confident smile fades, and the coldness in his eyes melts to reveal a normal guy underneath, not the conceited prick of a few seconds ago. His gaze drops to his shoes, his bangs shrouding his eyes from my view.
“You don’t have to worry about anything,” he says, voice flat. “She’s fine. We’re both fine.”
“You sure about that?” I ask skeptically. “She practically hyperventilated at the club when we couldn’t find you. Doesn’t sound fine to me. Maybe you should check into just how fine she is.”
Frustration souring my stomach, I turn, ready to head to lunch. I’ll probably make it just before the bell if I leave now. But before I can take a single step, a hand clamps around my wrist and whirls me around.
“I’m serious,” he says.
And I pause, because his tone is dangerously close to honest. He glances down at his fingers curled around my arm, then meets my gaze. A silent plea flashes in his eyes, and I falter. But before either of us can speak, the bell shrills overhead, and classroom doors slam shut as the last students leave them.
Jason’s hand releases its grip, and I take a step back. I consider throwing him another warning, but the words die in my throat. I think back to sitting in the limo, his head resting against my shoulder and the pain that hid in his eyes. And all the fight inside me dissipates.
I escape to the dining hall, my thoughts spinning. Even when I hop in the lunch line and search the cafeteria for Yoon Jae, I’m still thinking about Jason.
And what could have created the grief I see inside him.
* * *
At dinner, Sophie’s quiet. She absently pushes the rice around in her bowl, and I realize this is the longest I’ve seen her go without talking. When she drizzles fish sauce onto her apple, I can’t stay silent any longer.
“Sophie, is something wrong?”
She looks up. “Huh?”
I point to her fruit, and she blinks the glazed look out of her eyes. She laughs, laying her chopsticks across the top of her bowl.
“Guess I’m done,” she says.
“Are you still thinking about what happened on Saturday?” I venture. Maybe I’ll finally get to the bottom of whatever’s going on.
She shifts uncomfortably on the bench. “No.”
I wait for her to continue.
“I talked to Jason earlier. He told me about the conversation you two had. After Korean class. I let it go the first time, when you guys argued after the concert. So I guess it just sorta bothered me that you did it again.” She picks at her napkin, ripping off pieces. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of him. He’s not a bad guy. Really.”
I fight the urge to snort. Could have fooled me.
“He just … has some problems, you know? He’s been really stressed since Eden debuted, and their label puts a lot of pressure on them. I mean, he’s always been a perfectionist, but he’s gotten more so since the album released.” She chews on her bottom lip. “He’s my brother, so sometimes I get upset with him. But I don’t want you to think that he’s … you know … a bad
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