Cursed Chain of Heartthrob Tears

Walking in to their classroom, only a few students have arrived. Kyungsoo caught a sight of his friend, Lee Jaerim. And at the moment, he stood frozen. He couldn’t move as he looked at the beautiful, innocent girl he knew that’s now beaten up, with scratches and bruises all over her.
Kyungsoo’s never felt his heart breaking like this. His vision started to blur as tears filled his eyes. He tried his best to keep things together and started walking slowly towards his only friend in the world.
He just looked at her and didn’t say a word. Kyungsoo didn’t know what he should say. ‘What happened?’, ‘Who did this to you?’, ‘Are you okay?’, he didn’t know where to start.
He tried to reach for her hand but she pulled away, not meeting his eyes.
He felt blood rush though his body, before turning around, starting towards the back of the room. He pulled Jessica by her wrist and pushed her on a wall.
He saw her eyes get filled with fear. Kyungsoo loved that. For once, even at least once, she experience what it’s like. “Kyungsoo-ya……”, Jessica Jung said, with begging eyes. But Kyungsoo just couldn’t feel a thing at the moment.
He didn’t have to say a word. Everyone knew what he was doing, and why he’s doing it. He didn’t loosen his grip even Jessica kept pleading. “Let go… please…”
“STOP!”, a voice snapped Kyungsoo out of his rage. “Just stop…”, Lee Jaerim’s voice echoed faintly at the silence.
“It wasn’t her…”, she told him, going back to her sit.
Kyungsoo loosen up and went towards Jaerim, not caring even if Jessica Jung was hurt or not. “If it wasn’t her, then who?!”, he said.
But right on time, he realized it was time for the first period, as their teacher burst into the classroom. Kyungsoo went back to his sit not getting an answer from his friend whose still haven’t met his eyes.
“It’s you who did it, you *sshole…”, one of Jaerim’s secret admirers whispered to him.
Kyungsoo didn’t know what he meant. He just didn’t understand. Who would do such thing to that girl? Why is this guy saying Kyungsoo did it? He just doesn’t get it.
Jaerim hasn’t spoken to Kyungsoo all morning. She kept ignoring him. That day, she didn’t talk to anyone. She didn’t greet anyone good morning because… what’s so good about it? She did her best to stay away from people, especially Kyungsoo.
During lunch break, Jessica’s gang tried to make fun of her. But she couldn’t hear them. She just walked pass by staring blankly at nothing. She took a seat at a table far from Kyungsoo’s. She just played with her food as she waited, though she doesn’t know what she’s waiting for. She just didn’t feel like eating. How could she in a situation like that?
A guy stood in front of her and she didn’t have to look to know who it was.
“Who?”, Kyungsoo asked her. “Who did this, Jaerim-ah? What happened?”
“No one… It was me… I did it. I did this to myself.”, she simply said before standing up and turning her back on her friend.
She walked away as fast as she could, not daring to look back at the guy following her. They got to the main corridor and she still didn’t stop. She didn’t know where she was going. All she knew was that she had to get away from him as far as possible, like what she’s told.

“Jaerim-ah! Jaerim-ah! Ya~!”, Kyungsoo kept calling out as he tried to catch up with Jaerim. But she was too fast, the corridor was too crowded and the people aren’t making things easier for Kyungsoo. “Jaerim-ah wait!”, he yelled one last time before a girl spoke to him.
“It’s okay oppa~ That b*tch won’t bother you anymore… There’s a lot of girls who can be your noye… that girl doesn’t deserve it…”, the girl said.
“Yeah… Kyungsoo Oppa… We’re here for you… you don’t need her… things were better off when it was just us.”, another girl said.
And right there, it struck him. He realized what was happening. These girls are those who kept following him around. He can’t be mistaken. His fans did that to his best friend. And now she won’t even talk to him.
Afternoon classes passed by and Jaerim attended none of it. She didn’t come back to their classroom after lunch break and Kyungsoo didn’t know where she went. He wanted to find her, but he knows if she finds out he cut classes, she would be disappointed in him. Kyungsoo waited… until school was over.
He went by to her house for the first time, asking her parent if she’s gone home already. But they said she called them earlier saying she’ll sleep over at a friend’s place to study. But Kyungsoo knows it’s a lie. Jaerim’s out there somewhere… crying.
He went around town, trying to find his friend. He’s walked miles but he didn’t feel tired. He had to find her and rest wasn’t an option. Raindrops began to drop on his head but it didn’t stop him. The rain fell heavier and he still went on. He finally got a sight of her, sitting on a bench by the park.
Aware of the rain, he sat beside her. And without thinking twice, he held her on his arms. Kyungsoo realized he’s been crying all this time. And as he felt her against him he just broke down and cried.
“I’ve been trying to find you all over town, you rascal!”, he croaked.
“You have to stay away from me, Kyungsoo-ya…”, she cried.
“No… no Jaerim-ah… I won’t. I can’t…”, he meant it. His old life was ruined. He ruined it the moment he stood up for this girl. And he doesn’t know how to live like the way he used to anymore. He’s already gotten used to having this girl around. He’s already gotten used to not being alone.
“You’re hurting me…”, she whispered to him. “Those girls are right. I don’t deserve to be your friend. I have to stay away.”
“What are you talking about? Don’t say that! Those girls don’t know who you are… and they don’t know who I am! Nobody knows but us… They can’t tell us what to do.”, he said, cupping her cheeks with his hands.
He felt her place her hands on top of his and slowly pushed away. “They can’t tell you what to do. But me… all I know how to do is to do what people tell me to. This is what I am, remember?”
She stood up even before Kyungsoo could open his mouth. She walked away from him again. But this time, he won’t let her get away.

“NOYE!”, Jaerim’s feet stopped at Kyungsoo’s voice. For so many times, Kyungsoo’s called her that. But it still hurts so much.
“You wanna follow orders, then fine!”, he said. “Yeah! You’re a noye! And I’m your master, remember? You have to do what I tell you!”
He grabbed her arm and forced her to face him. It was the first time she met his eyes since yesterday. It felt like ages ago, how they fooled around with each other.
“You said you’re gonna give me a gift today… well let this be your gift for me, okay?”, he said in his very kind tone, the one that he only gave to her. “I want you to come to school tomorrow… Come to school with your brightest smile. Wait for me by the main gate to carry my bag. When we get to the classroom, I want you to greet each and every one of our classmates. I want you to sit with me during lunch and I want us to be like what we were yesterday. Do that… and I’ll handle the rest. Do that for me… and I won’t let anything happen to you again.”
“Okay…”, was all she could say. She didn’t know if everything will turn out fine, but she just trusted on Kyungsoo. He’s right. Those girls can’t tell them what to do. And if she’s going to be a servant, nobody deserves her service but the only person she likes. Nobody should care about their relationship. They had something that no one knew but them. They shared something nobody understands.
“Wait… I can’t go home like this, Kyungsoo-ya… I’m all messed up.”, she said looking down at her soaked clothes.
“Yeah, I know… so let’s go.”, Kyungsoo simply said.
“What? Go where?”, she asked him as he dragged her.
“You told you folks that you’re sleeping over at a friend’s house, right? We’re going home…”

Jaerim’s never been to a rich person’s house. It was her first time to see a living room as big as their house’s lot. And her bedroom back home must have been only as big as Kyungsoo’s bathroom. His parents weren’t around that night. He said he grew up like that and has already gotten used to it. His parents always work overtime and he leaves the house with them already gone to work and arrives with them still at work.
The maids were very nice to Jaerim. They treated her like she was a princess. She let them borrow some dry clothes. There were so many spare rooms Jaerim even had a hard time picking which one she’ll stay in.
That night Kyungsoo went to Jaerim’s room. “You okay?”, he asked her in a low voice.
“Yeah… it’s very comfortable here in your house… and the bed is so soft.”, she said, smiling.
“I’m sorry…”, she heard him say.
“Don’t be…”, she answered looking back at him. “You know it’s not your fault…”
“Yes it is.”, said as he sat beside her on the bed. He’s done it twice today, but Jaerim was still caught off-guard as Kyungsoo held her in his arms again. This time she hugged back.
It felt like it was just yesterday when she was dreaming to feel this guy’s body against hers. She used to go crazy at the thought. But now, all she thought of was his warmth. She didn’t want to let go.
Kyungsoo began humming as they swayed to the rhythm. It was like slow dancing while sitting. Kyungsoo hummed and then began singing. It was Jaerim’s first time to hear him sing. She never thought the guy had a passion for music. He just didn’t look like that kind of guy. And she’s been spending time with him for a month and never did she notice.
Jaerim kept her eyes clothes as the melody of Kyungsoo’s voice roamed around the room. It was the most beautiful moment of her life.

The next morning, Jaerim woke up and saw her school uniform has been washed and dried and ironed. She had no idea how the maids have done it in one night. Mrs. Do didn’t leave early for work that day. She said she wanted to meet the friend his son was talking about. She had the most delicious breakfast on earth with Kyungsoo and his Mom, before heading to school with Kyungsoo.
When they were almost at the main gate of the school, he told her that she should go first so she’ll be waiting for him like how he told her to.
Jaerim knew eyes were staring at them but she didn’t care.
“Oh! Annyeong Kyungsoo-ya! I’ve been waiting for you!”, she beamed at him.
“Oh! Annyeong! Really… sorry to keep you waiting…”, he said back.
They were like kids fooling around pretending that they didn’t just spent a night in one roof. They went together to their classroom like how Kyungsoo said the day before.
“Annyeong! How are you?”, she greeted people as they walked pass by on the hallways. They didn’t seem to greet back as blissful as they used to. Jaerim wasn’t sure if it was because of the bruises on her face or the fact that she with the most popular boy in school who doesn’t seem to be treating her like a slave anymore.
“Annyeong!”, she went on when they reach their classroom. She greeted even Jessica and her gang. She greeted everybody like how Kyungsoo told her to.
Jaerim didn’t feel like she’ll ever get used to all the eyes staring at her every minute. It went on like that all day.
Jaerim used to feel like every day passes like fog. But today, it wasn’t even close to that. The day ended and Jaerim felt every single second of it.
“Yah~… Kyungsoo-ya…”, she whined. “I’m so tired… I wanna go home early…”, she told him after class.
“Oh… okay…”, he simply said. “Let’s put our books on our lockers and hurry home, okay? I feel like sleeping too…”
“Alright…”, she agreed as they started toward the lockers.
“Wait! Jaerim-ah~ Can you just put mine… I really need to go to the bathroom… you know my combination, right?”, he said.
“Yeah…”, Jaerim was his only friend and she appreciated that he shared with her everything about him even his locker’s combination.
“Okay… I’ll meet you by the lockers, okay?”, he told her before rushing off.
“You still haven’t learned, huh?”, a familiar voice said from behind her as she placed her books in her locker.
She turned around, hoping that she won’t see who she thinks she’d see. But she was right. It was those girls again, the ones who beat her up, Kyungsoo’s fans.
“Omo~ Unnie… Look! Aren’t those Kyungsoo Oppa’s? What’s she doing with his stuff?”, one of them said, noticing Jaerim holding Kyungsoo’s books.
“Yah! How dare you take his things!”, they yelled at her.
“We told you to stay away, and yet you keep sticking to him like a disgusting gum!”, their leader said.
Kyungsoo left the bathroom and went to the locker hallway as fast as he could. He could believe what he saw. It was his fans and their hurting her again, Lee Jaerim.
Some of the girls were pulling Jaerim’s hair and the others were trying to get his books from her. Feeling adrenaline fill his body, he rushed to protect the only girl he cares about.
“STOP!”, he bellowed, pushing all the crazy students away from his best friend. “Get away you b*tches! Get away!”, he kept yelling at them. “Don’t you dare hurt her!”
“Oppa~ Look what that girl has done to you! Don’t protect her!”, they said to him.
“Shut up! Just shut the h*ll up! Stop calling me your oppa, or yeobo, or seobang, or any other disgusting pet names you know! Stop telling me what to do and stay away from me!!!”, he yelled, feeling nothing but rage.
He opened his locker, knowing what waited inside. Fan letters started falling from the locker as he opened it. For once in his life, he didn’t want any of those. He didn’t want to hear any compliments from anyone. He didn’t want anyone to think he’s special, except for the girl he likes, the girl who keeps getting hurt because of him.
He crumpled the letters and tore everything into pieces in front of all the kids around him. He kept tearing everything he threw it all to the girls whose gone all crazy because of him. “I don’t need all this sh*t!!! Take it all away! Just leave me alone!”, he kept yelling and throwing ramdom pieces of fan letters at the students.
“Stop it… Kyungsoo-ya… that’s enough. Please… stop it…”, he heard Jaerim’s voice as her arms wrapped around his waist. “Please… enough.”
Kyungsoo wanted to obey his friend’s plead but he just can’t let these girls hurt her again. “STAY AWAY FROM ME! STAY AWAY FROM JAERIM AND DON’T EVEN THINK OF LAYING YOUR HANDS ON HER AGAIN, BECAUSE IF YOU DO, IT WILL BE YOUR FACES THAT I’LL RIP INTO PIECES!”
With that, Kyungsoo walked out of the scene dragging Jaerim by her fore-arm.
“Kyungsoo-ya… stop for a moment.”, she cried, begging him to calm down.
“Jaerim-ah! I won’t let anything touch you anymore. I won’t let anyone hurt you or even try to!”, he told her. “From now on, I’ll protect you… like how a man should protect the girl he likes.”
“Noye-ya… Be my girlfriend. And that’s an order.”

Notes

celebrating mine and kyungsoo's birthday with an update.. ^^