Page 127 of When Worlds Collide
“How?” he said slowly.
“He recognised me. A couple weeks ago, he saw me and recognised me from the ball, and I guess-”
“Whoa, stop,” he held up a hand, cutting me off. “What happened two weeks ago?”
Ah shit, I’d forgotten about that. I hadn’t meant to keep it from him. I’d just been so busy it had slipped my mind.
“When we went offsite to set up for a music video, it was for Sol8.”
He made a gravely noise in the back of his throat.
“I was carrying something heavy, and I tripped, but he was there. He helped me up.” I hurried through the recount, seeing how Jihoon’s expression darkened with every word. He let out a bitter little laugh when I finished.
“You seem to fall over in front of performers a lot, jagiya.”
He was referring to when we first met – how I’d fallen, and dropped a box of cables all over the floor. Jihoon had stopped to help me. Normally, this was a story I remembered with fondness, even wry amusement, but the way he said it made it sound like I’d planned it. I bit back the snappy retort I felt burning my tongue.
“Anyway,” I continued, “he took one look at me and recognised me from the ball.”
“Yes,” he smirked, “I’m sure it was one look.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What does that mean?”
He waved me away, notching my temper up. “And then today, he finds you alone in the hallway?”
“Who said I was alone?”
“He wouldn’t have talked to you if you were with someone else.” He took a couple steps back from me, looking at me as if… as if I’d disappointed him, somehow.
“Why are you looking at me like I just told you I asked him out on a date?”
“Did you?” He smirked, but the humour didn’t reach his eyes.
“What the hell, Jihoon?” I cried, holding my arms out, only to let them fall at my sides. “Did you actually just ask me that?”
A tic fluttered across his jaw as his fists clenched.
“I told you he had a bad reputation.”
He turned away from me, walking over to the kitchen. I was thoroughly wound up now, and I followed him.
“And I remember telling you that his reputation has nothing to do with me!”
“He puts his hands on you, and you think it has nothing to do with you?” Jihoon whirled on me, but the distance between us felt like we were two warring nations, shouting at each other over the span of an ocean.
“Wha-put his hands on me?” I spluttered.
“You said he helped you up.”
I put a hand to my forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
“Oh my god,” I groaned. “Was he supposed to watch me get back up on my own? I would have fallen, would that have been better?”
“Yes!” He hissed, then – “No! Fuck! What if someone saw him touch you?”
“This isn’t about me,” I accused, the words tasting bitter, “it’s about the ‘scandal’.” I said the word like it was a joke, although I knew damn well it wasn’t.
“It’s all about you!” he shouted, “it’s always been about you!” He slapped a hand on the counter, and I jumped as the sound cracked through the air. Whatever I’d been about to say fled from my mouth as it slammed shut.
