Jihoon's pov:
As we pulled up infront of Miracles Café Uncle Jae turned to look at me and slightly smiled, "You know what, I never expected my darling Nephew to be in his rebel era." He stated.
"Haha, you're very funny." I said as I unbuckled my seat belt and walked out of the car.
"I've heard that you've been bad lately, staying out to late, and spending money recklessly. Is that your way to cope with the pain?" He asked.
"It's none of your business, I also don't get why they are complaining about money when they have a whole lot of it." I stated.
He chuckled as he wrapped a arm around my shoulder and patted me, "you reminded me so much about myself when I was in Highschool." He stated.
"Were you an asshole?" I questioned.
"I was worse than you." He smiled.
"What caused you to change?" I asked, "my lovely painter and partner." He replied.
As we walked into the café, the warm and inviting atmosphere was a sharp contrast to the tension I felt inside. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, but I barely registered it. My mind was still occupied with the conversation from the car.
Uncle Jae led the way to the counter, where Minji was working. Minji looked up from the register as we approached, and his face momentarily flickered with surprise before he quickly put on a professional smile.
"Welcome to Miracles Café. How can I help you today?" Minji asked, his tone polite but somewhat strained.
Uncle Jae glanced at me before turning to Minji. "I'll have a cappuccino, and my nephew here will have a hot chocolate."
Minji nodded and began preparing our drinks. I could feel his eyes occasionally flicking towards me, and each glance only fueled my annoyance. It seemed like no matter where I went, Minji was always there, further complicating things.
"So, Jihoon," Uncle Jae said, trying to fill the silence, "how's school treating you?"
I shrugged, not particularly interested in discussing it. "It's fine, I guess. Just trying to get through each day."
Uncle Jae gave me a sympathetic look. "You know, sometimes it helps to talk about what's bothering you. Holding everything in won't make things better."
I looked away, not wanting to dive into another emotional conversation. "Yeah, well, it's easier said than done."
Minji finished making our drinks and placed them on the counter. He glanced at me again, his eyes showing a hint of concern that he quickly masked. "Here you go. Enjoy your drinks."
"Thanks," I said curtly, grabbing my hot chocolate.
Uncle Jae paid for our order, and we moved to a table by the window. I sat down, trying to focus on the comforting warmth of the hot chocolate. Uncle Jae sipped his cappuccino and continued to look at me with a thoughtful expression.
"You know," he said, "when I was in high school, I went through a lot of similar stuff. I was angry and rebellious, just like you. But I found that talking things out with someone who cared made a huge difference."
I took a sip of my drink, not really feeling any of the warmth or comfort it was supposed to provide. "It's not that simple," I muttered.
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The next day Minji's pov:
As I sat in the library waiting for Jihoon I couldn't help but feel nervous and a little but irritated, seeing him is one thing but dealing with him is another thing.
Yes, I ruined his shirt two times but why does so much hatred come from a ruined shirt.
As I sat there for another 5 minutes he walked in looking annoyed as ever, like he didn't want to be here.
He barely acknowledged me as he walked in, his eyes scanning the library like he was searching for an escape route. When our eyes finally met, his expression didn't soften—it only seemed to harden, like he was preparing for another confrontation.
Jihoon dropped his bag onto the chair across from me with a loud thud, and I flinched at the sound. He didn't sit down right away, just stood there for a moment, staring at me with a look that screamed, I don't want to be here.
I tried to push past the irritation bubbling up inside me. It's just a shirt, I reminded myself. Well, two shirts, but still.Taking a deep breath, I decided to break the silence.
"Thanks for coming," I said, trying to keep my voice steady and calm.
He finally sat down, but the tension between us was palpable. Jihoon didn't bother with a response, just looked at me like he was waiting for me to get on with it. His silence was heavy, like a challenge.
"I know you don't want to be here," I started, trying to choose my words carefully.
"Just get on with the lesson, I don't care about your useless apology." He said bluntly.
His words hit me like a slap, but I forced myself not to react. Instead, I took a deep breath and nodded, pulling out the materials we needed for the lesson. If this was how he wanted it, then fine. I could handle it.
"Alright," I said, keeping my voice steady. "We'll start with the basics you missed while you were out. I made some notes for you."
I slid the papers across the table to him.
Jihoon barely glanced at them before shoving them aside, his focus more on his phone than on me. The dismissal was clear, but I wasn't going to let him get to me. Not this time.
"Jihoon," I said, trying to get his attention.
"I'm here to help you. Whether you want it or not, we both have to get through this."
He looked up from his phone, his expression dark. "Help me? You're the one who ruined my clothes twice, and now you want to play tutor? Give me a break."
I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my cool. "I'm not here to argue with you. I'm just trying to do what the teacher asked."
He rolled his eyes but finally put his phone down, picking up the notes with a sigh. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."
I started to go over the material, explaining the concepts as clearly as I could, but I could feel his disinterest in every word. He wasn't listening—at least, not fully. His eyes glazed over, and he kept glancing at the clock like he couldn't wait to leave.
Despite his attitude, I pushed on, refusing to let his negativity drag me down. I could tell he wasn't absorbing much, but I kept going, hoping that maybe something would stick.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally finished the lesson. Jihoon pushed his chair back, already halfway out of the seat before I even finished speaking.
"Thanks for the notes," he muttered, though his tone made it clear he didn't mean it. He grabbed his bag and turned to leave.
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In the evening as I started to pack up to leave and head home, I heard weird noises coming from the other class next to mine.
As I walked to check, the room door was slightly open so I decided to peek in and see what was in there.
There was JaeHwa with some girl making out and having sex, I was froze in place and I just couldn't comprehend the scene.
I stood there, frozen, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing. JaeHwa, the guy who always seemed so put together, was in a heated moment with some girl in the empty classroom. It wasn't just shocking—it was disturbing. The way they were tangled together, oblivious to everything around them, made me feel like I was intruding on something I was never meant to see.
For a moment, I considered just walking away, pretending like I hadn't seen anything. But my feet refused to move. I was rooted to the spot, a mix of curiosity and disbelief keeping me glued to the scene.
Suddenly, the girl caught a glimpse of me through the open door, her eyes widening in shock. She quickly pushed JaeHwa away, and they both scrambled to cover themselves, their moment of passion abruptly shattered by my presence.
"What the hell?!" JaeHwa hissed, yanking his shirt back on as he glared at me. "What are you doing here?"
"I-I didn't mean to…" I stammered, finally finding my voice. "I heard something and… I'm sorry."
"Get out!" he snapped, his voice low but seething with anger. The girl, still fumbling with her clothes, looked mortified.
Without another word, I backed away from the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't stick around to see what they did next—I just turned and bolted down the hallway, my mind racing.
TBC