Chapter 10

I make a change to Chaeyoung's colleague from Jaehyun to Mark. Enjoy!☺️

Chaeyoung open her apartment door to let herself in. Jimin just stand outside waiting for her to go in.

When she fix the key to move it inside the door lock, she look at him to say goodbye.

"Uhm, thank you for today. You should rest." She said as she feel awkward. For entire night after she sing Hard to Love written by her, their vibes start getting tense. Jimin can't compliment her since it feels like the song hit him hard and Chaeyoung can see his disappointed eyes through their hang out.

Jimin just nod and turn his back to walk away. When she's about to close the door, a foot step in doorway. She open it again and it's Jimin. He hold the door too with his hand.

"Jim—", "Were you really meant it?" He cut her. Chaeyoung couldn't understand what he said. What did she said tonight? Was she saying something?

"Meant what?" "The song." Chaeyoung taken aback Jimin suddenly brought up her song into this. "Wh-what?" She stuttered. She scared he doesn't like the song or start insulting her.

"Don't say the song means nothing. I remember you told me that all of your song you wrote is about me that's why someday you promise you'll sing as a surprise." Jimin said

'He remember i said that?' There's so many mixed feeling inside her heart right now to heard all of his words

He continue. "So? You meant it when you sang it earlier? That you won't give me any chance? You'll keep pushing me away? Because i realize you're so immersed to sing it, it's like you sang with all your heart, your heartache. You keep give me a hint that i can't change yours. I'm not saying it hurts me but instead i don't want to hurt you, Chae. I don't care about my feelings because it stay the same, but i care about you." Jimin explained.

Chaeyoung got confused. Why earlier this evening when she told Lisa she will reject her eventually, she meant it with pride? But right now when she stand in front of Jimin, it's like all she wants to do is kiss him and say i love you. On the other hand, she feel stab by his words too. It's like now she's the one who hurt him with always rejecting him when in fact, since she arrived in New York until now, all he had to do is proving he loves her.

"Chae, say something." Jimin pleaded.

"I-i-i don't know. I think you should go." Chaeyoung still stuttering, unsure is her words really meant from her heart or not.

"If you tell me i go, i will end this. I'm sorry i hurt you, Chae." Jimin warned her once again.

But there's still silent between them.

'Chaeyoung, say something! Say i love you!'

'I love him, i love you, Jimin. I do!'

'Please kiss me! I can't speak! I got statued here!'

In his eyes there's a sadness start creeping up, so without wait any longer he back away and left. He doesn't want to make a scene by pleading or crying. They're past all of those, they need a real talk, a yes or no answer.

"Okay, this is goodbye then."

Chaeyoung still stand quietly seeing him walk away. Why she let him go? Was it all she wants? Why her heart beat so fast like scared to lose something that she doesn't really think it's what she desired in the first place?

"Jimin." She mumble when he disappear to enter the elevator.

Jimin got home with emptiness. He doesn't know what to feel anymore. The way she told him she can't get back together even there's still love lingering in her heart for him maybe it's nothing, he understand and he want to work it out. But, when she sing it hit him hard to every metaphors inside the lyrics. The way she sang it wholeheartedly just show how she truly feels and there's none anymore.

He just take it as someday she'll be the one who become an evil rather than him with his past mistake. He should feel frustrating but instead he just sigh and doesn't know what to do when it comes to love. Somehow he feel about love just wash away like that. It already gone.

Next day, he just work like usual. For someone who broken-hearted, he should feel tired, not in the mood doing nothing. But he just think blankly and keep going with his task. Jimin try to copy fifty times of his paper but he got nothing. It's jam. He should angry with the copier but he just sigh and give up. That's how he feel right now. He doesn't try to push or back away instead, he just be in between.

When he stare blankly to the jam copier, someone poke his shoulder. He startled and turn around. Jimin surprised who is it.

"Olivia?" The blondie just smile and wave. She cut her hair to bob neck length. She wear light korean look that bring her a big doe eyes. Jimin stare at her from head to toe. She wear work attire and a medium handbag with a file she hold to her chest.

"Hi, Jimin!" She greeted excitedly. "Hi, what are you doing in New York?" He asked.

"Well, i accompany Mr. Patricio to have a meeting with you. It's good to see you! It's been months. How's your job doing right now? Does being a head of department brings you good?" She asked. Olivia had a crush on Jimin and even confessed to him on his last day in Chicago but Jimin declined. Apparently, she still have a little crush on him too right now.

He just smile awkwardly because suddenly she caress his arms and smirk flirtatiously to him. "Ah, it's more tiring but i enjoy it. I still have to adapt." He become uncomfortable in front of her because he's the one who rejected her months ago.

"Oh, good luck then! Uhm, by the way since our meeting start soon, i was wondering if we could catch up on a dinner tonight? You can bring Jungkook too!" There. She make a move again with him, with usual excuse by bringing Jungkook into this. He still not in feel good with Jungkook since he just abandoned him in the park with Lisa and until this day he still nowhere to be seen. He think Jungkook still going through hard times with Lisa.

"Oh, uhm, Jungkook is busy but i can hangout with you. We could try a ramen bar nearby after work, how about that?" He just suggest something fast so they can wrap up their hangout sooner tonight. He can't deal with any woman right now. He wants to get away from Olivia too.

She just nod and smile widely. She think it's working already and she so excited inside her heart.

"Sure, sure! So see you in the meeting. After work, i can wait you in the lobby. We meet you there then?" Jimin just nod and Olivia left to go back to her boss.

...

"Ms. Park." Chaeyoung just play with her crayon until her fingers got colored by the crayon she hold too strong. She can't hear her student call her. She's too busy with her mind.

"Ms. Park!" Chaeyoung turn her head to the voice, she's startled with someone's screaming.

"Yes? Oh right." She has to mark her students paper with a crayon but it got ruin with her red fingerprints because she hold the crayon too strong and touch the paper.

"Oh sorry, Jessica. I didn't mean to ruin your paper." Jessica take a paper and look at it. There's three fingerprints above it. She just chuckle seeing it. "That's fine Ms. Park, it looks like i have three stars from you! Is my work good?"

Chaeyoung chuckle because it is indeed she should grade her students with a star from one to three. She's glad her student didn't get sad when she accidentally ruin her paper.

"You're doing good Jessica. Keep up the good work!" She smile to six year old kid.

She still daydreaming about Jimin. She think why it feels like hollow right now. Why it's like there's an absolute close door between them and she kinda regret her silent that night. But to think again, didn't she the one who want that close door? Why she has a second guessing about this.

All day, she can't think straight. She doesn't feel sad or mad, she feel disturbing without no reason. Her heart doesn't sit right. Is she really want to moving on? Why she didn't accept the fact that right now Jimin close the door entirely for them.

Chaeyoung got startled again for a second time today, she see a hand wave in front of her face. When she turn to the person, this time it's Mark, her colleague.

"Are you okay? Something's wrong at home?" Mark asked.

Chaeyoung sit up straight and grab her fork to continue eat her salad. "Ah no! No! Everything's fine, i just can't gather my thoughts properly these days. I feel like my mind is a mess." She chuckle awkwardly, didn't dare to look at Mark.

He sit across her in teacher's room, they're on lunch break right now. He laugh with his deep voice make her think this guy really something. Mark is handsome, tall, and maybe has a great voice too according to his laugh. She isn't lying there's a part of her attracted to him. But, she doesn't have a gut to get close with him, she doesn't know why she hasn't had any motivation to dive deeper to her feeling towards him.

"Oh, i've been there. It's like i'm stuck and can't do anything." He said as he open his lunch. "By the way, are you busy tonight? Uhm, my friend take a master degree in music from NYU, his class held a live music in times square. Are you interesting in that kind of event?"

See, she should interest in him since they share a same interest. How come she doesn't see him as a guy? Not a colleague?

"Yes! Last night my alumni held a same event too in Central Park. I was there last night. I could join with you too." She get excited make Mark happy too. "Can i bring my friend too? I was ditching her last night because i couldn't wait to see the performance and she's nowhere to be seen. I want to make up for her, is that okay?"

"Sure! Sure! The more the merrier! I ask you so they can have more audience. You could bring your friend too." Mark smile at her. Okay, that smile is pretty. But still it's not enough to make her heart flutter.

Fortunately, Lisa just okay with it, and she doesn't get mad at all about last night. Lisa know this was just Jimin's trick all along so she just went away from it.

Chaeyoung and Lisa decided to go together and meet Mark on the venue, they decided to take a walk together.

"So, you rejected Jimin and go with this Mark guy?" Lisa start the conversation.

"No. He just colleague and it happened that we're sharing a same interest since we both a music teacher." She defend herself but Lisa doesn't buy it at all. "Liar."

"What? I don't have any interest to be close with him, it would be wrong to have a romantic relationship anyway with another teacher which is teach in kindergarten school." Lisa just laugh and wrap her hands around Chaeyoung's to walk side by side more closely.

"No, i mean he's a liar, he must be interest in you. You should welcome him since you rejected Jimin anyway." She nonchalantly said. But, Chaeyoung just quiet. Her mind full of why she rejected him, but more like she just quiet. She feel so stupid that day.

Her mind go straight to that thought again, this time she's thinking maybe she need another perspective. While she busy with her own mind again for the third time she got interrupted by other person again.

"Chae? Something's wrong?" Lisa called her while stare at her face.

"Uh, actually i didn't rejected him nor accepted him. I just uhm. . . Got statued." She confessed. "What do you mean?" Chaeyoung sighed and tell her everything about her song, Jimin's felt that day, and her confused mind. Lisa only raised her eyebrows, this is just ridiculous for her.

"You know, you just love him, you always love him. You try to be in denial because you think people can't get back together with their ex. Which is not true." Lisa try to explained. "Oh you mean like you and Jungkook? That sometimes exes can eventually be married?" She smirked to Lisa and she just rolled her eyes.

"Okay, okay. But, if we focus on you, both of you wants each other." She said. "And both of you and Jungkook doesn't want to be with each other?" She attack Lisa again.

Lisa gets quiet and look to the traffic beside her instead. Chaeyoung just laughing out loud, the irony of how their love story are the same. "Okay, kidding aside, what should i do then?"

Lisa think for a moment, she wonder around her eyes to the street but when they pass to some ramen bar, her eyes get wider. It's Jimin with a girl sit together beside the window. Lisa is panicking, how can she give Chaeyoung an advice right now when she's about to tell her to go for him.

Chaeyoung still not notice Lisa is panicking. But when she turn to her side to the ramen spot, she widen her eyes too. It's Jimin with a girl. She suddenly stop, Lisa didn't startled at all, she knows why.

She can see Chaeyoung's face turn down. Her eyes still wide and her mouth hangs open. "Chae." She called her but still no response.

"Chae, you still want to go to time square?" Lisa assured her again. "Huh? Yes, why not? Let's go!." "But—" "Lisa, i'm fine." Lisa worry for her. She feel lost more than before. They turn their walk to be more faster, Chaeyoung doesn't know why but she just want to get out. Get out anywhere far away from that scene.

Finally, they arrived. She try to search for Mark.

"Roseanne!" She turn her head to him. "Hi! Mark!" She wave her hand to him. "Hi! Thank you guys for joining me support my friend."

"You're welcome! This is my thing anyway. And, uh, Mark this is Lisa my best friend." She introduce Lisa to him. "Hi! I'm Mark, Roseanne's colleague in school." He offer a handshake to Lisa.

Lisa think this guy is handsome. For what they're witnessing earlier, maybe it's best for Chaeyoung to get close with him. He look so yummy. He is a definition of a hot teacher. "Hi! I'm Chaeyoung's best friend! Nice to meet you."

Mark confused for a moment. He still doesn't know Chaeyoung has two names. Chaeyoung notice him being confused so she butt in. "Chayeoung is?"

"It's me! I'm Chaeyoung. It's my Korean name. I change my name when i decided to live here permanently as Roseanne Park. Sorry, i forgot to mention that." Mark nods as he understand.

"Ah, it's beautiful tho." Lisa smirk how Mark compliment her with his smile. Okay, he has a pretty smile! Now, Lisa is the one who attracted to this guy. He is sure handsome.

Three of them enjoy the live music. It's more colorful than her friends' busking session yesterday but they both enjoy it. On a plus side, this live music session present a dance performance too.

"So, we're about to end this live session, we're open for audience to sing any song. Anyone interest to show their singing skill? We're glad to play with you." The host said. Suddenly, Mark look at Chaeyoung who still lost on her own thoughts. He think some idea.

He raise his hand and the host notice him so the host approach him. "Sir! What's your name? Are you going sing with us?" Mark scratch the back of his neck, he contemplate what his next move. Chaeyoung just got surprised when she see the host approach them and the host handed a mic to Mark.

"I'm Mark and i would like for me and my friend Roseanne perform a song. I will play a guitar for her." Chaeyoung widen her eyes, while Lisa just smirking how Mark can make a bold move.

"Oh how sweet! Let's go!" The host grab both of their hands to join them to the center. Chaeyoung whisper to Mark. "Mark, what are you doing?"

"I would like to hear you sing! If you want we can sing together." He whisper back and show his pretty smile again.

Mark is preparing a guitar for him to play. He check the sound first, while Chaeyoung just stare at him still nervous. She doesn't know what to sing, she can't think of anything.

'Were you really meant it?'

'I remember you told me that all of your song you wrote is about me that's why someday you promise you'll sing as a surprise.'

That's all she remember when she hold a mic from the host. She's suddenly trembling. She can't sing, and she doesn't know why. That song she sang yesterday. The scene she witness on the way to here. Jimin smile to a girl. She can't think straight and her skin just shivering.

"Roseanne? What do you want to sing?" Mark stare at her eyes, she lost again on her own thoughts. "Roseanne?" She suddenly handed a mic to the host. The host seems confuse.

"I'm sorry i just-uh-i just can't i remember something, i should go. Mark i'm sorry i have something emergency." She run from the center and leave everyone on the venue confuse even Lisa get worry too. She knows it's because Jimin but she doesn't know why.

Chayeoung just run to god knows where.

...

Jimin walk Olivia to her hotel, their ramen hangout turn out good. Olivia didn't make a move, it's a completely nice conversation about work and how things go in Chicago. Olivia told him about stupid things Jimin's former co-workers in there and how Jimin really miss all of them. He still doesn't have any co-worker who close to him other than Jungkook.

"Yeah, Paul and Amy wear a same shirt to work! How can be a man and a woman have a same shirt? You know what's weird! They're both pulling it off! Everyone just remember it as a grape day, because of those purples shirts." They're both laughing to imagine it.

Without they realize, they're arriving at her hotel building. They both stop in front of the lobby. "So. . ." Olivia start speaking.

"So, uhm, i see you again soon? Maybe if i have a plan to go to Chicago. I miss our friends in there." Jimin said.

Olivia smile and nods. "Okay, we miss you Jimin. . . Well, i miss you." She chuckle. Jimin just chuckle awkwardly and wave her goodbye. They're both separate ways.

He decided to take a cab to his apartment, he feel exhausted with today's work, his hangout with Olivia, and his thought of brokenhearted. He wants to lay in bed and clear his mind through ten minutes meditation like he used to do everytime he feel heavy.

When the elevator arrived at his floor, he walk while checking his phone if there's a message.

5 Missed Call from Chaeyoung Park

He shocked why suddenly Chaeyoung called him. Is this some kind of emergency? Is it something wrong happening to her or our friends? He decided to call her back. When he walk while waiting for Chaeyoung to pick up he notice a phone ring. He turn his eyes to the hallway, he already near his apartment door and notice someone in front of the door. A blonde girl to be precise, check her phone that is ring.

She turn to her side and spot Jimin walk to her while his phone on his ear. Jimin surprised it's Chaeyoung.

"Chae? What are you doing? Why you missed call me so many times? Is that something wrong?" He immediately approach her. Her face seems cold and angry, he doesn't know why.

"Can you open the door first, please?" She said with an angry tone. Jimin still oblivious what happened to her. "Uhm, okay? Wait." He unlock his door and let Chaeyoung go in first.

Once they're both inside his apartment, when he try to lock the door, Chaeyoung finally speak.

"Am i just an option to you?" Jimin surprised and turn around. "Uh, what? Why you think like that?"

"Oh i don't know maybe you just insist to me not long ago to court me and once i rejected you which i didn't! I just stay quite because i got confused with my own feelings, you just go jerking around to another girl the next day in a ramen bar we both used to eat together! You know what? I did want to get back together with you, i admit it. But, i realize once i saw you in that ramen bar with a whore, i once want you back but finally get disgusting—"

Jimin suddenly kiss her to make her shut up. He wrap his hand around her waist and deepen the kiss. Her eyes wide open for a moment from got startled by his move. But, the longer they kiss finally she gave in. She put her hands around his neck and move her lips too.

"She's not a whore." He said between their kiss, make Chaeyoung release their kiss and stare at him. "Oh so you're defending her while kissing me? That's it, you're a jerk." When she's about to release his hug, he spin her around again and smirk.

"I didn't know to make up your mind is making you jealous." He chuckle. He give her a peck again.

"Shut up." Chaeyoung just pout and kiss him again.

——————————-Sincerely, matcha💚