Chapter 17
Seoul, South Korea
~Phoebe~
He wasn't leaving. No, instead he followed me.
Why? I just wanted to do my studies in peace, but no, fate is like 'Here's a dreamy boy that wants to own you, not love you.'
I needed to focus, there was a gaming competition coming up at the end of this year, and I want to learn as much as I can and win the internship for the new gaming company, Figment Imagines Design and Technology.
They did MMORPGs. They were looking for new talent.
I was determined to land that internship, win the prize money, pay for a new laptop with better RAM and graphics card. My computer was old an outdated. But it did the job, for now.
"You being around me is attracting way too much attention. Can you just text me or something?" I pleaded.
"No, you'll text me later anyways. And I'll go wherever you go until your next class at 15:00, which is when I have mine. After class I'll pick you up at the front of school and we'll go get food." He told me. Like we had plans.
"I have plans." I lied.
"No, you don't. Cherry is going to meet us after we grab a bite. Suho digs her." He just says things in a way that's so matter-of-fact, it's like he's not only convinced, but he's convincing me too. The way he says what we're going to do is like it was something we planned together.
"No way. She didn't tell me anything." I turned to look at him.
"She hasn't been asked by Suho yet. But I doubt she'll say no. Suho is no stranger to women." He acts it like its normal and acceptable to date a lot of people.
"If he plays games with her, you both will find out what the wrath of a Puerto Rican woman looks like." I threatened him.
"I'd be interested in seeing that regardless." He was smirking again.
Son of a bitch.
"You're seriously incorrigible, does nothing I say bother you?" I asked. This guy is nuts, I've been nothing but snippy and rude and he is obsessed.
"Sure, it does, but nothing you say can change that it's you I've set my target on, and I've never once given up on anything I've wanted in my life. And I'm not about to start now." He was so sure of himself.
"I keep trying to tell you, I'm school focused. If I'm to be taken seriously, I need to know everything I can about this because I can't just be known as a pretty face, I don't want to be hired by a company because I'm a girl and it's nice to look at girls and be treated like a secretary and not a game designer." I finally explain, leaving out the part that I don't trust men, most are liars, cheater, and abusers. I'd rather have cats.
"I won't stop you from your studies, I'll study with you. You did suggest I minor in tech. Why not help me?" He was so smooth was his manipulation, it was almost unfair.
How could one person have such a way with words sometimes.
My heartbeat had picked up.
No.
I picked up my tray. Not hungry anymore and walk away from him. Taking my tray to the trash.
"I don't have the time to tutor or teach anyone; I need to catch up on the curriculum. I'd like to even get ahead if I can." I argued.
"You can try and convince me all you want, but Yeobo, you are mine. There's no escaping me. I will find you anywhere you go." His words made me shiver. Did I have a stalker?
"Are you stalking me?" I asked.
"Yes." He didn't even deny it.
"You know that's a crime, right?" I reminded him.
"Not for me, I have a pretty good lawyer and my family has a few officials in our pockets. I have means for just about anything. I could buy you anything you wanted, all you have to do is ask." He leaned back against the wall outside.
"I'm not that kind of person. Money is cool and all, but it makes people careless and less empathetic. I just want to be comfortable. I want peace, and freedom. You just can't understand why." I looked away, blinking fast so my tears wouldn't fall.
"Then help me understand." He said it like it's so easy. When it's not, it's hard and scary and humiliating. I don't have to wear makeup to cover bruises, or gauze and medical tape to keep from bleeding, and wearing black so the blood doesn't stain. Being told if I don't be act or do something a certain way, he'd hit me. I don't want to be told what to do.
"It doesn't matter." I gave him my back to stare at walked away from him, hoping he'd get the message.
But of course he didn't care, or he just ignored it. I could a feel a tear getting ready to fall and I didn't want him to see it.
I hugged my tablet and book and just kept walking.
His footsteps were right behind me and every time we passed someone, they would stare.
"So, you really are serious about games and tech? It's not just for the boys?" He asked me in disbelief.
"Yes. Why are you so judgmental? It's almost painful."
"I have my reasons to doubt everyone. Have you designed a game before?" He asked.
"Yes actually. I have." I was proud. I didn't just design a game; I won a contest.
"I'd love to play it sometime." He smiled.
"Why? You don't even think I'm serious about my interest in gaming." I didn't believe him. Arriving at the door to my classroom.
"I never say things I don't mean. My time is too valuable to waist my breath on bullshit." He frowned and looked annoyed I'd ask something like that.
"You think so highly of yourself." I scoffed internally.
"Yes, I am confident, I'm talented and I work hard. I've earned every bit of my confidence." His tone was flat and his expression unreadable.
"Okay." I didn't feel like arguing.
Silence settled between us, not the uncomfortable kind, but the one with unspoke words hanging in the air.
"This is my class." I told him breaking the quiet.
"I know." What?
"How?" I looked at him narrowing my eyes questionably.
"Because I know your schedule." He was so calm and nonchalant about such a weird and creepy thing.
"That's kind… Stalkerish." I mention under my breath.
"You're my girlfriend, I should know your schedule." He smirked.
"I'm not your girlfriend. Why are you so insistent?" I frowned.
"You are, you just haven't accepted it yet. I told my mom about you." His smirk turned into a smile "She was pretty thrilled."
"You make me want to reject you just to spite you." I told him.
"Yeah, but I'll break that shield you're holding on too. I can wait patiently; I will do whatever it takes. Remove every obstacle to have you." The desperation in his voice sent shivers down my spine. Warming something buried deep in my heart.
I was utterly speechless.
"You can't' be serious…" I just can't believe it.
"Dead serious." He was firm and deliberate with his words and tone. He controlled the very air around him when he spoke just now.
"Kim Taeyung, dating takes two consenting people. I am focused on my studies, I have goals, and a man is not a part of it. For reasons I don't want to explain, I just…" I paused and took a deep breath "I just can't. Not right now at least." I confessed, it was more sharing than I wanted too.
He frowned. I felt the temperature drop, his eyes darkened, and right now, he scared the shit out of me.
"Who hurt you, is it an ex-boyfriend?
"Who hurt you, is it an ex ex-boyfriend? Or what?" He was practically growling like an animal as he spoke.
He screamed danger, every instinct in my body was telling me to run. But I didn't move.
"I've never had a boyfriend, Kim Taeyung, don't assume things about me. You don't know everything." I frowned at him.
"I intend to find out, and we can face whatever demons you have together. I'm never letting you go, Phoebe Park, never." He had this finality in his voice that made the confession sound threatening. He sounded absolute.
"Kim Taeyung. You're unhinged, you know that?" I crossed my arms and stared into his eyes.
"My abeoji says the same thing every time he's displeased with me." He surprised me with how open he was about that.
And boy, did I understand… Insufferable hardly covers the names my abeoji has called me over the years.
"That's crappy." I answered uncomfortably.
"Yeah, I don't care, anymore. He's an idiot anyways." He leaned back against the wall next me placing one leg on the wall and putting his hands in his pockets.
"Still sucks." I reaffirmed.
"You're right." He shrugged it off.
"Answer me something." He looked up at the ceiling, lost in space.
"Maybe."
"What's your favorite tv show and movie?" He sounded a bit more relaxed, and a little less crazy.
"Tokyo Ghoul is my favorite show, and probably The Lord of the Rings trilogy." I answered easily.
"I like Squid Games and The Wailing." He answered.
"Squid Games is good. I've never seen The Wailing." I mentioned at the end.
"It's a horror film. You might like it, if you like horror." I told me.
"I like horror, it's my favorite genre next to anime."
"You like anime?" He asked looking over at me now.
"Yes, it's what originally inspired me to be a graphic designer. Final Fantasy." I loved that game. Mouse had a PS1 we played on when I slept over.
"That's an oldie, wow." He answered.
"Can't beat the classics."