Chapter 253 - Stepping up

'Kwon Youngmi was stepping up her game.'

That was the only thing Lee Jinhee had in her mind after reading the contents of the message. The message clearly stated on how Jinhee was abandoned by her family and all of her embarrassing moments in middle school.

Pictures of her with Jaehyun were posted with statement on how she was stalking and threatening him. At parts, she was called golddigger and worse for 'going after Jaehyun in spite of engaged to Han Taehyun'.

Many students posted lies on how Jinhee bullied the fellow students and, mostly, her sister, Lee Jinkyung. There were also some mentions on how she was manipulating Han Taehee and isolating her from the rest of the classmates. Lies on how she mistreated Taehyun could be seen.

Fake posts on how she used her authority to do wrongs in the school could be seen, and there were some pictures take in the wrong angle that could possibly give clue to that. 

Hints of how Jinhee was involved with drugs and gangs because of her closeness to Hyunbin made her clench her hand into a tight fist, and she tightened her jaws.

Nonetheless, keeping on a composed expression, she looked towards Han Taehyun, and smiling at him, she said, "How weak do you think I am? I am Lee Jinhee, and such things do not bother me."

Extending his hand towards Jinhee, Han Taehyun rubbed his palm on top of her head and expressed, "Too bad, I wanted to comfort you after your mood is down, but it seems that you have gotten it all under control."

Jinhee scoffed and stated, "Why should I be affected by lies? But I thought rumours on me being a homos.e.x.u.a.l will be surfacing, judging by how close we can get at times."

"Aigoo! I was waiting for that as well. If that was there, we could have finally confirmed our relationship in front of the entire school and kiss freely," Taehyun voiced out.

"You creep," Jinhee spoke out, "Is that the only thing you think about all the time? Anyway, I will study for about half an hour before going to bed; I don't feel that sleepy."

"Didn't you mention on how this subjects were easy? Let's spend the time together doing better things than studying," Taehyun said as he leaned his face closer to Jinhee.

As Jinhee felt his warm breath upon her face, her heart fluttered as she stated, "There is nothing better we can do at this moment other than studying for me."

"You're really boring, Jinhee-ah. If you mention about studying again, I will be really, really, really, really burning your books," Taehyun said, "Now, let's have some snacks and enjoy the entire time. Too bad, it is too late for us to go out and enjoy a date."

Lee Jinhee sighed, and finding herself tempted to go along with Han Taehyun, she said, "Fine, fine, let's do that."

A certain sparkle appear in Han Taehyun's eyes, and finding him to look cute at this moment, Jinhee chuckled. Extending his hand towards her, he wrapped them around her and pulled her into a hug.

Feeling Han Taehyun's elation in the hug, she hugged him back.

°°°

"You're really a naughty kid, Han Taehyun. I am surprised that your mother did not ground after all that," Lee Jinhee voiced out.

Both of them were currently under the blanket completely, and a small light was inside the blanket, illuminating the area inside the blanket.

As both of them laid down under it, packets of snacks lied in front of them, and as Jinhee bit on to the chocolate bar, her eyes stared at Han Taehyun.

"Mom wanted to ground me, but Dad did not allow that. Then, Mom was angry with Dad, and he pretended to scold me in order to make up with her," Han Taehyun voiced out.

Hearing about Han Taehyun's childhood made Lee Jinhee feel really envious although she enjoyed it. Her childhood was filled with herself being compared to her perfect sister, Lee Jinkyung.

She was jealous of how Han Taehyun's childhood was filled with warmth, and it made her desire to be a part of that warmth. Nonetheless, that was merely a wishful thinking of hers.

Leaning closer to her, Han Taehyun placed a small kiss on her forehead, catching her off guard, and voiced out, "I know what you're thinking, and if you are uncomfortable with this, Jinhee-ah, I don't mind not continuing with this."

Smiling at Han Taehyun, she shook her head and said, "No, carry on. It is nice to listen to your childhood, and moreover, sooner or later, I have to move on from this as well. Maybe I did not have the best of the childhood, but this time now is enough to make up for it."

Han Taehyun chuckled and said, "Cheesy Jinhee is cute as well. I really want to kiss every single part of yours and not stop."

"What's with that all of a sudden?" Jinhee asked as she felt her cheeks heating up. The situation now was beginning to make her shy, and she began to cough in order to alleviate that.

"Enough about that. You don't need to make me feel better. Although I am slightly envious, it doesn't mean that I am that weak to feel sad over it. You got to stop treating me like a fragile doll at times," Jinhee said, "If I put my will into it, I can be really strong."

"It is a men's thing to want to protect the girl they love, and I just like keeping you safe from everything out there, I guess. It gives me a sense of accomplishment," Taehyun voiced out.

"What's with the way you worded that out? It sounds really weird, Taehyun, but if you keep on protecting me, I wouldn't grow up," Jinhee pointed out.

"It is a selfish desire of mine, but I don't want you to grow stronger, Jinhee-ah. I always want you to depend on me," Taehyun confessed.