Hide And Seek

"Okay. Okay. I admit it. The party wasn't that bad."

Ruby beamed. "It's all about the dress. Who wouldn't have a good time in that dress?"

"True," I smiled.

I hugged Ruby, waiting until she was inside her room before unlocking my door.

I hung the dress on its hanger in the wardrobe and took a relaxing shower.

I slipped into my favourite pyjamas and grabbed the chip packet off the desk settling on the bed.

Beep. Beep.

I reached for my phone. Dad had sent me a text.

I'm free tonight. Call me back on the home phone if you can. Love you.

This was it. I knew I needed to have this conversation but it didn't make it any easier.

I wiped my hands with a tissue and turned the TV off.

Dad picked up after the fifth ring. "Hello?"

"Dad."

"How are you sweetie? I know I've been busy these past weeks but your Grandma has kept me updated thanks to your emails."

"I'm good, promise. But I have to ask you something."

"What is it honey?" he replied.

I closed my eyes.

"I found the box in your safe. The one with Mum's stuff in it," I stated, keeping my voice clear.

Silence on the other end of the phone.

I continued taking his silence as a sign of acknowledgement. "How could you? After all these years you've let me believe she had abandoned both of us when in fact you've had contact this whole time."

"You lied to me Dad all these years. You knew how much I missed her," I retorted.

"I'm not going to discuss this with you. You should never have gone into my safe in the first place but the reasons I have for what I did, you do not need to know. I am your father and I know what is best for you. I want everything in that box to be in the box when you return it to me on Tuesday.

"Tuesday?" I cut in.

"That was one of the good news I wanted to share with you tonight, business has gone well. I'm coming to Seoul for a few days. You will give me the box back."

"Just answer my question. Why did you hide it from me? We don't keep secrets."

"Phoebe don't make me repeat myself, I've had a long day I'm not in the mood to discuss this with you and I will not discuss this. Let this go," he demanded, his voice rising.

"I deserve to know what happened. You can't hide it from me," I yelled.

I tried to blink back the stinging in my eyes as I felt tears roll down my cheeks.

"I am your father and you will listen to me on this. Let this go. Let her go," he shouted back.

That wasn't how I wanted the conversation to go. I shouldn't have lost my cool.

I believed he did what he did to protect me but I wasn't a kid anymore.

I threw the tissue away. I got up feeling numb and walked into the bathroom. I washed my face annoyed at the sight of my bloodshot eyes.

Feeling hurt and lonely I went where I would feel better.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" I asked for the fourth time since I padded my way from my room to Ruby's.

"Nope. I prefer the company anyway," Ruby smiled passing the chocolates as we sat on the bed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, her eyes clouded with sympathy.

"Not really," I admitted. "Family stuff."

"I get it. But if you need to. I'm here," she promised. "Time for some Netflix." She started scrolling through her saved shows.

I realized how lucky I was, that we were friends. I had come to depend tremendously on the short redhead.

I snuggled under the blankets drawing the cover under my chin.

"Jungkook's not that bad," I blurted out.

Ruby swivelled around. "What was that?"

"We talked," I explained trying to hold back the smile I felt coming.

"Really? About what? When? Where?"

I laughed. "At the party. Just for a bit. He was nice," I admitted ignoring her knowing smile.

"I told you," she said winking then turned back to the TV.

We ate chocolates and binge-watched episodes until we eventually dozed off.

"Oh my god. Turn that off," I begged opening my eyes.

"Done," Ruby stated while yawning. "Crap. Class."

"Now?"

"We have a lecture today. It's supposed to last the whole day," she explained as she jumped and started rummaging through wardrobe.

I slowly sat up as the argument with Dad came back into my mind. I sighed and flopped back down on the bed shaking the cobwebs away as Ruby flitted from room to room getting ready.

"Okay let's go," she exclaimed.

"How did you get ready so quick," I asked, amazed at seeing her dressed even her hair braided.

"It's a skill," she laughed pulling me up from the bed.

I didn't even have the time to get changed out of my singlet and tracksuit bottoms. I ran my fingers through my messy hair.

There mustn't be any other morning classes.

I looked around the cafeteria enjoying the emptiness and silence.

"Okay, I've got half an hour for breakfast," Ruby stated dropping two plates of food in front of us.

"How hungry are you?" I asked, amused at the amount of food she had stacked onto the plates.

"We only get a short lunch break, the biscuits they pass out. I would rather die," she explained, grabbing a muffin from my plate.

We sat in silence eating a bit of everything as more and more people strolled in.

Ruby's phone started vibrating on the table.

"Belle just texted me. She's already there. Do you mind If I go now?" Ruby asked.

I grabbed the last two choc chip muffins placing them in her hands. "Have fun!"

She gave me a quick hug before bolting out of the cafeteria.

I leaned back in my chair picking at the leftover pancake.

"Phoebe? You're here early."

I looked up and into the faces of Nam Joon and Jungkook.

"Hey. I was keeping Ruby company," I replied sitting up grateful for the company. "The party was great, you have a beautiful house."

I smiled at Nam Joon as they sat down.

"Thanks. My aunt is in architecture, she designed the whole estate," he added.

Suddenly I was very aware of the fact that I was only dressed in my pyjamas. At least I was wearing a bra.

Normally I didn't care what guys thought of me but with Jungkook I couldn't help how he saw me. I wasn't short or tall. I was skinny but toned thanks to the swimming classes Dad made me take in high school. My best features were probably my slender legs and small waist. I didn't mind my hair but after a phase where I had cut my hair really short. It had been in grade 4, it was the last time I cut my hair except for the occasional trim. Grandma always told me my eyes were a beautiful ice blue and warm blue depending on my mood, I never saw it though.

I wasn't a model but I wasn't hideous.

Before Jungkook I had never been bothered where I fit on the spectrum.

"What are you two doing here so early?"

"Gym. We hit it three times a week," Nam Joon explained.

"There's a gym here?"

I hadn't seen a gym when I had memorised the school map. But that explained why they were both dressed in singlets and shorts. Nam Joon had a nice lean body but I preferred Jungkook's toned muscular build.

"It's in the sports centre," Jungkook said reaching past Nam Joon grabbing a piece of bacon.

That made sense.

"Jennie couldn't stop talking about you," Nam Joon revealed. "She rarely speaks well about people. Take it as a compliment."

"I will." Smiling at the memory of how we first met.

"You left quite a mark last night, even some of Jin's friends were asking about you," Nam Joon mentioned.

I noticed Jungkook stiffen and frown.

I smiled, feeling slightly self-satisfied at the thought of Jungkook even a bit jealous.

"It's all thanks to Ruby. She's a miracle worker," I confessed.

Nam Joon grinned as Jungkook scowled.

"You two are welcome to join us in the mornings if you want, it opens at 6am," Nam Joon offered.

I grimaced. "I'm not exactly an early riser."

"That's cute," Jungkook mumbled as he took a drink from his water bottle.

I ignored his comment.

"Offer's open," Nam Joon promised.

I laughed inwardly at the thought of me at the gym at any time. "Thanks."

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Mina weaving her way through the tables.

Mina was in most of my classes, she was one of the few also studying for a Journalism degree. I had been jealous of her raven black hair that she usually wore down ever since she had introduced herself to the class on day one. Mina was from Seoul and stood around 5'3 but she could hold her own when she needed to.

She was also one of the more popular girls in my year I always spotted her between classes in groups, always he centre of attention but she was nice. We got on fine in class but it didn't go further than that.

I knew she was punctual so if she was here for breakfast that meant class was soon and I must've spent more time zoned out than I had realized.

"Phoebe?" Nam Joon asked tapping my arm.

I focused back on Nam Joon and Jungkook, who were watching me, amused expressions on their faces.

"Sorry. But I've got to go actually. I'll see you both later," I babbled. I stood, watching their faces change to confusion. I gave them a quick smile before bolting out of the cafeteria back to the dorms.

I really didn't want to be late.

I had enough time for a quick shower. I chucked on my oversized striped t shirt that reached just above my knees. I didn't forget to slip on my black boy shorts. One wrong gust of wind and that's not a sight I wanted anyone to see.

I wasn't a prude just cautious.

I brushed my hair quickly deciding to leave my hair tumbling down my back in waves, then dabbed on some of my cherry lip balm.

I grabbed my book bag and phone off the desk. There was no news from Dad or Cody. I wasn't surprised from the lack of communication from both.

Cody had sent me an email on an old account the day after he left, his Dad had taken his phone away until he got settled back in London. I was somewhat grateful to his Dad for giving my conscience a break but it didn't make the problem go away. I still needed to tell him what happened.

"I'm jealous," Jimin w.h.i.n.ed for the third time since class finished.

"I promise next time, if there is a next time, you are my plus one," I promised as we walked towards the eating area.

I had been waiting to tell Jimin what had happened at the party. I trusted him completely and that was refreshing.

"I took your advice."

Jimin stopped walking. "For what?"

"Jungkook."

He walked into the elevator pressing the ground floor button. "You guys are friends now?"

I smirked. "Friendly."

"I need more details than that," Jimin demanded as the elevator door opened.

"We talked. He was nice actually," I admitted ignoring the growing smile on his face.

"By yourselves?"

"Yes." I passed the second sandwich out of the fridge to Jimin.

"Did anything happen Phoebe?" he taunted with a knowing smirk.

"No, I'm an a.d.u.l.t," I insisted but I knew by the look on his face that he was thinking about the same thing I was.

He pretended to choke. "Like last time?" he replied looking at me from the corner of his eye.

I knew that was coming.

"Last time was a mistake," I stated trying to sound firm but failingly.

Jimin didn't say anything just raised his eyebrows.

"Hey, have you heard anything about Mina?" I asked casually. There was something about her that I just couldn't quite place my finger on.

"Nothing worth any gossip," he relayed. "Unfortunately."

I laughed at the disappointment clouding his face.

"Your turn, what happened on your weekend, any drama or revenge?" I teased.

Jimin had a flair for the dramatics.