The Prodigy Series

Aiyana had tried to ask me about what had happened when she saw me with puffy eyes. I hadn't told her anything, but the fact that Ji-Hun was avoiding me like the plague was enough for her to put one and two together.

When the end of school rolled around I walked home with Aiyana. She kept trying to probe me but I blew up on her and she stopped asking me questions. I made sure to apologize at her stop. She didn't specify whether she forgave me or not, but she did wish me luck on sorting things out with Ji-Hun before heading on her way down her street.

I walked the rest of the way home, getting into the house to find Candice jumping around to the song coming from the TV in the living room. She turned and judging from her expression I could tell she wanted to tease me. She's been doing that ever since she overheard me talking with Ji-Hun. Her expression changed when I walked up to the TV to switch it off, before turning to look at her with eyes that were red from crying.

"What happened?" she asked. I was a little surprised that she wasn't mad that I switched off the TV. I shrugged, heading over the long couch to lie down.

"Hey, Wyatt—"

"Mind your own business, Candice."

The words just popped out of my lips in an irritated tone. I looked over at Candice, watching as she raised her hands in surrender, heading to the opposite couch to retrieve her drawing pad before she walked away.

"What happened to him?" I heard Ava's voice say from a distance.

"He's bitter, don't bother trying to talk to him," I heard Candice say before the sound of footsteps leaving the living room for the hallway echoed through the room.

I soon heard footsteps approach me. I looked up, finding Ava hovering over me in short shorts and a chic blue blouse.

"I know you don't want to talk about it..." She trailed, reaching down to feel my forehead with the back of her hand. "But I'm always here to talk if you need to."

She took her hand away, turning before leaving the living room as well. I turned until I was burying my face in the sofa.

What's with everyone and wanting to talk? I asked myself, drifting into sleep. I got up later in the evening before I headed up to my room.

I walked into my bedroom, dropping my bag on the floor before making to change into something more comfortable. I didn't have a test tomorrow — thank goodness, but I still had to start studying for the chemistry test Miss Jones told me she'd give me at the end of tomorrow instead.

I pulled my phone out of my backpack as I searched for my chemistry notes. I hesitated a little before picking it up to check if Ji-Hun had called or texted me.

Nothing.

I sighed, putting my phone aside before I continued to search for my books. I decided to stay in my room to study instead of going downstairs. My sisters didn't bother me, but they'd probably told my parents that I wasn't in the best of moods. I didn't want to put either of them in a situation they didn't know how to handle. They were a bit off on dealing with emotions, and avoided it, or provided the most awkward comfort words, hugs, and pats. I didn't want to make any of them do what they were clearly uncomfortable with.

I tried to study for a while, but my mind kept going back to Ji-Hun and how upset he was.

"Do you even like me, Wyatt?"

The memory of Ji-Hun's words made me sign out loud as I covered my face with my hands. Of course, I liked him — I more than liked him. It hurt that he'd think I didn't, but I could see where he was coming from.

I bit my bottom lip, heading over to my bed to get my phone. I held it for a while, brushing the screen with the base of my thumb before unlocking the phone to check if Ji-Hun had called or sent a text.

Nothing.

I decided to call him myself but paused as I was about to dial his number. I thought about it for a while, deciding against it. I should give him time to calm down.

I headed back to my desk to attempt to study. I went through my notes as I waited for time to pass. I had given in and tried to call him via Google hangouts when I saw that he was online, but he rejected the call each time. I stopped trying and tried to distract myself with YouTube videos instead. Maybe I could check out one of the YouTubers Aiyana couldn't shut up about.

I was halfway through a Thomas Sanders video been a green tab popped up by the right side of my screen to show me that Ji-Hun wanted to start a video call. I hesitated a little, accepting the request without knowing what exactly to expect.

"Hey," Ji-Hun muttered in a low tone as he came into view. I looked on at him, noticing that the frown he'd had for the rest of the school day had disappeared, but he still has that distant unreadable expression. He also looked tired, like he'd been thinking for a while.

"Hi," I mumbled, running a hand through my brown hair as I looked away from him in guilt. I heard him sigh, but I didn't raise my eyes to meet his.

"I got angry, and I regret it, but I'm a human being so I guess it happens..." He trailed. "I'm here to listen to you vent properly, and maybe I can vent too. What you did hurt me, I can't lie about that."

I nodded, sitting up so that I could look straight at him. His dark eyes stared on at me as his lips remained in a thin line.

"You're still angry at me," I started, feeling my heart fall. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you."

"I'm not angry. I'm just not sure about how I should feel," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry it's that way, but I can't just absorb everything you said like it was nothing."

I nodded, resting my palms on my wooden study table. I'd put my books away when I'd started watching YouTube videos. "I was scared..." I trailed, looking down at my hands.

"You've told me that before, but what was it really about? What were you afraid of, really? Your parents don't care about grades—"

"Ji-Hun, you don't understand," I cut in, throwing my hands over my head as I let out a frustrated groan. "I'm not an artist like anyone in my family. Getting good grades — the best grades is all I can do."

Ji-Hun looked at me as a frown formed on his face. "That's not all you can do," he started, staring straight at me. "You can be great company when you want to be, you write really good essays, you're good at organizing and keeping records, and I've seen you draw Wyatt. It's not half bad."

I scoffed, remembering the time Ji-Hun had made me show him what I'd been doodling in my jotter.

"I can't draw, and the rest don't classify as talents," I countered, watching as Ji-Hun's lips curved into a small smile.

"A talent is something you can do with ease and do well. You do all those things with ease, and you do them very well. How are they not talents? You're underestimating yourself, and it's getting irritating," Ji-Hun said as I stared at him.

"And," he started, making me raise my eyes to meet his. "If getting the highest scores, if being regarded as an academic genius is what you consider as your talent, why did you have to cheat? Cheating doesn't translate to capability, and it discredits every other mark you got on your own."

"I know that." I shrugged. "I just wish I was a bit more confident, you know?"

"I'll tell you what," Ji-Hun said, cl.i.c.k.i.n.g his tongue. "Let's study together for the rest of the test. Maybe that way you'll see me as more of a teammate than your competition. What do you say?"

I looked down at my hands as a small smile formed on my lips. That was actually a good idea. "That sounds good."

"Good, we can make arrangements later," Ji-Hun said as I watched him clap his hands together in relief. I looked straight at him, a question I was embarrassed to ask lingering in my mind.

"Ji-Hun..." I started, deciding to ask my question anyway. He hummed, signifying that he was listening to me. I watched him, his gaze told me that his attention was on another tab.

"Are we still dating?" I finally asked, making him look up at me.

"Well of course," he said, corking his head to the side a little. "Or you don't want us to date anymore?"

"No, I do!" I said firmly, watching Ji-Hun's eyes widen at my action before he nodded.

"Sorry," I apologized for shouting before sitting up on my seat. "I just thought you wouldn't really want anything to do with me after all that..." I trailed, biting my bottom lip softly.

"You're human, human beings make mistakes," he said, brushing his bangs away from his face. "And I like you a lot — maybe too much. I doubt I'd be able to make a decision like that out of the blue."

I felt my cheeks warm up at his words. I nodded when I realized I hadn't answered him, as I tried my best to ingest his words.

"Ji-Hun," I stared. "I like you a whole lot too..." I trailed, watching as his face reddened. It was then I realized how infrequent I said those words or made effort to imply them.

"I'd never take advantage of your feelings, the same way I'd never want you to take advantage of mine." I finished, watching as he ran a hand through his hair, his skin failing woefully at covering up his embarrassment.

"As you can see, I'm flushed beyond comprehension. Let's end the call, I'll talk to you later," he mumbled under his breath as I let out my first sincere laugh today.

I bid him goodbye, before watching as the screen went blank and the tab closed.

I chuckled, leaning on the chair I was sitting on as I felt a weight get lifted off my shoulders. I'm happy we got to talk and reconcile.