Chapter 7: Mr. Nice Guy

Kim Jong Kook-

"How could you do that?" Kwang Soo exclaimed.

I entered the cafeteria and looked around for my friends. "He was asking for it. I always knew that Jae Suk would turn out to be a traitor."

"Yah...." Kwang Soo stopped walking and I turned around to face him.

"What?" I asked.

"Do you have so many problems in your life that you just have to take out all your anger on everyone?" Kwang Soo questioned. "Or do you just not care about other people's feelings?"

"Both." I answered and started to walk past him.

"It's not doing you any good." Kwang Soo said. "Not helping anyone else."

"So what?" I asked. "What are you trying to tell me?"

"Just saying.. you should show people your good side for once. Its been a while since I've seen it." Kwang Soo said quietly.

"Why should I? I've already ruined everyone's lives."I told him.

"You've heard the this saying before: treat people the way you want to be treated." Kwang Soo said."Think about what you've been doing to other people, and imagine it happening to yourself."

I stared at Kwang Soo then left the gymnasium. Think about what you've been doing to other people, and imagine it happening to yourself. I thought about having eggs and water balloons thrown at me. I imagined having the whole school turned against me because someone told them too.I imagined being bullied every single day of my life until I was a senior and people forgot about me. I sat down on the very last row and sighed. Have I really been a horrible person?
Treat people the way you want to be treated...

"Okay, from now on I'm going to be nice to everybody." I whispered to my self then said, "I'll show everybody that I can be good too!!"

-Song Ji Hyo-

"I'll show everybody that I can be good too!" Someone inside the auditorium shouted. I could recognize that voice from anywhere. I sunk low into my chair so Jong Kook wouldn't see me. I hid away here so nobody would bother me. Now I'm about to be discovered by my least favorite person.
What did he mean by being good? Jong Kook being nice? Please.

I'm staying hidden so I could think about my outside school problems. Right now we're staying at my mom's friends house, but when her husband comes back from his vacation, we have to leave.The reason is because he's a heavy drinker, and my mom is afraid he'll try to do something.
After that, we'd have no where to go. Actually there's still Gary's offer, but that would be a little awkward.

"Yah, Song Ji Hyo. I see you." Jong Kook said loudly.

Aish. I slowly sat up and turned sprung to see Jong Kook a few aisles behind me.

"Did you hear what I said?" He asked.

I nodded.

"So why are you hiding from everyone?" Jong Kook asked.

"So I could be left alone." I answered. "It would a lot if you left and not tell anyone where I am."

"Are you sure? Gary's been looking for you everywhere." He told me. "He keeps claiming that I did something to you."

Gary's looking for me?

"And, I was wondering.... since you have no where to live maybe you can come stay at my house. For as long as you want. I'm not asking, only if you, only if you... want. Jong Kook said awkwardly.

I stared at Jong Kook blankly. Did he just ask me to live with him?

"Why... why are you being so nice to me of a sudden?" I asked.

"It's not me that wants you to stay over." Jong Kook said quickly. "My mom... insists."

"Why? So you can torment me some more? You think I'd actually stay at your house after everything you've done to me? Sorry, but Gary already offered." I stormed out the auditorium before he could say anything back. Right when I came out of the auditorium, I bumped into Gary.

"Ji Hyo!" He hugged me then quickly let go looking embarrassed. "Sorry, but... where have you been? And why was he in there with you?"

I turned around and saw Jong Kook who just came out of the auditorium. Then I faced Gary.

"Oppa...I think I'll look up on that offer of yours. I'll be there on Thursday." I glanced at Jong Kook who looked annoyed.

Gary smiled. "Really? Great! My mom can't wait to meet you Ji Hyo."

"I can't wait to meet her too. See you on Thursday then?"

Gary nodded. "Definitely. Should we get to class?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yep."

Gary hesitant held my hand and we both walked to class together.
****

"Oh you're here! My husband will be here in a week so you can stay here in the mean time. I'll make us all some ramen." My moms friend, Jung Min Ah, went into the kitchen.

My mom followed. "This is truly... thank you so much Min Ah."

"That's what friends are for! Right Ji Hyo?" Min Ah asked.

I smiled. "Yes." When she looked away I sighed. What am I supposed to do here?

***
"I was actually missing school." I told Lizzy as we walked to history together.

"That sucks. I would invite you over to my place, but my mom doesn't like strangers."Lizzy sighed. "Shes very overprotective."

"Song Ji Hyo! Lizzy!" Someone called.

Confused, we both turned around to see Ji Suk Jin running towards us happily.

"Thank you, thank you so much for everything." Suk Jin turned to me with a huge smile. "You're about to make a huge change in this school."

"Thanks." I said with a smile.

Ji suk Jin nodded and walked away.

Lizzy and I looked at each other and smiled.

-Kim Jong Kook-

"Come in please."

I entered the counsellors office and sat down in front of Cha In Pyo's desk. He looked confused when he saw me.

"Jong Kook, what's going on?" In Pyo questioned. "You rarely come in here. Actually more people come in here to complain about you."

"That's what I want to talk about." I sighed. "How can I be a better person?"

In Pyo raised an eyebrow. "A better person? What's wrong with the way you are now?"

"I just... I feel like I've been to rude to people ever since... well forever. I want to change the way people look at me." I said.

In Pyo studied me. "Have you ever heard the proverb, Beans come out from where beans are planted, and red beans come out from where red beans are planted?"

I shook my head.

He sighed, sounding exasperated. "It basically means change yourself the way you want other people to see you as. A messy house might show that you're a messy owner, or a kind group of friends might indicate that you are also kind. Understood?"

"So basically... what you're telling me is that if I start acting nice to people then they will see me as a nice person?" I guessed.

In Pyo clapped. "Excellent. Thank god someone finally understood what I was trying to say."

I stood up with a smile. "Thank you Counsellor. By the way, I love your hairstyle. Is it new?"

"My hair is like this everyday." In Pyo said, touching his hair.

"Oh. Well it looks good. I have some people that I have to go apologize too." I waved and ran out of the counsellors office. I spotted Ji Suk Jin at his locker and walked towards him.

He looked startled when he saw me and quickly closed his locker. "What do you want? You have to leave me alone.. you remember what Ji Hyo said."

"Yeah, I remember. I just wanted to apologize for being such a jerk to you. I hope we can still be friends." I said.

"Is this a prank?" Suk Jin glanced behind me, probably expecting somebody to start throwing eggs at him.

I shook my head. "I really want to be friends with you Hyung."

Suk Jin's eyes widened. "Did you just call me.."

I nodded with a smile. "So what do you say?" I held out my hand for him.

"Forgiven." Suk Jin smiled and shook my hand.

-Song Ji Hyo-

That night, I was sitting in Jung Min Ah's guest room with my mom. I had a ton of homework that needed to be turned in before the break. I drank some water and started to solve some equations.

"So, what happens when her husband comes back?" I asked.

"That won't happen for a while now." My mom assured. "Plus, we could always go to your friends house, right? She's really nice to let us stay over at her home."

I winced. Maybe I didn't tell my mom that Gary was actually a boy. If my mom knew Gary was a boy then she wouldn't have let us got here even if we were homeless.My mom has a thing about me hanging around with boys. She says I'm too young and not mature enough.

I smiled and nodded, "Yes.. she's really nice."

"YAH!"

I looked at my mom. "Who is that?"

"Yah, who do you think you are bringing strangers into my house!?!?!" A male voice shouted and the front door slammed shut.

My mom tenses beside me and whispered, "Her husband is here. Just focus on your homework." I nodded, confused, and continued my homework. I thought he wasn't supposed to be back for another week!! Why is he here right now?!

"Honey, they're just friends. They have no where to go. What are you doing here so early? What about your cruise?"

"They wouldn't let me on board." The man cried. "Get those people out of my house! NOW!!"

"Honey..."

"ARE YOU NOT LISTENING TO ME? I'll get them out my self if you don't!" The man shouted.

"Please, I told them they could stay here for the time being. Lets get to bed, okay?" Jung Min Ah said quietly. "You're drunk right now... Sung Hoon!"

The man stumbled into the dining room and I looked up. "I AM.... JUNG..MIN...AH!"

Min Ah sighed. "no I am Jung Min Ah."

Sung Hoons eyes widened and he bursted out laughing. "That's right. I AM.. JUNG SUNG HOON!"

My mom smiled, "Hello. I am Song Ji Hyo mother. This is my daughter."

Sung Hoon grinned when he saw me and walked In my direction. Before he could do anything, I stood up and kicked him away.

My mom stood up in shock. "Ji Hyo!"

Sung Hoon stood up and glared at me. "Get out of my house! Now!!"

I grabbed my books and binders and stuffed my clothes in my suitcase. I handed my mom hers and stomped out of the house.

"Sorry, I'm really sorry." I heard my mom apologizing. "Min Ah, thank you so much for everything."

"GET OUT!" Sung Hoon yelled and there was the sound of glass shattering.

"OPPA!" Min Ah cried.

My mom ran out of the house and Min Ah stood by the door.

"But, where are you going to go now?" Min Ah asked.

"Ji Hyo's friend offered. We'll be going there. Thank you once again."

Min Ah waved. "Sorry about my husband. Hes not usually like this. Bye!"

Once the door closed, my mom sighed. "Where does your friend live?"

"Um, not far from here. He lives two streets down." I answered.

"He?" My mom stared at me. "You didn't tell me your friend was a boy."

"It's not like that mom. We're just really close. He's also been through the same things I've been at school. And Gary's mom is excited to meet us." I explained and started to walk down the street.

My mom followed me after a few seconds muttering, "What kind of mother names her own son Gary..."

Gary opened the door on the third ring. His hair was neatly combed and he was wearing a black buttoned up shirt with matching jeans. "Ji Hyo! oh hello!" He bowed to my mom who had a disgusted look on her face.

"Here, let me take that for you." He was about to take my moms suitcase when she pulled it away from him.

"No, I can do it myself." My mom said.

"Um.. okay. You can put it in my room. It's at the end of this hallway." Gary said.

As soon as my mom closed the door to Gary's room she whispered, "Ji Hyo. I don't like this boy..."

"Why?" I set my suitcase down beside Gary's blue bed. I looked around and saw pictures of cars, SNSD and music notes posted all around the walls.

"He looks like some one who hurts people just for the fun of it." She answered.

"He isn't like that. Although there is one person..." I stopped talking. My mom doesn't need to know about Kim Jong Kook yet. "Come on, let's go."

We walked out of Gary's mom and I was instantly hugged by his mom. She looked at me with a bright smile on her face, "Omo. You're just as beautiful as Gary described. So this is your girlfriend? Song Ji Hyo?"

My moms eyes widened, "Girlfriend?"

Gary looked embarrassed. "Mom, she's just a friend that's... a girl. But we're not dating." He said quickly after seeing my moms expression.

My mom glared at Gary then looked at his mom with a smile. "Thank you so much for letting my daughter stay at your house. But I didn't know that you had a son." She glanced at me and I quickly examined a flower pot that was nearby.

Gary's mom smiled and stared at him. "Isn't he the most handsome thing you've ever seen?"

My mom scowled at Gary. "I guess." Then she whispered quietly so only I was able to hear, "But he looks like a monkey."

"Well, I'll make dinner so make yourself at home. Ji Hyo's mom, do you want to help?"

My mom hesitated before following Gary's mom into the kitchen.

"Ji Hyo."

I turned around and saw Gary gesturing for me to go into a room with him. I checked to make sure my mom wasn't watching then I quickly followed him inside the room.

Gary closed the door. "I don't think your mom likes me."

I smiled. "You just have to give her some time."

My mom always thinks about how horrible the person she meets can be. For example; when my mom first met Joongki she thought he was a playboy and always went to clubs. Now that she got to know him they're practically best friends.

"You said you'd come on Thursday. What happened?" Gary asked.

I told him what happened at Jung Min Ah's house. "So that's why we're here a day early."

"That guy was crazy. I'm actually glad you came earlier Ji Hyo. Well you're fine here. You and your mom can stay as long as you want. And you don't have to worry about my dad coming home drunk..." Gary said.

"Why?" I asked. "Is he on a cruise or something?"

"He's.... he's dead." Gary answered.

"Oh...um...I'm sorry. Mine is gone too. He passed away before I was born." I said.

Gary and I both locked eyes. Gary opened his mouth like he was about to say something, but at that moment the room door flew open.

My mom ran in and grabbed my hand. "What do you think you're doing to my daughter!?"

"MOM!" I said in shock.

"I was just talking to her!" Gary told my mom with a scared expression on his face.

My mom took me out of the room, "Ji Hyo, you know you're too young for boys."

"I'm seventeen years old. I don't understand why you won't let me date." I said and sat down on a couch in the living room.

"I don't want you to get your heart broken at such a young age." My mom sat down beside me. "Trust me, I've experienced it before."

Gary's mom was watching us. "I'm sorry for any troubles my son caused..."

Gary helped set up the table and glanced at me when he said, "I would never break Ji Hyo's heart....if we ever did date."

I blushed and looked away from Gary.

"Okay, dinners ready!" Gary's mom announced.

After our dinner, we said our goodnights and went to Our rooms. Gary slept in the guest room. My mom slept on Gary's bed and I was on the floor.

I sighed and closed my eyes, smiling. Today was quite an eventful day.

Authors note:
Was that a long chapter or what? I worked very hard on this chapter so it would mean a lot if you commented or voted, if you thought it was good.

P.S- sorry if you had any confusion while reading this chapter!!