The bus ride to the foothills wasn't going to be that bad because I was not sitting with Yeonjun. I had Beomgyu to keep me company and one thing Beomgyu does best is distract me from Yeonjun.
It is not like Yeonjun did not make any attempts to talk to me. I saw him coming towards me multiple times but every time the opportunity was in my favor. I was able to slip away every time and I was thankful.
I took a place somewhere at the back and Yeonjun was seated net to Beomgyu, not by his choice it seems, given how irritated he looked.
Beomgyu had forced Yeonjun to wear the matching t-shirt over his clothes and it resulted in his hair mused but he still made it look like that was his intention all along.
Beomgyu saw me staring and waved me over.
"Yuri, join us. Come to the front" he was too excited for this to be just a hike.
"No, it's alright. I like this seat" I lie. He looks questioningly but does not take the conversation further.
I see Yeonjun staring at me but I place my bag on the empty net to me and look away. The bus starts and I focus on the scenery as we pass by the beach.
I had to justify my hurt in my head before I could talk to him normally and reason with him regarding Soobin.
"Is it really true that Jia Chen came to see Soobin last night?" I heard a girl's voice from behind my seat. Her voice was nasally and high pitched.
"Shh, don't be so loud. Someone might hear you" another voice whispered. Her voice soft but agitated.
The mention of Jia Chen was enough to peak my interest and I tried to act as nonchalant as I could while trying to listen in on their conversation. I know eavesdropping is wrong but what if it has something to do with Soobin? Maybe this information would help me understand him better.
I put on my earphones but I had no music playing. I even kept my gaze on the window so that it was not that obvious.
Honestly, I just had a lot of doubts and questions and Soobin was quick to dismiss the matter so these unknown voices were my best shot.
"Yes. I saw her and Soobin at the beach last night from my balcony. I never thought I would see Jia Chen again" the second person said.
"She is the daughter of the Chinese Politician, right?" the nasally voice encountered.
"Yes. She is the youngest daughter of the Chen family. She has three older brothers"
"Do you know them well?" another question.
"Not really, although all four siblings went to Royals High. Even though they were not Royals, everyone treated them as such. Jia was a senior when I was a second year of highschool" the soft voice spoke.
"I heard there was a big scandal about her two years ago but everything was kept under wraps. Suddenly she left and last I heard, she was in New York and her family wanted nothing to do with her"
"Yes. She was a senior that time. At the end of the school year, even before sitting for the final term, she left school abruptly. There were a lot of rumor back then" till now the conversation was not shedding a good light on this Jia girl.
"And I am not sure the situation with her family has changed. If that were the case I am sure there must have been some news about her with her family. For the past two years it is as if she did not exist" the soft voice continued.
"Then what is she doing here? And why did she want to meet Soobin? Did they know each other?" the nasally voice asked the question that was on the tip of my tongue.
"Don't say this to anyone okay. I am not even sure if this is the correct story but this is what I heard from my sister who was in the same class as Jia. You have to promise me that you're not going to say any of it to anyone. If any of the Royals get to know you heard it from me, it might as well be the end of my time here in Royals High" the soft voice ask and even though I am not a part of their conversation, I find myself nodding silently as if agreeing to it.
I do not condone gossip, especially with whatever has happened with me from the start of joining Royals High but I something about that woman last night didn't sit right with me. And Soobin looked too distressed to just have some 'history' with her.
And it wasn't like I would use whatever information I hear against anyone. It was just for my understanding. It was just that I am more prepared if I encounter her again. There was nothing wrong with that.
Right?
At least that is what I told myself to stop myself from actually playing a song on my phone so that I can zone their conversation out.
"I promise I won't tell a soul. Now tell me what happened? I want all the gossip" the nasally voice spoke, oddly more excited than she should be for just mere gossip that too what transpired two years ago. Wasn't gossip supposed to die down fast?
I guess not when you're a Royals.
"So, this is what 'allegedly' happened two years ago" she emphasized on allegedly before continuing.
"My sister and Jia were in the same class and Soobin and I were sophomores. Apparently Jia's family was very close tot he Choi family and Soobin and Jia practically grew up together. Of course as together as possible when she was in China and he was in Korea. You get what I am saying right?"
"They knew each other from a very early age and met through the common parties and formed a friendship. After middle school her parents sent her to Korea to study in Royals High. Jia was the most popular student in the school, given her good looks and good grades, and of course her family's connection"
"And of course back then, none of the members from the founder's family were attending the school so she was considered an Honorary Royals, given her connection with the Choi Family. Soon two years into high school enters Choi Soobin. The actual Royal"
"What happened then? Did they have a fight or something? I mean, I am sure no Royal would like their place to be taken by someone who was not their family" the nasally voice sounded too interested in this topic.
"So here, the story diverts a little. There is no confirmation which one is true. Some say that Jia was not happy with the diverted attention. A year after Soobin, the rest of the Royals joined as well and you know how the school is with them. So Jia didn't like that she was not the center of attention anymore. So she devised a plan to get it back."
"And the other rumor was that Soobin developed feelings for her. After knowing for years, and then spending almost every day with her, he fell in love with her. Some even say that Jia was his first love. But she did not feel the same. She only saw him as friend and that hurt Soobin and he was determined to make her his"
"Oh my god! really? Is that the woman who broke his heart?" the nasally voice piques up.
"I do not know. As I said, which story is the truth, I am not sure. This is what I have gathered from my sister. So continuing, when she was in the final year, she 'allegedly' got pregnant. And all the fingers pointed at Soobin to be the father. Mind you he was only sixteen at that time and she was already eighteen"
There is another gasp from the person who is listening to this conversation and I feel extremely uncomfortable. Not just because of whatever they are saying but how they are saying it. It is all just gossip to them, to pass the time on the way in a journey but do they not care that they are talking about an actual person?
This is not some story of a drama or a novel. This is the life of an actual person. Even if it is all in the past, do they have no regards for him?
I feel an uncomfortable feeling creep around in my stomach and I do not like how I am a part of this conversation even though they don't know it.
"If the news had broken out back then, it would have caused a huge scandal. Imagine! statutory rape, that to of the heir of the Choi Group!" she huffs as if she cannot believe it.
"So Soobin is a father?-"
"No no no. Do not say that. Let me complete" the voice interjects.
"After the speculations and even paternity tests, it was found that she was pregnant but the father was not Soobin. After that, Jia was taken out of school and nobody saw or heard from her since. At least not till last night"
"Oh my god! I can't believe this. How was this not such a big deal? How did they manage to keep it under wraps?"
"Oh well, it would have been the biggest scandal that year but soon after Jia was gone, everyone became aware of the actual first born of the Choi group - Choi Yeonjun"
"I thought I heard my name" I whip to see Yeonjun standing net to my seat and I hear gasps from behind me.
"Yeonjun sorry, we didn't-"
"I don't want to hear your meaningless apologies. And you were not talking about me. You were talking about someone else. Someone who holds the power to not only throw you out of this school but also ensure that you don't get admissions anywhere else. Not to mention the power is not just limited to you two but also your families" Yeonjun looks match his words.
I don't think I have ever seen him this frightening. And trust me, there has been time when he has scared me like no other.
"We are sorry, we didn't mean to-"
"As I mentioned, I don't want you sorrys. I don't even want to talk to you at all. From next time don't be gossip mongers. Remember the people you are talking about are real, even if the stories you spread are not" Yeonjun picks up my bag and sits beside me in a huff.
I just stare at him with a unwanted smile on my face.
"What are you smiling about?" he asks, still annoyed at the people in the back.
"Do you realize you just defended Soobin?" I ask and his frown deepens.
A/N: this is a long chapter! And a very early update! Let me know what you think of this chapter. Hope this gives you a little more insight on the Royals.
And how is everyone's weekend?