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‘What did I even do?’
It felt strange. She was simply measuring his pulse as the teacher had instructed, yet she felt like a villain who had committed some terrible crime.
So, while she felt it was unfair...
On the other hand, she also wanted to torment him.
The thought that shaking up Jewel Parker—who always acted so calm and mature—until those haughty eyebrows drooped and tears welled up in those cold eyes would be thrilling. As thrilling as scoring the match point in a tournament final.
For a moment, she felt a strange sensation, as if her heart were being squeezed tight.
Hunter, frowning as he looked down, paused.
‘Why is her neck like that? Even Daisy’s thighs are thicker than that.’
It felt as if she would snap if he pushed her with even a bit of force.
Come to think of it, his image of Jiyu remained exactly as she had appeared at the Hamilton residence, wearing that pathetic white dress.
Skinny, frail, and faded.
Because he saw her face as often as his own family, he had never actually looked at her closely. But today, Jiyu felt unfamiliar, like a stranger. She was still skinny, frail, and faded. Yet, something was different from before. It was frustrating that he couldn't put his finger on exactly what had changed.
‘Regardless, Jewel Parker is still Jewel Parker.’
Hunter gave a light scoff and looked back and forth between the nape of her neck and the anatomical model. A red circular sticker marking the pulse point was attached to the model's neck. Roughly estimating the location by sight, he carefully reached out and pressed his finger firmly just above the collarbone.
After waiting for about three seconds, he felt nothing and pulled his finger away. He didn't think he had pressed very hard, but a red fingerprint remained. Startled, he shook his wrist to relax his hand. Then, concentrating all his attention on his fingertips, he felt her neck again.
Jiyu, whose shoulders were trembling slightly, let out a suppressed, sharp intake of breath. Then, she shrugged her shoulders up to her ears. His hand was pressed flat, caught between her shoulder and neck.
[W-what are you doing!]
A flustered Hunter jerked his hand away.
[That tickles too much, Hunter. I'll find it.]
Jiyu's cheeks, usually so white they looked pale, were flushed a soft red. She avoided his gaze and felt her own neck. Seeing that unfamiliar color on her face, the rims of Hunter's ears burned as well.
‘Damn it. What did I even do? Anyone watching would think we kissed.’
She pointed to the area halfway between her neck and collarbone with her index finger.
[Here.]
Hunter, who had been clenching his fists, steadied his breathing and reached out again. As he placed his finger on the pulse point, he swallowed hard. This time, the pulse was clearly felt.
Jiyu's shoulders flinched again and then trembled.
[Just bear with it. It'll be over in a minute.]
[...Okay.]
Hunter glared at the watch and counted the pulse. Strangely, his throat felt dry, and he kept swallowing. His palms grew sweaty, and the humid interior of the bag felt stifling. As soon as the minute passed, he quickly withdrew his hand and looked down at the printout.
[102. The pulse is stronger than before, but a bit irregular.]
[102? Did you measure that correctly?]
This time, Jiyu questioned him as if she couldn't believe it. Hunter lifted his chin and looked down at her with an intimidating expression.
[Want me to measure it again?]
[......]
She immediately cast her eyes down and shook her head.
Hunter felt his own neck and quickly found the pulse point. It wasn't ticklish at all. Then, mimicking what she had done, he tilted his head and leaned his upper body forward slightly.
[Here.]
Jiyu hesitantly raised her hand, moving agonizingly slowly. Three soft fingers accurately pinpointed the vigorously throbbing carotid artery.
[I'll count now,] she whispered in a small voice. Hunter nodded solemnly.
However, before five seconds had even passed, he gritted his teeth.
He was definitely fine a moment ago.
A ticklish sensation bloomed where Jiyu's fingertips touched, creeping slowly up his neck. Even so, he didn't want to shrug his shoulders ridiculously like she had. He had his pride.
Hunter tensed his entire body and held his breath. He endured it until his face turned red, then let out a sharp exhale. Goosebumps broke out on his arms. The hair on his neck stood on end, and his breathing became ragged.
[Hunter, it's too fast!]
[What?]
He snapped his head around, teeth clenched.
[Slower... ah, oh no! I missed it. I think I have to count from the beginning again.]
Hunter expanded his chest and let out a sigh, as if his patience had run dry. Sweat beaded on his forehead. A hot flush rose through his entire body, as if he had just finished a sprint.
[Sorry. I didn't do it on purpose, but your pulse is just so fast—]
[Damn it, Jewel Parker.]
At the harsh tone of his voice, Jiyu flinched and shut her mouth tight. Hunter lifted his head and glared at her with a fierce look. Seeing how red his face was, he seemed very angry. She instinctively shrank back.
[...I'm sorry. I'll count again.]
Muttering, she placed her fingers on his neck again, focusing all her attention on the sensation at her fingertips. Hunter's shoulders remained stiff and slightly raised. Round beads of sweat formed on his temples, and the center of his neck protruded, bobbing up and down.
Tense, Jiyu kept her eyes fixed on the watch, struggling not to miss the pulse that was racing like crazy. As soon as the minute was up, she pulled her hand away as if burned. In fact, Hunter's skin was hot, like someone with a flu. Swallowing hard, she spoke.
[The count is—]
[Shut up and just write it.]
Hunter's voice was slightly cracked.
[Okay.]
Jiyu bit her lip and buried her head in the printout.
<Carotid Pulse>
A. Pulse per minute: 128
B. Strength: Very strong
C. Regularity: Extremely irregular
✾ ✾ ✾
On a rainy Friday afternoon, Jiyu said goodbye to Chloe and left school.
[See you Monday, Chloe!]
[Have a great weekend, Olivia!]
When early spring arrived after the parched New York winter, it rained frequently. A light misty rain had been falling and stopping since morning, clinging blurrily to the classroom windows, and by afternoon, it had turned into a drizzle with a fairly dense fall.
Thinking she could just walk through this amount of rain, Jiyu started walking without an umbrella, but she stopped in the middle of the road before she had even gone a block. As she squinted up at the sky, the raindrops landing on her face felt quite cold.
Seeing the dark gray rain clouds hanging low enough to touch, it didn't look like it would stop soon; if anything, it would rain more. If she kept walking like this, she would surely be soaked to the bone before reaching home.
Wiping her face with the back of her hand, Jiyu pulled an umbrella from her backpack and quickly opened it. Ae-jeong had nagged her and stuffed it in there this morning, despite Jiyu saying she didn't want to carry it because it was heavy.
With the umbrella over her shoulder, she walked steadily along the sidewalk. Jiyu liked rainy days. She loved the sound of torrential rain that seemed ready to swallow the world whole while she sat by the window reading during hurricane season, and she loved seeing the light spring rain, like a sprinkler, washing away the remnants of winter from the streets.
The refreshing scent of trees, grass, and earth from Central Park drifted over the low stone walls and spread toward Fifth Avenue. Rain splashed indiscriminately beneath her school skirt, which had grown significantly shorter over the past year. Water droplets ran down her bare legs, soaking the white socks that rose above her ankles.
Shivering, Jiyu tucked the umbrella shaft between her neck and shoulder and buttoned her cardigan. As she started walking again, a tall boy wearing an Alton School uniform passed her with splashing footsteps. For a moment, a familiar scent, reminiscent of Central Park on a rainy day, lingered at the tip of her nose.
‘Hunter.’
She gripped the umbrella shaft again and tilted the umbrella back slightly to clear her view.
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