Awkward Apologies (Jared)

[Henry Ballo]

Henry didn’t like making apologies. He hadn’t always been like that. A combination of too many forced apologies and the development of a defensive pride had led to it, or so he thought. He’d never gone to a shrink to ask. He just prided himself on knowing that, if there really was an apology needed, he would do it.

And that was the case now. Although this time…it might have taken a little more time than he really should have. He’d known that he should apologize to the boy who’d thought of him as God that day in the tree. After all, the boy had gotten him a ladder and helped him down, and had only gotten embarrassment in return. And yes, he should have known better. Really should have known better, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t feel ashamed about the whole situation.

It hadn’t only taken a while to get to this because of his reluctance. He hadn’t even known the other boy’s name. He’d had to go hunting in the school’s yearbook and had maybe done some judicial tapping into school system (Henry was no hacker, but there were only so many passwords a person could have, and he was nothing if not patient) in order to find the boy’s name, room number, and then some surveillance to figure out his general habits.

Put like that, it sounded awfully stalker-ish. He tried not to think about it, nor about the fact that it had taken much longer than it really should have because he kept hesitating and dawdling through the tasks. But he could wait no longer, and so eventually he’d prepped a dish—not really a fancy one, but one that he could make with the limited tools available to him, and only on the theory that the way to any teenager’s heart was with warm and home-made food—and had come to Jared’s door with the dish in hand. It definitely didn’t look that impressive—ground beef over corn meal—but he was trying. Try to understand that, Jared. He may be prickly and grumpy, but he’s making an effort.

Once he was relatively sure he was prepped and ready to go, he inhaled, then shrugged and knocked on the boy’s door. Please, please let this work. Let it be brief and painless and let me never have to speak to him again…

[Jared Park]

Jared doesn’t really stay much in his dorm room now. Well, not since that whole Dani fiasco. It’s not safe he says. Sure he can theoretically stay in Robbie’s room, since they’re supposedly best friends and all, but there’s just something between the blonde weather manipulator and the prankster witch that he just can’t place. (He thinks they’re together but it rather reluctant to admit it – Robbie sleeping with Danicca not only gives him shivers, it’s a betrayal. He was his best friend and he just can’t go whore himself to Jared’s archnemesis, right?).

Nope. Lately he’s been bunking in Aaron’s room. Sure it’s against the rules(ish), but since he’s a guy and no one’s called them about it yet, he figures it’d work. And despite the fact that the boy is roomed with two other people who piss him off so much (must the world be that unfair? That all his best friends be roomed with jerks?), since they barely speak to each other when he’s around anyway, they’re pretty much bearable.

He just went back to his room to grab a couple of colored pens he promised he’d lend Aaron for his Math homework (graphing, his only favorite part of math) and was on his way out when the he heard the knock on the door. While he certainly wasn’t expecting to see Dani or Robbie – they both have keys anyway, not to mention Robbie will shout cheesy lines and Dani will bang at the door repeatedly if they locked themselves out – he totally wasn’t prepared to see him.

Oh yes. He didn’t catch his name yet, didn’t he? How convenient.

“What are you doing here?” he said, looking up and frowning, “And how’d you know I’m here? You’re creepy you know that.”

Sorry Henry. Seems Jared has no intentions in making this easy.

[Henry Ballo]

Well. That hadn’t exactly been the reaction he’d been expecting. Fairly close, but not quite. That was actually a good thing, considering that how Henry had pictured it going was with Jared slamming the door in his face, the food going all the way down his front, and him leaving irritated and in disgrace.

Henry had a graphic imagination sometimes.

Still, as Jared had given him an opportunity to speak, he was going to do his best to do so and fast. He didn’t know how long the opportunity was going to last, and he really just wanted this over with so his damnable conscience could be at peace.

Still, Henry being Henry, pride did have to have its say first and foremost.

“Your information is in the school records,” he pointed out. “It is not hard to find it if you go looking in the right places. And yes, I am aware that I am creepy, but I assure you, I really do not intend for this to happen ever again.” Oh yes. That would really be for the best.

Then again… that wasn’t really the best start to what was supposed to be an apology. Great going, Henry. Can you manage to apologize without insulting someone? Time to backtrack.

“That…that came out wrong,” he said. “Ah…I came here to apologize. For fooling you. It was…it was not very kind of me. It was, in fact, rude. So I thought I would come here to say that I was sorry and to offer you this.” He held out the dish without much hope. Here came the door slamming. “It is called seswaa. My mother made it for me.”

He was still trying and still failing. Oh well.

[Jared Park]

While Jared was very sensitive and has a huge tendency to overreact to things, one thing good about him though is that he doesn’t really know how to hold grudges. After his emotional outburst, give him a few days and he’d be as good as new. Sure he might remember that you pissed him off by throwing cake at him three weeks ago, but as long as you don’t do it on a daily basis, he’ll be over it within a day or two.

Though considering how often Danicca pranks him, he may have been slowly learning how to hold grudges, even plan on how to get even at that.

So considering the fact that he’s already vented out to Aaron and Robbie about what had happened – to which Robbie simply laughed at him and gave him a pat at the back, while Aaron looked rather perplexed and confused that Jared had to tell him he’s good already – Henry’s pretty much in a good place. Jared still feels bad, but not enough to slam the door in his face.

“You looked at school records? Boy. You really are a stalker,” chuckled the boy (giggling actually), leaning on the doorframe as he crossed his hands over his chest. If Henry would look closely, he’d see the little blush forming on Jared’s cheeks. Apparently it both embarrassing and flattering all at the same time.

Henry’s apology was met with a warm smile on the boy’s face. And the fact that he brought a dish for him just made Henry one of the greatest in Jared’s book. “Well you were a big meanie back then,” he nodded, looking up and sticking a tongue out, “But you look so awkward apologizing that I think I have no choice but to forgive you.” He would’ve forgiven him anyway, but he just can’t let the opportunity pass without teasing him.

He happily grabbed the dish and gave it a quick whiff. “Smells yummy. What’s this called again? Sesh-u-aa?” He happily pushed the door open, revealing the rather messy dorm common room and placed the food on the kitchenette counter. “So what are you waiting for? Aren’t you supposed to eat this with me or something?”

ooc:
EEEP. Crappy. >.<. Sorry.
- Jam

[Henry Ballo]

Why was he blushing at the thought of Henry looking through the records for him anyways? How else was Henry supposed to apologize properly? “I did not see any other way to make this better,” he said, because that was true. “I do not mean to stalk.” But then, his actions had been rather…stalker-ish, hadn’t they? Hm.

“Awkward--?” But he didn’t get much more out. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he shut his own mouth in an attempt to stop himself from snapping. He’d earned the forgiveness. Good. He wasn’t going to ruin it now. So what came out instead of the insults or smart-alleck comments that had been planned was a soft, “Thank you,” spoken from gritted teeth. Graciousness? Well, we still have some learning to do.

“That is…close enough,” he said, a little reluctantly to Jared’s somewhat mangled pronunciation of the dish. “It is corn meal and beef. Fairly simple. I am sorry it is not more…pardon?”

The words that could best describe the look on Henry’s face as Jared invited him in was probably…bafflement. Sheer and honest confusion. Henry was the type to hold grudges. One might even say he was an expert at it. So the thought that someone didn’t know how to hold a grudge…was really very confusing to him. How could Jared not be mad at him? He’d pulled one hell of a trick on him. He should be furious, right? Right? So why was he inviting him in? Still, he shrugged his shoulders and, in the interest of making sure this was as complete of an apology as possible, stepped in and looked around.

“I suppose,” he said, reluctantly. “But would you not rather eat it yourself? You cannot be that interested in having my company here…I assure you, I am not very interesting at all.”

In other words: please let me leave. But he didn’t want to say that. It would likely put them back at the beginning of their thus-far-rocky relationship, and he would feel guilty again. Perhaps Estelle was rubbing off on him more than he thought.

(It was great, as always Jam.xD Relax!)

[Jared Park]

Yes Henry. Awkward.

Jared even goes as far as to say that this has been one of the most awkward apologies he had to date. He is quick to rescue you from eternal shame though, insisting that this is a good type of awkward.

“No, no. It’s ok. More than enough actually.” Especially since he’s suddenly craving for some kind of snack and he’s fairly sure dinner won’t be served in the cafeteria until much much later. “You do know that you don’t have to actually bring me a peace offering right? For future reference anyway,” he chuckled as he placed the dish on the counter and walked over the cupboard to grab a few plates. He’s only received a handful of peace offerings before, mostly from his siblings. Well, his sister anyway, since his hyung’s a little too stingy frugal that it’ll be a cold day in Hell before he buys him anything that isn’t for his birthday.

The boy tried his best to reach the bowls on the topmost shelf, but even on tiptoes, he’s still an inch short. Whoever thought of putting those things way up anyway. Possibly Dani’s brother. The troll, he thought. And with the stool nowhere to be seen, guess he had to ask for Henry’s help.

“Err-Ahh. What’s your name again?” Yeah. Seems he forgot an important piece of the puzzle. “You mind helping me get those?” He flashed a shy grin as he pointed towards the two white bowls. “I’m a little short. Sorry.”

As Henry went on and grabbed the bowls, he made himself useful by grabbing the placemats, silverware and two bottles of water. “Now I know why you looked so familiar!” he suddenly said, as if a light bulb just went on above his forehead, “You’re Robbie’s girlfriend’s friend right?”

Ooops.

[Henry Ballo]

Henry would have been glad that someone found this to be a good kind of awkward, because he just found it incredibly uncomfortable. He was also well aware that he wasn’t exactly doing well with the apology, and for…well, someone’s sake, decided to try to do better. Somehow.

“I thought it was the best way,” he muttered as he stepped inside. He shrugged his shoulders and looked around the room, resisting the urge to stick his hands into his pockets and rock back and forth awkwardly. He could do this. There was no reason that he couldn’t—shouldn’t—whatever. “I was told the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I am aware,” he added, because he felt this needed clarification, “that this is usually said to women, but I thought it applies in any case. Or at least was worth a try.”

He was examining the room, which wasn’t really much different from his, when Jared spoke to him. He spun to look at him, then his eyes flickered to the bowls.

“I am Henry,” he said patiently, and sighed. Well, he was used to this. Being the tall one of, well, almost anything had its disadvantages. “All right.” He crossed the room to pick up the bowls without much trouble, and by the time he’d turned around, Jared had already spoken. Henry’s expression didn’t change, but the bowls nearly slipped from his fingers, and he hastened to catch them before the fragile peace was broken.

“Ah, you mean Estelle?” His expression may have still been reserved, but his voice seemed a little shaken, and he put the bowls down with a little more clatter than necessary. “Uh, I did not think that they were…anyways, if you meant Estelle, the answer is yes.” He cleared his throat. “You, ah, know Robbie?”

Oh, good. So there was a way his friend could hear about this mess. Splendid!

[Jared Park]

“It is!” Jared beamed, nodding his head with probably a little more enthusiasm than Henry would’ve wished. (Considering how uncomfortable he seems, any excessive response – something Jared is somewhat known for – would most likely make the older boy flip. Hopefully Jared will notice it before it’s too late). “I mean, it’s not like you can easily turn away an apology with a gift involved, right?” A verbal apology you can easily shoot down, but one with a present, especially one which looked like it took more than just a simple trip down the store to buy? You’d be heartless if it doesn’t melt your heart still. Or at least that’s what the Canadian boy thinks.

He let out a small chuckle when Henry did his whole spiel about the stomach being the way to a man’s heart. Oddly enough, it does apply to their situation, once you remove the romantic undertones anyway. “As long as you didn’t put any love potion in this one, I’m fairly sure nothing of that sort will happen,” he laughed. Not only was he not interested in guys, as far as he knows, lately he’s not interested in anyone. He finds a couple of girls attractive, but never enough to make him go all googoo-eyed and feel warm and fuzzy. Or at least that’s how his brother tells him one feels when he’s around a crush. (And no, his first kiss does not count. Mostly because it was Robbie being stupid and stealing it from him.)

“Thanks Henry.” Jared apparently didn’t notice the whole cluttering thing that happened, or if he did, well, he’s just a little too dense to think that it meant anything at the moment. So once the bowls are done, he began dividing up portions and putting it in the bowls with a serving spoon. “This is delicious!” said Jared after eating a spoonful, giving the older boy a two thumbs up, “Thanks Henry.” Mission accomplished?

“Oh I think they are. Or were anyway,” the Korean kid suddenly blurted out, taking another spoonful in. “I mean, why would Robbie be so heartbroken over his fight with Estelle the other day is they weren’t together?” He was in his room when it all happened, so the speech was a little garbled. But he’s sure there were shouting and crying, and if the inordinate amount of Korean dramas his sister forced him to watch were true, well, that can only mean a break-up. “He’s sulking so much you know. It hit him hard. I think Estelle too. I think they still love each other, they’re just too proud to admit it.”

Jared just knows how to make things better, doesn't he?

[Henry Ballo]

Thankfully for Jared, Henry wasn’t usually the type who noticed things like excessive nodding. Or…he was. But he wasn’t going to now, because in spite of the snootiness with which he was going about this apology, he really did mean to try to get along with Jared. He just went about it all the wrong way, that was all. ALL the wrong ways.

“I suppose,” he said, a little reluctantly. He had thought Jared might still do it anyways, though. Oh well. He should be grateful that he hadn’t and let that be the end of it. “But no. There is no…” His brow furrowed. “Love potion in this gift. I promise. And to prove it, I will eat it with you.” He had no interest in Jared. At all. Well, maybe as a friend. Eventually.

When the world turned backwards. But that was harsh. He didn’t mind Jared. The boy was growing on him (like a fungus, but that was only the bitter part of his mind that thought that), because he was kind and forgiving and…generally nice under the strangeness. He settled down to eat with Jared, tentatively eating the food. To his surprise, it turned out fairly good. He wasn’t used to that. He didn’t cook a lot, and making this had been a combination of memories and improvisation. But Jared didn’t need to know that. He was half-tempted to point out that Jared had said “thanks” twice, but decided not to. “I am glad you like it,” he said instead, formally. But he seemed to like the food too, and ate in silence until Jared brought up Estelle and Robbie again. At which point Henry promptly choked on his food, and doubled over in a coughing fit, trying to hold the napkin over his mouth so he did not freak out Jared.

“S-still?” He managed once he’d regained his breath. Control wasn’t working. He sounded shaken even to his biased ears. He cleared his throat and tried again, but he was still hoarse. “They were together? But Estelle told me…” Now was NOT the time to panic about this. “Has she…ah, has she told you about this? Specifically? Or are you just…guessing?” 

Please, please, please let it be the latter. He was having a hard enough time figuring out his feelings on this matter as it was.

[Jared Park]

Had Jared been ‘blessed’ with at least an ounce of cunning in his bone, Henry’s comment would most likely have earned a smirk from him now. Considering how the taller boy was against rather reluctant to the whole notion of staying in and eating his peace offering with the Canadian just a while earlier, his sudden change of heart can be seen as quite the cleaver manipulation in his part. But alas, the boy’s anything but manipulative. With his personality, he’s more often the manipulate-ee than the manipulator after all.

“I didn’t know you cooked. I mean, no offense, but you don’t look like the type to hang out in the kitchen much,” chuckled the younger boy as he took another spoonful of the food. He’s tempted to ask for the recipe but it’s not like he can replicate it – even with the instructions in hand – with his current culinary skills. Maybe he should just make Henry offend him more often.

Henry’s choking and coughing didn’t escape Jared. He immediately opened the bottled water he brought out earlier and put it in the older boy’s hand, urging him to drink. Jared has no first-aid training whatsoever; he doubts he can do a Heimlich properly should it be required off (he’d most likely break Henry’s sternum).

What did escape him however, was the cause of the choking. Nope, dense as he was, he failed to see the correlation of him telling that Robbie and Estelle are involved with each other and the time when Henry’s coughing fit started. Which means after that episode cleared, he promptly continued.

A small nod escaped Jared as a response to the first question. “Nope. Estelle and I really don’t talk other than the usual greetings.” Not that they have a disagreement or something; they’re not just…close. “Robbie did though.” Robbie did no such thing. It’s more along the lines of ‘Robbie talks about Estelle with such glee that it’s easy to assume that they’re together’.

He took a quick sip of his drink before continuing. “I mean, I often see them huddled in the couch watching TV or giggling. Or locked up in Robbie’s room doing god knows what.” And yes, you can hear the conviction in his voice as he tells Henry all this. “Robbie even told me he was Estelle’s first kiss.” Apparently the boy’s hell bent on killing Henry without even knowing it.

“Why Henry, do you like Estelle?”

[Henry Ballo]

Henry would have very much deserved a smirk. Henry would have deserved a whack on the head. But as it was, Jared’s comments on Robbie and Estelle were giving Henry his just reward. He’d only come there to sooth his conscience. It was good that his pride was getting tacked down a notch. His head’s pretty inflated as it is.

“I will try to take that as a compliment and not as an insult,” he said, a little wryly. But he did seem to be relaxing. Jared really wasn’t that bad when he wasn’t weeping and saying “Woe is me.” He was naïve, but not in a bad way. It was kind of relaxing to spend time with him just because he didn’t have to worry about Jared thinking something other than what he was saying. “I do not cook much, but this is not hard. It just takes patience. It is hard to overcook ground beef, for example.” He nodded to it. “Or to grind corn. You could try it, if you wish. I am no cook and I managed.”

Henry was grateful for the water and even more grateful that Jared didn’t try the Heimlich. He was terrified to think of what someone who wasn’t trained would do with that. He swigged the water gratefully, and seemed to ease when Jared said that he didn’t know Estelle. Or, didn’t talk to her much. Good. That meant that he wasn’t—oh. He knew Robbie. No, he wasn’t going to take this seriously. The boy didn’t really know what he was talking about…

Except that he couldn’t persuade himself of that. Not when he started talking about all the time they spent together. And her first kiss was with Robbie? She hadn’t mentioned…

But of course she hadn’t. He hadn’t said anything to her, had he? Hadn’t made any sign that he might…might…

Henry’s so bad with feelings he can’t express it to himself. He put down his fork and sat back, looking a little green around the edges.

“What?” He was drawn back by his question, and tried half-heartedly to bristle. “Why would you think that? I am just…I was just curious.” It sounded weak, even to him. “I do not suppose,” he said after a moment, “that you have any proof of this? I mean...real proof? Or is that a silly question?"

[Jared Park]

There’s something about the way that Henry said/phrased that particular statement that made Jared burst into laughter once more (not that it’s a particularly hard feat anyway). “You sound like you’re a character pulled out from those old black-and-white movies. Or something,” said the younger boy in between giggles. Hopefully Henry won’t take it the wrong way.

“You should teach me how to cook this then. I’m a total noob when it comes to cooking.” Maybe a newbie is a better term, since he has successfully baked blueberry and orange-cranberry muffins alone once before and they turned out great. He isn’t exactly a master chef, but he doesn’t burn water either. “I’ll buy the stuff and you’d have to come over and make it with me. Or I can just go to your room. You live in the dorms, right?”

Yes Henry, you’d have a stalker very soon. Even I’m not a hundred percent sold that it isn’t a bad idea.

The older boy’s reaction was truly epic. Jared asked it out of sheer curiosity, no malice whatsoever, and he did not expect such a response. He may be dense at times, but he’s not that dense not to get a hint of what Henry’s outburst meant.

“It was a silly question,” uttered the boy, happily emphasizing the was with what he would want to be seen as his own Cheshire grin. “I didn’t have proof before. Now I think I might’ve.” The sheer hilarity of the situation is just amazing. While he’s still behind team Robbie (seems the blonde needs all the support he can get right now), he’s not exactly sure he’s opposed to team Henry too. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

He finished a bit earlier than Henry, mostly because he wasn’t all too finished choking and coughing endlessly. (Jared couldn’t help but smirk whenever he remembers how Henry looked liked back then). Once they’re both done, he happily grabbed all the dishes and deposited them to the sink, making a mental note to wash them before Dani or Robbie comes back. “You know, for someone who supposedly doesn’t care, you react defensively a little too much,” nodded the boy. “Anyway, thanks a lot Henry. It was fun.”

He just didn’t know what was more satisfying, the meal or that new tidbit he discovered?

ooc:
Wrap? =D.
- Jam

[Henry Ballo]

Henry stared at him. In all honesty, he rather did want to take it the wrong way. But he liked the black-and-white movies, and he liked the characters in them, so in the end…he wasn’t really offended. Just mildly surprised. “Ah,” was what came out, and then he cleared his throat and tried again. “Thank you, I think.” There. Perfectly…mild. Yes, that was the word. Mild. Right. That was the important bit.

“Oh, I do not think I would be the best teacher,” he said, a little uneasily. He could teach some things, but he’d never thought of himself teaching cooking. “Still,,. if you want, then yes, we can try.” He was still trying to remind himself of the friendliness. Trying to make up for things. That was his goal. “I live in the male dorms, yes. In room 505. Feel free to stop by if you wish to cook.”

He didn’t really think about the whole…stalking aspect, not at all. Oh well. It’ll be a good experience for him.

“Now you might have?” This wasn’t helping his agitation, and the man completely stopped eating completely to stare at Jared, agitated. And then he realized that the man was playing him, and shut his mouth to stare at him with a little more respect.

“Yes,” he said slowly. “I suppose it was. Thank you.” He rose to his feet and nodded to him. “Take care.” And he slept out the door, still a little troubled, but deciding that…well, he was going to let it play out.

((Wrap!))