Chapter 149: No Matter How Hard You Try, You’re Never Having a Taste of Me[June’s POV]
After that sudden attention, the stares had vanished, replaced by the party’s chaos.
The music swallowed the room again, like nothing had ever happened.
But Ren didn’t go back to the pool.
No. He walked toward me. With her. His hand were wrapped around hers.
My eyes went straight to their hands. The way his thumb brushed over her knuckles so casually, like he wanted eveyone to know.
And then...God, no, she waved at me.
"Renny."
RENNY.
Did she just call him Renny?
My stomach flipped so hard I thought I was gonna puke on the floor.
And then, like he was stabbing me in my heart, Ren actually laughed.
"Is this the June you told me about?" she asked, leaning into him like she already owned him.
He told her about me. He actually told her about me.
My chest tightened, I could barely breathe.
"Yes," he said, grinning. "That’s her."
Her smile was sweet. "He said you two are working on music together. That you’re so talented."
Talented. Cute little compliment for the girl who just watched him make out with someone else. Awesome. Love that for me.
She kept smiling like she didn’t just ruin my entire life.
And then Ren turned back to me.
"So... what’s happening between you and Ian?"
My hands started shaking. Literally shaking.
Like, why was he asking me that? Why did he care? Why was his voice so casual when mine was about to crack into a million pieces?
I couldn’t even answer. My throat wouldn’t let me.
And then.... Someone slipped their hand over mine.
I blinked, turned, and there he was. Ian.
He had that annoying smirk.
"I’m trying to chase her," Ian said, loud enough for everyone to hear. His smirk dangerous. "But she doesn’t want me."
And then, he laughed. Like this was the funniest thing ever.
But his hand didn’t let go of mine.
And suddenly... I couldn’t breathe for a whole different reason.
Ren tightened his grip on the girl’s hand, and my stomach dropped when he smiled.
"June, this is Jackie," he said. "My girlfriend."
Girlfriend.
Like an actual stab to the chest.
Jackie leaned into him all soft and glossy. Her full curly hair we’re bouncing on her shoulders.
"Nice to meet you, June." She said, her smile was actually too sweet. "You’re really cute. Why don’t you want our Ian? You’re lucky he’s chasing you."
My breath caught.
Excuse me?
"What’s that supposed to mean?" I asked before I could stop myself
She giggled. "Honestly though... you don’t really seem like Ian’s type. I always thought he only went for model types....you know?" She shrugged. "But..." she tilted her head, smiling too sweet, "you’ve got a cute thing going on. It’s beautiful."
My throat went dry.
Before I could even find words, Ian’s hand tightened on mine.
His smirk didn’t drop, but his voice lowered just for me, warm against my ear.
"Don’t pout, June. You look sad. And I’m not letting Jackie bulldoze you. I know how she acts."
He smiled. But the glint in his eyes told me this wasn’t charity.
Ian’s grin widened like he was enjoying the whole thing way too much. "Matter of fact, she’s lowering her standards just being seen with me."
I blinked at him. "What?!"
He didn’t stop. He leaned closer to me, and stared into my eyes. "Right, babe? You literally said it this morning when I kissed you at my place. You said I wasn’t good enough for you."
I froze. My mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Why was Ian making everything worse? Why would he say that out loud? Why was he telling them lies?
That definitely happened, but the other way round.
Jackie’s eyes went wide. Ren’s smile faltered for a second, but I saw it. That flicker. He hid it with a laugh, but it was there.
"Wow," Ren said slowly, glancing between us."I didn’t realize there was... something going on, between you two."
My heart slammed so hard .
Ian just smirked wider. "There’s definitely something," he said. His thumb brushed over my knuckles. "I’m still waiting for her to say yes."
And the way he said it... my hands couldn’t stop shaking.
My chest felt like it was splitting in two.
"I’m so happy for you," Jackie smiled, "right, Renny?"
Ren didn’t say anything, he just nodded.
"She made me choke on my drink when she walked in," Ian said, smirking. His gaze dragged down my body, stopping at my bikini top. "Especially dressed like that. God, June... you’re hot."
My breath caught. Heat rushed up my neck.
Did he just call me hot?
He wasn’t even done. His thumb brushed lazy circles over my knuckles.
Was Ian just putting on a show for Ren? Was he lying through his teeth? Or... was there some dangerous, twisted truth in the way he looked at me like that?
And why...God, why, did it feel so good to let him do it?
Jackie leaned into Ren harder, but Ren’s eyes were on me.
And Ian, smug bastard that he is, leaned even closer until his lips brushed my cheek. He kissed me.....just the lightest peck, but my entire body froze.
Holy shit?!
Now, he’s overdoing it.
Messing with me, with Ren, with everything.
"I’m not stopping," he smiled . "I’m gonna keep chasing you ’til you melt. ’Cause one look at you, Jellybean, and I’m gone."
My heart stopped.
Jellybean?
Did he just call me Jellybean?
That was Ren’s name for me. His private thing. His... ours.
My head snapped toward Ren instantly.
He wasn’t smiling anymore. Not really. His lips were curved, but it was tight, like he was holding it together. His jaw flexed.
"How do you know that?" He chuckled. "I see she told you about it."
Ian’s arm slipped his around my neck.
"That’s my nickname for for her," he said.
My stomach flipped, my breath stuttered.
I glared at him, my eyes widened.
No, no, no.
That lie.
My eyes widened, staring at him, silently screaming... I never told him, Ren. I never did.
But Ren wouldn’t look away. I could feel was the fire of his gaze burning through me. The twitch of his fingers when he clench them into fists. The vein in his forehead standing out just barely.
He was angry.
Jealous.
How did Ian know? Did Ren think I told him? That I handed that little secret over to another guy like it meant nothing?
My brain was still short-circuiting from that kiss on the cheek, from that lie about Jellybean, until Jackie tilted her head at Ren.
"Wow... Renny, they already have nicknames? That’s cute."
Nicknames. My chest cracked.
Ren’s eyes hadn’t left me. His jaw was tight, his smile was the fakest thing I’d ever seen him wear.
Nope. I couldn’t do this.
Before Ian could open his cocky mouth again, I grabbed his wrist and yanked him away.
"Thanks, guys. We’ll get going now," I blurted, my voice way too high. Inside, I was seconds away from tearing up in front of everyone.
I dragged Ian out of the pool deck, practically sprinting.
My stomach twisted, my heart racing so hard it hurt.
Ian just ruined everything I’ve worked for for years. The crush, the daydreams, the hope Ren might actually see me that way.
And now? What if Ian just made him hate me? What if Ren thought I was in on it, thought I gave Ian the right to call me that?
The panic choked me.
Still, I couldn’t help it. I glanced back one last time.
Ren’s gaze was already on me.
And yeah, he smiled. That soft, effortless Ren smile that once could’ve lit up my whole world.
But his eyes?
His eyes said something else.
Something that made my chest collapse all over again.
I didn’t stop dragging Ian until we were clear of the pool deck. The music muffled, as we passed through sweaty bodies and the beer pong crew.
My grip on his wrist was so tight.
I shoved him back against the wall. Back in that hallway.
"What the hell was that back there?" My voice cracked.
He only leaned against the wall, that stupid smirk plastered on his face. His eyes dragged down my body....slow, shameless, before snapping back up to meet mine.
I narrowed my eyes. "Do you ever stop? You keep checking me out like I’m some kind of food you’re dying to taste."
Ian’s lips curved into that slow, dangerous smirk. His eyes dragged over me.
"Maybe I am," he murmured. "Problem is, June... you look too sweet not to crave. The more I look at you, the hungrier I get."
My breath hitched.
He leaned closer, I could feel the heat radiating off him.
"Careful, June. Keep tempting me like that, and I won’t be able to stop."
I scoffed, tilting my chin up at him.
"Dream on, Han. No matter how hard you try, you’re never getting a taste of me."
His smirk deepened like I’d just fed him exactly what he wanted.
"See, that’s where you’re wrong," Ian said, his voice dropped low, enough to make my stomach flip. He leaned in, close enough that I could feel the heat of his breath tickle my neck. "You don’t know me half as well as you think. Because when I want something..."