Within These Shadows || Park Chanyeol/Do Kyungsoo || Book 1

47

"Just kill me, please! Jay, just kill me!" Mae groaned with her head down on the table. She was in the cafeteria during lunch hour with Jay accompanying her.

"Those lines have become your national anthem prior to every semester final." Jay said, turning the page of the book she was reading.

"Ugh! Kill me or destroy this university! But at least do something!" Mae whined, her head still on the table

"How about you study better instead?" Jay shrugged.

Mae sat up straight faster than she could blink. She glared daggers at her best friend, "Are you claiming that I don't study?" She pointed her finger accusingly at Jay.

"I'm saying that if you spent this time in studying instead of whining, you could have gotten a lot done." Jay shrugged, yet again.

"I hate you," Mae pouted, trying to radiate her so-called hatred towards her best friend, hoping that it would magically electrocute her or something.

"Where's your boyfriend? Why not bother him instead of me?"

"How can I? Kyungsoo won't join us so he's there accompanying his best friend!" The words slipped through Mae's lips unintentionally. As soon as she said them, she slapped her palm over her mouth, eyes wide, internally cursing herself. "I totally didn't mean that." She said after a while.

Jay had stopped reading her book and pursed her lips; letting out a sigh and clearing her throat. She closed the book, left her reading glasses on and smiled at Mae. "I almost forgot about that." She proceeded to zip up her bag. "You know what, my problems shouldn't come in between you two." She gave an even brighter smile. "You tell Chanyeol to come and hangout with you. I'll head to the library." She got up and slung her bag strap on her shoulder.

"Jay! I really didn't mean that! Don't go!" Mae grabbed Jay's hand, preventing her from leaving.

Jay chuckled, "Yah," she flicked Mae lightly on the forehead. "I know you didn't mean it. But this is my choice; I genuinely don't want to be a barrier between you two. Don't worry, I'll be around. You can call me after he's gone. It's okay." She grazed Mae's cheek with the back of her hand. "I'll see you back at the dorm. Bye." She smiled, before walking towards the exit of the cafeteria.

~~~

Jay waited in front of the elevator while keeping her book inside her bag. It had been exactly a week since that day in the rain; a week since Kyungsoo started avoiding her. She didn't see him in classes anymore, he stopped joining them for lunch, and was also a no-show at the library. As much as she wanted to fix things, she didn't know exactly what to say or what to do. And there was also that tension about the finals coming up next month. There was just too much on her mind.

Upon the arrival of the elevator, Jay stepped in and pressed the top floor button. She felt like going to the rooftop to get some fresh air. As she waited for the doors to close, she heard her name being called from the outside.

"Maya! Hold the doors!" Lim Ju Hwan was running towards the elevator, piles of documents in hand. Right; also one week of Jay avoiding Ju Hwan.

Jay pressed the door closing button, making the elevator doors shut fast instead of holding them for Ju Hwan. She didn't want or need to be around him. Ju Hwan had a look of bewilderment on his face as the elevator started going up and Jay proceeded to wear her earphones to block out the surrounding noise. She felt relieved when the elevator moved a floor up and Ju Hwan could no longer be seen.

She tapped her foot on the elevator floor until it reached her destination. Upon reaching the eleventh floor, Jay walked out and strolled towards the stairs that led to the rooftop. But she stopped on the first step. On second thought, she decided to go somewhere else instead; somewhere, where she would get the mental peace she needed. She turned around, and started walking down the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Taking out her phone, she dialed the fourth number on her speed dial.