My Shining Light

Chapter 14

Lucy exited the music room and jumped in fright, startled at hearing her name being yelled out of nowhere.

"Lucy! Wait, don't go!" said the voice.

"I think Kyungmi is sad you're going," smirked Jinwoo, as they both moved out of the way of the students who were leaving, bowing and waving goodbye to them as they passed.

Kyungmi came into view, running towards them at full speed, her footsteps thumping down the hallway.

"I'll meet you back at the locker room, I've gotta let Astro know the news," said Jinwoo, turning to leave before she arrived.

"Okay," Lucy replied, reluctant for him to go.

It was just starting to sink in that she wouldn't get to see him next week... or the other Astro members, or Kyungmi, all the new friends she was just getting to know.

"Hey!" Kyungmi cried as she reached Lucy, placing a hand on her shoulder while she panted in between words. "I just... wanted to... catch you... before you left..."

"Our friendship would've come to an abrupt end if we didn't get to say goodbye," said Lucy. She patted Kyungmi's back affectionately while she caught her breath.

"We can keep in touch!" Kyungmi exclaimed, handing over her phone, open on the New Contact screen. Lucy took it and added her details.

"You're going back to the locker room?"

Lucy nodded and they walked side by side in that direction.

"I bet he's sad to hear that you're going..." Kyungmi remarked.

"Who? ...Park Jinwoo?" asked Lucy, not knowing what she meant.

"Ahh you're always confused by what I say," Kyungmi laughed, looking amused by Lucy's muddled expression.

"Don't speak in riddles!" Lucy cried.

Kyungmi linked her arm in Lucy's and then leaned in close to her ear, her eyes gleaming.

"So... you know while we were at the cafe during lunch? Well, I heard that Astro's leader went and complained about this morning's dance session to my manager!"

Lucy's heart skipped a beat. Jinwoo complained... about her?

"What do you mean?" she asked apprehensively.

"Manager Lee was so mad! After you left with Jinwoo, he came to see us. Apparently Jinwoo threatened to speak to the principal."

"What?!"

Kyungmi looked like she was enjoying Lucy's shocked reaction, so she carried on.

"You must've made a great impression on Park Jinwoo. He insisted that Manager Lee change the schedule for the afternoon so that you were placed with him. That's why Eunjong got swapped into another class. She was crazy mad. She's keen on Jinwoo, but he walked out of the locker room with you!"

It had been nice when she walked out with him in front of everybody. She'd been surprised when he pulled away from Eunjong. It seemed that they weren't dating after all.

Jinwoo had mentioned speaking to the manager, but she hadn't realised the lengths he'd gone to to stand up for her.

Thanks to Jinwoo, she'd spent the afternoon happily helping students with their compositions.

So, this is how a true leader acted.

She felt like she was apart of his team, and he had her back. Like he was genuinely her friend. But it made her incredibly sad that this was their last day together.

They arrived at the locker room and found Astro inside, all packed up with their things and waiting to say goodbye. She thanked them for working with her and asked them to pass on her farewells to Bin.

"You can see him again soon, it's not goodbye for good," said Eunwoo. "I'll call you and arrange another catch up soon," he promised.

Lucy smiled weakly in return, feeling downhearted. Eunwoo wasn't going to keep in touch if their history was anything to go by. If he didn't call her when they were really close, she doubted he would now. The problem was that Eunwoo was her only connection to seeing Astro on a personal level.

She tried not to dwell on it too much as they hugged her goodbye, rather she thought about how good it had been to meet them. She hadn't known them for very long but she already knew she'd miss them.

They trudged out of the room and Lucy looked for her bag. Suddenly feeling a little melancholy, she took her time sorting through her things and with one last sigh, she turned around to leave the locker room.

Jinwoo was standing in front of her, hovering in the doorway with his hands in his pockets.

Had he been waiting there all this time? She thought that everyone had left five minutes ago.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked.

"Yeah..." she answered, unsure of what else to say. Meeting his dark brown eyes was giving her butterflies. Why was he still here?

"I just wanted to ask you something," he said, taking a step closer to her. "I was thinking..." he paused, nervously moving his tongue around his lips.

It really was a dangerous habit that he had. It kept making her wonder what it would be like to kiss those lips. She didn't know what he was thinking but right now she couldn't help imagining the feeling of his breath on her neck and his lips on hers. Her heart raced inside her chest.

"If things don't work out with Chanyeol, and if you wanted to work with someone... I just wondered if you wanted to come and check out my studio."

He played around with his hair, brushing it back from his forehead. It was distracting her from the words he was saying.

"I could show you around... I'm up late composing most nights so if you wanted to come by..." His voice trailed off.

She blushed. What did he say? He just said... he wanted to see her again?! Her hands felt clammy and her stomach was doing somersaults now.

"So..." he paused, and licked his lips again, "did you want to give me your number?"

Lucy smiled and took out her phone.