The Hideout I Need

Chapter 14: In the end, it was always Hyeong-jun

Today was going to be a fun day. The end of their first semester was nearing quickly. And there was no way to celebrate that like going to an arcade after school.

Two weeks before the summer holidays, Se-kwon and Won-jin suggested that all six of them go to the arcade after school that Friday and that they could all ride their bikes since the weather was going to be good. It had been a while since they cycled together anyway. Everyone seemed pleased with the idea and it quickly became an event they all anticipated heavily.

And they were especially excited when the day finally arrived. Hyeong-jun cycled to school for the first time in years and going up the hills was every bit as physically exhausting as he remembered. But it was a fun experience for him to meet Se-rim in the schoolyard with their bikes, just like they did back in middle school.

And since they were so excited, the school day went by fast for once! Hyeong-jun zoomed through all the classes. Maybe he was also getting smarter from studying with Tae-young so often. There's no better feeling than actually being on top of what you're learning in math.

As school finally ended, they noticed that Se-kwon and Won-jin sent a photo of them already there in the group chat. What? The hell? The four classmates started laughing as they found out that Se-kwon and Won-jin skipped their final lesson because they just couldn't wait anymore. They will forever be the anti-pride of Class 3. The four boys started walking out of their classroom, but suddenly Tae-young came to a halt as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, resulting in the three others stopping to wait.

Tae-young took out his phone and looked at the caller-ID. "My dad is calling."

Hyeong-jun looked a little concerned, knowing how he often felt pressured because of his father, "Do you want to pick it up?"

Tae-young looked up at the boys and smiled, "I should. You guys go ahead, I'll meet you guys at the arcade."

The three gave a little smile as Tae-young walked back into the classroom to answer the phone, and they started walking down the staircase.

As they had left the school and entered the schoolyard, Hyeong-jun let out a smile as he felt like a middle-schooler again with his bike.

"It's seriously so long since I've cycled for real," he let out a chuckle.

"Me too!" Jung-mo exclaimed as he started unlocking his bike, "The bus just started seeming more and more comfortable the older I got."

Se-rim let out a laugh, "You guys are so lazy."

"Yes, and you're a Greek god," Jung-mo playfully bickered.

"Just because I cycle to school every day?"

"That, and the fact you are pure muscle," Jung-mo rolled his bike over towards Se-rim to poke his arm. As expected, it was pretty hard. It had gotta be pure muscle.

Hyeong-jun let out a little gasp as he realized he was the only one who hadn't unlocked his bike yet. He patted around his pockets, searching for his keys. His eyes widened as he felt his pockets were empty.

"Oh crap," he facepalmed himself as he realized they were in the slot of his desk. Put your keys in there, he said. It'll be safe, he said. Yeah, right. "I forgot my bicycle keys in the class."

Jung-mo let out a laugh as he rolled his eyes, not surprised.

"Go get them, we can wait," Se-rim smiled.

"No, no, you guys go ahead! Se-kwon and Won-jin are already waiting there, I'll be fine!" Hyeong-jun started walking backward, "I'll meet you guys there! I'll bring Tae-young along."