Run Away- Choi Hyunsuk

CHAPTER 2

Seunghun woke me up the next morning as usual for school and of course, it took me a while to get up. But I smelled waffles coming from the kitchen so I quickly got out of bed and sprinted towards the kitchen.

“I would like pancakes please,” I joked with an overly high-pitched voice and an odd stance.

“Only if you promise to never do that again.” Seunghun laughed.

“Okay.” 

I hopped to the cabinet to get a plate and scooped a waffle onto it, topped with syrup. It wasn’t until I sat down that I noticed Hyunsuk was there and had also taken a seat at the kitchen table.

“Oh, hello.” I greeted him with a small polite smile.

He’s been coming over more often lately and I wonder if he and Seunghun are maybe working on something together. I wish they could go over to Hyunsuk’s house, though. It gets awkward really easily. We never speak more than a few words to each other and I get the feeling that he doesn’t like me sometimes. I don’t even know what his voice sounds like, really.

After I ate a few waffles, it was the perfect time to start walking to school. Of course, being Seunghun’s shadow and all, Hyunsuk followed. As we arrived at the school, Seunghun said goodbye in his usual sweet manner and I waved at the two boys.

“Ah, Hyunsuk, remember you have a date with Choa this evening,” I noted.

He nodded in response and I hurried so as not to be late for my first class. I met Choa there and told her what had happened with Jihoon on my way home yesterday.

“Can I punch him in the face?” She asked. 

I shrugged, not wanting to get in the way of whatever she felt the need to do.

“Try not to get punched back is all I can say.”

The teacher entered the classroom and announced that she would hand out the results for our test. I waited impatiently for her to give me mine. She placed it face-down on my desk and I started thinking. I honestly have no idea how I did. I might have failed, I might have done well. What I do know is that I did not get 100%.

I turned the paper of and lo and behold, there was a big, red C. My heart sunk. This was definitely not a passing grade. Below the C, it specified my percentage score.

75%. 

~~

Choa and I waited outside after school for Hyunsuk because he said he would walk me home and then go on his date with Choa. Naturally, she was off the walls trying to contain her excitement.

Soon enough, Hyunsuk showed up wearing a simpler version of the usual, baggy jeans with a t-shirt and jewelry. The sun was out, which gave him a reason to be wearing his sunglasses, but he wears them all the time even without the sun shining. It’s more of a fashion-over-function thing.

While he was out of earshot but still visible, Choa kept going on about how stylish he was and how his style fits him so well, and despite looking rough, was probably the sweetest person on earth. I waved down Hyunsuk and he made his way over, Choa still going off about how cool he was.

“You’re going to have to chill once he gets here,” I told Choa.

“I’m letting it out right now so that I can.” 

Hyunsuk came in front of us and I introduced the two.

“Hyunsuk, This is my friend Min Choa, and Choa, this is Hyunsuk.”

“Nice to meet you.” Hyunsuk bowed and shook her hand. 

She reciprocated the action, uttering a small, “Nice to meet you, too.”

The walk home was suffocatingly awkward, as I purposely succumbed to the role of the third wheel for Choa and Hyunsuk. Seriously, it felt like following someone when they’re on a date, which is basically what it was. They dropped me off at my house and I ran inside, closing the door quickly.

“Home…” I breathed as I entered the front door, catching my brother’s attention.

“What’s up?” He asked.

“My awkward meter.”

“Why?”

“I just third wheeled middle school relationship Romeo and Juliette, that’s why.”

“Hyunsuk and your friend?”

“Choa, yeah.”

“That’s rough, buddy.”

“Whatever.” I fell onto the couch, not minding whatever Seunghun was watching.

“How was school?” Seunghun asked.

“Nothing interesting.”

Choa POV

Hyunsuk and I quietly walked to a coffee shop that he recommended. It was relatively awkward, but I tried to enjoy it anyways. I stole a couple of glances at Hyunsuk who I didn’t see looking at me. Maybe he’s shy? I don’t know.

We got to the shop and Hyunsuk held the door open for me, like a true gentleman. I knew he was sweet. We walked up to the counter and I got a juice drink since I know nothing about coffee and don’t need caffeine anyway. Hyunsuk got the darkest coffee I’ve ever seen, which quite frankly scared me.

“You drink that?” I asked, trying my best not to come off as rude.

“Every day, why?”

“It’s so dark.”

“It tastes good though. You should try it sometime.”

“I guess I should.”

The conversion died down after that and it got uncomfortably quiet. Hyunsuk seemed more like he generally didn’t want to be there, whereas I just didn’t like the silence. 

“Hyunsuk,” I started, catching his attention. “Do you really want to be here? On this date, I mean.”

“N-no… It’s not that. You’re very nice I just…” He stopped to think for a moment. “I like someone else. I’m sorry.”

I was taken aback by his statement. I understood completely, it was just how straightforward he was with it.

“That’s great, I’m glad you told me, but now I have to know who you like. Tell me all about her. Or him.” 

He paused and was very reluctant to answer but after some silence, he gave in.

“Seunghee.” He admitted.

“What? My Seunghee? Kim Seunghee?” 

He nodded.

I was truly shocked, not even considering that possibility. I thought it would be some skater girl at his university or something. But not Seunghee. Woah.

“It’s funny because Seunghee thinks you don’t like her.” I sipped my juice drink and glanced up to meet Hyunsuk’s wide eyes.

“Really?” 

“Yep.”

“We hardly even talk, why-”

“Bingo. That’s why she thinks you don’t like her. Because you don’t talk to her.”

He didn’t respond so I took a $20 bill out of my purse and set it on the table.

“This should be more than enough to pay for the drinks,” I explained. “Get something for yourself with whatever’s left.”

With that, I walked out of the cafe with my drink and went home.