GIRLS ON TRACK || Ryeji

Chapter 49: New Beginnings

Yeji's P.O.V

An inaudible squeal escaped me when Ryujin traced a few words on my palm, while Ms. Kim Jennie played an English conversation audio between a bank clerk and a customer. A paper containing fill-in-the-blank questions and quizzes is placed on my desk, with some of the blanks already filled by me. We're supposed to listen to the conversation carefully and write correct answers on the paper as individuals, but I'm having a hard time straining my ears to catch up with the difficult English phrases. Thus, Ryujin is trying to help me with it discreetly by writing answers on my palm— that is sheltered from Ms. Kim's vision. However, the fingertip of the girl behind me keeps tickling my skin while drawing letters, resulting in my silent giggles and distraction from the lesson.

The moment I replied the teacher with wrong answers when asked, the whisker-dimpled girl huffed incredulously. Immediately after Ms. Kim's attention was diverted to another student, I felt a light smack on the back of my head, so I turned around to pout at her, to which she responded with an eyeroll as she feigned immunity to my aegyo.

"I hate you," I mouthed, eliciting a handsome smirk from her.

"Feelings are mutual," she mouthed back teasingly, and I stuck out my tongue at her.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Chaeryeong sneaking her answer paper under Yuna's to let her cheat from her, making me chuckle because the roles between 2Shins have been reversed— with the shorter one letting me cheat from her, while the taller one cheats from Chaeryeong. Anyway, the duo being friendly with one another is a pleasant sight to see. On top of it, the ex-sworn enemies have also become increasingly sweet toward each other ever since Yuna saved Chaeryeong from the bullies.

****

After school, Chaeryeong and Yuna vanished from our sight. On the other hand, Lia is attending the baking class and Somi left for a closet or wardrobe party— whatever she blurted out before rushing away— in the campus. As a consequence, Ryujin and I are the only ones left at the cafeteria, but she has to join her debate team at the library soon, so she insisted me on following her in case I feel lonely.

I back hugged Ryujin as she led us to the library's entrance but, at the last minute, I changed my mind seeing Beomgyu beaming admirably at Ryujin and the latter showing him my favorite whisker-dimpled smile. No, I don't feel like sitting at the library and watching over their interaction. I trust Ryujin, but I don't trust that guy's intentions toward her. His eyes obviously tell that he likes Ryujin more than friends, and I'm not ready to let him snatch my best friend away from me. Not just him. To every single boy. Besides, I don't want to be a burden to Ryujin and I want her to focus completely on the debate topics. Knowing that she might become distracted every time she checks on my convenience, I made a decision to just stroll around the school.

"I'm going," I informed her, backing away.

"You're not gonna enter?" She asked me with adorable, round eyes of an inquisitive child.

"Yeah, I'm gonna take a stroll around school," I uttered.

"Are you okay being alone?" She inquired, traces of concern visible in her voice.

"Of course, don't worry, Ryuddaeng." I emphasized her endearing nickname a little too loudly and kissed her cheek slowly on purpose sensing that Beomgyu is still eyeing us keenly. Heat flushed the shorter girl's face owing to the unannounced kiss; hence, I left with a gratified cackle and a victorious smirk.

****

Everywhere I go, I always see her; traces of her tailing behind me like an indestructible chain attached eternally to me. Even an idea of random things— related or not— never fails to lead my train of thoughts back to her. It's as if the tracks are built for the train to travel in one direction only— to Shin Ryujin. The mere absence of her drives me crazy and it seems like I can't breathe without her because she's my oxygen. With each step I take along the empty hallways, my aggravations surge tenfold. Right at that moment, I really need to distract myself by doing something productive before Glee Club starts. Furthermore, I can't keep staying like this on a daily basis since my sanity might get obliterated at every strike of the clock.

Like a solution to all my problems, I saw the figure of a senior boy sitting in front of a canvas with an aura of poise notably radiating from him, while he applied confident strokes on the white surface with his paintbrush, adding vibrant color and beauty. Ripples of passion and affection are prominent in his pair of pools. I admire the way  solemnity takes control of him as he paints a masterpiece. A smile tugged at my lips when an idea popped up in my previously edgy mind.

Without hesitation, I twisted the door knob of the arts room and entered gradually, faking a cough to get his attention. His head snapped toward my direction, and he widened his eyes in astonishment the instant they settled on my face.

"Is the offer still available, Yeonjun oppa?" I queried with a genuine smile, earning a puzzled look from him, not until it was replaced by a purely animated look.

"Of course," he drawled cheerfully, standing up from his seat in a manner of haste.

****

Lia's P.O.V

I can't believe all five of my best friends just ditched me after Glee Club ended. Well, I understand Ryujin and Yeji because they ride on the same bike, and it's their tradition to accompany one another on their way home. Somi also has another group of friends to entertain since she's a social butterfly— it's quite weird how they call themselves closest comrades though. Out of all people, I can't understand why Chaeryeong disappeared into thin air together with Yuna, and they didn't even announce their sudden disappearance to me. One moment, the duo was walking side by side joyously— as if they had never been in intense quarrels in the past— right before my very watchful eyes; then, they vanished in a blink. How is that even possible?

To make matters worse, droplets of water drizzled down from the sky until they transformed into a heavy downpour, soaking my uniform and backpack in a matter of seconds, thus making me back away to refuge shelter under the school pavilion. At this rate, I'm not gonna make it home on time. The instant I realized I didn't bring my umbrella, I sulked incessantly and stomped my feet in a childish manner. I hope Chaeryeong and Yuna are also suffering the same fate for leaving me behind! I hope they get soaked as well! On the spur of the moment, a group of boys from different years swarmed around me, offering their umbrellas competitively. Amidst them, only one solitary boy caught my attention since he just gave us a side glance before taking off his coat to raise it above him and shield himself from the rain. Next, he took a step out of the pavilion to leave.

"Soobin-ah!" I exclaimed, halting him with his one foot lifted above the ground. He was in that stance for a few milliseconds before I reached him, baffling him and the other guys. "Well? What are you waiting for? Let's go!" I dragged him away from the pavilion by tugging at his vest's hem, while he alarmingly covered us from the rain with his oversized coat.

Laughing hysterically, we both ran in the rain albeit the fact that his coat isn't capable of entirely protecting us from getting drenched.

"You could've gone with one of them. They have umbrellas," he spoke over the roar of the heavy wind.

"You're much taller than them. Besides, their umbrellas might touch my head or cover my view because of their short height," I argued unreasonably, making him break into another fits of laughter.

"You're not even tall yourself," he mocked, so I elbowed his waist. Afterward, he continued, "I can't believe you chose my useless coat over their impenetrable umbrellas just for the height difference." He chortled, shaking his head.

Well, I didn't choose you for your height. That's just a lame excuse. I mused to myself. I gotta confirm who you really are by keeping you close.