DERANGER - SEULRENE

020

the week of the bar examination finally arrive.

the weight on your shoulders is heavier.

you take a week-long leave to focus on your studies, trying to cover up as much as you can.

you even asked seulgi not to visit you for a week, knowing that her mere presence is the perfect distraction for you.

although she whined like a kid at first, saying and promising she will be silent and won't disturb you, you had to be firm.

you leave a pouting seulgi that sunday night, finding how cute this side of her is.

you need this alone time. because this bar examination means a lot to you more than ever.

---

"i'm glad you took a leave. your substitute professor is younger and hotter :)"

you frown at seulgi's message and plan to respond with a 'yah!' but another message comes in.

"just kidding. she's the complete opposite of you :/"

you laugh.

---

the bar examination is a two-day event set that weekend.

you go there alone, reminding everyone from your family--even seulgi--to not bother going there as you want to focus on your exams.

you're glad they respected your decision. everyone wished you good luck and told you you could do it.

seulgi tells you to do what you can and accept with open arms whatever the result would be.

that was the last message she sent you. you think it's her way of respecting the space you asked for.

saturday come. it was dreadful. but you survived it.

you barely got sleep. still feeling pressured and probably missing seulgi at the same time.

but you stopped yourself. just one more day and then you can take a rest.

---

you are able to finally breathe that sunday afternoon as you step out of the exam room.

you feel excited, already thinking of calling seulgi and spending the night with her.

but to your surprise, donghae is waiting for you outside the building, roses in his hand.

despite the shock, you greeted him nicely and told him he shouldn't have bothered himself to go there.

that's when you read a text message from your dad saying he sent donghae over to pick you up for dinner at your house.

at that point, you know it'll be futile to resist.

so you walk along with donghae to the parking lot, silently hoping nothing unfavourable would happen tonight.

---

"can't meet up tonight. dad invited me over for dinner." you sent seulgi a message while you're in the car.

her response is quick. "oh. sure. enjoy the night with your fam. and please take a good rest."

"thank you. you too."

you let the phone dangle in your hand for a moment before you type in another message.

"i miss you--" you delete the message and lock your phone.

you sigh. there's this heavy feeling in your chest. why do you feel like you owe seulgi something when she's not even asking for anything?