✦ 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨 | 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘰

003 | curious

HARUTO

Without a vision, I heard familiar voices talking from nearby. Slowly, I fluttered my eyes open, only to close it again due to the sudden brightness that greeted me.

"Haruto?" I heard Mashiho called, so I responded with slight a groan.

I opened my eyes again, finally used to the brightness. I looked around, only to recognize that I am laid down on one of the beds inside the school clinic.

"You good?" Mashiho asked while checking on me.

I nodded my head and sat up slowly on the bed with Mashiho's help.

"What time is it?" I asked, running a hand through my hair.

"It is already dismissal, Haruto. You slept for eight good hours."

"Damn it," I cursed under my breath. How could I miss one whole day of school just because of─

"No," I mumbled, almost crying.

"Ruto? Are you okay?"

I was just hallucinating earlier. She can't be real, she's just in my dreams.

"Mashi!"

"Junghwan! Be quiet!"

I let my gaze find the door of the school clinic, only expecting to be greeted by Junghwan and Jeongwoo. But I was wrong for expecting only the two of them.

"Haruto! You're finally awake!" Jeongwoo yelled as he jumped on top of me, giving me a hug.

"He told me to be quiet, but look at what he did just now," Junghwan pouted as he took a seat next to Mashiho.

My eyes then landed on the girl who exactly looks the same as the girl that I have been dreaming for a long time.

"Yejin? Why are you still standing there? Come sit here," Mashiho tells her while patting the space on the vacant bed beside Junghwan.

The way she walk is very similar to hers.

"Jeongwoo, get off me," I told Jeongwoo who is still hugging me.

"Sorry," he apologized as he got off me, making his way to sit beside that girl.

"Why are you here?" I asked her, not even bothering to blink my eyes.

"J-Jeongwoo and Junghwan t-told me to c-come with t-them."

"You could've rejected it," I told her before getting off of the bed, standing on my own feet.

"Haruto."

My eyes went on Mashiho when he called my name in a warning tone. I scoffed, grabbing my backpack from the bed and immediately left the clinic.

They shouldn't know about my dreams, not now.

"Haruto! Wait up!"

I breathed out slowly after hearing Jeongwoo's voice from behind, running footsteps then followed. He caught up after a few seconds, but I did not bother to look at him.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"You wouldn't act like that if there's nothing."

I bit my lower lip, preventing to say anything. I can hear the three of them following behind Jeongwoo and I, but I didn't mind.

I just wanted to go home and take a warm shower to ease my thoughts.

"Haruto, just tell me what's going on."

"There's nothing."

"Lies."

"Whatever, I'll get going," I told Jeongwoo with a small wave. "See y'all tomorrow."

I heard him let out a sigh, a sign of giving up. That made me let out a small smile out of victory.

After that, I quickly took my pace towards the school gate. There are students from other schools that are waiting outside the gate.

They are probably waiting for them girlfriends and boyfriends. It's too cheesy, I guess?

I shook my head, trying to remove the thoughts. While looking at the faces of the students, one familiar face caught my eye.

He was leaning by the opened gate with his eyes fixated on every student that exits the school's main building.

He was that guy who bought a pack of cigarette from earlier morning at the convenient store. Probably one of Junkyu's friends because he is wearing the same uniform as him.

I quickly walked past him before he could even notice me. Luckily, I succeed.

"Haruto!"

I let out a sigh as I saw Junkyu running towards me.

"Let's go home together!" he cheerfully said. "Where's Junghwan? Also, Jeongwoo and Mashiho?" he asked, looking over my shoulders.

"I am in a hurry," I told him.

"Is that so?" he pouted. "I'll just wait for Yedam then."

"He's by the school gate."

"You know him?!"

"I saw him earlier, didn't I?" I asked Junkyu.

He stared at me for a while before realization hit him.

"Oh, right!" he exclaimed. "And, take care on your way home."

"You too," I told him. "Tell Chaemin to get well soon and she still sucks at singing."

"Meanie, but okay! Bye, Haruto!"

I only gave Junkyu a small wave before I went off, walking alone.