✓ Chasing the Sun ৷ SEUNGWOO

CHAPTER 17: leaving.

THIRD PERSON

Her eyes were swollen because she cried really hard last night. The pain she felt was unbearable. The sun is already shining outside, but she stay still at her bed. She can't control her tears as she woke up. She also doesn't feel like going to school.

But she has to. Seungwoo might noticed that she was absent, plus she doesn't want him to know that she was hurting. She gets up and prepared herself. She was too slow. When she was done, she left her apartment, without eating.

She was like a zombie. The pain and stress he gaved her were still visible. Everyone is staring at her, as she passed by. But she didn't glance a bit.

The bell rang, it indicates that it was the start of the first subject. Everyone vanished in a snap. She was like walking to the moon. It took her fifteen minutes before she arrived at her classroom. She knocked and Seungsik opened the door.

"You look sick, Ms. Suh."

"I'm fine, Mr. Kang."

"Okay, proceed to your seat."

She went to her seat, but Li and Felix looks worried at her. They knew the reason why she was like that.

-

Mr. Kang announced that there would be a teacher's meeting, that's why it would be vacant until lunch. But attendance is a must. They decided to do whatever they want.

Chloe was just laying her head on her arm chair. She's not also moving a bit. As if she was sleeping nor dead.

"Hey, Loe. Do you want to go out? Let's go to Mr. Cho's library." Li softly said, gladly Chloe agreed.

They went outside of their classroom. Wherein Felix stretched his arms to Chloe's shoulder. Li was holding her arm, she might faint in any moment. Her head is hanging low because she can't bear seeing him just in case.

Exactly they passed to Seungwoo whose now heading to the office. He glance at her, noticing that she was like dead.

"Good morning, Mr. Han." They greeted in unison. Even though Li doesn't want to.

"Good morning too. What happened to Chloe? Is she sick?" He asked. He was also worried when he saw Chloe like that.

"She's fine, Mr. Han. We'll go ahead, Sir." Li answered, and she gaved him a fake smile. Deep inside, she badly want to stab him to death. For hurting their best friend's feelings.

They didn't wait him to answer. It may be rude but they knew that Chloe doesn't want to face him. When they arrived at the library, it was locked.

"Where should we go now? It was too crowded at the cafeteria plus I bet the school's rooftop is occupied by some students."

"Clinic. I'm not feeling well." She plainly stated.

They nod and Felix carried her all the way to the clinic, while Li was carrying her bag. The school nurse greeted them with a smile. He gently lay her at the clinic's bed.

The nurse checked on her, if she has a fever or what-so-ever. "She was just too tired, maybe physically and emotionally. I suggest her to take a rest."

"Thank you, Nurse Cha." She excused herself and left the three inside.

"I shouldn't have fallen for him. I should have seen him on the night club."

"Wait, Mr. Han was also on the night club?!"

"Yeah. I accidentally bumped into him when I excused myself from Hyunjin. He pulled me out of that club and he sent me back home. I don't know why he did that..." She started crying again. "That made me thinked that he likes me. It was stupid yes, but I can't help it."

The two of them stared on her. They were pity at her. She's hurting withoug Seungwoo knowing. What a fucking jerk. Li whispered.

"And then he became so nice to me. Subin said that he likes me too, a lot. But what if he's just using me to forget Eve? What do you called that...?"

"....rebound."

"Yeah right. A rebound. I chose him over Yohan. But he just gave me pain." She chuckled bitterly, as the tears flowed on the pillow. She was choking at her own tears plus having a hard time to breathe. "Honestly, I rather be bullied by Malaiccah and her allies. I can endure that. But t-this fucking p-pain... I-I can't."

She tightly hold her chest, gasping for air. That alarmed the two that she's not okay. Felix ran outside, calling Nurse Cha. Li didn't leave her side. She's holding her hand tightly, as she was holding a piece of folder she saw next to her. She's giving her some air.

Good thing that the nurse came on time. The two went out, as Li started crying on Felix' shoulder. "I swear, if something bad will happen to her, I will never forget that jerk. I don't fucking care if he was a teacher."

Soon enough, Nurse Cha called an ambulance. She needs to be transfered to the hospital. Li decided to go with her, as the nurse instructed Felix to call her guardian.

He took her phone out of her bag to look her mother's phone number. It didn't take long because he found it quickly. He pressed the call sign and waited to answer the call.

"Is this Chloe Suh's mother?"

"Speaking. By the way, who's this?"

"This is Felix Lee. Chloe's friend. The school's nurse instructed me to call her guardian because she was sent to the hospital."

"What happened to my daughter!?"

"Mrs. Suh, it is better for you to come here."

"Text me what's the address of the hospital and I'll be there. Thank you!"

He hanged the call and he texted Li what's the address of the hospital. After that, he forwarded it to her mother.

-

"I hope she'll be fine." Li uttered as they were sitting on the waiting shed.

"She will be. She was a strong girl, just like you." Felix cheered her up.

A lady in a mid-age appeared. She was wearing a formal outfit. Plus, she's with a guy behind her. Felix doubt that she was Chloe's mother because they quite looked alike.

"Where's my daughter!?"

"She's inside, Mrs. Suh." Felix answered politely. They purposely didn't go inside because they have to wait for the mother to go first.

"Chloe! My poor daughter... I'm sorry for sending you here. I shouldn't have said those hurtful words to you. Mommy regretted it all." Mrs. Suh cried.

"It's okay, Mom. Atleast you're here already." She replied.

On the other side, Johnny spoke with the two. "I heard you two are my sister's friends. I'm Johnny."

"I'm Felix and this is Lila. My bestfriend."

"Thank you so much for being there for her. And this is the last time you'll be seeing her."

The two of them froze on their seats. "W-What do you mean?"

"We were coming back to Chicago."