✦ 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨 | 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘰

016 | the courage to tell her

Stepping inside the very familiar convenience store, Haruto immediately headed to the counter.

Junkyu groaned as soon as he saw Haruto's face. "Why are you here again?" he asks the younger boy. "Aren't you supposed to be sleeping now?"

"I already slept earlier," Haruto reasoned out.

"Sleeping during the night is different than sleeping during the day."

"At least I slept."

Junkyu could only purse his lips because of Haruto being so stubborn.

"Where's Chaemin?" Haruto asked a minute after.

"I told her to rest, so she did."

"Sweet," Haruto mumbled lowly before heading to one of the coolers to grab a can of coke.

He went back to Junkyu by the counter, paying for what he got.

"Junkyu," Haruto called out softly. "Can I ask you some things about your school? I'm just really curious about it."

"Hmm, sure thing. But I will only give you answers that I'm really sure about."

"Tell me something about Choi Jiung, Choi Taeyang, and Hwang Intak."

Junkyu was not even surprised that Haruto know the names that was mentioned.

"Let us start from Choi Taeyang," Junkyu began. "He is a consistent honor student ever since he entered YG High, the reason why he was transferred out and chose Treasure High. His bad habit is just cutting classes, that's it."

Haruto nodded as he understood. "Who's next?" he asked after.

"Hwang Intak," Junkyu spoke. "Also one of the top students, but also one of the worst. He is always involved in fights outside the school. There was once that Intak and Asahi fought because of Yejin."

Haruto then furrowed his eyebrows. "Because of Yejin?" he asked.

"Intak tried to date Yejin for many times, but Asahi was like, 'dude, back off'. For some reason, Intak stopped."

"I think he still likes her."

Junkyu let out a snort, chuckling after. "Did you observe him while doing your project earlier this afternoon?" he asked.

Haruto only shrugged his shoulders before chugging on his can of coke.

"What have you observed?" asked Junkyu.

"Well," Haruto began, resting his half filled can on top of the counter. "Just by the looks of it, Intak wanted to talk to Yejin, but he is very hesitant."

"He did not make a move?"

"Not even a single move. He's just stealing glances at her."

"Simply means that he's still into her," Junkyu concluded. "Anyways, can we have Choi Jiung now?"

Nodding his head, Haruto emptied his can and threw it on the trash bin.

"Do not tell this to anyone," Junkyu whispered, making Haruto curious.

"Why? What is it?" asked Haruto as he leaned himself to the counter, decreasing the gap between him and Junkyu.

"Jiung killed his own parents. He is a criminal, but no one knows that aside from us, the students of YG High," Junkyu whispered much lowly. "If he knew that anyone tried to tell it to others, he'd kill them too."

"Don't get yourself killed," Haruto tells Junkyu, voice shaking out of fear as he backed away.

"Silly," Junkyu laughed. "He would never know that I told you─ unless, you tell him."

Haruto immediately shook his head with a nervous smile plastered on his lips. Junkyu laughed again, adoring the way Haruto got nervous all of a sudden.

"Go home now and get some sleep," Junkyu told the younger boy after, getting serious all of a sudden.

"Goodnight," Haruto said with a wave before completely exiting the convenience store.

He knew that Junkyu would be mad if he did not obliged the elder. Just as he was about to enter the village, he saw a familiar figure walking ahead of him just a few meters away.

"Hey! Freaky girl!" Haruto called out loudly after recognizing who it was.

It was Bang Yejin.

"Hello?! Freaky girl, I'm calling you!" Haruto called out once again, but running after her this time.

His face scrunched as he was still completely ignored by Yejin even though he's walking at her side.

"Come on, you're no fun," Haruto mumbled.

"Please, leave me alone," Yejin told the boy.

Again, Haruto scrunched his nose. "Geez, I haven't even started yet."

"Stop following me."

"No, not until you come with me," Haruto insisted.

"I really don't trust you. One more thing, it is already near midnight," Yejin tried to reason out, even though he trust Haruto well enough.

"I just wanted to tell you some things."

"You can talk it out to your friends. I'm pretty sure that─"

Cutting her off, Haruto spoke. "I'll tell you the reasons on why I am teasing you, only if you're coming with me. So, you coming or nah?"

"No," Yejin quickly responded.

Haruto stopped on walking, but Yejin did not. The boy thought of something that would make her talk to him.

"Coming with me will serve as a return for the comfort that I gave you last time," Haruto spoke, loud enough for Yejin to hear.

The girl stopped on her tracks, but did not look back.

"You soaked my polo uniform at that time," Haruto added in order to convince her more.

Yejin let out a sigh, knowing that she could not say no after what Haruto did for her.

"Fine," she breathed out. "Where do you want?" she asked, looking back at the tall boy.

Haruto pointed his finger across the street where a small park is located.

"I'll just tell you the reason on why I am like this to you," Haruto stated. "You know, I wanted to let it all out."

"Alright then," Yejin responded before crossing on the street.

Haruto watched her for a bit as he quietly mumbled some words.

"Your existence on both my dreams and the reality is a total nightmare for me, Bang Yejin. I'll go insane in no time because of you."