Him.

pick-me

I didn't tell Rei about my almost-kiss with Jaerin. 

It feels wrong. 

So wrong.

But . . . I couldn't help it. She doesn't like Jaerin, she doesn't like my relationship with Jaerin.

And I know for a fact she won't react very well.

I can perfectly visualize her face - scrunched eyebrows, mouth filled with scorn, cheeks burning with anger. 

I love Rei, but she's changed.

Instead, I tell Soorin, who mirrors my excitement and enthusiasm, pointing out every single time I can interact with her today. 

Every. Single. Time.

Honestly, it overwhelms me, but her contagious laugh is hard to resist.

I can hardly wait for lunch, and when it comes to me, I make a point to walk casually, flipping my hair and straightening my spine.

I don't want Jaerin to think I'm head over heels for him (even though I am), but I also don't want him to think that I don't care for what happened yesterday. 

Because I do.

So I stroll out of the serving area of the cafeteria, and discretely scan the tables to find Jaerin. 

But I can't see him.

No, there must be something wrong, I tell my self. 

Jaerin's never absent.

Ever. 

I check again, but nope. 

I can't find him. 

And I cringe at who I see is sitting at his seat.

Elise. 

And her fake, innocent, I-just-wanna-be-friends, look is gone. 

Vanished.

In it's place, is the pick-me girl smile of a fake brat. 

She's practically spilling out of her dress, and her two minions are copying her every gesture. 

Elise's fake lashes jut out, extending far from her upturned nose, and her hair is pulled into a tight JoJo Siwa style ponytail. 

Her hands are tugging on some poor guys shirt, lips bit, butt out, and seductive smile plastered. 

She fake laughs and turns, looking straight at me.

The anger I had before is puny compared to what I have now.

I'm tempted to dump my mashed potatoes over her shiny little hair, but I'm too emotionally attached to it.