heather | saebyeok

삼 | black eyes

yuko was walking to school . it was six thirty and school started at eight thirty , but yuko always left her house early . she liked being in school early . she was looking at the park while walking past it . fall was her favorite time of the year , the cold breeze on her skin , early mornings , coffee , and the pretty leaves falling off the trees . she was lost in her thoughts . in her toughts about saebyeok . then suddenly someone poked her shoulder . she immediately turned around and was faced with mizuki . she took out her earphones , locked her phone and looked at mizuki while walking towards the school's building .

" sorry about yesterday . " yuko said and looked at her shoes . she was nervous to talk to the boy because she hated starting conversations .

" it's okay . " said the boy .

" i don't like you , i mean you're nice and all but- "

" i said , it's okay . even if you liked me , i would still reject you . and you know why ? " asked mizuki , and looked down at yuko with a smile on his face .

" why ? " yuko asked , confused .

" because , you're not a boy .. " said mizuki .

yuko was relieved in a way , she was happy mizuki wasn't mad at him , and now she even knows that he's gay . she chuckled , and continued walking with the brown haired boy to school . she enjoyed talking to mizuki , it was easy to talk to him . she doesn't like starting conversations , and maybe the boy noticed it , so he was the one talking more , yuko was just listening to him . they talked about school , their families , and they even talked about going to the new café that just opened next to their school .

" so , why did you move here ? " yuko asked finally , when they entered the school .

" well , my parents had the opportunity to finally open their bakery , and they could do it here , so basically that's why . " said the boy .

" ah i see .. but i've been going to your bakery for weeks now , but i haven't seen you in school ? "

" yeah , well i- i couldn't go to school when we first got here be- because- " said mizuki , but couldn't finish his sentece properly . he started fidgeting with his fingers and looked very nervous and sad at the same time .

" you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to , or you're not ready yet ." said yuko with a reassuring smile .

" thank you . it means a lot to me . " said the boy with a weak smile , before putting his bag next to their desk .

yuko sat down as well . mizuki pulled out his book from his backpack and started reading , so yuko decided to do that as well . they were reading next to each other , when it started raining and yuko heard the raindrops on the big window next to them . she looked outside . she loved rain . she adored rain . when it rains , her mood gets better every time . mizuki looked up as well , and smiled .

" you really love rain huh ? " he asked .

" yes i do . " said the girl .

" me too . rain is a reason to continue living . it makes me happy . " he said .

yuko looked at him . she couldn't figure it out what was going on in the boy's head , and couldn't read his face . it was like rain brought him memories back , and was thinking about those . but yuko could see sadness in his eyes again . she didn't know what could have happened to him , but she wanted to find out .

then suddenly they heard the classroom door creak open , and when yuko turned around she saw saebyeok rushing into the room . the black haired girl was looking down , but yuko could still saw her eyes and cheeks . she had a black eye and scratches on her face . did she got into a fight with someone ? yuko tought . she decided to go up to her and ask her what happened . she closed her book , stood up , and walked to saebyeok's table . saebyeok didn't look up, not even when yuko sat down next to her . mizuki looked at the blonde haired girl with a confused look , then looked at saebyeok .

" are you okay ? " yuko asked .

" i- i'm fine . " said saebyeok , but yuko wasn't convinced .

" you don't look fine . you're trembling , saebyeok . " said yuko , but before she could continue , the black haired girl slowly looked at her .

" i said , i'm fine . "

" o-okay .. if you need someon- " yuko was cut off .

" what ? someone to talk to ? haha , i don't even know you . i don't need help from you . " said the taller one , she stood up , and ran out of the classroom .

yuko was confused . what happened ?  saebyeok looked terrible . she had dark eyebags , scratches on her face , and she looked sadder and more exhausted . yuko just wanted to help her , but okay . she'll leave her alone , if that's what she wants . she's not going to talk to her again . yuko walked back to mizuki , who looked more confused than before . yuko sat down . the people were now coming in to the classroom , they were chatting and laughing , but yuko felt sad . she just wanted to help .

" hey , don't be sad . she maybe had a reason to act like that . " said mizuki . the class started , the teacher walked in , but saebyeok wasn't there . yuko wondered where she could be . she was lost in her thoughts , when mrs shin called her name .

" yuko ? " she asked .

" yes ma'am ? "

" do you know where saebyeok is ? " she asked . yuko looked up at her and shook her head .

" would you mind finding her ? she's probably in the restroom . " the teacher said , and yuko stood up to walk out of the classroom . she was confused . why would mrs shin ask her  to go after the black haired girl . she arrived at the restrooms , but saebyeok wasn't there . she was looking for her when she thought maybe she's on the rooftop . she ran upstairs and opened the heavy door . she started walking towards the building's edge , when she saw the girl sitting a few meters away from her . she didn't look up , so yuko decided to go up to her . then she sat down next to her .

" i'm sorry . " said saebyeok .

" why ? i should be sorry .. "

" because of talking to you like that . my emotions got over me . " said the black haired girl , and looked up at the sky .

" it's okay . i wasn't mad , just confused . "

they didn't say anything , they were just sitting next to each other . it was a comfortable silence , and they both liked that .

" mrs shin asked me to come here , it wasn't my idea . " yuko said , and she didn't even know why . she just didn't want to seem pushy as if she wanted to be with saebyeok so much . she wanted to be with her , that's not the point .. she just didn't want to rush their friendship .

" oh, so you don't actually want to be here . " said the other girl .

" that's not .. what i said . " said yuko .

silence .

" thank you though . " saebyeok decided to speak up .

" for what , exactly ? " asked yuko , because she was confused once again .

" for asking me if i was okay . for caring about me . it really means a lot to me . " said the girl with teary eyes . yuko wanted to hug her , but no . they weren't that close , and saebyeok didn't seem like a person who likes skinship . but yuko didn't know , that a hug was what saebyeok needed the most . 

" we should go back , mrs shin's going to worry . " said the blonde haired girl .

yuko held out her hand for saebyeok , who took it , and stood up . yuko's heart started beating faster the minute , the taller one touched her hand , she could feel saebyeok's soft hand in her's and she didn't want to let go of it . but saebyeok did . she pulled her hand away and put it into her pockets . yuko was kind of sad , but tried not to think about it too much .  

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