Not Around

Chapter 3:

"All 5 dropouts have been announced. Those who got eliminated, please move to the Ground now."

"Yes, I get it." Sunoo sasses, materializing his bag from underneath his seat.

"You can come back, don't worry." An attempt of comfort comes from Geonu who looked worried. Daniel rushes to EJ and Ni-ki hugs Ta-ki as tight as he could.

"It's okay. You have to come back, okay?" Ni-ki tells the smaller boy in his arms.

"You really have to come back." Daniel's voice cracks as he hugs his partner one last time.

"Hey, you okay?" The person who snaps her out of staring at the others was Sunghoon. Was she? She's been through worse but it doesn't change the fact that it sucked.

"I'll be fine." The girl huffs and blows her side bangs away out of habit. With a heavy sigh, she stands up and drags her bag with her to the gate. His tall figure silently follows.

"You know, you getting eliminated doesn't make any sense." He adds quietly.

"He's right it makes no sense!" Jungwon butts in loudly. Who in their right minds would vote for her after seeing her perform? This was nuts.

"I'm sure it made sense to five people." She opts for a joke to lighten the mood. The other two saw no humor in this and frown more deeply. Seeing as they were worried, she sighs.

"But you guys aren't wrong. It doesn't make sense, doesn't it? I'll be back soon."

One thing that people should know about the girl is that she's petty. Really petty. She may have also voted for others' elimination but to those who voted her out and haven't been eliminated? She wants to see their faces falter when she comes back smiling. Or even better, replace them.

Y/N is hell-bent on making sure that happens. If opportunity allows it, she's busting these gates open tomorrow.

"We'll be waiting." A voice from behind the two boys says. Jake offers her one more charming smile.

Maybe it was good she was leaving after all. Being around good-looking boys for too long was not good for her heart. Not that she was gonna be with any less good-looking people on the Ground.

Before she goes in the gate, someone she passes by lets out a condescending comment loud enough for only her to hear.

"Thank god, she's leaving. What's a girl doing here anyway?"

Y/N halts. The voice belonged to Choi Seon. Darn. Now she has a face to one of the five who voted her. And to think she was even cheering him on moments before their arrival to I-LAND.

She doesn't respond or look at him nor does she acknowledge the rising urge to punch him in the nose.

This wasn't like that one time she kicked her brother's bully in the stomach when they called him awful names. No, this was far from that and as used to as she was at defending herself and others, there comes a time where violence is needed, and now is not that time.

Maybe a slap? Just one slap-

Okay, maybe old habits die hard.

Without sparing the smirking guy a glance she enters the gate. The others do too. Awkward smiles were exchanged as they waved farewell to their guilty friends.