𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐋 ─ all of us are dead

𝘵𝘸𝘰

Gyeong-su ran in the class, panting as he sat next to Cheongsan. Still breathing heavily, he fixed his curls, wiping the sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand. He exhaled deeply, slumping into the chair he was sitting on.

"Where were you?" Cheongsan asked, squinting his eyes.

"Oh, you know, late –"

"Don't even try and lie your way out of it," Suhyeok, also called Bare-su, warned.

Gyeong-su turned around with wide eyes, chuckling nervously when he saw Bare-su. He looked between Cheongsan and Bare-su, letting out a deep sigh before mumbling something the boys couldn't hear.

"What?" Cheongsan asked.

"What did you say," Bare-su leaned towards Gyeong-su. "A little louder please."

Gyeong-su crossed his arms grumpily, telling them the real reason of him being out of breath and late.

"I was just watching Rosie."

The boys bursted out laughing, Yang Dae-su and Jang Woo-jin joining in when they heard Gyeong-su confess that he was ogling Rosie.

"You should tell her how you feel," Bare-su adviced Gyeong-su.

"What? No, what are you talking about? I don't have feelings for her!" Gyeong-su lied. He was afraid that his friend, Bare-su, would stop talking to him, or hate him for confessing his feelings to Rosie. No matter how many times Bare-su have assured him that he didn't mind him dating Rosie, Gyeong-su just couldn't bring himself to do so.

"You fucking asshole," Dae-su hit Gyeong-su on the back of his head. "Everyone can see that you're in love with her."

"I," he stuttered, "I'm not in love with Rosie."

"Yeah, sure," Cheongsan snorted. "Your longing gaze tells us otherwise."

Gyeong-su glared at his best friend, picking up his book and hitting Cheongsan with it. The others simply laughed, enjoying what was happening in front of them. Cheongsan was saved when Ms.Park entered the classroom. After giving his phone to the teacher, Gyeong-su zoned out.

He thought about her brown coloured wavy hair that reached her shoulders, her hazel eyes that always seemed to have a spark in them, her pink lips that always parted unintentionally when she was deep in thoughts, her eyes crinkling at the corners when she'd smile. He had seen her play basketball; she was the captain of the team, and the perfect player. She had skills, talent, and reflexes. She was very quick and fast.

He sighed dreamily when he thought about the moments he spent with her. How her presence made him feel better, not being able to look away from her face. She'd always always laugh and smile contently when she was with her friends, putting her inputs and making them laugh harder. To him, she was the perfect girl to ever exist — a person who could do no wrong.

Ms.Park spotted Gyeong-su who had his eyes closed, his face held in his palm, his elbow propped on the desk. The class followed her gaze.

"Gyeong-su," she called him. No response. He was still sitting the same. Cheongsan nudged his best friend to come back to his senses, but no avail. Gyeong-su just kicked Cheongsan under the desk, making him yelp.

Ms.Park smiled mischievously. "Oh, Rosie. So good of you to join us."

As if Gyeong-su had been given an electric shock, he sat up straight, fixing his hair. "Rosie?"

The class laughed. He looked around, confused.

"Nice of you to join us, Gyeong-su," Ms.Park said. He looked embarrassed. "Now please don't think about Rosie, and rather pay attention to what I'm teaching here. It'll be useful for you and the upcoming tests."