Dull [Book III]

Stupid Pledge

Soojung chugged the glass of water down to keep her stomach from rumbling like thunder once more and causing another round of shame and red cheeks. Lay was sitting quietly in front of her, glancing at where the servers came from to see if their food would finally be delivered to their table.

His palms were placed flat on the table and his expression gave away the idea of him being just as hungry as her. Lay was chewing on his bottom lip and gulping every once in a while, and his fingers impatiently tapped on the wooden table.

Soojung subconsciously smiled and adjusted her position, pulling the hem of her skirt down to fix it as they were both sat on the floor. It wasn't really long until two bowls of spicy seafood ramyun came to their table with cans of soda, but to the two drained students, it felt like forever.

The chopsticks and spoons kept moving for a good minute or two before Soojung looked up to Lay gazing upon her, grinning and holding in his laughter as he watched her gobble the bowl down. She sipped on her drink and licked her lips after, furrowing her eyebrows at him.

"What?" Soojung asked.

"Nothing, you're just fun to watch while eating. You make food look good." He shrugged, playing around with his noodles. "I think my appetite just boosted through the roof."

"I can't help it." She smiled. "I'm hungry."

"Yeah, I can tell." He grinned and proceeded to eat a spoonful before looking at her again. "So, did it work?"

"What?" She asked again and he scoffed.

"The movie, did it work with Minah?" Lay asked. "I saw you two so serious earlier... never thought troublemakers could do schoolwork together in harmony."

"Yeah, it was fine." She shrugged. "Minah was pretty cool except for the bitchy attitude. I know she has a problem with Jiyong and I perfectly understand, but I don't know what her problem is with me."

Lay nodded. "Minah had always been that way. People really have a hard time adjusting with her because her straightforwardness causes mayhem sometimes. I mean, I like people who are frank with what they think, but she could be too much from time to time. I told her that once."

"What did she say?" Soojung raised an eyebrow.

"She grinned at me and patted my cheek, then before walking away said 'you're so cute, Yixing.'" He chuckled. "She's nuts, but Minseok's head over heels for her. Who am I to question love, right?"

"Yeah, she's crazy." Soojung smirked.

"You'll get used to it. Minah isn't that bad though, and she's a very loyal friend." Lay stated with a small smile. "Have patience since you look like you have more of it than her."

"Hey, if you can tell me to be patient with her, be patient with Jiyong. Don't be a hypocrite." Soojung shook her head, pointing her chopsticks at him. She was aware of her unfair words but strangely, she didn't want a commotion between the two even if that meant giving Lay a taste of his own medicine. "All the times you've met, you end up killing each other with glares."

"We've met, like, three times, Soojung." Lay shook his head as well. "And you very well know why we're that way. It wasn't my fault. He started it."

"It's not my fault that Minah's that way to me either." Soojung pointed out.

"Yeah, but Minah's just insensitive with her words. Jiyong underestimated me when he clearly had no idea who I was." Lay said, almost spat, really. Nonetheless, he had a point. "You won't understand. It's a male thing."

Soojung bowed and stared at the bowl in front of her. "He's not that bad."

"He's your boyfriend. Of course you'd say that." Lay rolled his eyes.