(Un)requited Love

13.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

A couple of weeks passed. The group rarely meet each other in person and would only talk through their group chat. Ever since Nayeon had disappeared, the group seems to parted away from each other. The issues haven't been solved yet.

They were circled at a table inside the usual cafeteria they used to hang out. Some of their friends were having small talk, but the tense atmosphere hasn't been gone since they all came. Except for a certain pale girl.

"So..." Momo cleared her throat which caught everyone's attention. They knew where exactly their talk would lead them so they immediately shut their mouths.

When no one dared to speak, Chaeyoung suddenly shouted waving her hand at a certain girl her eyes caught who was about to leave.

"Ji!" she shouted getting the girl's attention.

"Hey, guys! It's been a while. I didn't know you still hang out here." Jihyo greeted as Chae beckoned her to sit with them. She glances at each of them and finally, she felt the weird ambiance enveloping the group.

"Where's my child?" Jihyo unconsciously asked as she didn't find Dahyun.

"And where's Nayeon?" she added, earning a sigh from some of them. She looked at Chae who didn't even give her an answer and just mouthed a 'just listen' to her. She just shrugs still sitting with them while waiting for anyone to speak up.

"Care to talk now? Those who are responsible to explain?" Momo asked eyeing the unusually quiet Jeongyeon who came despite not wanting to be there, and Mina who has a sad expression on her face. She looked down immediately after remembering again what happened that night. However, Jihyo was quietly listening for the truth to unfold in front of her. She was dead curious about what had happened to the unusually quiet dorks.

"S-sorry guys. It's my fault that Nayeon is missing right now." Jeongyeon started apologizing while still looking down. They had been searching for Nayeon ever since their graduation. They tried to visit Nayeon's house from time to time, but they found no one. The caretakers also declined their request of wanting to know where their friend was so they have no idea where their friend was.

'Nayeon is missing?!' Jihyo thought, totally confused about what was happening. And then she remembered that Nayeon didn't even attend their graduation. But she decided to maintain her chill and gulps on her drink.

"What happened? It's been weeks, and until now we don't know where Nayeon is at." Sana asked this time, worry visible on her face. They're not used to it. They missed her.

Jeongyeon heaved a sigh and Mina softly caressed the latter's back.

"I-i fooled her. I was J-jeong In, I dressed myself up like a guy. But I swear I didn't mean it at first. I just want to tease her." she answered which made everyone in their group gasp in shock. Their jaws dropped at what the girl had just said. She can't even look up at her friends as she felt them looking at her intently.

"What? What do you mean?" Momo asked still confused about their friend's confession.

"I was the guy she dated. I pretended to be a guy and dated her. I tried to change my voice and hid my excess hair. And that night, I told her everything. I confessed, and she was mad. She unfriended me and Mina that night." Jeongyeon continuously explained. Her tears were about to fall but she hold them in.