priorities | go eunhyeok

[ 06 ]

It's now after school and I'm outside because Su-ae, Eunhyeok, and I have cleaning duties. Su-ae is sweeping and Eunhyeok and I are gathering the trash bags from the classrooms to throw away in the dumpsters. Su-ae and I talk for a bit when we're cleaning in an area close to each other.

Earlier, she told me about how Minu asked her out on a date to go to the movies. Little did she know, I had been looking at Minu's phone in class when he was texting her. I wasn't going to tell her that I already knew because I didn't want her thinking that I was spying on Minu. She also mentioned that Minu invited Ra-im to come along which I find weird but I let it slide, not wanting to ruin her good mood.

Su-ae is working quickly today, which she rarely ever does. I can tell she's trying to leave early. I try to match her working pace so that I can get my job done and not have to leave the school alone.

After a bit I finish collecting my portion of the trash and throwing it into the dumpster. Su-ae is sweeping up her final dirt pile into the dustpan and throws it away. She packs the broom into the closet and we leave. I wave bye to Eunhyeok and Su-ae waves goodbye as well. He looks annoyed that we're leaving but nonetheless, we run over to the bathroom because Su-ae wants to touch up her makeup before her movie date with Minu.

She takes out her little makeup bag and asks me to touch up her eyelashes with mascara. While I do that she swipes a layer of lip-gloss onto her lips and stares at herself in the mirror.

Su-ae sighs and says dreamily, "It's been so long since we went on a date..."

Oh, God. I can practically see the hearts popping out of her eyes. I exit the bathroom and Su-ae follows while humming a dreamy tune. I look forward and towards the classroom, seeing Eunhyeok in front of the door staring at something with a nervous and shocked expression on his face. I speed up my pace, curious to see what he's looking at.

That's when I see it. Su-ae's boyfriend. Minu Kang, kissing another girl. Only after I look at Minu do I see who he was kissing. Ra-im.

I practically get whiplash from how fast I turn on my heels towards Su-ae. She's getting closer and when she arrives by my side I raise my hand up above her face, Eunhyeok copies my movement.

"Hey, wait-!" He starts and I glance at Su-ae and I scream in my head for not being fast enough. Her eyes are widened and she isn't moving. She doesn't say anything. She only grabs our hands and shoves us into the room across the hallway. Su-ae jerks me in her left hand and Eunhyeok in her right. When she drags me to the other room, I hit my head on a locker by the door. She let's go of my hand and I rub my head, thinking about what just happened.

Minu. I knew he was bad. He might have been a sweetheart the first couple of weeks they were together but once he started acting weird and rude, I had no hope left for him.

I stand back and watch Su-ae shove Eunhyeok against the wall, who didn't let go of her hand.

"What are you-?" He begins but Su-ae only covers his mouth with her hand.

"Shhh..." She whispers and taps her index finger over her mouth, directing it towards him and then me. Tears begin to fall from her eyes and she pulls on Eunhyeok for comfort. I'm not going to lie, the sight in front of me was awkward to watch, even after witnessing Minu cheat on Su-ae with Ra-im.

That's when we hear their voices as they come out of the room across the hall. We hide with our backs to the wall as we listen to their conversation.

"Is Su-ae still not done?" I hear Ra-im ask Minu. "What's taking so long? Should I call her?"

"You must really want her to come." Minu says in a pouty voice. Gross. "I hope she doesn't come... so we can go see the movie together, just the two of us."

Eunhyeok holds the sides of Su-ae's arms as she sobs into his chest. God, this is the worst possible situation to feel like a third wheel right now. Eunhyeok lifts his hold on her and audibly sighs, rubbing his neck whilst also rolling his eyes.

I walk over and gently pull her off of him. I hug her and she begins sobbing into my shoulder now. "It's going to be okay... we can confront Ra-im at home later if you want."

I glance over to Eunhyeok who stands there awkwardly. Su-ae stops crying and lets go of me, standing there silently.

"How long are you just going to stand there? You can't spend the whole night here. It's best if you guys go." Eunhyeok suggests and I nod. I begin to pull Su-ae along with me so that we can walk home together when she shocks Eunhyeok and I by saying, "See you guys later, I'm going to go see the movie."

"Wait, Su-ae, what? You just watched Minu cheat and you're still going? Please don't do this to yourself." I start.

Eunhyeok joins in by saying, "So you're going, not to confront the two of them, but to see the movie? Is that really what you want? Are you really that spineless?"

"You guys just can't bear to see how much of an idiot I am, is that it? Especially you, Eunhyeok." Su-ae spits angrily. I know she doesn't mean a word coming out of her mouth, she's just angry.

"What?" He asks her, confused.

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. I know it's you. How could I not? Everyday I see you looking at me with eyes that say how pathetic you think I look." Su-ae looks up at Eunhyeok heatedly. "Next time you want to say something to me, say it to my face. Don't say it behind my back like a loser." Su-ae stops for a moment and watches Eunhyeok's face turn from a confused face to an insulted one. "What? Is this hard for you to hear? Then stop looking at me with those pitying eyes." She shoves his side and storms off without a look back at me or him.

I just stood there for a few moments to process what Su-ae said. I look at Eunhyeok as a way of asking if he knew what she was talking about but by the looks of it, he doesn't. We share a few more looks and somehow silently agree on walking out together to follow Su-ae.

When we get outside we see that we're too late and don't see Su-ae anywhere. I can only hope she didn't go out to see the movie with Ra-im and Minu. I attempt to call her 3 times but when the line goes silent on the last attempt I look up at Eunhyeok. I tell him that I'll go home and settle things with Su-ae later. He nods and waves bye to me nonchalantly.

When I get home there's no sign of Su-ae. I have no idea where she is and I get worried. I sit on my bed and chew the nail on my thumb, waiting anxiously with my phone in front of me for a text or call from her.

When I hear the door open, I fully expect it to be Su-ae. I ran out of my room, just to see that it's Ra-im. I don't think that I can look at her the same for a while or even ever. I roll my eyes when she takes her shoes off by the door. She doesn't see and instead asks if Su-ae is home from cram school yet. Oh, I guess Su-ae didn't go to the movies with them and instead made up some sort of lie about going to cram school. A little part of me is relieved and Ra-im walks over to the couch explaining how much fun her little movie 'hangout' with Minu was. I don't even care to make it look like I'm even listening to her. I begin scrolling through social media and other things.

How can someone be so two-faced? I don't think that I ever expected Ra-im's real side to look like this. I can only wonder about her motive for doing it. She gets up when she realizes I'm not listening and makes Su-ae a sandwich. I sit on the couch until 23:10 waiting for Su-ae when she finally walks through the door. I forget her harsh words from earlier and engulf her into a hug. She half-heartedly hugs me back. I don't think about it and let go of her. I'm not going to ask her any questions and let her have the night to herself. I know that now isn't the time for questions and tell myself I'll ask her about everything later.

I retreat to my room and close the door softly. I get in bed immediately after getting ready for bed and I stare up at the ceiling thinking of ways that I can help Su-ae. Knowing Su-ae, she isn't just going to confront Minu or Ra-im. I decide on making it a mission to help Su-ae open her eyes and see Minu for who he really is. I don't think I can do it without a partner though. I'll have to find someone willing to help me.

⇢ ˗ˏˋ authors' note ࿐ྂ

omgomg thank u for 400 reads!!💞