𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗘 ⨾ vernon

14 | 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗹

"Hold the fuck up." Seungkwan gawks at his phone and I crane up my neck to see what amazes him so much. It's some photos of a kid being beaten by some senior guys followed by a statement that says something like Sanghee something like saved something like bullying. It's all in Korean so it partially makes me feel illiterate but it also gives me a sort of thrill that maybe this is revolutionary.

"I think we are going to witness more high school drama," I say and grab my backpack.

"Where are you going?" Seungkwan asks me as I stand up. "To confess?"

"Shut up," I hold his cheeks and squeeze them before squinting off to our classroom.

I think Sanghee just hit the jackpot. But I have no idea if this is done for and by the Clicks or not. I need to find her as soon as possible—

"You know I've always known you learning Taekwondo would help you someday." I hear Yeonhee's voice from inside the classroom. A little shocked, I just keep listening to the conversation.

"You're right," Sanghee replies, which makes my heart fall into a pit, "I know I upset you that time, but I promise I'm not going to get physical anymore."

"You might have just saved yourself from being hidden most of your time in high school."

No, no, no, this can't be happening.

"You think I can get popular?" I hear Sanghee say I hope this conversation is a part of the Clicks. But if they are, then how am I able to move? I turn around my palms and grab the handle to the classroom door.

"You can be whatever you want." I hear some shuffling, "Here you go, wear this."

I try to peak even though I know I should not. From the little window, I see Sanghee wearing lipstick. I don't really see the Sanghee that I know.

Yeonhee then hands out her kit and I watch her do Sanghee's makeup.

Understanding that this situation is probably not as serious as my anxious ass suggests it to be, I turn away from the class. Maybe my friend got her old friend back and I just need to give her sometime and space.

Just when I am about to walk away, the door to the class opens up and startles me.

"Hansol!" Sanghee calls out.

I turn to her and gasp. This girl that made me talk to her at 3 am in the morning, this girl that made me climb up the registrar office early on a school day, this girl that shares the same unhinged shifts from time to time, this girl that carried her drunk cousin with me, has never looked happier. Right now, with some lip tint, blush and eyeliner, she looks even happier, like her soul is glowing.

"Congrats on breaking the hatred cycle," I say, and stop.

She nods her head and smiles wide. "But I'm afraid," she smile fades a little, "what if this doesn't last?"

I look down at my shoes, "It will." If me saying that it will can help her feel a little less anxious, I will say it a million times. "You look beautiful." I look her in the eye and tell her what I've always wanted to tell her.

"You look beautiful, too," she says, shakes her head and shrugs. "Call me tonight?"

"Yea—yeah, definitely." I look around because I cannot hold eye contact anymore. My cheeks feel a heat so warm I might as well burn. "I will... call you."

"I'll wait." She turns around and turns back again before running towards me. My entire nervous system glitches the moment she kisses my cheek. The hand I didn't know was holding my bag strap holds it even tighter. "See you."

I stand there looking at her like a stupefied dog. She smiles one last time before going back to the class she was hanging out with Yeonhee in.

I touch my cheek where she kissed me, my heart pounding hard with my thought stuck to the moment her mouth met my face. I look at my fingers and see a tinge of rose pink. Her lipstick. It's so beautiful I don't want to wash it, but since I'm at school and I don't want drama, I walk to the washroom and stare at my face for a while before washing her kiss off.