Mirage

20

Eric ran as fast as he could, going through the main gate of the school. The beeline he created to dodge the students scattered around along the pavement was chaotic.

It was as if he was running from zombies that only he could see.

Once a while he halted, glancing back just to check whether he was still being chased or not, the nervousness was massive.

"Go away!" he yelled loudly, proceeding to run again without any specific destination.

How he ended up this way?

Eric was early to arrive so he decided to wait for Jia in front of the school before heading inside. However, his name was then called by someone he did not want to see for the time being. 

Sunwoo.

Did not think much, he run away from the demeanor as if the latter would kill him if he stay still. 

Nonetheless, Sunwoo had no intention to chase him either. He leisurely took his time, dragging his feet lazily as one strap of his backpack was draped over his shoulder. 

Looking at Eric getting scared somehow fazed him. He unknowingly smirked as he trailed behind the boy's track until they reached the field.

Eric panting heavily, crouching down in the process to catch his breath. He knew Sunwoo was getting nearer but he had now given up.

He won't be running anymore.

"Alright, I surrender", he whined as he threw his schoolbag aside before he let himself fell down on the grass, not really care if his uniform would be staining with dirt.

Sunwoo calmly scooted closer to the boy who seemed would be fainting anytime soon. Unintentionally he chuckled as he looked down at him, skimming his tired expression.

"You're still a weakling", he spat, Eric shot him daggers from the ground, his energy to fight back had totally emptied from running too much. "Who asked you to run anyway?"

Sunwoo might have dissed him a lot, he might have teased Eric too much, but still he offered the latter a hand to help him up. 

Luckily, Eric accepted the offer, they both were now sitting together on a bench under a tree not too far from the wide field. Nobody would have expected to see Eric looked half dead when school had not even started yet. But Sunwoo did.

"Okay there buddy?"

"Shut up!" Eric retaliated, his glare became more sharper than Sunwoo's jawline. "What do you want from me?"

"To talk?" Sunwoo sounded unsure, carefully he looked at the demeanor who was in no time rolling his eyes.

Eric was a drama king - no doubt. If he did not, he would not have flipped his imaginary hair before crossing his legs.

"Listen here Kim Sunwoo", the boy clicked his fingers to gain the other's attention. "Even you've helped Haeun the other day, that doesn't mean you're forgiven. I'm still angry at you".

He did not lie, Sunwoo could see it himself. He saw how Eric's eyes darkened when he said those words, he was no longer being playful.

And Sunwoo knew exactly what had made the boy angry.

"It was out of my control", he admitted, every so often fiddling with his own fingers.

But Eric then scoffed, raking his silky hair in disbelief. Slowly he jolted up, cupping his waist as he stood across Sunwoo.

"I'd seen you being harsh on her too many times, Sunwoo", he paused for a moment, worried if he would say something that might offend him. "It's totally unacceptable".

The boy remained in silent, head lowered facing the ground as Eric continuously listing out all the bad things he had done towards Haeun. 

"You're right", Sunwoo breathed out, slowly lifting his head, finding for Eric's eyes. "Is she ever said that she's mad at me?"

"Mad at you?" Eric sarcastically laughed. "She's fallen for you more than what you would think, Sunwoo! Do you think she did the origami for you for nothing?"

The origami. 

Sunwoo truthfully had forgotten about it. 

"Where is it?" he tugged his hair from its root harshly, jolting up from the bench in which Eric confusedly watching him suddenly taking his leave.

"Where are you going?!" Eric yelled but Sunwoo ain't never care to spare him a glance, let alone responding to his question. "What has possessed him?"

Nothing was occupying Sunwoo's little mind at the moment. What he wanted to do now was to find the origami back.

That day, he might have not taken the little gift Haeun prepared for him, but he too did not collect it from the last position it was seen - on the floor.

He knew it was almost sound impossible, but he did hope that the origami was still there. He did hope that it was hidden somewhere near his locker.

And that was how he ended up searching around the area. He did not care if he earn some looks from the students who were passing by, his attention was not on them either.

They were invisible in his eyes.

However, after some times looking for it and the result was negative, he started to be frustrated, his patience was thinning. 

"Why am I doing this?" bitterly giggling as he asked himself, he leaned against the sturdy locker, looking up at the ceiling. "I've never done this with Jiyeon".

Just few minutes ago he was trapped in a tense talk with Eric, but looked at him now - too miserable just to look for something that had been long forgotten. He knew from the start that he would never find it back, but why he insisted to look for it?

Was it Haeun's effort that made him feel this way?

Or was it Kim Haeun herself?

Maybe this was what people had always said - she fell first, but he fell harder.

It was then, Sunwoo admitted his defeat. He decided to live his life in guilt for losing something Haeun's sincerely made.

Sounded childish, but yes he did feel that way.

Unbeknownst to Sunwoo, Eric had been following him from the start. The boy had seen the miserable state the latter was in. 

But instead of speculating the situation, Sunwoo's side that he was looking at right now had intrigued Eric more. 

"Haeun has brought the old Sunwoo back, but how?"