Mirage

34

Haeun was spacing out.

Leaning sideway against the locker as she skimmed the hallway, she was intriguing in watching students passing by, though it was not the people she was watching at. In fact, no specific things to be watched either.

She was doing a calculation in her head.

It had been so long since she felt this way. The feeling that she thought she won't be needing anymore, the feeling that she would have ridden a long time ago.

But eventually, it was something unpredictable. Maybe she truly had forgotten about it, however, she could not stop it from consuming her again.

"Haeun".

The voice calling for her name slightly made her flinch, finally realized that she was too engrossed in the calculation she did.

"Why?" she masked her emotion - bitter and scary, as she leaned against the metal thing on her back.

"I asked you, where is Sunwoo?" Jia questioned that seemed like she had repeated it. "You two are inseparable".

"He said, he'll be a little late", Haeun answered, suddenly taking off her blazer in which she left it inside her locker. "Today is a bit hot".

It was too sudden that Jia could have noticed a weirdness from Haeun's attitude. It almost seemed like she was hiding something.

Worry was clouding over her. She wished she could stay with Haeun a little longer just to ensure nothing was wrong but both also knew, it was not gonna happen.

"See you on break", Jia waved her hand as she walked backwards, hoping to catch a little hint from Haeun's face.

However, the girl herself was good in putting up a facade.

Haeun's sweet smile instantly faded and was replaced with hatred. Hands on both sides of her frame were now balled into fists. Every stomps she made through the hallway that unfortunately was not the correct path to her class would soon be met with the blank space where the answer to her calculation belong.

She was not the normal Haeun when she marched through the crowd that seemed only minding their own businesses. If they did not, they would have probably noticed her furious figure that had stopped in front of Jihoon, slapping him on the cheek.

"Woah lady", Junkyu was about to retaliate with a defense but Haeun's sharp glare suddenly made him shiver.

Jihoon's face was stinging. The impact was not something he had expected from a sick girl like her but he surely have learned to not underestimate someone.

He had foreseen this, he knew Haeun would come to him but he did not know that it would be this soon. He had not prepared himself yet.

"What was Sunwoo thinking to let his girlfriend come to me alone?" the boy scoffed as they both were alone at the back of the school building. "Doesn't he afraid that I'd do something to you?"

"It's you, right?" instead of answering, Haeun threw back a question. "You told Jiyeon about me and y-"

Little did Haeun know, she was unable to finish her rant. Jihoon furiously pinning her against the wall, spitting hatred.

"It's all your fault, Haeun", the anger on his face was something Haeun never saw in him before, it scared her. "Didn't I tell you to break up with Sunwoo? Didn't I tell you that he will hurt you? Didn't I tell you that he's not a good person?!"

"You made him like one", the girl retaliated. "You're taking advantage on him, manipulating someone fragile".

"And what about you?" Jihoon smirked, leaning to her ear. "I thought you're better than this?"

"W-What?"

Their eyes met with different emotions tinting. The boy a bit was wavered by the misty orbs he was looking into. It reminded him to the old days they were in a big argument that had changed their friendship.

But, he was not gonna lose this time.

"You only think of the pleasure dating him, but have you thought of the consequences?" he pointed out softly but it hit Haeun so hard. "You surely are enjoying it but Haeun, don't you remember that you're dying?"

At that, Haeun's breath hitched. He was right, she had forgotten everything about her life.

Dating Sunwoo was like entering a new world where no pain ever existed. Under his care, the happiness were there engulfing her constantly that she was not reminded to the illness.

"Must I remind you that you probably won't be graduating high school? What will happen to Sunwoo after you leave?" Jihoon's face was way too serious, he was not even flattered when a loner tear escaping Haeun's eyes. "You should have thanked me".

Haeun was lost for words, she had nothing to retaliate. How selfish of her that she was only thinking about herself and not others?

She should not have done that.

Like a lightning struck, suddenly she was free from Jihoon's trap, the boy himself was tackled down onto the ground. Loud groan escaping his lips but he had no chance to complain when a punch was then landed on his cheek - the same spot Haeun hit him.

"What did I say about laying your filthy hands on her?" Sunwoo spat, throwing another punch. "And that for making her cry".

Upon his arrival in school, it was a luck that he ran into Jia who had voiced out her worry over Haeun. Sunwoo was flustered - who was not? The girl was nowhere to be found and the only one person he could think about was Jihoon.

He knew this place was his hideout. He was not hesitant to drag his feet there but the sight he saw was only enraging him.

Constant groans sounded underwater, Haeun felt her universe spin too much. Her body was trembling with anger and disappointment, beads of sweats started forming.

She could not think of anything else other than, screaming her heart out.

"Kim Sunwoo stop!"

That was the loudest yell Sunwoo ever heard from his girlfriend, his supposed to be another fist was hanging in the air, unable to land on Jihoon's face.

He rushed over to her, inspecting her frame, hoping that no bruise was found. Or else, the boy on the ground need to pay for it.

"Let's go", firmly holding her hand, he dragged her out from that place, giving one last glare to his enemy.

But after some times trailing the pavement back to their class, Haeun was tired. She halted unwillingly, retreating her hand from Sunwoo's grasp as she fell on the ground, feeling weak.

Her chest felt stuffy for holding back the tears she did not want to let out, every words of Jihoon were now roaming inside her head.

Dying.

Left.

Sunwoo.

The last word finally broke her down. She cried her heart out and the boy himself was worried - it was too sudden.

"What did he do to you?" Sunwoo held her cheeks, looking straight into her eyes. "Tell me what is it? I'll make him pay".

The sight of her crying so badly was hurting the boy so much. His heart shattered along with every beads of tears that had left her eyes.

"Sunwoo, I'm sorry", that was the only thing Haeun could say as she let him see the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry".

Kim Haeun finally realized that her calculation was wrong from the start.