Mirage

35

A loud thud echoed through the hallway, earning attentions of all the students which in no minute came circling the specific area. It was an intense battle in a lifetime between two troublemakers that nobody would want to miss out.

Kim Sunwoo was now leading.

"Listen you scumbag", he grabbed Jihoon's collar who was now gasping against the locker. "I don't know what you were talking about with Haeun that day but after that she's not herself".

Jihoon cackled sarcastically under Sunwoo's grasp, glaring next. "How is that even my fault?"

Sunwoo felt his patience was getting thin, his fist was already in the air, ready to land it on the latter's cheek. However, a loud yell from a boy not so far from them had halted his intention, Sunwoo punched the locker instead.

He surely did not care if he was going to hurt himself.

"Let him go, Sunwoo", Eric advised, patting Sunwoo's shoulder. "He's not worth to fight for".

Something about Eric's tone in advising him managed to melt the hard part of his ego as he let Jihoon off, tears started brimming in his eyes - unfortunately.

The sight did not go unnoticed by Jihoon, seeing his former friend in tears hit differently. But, he still chose to be egoistic as well.

"Tch.. you got yourself a nerd friend, and now you've turned into one too. Fantastic".

"A nerd..?!" Eric felt himself furious by the nickname. He was about to confront the boy though he knew he probably would be knocked off in a single blow.

But, his plan was a fail.

Instead, Sunwoo took the spot again, slamming his hand against the metal thing next to Jihoon's head.

"We're not talking about my friend", he emphasized the last word. "You have no right to talk about friend at the first place. Even your friend is now battling with her life".

At that, a loner tear came rolling down from Sunwoo's eye. He did not mind if Jihoon would be teasing him for being a crybaby. It was his true feeling.

But, unbeknownst to Sunwoo, Jihoon felt his heart skip some beats along with the sudden chill sent down his spine.

What did he mean by battling with her life?

"Just to keep you informed", Sunwoo paused as he wiped the wet stain on his cheek with the back of his palm. "After the day you two talked, Haeun fell sick so often and now, she-"

"Sunwoo, let's go", Eric pulled his shoulder, assuring that this talk would never effect Jihoon even how many emotions he put into but to no avail, Sunwoo insisted to deliver the news.

"Your friend, Kim Haeun is now in the hospital, being unconscious for days!"

Jihoon's eyes widening but he still tried to mask the surprise from being seen. What had he done? - he thought.

"Enough Sunwoo", Eric had had enough. Instantly he pulled his friend away for real before he could commit another violence.

Having this argument in the morning was big enough to create a chaos, specifically when the onlookers already had the footage captured. Sunwoo would be in a problem if the video leak among the teachers.

Fortunate thing that he wanted to listen, they both then disappeared amongst the crowd, leaving Jihoon still in the same position, questioning himself again and again.

Was it really because of him that Haeun was now in the hospital?

"Live your life miserably, Jihoon. I hope you will always being remorseful".

His head was then ringing with her voice from years ago, on the day he hurt her, on the day he chose to abandoning his one truly friend who would always there for him, who wanted only the best for him yet he never cared. For he was too selfish.

And he must say, her words really effecting him - greatly.

He tried to make it up to her, though Haeun insisted to distancing herself in school or any gatherings both families were attending. Still, he would be watching over her - secretly, specifically after he found out about her illness.

When he said he cared about her, he truly did but everything was messed up when Sunwoo appeared in the picture. He slowly forgetting his true intention to mend things with the girl just because the hatred he had on Sunwoo was overshadowing everything.

He had drifted apart from his initial path.

"You better wake up Kim Haeun", he mumbled alone, messing with his own hair. "Your curse on me has to be lifted".

Much to Jihoon's wish and pray for the girl, Sunwoo was having the biggest wishes. It was to see her beautiful smile again, to hear her voice that always sound like a good music, and to feel her touch on his skin.

Kim Haeun suddenly fainted might be a normal thing by now, but it was too abnormal when she did not open her eyes for days. It freaked Sunwoo that he could not think of anything other than the bad ones.

"What's gotten into you?" cupping his waist as he looked at his miserable friend before his eyes, Eric was surely furious. "Don't you ever think about your reputation? What if school expels you?"

"He knows something Eric", Sunwoo marched forward, pointing to the direction where they had left Jihoon earlier. "You noticed how Haeun was so bothered after meeting him".

"Yes, I did!" Eric retaliated, stepping closer to him as well. "And you're partially wrong too".

"What?"

"If it wasn't because of your ex coming after her, Haeun won't be attacking Jihoon and whatever things occurred between them would never take place".

At that Sunwoo remained in silent. He could not even reply any because Eric was right, he was always right.

He could feel his heart shattered by pieces by the reality he just found out. He had put his own girlfriend's life on the line despite knowing how fragile and vulnerable she would always be.

"Haeun needs me", he said, turning on his heels soullessly.

"And where do you think you are going now?" Eric grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "You have classes right? You have to take notes for Haeun, remember?"

"Not today", Sunwoo's voice was shaky and it startled Eric for a moment. The boy was on the verge of crying. "I need to stay with her".

Slowly, Sunwoo let himself free from Eric's grasp, arranging his steps towards the front gate in which he surely did not mind if he would get caught. Nonetheless, Eric too was quick as he tried to block his friend from leaving.

"Sunwoo, you have to th-"

Suddenly, Eric was on the ground by the impact he received, the corner of his lips bled.

"I-I'm sorry", Sunwoo bit his lip, instantly regretting his action. He did not mean to hit Eric, he knew the boy had a good intention but he was a monster, he was not himself at the moment. "I-I need to go to Haeun".

As defeated as he looked, Eric surrendered. Maybe if he was in Sunwoo's shoes, he would do the same thing.

He probably would be dragging his feet aimlessly on the pavement. He probably would be ignoring his female friend who appear out of nowhere in front of him asking what was happening. He would be crying his heart out as he push everything aside with only one aim in his head - to be back to someone who resembled his home.

Just like how Sunwoo did.